Cuso International’s SHARE Program brings together global representatives

A glimpse into the international meeting of representatives from Cuso International’s SHARE program

Bogotá, Colombia – February 2026
By Arianne Cardinal

Arrivals and reunions

The Canada team lands in Bogotá early in the morning. Colleagues from Finance, Recruitment, MEAL, and Engagement are welcomed by a gentle warmth that feels worlds away from the Canadian winter. We head to our home base for the week. Time to recover a little. A nap for some, breakfast for others. We’re eager to meet the SHARE Program and Finance Officers (POs) coming from all corners of the world. After all, they are the real stars of the week!

Some delegations have already arrived. At reception, paths cross: Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean. For many, this is the first time meeting in person after months of Teams calls.

“Juan? Hi! You’re taller than I imagined!”
“Ginette? It’s so great to finally meet you in person!”

The excitement is palpable. Everyone arrives curious, open, and ready to engage. The week already promises to be rich and inspiring.

Setting the tone

Monday morning, the energy is high. Warm greetings for those who didn’t cross paths the day before. There’s a back-to-school feeling in the air as a photographer captures the moment. The Cuso Colombia office opens the gathering with a warm presentation of the country, its history, and the diversity of its people. The week officially begins. With simultaneous interpretation in English, French, and Spanish, everyone can follow and contribute in the language of their choice.

Why are we here? Because the world is changing. And Cuso, like its SHARE program, must evolve with it.

Between harmonization and innovation

Over several days, program representatives and finance teams from around the world take part in practical workshops, ideation and co-creation sessions, plenaries, and even mock pitches to fictional donors. The goal? To learn from one another, compare contexts, share expertise, and move toward greater harmonization of practices and processes. Discussions trace the journey from recruitment and onboarding to program implementation and story collection, with teams sharing experiences, identifying challenges and opportunities. Between walls of sticky notes and coffee breaks, the same question keeps coming back: how can we strengthen efficiency while preserving the richness of local contexts?

The ACUA Foundation

A visit to the ACUA Foundation, one of Cuso’s longest-standing partners in Colombia, offers a vibrant interlude filled with music, culture, and a spirit of sisterhood rooted in protected traditions. We also meet two Cuso volunteers currently placed there, who share their experience. Here, the impact of skills sharing comes to life.

The beginning of what comes next

By the end of the week, notebooks are full and ideas have taken shape. And one thing stands out, clear and unmistakable: As global contexts continue to shift, the SHARE program will keep adapting strengthening its emphasis on skill sharing, deepening partnerships, and ensuring volunteers and local organizations are supported with tools that meet emerging needs. Participants also gain renewed clarity on how to elevate the story of economic resilience, so it resonates with communities, partners, volunteers, and supporters. But ultimately, the week leaves something just as essential for an organization like Cuso. Faces have replaced names. Conversations, shared meals, and informal exchanges have built connections that will make collaboration more natural, despite time zones and distance.

That, too, is the spirit of SHARE.