about the Canadian Executive Service Organisation John Gibson F ounded in 1967, CESO is a not-for-profit enterprise working with developing nations, new free-market economies and Aboriginal com- munities in Canada. Over the past 34 years, CESO volunteers have completed approximately 40,000 assignments in more than 50 coun- tries, including Canada, helping client businesses grow, local economies improve and government agencies develop -- all to improve the stan- dard and quality of life. CESO has two divisions, International Services and Aboriginal Services, with a shared roster of approximately 3,600 volunteer advisors — altruistic people with practical experience in a variety of professional and industrial activities.Those who go overseas find themselves in many different situations from working with indigenous people in Nicaragua to sharing agricultural techniques in Thailand. Their roles are diverse, their skills many. Working without pay, they draw on their education and lifetime of experience to empower people through problem-solving, skills transfer and the sharing of practical information and ideas. CESO is supported by its principal funders, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), as well as about 300 corporations and foundations and scores of individual Canadians. This year CESO will work on more than 1,400 assignments, about half of them overseas.
For additional information about CESO, please visit the web site at www.ceso-saco.com.
CESO in the Philippines
CESO’s work in the Philippines is carried out under the auspices of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), which manages a bilateral assistance program involving signed agreements between the governments of Canada and the Philippines. CESO has four bilateral projects: Bolivia, Guyana, Pakistan and the Philippines. In each country, CIDA defines the goals of the project and CESO executes them. Canada’s bilateral assistance program in the Philippines began in 1986. Initially seen as a way to support the democratic process in the Phil- ippines and to advocate peaceful change and equitable development, the program has accelerated over the past decade to focus on eco- nomic growth. CIDA has identified two main priorities to help support equitable and sustainable development in the Philippines: promoting responsible governance to help public-sector departments and agen- cies design and deliver progressive economic and social policies; and building Philippine private-sector capabilities by helping to create an environment where the private sector is encouraged to develop, and by sharing Canadian technology and skills.
above: Zamboanga site. below : the small island, near the coral reefs, where Larry Woolcox was killed.
John Gibson is the CESO Director of Communications in Ottawa.
ON SITE review 6: BEAUTY
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