, one volunteer at a time. You are helping to change the world Sandy working with Sense International in Tanzania to advocate for deafblind children. Helen Keller would be proud I know it sounds shocking... but in parts of the world, historically, a handicapped child was seen as shameful, a sign of a curse, something to be hidden or left to die! — Sandra Klos, CUSO-VSO volunteer S andy is a Clinical Psychologist who dedicated volunteers like Sandy, things are left her lucrative private practice to beginning to change. volunteer with Sense International, an organization that advocates for “When I arrived,” says Sandy, “there the deafblind in Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. were already a number of classrooms set up for deafblind children. But there was A deafblind child is both visually and hearing something missing.” impaired. This double sensory handicap means these children are misunderstood She realized it was the teachers who and often sadly neglected simply because needed encouragement and training in one their families are completely and utterly of the most basic of skills — play! overwhelmed by the challenges of raising a deafblind child. They had all the right qualifications but in this culture, none of them had “One of the first stories I heard when I got experience with the amount and here,” says Sandy, “was of a young boy, number of toys and tactile aids I’ll call him Samuel, whose parents would required to make a connection with simply tie him to a chair all day while they these special needs children. worked in the fields. That was the only thing they knew to do.” “Think Helen Keller!” says Sandy, “Deafblind children But through the work of Sense International, connect to the world and with help from resourceful and largely with their sense Continue on page 2 Page 2 •Stopping sexual violence Page 3 •Carpentry with purpose •An empowering idea Page 4 •Canada’s Governor General chooses CUSO-VSO •50th Anniversary national celebrations Page 5 •CUSO-VSO is recruiting Page 6 •Leaving a Legacy Issue 11-1 •••• 2 •••• Continued from page 1 of touch, so the teachers here are helping these children make that connection. It’s a slow process and requires incredible patience.” Sense International provided funding to equip an “experimental” classroom with a wide assortment of teaching materials such as puzzles, shape sorters, fabrics, yarns, beads, dolls and plastic animals. The change did not go unnoticed. The Kenya Institute for Special Education chose Sandy’s experimental classroom as a place where their deafblind teachers can learn “from the best”. The challenges are enormous. The government’s Education For All campaign seeks to make education for every child in Kenya a priority but by some estimates there is still a need for some 70,000 teachers to reach over 4 million children. With this simple breakthrough Sandy became a “teacher to the teachers”. She also witnessed an incredible “So, as you can imagine,” says change in the students. Children who Sandy, “it cannot be a major priority once sat slumped over all day staring to reach these severely disabled blankly at the floor became alert, children. That’s why our role here engaged — interacting with their world. is so important.” Because of Sense International and Sandy’s help as CUSO-VSO volunteer, deafblind teachers are getting better at what they do, and that reality will continue long after her assignment is complete. “I’m grateful to CUSO-VSO for the opportunity to work with these wonderful teachers. Plus, I want our donors to know that because of them, this classroom — and these children’s lives — will never be the same again!” To learn more about CUSO-VSO’s Disability Program please visit our YouTube site at http://tinyurl.com/VoicePart1 and http:// tinyurl.com/VoicePart2 to watch the voice of 650 million times one, produced by VSO. Sexual violence. Making it stop! G uatemala. With tear-filled eyes, 57-year-old Francisca uttered these words, “If only someone had explained these things to me when I was young, it would have saved me from being treated like an unworthy object from the first day of my marriage.” Francisca is one of the many women being helped by CICAM, the Centre for Investigation, Empowerment and Support to Women. CUSO-VSO volunteer Maya Fernandez is a vital part of the project. travel to each region to teach young women about their reproductive and sexual rights and enable adult women to know about violence prevention. The results so far? “The enthusiasm of these women is overwhelming,” says Maya. All of the women in Phase One have committed to becoming mentors in their own communities. Through the mentoring process this year alone over 3,000 women will benefit. These