Cuso International West

Joeclyn studied fine arts at Emily Carr in Vancouver and then went to serve in Zambia where she came from. She went to serve at the cultural Museum in Lusaka. When she got there the Museum was still being built so she began grant writing to help finance the museum and its revolving exhibits.She will be returning to Zambia as the owner Siavonga Game fishing lodge.Her family has been involved in the community for over 20 years working with Village artisans- Malambo textiles that supports 33 artisans positions. From paper mache to chicken rearing. She is deeply involved in sustainable development.If you are interested in her work you can contact her at micearenice@hotmail.comThanks for dropping by Jocelyn. 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

Lisa Faye now lives in Saskatoon after many years. She studied at Memorial University, Newfoundland. She first found out about CUSO on the web and met Marian White who is the PE Officer in PEI.She arrived in Accra and then served in Ho.The organizations were Women's Initiative for Self Empowerment (WISE) and then Women in Law and Development Africa where she worked firstly on gender issues and then on statistics and advocacy work on domestic violence in Ghana.She then came back to Canada and finished her Master's degree and went back again to Africa this time to Botswana with WUSC.You can now find her working with OXFAM as a Policy and Outreach Officer in Saskatoon.Thank you Lisa for your service and hospitality in Saskatoon. It was lovely meeting your wonderful daughter Leila. 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

I caught up with return volunteers Mick and Jackie McGarry during a recent trip to Kelowna, BC. They served in Malawi from 2001-2002. Mick, who is also a lawyer, taught English, while Jackie partnered with a local non-profit to develop community rehabilitation programs and trained volunteers to recognize disabilities. Both told me stories about their work in Malawi, about feeling like a film star while working in the African bush and the culture shock of realizing that time had a different value there.Their enthusiasm for their work in Malawi was infectious; thank you both for sharing your stories with me, and keep up the good work!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

Dr. John Bishop and his wife Margaret Bishop served in Malawi in 2001-2002, and later went back for a shorter term in 2005. As one of the main doctors at the hospital where he was posted, Dr. Bishop worked in surgery, obstetrics, gynecology and in HIV-AIDS education, while Margaret ran the pediatric unit.We appreciate their service with CUSO-VSO and for them taking the time to share their story with us! 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

Keith Germaine and Yvonne Rousseau met while volunteering as public secondary school teachers in Ghana. They told me about how they went to Ghana feeling like they had a lot to give, but came back with an appreciation for family, culture and leading a simple and purposeful life. They currently run a chapter of Bicycles of Humanity in Kelowna, through which they send old bicycles and motorcycles to rural Ghana. More information can be found at www.bicyclesforhumanity.comThank you Keith and Yvonne for your work with CUSO, and for continuing your efforts to serve the people around the world through your work with Bicycles for Humanity. 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

Wil and Irma Driediger were the last CUSO volunteers in India- they served in Gujarat from 1970-1972. In our chat they recounted working in a foreign language and serving a ambassadors for India in the West rather than for Canada in India. Wil and Irma, it was a pleasure to hear about your experience in India- thank you for your service and for sharing your story!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

Mike and Barb Angel served as teachers in Guyana from 1967-1969. I met them, along with their daughter Jeanette (who had been one and a half years old when they first went to Guyana), at an RV reunion in Vernon, BC. We talked about everything from food, family and diapers to appreciating different cultures.Many thanks to the Angel family for a fun and interesting chat- thank you for your service with CUSO!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

Victor has a wealth of information about CUSO-VSO having served 2 terms and worked with CUSO and volunteered on the BC Board. I really enjoyed speaking with him. Victor still works in community planning and sustainability and has worked with many communities in Canada and BC.I am pleased you and your dad wrote to each other weekly and he got to see Vanuatu.Vicotor's wife at teh time, Bette Chapal, also served in Vanuatu and established several community run kindergartens."CUSO launched my career", as he put it.Thanks Victor for a great interview and please tell all the other RV's to join us December 4th and 5th ant UBC for the launch of the 50th.Umeeda 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

I met Ted Bridgewater, an RV from Montreal/Calgary who had recently moved to BC at an RV potluck in Vernon. During our chat he recounted his experiences serving in San Fernando, Trinidad as an engineering teacher, and how his time there made him appreciate different views, cultures and opinions. He also noted the differences in the education system between the two countries, and how much respect he received even though his students were his own age.Thanks for your service and for sharing your story Ted!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

