WHAT IS HAPPENING AT GLOBAL PLATFORM JORDAN? May 2014
GPJ conducts The 2nd Regional Training of Trainers in 2014 In the beginning of the year, trainers at Global Platform Jordan held the first ”Training
of Trainers” (ToT) for the Arab Region. This month the time had come for the second one.
To
Governance
Sarah
Sweilem,
Trainer,
the
HRBA biggest
difference from last time was how the Action Track was carried out. The Action Track is an event where the participants get the opportunity to conduct a 4-hour training session themselves. The first Regional ToT Action Track was carried out at a school, but this time 50 participants were invited to the Platform, and the 21 ToT participants filled every single room of the house with sessions. The ToT course is aimed at empowering the participants and providing them with skills to become trainers in their own organizations.
”We motivate trainers to use their influence to go forth and motivate another group of change makers” Sarah Sweilem says, emphazising the importance of building up the participants' knowledge and attitude to make them the best
May 2014
possible educators for human rights. In order to meet the learning objectives, the two weeks were packed with diverse workshops and sessions, such as ”Physical Learning
Space”, ”Creative Facilitation”, and ”Participatory Methods”. Sarah Sweilem highlights the session ”Using Society as a Classroom”, which was a session that was done in Downtown
Amman
together
with
ActionAid's youth network, Activistas. In this session, the trainees participated in a flash mob about Freedom of Speech. ”It was a
huge success!”, Sarah Sweilem says; ”Seeing your
participants
be
willing
to
put
themselves out there to understand a point, or even better, to make a point, makes me love all of the sessions we did.” Abdallah Smaik attended the ToT in hope of learning about training in a new, unique way. ”I realized I had some skills”, he says. ”But in the training I have learned how to
plan, write objectives, and prepare for successful training.” He characterizes the training as creative, empowering, motivating, and interesting. The second Regional ToT proved to be very successfull. The two weeks' sessions and hosting of participants meant that the house was filled with a vibrant, good atmosphere. A Regional ToT consists of participants from many different Arab countries, and the result is knowledge sharing from various contexts. ”Having a
Regional ToT is so rich in experiences and personalities” Sarah Sweilem says, ”Participants have different motivations based on life experiences, and when you add cultural and social differences it becomes a real inspiration.”
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May 2014
Human Rights-Based Approach Revisited In May Global Platform Jordan hosted a consulting meeting about Human RightsBased Approach (HRBA). The meeting attendees came from Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Yemen, Denmark, and Jordan. They were senior experts and other ActionAid staff with broad experience in using HRBA in the Region. HRBA is ActionAid International's official approach to development work. The HRBA has been developed over the past decades and represents not only ActionAid's work methods but also ethics and values for the AAI organizations. The focal point is the notion that in order to end poverty and injustice, the organizations must work for preserving and promoting the human rights among poor and excluded people. The approach is comprehensive, and to keep up with ongoing developments in global and local contexts, the HRBA is designed to be constantly reevaluated in relation to the specific circumstances and needs. Therefore in 2012, ActionAid Denmark and their Regional Office in Amman initiated a thorough development project on the realities of HRBA among local partner organizations in the Arab Region. The intention was to view the disparities between the HRBA formalized principles and the actual practice among the local organizations over a six-month period, and use the analysis as a starting point for a consultation with ActionAid senior experts and other staff. The analysis confirmed that the ActionAid partner organizations use HRBA methods, however, the number of organizations having a complete knowledge of HRBA in terms of theory, values, and practices is somehow limited. In summary, the analysis indicates that the prevalence of HRBA in the Arab Region would benefit from both contextualization, spread of translated material on the approach, and greater collaboration between the different organizations. ActionAid will use the analysis and the debate to make a specific Arabic reading of the HRBA and subsequently create an action plan for implementing HRBA in the work of the local partners. The hope is that a common strategy will create more synergy between the local partner organizations.
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May 2014
Activista Strategizing Workshop In May, Global Platform Jordan conducted a four-day Strategizing Workshop for Activista. Activista is ActionAid International's network for youth volunteers operating in more than 25 countries. The global youth network focuses on mobilizing and enganging young people in decision-making and political processes on a local, national, and international level. The aim of the workshop was to support
Activista
Jordan
in
becoming an independant entity, although still supported by and cooperating
with
ActionAid.
