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CESO and TIAC (Tourism Industry Association of Canada)
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What TIAC members should know
The Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO) is honoured to join the TIAC family offering its members news and information about the exciting opportunities available with this unique Canadian volunteer-sending organization.
What is CESO?
Mission: To build capacity in governance and economic development through the transfer of knowledge and skills by Volunteer Advisers.
CESO is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization that helps to strengthen individual businesses, organizations and communities and enhances self-sufficiency and sustainability. It does so by drawing on its volunteers, many with senior executive and technical experience and expertise gained in a wide range of industries. Over 2,700 volunteers provide management, technical, and policy development assistance in Aboriginal communities in Canada, and internationally in countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Eastern Europe.
You could be one of these volunteers. To join CESO’s roster of experienced professionals, click here.
What are the qualifications of CESO VAs?
The backbone of CESO is its roster of volunteer experts with experience in government and industries such tourism, hospitality, and food and beverage industries. TIAC has partnered with CESO to provide its members with information on the exciting volunteer opportunities available.
Why volunteer with CESO?
What do you get?
- Exercise your skill sets in a unique setting
- Experience new cultures
- Help someone to learn how to help themselves
- Giving back “feels good”
What does your employer get?
- Enhance your corporate image (corporate social responsibility)
- Greater customer loyalty
- Engage employees
- Greater retention of talent
- International experience for employees
What does CESO pay for?
CESO will pay for the following items:
- Flight costs to/from the country of assignment
- Any in-country travel related to the assignment (not including personal travel)
- Accommodation
- Food
- Stipend
- VISAs
- Health Insurance
- Vaccinations
Ready to join CESO?
Whether you’re working full-time or retired you owe it to yourself to learn about volunteer opportunities within CESO. To become a volunteer or to learn more, please contact CESO Roster Manager Nicole Gold at 1-800-268-9052 ext. 223 or by e-mail at ngold@ceso-saco.com or visit the Become a volunteer page. | Tourism expert finds satisfaction volunteering with development agency
As a CESO Volunteer Adviser Bill Barbaza has completed 15 overseas assignments in China, the Philippines, Russia and Ukraine. He’s also worked in Canada with seven First Nation clients. Bill is set to go on assignment again this month, this time to Armenia and then again to Ukraine in April.
“Why did I join CESO?” Bill says, “It was for the adventure of traveling and meeting new people and continuing to use my skills while developing new ones. Also, I’m a Canadian, and it’s the Canadian way.”
Bill’s CESO experiences
In Russia, he worked with three professional women who developed a travel agency specializing in hunting and fishing. Together, they developed plans for expansion into international markets. Also, he assisted private resort operators in the Ukraine in developing business/tourism plans to upgrade operations consistent with international market demands.
In Canada, his assignments are shorter in length and he culls from his various skills gained from a lifetime of experience, assisting with the development of business plans, market analysis, strategic planning, and training for effective board membership. Bill is happy to also be able to assist in his own backyard. So much so, that not only does Bill volunteer on assignments, he volunteers in the CESO regional office in Winnipeg helping to recruit other dedicated Canadian volunteers.
On the personal side
“While all assignments can provide good memories and satisfying results, my most humbling and memorable experience was in China,” says Bill.
In the fall of 2003, he worked with the Directors of Nanshan Fruit Tree Farm, a huge fruit and vegetable growing operation in Jinzhou City, in north-eastern China. This was a pilot project in developing “agricultural tourism” which is currently the fastest growing tourism segment in the world. Plans were developed and recommendations made for implementation. Bill was presented with the “Honorary Award of Liaoning Province” which included a Certificate of Honorary Award of Liaoning Province. A Silver Medal with a Certificate of Authenticity was awarded to Bill as a foreign expert who has made great contributions to the economic and social development of Liaoning Province.
While volunteering in the Philippines on Valentines Day, a group of local children went to see Bill. “They presented me with beautiful hand-made cards…they wanted to make sure I wasn’t lonely,” he explained. At the end of the assignment, during the wrap-up session called “presentation of outputs,” a number of impressive tourism plans were presented by the client groups. At the conclusion, they sang songs and read a poem written especially for Bill.
What has Bill learned?
In spite of the challenges of language, culture, business practices and lack of resources, Bill says that much can be accomplished and assignments can be rewarding. He remains in contact with most of his international clients and asserts, “It’s great to hear how well they are doing.”
Bill cautions that while it may be easier for a CESO Volunteer Adviser to prepare a plan for the client, it is important that the client is given the skills to be able to prepare the plan themselves. “In fact, people support what they create,” he says. He also stresses that it is important to promote responsible and sustainable tourism with broad socio-economic benefits for all citizens.
A valuable volunteer
“Bill’s dedication is impressive. He’s invaluable,” explains Don Johnston, CESO President and CEO. “Because he knows CESO very well, he is a great help with recruiting and orienting new volunteers.”
When asked for some final words of wisdom, Bill asserted, “I’ve been very happy with my association with CESO. I encourage others with skills and experience and a willingness to help to join CESO’s Roster of Volunteer Advisers.”
Want to learn more?
Whether you’re working full-time or retired you owe it to yourself to learn about volunteer opportunities within CESO.
Want to learn more about CESO and how to become a volunteer? Contact Roster Manager Nicole Gold at 1-800-268-9052 ext. 223 or e-mail ngold@ceso-saco.com.
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