Cuso International West

Ron now lives in Saskatoon. he served in Mombasa as a teacher in a polytechnical school, Kenya and helped youth learn new skills. Listen to his experience. Thanks Ron for sharing your story. CUSO-VSOVolunteer for a better world! Share Skills volunteers in 43 Countries-Bangladesh,Bolivia,Burkina Faso,Cambodia,Cameroon,China,El Salvador,Eritrea,Ethiopia,Gambia,Guatemala ,Ghana,Guyana,Honduras,India,Jamaica,Indonesia,Kenya,Laos,Malawi,Maldives,Mongolia,Mozambique,Namibia,Nepal ,Nigeria,Pakistan,Papua New Guinea,Peru,Philippines,Rwanda,Sierra, Leone,South Africa,Sri Lanka,Tajikistan,Tanzania,Thailand,Togo, ,Uganda,Vanuatu,Vietnam,Zambia and Zimbabwe.Support our workwww.cuso-vso.org

When you take a family to serve with you how do the children cope? Find out from Edith's two wonderful girls about the impact the year in Ghanna made on their lives. They now live in Saskatoon.CUSO-VSOVolunteer for a better world! Share Skills volunteers in 43 Countries-Bangladesh,Bolivia,Burkina Faso,Cambodia,Cameroon,China,El Salvador,Eritrea,Ethiopia,Gambia,Guatemala ,Ghana,Guyana,Honduras,India,Jamaica,Indonesia,Kenya,Laos,Malawi,Maldives,Mongolia,Mozambique,Namibia,Nepal ,Nigeria,Pakistan,Papua New Guinea,Peru,Philippines,Rwanda,Sierra, Leone,South Africa,Sri Lanka,Tajikistan,Tanzania,Thailand,Togo, ,Uganda,Vanuatu,Vietnam,Zambia and Zimbabwe.Support our workwww.cuso-vso.org

George has served in several countries on different assignments. He has refined his skills and loves sharing them from Zanzibar, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia. Thanks George you have made a real difference sharing your skills. For more information about CUSO-VSO please go to www.cuso-vso.orgPlease leave a comment . We are getting ready to celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2011. If you know anyone that served with CUSO or VSO please ask them to contact us.Over 12,000 volunteers and almost 25 million hours of service. Thank you Alumni and current serving volunteers! CUSO-VSOVolunteer for a better world! Share Skills volunteers in 43 Countries-Bangladesh,Bolivia,Burkina Faso,Cambodia,Cameroon,China,El Salvador,Eritrea,Ethiopia,Gambia,Guatemala ,Ghana,Guyana,Honduras,India,Jamaica,Indonesia,Kenya,Laos,Malawi,Maldives,Mongolia,Mozambique,Namibia,Nepal ,Nigeria,Pakistan,Papua New Guinea,Peru,Philippines,Rwanda,Sierra, Leone,South Africa,Sri Lanka,Tajikistan,Tanzania,Thailand,Togo, ,Uganda,Vanuatu,Vietnam,Zambia and Zimbabwe.Support our workwww.cuso-vso.org

Albert reminds us of the most important and key aspect to anything, which is social justice. What the people have accomplished is that they realize that they should have a say as to how the natural resources in their country should be managed. CUSO-VSOVolunteer for a better world! Share Skills volunteers in 43 Countries-Bangladesh,Bolivia,Burkina Faso,Cambodia,Cameroon,China,El Salvador,Eritrea,Ethiopia,Gambia,Guatemala ,Ghana,Guyana,Honduras,India,Jamaica,Indonesia,Kenya,Laos,Malawi,Maldives,Mongolia,Mozambique,Namibia,Nepal ,Nigeria,Pakistan,Papua New Guinea,Peru,Philippines,Rwanda,Sierra, Leone,South Africa,Sri Lanka,Tajikistan,Tanzania,Thailand,Togo, ,Uganda,Vanuatu,Vietnam,Zambia and Zimbabwe.Support our workwww.cuso-vso.org

Albert continues to discuss how the project was intended to promote equitable access to the fisheries and resources, preserve the natural environment, and enable the locals to have a say in decision making in terms of how they think the fisheries should best be managed

Albert Dizan, from the Philippines was recruited from VSO-Bahaginan. He holds a bachelors degree in political science and two masters degrees, one in community development and the other in development administration. This extremely intelligent and well travelled man has vast experience in international work. In his interview he discusses some of the challenges he faced in Cambodia as the community development advisor to the ministry of agriculture, fisheries and forestry. CUSO-VSOVolunteer for a better world! Share Skills volunteers in 43 Countries-Bangladesh,Bolivia,Burkina Faso,Cambodia,Cameroon,China,El Salvador,Eritrea,Ethiopia,Gambia,Guatemala ,Ghana,Guyana,Honduras,India,Jamaica,Indonesia,Kenya,Laos,Malawi,Maldives,Mongolia,Mozambique,Namibia,Nepal ,Nigeria,Pakistan,Papua New Guinea,Peru,Philippines,Rwanda,Sierra, Leone,South Africa,Sri Lanka,Tajikistan,Tanzania,Thailand,Togo, ,Uganda,Vanuatu,Vietnam,Zambia and Zimbabwe.Support our workwww.cuso-vso.org

