LEARNING AND LEADING To reduce global poverty and inequality—Annual Report 2013-2014 INSIDE EXECUTIVE 1 MESSAGE COMMUNITY 2 NEWS 4 EDUCATION PARTICIPATION & 5 GOVERNANCE GLOBAL REACH = 6 LOCAL IMPACT 8 HEALTH SECURE LIVELIHOOD AND 9 NATURAL RESOURCES OUR 10 SUPPORTERS OUR 12 FINANCES PUBLIC 13 AWARENESS Cuso International is a non-profit international development Cuso International gratefully acknowledges the financial support organization, working to improve the lives of people living with of our donors, partners, the Government of Canada (through the poverty and inequality across the globe. We work in partnership department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development) and the through development programs to create positive lasting Government of the United States (through the Unites States Agency change. Each year we mobilize hundreds of volunteer professionals for International Development). who work with local partners. Established in 1961, Cuso International is a registered charity in both Canada and the United States. Cuso International is a registered charitable organization. Canada: No. 81111 6813 RR0001 This report is also available in French and Spanish | Ce bulletin est également disponible en englais et espagnol. Este informe We are proudly supported by donors in the United States también está disponible en francés y en Inglés through Friends of Cuso International. IRS tax number: EIN 30-0545486 © Cuso International, 2014. Printed in Canada ANNUAL REPORT 2013-14 | 1 EXECUTIVE MESSAGE For more than 53 years, Cuso International has been a - practical and sustainable solutions. Our programs are extensive diaspora volunteer program allows us to mobilize groundedlearning organization in reality and focusedguided by on the finding thoughtful and leadershipdelivering Canada’s and the United States’s diversity due to its unique ness and effectiveness in international development. Our- core aspects—pragmatism and partnership—make Cuso corporate volunteering partnerships now give us access to of our local partners in developing countries. These two professionals with highly specialized skills who are con tributing to key economic development programs. Our- International a principled and effective organization national volunteering program team works closely with committed to learning from our partners, volunteers and local volunteering initiatives to support more active citi- our work. zenship and to create healthy civil society organizations in health, In the sanitation, early years, agriculture, we worked education—needed with the newly independent to build developing countries. Our exciting new e-mentoring plat thenations economic of the Southand social to provide infrastructure those essential of these services— nations. form lets us create new opportunities for professionals to provide direct support to small businesses and emerging - leaders in developing countries. gramsOnce in and place, national we movedinstitutions. from offering direct service Our vision is focused on practical results: we believe in delivery More recently, to focusing Cuso on International strengthening mobilized local partners, large teams pro a world where all people are able to realize their human - rights, develop their capabilities and participate effectively in society. Our vision is based on inclusive partnership: we of professional volunteers and investment funds as a com inbelieve creating that solutions global poverty, and supporting inequality change. and disadvantage is mitment to the United Nations Millennium Development a global responsibility in which we all have a role to play andGoals. reducing We have the achieved effects ofreal climate impact change. in terms of reducing extreme poverty, improving social and economic equality, We are volunteers for the world. managing This past natural year, resources, together andwith supporting our partners, employment we have Cameron Charlebois anddeveloped entrepreneurship new models programs for generating for urban rural youth livelihoods, – all in a Board Chair Derek Evans Chief Executive sustainable manner. We’ve also delivered security and protection In the programspast three for years, vulnerable through groups our such $1.25 as children, million women and indigenous communities. - International Volunteering Innovation Fund and our Strategic Opportunities Reserve, we have developed innova tive programs to respond to the new challenges faced by our partners in developing countries. Cuso International’s Cuso International’s Patron, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada (right), with Derek Evans, Chief Executive at Cuso International, during the State visit to Botswana in 2013. We thank His Excellency for his active support of volunteering as a key to successful international development. 