Uniterra

– Uniterra Delivers its Public Engagement Results Thanks to You!

The Uniterra program exists because we have obtained the support of the Canadian government. In addition, a majority of Canadians share our values of solidarity and agree that a portion of our public funds should be invested in aid to developing countries and the global effort to reduce poverty. To maintain this support and with the hope of increasing it, we have the responsibility of informing the public about the work we have accomplished and the results we have obtained thanks to this support.

In 2007, Uniterra presented its program renewal request to CIDA. It is crucial for us to make the Canadian government aware of the exceptional commitment of our volunteers to people in developing countries, as well as their involvement in numerous and diverse activities to raise the public’s awareness of this cause and encourage their involvement in it. This month, we are starting to gather information for our annual report on the public’s involvement. I would like to invite you to complete your file on line at the Uniterra Web site over the next few days in order to enable us to include your actions in this report.

By a public engagement activity, we mean any formal or informal activity (prior to your departure, during your posting and/or since your return) that enabled you to inform your networks of family, friends, colleagues and other associates or raise their awareness of international co-operation and encourage their involvement.

A majority of Canadians (82%) do not believe that aid is reaching the people in need. Last year, more than 100 Uniterra volunteers, 121 partner organizations and 64 Canadian university campus groups contributed to changing this perception by organizing 976 public involvement activities and sharing them with us.

Public engagement: an expression of solidarity. This year, we want to provide an overall picture of the program’s impact in Canada! In order to do this, we would like to know about the activities you organized to raise awareness of international co-operation. All activities count, and they all attest to the quality of your commitment. A happy hour with your friends during which you shared your reasons for getting involved and details about your project before your departure is as valid as a series of e-mails or articles sent to your circles of friends, relatives and colleagues during your time in the field, or a lecture or an account of your experiences you presented to a group after your return.

Some results of the 2007 program On October 17, 2007, we canvassed our entire network for the “Make Poverty History” campaign. This year, a new world record was set! Some 38,738,200 people from around the world stood up to be counted as saying no to poverty, and we can be proud to have participated in this very successful campaign. On December 5, 2007, we celebrated International Volunteer Day by sending invitations to our Members of Parliament to vote in favour of international co-operation. Five Members of Parliament stood up with us! And that’s only a beginning . . .

Tell us about your contribution in your on-line file!

To access the “Public Engagement” section of your file, click on this link and enter your user name and password. Once your file has been activated, click on the My PE Activities thumbnail to record your activities. You can also access the on-line form on the Uniterra Web site by following the Volunteers: “My Volunteer File” menu. The information entered in your file is strictly for program use.

Please complete your file by March 31, 2008 at the latest!

For any questions about how to complete your file, you can contact us:

CECI volunteers: Julie Vaudrin-Charette julievc@ceci.ca

WUSC volunteers: Carol Dolbel cdolbel@wusc.ca

Thank you once again for your involvement, and we look forward to learning more about your activities through your on-line file. Let’s work together to cut poverty in half by 2015.

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Here are some examples of PE Initiatives by volunteers last year

Created art inspired by experience and promoted it as such.

Continued volunteer work for my partner organization via the internet, emailing solutions to problems and updating the website.

Did radio, newspaper and television interviews.

Acted as a home stay host for international volunteers to Canada.

Hosted an auction with souvenirs that I brought back.

Organized a Southeast Asian potluck dinner with fellow students.

Recommended people look into Uniterra.

Wrote a rap song.

Involved with local WUSC committee.

Acted as a resource/orientation person for new volunteers.

Wrote articles for the local weekly newspaper to heighten awareness of issues in Africa and to describe life in Botswana.

I have been volunteering with newcomers to Canada.

Developed a tape that has the sounds of country in which I volunteer.

Wrote about my experiences in a blog.

Prepared a "reading list" of locally available material on Botswana and issues in conservation and international development and circulated it to friends/family/library.

Sharing a monthly newsletter with family, friends and Uniterra.

Organized and led a trip to Botswana for 14 people plus ourselves.

Spoke to school, church, campus and community groups.