women feel a new sense of empowerment. “The impact we’re making is greater than we could ever have imagined,” says Luvia, one of the mentors, “this is like a dream to us.” Your support of CUSO-VSO volunteers means that for many women in Guatemala, a life free from sexual violence is now not a dream, but a reality. The impact we’re making is greater than we could ever have imagined... this is like a dream to us. Sexual violence is one of the most ancient, hidden and silenced expression of violence against women. But simply put, a woman who is aware of her sexual and reproductive rights is less likely to suffer discrimination and violence. Maya immediately became an important part of the program. The plan was as brilliant as it was practical — The CICAM team and women who have gained a new sense of empowerment through the sexual violence prevention program. •••• 3 •••• Eddie. The right man for the right job I f you want the job done — find the right person! That’s how Father Joachim De Mello felt when he went looking for someone to help him solve a major problem. He works with disadvantaged youth in St Ignatius, Guyana as part of the Jesuit Mission. In this region there are very few opportunities for vocational training. Big problem. But Father Joachim saw a solution — a derelict and almost forgotten carpentry workshop. The shop had sat unused for years. Much of the machinery was broken and had fallen into disrepair. What was desperately needed was someone who could bring the shop back to life. Fr Joachim met with CUSO-VSO-Guyana because he believed his plan was a good one. He just needed the right person. Enter Eddie Doyle, an Irish born master cabinet maker and woodworker. In addition to his woodworking qualifications, Eddie specializes in occupational and vocational training. The first two months of Eddie’s overseas placement in Guyana were spent on the massive job of returning the broken-down workshop to operational status. Then things got interesting. Father Joachim presenting Certificate of attendance to a young trainee, Francis Eusebio from Shulinab. Eddie contacted local community groups and the invitation went Kenneth from Nappi and Robert from Shulinab working under Eddie’s supervision. out for young trainees. Since then, the shop has been humming with activity — and purpose. Skills learned here will provide independence and dignity, and create incomegenerating opportunities where once there were none. So far so good. Since Eddie arrived, eleven carpenters have graduated from the workshops and many more trainees have signed on. Remember, when you support CUSOVSO’s hard working volunteers like Eddie, these are the successes you make possible! CUSO-VSO 50th Anniversary National Celebrations The national reunion is taking place in Ottawa on June 24–26, 2011 at Carleton University. •Saturday, June 25 th — Conference at Carleton University •Saturday, June 25 th — Reception, Dinner & Dance •Sunday, June 26 th — Celebration BBQ Luncheon with VIPs There are also regional events being planned later this year in Atlantic Canada, Toronto and the Prairies and Western Canada. Please visit www.cuso-vso50.org for registration and for more detailed information or call 1-888-434-2876, Ext. 204 to request further information by telephone or by mail or e-mail: [email protected]. In celebration of our 50 th anniversary CUSO-VSO is entering a team in this year’s May 28 th and 29 th Ottawa Race Weekend. Visit www.r4tw.ca to sign up or for more information. For every $2,500 we raise, thanks to the agreement with CIDA, CUSO-VSO can send a professional volunteer overseas for one year. Join our global movement — invest in CUSO-VSO’s volunteers for the world. Every $1 donated is leveraged 9 times by the Canadian International Development Agency! $5 becomes $50. $10 becomes $100. $100 becomes $1,000. And so on! Please visit our website — news and events section, to learn about CUSO-VSO Information sessions in or near your community this year. •••• 4 •••• Did you know? Canada’s Governor General chooses CUSO-VSO I to place great importance on voluntarism and community service. His patronage will continue through his term as Governor General over the next five years. In his inaugural address, the Governor General, who is in effect Canada’s Head of State, took the opportunity This is a distinct honour for us and one that we share happily with our loyal supporters and friends. But most of all, the Governor General’s am pleased to announce that His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, the new Governor General of Canada, has accepted our invitation to serve as Patron of CUSO-VSO. patronage is a very special vote of confidence for our many dedicated CUSO-VSO volunteers who