CUSO-VSO- Umeeda Switlo

Gil Mervyn recently retired as Municipal clerk for the Municipality of Delta in British Columbia. I met with him during International Development week to hear about his experience in Guyana with CUSO.

This is one of those very special interviews where you hear about how a young person really wanted to make a difference and his journey to make that happen. He was 20 years old when he served with CUSO in Guyana.

1969- Taught in Guyana

Later served with CUSO as Country officer supporting volunteers placed in Ghana.

A rich experience.

Gil hopes help CUSO-VSO in our work. I can think of many ways that a person with so many skills can help.

Thanks Gill for a wonderful interview.

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

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My sister was staying at a fabulous Bed and Breakfast in Deep Cove called Lockehaven and told me that the owners name was Noulan Bowker and that he served with CUSO. She said that he remembered those years as some of the best of his life. I had to meet him and finally did.

A young engineering graduate served with CUSO in 1971. He had adventured in the high north and so it wasn't a surprise for his family when he took an assignment. He was sure he wanted to go to Thailand.

His assignment was in a place close to Bangkok at a technical college. He told me about how this assignment changed his world and he hoped that he had made a deference.

I think he did. His idea of fixing equipment at the college may have taught his students to take matters in their own hands and make things work.

It was a pleasure hearing his enthusiasm about his 2 year assignment.

Thanks Noulan

CUSO-VSO

Volunteer 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.

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I met Maryam Moghaddas in Vancouver recently. She has been back from her assignment for 6 years. It was wonderful talking with this bright woman who served when she was 29 years old with VSO.

She went as an IT specialist and ended up focusing on training young people to train others on computer skills. Sustainable development at its best.

Like many Returned Volunteers Maryam is very modest about  her work and believes that the experience changed her as much.

I look forward to Maryam reconnecting with her passion in Ineternational Development.

Thanks Maryam for sharing your experience with me.

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.

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When I first met Rosalind at a CUSO Potluck two years ago I was so impressed with the fact that she had cycled from a long distance to come to the dinner. She is very fit and very committed to International Development. She has helped me on several occasions in our Public Engagement work. Thanks Rosalinde, you are inspiration.

1979- Served in Tanzania as a Tailoring instructor

1988-2005 - Served in Ghana with Widows and Orphan's Ministry as a Business Administrator and at the Mencell Girl's vocational school as a Financial Administration Manager.

Rosalind with Madame Betty

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.

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I met Lisa Whitehouse a year ago and she told me it was her lifetime goal to volunteers overseas.

She worked with the Government of British Columbia that partners with CUSO-VSO to ensure that we deliver the best possible skilled person to our projects. Government employees can apply to serve with us and return to a job with the BC Government. Lisa is the first volunteer to be sent in this partnership. There are however quite a few BC Government employees that have served with us in the past.

Greg Spira was also getting ready to take an assignment in Cameroon and interviewed Lisa.

Lisa is working with Children and disabilities, mostly administrative work.

I cant wait to hear from her!

Thanks Greg for the doing the interview so well.

Lisa- Right in green suit. Pictured with RV's in Victoria and Karen Petite from BC Government.

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.

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Paul was recruited in Manitoba by VSO. He served from 2005-2009 at Aurora State College of Technology from 2005-2008.

Hear about what this amazing man learned. Paul is a citizen of the world and is making a great difference today and in the future.

What do Polar Bears in the Arctic and the Philippines have in common besides Paul Watts?

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 talked with Marian White and Judith David our education officer for CUPE.

Marian and Judith have both worked with CUSO for many years and have been involved with CUPE. Listen to the story of pay equity for our southern staff and the history of the Union in CUSO now CUSO-VSO

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

Marian came from Prince Edward Island. She studied at UPEI got in a degree in arts and Education. She was posted Wamba, Nigeria at Wamba Government teachers college.

She remembers her students teaching under a tree and writing in the sand with sticks.

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.

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Dan Garvey had retired from a career in Educational Administration in Alberta. With the help of family and friends he was able to serve in The Gambia for 6 months in 2009.  The Gambia in order to meet the ojectives of the Millenium Development Goals has almost 90% of primary aged children in schools. This has caused a real challenge on the infrastructures of schools. Overcrowding and lack of supplies and educators.

Dan challenged his Church to help in the region as well.

Dan cant thank his family more for giving him the support to fulfill his goal. He continues to support programs in The Gambia.

Thanks Dan.

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

Kelly worked with the Peace way foundation in Thailand also called Burma Issues. Her job? Help build capacity and a strategy for the Karen.

The Karen (Burmese: kayin lu myo:), self-titled Pwa Ka Nyaw Po, and also known in Thailand as the Kariang (or Yang, are some languages and many ethnic groups in Burma and Thailand. The Karen make up approximately 7 percent of the total Burmese population of 47 million people.^[1]

The Karen have fought for independence from Burma since 31 January 1949. Consequently, 31 January is recognized amongst the Karen as Karen Revolution Day.

Kelly now works with Service Canada on Homelessness Partnering Strategy. Welcome home Kelly!

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