WHAT MAKES CUSO-VSO UNIQUE?
on Alejandra Barahona (Kenya), 05/May/2010 03:48, 34 days ago
CUSO-VSO sends people not aidCUSO-VSO sends people rather than aid money– we are not an emergency relief agency. Our volunteers work on long-term, sustainable solutions, and live at the heart of the community they serve, on a similar salary and in comparable accommodation to their local co-workers. Our volunteers come from many professional and personal backgrounds, from many ages, and from across Canada and the United States as well as from a number of developing countries in which we work.CUSO-VSO harnesses the power of volunteeringLasting change requires not just a financial investment, but also a human investment. That’s why CUSO-VSO shares skills, and changes lives. In spite of the obstacles facing them, people in every corner of the developing world are building better futures for their communities. Our volunteers work side-by-side with these committed citizens to make this positive change happen. They are matched to placements that meet the direct requests of our overseas partners. Our volunteers generally strengthen individual capabilities and build the capacity of organizations.CUSO-VSO works collaborativelyWe work collaboratively with developing world partner groups and governments on locally and nationally managed projects. We bring together people from different cultures and backgrounds, enabling them to share skills and perspectives. Local program staff work with development partners to create a country or regional strategic plan that guides our work. Our partnership approach is key to all that we do, and our volunteer recruitment is driven by the requests for volunteers that we receive from overseas partners.In addition to our programs in developing countries, we also work to build global understanding of the issues around poverty and disadvantage. Advocacy and development awareness activities by staff, returned volunteers and supporters are part of our ongoing efforts.CUSO-VSO is part of a global volunteering movementWhile there are many volunteer-sending agencies, one of CUSO-VSO’s unique attributes is its role as the North American member of VSO International, a worldwide partnership of Voluntary Service Organizations. This international federation is the world's largest non-governmental development organization that works through volunteers. It allows us to recruitfrom all over the worldso we can find volunteers with targeted, hands-on experience. We can also transfer the expertise, experience and‘best practices’ of one country to another.Through membership in an international federation, CUSO-VSO can contribute to a world of solutions through interconnected development programs that extend beyond national borders. And we can also influence policy debate on a global scale, as a member of the world’s largest volunteer-sending international development organization.