The study tour was organized with great professionalism and dedication by the Veterinarians Without Borders North America to Ottawa City and Prince Edward Island in Canada for two weeks (April 20th to May 3rd, 2024) for participants from 6 countries across Africa and Asia, including Ghana, Keyna, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Specifically, participants from Vietnam consists of Dr. Pham Duc Phuc, a Director of Institute of Environmental Health and Sustainable Development (IEHSD) and Coordinator of the Vietnam One Health Univrsity Network (VOHUN), Ms. Pham Thi Trang, a Lecturer from Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry (TUAF) and Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Dung, a Country Coordinator of VWB in Vietnam.
It was an invaluable experiential learning opportunity, including a myriad of educational knowledge and practical experiences, interweaving presentations from different speakers and farm visits. During the study tour, participants have the opportunity to meet many people, exchange and learn a lot of knowledge, real-life experiences, cultural immersion, team building and networking. The breadth of knowledge gained in various topics such as Gender Equality, PSEA, One Health approach, Human Rights, Climate Change and Adaptation, Antibiotic Resistance and farm visits has helped participants better understand the One Health approach as well as relevant cross-cutting themes in project implementation and management and how to operate and manage farms as well as apply technology for sustainable farming in Canada. We are all excited to share these new knowledge and experiences with our colleagues, friends, and community members upon our return.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to VWB for giving us the opportunity to embark on such an amazing journey and our extremely grateful to Kristen, Katia, Megan and Danielle for your great support and hospitality. We had a wonderful and unforgettable time!
VETS is a 8-year initiative (2020-2028) to improve the economic and social well-being of marginalized people, particularly women and girls, in 6 countries across Africa and Asia. In collaboration with local partners, the program is implemented through 190 Canadian volunteers on international assignment and is generously funded by Global Affairs Canada.