A PUBLICATION OF THE ALBERTA COUNCIL FOR GLOBAL COOPERATION
V O L U M E
SPRING 2013
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Educator Profile: The Hilltop Humanitarian Group Great things happen when like-minded teachers bring their ideas together! Educators Martyn Chapman and Jodi Rosvold formed The Hilltop Humanitarian Group (HHG) in September of 2007 as a means to engage their students in global issues. Upon foror l h a loca “Working wit mation, students from carried out reew vi a s ve gi on ganizati ing out rather search to choose a the inside look partner country. outside lookthan from the Due to the high ing in.” number of orphans relative to the population, the students chose Uganda. The next step was to find an organization to partner with; one that was transparent and accountable to how money was handled. While this proved to be difficult, HHG persevered in trying to find a local women’s group. Little did Jodi know that on the day she would phone the office of the Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO), a local Ugandan NGO, they were at the point of closing their orphanage. HHG began their partnership immediately and funding to keep the orphanage open was sent by the end of the school year. The aim of HHG is to provide sustainable long-term funding that can be put into the budget by
local partners. HHG now sends US $3000 every three months to its partners in Uganda . While this is a large commitment for a relatively small school and demands a lot of work from the students involved, it also opens up many opportunities. HHG has been fortunate enough to have a succession of excellent student leaders who have shared their time and skills to the organization and partnership. In July of 2009 a team of six students, two staff advisors, and one parent travelled to Uganda to stay at the orphanage for five weeks. Weekday mornings were spent volunteering in the local primary school and the afternoons were spent improving the orphanage and working on community projects. Sunday mornings were spent at different Churches meeting with the community. This was a great experience and never to be forgotten by all involved. While a successful international partnership takes time and energy, when carried out thoughtfully and ethically, it can create many opportunities for participants on both ends.
A dedication to learning about global issues and an openness to learning from others are just two ways students and educators can benefit from an international partnership. It takes commitment, but is clearly worthwhile. Hilltop wishes to thank High Park School in Stony Plain where students have raised money to improve the toilet facilities of a child in the care of UWESO with severe special needs and to provide some individual teaching for her. They also wish to thank past and present members of HHG, especially Marilyn Dudinsky. If you would like to learn more about the Hilltop Humanitarian Group and the process taken to connect directly with a local organization, please contact Hilltop School in Whitecourt.
Development in a Box—Digital Resource Development in a Box is now in its fifth year and being used by over 500 schools across Alberta. This free resource includes lesson plans, hands-on activities, as well as connections to local organizations from the ACGC membership. Development in a Box was designed to aid educators in the incorporation of global issues into the Alberta
curriculum and classroom. Do you have your free Development in a Box yet? While we've run out of hard copies, we have plenty of DVD copies to share! Development in a Box is available for grades 1-6 and grades 7-12. Visit acgc.ca to sign up today or view the resource online.
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Educational Opportunities!
Do you know an extraordinary young person who is passionate about climate and social justice issues? ACGC is thrilled to announce that we are seeking nominations for outstanding and engaged youth, in grades 9-12, to participate in the Change Your World: Alberta 2012 Change Your World: Alberta Youth Leadership Youth Leadership Tour to Peru. Tour 2013 to Nicaragua. This allexpenses paid international development tour is a once in a lifetime opportunity for 5 young Albertans. Selected youth will travel to Nicaragua for two weeks at the beginning of July. The focus of this tour will be on the concepts of climate change and
climate justice. In Nicaragua, youth will meet with staff and volunteers from local organizations, as well as community members who have been impacted by international development efforts. ACGC is partnering with Change for Children Association (CFC) to host this opportunity. CFC has a longstanding history of organizing educational international tours for Canadian youth, students, community groups and dentists. Upon their return, the selected youth will participate in a speaking tour across Alberta, sharing their experiences and perceptions through a presentation and video they will create during their time in Nicaragua. This tour will be shared with students and community organizations across Alberta throughout the 2013-2014 school year.
