A chance to give back to the Caribbean, while also learning more about father’s roots

Anne Clarke, Cuso International volunteer, uses her skill for developing policy to promote and support gender equality in the Caribbean 

Anne Clarke likes policy. She spent her career creating it, influencing it and finding practical ways to implement it in ways related to gender equity and the prevention of gender-based violence.

So it only made sense for her to do the same thing when she applied to serve as a volunteer with Cuso International.

“I enjoy developing policies that have a positive impact on people’s lives,” says Anne, who was a Senior Policy Analyst and Project Coordinator with the Parliament of Canada before devoting herself full time to her own consulting business in 2011.

When she learned that Cuso was looking for people with her skills and expertise, Anne applied and was sent to Belize in 2014 for a year. “Sharing my skills and knowledge to help create better futures just made sense,” she says.

While there, Anne provided advice and support to the Women’s Issues Network in that country, helping them with program reviews, strategic planning, finding sources for funding, writing proposals and doing training using the lens of gender analysis.

The experience was so enjoyable that Anne volunteered two more times with Cuso—in Jamaica from 2015-16 and then in Grenada from 2023-24. In both places, she was once again involved in policy work on those issues.

“There is lots of need for education about gender diversity and gender violence prevention,” Anne says. “I definitely enjoyed sharing ideas and working with others who also care about creating inclusive societies.”

Volunteering in those countries was also a learning experience, as Anne looked for innovative and contextual ways to address those issues, based on the universal values justice, equality and fairness.

“I enjoyed learning how these values could be expressed in other countries,” she says, noting that many countries in the Caribbean are still dealing with the impact of colonialism and its emphasis on male superiority and patriarchy.

One of the areas where she tried to help local governments emphasize women’s equality was in how they budgeted funds and spoke about female roles in the workforce.

Based on Anne’s experience she shared: “Caribbean societies can still be very patriarchal, with traditional ideas about women’s place in society,” she says, adding she promoted the idea of encouraging women to go into construction, plumbing or to be electricians. “We can do anything men can do,” she says.

At the same time, she notes it is still rare to meet a female plumber in Canada. “Almost all the people who come to fix things at my house are still men,” she says.

Of her time volunteering with Cuso, she says people she worked with “were so friendly and helpful. They went out of their way to make me feel at home.”

Among the things she enjoyed during her assignments was spending winter in the Caribbean and the fresh fruit and other produce that came directly to her home from local farms. “That was very enjoyable,” she says.

There was also a personal reason for volunteering in that region; Anne was born in Trinidad and her father was born and raised in Grenada. Anne came to Canada in 1971 after first living in England.

“It was a chance to give back to the Caribbean, to get to know the region better,” she says, adding her time in Grenada helped her learn more about her father.

“My time there was a journey of understanding his roots, what made him into the person he was, to appreciate his love for the sea,” Anne says.

Anne is happy to recommend Cuso to others, telling them it is an excellent way for those in the middle or end of their careers to continue to share their knowledge and skills.

“Canada’s commitment to gender equity, through its support for professional development training, does makes a difference in strengthening democratic institutions and women’s voices,” she says.“It’s especially valuable to share practical knowledge, the kind that people can’t learn in school.”

Now in her 70s and semi-retired, Anne still volunteers locally in Canada with Maama Watali, an organization that supports Black women in rebuilding their lives after personal loss and gender-based violence.

In February, she was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her community service, including with Maama Watali and Cuso, along with her over 25 years of experience in public policy, human rights advocacy, and change management.

“I recommend Cuso to others because of what I got out of it,” she says. “It was a very positive experience for me.”

Volunteering with Cuso International is a unique opportunity to create meaningful change while gaining valuable international experience. If you’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with a recognized qualification and at least two years of professional experience, we invite you to explore this exciting journey. Cuso volunteers receive travel and accommodations, a modest living allowance at the local standard, and continuous support from both our Canadian and regional offices every step of the way. 

We are actively recruiting for placements across Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Canada. We currently have a high demand for dedicated professionals to serve as Gender Advisors, Communications Advisors, and Monitoring and Evaluation Officers. We also have a need for people to volunteer in Peru, Honduras, Colombia, Benin, and Tanzania. To learn more, visit Cuso.