Anne Delorme
Class of 2000
Participant in the Trent-in-Ecuador Program
My undergraduate degree at Trent University provided me with a framework in economic and social theory to better understand the challenges faced by developing countries and those of community development. Through my summer employment at Export Development Corporation and the International Development Research Centre I familiarized myself with the workings of large scale international development and international financing institutions. I also continued to seek out opportunities to develop more practical skills. Through the Trent in Ecuador program, my posting with Ayuda en Accion, an NGO that coordinates development projects in indigenous Andean communities, enabled me to enhance my project coordination skills in an international setting.
When I returned from Ecuador I was determined to find work in community development here in Canada to further develop my skills before attempting to apply them to the international context. I began working for Hearthmakers Energy Cooperative, an environmental non profit organization. As a participant in the mentor program funded by the Community Economic Development Technical Assistance Program (CEDTAP), I worked on Hearthmakers’ business plan. I found I had a natural ability for grasping business theory and the mentorship developed my skills in finding innovative solutions for the difficulties our emerging energy cooperative was experiencing. I was soon responsible for fundraising, developing new environmental programs, developing partnership in the community and providing leadership to our growing staff and volunteers.
I left Hearthmakers to pursue a position with larger established organizations in order to expand my experience working with international projects and to attain more knowledge on sustainable organizational management. I secured a position as a program officer with Canada World Youth (CWY). I was hired primarily to resolve recruitment difficulties, as CWY was experiencing a drastic drop in applications to their programs. Through research, analysis and the implementation of pilot projects, I succeeded in increasing applications from 2000 to 4500 in a year and a half. During this time I was also coordinating the Netcorps program, and by refining existing systems I was able to reduce my workload as well as those of the regional offices.
Throughout my work experience, I have been collecting experiences and knowledge that would enable me to provide valued and solid support to NGOs in the development of sustainable business practices. I am convinced that the non-profit sector needs an infusion of business skill to ensure organisational survival given current funding cuts and a highly competitive environment. After I complete the MBA program at McGill University, I plan to continue working in the NGO and non-profit sector at a local and international level.
-Anne Delorme
March 2005