As part of International Development week, BCCIC staff conducted short interviews to learn more about the work of their members. See the clips below – and enjoy!
How can we show international solidarity from BC?
What does ‘universality’ mean?
The ‘reverse test’
For more like this visit BCCIC’s website here!
Filed under Leading
“If you’re willing to help without listening to the story, then I have a problem.” – Caroline Berinyuy
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Caroline Berinyuy, program director with the Young Women’s Leadership Program (YWLP) in Cameroon and leader of the next Global Solidarity Retreat.
Solidarity retreats emerged, in part, as a way to respond to challenges to and critiques of what has been called ‘voluntourism’, as described in other posts and in resources & readings. The messaging about much of the global South, particularly about sub-Saharan Africa, is that there are many poor / troubled people and that it is the role of those from the global North to travel and ‘help’ them.
Caroline’s take on this, as I heard it, is that the desire to ‘help’ is natural and valuable. The thing is, there’s a desire to jump in and help rather than first listen. It’s good to work with somebody who is willing to help – it’s a positive word if used rightly on the ground.
But, she says, “people are not listening to the story – they are quick to provide fixes without listening to the story. It’s important to see why doing a project in Cameroon might be different from one in Zambia… don’t overlook listening to jump to solutions first.”
Taking the time needed to deeply listen can be challenging, with short trips and tight schedules. She is visiting to present at the CIES (Comparative and International Education Society) 2016 conference. As a part of that conference she will give a short presentation to fellow academics and those within her field. The opportunity to participate in a Global Solidarity retreat, having several full days with the same small group of people, is a valuable addition to her travel itinerary – and a significant opportunity for Canadian residents.
Caroline is program director for the Young Women’s Leadership Program, which focuses on an after-school mentoring program for girls. The program aims to promote the education of girls both through academic support and scholarships. Workshops are led by professionals and by high school students, ‘leaders in training’. Her work engages mothers as well as community elders, and is a safe and welcoming space for students of all ethnic backgrounds and abilities. You can learn more about the YWLP in this article or in the following:
Global Solidarity Retreat YWLP Background
Stay tuned for further information about the Global Solidarity Retreat with Caroline Berinyuy: March 11th – 13th, 2016!
Filed under Building community, Thinking
The Artesana Global Solidarity Retreat, held Sept 26 – 28th on Gambier Island, provided an opportunity for people from the Lower mainland to explore issues related to international solidarity with feminist, artist and activist Sandra Moran from the Guatemalan women’s rights organization Artesana. Sandra is also the representative for the Americas for the World March of Women. The retreat was hosted by CoDevelopment Canada.
A diverse group of 11 women gathered to build relationships between each other and Sandra, build understanding of the work of Artesana, deepen understanding of global solidarity, and make plans for how to work together over the next 6 months. We shared delicious meals and thoughts on solidarity, went swimming / kayaking, learned about Sandra’s work, played in the night-time phosphorescence, sang songs around a campfire – and made plans for ongoing work with Sandra Moran and Artesana. For more information, click here for a post with more detail or download the Artesana Global Solidarity Retreat – full report.
Filed under Building community, Facilitating
This spring I’ll be trying out a new course structure at Langara College. In the past, Tamara Baldwin and I taught a course called ‘Travelling to Volunteer’ – a course that worked to unpack some of the assumptions and thinking behind voluntourism. Based on conversations emerging within that course and elsewhere, we are offering two new courses for spring 2015. You can find them both here, under the ‘World Languages and Travel’ section. Pass this along to those who may be interested…!
Location: John Oliver Secondary
This course is designed for adults who have been working five or more years, and who want to consider ways that they can use their holiday time, finances, and/or skills to support work that they believe is important in the world. In the first evening, participants will explore their own skills, goals, and background. Between the first and second session, participants will do individual research and planning to find relevant organizations and initiatives. The second session will focus on asking questions, suggesting next steps, and preparing for a successful engagement with the chosen initiative/organization. Come to this course with a few questions or directions already in mind. Be prepared to think thoughtfully about how your use your time and resources in this world; you’ll leave with a stronger sense of your purpose and some clear next steps.