2 | ANNUAL REPORT 2013-14 COMMUNITY NEWS 1 hosted the highly successful 2 Canadian-based Stratford Festival by Alexis Garcia The first annual Bob Ward Memorial Fellowship study, Suchitoto Cabaretraised $19,00 and Dance0 Party, , examined volunteer work and its impact in three Peruvian inan supportEl Salvadorian of Es Artes fundraising, a youth- 2 community initiatives. focusedevent that theatre production school The results show that knowledgeall transferred parties–the during in Suchitoto, El Salvador. 1 the volunteer placement thebenefits broader community. volunteers, local partners is the and recipient of the 2013 Bob Ward Erin MacLeod PhD Fellowship. Ms. MacLeod’s 3 - research will focus on the Cuso International, aimpact core aspect of diaspora in the volunteer future the United States ing—widely recognized as - Agency for 3 International of volunteering for develop ment—on poverty reduction. Accenture, 5 Development and launched a Kuungana! Meaning “join” in project called the Diaspora for raised public–private alliance pilot 40 4 Swahili,$15,600 this was in the support title of of a 9 U.S.-based skilled professionals Tanzanianfun-filled event hospitals. that It fromDevelopment the diaspora Initiative. communities of Ethiopia, Kenya, Peru, International returned Jamaica and the was hostedJane by Cuso Ellens Philippines and Dan local partner organizations to volunteers worked with Pearlman. entrepreneurship skills. improve employability and 4 placed 13 Business Development Bank of Canada, Accenture Canada and Deloitte staff in volunteer positions, who worked closely with local projects.partners to improve organizational development, value chain mapping, corporate engagement strategies, marketing and financial planning ANNUAL REPORT 2013-14 | 3 6 20 Canadian Through the International6 Youth months inInternship 6 ProgramCameroon , 7 Boliviayouth worked, Peru on ,average Jamaica , In Jamaica, the Caribe Hospitality Shared Guyana countries: and Dominica. employment rates. Deloitte, Cuso Value Appraisal was undertaken to improve they focused on youth employ- International, supported by the Inter- Working with local partners, American Development Bank, natural resources projects. ment, active citizenship and instudied the tourism the motivations and hospitality and limitations sector. for at-risk men and under-represented women 5 6 9a 9b 8 8 9 More than 300 alumni attended program mobilizes diaspora e-mentoring The innovative Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Vancouverfun-filled reunion and events Toronto held in this communities to fill skill gaps. The Alliance and of Jamaican Alumni academic performance leadership past year. abilitiesAssociations in and at-risk Cuso youth. International Canadian developed based mentors this program are partnered to improvegrade 9 to 12 Jamaica, through Skype with student protégés living in , for two hours each week. 4 | ANNUAL REPORT 2013-14 EDUCATION Ecurb this by offering specialized teacher training programs like disability and special education training, English as Secondvery Language year millions courses of young for teachers people doand not students, have access and byto primarysupporting education. primary Cuso education International opportunities volunteers for girls. work We to 96 68 partner organizations offering education programs in 9 countries. also work towards long term change by offering leadership and management training for school leaders. In 2013-2014 volunteers worked with Bolivia—Cuso International and local part- them, in a social change approach, 1,000 technical in order to transform relations education scholarships to young rural ner INFOCAL have granted tour included speaking between men and women. The Maura Apaza, Isabel Choque engagements in Montreal andwomen Karina earning Torrez less than, are C$2 studying per day. International Conference andfor International Toronto and Women’s at the automotive mechanics, gas installation and vehicle maintenance. “Some boys scoffed and said that we wouldn’t be studentsDay. She at also Humber spoke College with international development able to weld,” says Choque. “We sure proved them wrong! It’s not a man’s job. It’s something that women can do just Cambodiaand the University—Within of theToronto. Indonesiaas well.” —International Women’s Day Cambodian education system, tour featuring Siti Murniasih from teacher to teacher, and among adminis- events in March 2014 included a Canadian speaker’s trators. Cuso Internationalcapacity and and competency VSO levels vary- Indonesia , a representative from coaching, mentoring and formal a women’s empowerment partner organization in volunteers pro vided than nine[front years row, third from right]. Ms. Murniasih has worked