The Volunteer Experience

CESO Volunteers work with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal enterprises and agencies in Canada, developing nations around the world, and the new market economies of Eastern Europe. Each assignment offers unique experiences. Below are examples of recent volunteer experiences.

Building capacity in Burkina Faso

By Josie Marchese

Currently living in Montreal, Quebec, VA Sow joined CESO in December 2007 and has completed three international assignments. One of our youngest VAs at 38 years of age, Mr. Sow is fluently bilingual in English and French.

CESO client, Faso Riibo, is an enterprise specialized in soy processing. Faso Riibo’s objective is to excel in food processing and modernization as its contribution to the fight against malnutrition and poverty. The products made by Faso Riibo are enriched flour for children, soy milk and yogurt, soy cheese and soumbala, a condiment used widely across West Africa, traditionally from néré (Parkia biglobosa) seeds or soybeans. The company employs eight people (six women and two men).

Faso Riibo’s product quality and production volume have both improved, at a lower production cost.

VA Sow also helped Faso Cosmétique, a company that transforms shea butter into soaps, shampoos, and ointment. Faso Cosmétique employs five people (four men and one woman). 

This client wanted help to modernize its production methods. As such, VA Sow spent four weeks with the client and introduced new production methods, and safer and more simplified work practices. Also, new hygiene and sanitation practices, and defined roles and responsibilities were introduced.

In total, 12 staff members were trained in fabrication methods, organization of the workplace, and security and hygiene measures based on HAACP.

In both cases, the clients were quite happy with the assistance provided, and as a representative of Faso Cosmétique explained, “Thanks to the Volunteer Adviser, I received information on a variety of topics involved with the semi-industrialization of my soap company, including: the implementation of quality control and marketing concepts, the reinforcement of theoretical knowledge on soap production, and the development of customer loyalty…The most important thing was the organization of the manufacturing unit with the defining of tasks for each employee, and the implementation of hygiene measures.”

VA Sow has nine years of training and seven years of progressive work experience gained in the food industry with food management projects. With this background, he decided to join CESO to make a difference. VA Sow explains, “I was fortunate to be trained at five international universities and to work in Senegal, the United Kingdom and the United Sates. Then I came to Canada, and faced a difficult job search. I could not secure any positions or even offers in the Agro-industry. This was a surprise, but instead of doing small jobs, I decided to honor my education. It was a matter of doing justice to my training. For these reasons, I decided to do volunteer work for CESO | SACO in international development, in which I am interested. I hoped that my commitment would lead to something positive and help those who require technical assistance.”

CESO clients have benefited from Sow’s commitment.

Communication Workshop in Pangnirtung, NU

The CESO Nunavut Partnership Program has been collaborating with the Baffin Region, Government of Nunavut Health and Social Services (H&SS) Department since 2005.

Roxanne Stuckless, Executive Director of Baffin H&SS working with Betty Bergin, CESO VA who is responsible for mentoring in H&SS, Pangnirtung requested communication workshops for all of the H&SS staff in Pangnirtung.

A pre-workshop questionnaire was completed and, based on the responses, the workshop outline was developed. The workshop was developed by VAs Mary Lou Ware, Kitty Francis and Betty Bergin, with Mary Lou and Kitty presenting it.

The overall goal of the workshop was to support the development of more effective communication skills in the Pangnirtung H&SS offices. A total of 26 staff attended the three, one-day workshops, including team members from both the Health Center and the H&SS Headquarters. There were equal numbers of Inuit and non-Inuit participating.

Content addressed communication in the following areas: one-on-one, telephone, teleconference, and in a team environment. Materials included how to think and plan ahead, become a better listener, communicate in unfamiliar situations, confront difficult situations, give feedback, pay attention, cultural differences, assertiveness, and participation in role playing.

Detailed planning, including built-in practice time to really reinforce learning was completed prior to the workshop. The setting provided a positive and safe learning environment for “testing” and sharing of solutions and idea-exchanges. Facilitators observed that the tension of the participants decreased throughout the day, and there were some wonderfully creative ideas brought forward in the practice sessions. Time was given to discuss cultural differences and examples of some were given. Shaking hands and greetings are two examples of such differences.

At the conclusion of the visit, staff appeared to be more open with each other after the workshop and comments from staff were made that people were already using the learned skills. The department has already requested additional communication workshops and a follow-up team development session.