Cuso International West

Glenora and her husband Don Slimmons served in Barbados. Glenora helped put together a 4H club and taught home economics. The challenge was communications between estate and small farmers.Talk about capacity building, Glenora just found out that one of her great students, Hansley Ben is now the Minister of Agriculture! Also 2 years ago Juliet Cabarbuku became the Deputy Minister of Sport, also another student.Glenora lives in Brandon, Manitoba. Volunteer for a better world! Join CUSO-VSO, share skills and volunteer in 43 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. Volunteers, donate, share skills.www.cuso-vso.org

Geoff Rippat went to Bolivia with his wife and 2 children. He worked on about 30 projects ranging from simple to large ones. Monitoring and evaluation which is essential in measuring goals. He is a social worker. He now works in Winnipeg with SAITAS , a volunteer matching program focused on Poverty and Economic Development. Volunteer for a better world! Join CUSO-VSO, share skills and volunteer in 43 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. Volunteers, donate, share skills.www.cuso-vso.org

In the second half of our conversation, Dr. Bartle continued to tell me about his international experiences that first started with his service with CUSO in Ghana in 1965. His work around the world has cemented his belief that international development is still relevant today, and we need to continue our efforts- the problem is not the work we are doing, but how we are doing the work.He decided to share his academic and international development expertise with the rest of the world by writing training documents for those interested in international development/ starting their career in international development. These documents are all available online, free of charge, at www.scn.org/cmp .Thank you again Dr. Bartle for sharing your experiences and expertise with us. We look forward to seeing you and all our returned volunteers at the 50th Anniversary kickoff at UBC on December 4th and 5th 2010.Volunteer for a better world! Join CUSO-VSO, share skills and volunteer in 43 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. Volunteers, donate, share skills.www.cuso-vso.org

*Part 1Dr. Phil Bartle is an esteemed international development worker and academic who began his international development career in 1965, the year he first went abroad with CUSO. After rgaduating from UBC with a degree in Economics he chose to volunteer in Ghana over joining the Royal Canadian Air Force.During our conversation he shared with me the many ways in which his service in Ghana shaped the rest of his life academically, professionally and personally. After his first experience in Ghana, Dr. bartle came back and studied economic and anthropology, and then went back to the University of Ghana to complete his PhD. Since then, he worked as an academic in Canada and served with CIDA and the United Nations in several countries including Ethiopia, Uganda, Pakistan, Sommalia and Mozambique. Other insights he shared include how his personal values changed after his intial service in Ghana, and how he advises Canadians to volunteer abroad because not only does the experience open your mind, but it makes you love your country more. Dr. Bartle, thank you for sharing your story with us and for continuing your international service over the eyars.Volunteer for a better world! Join CUSO-VSO, share skills and volunteer in 43 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. Volunteers, donate, share skills.www.cuso-vso.org

We met John in Nanaimo where he is studying green building and renewable energy. John served in Kabali with the District of Kabali as an IT specialist. Volunteer for a better world! Join CUSO-VSO, share skills and volunteer in 43 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. Volunteers, donate, share skills.www.cuso-vso.org

Barbara Kerfoot worked in Adult Literacy in India and lived in New Delhi. She married Dan Hooper, another RV from Nigeria. She was also the first Regional Coordinator in the Atlantic. I met her at the Parksville Library where she continues to work in literacy. Volunteer for a better world! Join CUSO-VSO, share skills and volunteer in 43 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. Volunteers, donate, share skills.www.cuso-vso.org

Gordon Hart studied Biology and Environmental sciences in Winnipeg then went to University of Toronto to study Botany. He worked with documenting the indigenous and local knowledge of plants and new ways of using them in Cochabamba. He also worked at teh CUSO office in Winnipeg.Thanks Gordon! Volunteer for a better world! Join CUSO-VSO, share skills and volunteer in 43 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. Volunteers, donate, share skills.www.cuso-vso.org

