Cuso International West

Served with Palal Women's Organization, serving an indigenous group.Her background is in conflict resolution and restorative justice.Trieu studied criminology at SFU and then went on to do a Master's degree after her placement at Portland State University in Portland, OR. 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

Margaret and John Vegt, served in Tanzania in 1972-1974Served together in Dar es Salaam for 6 months and then in Mwanza for 1.5 yrsBoth came from Vancouver and attended UBC.The Vegts got married and then set off, honeymooning in Africa as they served.John received a Bachelor of Commerce in accounting from UBC and served as Deputy Treasurer for Mwanza City Council and an internal auditor for city of Dar es Salaam.Margaret was a teacher who taught English in an elementary school in Mwanza. 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

Shirley has served with CUSO-VSO three times!Podcast continued. 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

As we celebrate our 50th it is wonderful to be able to thank returned volunteers that have given so much!Meeting Gig's after hearing about her from friends that have served with her was fabulous. We had a great discussion about International development. From teaching Geography in Sierra Leone to developing a system for digitizing project for a library for the Hun Sen Library in Cambodia. A well respected consultant in her field.Gigs has served with three times at different times in her life. Thanks ever so much for this rich conversation.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

Susan Gage from Victoria, served in Nigeria with CUSO from 1969-71. She taught fourth and fifth grade English in the town of Keffi which is located in the middle of Nigeria. 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

Geraldine Parsons along with her late husband Charlie, served with CUSO in PNG. While on assignment, the Parsons also engaged in activities and events with the locals. Prior to going on assignment, they owned a sawmill at Powell River in British Columbia. This podcast was recorded during CUSO-VSO's 50th Anniversary Kick-off celebrations in Vancouver, BC. CUSO-VSO is proud to honor 15,000 volunteers and 35 million service hours in over 40 countries. The views expressed in these podcasts do not necessarily reflect the views of CUSO-VSO or its supporters. At CUSO-VSO, we believe we are changing the world, one volunteer at a time.

Victoria's Jane Ramin served in Costa Rica from 1982-1985. She worked at the Costa Rican Institute for Technology. She learned to speak Spanish while in Costa Rica, and, in her final year, she taught Economics at the University. 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

Gary Brooks served as a community developer in Zambia from 2000-2003. His background is in the forestry industry to which he dedicated 38 years of his 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

With a Masters degree in Biology, Franc worked as a wildlife biologist in Selous Game Reserve, which is a 20,00 square mile reserve in Tanzania, studying antelopes. Franc was part of 106 CUSO volunteers on BOAC.

Helen Nation worked with CUSO as a librarian in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from 68-70, and then in Nigeria from 73-75. She later stayed in Nigeria on a local contract until 1979. In Tanzania, Helen worked in a public library that was based on the British county library system. Interestingly, a few years ago at a book reading she met MJ Vissanji, a Dar es Salem native, who said the Tanganyika Library "was the best place in Dar es Salem". In Nigeria, Helen worked in a university library and learned to practice the policy of "Management by Temper Tantrum" 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

Bergen Amren served in Papa New Guinea for a year during the colonial occupation by Australia. He worked as a curriculum developer for high schools. Bergen worked for CUSO at UBC many years ago. He is on the 50th comittee for Vancouver Dec 4 and 5 at UBC. Thanks Bergen This podcast was recorded during CUSO-VSO's 50th Anniversary Kick-off celebrations in Vancouver, BC. CUSO-VSO is proud to honor 15,000 volunteers and 35 million service hours in over 40 countries. The views expressed in these podcasts do not necessarily reflect the views of CUSO-VSO or its supporters. At CUSO-VSO, we believe we are changing the world, one volunteer at a time.

Kathleen Lowe worked as a publishing advisor to a regional NGO in Ghana. She became a publishing consultant and the department head of publishing. She met Princess Anne and shares the story of meeting her and other members of the royal family. 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

Robin Halem, joined CUSO in 1968 after he finished University. He served in Nigeria during the Nigerian-Biafran War. Robin learned that war affects developing countries, its people, and their lives in various ways. In Nigeria, Robin did Farm Management Studies at the village level implementing research. In order to do this, he had to learn the local language(s), and while learning the language(s), Robin also learned that the locals perception of language was quite different; locals though of language as something you hear as opposed to something you speak. Thanks Robin for sharing your experience 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

When he turned 10, Brandon Peters stayed in Fort Villa, Vanuatu for two and half years. Brandon recalls the military coups in the Solomon Islands and Fiji, and says the aftershock of the coup was felt in Vanuatu. Upon returning to Canada, he finished high school, and is now at the University of Victoria on a work term.Brandon's parents were CUSO volunteers 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

Phil Bartle is a senior planner, trainer, and adviser of development projects. Specialist in the sociology of communities, and in community empowerment, he shares stories of his time in Ghana. 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