CUSO-VSO West

It's very rare that I get the opportunity to meet with partner organizations from the field, but I got lucky during my recent visit to Vancouver Island where I met Pat and Alastair, directors of the NGO Hands Across Borders. Based in Jambiani, Tanzania, Pat and Alastair run both a health and wellness clinic and a Tourism and Training Institute. They had the idea for this project during their visit to Jambiani in 1997; now they work with 15 students per class in community-directed training that culminates in a degree equivalent to a 2-year North American diploma.

Pat and Alastair, thank you for sharing your story with us. We are so pleased to be working with their organization in Tanzania on the beautiful island of Zanzibar. More information about Hands Across Borders can be found at www.handsacrossborderssociety.org

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.

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Rex had received his Masters degree in Library Science and had also worked in Information studies, Environment and Web design.

He volunteered at the Pratistan Health and Trust in Kathmandu that worked in the HIV/AIDS sector.

He helped them raise awareness about HIV/AIDS creating advocacy and education campaigns. This proactive approach may help reduce the the occurrence of HIV/AIDS in Nepal.

He served with his partner Tlall Elvis.

He now works at the UBC learning exchange in Vancouver's Downtown East side.

Thanks for the interview and look forward to your help with our 50th anniversary celebration.

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

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.com

Thanks 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 Barbara Kerfoot, a returned volunteer and former CUSO staff member, in Parksville on Vancouver Island. Barbara worked as a librarian in North York, ON, before volunteering as an Adult Literacy Coordinator with CUSO in New Delhi, India. During our conversation she talked about how volunteering in India made her question her concerns and hesitation about travelling to new places. She ended up returning to India a few years later before visiting Nigeria and Zimbabwe, and continued her passion for literacy by working as a librarian in BC.

Barbara, thank you for your service and for continuing to promote literacy in BC.

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.com

Thank 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