Change Your Wo rld 2013—Y outh Lea dership Tou r is acc nominat epting ions! Visit acg c.ca for m ore informat ion! This is a great opportunity to acknowledge hard work and dedication to social justice, or to provide extra encouragement for a youth that carries great potential in the area of global citizenship! You may nominate more than one person. Deadline for submissions is Thursday, April 25, 2013. Selected participants will be notified by May. 10th.
CAUSE Canada The Poverty Project—A story of success! In 2012 CAUSE Canada initiated the Early Entrepreneur Experiment and Poverty Project which was offered to schools in Southern Alberta. As a result of the program, elementary and high school students are exposed to the Millennium Development Goals. The project teaches students about the impact of micro-credit programs and allows them to experience the empowerment that comes from receiving a loan and starting a business. Recently the students of W.O. Mitchell experienced the sense of empowerment and inspiration that comes from starting a social business. After participating in a 3-day workshop about global poverty issues and micro-credit as a possible tool for poverty reduction, the Grade 3 students started the process of developing their own business plan. CAUSE Canada provided a start-up fund of $100 and students then took this money and developed a plan for “CAUSE Cones”, an ice cream business where all profits would be reinvested into CAUSE Canada’s micro-credit program. CAUSE Cones was a huge success! The grade 3 students sold ice cream to classmates, and even set up a hot chocolate stand outside
of school time to raise more money. Profits of CAUSE cones totaled $517 and the grade threes of W.O. Mitchell then took it one step further and presented in front of a school assembly of students, teachers, and parents on the MDGs, social business, micro-credit and their early entrepreneur experiment. Extremely impressed by the Grade 3 presentation and their success with the program, CAUSE invited two Grade 3 students to join CAUSE Canada at the My World Conference in January to share their story with over 700 other students from across Calgary. If you are interested in participating or learning more about The Poverty Project, please contact Joanne Carry, CAUSE Canada Youth Program Coordinator at joannecarrycauseed@gmail.com. www.cause.ca
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John Humphrey Centre Public Education Training The cultural diversity of Alberta’s student bodies requires teachers and schools to develop cultural proficiency, enabling them to connect with, respond to and interact effectively with pupils and their families. Student learning or successful communication between instructor and pupil occurs when teachers and student come to “shared understandings”. Providing an environment where students and families flourish is fundamental to empowerment. The John Humphrey Centre offers workshops and consultancy services for training teachers and schools by providing tools that: Examine the self and one’s own culture to understand how this impacts the perception and interaction of those who are different Understand the guiding principles of cultural proficiency
Develop behaviours and practices for cultural proficiency – What does it look like? In the classroom? In a school? Overcome barriers to cultural proficiency Ensure teachers have the tools to commit to cultural proficiency The John Humphrey Centre believes that professional development incorporating an anti-racism based approach enhances the experiences of students in the classroom and school. An approach that embraces diversity and multiculturalism through understanding is critical – this training offers the tools to teachers and schools to build this understanding. These sessions are customized to client’s particular situation and can be run in one-day-long or multisession formats depending on your needs.
Volunteer Program Volunteer Youth Educators gain skills in training for and of human rights to children and youth. Through this opportunity youth will assist with the implementation of John Humphrey’s annual Rights in the Sun (RITS) summer camp programming, as well as requests throughout the year for human rights sessions for children in schools throughout the community. Participants must support John Humphrey with the implementation of a minimum of four sessions throughout the summer in order to receive a certificate as a Youth Educator for Human Rights. If you are interested in either of these opportunities, please contact info@jhcentre.org for more information. www.jhcentre.org
CEIBA Youth Speak! Presentations & Workshops on Global Education Ceiba's Education Committee consists of passionate youth educators who create dynamic presentations and workshops on a range of local and global social awareness themes and activities, including: Youth Leadership & Activism Social & Environmental Justice Equal Access to Education Water Justice
Food Security & Community Gardens The Power of Mural Painting
Ceiba has facilitated workshops for school groups of all ages from elementary up to post-secondary. Workshops and presentations are customized to student/classroom/school needs. Contact Ceiba today to book a presentation/workshop at your school at info@ceibaassociation.com. www.ceibaassociation.com/
Online Resources for Global Citizenship Education! Change for Children Association- Tools for Schools Learn about the issues and contribute to the solutions through this fantastic online resource. Visit www.changeforchildren.org. CHF- Global Education Program Visit www.chf.ca to access free curriculum-linked lessons, presentations and workshops, school-wide activities and community events.
