Clare Downie, a PwC audit senior, has swapped her London office for the delights of Vietnam as part of a two-month voluntary project to coach staff at the South-East Asian country's Humanitarian Services for Children (HSCV) charity.

By taking up the Hanoi-based challenge, Claire became the Accounting for International Development's (AfID) 400th volunteer.

The AfID was founded in 2009 to 'offer experienced finance professionals the opportunity to use their skills to make a genuine difference as volunteers and to gain rewarding hands-on international development experience'.

Clare, who works in PwC's Investment Funds division, left the UK for her trip in mid-July and may extend her sabbatical at HSCV - dedicated to helping Vietnam's orphans and homeless children - by several more weeks.

She has previously worked on the Peace Boat for six months - a Japan-based international non-governmental and non-profit organisation 'that works to promote peace, human rights, equal and sustainable development and respect for the environment'.

AfID currently supports over 140 charities and non-profit organisations in almost 30 countries across Africa, Asia and South America.

Out of 20 global institutes, the ICAEW leads the way with 36% of AfID volunteers being members, closely followed by CIMA qualified volunteers, who contribute 28% of the total. The top-five is completed by ICAS, ACCA and CIPFA. The five institutes that complete the top 10 are CPA Australia, AAT, CA Ireland, CA Australia and CIOT.