CUSO
Encyclopedia
CUSO was founded June 6, 1961 as Canadian University Service Overseas (and in French, SUCO – ). It was a Canadian
non-profit organization
that provided volunteers to aid in the development of Third World countries. In 2008, CUSO merged with VSO Canada to become CUSO-VSO (now known as Cuso International). Combined, the new organization has placed around 15,000 volunteers abroad, including Canadians, Americans, and citizens of developing countries.
CUSO was formed from the belief that international volunteers could be agents of positive change. CUSO shifted its mission over time from service to solidarity, working in collaboration with overseas development groups.
Key dates in CUSO's history:
of the United States
and Voluntary Service Overseas
(VSO) of the UK, and was established at roughly the same time. However, unlike the Peace Corps, it was never a government agency
although it began receiving federal government
funding in 1965. From 1968 the Canadian International Development Agency
provided most of CUSO's core funding.
In the 60s and 70s its volunteer operations were on a comparable scale to those of VSO; however, new directions and funding cuts led to volunteerism being scaled back in favour of more project aid. (And there were those in the organization that viewed volunteerism as an outdated, patronizing form of aid.) But, by the 1990s till today, the focus was once again on volunteer-sending as a tool for effective development assistance.
Over the years, CUSO worked in health, education, environmental protection, community economic development, human rights and inclusive governance. Volunteers (or 'cooperants' as they were known for many years) attempted to build the capacity of local partner organizations (usually NGO's, networks and governments), by sharing information, human and material resources, and promoting policies for developing global sustainability
. Some attempts worked, some did not. In addition, CUSO for a time offered an information technology
oriented youth program in partnership with the NetCorps
coalition.
CUSO has had to respond to both positive and negative pressures. Pro-actively, CUSO explored new approaches to programming and volunteer-sending, including the placement of cooperants from the Global South to the North, and in-country and South-South volunteer placements. CUSO also had to react to significant funding cuts and an increasingly difficult fundraising environment. (Some would argue that with a de-emphasis on volunteering for many years, CUSO alienated segments of its original constituency.)
There were staff number reductions and offices in both Canada and overseas regions were closed. Country programs in many areas were scaled back or shut down. In 2005, most Canadian offices were closed. In the fall of 2007, CUSO closed its offices and programs in Chile
, and in the Pacific nations of Vanuatu
and the Solomon Islands
. At the time of the merger with VSO Canada, CUSO worked in 17 countries (throughout its history, CUSO worked in more than 50 countries).
Together, these VSO entities now make up the world’s largest non-governmental volunteer-sending international development network.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
that provided volunteers to aid in the development of Third World countries. In 2008, CUSO merged with VSO Canada to become CUSO-VSO (now known as Cuso International). Combined, the new organization has placed around 15,000 volunteers abroad, including Canadians, Americans, and citizens of developing countries.
History
CUSO was launched in 1961, built on the foundation of early university-based initiatives including Canadian Overseas Volunteers (COV), Canadian Voluntary Commonwealth Service (CVCS) and Le Mouvement Universitaire National pour le Developpement Outre-Mer. Originally known as Canadian University Service Overseas (and in French, SUCO – Service universitaire canadien outre-mer), the organization would eventually send professionals and tradespeople in addition to recent university graduates, and in 1981 became just CUSO.CUSO was formed from the belief that international volunteers could be agents of positive change. CUSO shifted its mission over time from service to solidarity, working in collaboration with overseas development groups.
Key dates in CUSO's history:
- 1960 – Canadian Overseas Volunteers (COV) and Canadian Voluntary Commonwealth Service (CVCS) are created, and other university-based programs are in development.
- 1961 (June 6) – The new volunteer movement spreads to other Canadian universities, and a national body is needed to coordinate the program. Canadian University Service Overseas (CUSO) is founded in Canada at McGill University in Montreal. Many university presidents attend, along with representatives of 21 organizations including COV, CVCS, WUSC, UNESCO and the Student Christian Movement.
- 1961 (Summer) - The first 15 COV volunteers leave for one-year postings in India, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and Sarawak (now an autonomous state of the federation of Malaysia). That same year, the first CVCS short-term volunteers leave for Jamaica.
- 1963 - COV unites with CUSO/SUCO (as does CVCS a year later). Nearly 100 volunteers depart under the banner of CUSO for placements in 15 countries.
- 1965 – The Canadian government begins offering direct financial assistance to CUSO; support continues to today through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
- 1981 – CUSO's Quebec operations (SUCO – Service universitaire canadien outre-mer) separate from the organization. SUCO exists to today as an independent NGO. Note: our count of 15,000 returned volunteers includes the SUCO volunteers recruited prior to the '81 CUSO-SUCO separation.
