AUSTRALIA:
Location: New Zealand
Exploring the future of ToP training NZ
A number of people from the ToP
Australasian faculty and friends visited Te Mauri Tau in New Zealand, the
community where most NZ ToP courses have been run from, for a two day meeting,
June 2-4.
A range of conversations were had, including reconnection with the
roots of the training in work such as imaginal education and the 5th City
project. We spent time identifying the kaupapa essence, purpose, philosophy -
of the ToP and why we are training people in it.
Some underpinning principles
were articulated, and these opened up new ways of working and sharing. These
conversations were borne out of an ongoing care for ensuring that facilitation
training is culturally appropriate and grounded in local cultural practices.
We
look forward to sharing the next steps in this journey as they unfold.
Michelle Rush and Helen Ritchie, New Zealand rush.m@xtra.co.nz
BANGLADESH:
Location: Chandpur
On 2-4 June, Nurul and Mizan worked in the ICA Ghoramara community in Chandpur.
Nurul talked to teachers, students and guardians of community children and
appointed a new teacher - Didarul, from June 2009. Mizan organized dressmaking
training to be facilitated by Bulu Begum from the community.
Nurul started taking
a class for street children from 6 June. Fuad is attending a training session on ToT
conducted by Acid Survivors Foundation from 7 June. Aziz had meeting on 4 June
with advisers, Dr. Mahbub and Dr. Aman, and guardians, Mr. Sujit, Mr. Bin
Kashem and Dr. Jahan.
On 2 June Aziz also discussed with a high level police
officer, DIG Manjur Kader Khan, Commandant, mohera Police Training center, about
ICA's ToP leadership training program to be introduced to police staffs. He also advised
talking to police reform Project Director Joint Secretary Nababikram Tripura, for
policy level decision making.
Staff admin@ica-bangladesh.org
COTE D'IVOIRE:
Location: Brobo Cote d Ivoire
This week we were excited to report on the initial outcomes from work on small projects that are supporting micro-enterprise development, as well as agriculture and food security, in the Brobo area. We hope to provide highlights, including photos, as the projects develop.
Eugene cotedivoireica@yahoo.fr
PERU:
Location: Lima
This week we launched an entirely new program, DUPLIQUE SUS RESULTADOS -- Double
Your Results -- with an exciting brochure and several initial contacts. The
3-week intensive course will be offered in the Azpitia Training Center during
the first three weeks of December for 30 professional staff people who are
working directly in rural communities.
This is a big step for our staff as we
begin to serve those who work for NGOs, companies and public agencies who have
personnel working in the field with communities. We have been asked for years
to assist in training these staff people in our methods, but we know that more
is needed than intellectual methods training. Through the DSR program we will
be able to change the consciousness of many people who have direct influence
over the effectiveness of community development programs. The ICA-Peru staff is
excited about the prospects of working with three or more staff from a variety of
organizations in the same 3-week program. More about this as our experience
develops.
This week we had a visit from Judith Hamje who spent a half day with us
sharing some exciting methods from her Habitat for Humanity training
experience. We also received a suggestion from ICAI staff to apply for a grant from UN Habitat for youth-led development initiatives, and that will proceed next week with a group of 350 young university grads who want to be of service in the urban barrios of Peru.
Staff admin@ica-peru.org
ICAI:
Location: Montréal
Michael traveled to Ottawa with a colleague from the Canadian Environmental Network to attend an Environmental Funders Forum. There were a range of Ontario-based funding organizations that were on hand to discuss their programs related to the environment. There was an interesting mix of funders, from small family foundations, to corporate donors and the Canadian Environment Ministry. The situation of donors during this global economic recession ranged from the expected - funding freezes for 2009 – to the encouraging – extra money available for local environmental initiatives. The majority of programs described related to small local environmental initiatives (greening urban spaces, planting native trees) and unfortunately none dealt specifically with funding for international initiatives. However it was incredibly useful to meet with the funders present to further understand their priorities and requirements and to build relationships for future opportunities.
Michael and Julia participated in a board finance committee meeting, and Julia continued to learn more about the added functionality and features of the updated accounting software, as she continued to keep the finances in order.
Staff info@ica-international.org
