Volunteer with an international organization

by Heidi Riley

Crossroads International is an international NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) founded in 1958. They are guided by the values of:

• Equality: advancing human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.
• Empowerment: Championing the agency of individuals and communities in pursuing their autonomy and claiming their rights.
• Diversity: Prompting the inclusion of all and engaging diverse perspectives and experiences to enrich each other and to contribute to a common cause.
• Accountability: Honouring commitments, answering to stakeholders, and engaging in best practices.

Vision: One world where poverty is eliminated, equality prevails, and the rights of women and girls are fulfilled. To achieve this vision, they deploy skills-based volunteers to support partner organizations in their capacity-building efforts. They work with some of the poorest nations in sub-Saharan Africa, such as Guinea, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Senegal.

The crossroads impact

In Canada, Crossroads brings together volunteers and local organizations to build social capital and solidarity and leverage experience and resources to generate innovative solutions to global issues.

The Volunteer Cooperation program supports Crossroads International in sending a broad range of volunteers who provide targeted supports and reinforce the capacities of local organizations. They are professionals and experts, young leaders, and retired and semi-retired professionals. The program champions gender equality to mobilize people to build a global community of change agents in Canada and in sub-Saharan Africa.

Areas of intervention

• Eradicating poverty in some of the world’s poorest countries
• Increasing women’s political representation and leadership.
• Increasing access to justice and reducing gender-based violence.
• Enhancing sustainable livelihoods to promote food security and increase the economic autonomy of women and youth.