Displayed my photos in an exhibition at a café/bar.



– Uniterra Delivers its Public Engagement Results Thanks to You! The Uniterra program exists because we have obtained the support of the Canadian government. In addition, a majority of Canadians share our values of solidarity and agree that a portion of our public funds should be invested in aid to developing countries and the global effort to reduce poverty. To maintain this support and with the hope of increasing it, we have the responsibility of informing the public about the work we have accomplished and the results we have obtained thanks to this support. In 2007, Uniterra presented its program renewal request to CIDA. It is crucial for us to make the Canadian government aware of the exceptional commitment of our volunteers to people in developing countries, as well as their involvement in numerous and diverse activities to raise the public’s awareness of this cause and encourage their involvement in it. This month, we are starting to gather information for our annual report on the public’s involvement. I would like to invite you to complete your file on line at the Uniterra Web site over the next few days in order to enable us to include your actions in this report. *By a public engagement activity, we mean* any formal or informal activity (prior to your departure, during your posting and/or since your return) that enabled you to inform your networks of family, friends, colleagues and other associates or raise their awareness of international co-operation and encourage their involvement. A majority of Canadians (82%) do not believe that aid is reaching the people in need. Last year, more than 100 Uniterra volunteers, 121 partner organizations and 64 Canadian university campus groups contributed to changing this perception by organizing 976 public involvement activities and sharing them with us. Public engagement: an expression of solidarity. This year, we want to provide an overall picture of the program’s impact in Canada! In order to do this, we would like to know about the activities you organized to raise awareness of international co-operation. All activities count, and they all attest to the quality of your commitment. A happy hour with your friends during which you shared your reasons for getting involved and details about your project before your departure is as valid as a series of e-mails or articles sent to your circles of friends, relatives and colleagues during your time in the field, or a lecture or an account of your experiences you presented to a group after your return. Some results of the 2007 program On October 17, 2007, we canvassed our entire network for the “Make Poverty History” campaign. This year, a new world record was set! Some 38,738,200 people from around the world stood up to be counted as saying no to poverty, and we can be proud to have participated in this very successful campaign. On December 5, 2007, we celebrated International Volunteer Day by sending invitations to our Members of Parliament to vote in favour of international co-operation. Five Members of Parliament stood up with us! And that’s only a beginning . . . Tell us about your contribution in your on-line file! To access the “Public Engagement” section of your file, click on this link and enter your user name and password. Once your file has been activated, click on the My PE Activities thumbnail to record your activities. You can also access the on-line form on the Uniterra Web site by following the Volunteers: “My Volunteer File” menu. The information entered in your file is strictly for program use. Please complete your file by March 31, 2008 at the latest! For any questions about how to complete your file, you can contact us: CECI volunteers: Julie Vaudrin-Charette julievc@ceci.ca WUSC volunteers: Carol Dolbel cdolbel@wusc.ca Thank you once again for your involvement, and we look forward to learning more about your activities through your on-line file. Let’s work together to cut poverty in half by 2015.	Send to a friend Here are some examples of PE Initiatives by volunteers last year Created art inspired by experience and promoted it as such. Continued volunteer work for my partner organization via the internet, emailing solutions to problems and updating the website. Did radio, newspaper and television interviews. Acted as a home stay host for international volunteers to Canada. Hosted an auction with souvenirs that I brought back. Organized a Southeast Asian potluck dinner with fellow students. Recommended people look into Uniterra. Wrote a rap song. Involved with local WUSC committee. Acted as a resource/orientation person for new volunteers. Wrote articles for the local weekly newspaper to heighten awareness of issues in Africa and to describe life in Botswana. I have been volunteering with newcomers to Canada. Developed a tape that has the sounds of country in which I volunteer. Wrote about my experiences in a blog. Prepared a "reading list" of locally available material on Botswana and issues in conservation and international development and circulated it to friends/family/library. Sharing a monthly newsletter with family, friends and Uniterra. Organized and led a trip to Botswana for 14 people plus ourselves. Spoke to school, church, campus and community groups. Displayed my photos in an exhibition at a café/bar.