The goal of the VETS project is to improve the economic and social well-being of the world’s most marginalized people, particularly women and girls, in six countries in Africa and Asia.
Volunteers Engaged in Gender-Responsive Technical Solutions (VETS) is a seven-year initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada that will see 190 Canadian volunteers take on international assignments on behalf of Veterinarians without Borders/Vétérinaires sans frontiers.
The goal of the project is to work to improve the economic and social well-being of the world’s most marginalized people, particularly women and girls, in six countries in Africa and Asia.
The project will use the skills of Canadian volunteers to support smallholder farmers, primarily women, to reduce poverty by improving family income and nutrition, principally through improved production of livestock and crops.
The project is built around the One Health concept which recognizes that the health of animals, people, and the natural environment are interconnected.
During the first year of the VETS program, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic made international travel essentially impossible.
Despite that, work moved ahead. VWB/ VSF and our local partners, with the help of local experts, were able to complete community needs assessments, as well as specific assessments into gender relations and the environment in the target communities.
Training then began in the communities, both in-person and over radio sessions, with the assistance of volunteers already in-country.
The project also developed COVID-19 risk communication messages and training tools designed to help people protect themselves. Preparations were also made to install handwashing stations at local schools.
Veterinarians without borders couldn't do the work we do without your support. Whether it's a financial donation or a donation of your time, by improving the health of animals you will be working to improve the health and quality of life for people throughout the world.
In an effort to continue building animal welfare capacity in Ukraine, VWB/VSF is hosting monthly webinars for Ukrainian veterinarians, veterinary technicians, animal shelter workers, students, and more. They will be simultaneously hosted in both English and Ukrainian.
Interested in volunteering? Join VWB/VSF and other VCP members at the 6@8 event in Ottawa, ON to learn more about opportunities to volunteer internationally.
Interested in learning more about our international work? Join our informative webinar sessions, hosted by VWB/VSF VETS volunteers and other team members! Learn about what it's like to work in the field with our local partners, the impact volunteers can make, and more.
VWB/VSF's Head of Programs, Katherine Clark, visited Cambodia earlier this year to meet farmers who are participating in the AGROW program, which is supporting women in farming.
Learn how Veterinarians Without Borders/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières and our alumni VETS volunteer, Nafhtari Wanjiku, have worked with local partners, and farmers like Ann Mwangi, in Kenya to promote sustainable dairy farming practices among small-scale farmers.
Keisha, Marley, and Sandra joined other animal health workers to vaccinate goats and sheep against PPR.
Meet Dr. Joseph Ansong-Danquah; a retired veterinarian from Canada who has been donating his time to help animals and communities throughout rural Ghana.
Natalia shares all she learned during her recent VETS volunteer posting in Ghana, as a communications specialist.