Joyce Upex and her late husband Norman Wicks served as teachers in Papua New Guinea from 1978-1979. They spent the majority of their time in Alotau, where they worked with students to build a school from brush materials and initiated the Secondary Schools Community Extension Program (SSCEP). This project involved incorporating knowledge into the everyday curriculum that would benefit students upon return to their villages. The project was a success and they were hired back by the Papua New Guinea government in 1985 on a contract to continue working on the program.Joyce, thank you for sharing your stories about your experience and for your service in Papua New Guinea!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

Andy Buhler was one of the early CUSO volunteers, serving as a lab technician and trainer in Nigeria from 1969-1971. His work experience, which involved training dispensary assistants and coordinating labs in first the North and then in Southern Nigeria, was punctuated by the Nigerian-Biafra Civil War that was taking place at that time.Upon return, Andy compiled and published his notes and letters of his experiences into two books called Letters Home. He has since remained a strong CUSO supporter, and is currently helping with the 50Thu Anniversary Advisory Circle and is focused on the "Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys" project which is to locate "missing RV's and put their info into our data base. So if you know the whereabouts of an RV or are one Andy needs your contact info. We're so grateful to Andy for his support and for sharing his story!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

I met returned volunteers Vincent Croswell and Maureen Thomas at a Tim Horton's in Kamloops, BC, just as they were returning from a trip.They served as CUSO volunteers in Papua New Guinea from 1979-1981, where Maureen was posted at Kundiyawa Hospital as the chief obstetrician and surgeon for six months, in addition to her general medical duties. Vincent first worked for the provincial government developing plantations, and then was hired by the federal Department of Health in the medical facility maintenance and upgrade department. He then returned to BC and attained his accounting degree.During our conversation about their time in PNG, Vincent and Maureen talked about how the experience had shaped their outlook on life- while in PNG, they realized that "it wasn't about your skill sets, but about your flexibility and attitude". They said their volunteer positions forced them to learn about themselves and how they interacted with others, and how their values changed as a result.Vincent and Maureen, thank you both for taking the time to share your experiences with me, and thank you for your service with CUSO.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. Volunteer, donate, share skills.www.cuso-vso.org

On a recent trip to Kelowna I had the pleasure of speaking with Paul and Chantal Merckx, a couple who served with CUSO from 1996-1998 in Hannah Town, Jamaica. Paul was assigned to assist in increasing economic development within the community while Chantal worked in a school.They used their knowledge and skills developed in Jamaica to further this interest during a trip to Peru a many years later. Their experiences was such an inspiration seeing them use their background and skills for the benefit of orphaned and abandoned youth.It was fantastic speaking with you Paul and Chantal and thanks for sharing your personal stories. Thank you for your service with CUSO, and keep up the good work!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

Brian Pollard had booth right next to CUSO-VSO's booth at the Vancouver People's Summit on Main Street. Brian is a CUSO RV who went to Malaysia in 1970 immediately after graduating from Simon Fraser University with a degree in Economics and Third World Development.As the first person in his family to complete both high school and University, the then-23 year old Brian was inspired to share his passion for education by serving as a high school teacher in Malaysia for 3 years. He continued to serve as an educator upon his return to Vancouver and throughout his professional career. After retiring from his position at Vancouver Community College, Brian was invited to join the Lotus Outreach Society Canada (www.lotusoutreach.org/canada), which promotes education for young girls in Cambodia.Brian, thank you for your support of CUSO-VSO. It's always fantastic to see returned volunteers who integrate their experiences and passions in their careers.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

Amazing where I find our returned volunteers! I had the opportunity to meet with Joe Bennet, one of our Returned Volunteers at the Vancouver People's Summit on Main Street in Vancouver.. Joe, a Biology graduate from Queen's University in Ontario, spent a year and a half in Laos in 2004-2005 working in Natural Protected Areas and Fish Conservation. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Island Ecology. He talks about his experiences in Laos and how they made him appreciate not only the resilience and the ability of Laotians to work with limited resources, but also the benefits and liberties he enjoyed in his own home country. Thanks Joe it was good bumping into you. Hope to see you at our 50th reunion in Vancouver. 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