Cuso International West

Marcy came from Bonneville, Alberta. She had studied recreational administration at the University of Alberta. She honed her skills and worked as a volunteer Manager and Fundraiser in Alberta. She wanted to share her skills and make a difference. We assigned her as a volunteer fundraiser to increase capacity in Zambia, where she stayed for a year, then was transferred her to Cameroon as an organizational development advisor.Marcy is back in Canada and has moved to Vancouver. Thanks Marcy for a fun interview on Main Street at the peoples summit and thanks for continuing to volunteer with CUSO-VSO here. 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

Karly has just returned from Cameroon. Listen to her experience and what she learned.Thanks Karly for your service. 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

Sheridan attended a seminar at the University of the Fraser Valley called reaching out to Africa. Over 100 people attended and shared ideas.Sheridan is close to retirement as a teacher and is looking forward to a time when she can share her skills in Drama.She tells a story of how her students learned about discrimination and about sharing. For all the teachers out there who are nearing retirement, you too can make a difference.Thanks so much Sheridan! 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

It was wonderful interviewing a very recent returned volunteer, Karly Pinch, from Vancouver. She began her voyage as a youth intern in Kaile north of Bimenda working on HIV/AIDS community mobilization. People living with HIV/AIDS and women's rights.After her internship she asked for another placement. She worked this time on organizational development in helping assess new partners for CUSO-VSO.The assessment includes all aspects of the organization including where they are strong and where they need to improve. This analysis is critical in supporting on the ground NGO's and help CUSO-VSO chose effective partners in countries like Cameroon.She learned patience.... let things happen.Welcome home Karly!Karly will now help CUSO-VSO in our December 4th and 5th reunion at UBC. Thanks! 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

Mathieu-Etienne Gagnon is a CUSO-VSO Public Engagement officer working in Quebec. We had a wonderful lunch with his wife Marie Claude who works with Canada World Youth as a Program Manager for Bolivia and Honduras. They have a cutest boy named Costa. We were joined by two fabulous returned volunteers. This interview is in French and English.Taryn Barker served with us with our corporate partner Deloitte and Touche in Burkina Faso in 2009 for 6 months. She shared her great planning skills and came home with so much more.Marie Chantal Paquette served in Bolivia working with women. She speaks Spanish , French and English. She continues to work in a Women's Centre in Montreal.This is a unique interview. We had a great time getting to know each other. 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

Erin has just returned barely over her jet lag and bck to helping CUO-VSO as a returned volunteer. You sure are a trooper Erin!Erin came from Iowa and Arizona to join her partner in Vancouver. She was recruited to serve in a small town of 6,000 2 hours north of Nairobi ( by matatu- local taxi).She used her fabulous organizational skills with Gatanga Giga Home Based care. They are working with orphans , home care, public education on HIV/AIDS. They recently received a grant from ICAP in New York and Erin was helping teach them about reporting. She learned that work need not be stressful.Erin has her Masters degree in interdisciplinary studies and Women studies, Sports and Spanish.Thanks for this wonderful opportunity to get to know you. 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

Crissy George went to Belize, Central America, as a CUSO-VSO volunteer and shares her stories about working as a social worker abroad with volunteer Doerthe Keilholz. [15min]Shared her skills in social work. Crissy has retired and decided to continue her journey in a very purposeful life. 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

Dorothy Li, a former CUSO-VSO volunteer and pharmacist, sits down with volunteer Doerthe Keilholz, and shares her memories and stories from her two-year volunteer experience in Uganda. [15 min] 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

Noulan Bowker told me about Ken Cooper and where to find him. Ken came from Red Deer Alberta to the University of Alberta- Edmonton. He studied Engineering and after graduation as a Mechanical engineer served with CUSO at King MancootTechnical college.He feels strongly that our volunteers come back enriched. Ken's life changed on assignment. He married Akkaporn ( Noy) and had two lovely girls Athina and Angela. I met Angela and her fiancee both graduating from linguistics from SFU.Ken taught a machine design course. Alternate energy machines were the rage then, solar, windmills etc. and wrote a Machine design text.Most machines in Thailand were being manufactured with wood at that time.When Ken came back from assignment he joined a firm called Solar Application Research that worked on energy conservation.It was difficult for Ken and his family to adapt after 5 years away."North America had changed whilst I was away" Hear this wonderful family interview.Thanks Noy for a lovely dinner. Thanks Ken for your service with CUSO-VSO 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 Dr. Alan Hedley last year when I went to thank him for his interest in CUSO-VSO. He is a retired Sociology Professor from the University of Victoria.He figured out what to do in his 3rd life. Support people and organizations that he believes make a difference.hear why he cares. Thanks Dr. Hedley you inspire me! 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

Jamie Kyles is a retired Shell Oil Executive that got bored and began to serve with us on assignments,. Working with coffee, trade, micro finance, education and more in Uganda and Tanzania.He used all his business skills and made a difference. I do think his experience with CUSO-VSO changed his world.Listen to his story. Check out his hat.Thanks Jamie for your service. 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

Veronica Cooper from CHEK TV- Vancouver Island was very curious about Jamie Kyles and his work in Tanzania and Uganda with CUSO-VSO.She interviewed him and I wanted to know what she felt about International Development and our work.Thanks Veronica for being such a sport. 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

David Mintenko served with CUSO-VSO on two assignments in IT working in communities in the Maldives and Mongloia.Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm at a recent presentation to the Health Science Department at SFU. 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

Juanita and I have Uganda in common. I come from Uganda and Juanita served there as a teacher. Another strange fact, Juanita sat in Idi Amin's chair and my family along with thousands of Asians were expelled from Uganda in 1973 by Idi Amin.Juanita's life long career in International Development began with CUSO and continued on with Canada World Youth , CESO and more. She also worked with First nations communities here in British Columbia.Juanita Tupper served CUSO in Uganda, worked for CUSO, served on the Board and Chaired the Board. Many years of service.Listen to what she says about choices and development.Thanks Juanita for all you have done for 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

Listen to this wonderful story that Patrick tells to make a point about water and community. He served in Laos returning in 2007.Thanks Patrick for telling this story so well. 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