Tips for your student group! The Oxfam Building Successful School Partnerships document offers some great guidance on developing an international partnership. Below are some tips to consider when building a partnership.
Both partners should try to agree on a common vision for the partnership, and refer to this regularly.
A partnership agreement is invaluable – but it can only be developed once some discussion has taken place between partners.
Put educational aims rather than charitable aims at the heart of the partnership.
Acknowledge imbalances and differences rather than brushing them under the carpet.
Recognize, and seek out, alternative perspectives within each partner community.
Consider: Are core values of understanding diversity, mutual respect and social justice being applied? To read the full document Building Successful School Partnerships visit www.oxfam.org.uk/education/whole-school/school-partnerships For general Global Citizenship Education information on the Oxfam website visit www.oxfam.org.uk/education/global-citizenship/global-citizenship-guides
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Share your activities with us and see your school profiled in our next ACGC teach newsletter! julia@acgc.ca
ACGC Teach is published by the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation with the financial assistance of the Canadian International Development Agency
ACGC CURRENT MEMBERSHIP MAR 2013 Action International Ministries ˑ Alberta Public Interest Research Group ˑ Alberta Teachers’ Association ˑ Altamas for Peace and Development Associationˑ Association of Canadian Peacemakers International ˑ Awaso Canadian Academy Foundation ˑ Bridges of Hope International Network of Development Agencies ˑ Calgary Board of Education, Global Learning Program ˑ Canada World Youth ˑ Canadian Association for Participatory Development ˑ Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace ˑ Canadian Department of Peace Initiative ˑ Canadian Humanitarian ˑ Canadian Moravian Mission Society ˑ Canadian Peacemakers International ˑ Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistanˑ Caro-Canadians Reaching Out to the World's Children Foundation ˑ CAUSE Canada ˑ CEIBA Association ˑ Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology ˑ Centre for Global Citizenship Education and Research ˑ Change for Children ˑ CHF ˑ Covenant International Ministry ˑ CUSO International ˑ Engineers Without Borders- Canada ˑ Four Worlds Centre for Development Learning ˑ Ghost River Rediscovery ˑ Global Centre for Outreach Foundation ˑ Global Education Program, University of Alberta International ˑ Global Environmental and Outdoor Education Council ˑ Global Forum Foundation ˑ Helping Youth Through Educational Scholarships ˑ HIV Edmonton ˑ Human Development Foundation ˑ Innovative Canadians for Change ˑ John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights ˑ Keiskamma Canada Foundation ˑ Kleos Microfinance Group ˑ Leprosy Mission Canada ˑ Lifeline Malawi Association ˑ Light Up the World ˑ Maharashtra Seva Samiti Organization ˑ Marda Loop Justice Film Festival ˑ Mennonite Central Committee Alberta ˑ Micah Centre ˑ Nile Valley Foundation Learning Centre ˑ One Child's Village ˑ One! International Poverty Relief ˑ Operation Eyesight Universal ˑ Optometry Giving Sight ˑ Oxfam Canada ˑ Project Shelter Wakadogo ˑ Rainbow for the Future ˑ Rainbow of Hope for Children ˑ RESULTS ˑ Sahakarini Inter-World Education & Development Association ˑ Samaritan's Purse Canada ˑ Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute ˑ Somali-Canadian Education & Rural Development Organization ˑ Sombrilla International Development Societyˑ STOP TB Canada ˑ Tools for Schools Africa Foundation ˑ Trickster Theatre ˑ True Vision Ghana ˑ UEnd Foundation ˑ Unisphere Global Research Centre ˑ United Nations Association in Canada Edmonton Branch ˑ Women's Empowerment International Foundation ˑ World Fit For ChildrenAlberta Chapter ˑ World University Service of Canada ˑ