Cuso International - History

History

Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) was founded in the UK in 1958. VSO Canada started operations in 1995. 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 eventually moved beyond university boundaries, and in 1981 became just CUSO.

CUSO was formed from the belief that international volunteers could be agents of positive change.

Key dates

  • 1958 VSO is founded in the UK.
  • 1960 Canadian Overseas Volunteers (COV) and Canadian Voluntary Commonwealth Service (CVCS) are created, and other university-based programs are in development.
  • 1961 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. University presidents attend, along with representatives of 21 organizations including COV, CVCS, WUSC, UNESCO and the Student Christian Movement.
  • 1961 The first 15 COV volunteers leave for one-year postings in India, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and Sarawak. 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 today as an independent NGO.
  • 1981 Canadian University Service Overseas becomes just CUSO.
  • 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 partner of the VSO International Federation.
  • 2011 CUSO-VSO evolves its name to Cuso International.

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