Big interview: Volunteer your ambition - Sukhjeet Rathor, studentliaison officer, Langdon Secondary School, Newham, London

But youth volunteering has been a staple of Langdon Secondary School in Newham, east London, even before it became a trendy buzz word, says Sukhjeet Rathor. A youth worker based in the school and a former pupil, Rathor has been delivering active citizenship at the school for three years, largely working with young people in school councils.

"My main job is active citizenship, which involves charity work and organising projects," says Rathor, whose job title is student liaison officer. "I also coordinate volunteers to get young people involved around the school."

Last month Rathor and two young people travelled on a Treasury-funded trip to Mozambique with ActionAid and Comic Relief to meet Nelson Mandela, Chancellor Gordon Brown and the President of Mozambique. The event hit the press when Brown announced a funding package worth 8.6bn towards young people's education in poor countries.