VOLUNTEER COOPERATION PROGRAM – COMPETENCIES, LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION (VCP-CLE)

For several decades now, the Canadian government is funding the Volunteer Cooperation Program (VCP) through which Canadian organizations mobilize thousands of volunteers to strengthen the capacities of partners from developing countries in different sectors of intervention.

Three Canadian organizations, Fondation Paul-Gérin-Lajoie, Éducation internationale and Fédération des cégeps have come together to develop and submit a proposal for a VCP in technical and vocational education and training. Between 2020 and 2027, those three organizations will work with 2 strategic partners (IFEF and FAWE) and 45 local partners (ministries and civil society organizations) to reach 45,000 direct beneficiaries.

The Program is looking:

• To improve the quality of basic and secondary education as well as vocational and technical training
• To help create an educational environment that is more gender-sensitive and to the inclusion of people in vulnerable situations
• To promote the empowerment of women and girls

To achieve these objectives, the Consortium plans to mobilize more than 700 volunteers (North-South, South-North and South-South) over a period of 7 years and in 7 countries of the Francophonie (Benin, Cameroon, Guinea, Haiti, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo). All of this to meet the needs of schools, training centres, ministries and other organizations involved in the education and training sector.

Not only will the 700 volunteers be able to use their expertise to help communities in targeted countries, but they will also participate in the commitment of the Canadian public in international development issues. Consequently, through the mobilization of volunteers and the establishment of mechanisms to promote their long-term commitment upon their return home, the VCP-CLE also aims to increase the participation of Canadians in international development and global issues. This will be achieved by improving the knowledge of Canadians, especially young people, regarding international development issues, including gender equality and the empowerment of girls and women through education.