Volunteering for Development

As we celebrate Canada Day today, we wish to honour the engagement of the thousands of Canadians who contribute each year to creating a more equal world by giving their time and sharing their knowledge, skills and expertise as international volunteers. Through their engagement, optimism, willingness and concrete daily actions working with local partners, these…

In July of 2017, 21 youth leaders from Canada and Bolivia gathered in La Paz, Bolivia, for the 2017 International Seminar on sustainable community tourism. An extraordinary human adventure Living up to its reputation, the 2017 International Seminar was an incredibly enriching experience. It provided youth with an opportunity to connect with their peers from…

From October 15 to 25, 2017, WUSC and CECI welcomed a delegation made up of six partners of their international cooperation program, Uniterra, who work in the tourism industry. The trade mission was planned to coincide with the International Tourism and Travel Show in Montreal, with the main goals of encouraging business relations between partners…

At the 2017 World Bank annual meeting, an important theme was the call for new instruments and tools to mobilize private capital to fight poverty more effectively across the globe. Indeed, beyond available taxes and development assistance, it is estimated that $2.5 trillion in private financing is required annually to fully implement the Sustainable Development…

By: Cécile Robert, International Seminar Coordinator, Uniterra Program Not every student would be willing to spend their summer holidays producing research reports on sustainable tourism. But for the 21 participants of the 2017 International Seminar in Bolivia, it was a no-brainer. They happily traded in their vacation plans because they knew these reports could be…

By: Cécile Robert, International Seminar Coordinator, Uniterra Program Yesterday, we launched the 71st International Seminar. For the first time in its long history, the Seminar will be held in Bolivia and will focus on sustainable community tourism. Established by WUSC in 1948, the International Seminar is an educational gathering that offers students and young professionals…

April 23-29 is National Volunteer Week, a time to celebrate the generosity of volunteers and the many contributions they are making to improve the quality of life in communities across Canada. Canada is a country of volunteers. 60% of Canadians have volunteered at some point in their lives – no small feat in our fast-paced…

The proud son of farmers in rural Tanzania, Stivin grew up gaining an in-depth understanding of the obstacles and opportunities rural farmers and producers often face in his country. Inspired by his childhood experiences, as a young adult he moved to Dar es Salaam where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Rural Development from the…

By: Lais Viera, WUSC Volunteer, Jamaica Volunteering in Jamaica has been a truly gratifying, wonderful experience. As a sovereign island nation, Jamaica has so much more to offer than just gorgeous beaches. Hilly, sleepy towns, magnificent mountains, beautiful forests, freshly cultivated fields, and many other hidden treasures abound, including a rich and diverse culture and…

1. You can make a meaningful contribution to global development. Volunteering with one of WUSC’s current development programs means directly contributing to positive change in a developing country. Volunteers support our efforts in ways that no other actors can, as they work alongside our local partners. Volunteer with MERIT to help government representatives and civil…