Edinburgh Global Partnerships, or EGP, is a student-run charity based at the University of Edinburgh that aims to assist in community-led sustainable development overseas. It was founded as H.E.L.P. (Scotland) in May 1990 as a student society and subsequently also as a registered charity by a philosophy student Benjamin Carey; the acronym 'HELP' stood for "Humanitarian Education & Long-term Projects".[1]
The projects, which range from HIV/AIDS education to school expansion and infrastructure development, take place in the summer months during student holidays. None of the projects are conceived by EGP; rather they are proposed by indigenous non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and accepted according to criteria set by EGP. The rationale is that the work conducted by volunteers will be more relevant and useful to the host community.
The academic year is used to train volunteers and to raise funds for the projects. Volunteers also participate in a Community Links project, located in Scotland, which involves work such as conservation and/or helping those living with HIV.
EGP's stated goals are:
EGP are part of the Student Volunteering Overseas Partnership (SVOP) along with InterVol, based in Birmingham and Nottingham; Oxford Development Abroad (ODA); Student Volunteering Abroad, Glasgow (SVA) and Bristol Volunteers for Development Abroad (BVDA).[2]