The
workshop provided the group with skills to define their own vision, mission,
and
objectives
of
the
network. Additionally, it aimed at motivating the group and building a strong team of core members. Haitham Abdalla has been a member of Activista Jordan for one year, and he has participated in several trainings with ActionAid. To him, the sessions in strategic communication techniques and the team building exercises made a large impact. �I am
satisfied with the training, and I am really excited and motivated to start working now�, he says. He stated, that the workshop brought
the
group
closer
together, which was especially important since Activista Jordan has
recieved
new
members
recently. Haitham adds that in his opinion, the most rewarding
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May 2014
thing about being a member of Activista Jordan is the feeling of being part of a family,
”It is a privilege that you can't understand until you experience it.” The
workshop
comprised
four
evenings
of
open
discussions,
group
work,
brainstorming, and exercises. At the Platform we look forward to follow their future projects.
Training Of Our Own Trainers Summer is going to be busy for the Platform's trainers. Not only in regards to the numerous trainings that we offer at the Platform during June, July, and August, but also because our trainers will attend trainings themselves. ActionAid Denmark conducts two ”Training of Trainers” (ToT) at Global Platform Denmark: the first one in June and a second one in August. The Platform sends trainers to attend both courses. These trainings attracts trainers from all the different Global Platforms, and besides teaching the participants new practical training skills, the courses serve as an opportunity for Platform trainers to meet and share experiences. The ToT's always have something new to offer its participants, and trainers return with renewed motivation and energy.
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May 2014
New Platform and New Trainers In a previous newsletter, we mentioned that ActionAid is preparing the opening of Global Platforms in both Palestine and Egypt. We are happy to say that the preparations in Palestine are in great progress, and hopefully the Platform will open in September this year! Global Platform Jordan is experiencing changes as well. This Summer, we are welcoming a bunch of new staff: Hadeel is our new administrative officer. She is Iraqi but she has lived most of her life in Jordan. She holds a Business Diploma from TAG in Jordan and she has 10 years of experience working in several different local companies as executive secretary. She is a competent multitasker and looks forward to being part of the platform staff. Tania and Hannah are our two new training interns. Tania was born and raised in Palestine, and she holds a Bachelor's Degree in English Language and Literature. She participated in the Training of Trainers in January 2014, and joined the Global Platform in February as a voluntary trainer and in May as an intern. Hannah obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Arabic Studies in Germany and came to Jordan in October 2013 in order to improve her Arabic skills. She has a predilection for creative activism since she has been volunteering for Amnesty International in Germany, and she is looking forward to contribute and further develop her skills at the Global Platform.
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May 2014
Lana, Kadar, and Jonathan are our three new trainers. Lana holds a Diploma Degree in Tourism Services Management and HRM certificate from Cornell University and now she is in her last semester to obtain a degree in Tourism Development from the University of Jordan. She has more than 8 years of experience working with international organizations in Development and Training. In addition, she has been engaged in several capacity building and relief projects for the Iraqi and Syrian refugees. She hopes to make positive change through training, sharing knowledge and empowering community and individuals. Kadar holds a Master's Degree in Special Education. She has worked in refugee camps with training youth and adults, and she wishes to transfer her experiences to motivate youth to become engaged and involved in volunteering activities. Jonathan
has
been
working
with activism for the past 10 years, both with campaigning, training,
political
work,
and
development issues. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Communication and Performance Design from Roskilde University in Denmark. Before joining the platform, Jonathan worked for ActionAid Denmark as a campaigning and volunteer coordinator. The whole Global Platform is looking forward to get to know all our new staff members!
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May 2014
UPCOMING TRAININGS AND EVENTS
2nd-26th of June
Campaigning for Change
12th of June
ARI in Action, presentation of roadmap papers
13th-17th of June
GIZ-training: Participatory Leadership and Community Work
16th of June
Movie Night on Creative Activism
16th of June
Hosting Danish-Arab Partnership Programme (DAPP) Meeting
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May 2014
LET’S COOPERATE! Global Platform Jordan is one of ActionAid’s training hubs for empowerment and activism. We provide innovative and empowering trainings for young individuals, organisations and youth groups who wish to take positive actions in their societies.
You are always welcome to contact us; email: globalplatformjordan@ms.dk
www.globalplatforms.org/jordan www.facebook.com/globalplatformjordan www.youtube.com/globalplatforms
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