Amanda dreamed of working overseas studying Education and Biology. She got her chance after her sister had volunteered in a small village East of Kigali in Musha. She taught Math and Science in French. She continues to support projects like the Nirere Merciden Nursery that educates 80 children. Listen and found out more.Thanks Amanda! Volunteer for a better world! Join CUSO-VSO, share skills and volunteer in 43 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. Volunteers, donate, share skills.www.cuso-vso.org

Christa served with us first followed by her sister Amanda.Christa taught Mathematics and Sciences in Flin Flon Manitoba. He assignment was in a small school in Bissau in a town called Canchungo. She has been back twice. Volunteer for a better world! Join CUSO-VSO, share skills and volunteer in 43 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. Volunteers, donate, share skills.www.cuso-vso.org

This is the second time I have interviewed Ron. He taught carpentry in Mombasa and this time has some funny stories to tell.Assante sana Ron Volunteer for a better world! Join CUSO-VSO, share skills and volunteer in 43 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. Volunteers, donate, share skills.www.cuso-vso.org

Rod is named Nana Akwasi Amoako Agyeman Edubiase Nkosuohene. He lives in Ghana and owns a great Hotel in Busai. Let him know you are a CUSO-VSO RV if you visit and he will give you a special rate. He gave us a presentation about his assignment and his life now in Ghana where he continues to make a difference.His poems are published in a book called Rainbow Round the African Sun. This is a small world. Rod went to visit his daughter who lives in Zanzibar and met my daughter Nareena who is volunteering with CUSO-VSO in Jambiani with Hands Across Borders.Thanks Rod! Volunteer for a better world! Join CUSO-VSO, share skills and volunteer in 43 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. Volunteers, donate, share skills.www.cuso-vso.org

Rod is named Nana Akwasi Amoako Agyeman Edubiase Nkosuohene. He lives in Ghana and owns a great Hotel in Busai. Let him know you are a CUSO-VSO RV if you visit and he will give you a special rate. He gave us a presentation about his assignment and his life now in Ghana where he continues to make a difference.His poems are published in a book called Rainbow Round the African Sun. This is a small world. Rod went to visit his daughter who lives in Zanzibar and met my daughter Nareena who is volunteering with CUSO-VSO in Jambiani with Hands Across Borders.Thanks Rod! Volunteer for a better world! Join CUSO-VSO, share skills and volunteer in 43 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. Volunteers, donate, share skills.www.cuso-vso.org

Jerry Zoerb is an Agricultural Engineer who served at the Cuba Cujae Engineering School. He tells some very funny stories about his work and the place he lived in. Volunteer for a better world! Join CUSO-VSO, share skills and volunteer in 43 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. Volunteers, donate, share skills.www.cuso-vso.org

It's very rare that I get the opportunity to meet with partner organizations from the field, but I got lucky during my recent visit to Vancouver Island where I met Pat and Alastair, directors of the NGO Hands Across Borders. Based in Jambiani, Tanzania, Pat and Alastair run both a health and wellness clinic and a Tourism and Training Institute. They had the idea for this project during their visit to Jambiani in 1997; now they work with 15 students per class in community-directed training that culminates in a degree equivalent to a 2-year North American diploma.Pat and Alastair, thank you for sharing your story with us. We are so pleased to be working with their organization in Tanzania on the beautiful island of Zanzibar. More information about Hands Across Borders can be found at www.handsacrossborderssociety.orgVolunteer for a better world! Join CUSO-VSO, share skills and volunteer in 43 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. Volunteer, donate, share skills.www.cuso-vso.org

Rex had received his Masters degree in Library Science and had also worked in Information studies, Environment and Web design.He volunteered at the Pratistan Health and Trust in Kathmandu that worked in the HIV/AIDS sector.He helped them raise awareness about HIV/AIDS creating advocacy and education campaigns. This proactive approach may help reduce the the occurrence of HIV/AIDS in Nepal.He served with his partner Tlall Elvis.He now works at the UBC learning exchange in Vancouver's Downtown East side.Thanks for the interview and look forward to your help with our 50th anniversary celebration. Volunteer for a better world! Join CUSO-VSO, share skills and volunteer in 43 countries in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. Volunteers, donate, share skills.www.cuso-vso.org