Education is a transformative tool for empowering individuals, strengthening communities and promoting sustainable development. To have effect, we must ensure that all people have access to quality, relevant education that is supported by a strong enabling environment.
Nearly 70 million children are out of school, many of whom are girls, refugees or people are living in conflict-affected areas. As well, education systems struggle to offer quality education that meets the needs of learners, often because of a lack of trained teachers, and ineffective governance and management of education.
WUSC understands that investments in education are fundamental to achieving sustainable development. We believe all peoples are entitled to the knowledge and skills necessary to build strong and healthy communities. WUSC continues, after six decades, to help balance inequities and promote sustainable development through education and training.
Together with professionals and volunteers who share and exchange knowledge and experiences with local organizations across the world, WUSC works towards:
Education provides the hope for a better future and equips young people with the tools to make it happen. Help us empower people and build stronger communities around the world.
Currently the education system in Ghana only allows municipal or “local” education groups to carry out administration duties while the important decision-making about curriculum, teachers and funding is made at the headquarters in Accra. This system has led to challenges in the management of finance and human resources, which ultimately affects the quality of education offered to students.
Results:
Key project results include:
- establishment of a draft operational framework for education decentralization;
- development of operational frameworks and functions for three national autonomous bodies (National Inspectorate Board, National Teaching Council, National Council on Curriculum and Assessment);
- development and installation of a networked information system connecting national, regional and district education authorities (15 districts in one pilot region) under the new decentralized framework, which will be officially launched in November 2011.
Following decades of conflict and tumult, almost half of Afghanistan's children are still not attending schools. Despite an increase of teachers since 2001, only 24% of teachers have the minimum qualifications to teach. The country lacks common and appropriate standards for certifying teachers and accrediting teacher training institutions. Consequently, the quality of education in Afghanistan is poor.
Results:
Expected results:
- Improve the standards of teacher training institutions and quality of existing teachers within the education system
- Enhance quality of classroom teaching
- Increase equity in the delivery of education services across Afghanistan
- Contribute to greater access to education for boys and girls
- Increase primary completion percentage and secondary school enrolment
Strong leaders are required to contribute to the development of a country. Each year, a handful of bright and talented Batswana students are given a unique opportunity to pursue their education in a Canadian university or college. The goal is to develop specific skills that will enable them to secure jobs in the public and private sectors in Botswana and contribute to the country’s development. Living and studying in Canada can provide these students with a wealth of knowledge and new experiences to bring back to their home country.
Results:
- 1500+ Students from Botswana have come to Canada to pursue undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate studies since 1981
- 25+ Universities and colleges across Canada have welcomed these international students
- 92% Of graduates return to their home country to work and contribute to the development
- Major fields of study include engineering, telecommunications, geometrics, food science, agriculture, geochemistry, economics and geophysics
Homestay Host:
Become a Homestay Host and extend a warm welcome to international students! You can assist students from developing countries who are coming to study at Canadian universities or colleges. Help them adjust to living in Canada as a WUSC Homestay Host. Find out more!
WUSC's Botswana Student Programs under International Student Management are fully funded by the Government of Botswana and partnered with the Botswana Ministry of Education and Botswana’s Department of Local Government Service Management. WUSC’s International Student Management division also receives funding from Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for the Local Leadership for Development Project in partnership with Cowater International.
For Sri Lanka’s 300,000 Tamil tea pluckers and plantation workers, empowerment means much more than merely changing laws. It means improving their daily living and working conditions. It means ensuring that they know their rights as Sri Lankan citizens. Most of all it means giving them the opportunities to shape their own futures.
Results:
- 10,000 Plantation residents have successfully navigated the complicated process of obtaining basic identity documents
- Over 80 women's groups have received training to help them plan and implement community initiatives on gender inequality, violence against women, and access to health services and clean water
- Hundreds of local youth have completed vocational training and secured good jobs working in the local welding, construction, hotel and garment industries
- A number of plantations are promoting women to supervisory roles as a result of the training and activities under taken by the project
- Rates of domestic violence have gone down while rates of participation in child care and household activities by men and boys have gone up
In the aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake, Haiti is struggling to rebuild its physical infrastructure as well as recover from damage done to important sectors that contribute to the development of the country. WUSC began the second phase of the Volunteer Cooperation Program in support of local government and non-governmental organizations who are contributing to rebuilding in the education, economic and government sectors, which are key to the success of long-term development efforts.
In an increasingly connected world, it is becoming vital for Canadian university and college students from various faculties to apply and share their knowledge and skills globally. Through SWB, students are provided with an internship opportunity to work and contribute to development projects with WUSC’s local partner organizations in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Based on a “needs driven” approach, both the student and the local partner organization benefit from such an experience.
Results:
- 55+ Canadian university and colleges had their students participate in SWB
- 600+ Students have been placed for overseas placements in
- 13 Countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America working in
- 15+ Different sectors of work. including agriculture, communications, health and information technology
Placements:
Fall 2012 placements are now online! View all placements currently available, and apply by the application deadline of June 1st, 2012 to swb@wusc.ca!
How to Apply
You must submit the following documents to swb@wusc.ca:
- a copy of your résumé
- letter of intent outlining why you are applying for a particular placement
- three reference letters (including two academic)
- a list of no more than three (3) placements to which you wish to apply.
If you are applying for more than one placement, please indicate an order of preference in your letter of intent.
Any current or recently graduated student from a Canadian university or college is eligible to apply for a SWB placement.
For more information on SWB placements, costs and financial support please see the "Resources" section on the left-hand side of this page.
Students Without Borders™ is a WUSC iniative. Students Without Borders™ and Étudiants Sans FrontièresMC is not in any way affiliated with Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders. Doctors Without Borders is a registered-trademark of Bureau international de Médecins Sans Frontières.
WUSC is collaborating with the local government in Ghana to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods in local communities. This project is an example of what an innovative multi-stakeholder collaboration can achieve and how it represents positive steps towards good practice in the mining sector.
From 2008-2010, WUSC implemented a pilot project at the Kanaso School, which was WUSC’s first cross-sectoral partnership with a mining company. The project helped to improve school facilities and build an exceptional school environment with quality teaching and learning for children, including a more gender-sensitive learning environment. The project also benefited from the support of volunteers from WUSC’s Students Without Borders™ program. These volunteers worked to support the Kanaso School and also the District Assembly.
On January 12th, 2010 Haiti was devastated by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. Considered one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere, Haiti’s infrastructure remains in a fragile state. On this day, WUSC mourns the lives lost and we reaffirm our commitment to help strengthen and rebuild the country.
The following story was written by Goabaone Montsho. Goabaone is a visually impaired student from Botswana, who came to Canada to study at Vancouver Island University through WUSC's Internatioanl Student Management. This article was originally featured in VIU's student newspaper.
