Placement Type: International volunteer
Duration: 3–12 months with flexible start date (indicate your preferred start date and availability in your application)
Location: Africa, Latin America, or the Caribbean (see below)
Language Requirements: Fluency in English, French or Spanish, depending on location
Eligibility: Open to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada Only
About the Volunteer Placement
Jumpstart your career with Cuso International. This international volunteer placement is designed for final‑year undergraduate students, graduate students, or recent graduates who are seeking immersive, hands‑on experience in global development.
Volunteers are placed with Cuso International partner organizations and contribute to locally led, sustainable development initiatives.
We invite you to tell us about your skills and how your academic background, education, volunteer experience, or professional experience can support our partners’ priorities.
Undergraduate‑Level Skills & Areas of Interest
(Final‑year undergraduate students and recent bachelor’s graduates)
Graduate‑Level Skills & Areas of Interest
(Graduate students and recent master’s graduates)
Key Responsibilities
Responsibilities are adapted based on academic level, experience, and partner needs. Graduate-level volunteers may take on additional technical, analytical, or strategic responsibilities aligned with their expertise.
Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate relevant academic, volunteer, and/or work experience in one or more of the fields outlined above. Experience may include a combination of coursework, internships, placements, volunteer roles, student leadership, or paid employment.
What You’ll Gain
Where You Can Volunteer
Cuso International (Cuso) is an international cooperation and development organization based in Canada that works to create social and economic opportunities for equity-deserving groups. Building on over sixty years of impactful work, we address global challenges by tackling the root causes of inequality. Working alongside our partners, we are focused on efforts to improve economic resilience, advance equity and inclusion for all, and deliver progress on climate action. We believe that by sharing skills, we can build better futures. Guided by our values of courage, inclusion, sustainability and accountability, Cuso combines innovative strategies and enduring partnerships to create lasting, meaningful change in communities across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada.
Project: Sharing Canadian Expertise for Inclusive Development and Gender Equality (SHARE)
Benefits
Support Package
Cuso International provides a comprehensive support package to ensure volunteers maintain a modest and healthy lifestyle aligned with local standards. This includes:
Selection and Screening
If you are shortlisted, you will need to:
Residency and Citizenship: Candidates are responsible for confirming how volunteering internationally may affect their citizenship or residency status. Canadian Permanent Residents should verify requirements with Immigration Canada before travel.
Inclusion and Accessibility: Cuso International welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and equity-deserving groups. We provide reasonable accommodations throughout recruitment and placement. If you have accessibility needs, please contact us for support.
Ready to Make a Difference? Apply to volunteer today!