CUSO-VSO Circle
The CUSO-VSO Circle is a high-profile group of national and international leaders in business, entertainment, the arts, international affairs and community development.
These individuals of influence are leveraging their networks to contribute to global social justice initiatives. They have joined forces with CUSO-VSO to help raise Canadians’ awareness of pressing international issues, galvanize national support for CUSO-VSO’s global work, and inspire Canadians to think and act globally.
Activities include hosting fundraising events, participating in fact-finding missions, and reaching out to North Americans to encourage them to support CUSO-VSO and international development.
Circle members are publicly aligned with CUSO-VSO, and play a significant role in raising Canadians’ awareness of the world’s pressing issues, galvanizing national support for CUSO-VSO’s global work, inspiring Canadians to think and act globally, and influencing charitable giving patterns in Canada.
The Stratford-Suchitoto cultural development exchange
One of the Circle's first initiatives is the Stratford, Ontario-Suchitoto, El Salvador Cultural Partnership.
Suchitoto, a small municipality in El Salvador greatly damaged by 30 years of civil war, is also trying to improve its economic situation. Suchitoto wants to use the same strategy that Stratford used 50 years ago to grow into the international cultural wellspring it is today – leveraging economic development through arts and culture. Suchitoto wants to tap into the potential of its two major assets: youth and the richness of its culture.
Stratford and Suchitoto are now developing a partnership between the two communities. For example, in the area of skills development, Suchitoto and Stratford have agreed to support the development of an Arts and Theatre program. It will be part of the Escuela-Taller, a technical school that Suchitoto is developing to provide education and employment opportunities to its youth.
For more information on the CUSO-VSO Circle or the Stratford-Suchitoto project, please email circle@cuso-vso.org, or call 1 (888) 434-2876, ext. 221.
