Panorama Edition Newsletter

2026: International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development

In December 2023, the United Nations General Assembly formally proclaimed 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development—a global recognition of the essential role volunteers play in shaping more equitable, resilient and sustainable communities. United Nations Volunteers.

At Cuso International, this declaration resonates deeply. Volunteers are the heartbeat of our mission—in their skills, their solidarity, and their commitment to change. As we look toward 2026, we see an opportunity not merely to celebrate, but to deepen our impact, elevate local voices, andweaves volunteerism into the very fabric of Canadian consciousness, making it not just an act, but a defining value that shapes our communities and connects us to the world. That is why the Volunteer Cooperation Agencies (VCAs) are coming together to launch the Time to Act campaign on December 5th, International Volunteer Day. We are inviting Canadians to take part in shaping resilient and connected communities both locally and globally and to strengthen Canada’s legacy for generations to come.

This edition of Cuso Panorama is devoted to volunteer stories from every corner of our network: from grassroots innovation in Africa, to gender-focused initiatives in Latin America, to community capacity-building in the Caribbean. These are not isolated acts—they are the threads of a global movement toward shared progress.

We invite you to stand with us during the International Year of Volunteers. Let’s amplify volunteer voices, catalyze community-led action, and strengthen the partnerships that bring sustainable development to life.

Cuso Panorama – Building Bridges Across the Globe

From Peru to Cameroon, St. Vincent to Canada, Cuso volunteers are connecting people, ideas and communities. Each story in this edition reflects the bridges built through service, bridges that carry skills, solidarity and hope across borders.

STORIES THAT INSPIRE
Changemakers in Action

Building Capacity for Change: Reflections from the Grant Writing Workshop in St. Vincent and the Grenadines by Christina Mais, a Cuso volunteer.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines may be considered a small island compared to other Caribbean countries, but what I’ve come to learn is that while the island may be small in size, the people here are incredibly passionate about preserving their home and protecting the environment.

Tania Guilbert: A Volunteer Dedicated to Social Justice in Cusco

Tania Guilbert’s journey in social work and advocacy is an inspiring example of dedication to social justice and gender equality. Born to a Canadian father and Peruvian mother, Tania grew up in Quebec, Canada, but she always felt a strong connection to her Peruvian roots. This connection eventually led her to a six-month internship in Peru during her social work studies. The experience ignited a passion for feminist causes and a desire to engage in meaningful work in Peru.

The SHARE Program Welcomes Back Marc Cyrille Kamdem as an E-Volunteer, Fundraising Expert for Ucoopmakin

We are pleased to announce the return of Cuso International volunteer Marc Cyrille Kamdem within the SHARE program. A former international volunteer in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Marc Cyrille was initially placed in person with Ucoopmakin, the union of cooperatives in Kinshasa that brings together more than 40,000 members specializing in the production of local food products.

AROUND THE WORLD
Snapshots from Our Global Network

An enterprise for a better tomorrow

This is the essence of the project to empower 24 young graduates of Yaoundé's Centres de Promotion de la Femme et la Famille (CPFF) in unemployed or underemployed situation. Initiated by Cuso International’s local partner the Ministry for the Promotion of Women and the Family (MINPROFF) in collaboration with UNWOMEN, and with technical support from Cuso.

Earlier this year, MINPROFF requested Cuso International's expertise to handle the project's entrepreneurship training component.

“What you get back is definitely worth the time you put in” - Maria de Brigard giving back by volunteering with Cuso

For Maria de Brigard, volunteering with Cuso International is a way to give back.

Maria, 58, retired early from the Port of Vancouver where she worked in human resources and organizational development. In April 2024, she went to Colombia for a year to work with the Kaby Foundation, an organization that works with rural low-income children near the ocean-side city of Santa Marta.

“My task is to help them with organizational development, strategic planning, internal policies, budgeting, strengthening administrative processes, and grant writing,” says Maria of her work with Kaby, which was founded eight years ago by two local women to provide libraries and inter-cultural arts education to children ages three to 17.

Cuso International Board Member Wins Volunteer Award

We would like to congratulate Cuso International board member Denise Amyot for being an esteemed award winner at the Oscars Volunteer Awards gala. Put on by Volunteer Ottawa, the event celebrates volunteers and non-profits, recognizing individuals, organizations, and businesses that are making a difference in the community.

CUSO ALUMNI

Cuso International alumni Marian Dodds publishing memoir

I am delighted to announce that Tizita—A Memoir of Perseverance and Enchantment, an immersive story about my years in Ethiopia, will be published in the fall of 2025!

To learn more about the book and its path toward publication, you are invited to subscribe to my free Substack newsletter. Every week or two subscribers will receive a short post with sneak peeks at what’s in the book, a photo, and updates on the publication process. Once the cover is finalized, subscribers will be the first to see it. Later you’ll get information how to pre-order the book or E-book and find out when the book launches will begin!

Cuso International alumni Jim Carmichael publishes book

Greetings from one of CUSO’s earliest overseas volunteers! In 1968, I set off across the Pacific Ocean with ten other young Canadians. We were bound for Thailand, where CUSO had organized two-year assignments for us in the country’s education and health sectors. It was the first time I had ever left North America.

These were early days for CUSO, then known as the Canadian University Service Overseas. Its main objectives were significantly different from those of today. Responding to requests from host governments, CUSO inserted Canadian volunteers into mainstream positions to serve as counterparts to national personnel. During our time our task was to become intimately knowledgeable about and involved with our host societies. Then upon returning to Canada, we would become informal ambassadors for the countries where we had lived and worked.

* Note: We are always proud to celebrate the accomplishments of our alumni and the diverse paths they continue to pursue. The projects and publications featured here are their own initiatives, shared as part of our community updates. Views and content expressed belong to the authors themselves.

Lives Well Lived

We pause to honor the memory of those who have left us—volunteers, staff members, and friends whose lives were deeply intertwined with Cuso International's mission. These remarkable individuals carried our shared values of service, compassion, and global solidarity into communities around the world, leaving lasting impacts that continue to inspire us today.

While we mourn their passing, we celebrate the legacy they've left—not just in the communities they served, but in the lives they touched and the example they set for all of us.

Harold J. Nahabedian

Harold J. Nahabedian passed away on June 18 at the age of 35.

Harold volunteered with Cuso International from 1963 to 1965, teaching at St. Elizabeth Technical High School in Santa Cruz, Jamaica.

Lillie Johnson

Ms. Lillie Johnson passed away on August 10 at the age of 103.

Lilie led a career dedicated to public health. She was the first Black Director of Public Health in Ontario, was a founding member of the Jamaican Canadian Association, and started the Sickle Cell Association of Ontario. In 2010, she was awarded the Order of Ontario.

After retiring, Lillie volunteered with Cuso International for six years in Jamaica in 1989 and later helped coach other volunteers leaving on placement.