Rosamund Van Leeuwen went to Singapore as a volunteer for VSO in 1963. She was only 17 at the time and visually impaired since the age of two. A school for visually impaired and blind children had just opened up in Singapore, this is where she was an instructor. She had a three-fold job which involved acting as a liaison between teachers and children, instructing children in the daytime at the school, and educating the general public in Singapore about this disability. Even though she was only in Singapore for a year, it was the most fulfilling year of her life. Rosamund was lucky enough to grow up in the Golden Age, a period she says held no barriers for travelling and working. After her experiences with VSO, she continued to travel and work for another five years before coming back to Canada in 1974. CUSO-VSOVolunteer for a better world! Share Skills volunteers in 43 Countries-Bangladesh,Bolivia,Burkina Faso,Cambodia,Cameroon,China,El Salvador,Eritrea,Ethiopia,Gambia,Guatemala ,Ghana,Guyana,Honduras,India,Jamaica,Indonesia,Kenya,Laos,Malawi,Maldives,Mongolia,Mozambique,Namibia,Nepal ,Nigeria,Pakistan,Papua New Guinea,Peru,Philippines,Rwanda,Sierra, Leone,South Africa,Sri Lanka,Tajikistan,Tanzania,Thailand,Togo, ,Uganda,Vanuatu,Vietnam,Zambia and Zimbabwe.Support our workwww.cuso-vso.org

John Wilcox is one of the founding Canadian Overseas Volunteers (COV) volunteers who was sent out into the field in 1961. He was only 19 at the time and very eager to see the world, he contacted Keith Spicer and before he knew it, he was learning Hindi in India and having tea with the president. He headed a Ghandian project in West Bengal which had its challenges. He describes his time in India as being a period of enlightenment which allowed him to realize the absurdity of the American Press and their representation of the sophisticated and important people of India. As a pioneer of CUSO, we thank Wilcox for his contributions and inspirational story. CUSO-VSOVolunteer for a better world! Share Skills volunteers in 43 Countries-Bangladesh,Bolivia,Burkina Faso,Cambodia,Cameroon,China,El Salvador,Eritrea,Ethiopia,Gambia,Guatemala ,Ghana,Guyana,Honduras,India,Jamaica,Indonesia,Kenya,Laos,Malawi,Maldives,Mongolia,Mozambique,Namibia,Nepal ,Nigeria,Pakistan,Papua New Guinea,Peru,Philippines,Rwanda,Sierra, Leone,South Africa,Sri Lanka,Tajikistan,Tanzania,Thailand,Togo, ,Uganda,Vanuatu,Vietnam,Zambia and Zimbabwe.Support our workwww.cuso-vso.org

John Wilcox continues to discuss his experiences in India while working with COV CUSO-VSOVolunteer for a better world! Share Skills volunteers in 43 Countries-Bangladesh,Bolivia,Burkina Faso,Cambodia,Cameroon,China,El Salvador,Eritrea,Ethiopia,Gambia,Guatemala ,Ghana,Guyana,Honduras,India,Jamaica,Indonesia,Kenya,Laos,Malawi,Maldives,Mongolia,Mozambique,Namibia,Nepal ,Nigeria,Pakistan,Papua New Guinea,Peru,Philippines,Rwanda,Sierra, Leone,South Africa,Sri Lanka,Tajikistan,Tanzania,Thailand,Togo, ,Uganda,Vanuatu,Vietnam,Zambia and Zimbabwe.Support our workwww.cuso-vso.org

George Harris was very young when he started his first assignment. He has worked for CUSO, volunteered and married Shirley Lord and gone with her on assignment. Listen to this life long commitment to international work.George is preparing for his next assignment soon. He lives in Winnipeg with his wife Shirley. CUSO-VSOVolunteer for a better world! Share Skills volunteers in 43 Countries-Bangladesh,Bolivia,Burkina Faso,Cambodia,Cameroon,China,El Salvador,Eritrea,Ethiopia,Gambia,Guatemala ,Ghana,Guyana,Honduras,India,Jamaica,Indonesia,Kenya,Laos,Malawi,Maldives,Mongolia,Mozambique,Namibia,Nepal ,Nigeria,Pakistan,Papua New Guinea,Peru,Philippines,Rwanda,Sierra, Leone,South Africa,Sri Lanka,Tajikistan,Tanzania,Thailand,Togo, ,Uganda,Vanuatu,Vietnam,Zambia and Zimbabwe.Support our workwww.cuso-vso.org

