Our VETS YVP volunteers in Ghana are helping local animal health workers vaccinate goats, sheep, and more against disease
Keisha, Marley, and Sandra joined other animal health workers to vaccinate goats and sheep against PPR.
Veterinarians Without Borders/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (VWB/VSF) was founded in 2005 to facilitate volunteer work by Canadian veterinarians in developing countries around the world. Since that time volunteers have played an important role in VWB/VSF's work.
Volunteer With VWB/VSF
The Volunteers Engaged in Gender Responsive Technical Solutions (VETS) program aims to mobilize more than 190 volunteers in Africa and Asia over a seven-year period.
The program participants include veterinarians, veterinary technologists, animal and human nutritionists, professors of veterinary medicine, veterinary clinic managers, rural development specialists, business development advisors, monitoring and evaluation, gender specialists and others.
Volunteer placements range from three weeks to two years, depending on the nature of the position.
Why Volunteer With Us?
There are many reasons to become a Veterinarians Without Borders volunteer. Here are a few:
- Volunteers support our partner organizations to make a positive difference in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.
- International volunteers contribute to this meaningful work and gain profound personal benefits through sharing skills and experience in complex and interesting contexts.
- Volunteers often return to their lives and jobs inspired and refreshed, with a renewed sense of passion for animal welfare and international cooperation.
- In stepping into another country and culture, volunteers experience tremendous personal growth while learning firsthand about the interconnected and ever-shrinking world we share.
Join our team!
Are you interested in volunteering with Vets Without Borders? We'd love to have you! To apply for an open position, follow the links below to read the position descriptions and submit your application.
Questions? Email volunteer@vetswithoutborders.ca and we'll be happy to help.
VETS Program | International
ANIMAL HEALTH
- Animal Health Research Advisor | AVSF | Senegal
- Sustainable Cropping System Specialist | AVSF | Cambodia
- Livestock Specialist | CARE | Laos
- Animal Nutritionist | Meru Dairy | Kenya
- Veterinarian Advisor | Meru Dairy | Kenya
- Animal Feeds Processing Technologist | Wakulima Dairy | Kenya
- Animal Nutritionist | Wakulima Dairy | Kenya
- Veterinarian Advisor | Wakulima Dairy | Kenya
- Dairy Processing Technologist | Wakulima Dairy | Kenya
HEALTH, GENDER, AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
- Gender Specialist | AVSF | Cambodia
- Engendered Value Chain and Marketing Specialist | AVSF | Cambodia
- Gender Advisor | HPA | Laos
- Value Chain Specialist | CARE | Laos
- Health Specialist | CARE | Laos
- One Health System Advisor | IEHSD | Vietnam
- One Health Facilitation Advisor | IEHSD | Vietnam
COMMUNICATIONS, MONITORING & EVALUATION, AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- ICT Marketing Specialist | AVSF | Cambodia
- GIS Mapping Advisor | AVSF | Cambodia
- Communication & Media Specialist | CARE | Laos
- Organizational Capacity Building Advisor | IEHSD | Vietnam
- Environment and M&E Specialist | AVSF | Senegal
- Communications Officer | AVSF | Senegal
Young Volunteer Program
VWB/VSF's Young Volunteer Program aims to improve food security and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the global south while providing Canadian students and recent graduates with opportunities to learn and grow in a cross-cultural setting. Read the YVP 2023 Program Description to find out more.
The 2023 Young Volunteer Program application period is closed.
Applications for summer 2024 will open in the fall. Interested? Email volunteer@vetswithoutborders.ca to let us know!
Ukraine Response
Northern Animal Health Initiative | Northern Canada
What makes an effective volunteer?
International volunteers often experience new and challenging circumstances. It's hard to know how we will react until we face those challenges. However, there are personal and professional qualities that help to identify people who will be effective working and living in another country.
It is important to be flexible. International volunteers often need to adapt to unfamiliar circumstances. At times you could experience inconvenience or discomfort. Volunteers need the self-confidence to take action on their own. The most effective volunteers also thrive as collaborative team members, overcoming cultural and language barriers to share accomplishments as part of a team.
International volunteer work is an opportunity to develop and strengthen skills and abilities that will last a lifetime.
If you would like to contribute to the health of animals, people, and the planet, then a volunteer assignment may be right for you.
