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Dear friends and family: I am thrilled to have been selected as a volunteer with Cuso International for a placement in Providencia, Colombia.
Most of you know how important it is for me to be able to give back some of the many gifts I have received from life. It will be truly amazing giving back to my country of origin.
My Placement and My Role
Cuso International collaborates with different types of partners to help communities achieve sustainable growth and change. In this particular case they have partnered with Fundacion ACUA and ASOCRAB.
My role will be to support the Providencia Sweet Black Crab Association - ASOCRAB and Fundación ACUA to implement sustainable development activities that will support sweet black crab production and processing. Black crab is an economic staple in Providencia. As a volunteer I will support the association in building their capacity for planning, communication, and branding. As an important part of my role, I will support ASOCRAB in making sure that they are also following production regulations so that their products are more likely to sell.
The Partner Organizations
Fundación Activos Culturales Afro (Afro-Cultural Assets Foundation) or Fundación ACUA is a non-profit organization that became a foundation in 2010. Fundación ACUA works alongside Afro Colombian communities, focusing on community empowerment and sustainability, and the preservation of Afro-Latino cultural practices, heritage and traditions, like fishing, dance, music, festivals, culinary practices, traditional plants - through entrepreneurship and business development.
ASOCRAB is a non-profit organization that contributes to the economic, social, and cultural advancement of its members and the community of black crab processors in San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina islands. The association offers training, technology, production projects, commercialization and marketing, transport, research and other services to improve the quality of its members in their black crab production.
How Can You Get Involved?
Since Cuso International is a charity, each volunteer is asked to assist in fundraising efforts to further this work. It costs about $30,000 to send each volunteer and for every $10 donated, the Canadian government contributes $90 more.
To play my part, I would be grateful if friends considered making a donation on my behalf to the worthwhile work of CUSO. Since you know about my work-ethics, you know that any contributions to my Cuso page will be funds well invested. Any gifts, large or small will be welcome!
I am very much looking forward to start my placement in January, 2018. I hope you can support me in my journey. I will make sure to post at least one monthly entry in my blog once I arrive in Providencia (https://goo.gl/ezGSCx).
Since 1961, Cuso International has been working to reduce poverty and inequality through the efforts of volunteers, partners, and donors. Each year Cuso International mobilizes hundreds of professionals who volunteer side-by-side with local partners to create positive and lasting change.
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Cuso International
200-44 Eccles Street
Ottawa ON K1R 6S4 Canada
Toll-free telephone: +1 888 434 2876
Local telephone: +1(613) 829 7445
Fax: +1(613) 829 7996 | questions@cusointernational.org
Registered charity in both Canada (No. 81111 6813 RR0001) and the
United States (EIN 30-0545486). Copyright © 2018 Cuso International all rights reserved.