- 1981 – Canadian University Service Overseas becomes just CUSO as many volunteers were now professionals with a wide variety of skills and experiences.
- 1984 – CUSO begins formal linkage projects between groups with similar interests in Canada and the developing world.
- 1985 – CUSO begins supporting developing world volunteers, not just Canadian volunteers. Starting in the 1990s, Southern volunteers are also posted to other developing nations.
- 1995 – VSO Canada is launched.
- 2001 – VSO launches national volunteering, its in-country volunteering program.
- 2008 – CUSO and VSO Canada merge to become CUSO-VSO, the North American member of the VSO International Federation.
- 2011 - CUSO-VSO evolves its name to Cuso International.
Organizational Evolution
CUSO was in its first decades roughly analogous to the Peace CorpsPeace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Voluntary Service Overseas
Voluntary Service Overseas
Voluntary Service Overseas is an international development charity that works through experienced volunteers living and working as equals alongside local partners. It is the largest independent volunteer-sending organization in the world...
(VSO) of the UK, and was established at roughly the same time. However, unlike the Peace Corps, it was never a government agency
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
although it began receiving federal government
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
funding in 1965. From 1968 the Canadian International Development Agency
Canadian International Development Agency
The Canadian International Development Agency was formed in 1968 by the Canadian government. CIDA administers foreign aid programs in developing countries, and operates in partnership with other Canadian organizations in the public and private sectors as well as other international organizations...
provided most of CUSO's core funding.
In the 60s and 70s its volunteer operations were on a comparable scale to those of VSO; however, new directions and funding cuts led to volunteerism being scaled back in favour of more project aid. (And there were those in the organization that viewed volunteerism as an outdated, patronizing form of aid.) But, by the 1990s till today, the focus was once again on volunteer-sending as a tool for effective development assistance.
Over the years, CUSO worked in health, education, environmental protection, community economic development, human rights and inclusive governance. Volunteers (or 'cooperants' as they were known for many years) attempted to build the capacity of local partner organizations (usually NGO's, networks and governments), by sharing information, human and material resources, and promoting policies for developing global sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
. Some attempts worked, some did not. In addition, CUSO for a time offered an information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
oriented youth program in partnership with the NetCorps
NetCorps
NetCorps was a volunteer-organizing coalition consisting of nine Canadian non-governmental organizations , funded by the Canadian International Development Agency and managed by the NetCorps coordination unit...
coalition.
CUSO has had to respond to both positive and negative pressures. Pro-actively, CUSO explored new approaches to programming and volunteer-sending, including the placement of cooperants from the Global South to the North, and in-country and South-South volunteer placements. CUSO also had to react to significant funding cuts and an increasingly difficult fundraising environment. (Some would argue that with a de-emphasis on volunteering for many years, CUSO alienated segments of its original constituency.)
There were staff number reductions and offices in both Canada and overseas regions were closed. Country programs in many areas were scaled back or shut down. In 2005, most Canadian offices were closed. In the fall of 2007, CUSO closed its offices and programs in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, and in the Pacific nations of Vanuatu
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
and the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
. At the time of the merger with VSO Canada, CUSO worked in 17 countries (throughout its history, CUSO worked in more than 50 countries).
Merger with VSO Canada
On November 1, 2008, CUSO merged with VSO Canada. The new organization – first called CUSO-VSO and now known as Cuso International – is the North American strategic alliance partner of the international VSO Federation. The Federation includes VSO organizations in the U.K., the Netherlands, Kenya, and the Philippines.Together, these VSO entities now make up the world’s largest non-governmental volunteer-sending international development network.
Current Development 'Toolbox'
- Long-term overseas volunteering – Professional placements for up to two years. Our volunteers help build social infrastructure by passing on their expertise. They come from both developed and developing nations.
- Short-term specialist assignments – Positions of six months and under for highly experienced professionals who provide support at senior levels. They come from both developed and developing nations.
- Developing world 'National Volunteering' – Support for in-country volunteering, helping people contribute to the development of their own communities. VSO does not run these programs but rather supports local agencies that provide volunteer opportunities.
- Diaspora communities volunteering – Support for people interested in using their skills in their countries of birth or heritage.
- Development partnerships – Strategic alliances with select business partners, and tri-party linkages among organizations in the developing world and like-minded groups in North America.
- LINKS (Learning through International Networking and Knowledge Sharing) – A program that gives partner groups the chance to go to another country to learn and share best practices.
- Public engagement in North America – Using the knowledge gained at the grassroots of international development to raise awareness of – and action on – global issues at home.