Ron and his wife served in Malaysia with Orangatans on a forrest conservation program. The Yanan Saba Foundation was the partner organization. He now works for the City of Winnipeg in waste and water management. Ron served 6 years on the cUSO Board and participated in the merger with VSO. We cant thank Ron enough for his service. Perhaps one day he will go out in the field with CUSO-VSO? CUSO-VSOVolunteer for a better world! Share Skills volunteers in 43 Countries-Bangladesh,Bolivia,Burkina Faso,Cambodia,Cameroon,China,El Salvador,Eritrea,Ethiopia,Gambia,Guatemala ,Ghana,Guyana,Honduras,India,Jamaica,Indonesia,Kenya,Laos,Malawi,Maldives,Mongolia,Mozambique,Namibia,Nepal ,Nigeria,Pakistan,Papua New Guinea,Peru,Philippines,Rwanda,Sierra, Leone,South Africa,Sri Lanka,Tajikistan,Tanzania,Thailand,Togo, ,Uganda,Vanuatu,Vietnam,Zambia and Zimbabwe.Support our workwww.cuso-vso.org

Helen Zokowski is an extraordinary woman and a pioneer for CUSO-VSO. In 1961, the Canadian Overseas Volunteers (COV), to become CUSO, sent its first 15 volunteers out on assignments, Helen was one of those volunteers. She majored in languages (Russian, English and Polish). Working in Toronto she met with Keith Spicer who was doing his PhD at U of Toronto at the time. He was inspired by Donald K Farris PhD who wrote the book called “To Plough with Hope”. The ideas was to send young Canadian just out of University to share skills and bring back International experience. The motto was to Serve and Learn. A meeting was held at U of T and 80 students were interested in the concept. A Group of 15 were chosen. 10 were to go India, 3 to Ceylon and 2 to Borneo. She began her preparation with no previous teacher training. She was to go to Malaysia. During her preparation she met Clenn Wodrife and after a 3 month courtship they were off to Malaysia as husband and wife celebrating their honeymoon on board the ship that was to take them to their assignment. They moved to Malaysia where she went to teach English and then taught British History. Clenn taught Math and Sciences. Surviving on an $80/ month stipend, the two did exactly what they set out to accomplish and in return for their efforts, Helen made life time friends and gained a new perspective and outlook on life. To learn more about Helen's adventures abroad have a listen.

Helen now lives in Comox and is a freelance writer. She has served with Science International, CBC, and is an accomplished Producer, Director and Writer. She talked to me about the founders and the first 16 volunteers that served in India, Malaysia and Borneo. Who were these pioneers. Started with an idea from Keith Spicer PhD and Donald K Farris PhD.To Serve and Learn. Key players Fred Stintson,Ozzie Schmidt,Lewis Perinbaum, Suzanne Johnson. Volunteers Anne Hume, Bill Mc Quinny, Dale Posgate, Hughette Leger, Buffie Curthurs, Steve Wilcomb, John Wilcox, Greta Dahl, John Andrews, Sally Bambridge. Silvia Silverston, Clenn Wodrife, Helen Wodrife- Startowski, Ed Enkin( deceased) and Dick Hamilton.One more name to come. We owe these first 16 a great deal. Over 12,000 Canadians went on to serve with CUSO. Thanks Helen for sharing this history with us. We look forward to celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2011.

Shirley is known in Winnipeg for her community work. She believes in the rights of the individual and the importance of social justice. She has served in Ethiopia, Zanzibar and Tanzania. She will be going on assignment again. Thanks Shirley for sharing your skills. CUSO-VSOVolunteer for a better world! Share Skills volunteers in 43 Countries-Bangladesh,Bolivia,Burkina Faso,Cambodia,Cameroon,China,El Salvador,Eritrea,Ethiopia,Gambia,Guatemala ,Ghana,Guyana,Honduras,India,Jamaica,Indonesia,Kenya,Laos,Malawi,Maldives,Mongolia,Mozambique,Namibia,Nepal ,Nigeria,Pakistan,Papua New Guinea,Peru,Philippines,Rwanda,Sierra, Leone,South Africa,Sri Lanka,Tajikistan,Tanzania,Thailand,Togo, ,Uganda,Vanuatu,Vietnam,Zambia and Zimbabwe.Support our workwww.cuso-vso.org

George continues his story of his projects and partners from Ethiopia to Uganda. George has done so much with CUSO and VSO. He has worked with us as well as served as a volunteer for many years. I come from Uganda and I am quite sure George and Shirley know the country better than I have ever known it. CUSO-VSOVolunteer for a better world! Share Skills volunteers in 43 Countries-Bangladesh,Bolivia,Burkina Faso,Cambodia,Cameroon,China,El Salvador,Eritrea,Ethiopia,Gambia,Guatemala ,Ghana,Guyana,Honduras,India,Jamaica,Indonesia,Kenya,Laos,Malawi,Maldives,Mongolia,Mozambique,Namibia,Nepal ,Nigeria,Pakistan,Papua New Guinea,Peru,Philippines,Rwanda,Sierra, Leone,South Africa,Sri Lanka,Tajikistan,Tanzania,Thailand,Togo, ,Uganda,Vanuatu,Vietnam,Zambia and Zimbabwe.Support our workwww.cuso-vso.org