How is CUSO-VSO different from the Peace Corps?

W hile both organizations have a strong history of sending volunteers to work in

developing countries, there are some fundamental differences between the Peace
Corps and CUSO-VSO. Please find below some key distinctions between the two
organizations.

History: Both organizations share a long history of sending volunteers to developing

countries. CUSO and the Peace Corps were both established in 1961, with VSO
establishing itself first in the UK in 1958, and later in Canada in 1994. The Peace Corps is
an agency of the United States Federal Government, while CUSO-VSO is a registered non-
profit organization, with charitable status in Canada and the U.S. While CUSO-VSO does
receive government money, it is a non-governmental organization (NGO).

Mission/Vision:

The Peace Corps' mission has three goals:

1. Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and
women.
2. Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples
served.
3. Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

CUSO-VSO’s vision is a world without poverty in which people work together to fulfill
their potential. As part of the VSO International Federation, we promote volunteering to
fight poverty and disadvantage. We believe everyone should be able to exercise their
fundamental human rights. That includes the right to a livelihood, education, basic
healthcare, a safe environment, a say in the future, and equal access to opportunity.

CUSO-VSO’s objectives are to:

1. Provide practical opportunities for North Americans to help change the world
through international volunteering
2. Link people and organizations the world over so they can together tackle social
justice and development issues
3. Increase public awareness of global issues, and encourages people to take action for
equitable, sustainable development.

Eligibility: Both organizations require most volunteers to have some type of academic
qualification as well as two to three years expertise in their field. CUSO-VSO does not
require applicants to have a particular citizenship, while Peace Corps accepts only U.S.
Citizens. CUSO-VSO will make an effort to place self-defined couples together, while
Peace Corps requires couples to be recognized as married under Federal law.
The average age of volunteers placed through the Peace Corps is 28, while the average
CUSO-VSO volunteer is 42 years of age. Peace Corps does not allow dependents to
accompany volunteers. CUSO-VSO recognizes that there are benefits for all involved when
children accompany a volunteer on placement. CUSO-VSO will make every effort to find a
suitable placement for selected volunteers with children, recognizing that appropriate
placements may be limited.

Length of Service: Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment, while CUSO-VSO

has a range of placements from 2 to 24 months. However, most of CUSO-VSO’s
placements are around two years in length.

Approach: Both organizations locate volunteers in the heart of the community they are
working in, living in local accommodations and receiving a modest living allowance.
CUSO-VSO works from a rights-based approach supporting our local partners in the areas
of: education; HIV and AIDS; disability; health; secure livelihoods; and participation and
governance. Gender is cross-cutting theme throughout our work, with gender inclusion as a
key area of our project planning. CUSO-VSO works through a variety of volunteer models,
including North-South, South-South, Diaspora, National and Youth volunteer placements.

Peace Corps volunteers work with governments, schools and entrepreneurs to address
changing and complex needs in education, health and HIV/AIDS, business, information
technology, agriculture and the environment. The focus of Peace Corps volunteer work
includes: education; youth & community development; health; business and Information &
Communication Technology; agriculture; environment; HIV/AIDS; and food security.

Geographic Scope: Peace Corps works in 76 countries, while CUSO-VSO currently works
through the VSO International Federation in 44 countries.

Volunteer Training: Peace Corps volunteers are provided with a ½ day briefing before
they depart, and are given the opportunity to do language training through Rosetta Stone.
Volunteers then have 3 months of training upon arrival in-country, which covers language
training, technical knowledge, cross cultural skills, etc. Volunteers return to the head office
after 2-3 months in their placement for a one week in-service training.

CUSO-VSO provides multi-day pre-departure training providing volunteers with the

practical skills they will need to effectively work cross-culturally, and implement CUSO-
VSO's approach to development. An orientation in-country is also facilitated through the
program office upon arrival. Depending on the context and language training required, the
orientation may span between one week and two months.

Other volunteer-sending sending organizations based in the US: The Peace Corps is
often referenced as similar to CUSO-VSO because of its length of service, and scope of
countries in which volunteers are placed. While other volunteer-sending organizations exist
within the United States, many of them have a narrow geographic or thematic focus, are
faith-based, or more commonly resemble a “volontoursim” model blending short-term
volunteering with a vacation.