Leave for Change is a three way partnership between the employer, employee and WUSC. The employer offers volunteering opportunities to their employees, sharing the cost with WUSC; the employee uses their vacation time to take part; and WUSC fully supports, facilitates and organizes the volunteer assignment.

Leave for Change is a turn-key program. We take care of all the details and ensure that your employees are safe, informed and guided every step of the way. Our dedicated staff handles all of the logistics in Canada and overseas – before, during and after the volunteer assignments. The employer’s responsibility includes the signing of an agreement, promoting the program internally, participating in the selection of candidates (if desired) and supporting employees as they share their experiences when they return from their assignment.

If sending your employees on a short-term, skilled international development assignment sounds like a good fit for your organization please contact us for more details!

You can expect the following steps in the process:

1. Together we will determine if the Leave for Change program aligns with the mission and values of your organization as well as the requirements of our local partner organizations.
2. Your organization would then sign an agreement with WUSC detailing the agreed number of employees you would like to send on assignment. The agreement also details each party’s roles and responsibilities throughout the process.
3. Once the agreement has been signed, a promotional campaign is launched within your workplace. Leave for Change assignments are posted on the WUSC website and interested employees can apply for assignments that match their skill set and interests.
4. Selected candidates are interviewed by the WUSC Leave for Change team and, if desired, a representative from your organization.
5. Before departure, selected volunteers work with the WUSC administration team to obtain visas, plane tickets, medical checks and insurance. All volunteers take part in a comprehensive pre-departure training. Volunteers are also encouraged to engage with their local partner organization before leaving on assignment.
6. When arriving in their country of assignment, volunteers are welcomed by the WUSC program team at the airport and accompanied to their pre-arranged accommodation. Volunteers take part in a country and security briefing and are introduced to their local partner organization.
7. At the end of their assignment, volunteers complete an end of assignment report.
8. Upon returning to Canada, volunteers are invited for a debrief session. Employees are also required to share their experience at work, in their communities or within their networks to help raise awareness of the important contributions Canadian organizations like yours are making to global development efforts around the world.

Yes, partners are expected to make a financial contribution towards the Leave for Change program. WUSC’s volunteer cooperation program would not be possible without the financial support of the Government of Canada and our Canadian Leave for Change partners.

Leave for Change assignments are designed to fit in with an employee’s busy work and personal schedule. Assignments are short-term, usually between three and four weeks with flexible, year round departures. Leave for Change assignments take place in Sri Lanka, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Malawi and Côte d’Ivoire. The qualifications, skills and experience required vary greatly depending on the needs of our local partners. Past assignments have included:

• Impact Investing Advisor
• Digital Marketing Advisor
• Knowledge Management Advisor
• Strategic Planning Advisor
• Partnership Development
• Travel Operation Advisor
• Curriculum Development Advisor
• Employability, Leadership and Soft Skills Advisor
• Student Service Advisor
• And many more!

Leave for Change volunteer employees stem from all departments and levels of employment.

The WUSC volunteer cooperation program is all about strengthening the capacities of our local partner organizations. Acting as advisors, volunteers share their knowledge and skills from their area of expertise with our partner organizations. By working together, they strengthen the host organization’s capacities in a specific field. By sharing their experiences and time, volunteers gain a host of new skills such as increased intercultural communication skills, better knowledge and understanding of global development and become more open-minded, adaptable and innovative.

No. Leave for Change professional volunteer assignments are only available to employees working for an organization partnered with WUSC.