Leave for Change
The University of Guelph was the first university in Canada to support Leave for Change, an initiative that sees the University annually sponsor up to seven employees who volunteer their knowledge and skills overseas during short assignments in developing countries. The University of Guelph’s staff and faculty involvement in Leave for Change “reaffirmed my absolute belief in the goodness of people,” said President Alastair Summerlee when the initiative was first launched.
Leave for Change is offered in partnership with Uniterra, a joint initiative of World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and the Centre for International Studies and Co-operation.
Learn more:
Eight volunteers will Leave for Change
Eight members of the University of Guelph community have been selected to participate in Leave for Change.
“We had a wonderful response from the University community,” said Martha Harley, Assistant Vice-President (Human Resources). “And I thank everyone who applied for the program.”
The two U of G professors and six staff members who were selected will volunteer their knowledge and skills overseas during short assignments in developing countries.
Harley added that the Leave for Change application and interview process never fails to highlight the diverse range and depth of skills, experience and talent of the University’s staff and faculty.
Volunteer assignments and travel dates are being finalized for the following eight volunteers:
- Tania Framst, Executive Assistant, Vice President (Finance & Administration)
- Patti Goodman, Program Manager, Kemptville Campus
- Verne Harrison, Gallery Coordinator, Macdonald Stewart Art Centre
- Susan Kelner, Program Coordinator, Ridgetown Campus
- Jacqueline Murray, Professor of History and Director, First-Year Seminar Program
- Looknauth Ramsahoi, Supervisor in the Dairy Analysis Lab, Laboratory Services
- Nicole Tessier, Supervisor, Student and Conference Services, Communications and Alumni Relations, Alfred Campus
- Clive Thomson, Director, School of Languages and Literatures
“Leave for Change offers an opportunity for staff and faculty to do their part in building a better planet by contributing their skills and knowledge in communities where they can really make a difference,” said Harley.
“We are so proud of this program and the contribution staff and faculty have made since it launched at the University in 2007.”
Leave for Change is offered in partnership with Uniterra, a joint initiative of World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and the Centre for International Studies and Co-operation.
Leave for Change info session - audio online!
Kian Merrikh, Stephanie Nutting and David TocekThis public information session features remarks from Martha Harley, AVP Human Resources, Agnès van't Bosch, Director of Leave for Change, and presentations from three past Leave for Change participants. Listen to the audio to learn more about the program and the experiences of volunteers David Tocek, Stéphanie Nutting, and Kian Merrikh.
For more information on Leave for Change, please contact Louise Merlihan, Human Resources at Extension 54332.
Leave for Change featured at BetterPlanet Speaker Series
Leave for Change was recently the focus of the BetterPlanet Speaker Series.
The BetterPlanet Speaker Series features talks by faculty, staff, students and alumni who are making this a better planet every day through teaching, research, and community outreach and engagement.
Three University of Guelph staff who have participated in the Leave for Change program shared their stories. You can listen to the podcast online.
The speakers were:
Mary Childs, U of G's Legal Counsel - In 2009, Mary travelled to Vietnam to present a series of workshops on communication and legal issues to university administrators, lawyers and faculty.
Mary Childs, Sean Yo, Linda Watt - Better Planet Speaker SeriesLinda Watt, Director of Learning and Development and Consulting Services in Human Resources - In February 2011, Linda travelled to Malawi to work with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to help them develop their capacity in program management and guide the Department of School Health, Nutrition and HIV/AIDS in the implementation of a newly launched strategic plan.
Sean Yo, web analyst in Computing and Communications Services - In 2007, Sean spent three weeks in Kathmandu, Nepal, where he worked with the Fair Trade Group Nepal, helping them build web development skills, delivering web training and writing a strategic plan for their website.
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