proudly represent Canada around the world as they continue to give selfless service to people and communities in need. Derek G. Evans Executive Director, CUSO-VSO Volunteer — Champion of change It wasn’t a simple idea. It was an empowering idea. When former CUSO-VSO volunteer Jock Brandis was in Mali in 2000, he found himself on a dusty road watching two women shelling peanuts to be sold in the local market. Their hands were bloody and raw from the tedious, painfully slow process. “There’s got to be a better way,” he thought, and it turns out there absolutely is a better way. When Jock returned home he went looking for a simple hand-operated nut sheller that could be easily shipped or manufactured overseas — but unfortunately there was no such thing. So Jock invented one! But he didn’t stop there. He set up shop, and a non-profit organization called The Full Belly Project to empower people in rural communities with appropriate technologies such as the universal nut sheller, the rocking water pump and the corn cracker. The shellers are shipped — almost like a factory in a box — along with detailed instructions on how the unit can be manufactured using local materials. Then what happened? Well, so far thousands of Jock’s universal nut shellers have been manufactured and distributed in countries throughout South America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. The sheller also processes coffee beans, pecans and hazelnuts. Former CUSO-VSO volunteer, Jock Brandis, with his empowering invention CUSO-VSO volunteers! Special people with amazing talents to share not only on their overseas placements but upon their return to Canada or the U.S.A. See page 5 for how you can volunteer with CUSO-VSO like Jock! •••• 5 •••• CUSO-VSO is recruiting! Each year, hundreds of North Americans have strived to overcome world poverty by volunteering overseas with CUSO-VSO. Working alongside women and men in some of the most disadvantaged communities in the world, volunteers see first hand the impact international volunteering can have in improving people’s lives. Our volunteers... Right now, CUSO-VSO is actively recruiting experienced professionals to fill volunteer placements with our overseas partners. We are looking for English, French and Spanish-speaking professionals with a minimum of 2–5 years professional experience. Our training and support package covers the costs of being an overseas volunteer, allowing you to enjoy a modest but healthy lifestyle while you volunteer abroad. Currently recruiting* •Primary School Teacher Trainer, Rwanda – 12 months •Education Manager, Nigeria - 12 months •Climate Change Advisor, Honduras – 12 months •Disability Advocacy Advisor, Guyana – 12 months •Fundraising Advisor, Tanzania – 12 months •Community Worker, Cameroon - 24 months •Hospital Nurse, Burkina Faso – 12 months •Paediatrician, Ethiopia – 12 months •Web and Communications Specialist, Jamaica – 12 months •Organizational Development Advisor, Burkina Faso – 6 months •Management Advisor, Cambodia – 12 months *Please check our website for a complete list of all current volunteer placements and apply today! www.cuso-vso.org •••• Leaving a Legacy 6 •••• It felt good, and it was easy. Questions? Call now to speak to someone at CUSO-VSO. Toll free 1-888-434-2876, Ext. 287 Contact Information Thank You! CUSO-VSO North American Office 44 Eccles Street, Suite 200, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 6S4 Canada Tel: (613) 829-7445 • Toll-free: 1-888-434-2876 Fax: (613) 829-7996 • e-mail: [email protected] Website: www.cuso-vso.org • Facebook : www.facebook.com/cusovso CUSO-VSO would like to acknowledge and express its sincere gratitude to all our supporters, volunteers and the following institutional donors for support of our projects and programs in Canada and overseas. For information on volunteering for CUSO-VSO in North America, contact the Public Engagement Officer nearest you. Atlantic Canada/Northeastern U.S. Charlottetown, PEI [email protected] Tel: (902) 892-2610 • Toll Free for Atlantic: 1-800-676-8411 Québec/Francophone Canada/Southern U.S. Montréal, Québec [email protected] • [email protected] Tel: (514) 276-8528 Western Canada/Prairies/U.S. West/Alaska/Hawaii Vancouver, British Columbia [email protected] • Tel: (604) 566-3368 Ontario/Northern Canada/U.S. Midwest Ottawa, Ontario [email protected] • Tel: (647) 478-4089 OR 1-888-434-2976, Ext. 244 • Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) • Ministère des Relations Internationales du Québec (MRI) • International Development Research Centre (IDRC) • McKnight Foundation • Canadian Union of Public Employees’ Global Justice Fund • Deloitte Canada •Scotiabank •Accenture •Randstad • R. Howard Webster Foundation