Location: John Oliver Secondary
Have you considered international volunteering or ‘voluntourism’ and wondered about the ethics of this work? Are you interested in international engagement but unsure how you can be? This session will open discussions around the ethics of international engagement using material derived from the reflections of those who have worked/ volunteered internationally, research studies in this area, and existing educational resources. Taking this course is a bit like international volunteering itself – you will leave with more refined informed, and reflective questions than when you began.
Having worked for years in the non-profit sector, I have seen community development professionals work hard with very limited resources. Now, as I transition to working within the post-secondary context, I meet more and more intelligent people who could have significant time and resources to provide to issues they care about. They ask good questions and are looking for authentic contribution and connection, not a mass-produced experience.
Options for being involved in community development part-time are limited. The most common ‘ask’ is for financial contributions, in a variety of forms. Many organizations suggest international or local volunteerism. There are a range of volunteerism opportunities – some as simple as manual labour, others focused on mentorship of clients/participants. What I do not see are ways for those interested in positive social change to build relationships with, learn from, and significantly support the work of community development professionals.
That’s where I’ve come to this idea what I’m (tentatively) calling “Part-time Changemakers”. It’s about articulating ways to connect those interested in positive change in the world with those who are doing this work full-time. The premise is that those who do community development work full-time have ideas, initiatives, and potential work that is currently not happening for lack of time, resources, or specific expertise. Those who want to contribute part-time can offer their skills, expertise, or networks for a defined period of time.
International Solidarity Retreats are a way to connect those interested in positive change in the world with those who are doing this work full-time. The journey starts with an ‘Launch’ –a getaway to the Gulf Islands, it’s a workshop on Bowen Island – that connects a group of people, an issue, and a full-time community development practitioner/leader. The weekend is a mixture of strategic planning, collective outdoor adventure, and social time. The focus, structure, and content of the Contribution Launch are co-created by a facilitator and project leader. More about those ideas here.
Mt Pleasant Drinks is a social evening with several purposes. The first is to bring together people who live in the same geographical neighbourhood for regular social gatherings, thus building a sense of neighborliness and connection. The second goal is to share ways that those gathering might be able to connect with project leader, and to begin to build relationships and connections with those people. The evening is primarily social – however, at one point in the evening there is an opportunity to say ‘cheers’ and gather briefly. An organization representative shares a bit about their current work and their ideas they’re interested in working on for the next Launch. After the event, someone follows up with those interested to set up further conversation or connection – primarily to see if participants are interested in the next Contribution Launch dates, and if so to determine whether they’re a good fit. Target audience for this event would be working professionals.
Although I first conceived of Mt Pleasant Mondays as a way to connect people to solidarity efforts, in the end the Mt Pleasant Monday idea has taken form as a community-building space, as shared in this post.
The Strategic Supporters of Change Series is designed for those who know they want to be involved in making change in a substantive way, but haven’t yet articulated what that looks like. Those who participate in this series may already be involved in local and/or international volunteering, charitable contributions, and support of the work of friends/relatives, but are looking to take a more thoughtful approach to their contributions. Participants ideally have an openness to learning, willingness to choose one or more areas of focus, and desire to take action. The ‘Strategic Supporters of Change’ series is designed to lead conversations about the following:
The strategic supporters of change series could be offered as two full-day workshops (complete series), five evening sessions (complete series), or a single ‘taster’ workshop. Target audience for this would be retired or soon-to-retire baby boomers. The work on this idea has not yet begun, except through collaborative work to teach this course at the Vancouver School Board.
All of these ideas are emerging and evolving, as I find ways to blend my interest in international solidarity with my desire to facilitate and lead programs.
I am looking for those who have similar interest and willingness to be involved in articulating these ideas, designing sessions and curriculum to match, and leading the sessions in various venues.
Filed under Building community, Facilitating, Thinking