Blog

Seeking Ressource People from our Countries of Intervention and Living in Canada

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:38:45 -0500

Can you help us find resource people?

We are searching for nationals of the Uniterra and PCV Haiti countries of intervention, who may be interested in briefing outgoing Canadian volunteers on their country of origin.

Recent budget cuts to CIDA have meant that we can no longer utilize the services of the Center for Intercultural Learning, which has been responsible until now for coordinating and paying for the services of resource people.

Please note that we will need these people within a limited timeframe, since the Uniterra team is organizing 6 trainings within the next 5 weeks!

Thank you in advance for your help and contacts!

Here are more details:

Objective for the meeting between the resource person and volunteer	Offer a personal overview of the country of assignment. The resource person should be able to engage the Canadian volunteer’s interest and curiosity and offer relevant, current and complete information on the subjects listed below.
Type of meeting	If the resource person and volunteer live in the same city, the meeting will preferably be held in person. If not, it can take place via Skype (with camera if possible) or by telephone if the other options are not available.
Length of meeting	Minimum of 1 ½ hrs up to a maximum of 2 ½ hrs.
Time and date	The time, date and location, if necessary, for the meeting will be scheduled by the volunteer and resource person. This meeting should take place within 2 weeks following the intercultural training that the volunteer must take prior to departure. In all cases, the meeting should take place PRIOR to the volunteer’s departure.
Honorarium for resource person	150$
Steps to take	Send the following information to Suzanne Ouellet (suzanneo@ceci.ca, 514-875-9911 ext. 224) as soon as possible: · Name · Country of origin · Contact information (phone number-s, email, city of residence) · Languages fluently spoken This information will be sent to a consultant who will be creating a directory of resource people. This person will contact the resource people and negotiate contracts as necessary.
Resource people	The resource people we are seeking for are: · Canadian, permanent residents or hold a work permit (students or others) and are nationals of one of our following countries of intervention: Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Mali, Malawi, Nepal, Peru, Senegal, Vietnam · Currently resides in Canada · Is good communicator and interested in sharing information about their country of origin · Has a high level of cultural knowledge · Has up-to-date knowledge of current situation in their country of origin
Subject areas which must be prepared by resource people prior to the meeting	· Historical facts which have an impact on current development issues in the country of assignment · Overview of political and democratic issues, media, the economy. Overview of social issues, human rights, security, religion, demographics, public health. · Status of equality between women and men · Cultural traits that are both common and different from Canadians’ daily life (e.g. family make up, attitudes towards work, social and family relationships). Perception of wealth, poverty, social differences · Work milieu: hierarchy, communications between colleagues, conflict resolution, negotiation methods, work load, work schedule, work conditions, dress codes etc. · Recommendations for items to bring (that may be difficult to find in country) · Travel and living advice, in response to questions and needs of volunteers

Fair Trade Bazaar is a Hit!

Fri, 11 May 2012 10:21:31 -0500

On May 4 and 5, 2012, as part of the Fair Trade Fortnight, CECI participated in the fifth Fair Trade Bazaar organized by Equiterre at the Centre for Sustainable Development. The Bazaar was a real success: 3,000 individuals came to taste fairly traded products and to meet stakeholders in this more equitable form of commerce for small producers from around the world.

With support from the Uniterra Program, CECI ran a booth at the event, and several volunteers returning from their mandates in Fair Trade were able to speak with visitors about their enriching experiences working with artisans and producers in countries in the South.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers who graciously agreed to give us a few more hours of their time for the Bazaar. Thank you to Nadia Berger, Bouazza Mache, Géraldine Petiteau, Jean-Nicolas François, Krista Jasmann, Véronique Kingsley, Rébecca Gelly-Cyr and Rosalie Lebel.

Fair Trade products from several partners in the South – particularly in Bolivia, Guatemala and Vietnam – were featured at the booth: alpaca wool clothing (dresses, jackets, sweaters, etc.), Nelligan coffee and handcrafts from Guatemala and Vietnam (bags and scarves). More than 300 people visited with us to learn more about the products and about international volunteering opportunities.

In total, 25 exhibitors were present at the Bazaar. Like CECI, several of them raised awareness about Fair Trade issues, while others presented products from different industries in this solidarity trade: bananas, coffee, soccer balls, olive oil, spices, beauty products, chocolate, clothing, handcrafts and more. Most of them are closely collaborating with producers in countries in the South.

Laure Waridel, pioneer in Fair Trade and ethical consumption in Quebec, was spokesperson for the Bazaar. She officially opened the event with an inaugural breakfast and gave a talk on Saturday with photojournalist Éric St-Pierre on Fair Trade issues entitled “Quinze ans de commerce équitable au Québec… et après? (Fifteen years of Fair Trade in Quebec… what now?)”.

The Uniterra Program was a proud sponsor of this event, whose values we fully embrace. Each year we showcase projects at this event that support Fair Trade in the countries in the South.

Photo credit: ©HeriRakotomalala

Vues d'Afrique : Uniterra, a cultural solidarity program

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:12:19 -0500

April 1, 2012, Montreal

The Uniterra program is proud to partner with the 28e édition du Festival international de cinéma Vues d’Afrique, to celebrate the richness of African culture, history and dynamism. The festival will run from April 27 to May 6 in Montreal, Quebec and Ottawa.

The Uniterra program invites cinemaphiles and lovers of Africa to participate in panel discussions on themes of identity, solidarity and destiny. These panel discussions will follow the films Le secret de l’enfant fourmi by Christine Francois (France), and Koundi et le jeudi national by Ariane Astrid Atodji (Cameroon), presented at the Excentris cinema:

• April 30th at 7:00pm;

• and May 4th with 4:15pm.

Uniterra, an international cooperation program jointly operated by CECI and World University Service of Canada (WUSC), is implementing several projects in Africa in partnership with local organizations.

Each year, through an ongoing sustained commitment of approximately 200 Canadian volunteers, these projects are being successful in Botswana, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Malawi, Mali and Senegal. An increasing number of these volunteers come from these countries. This is their way of making a difference, through the program and acting with respect and appreciation of other cultures.

Check the program of the Vues d'Afrique, a can’t miss African cultural event!

The Uniterra program is funded with financial support from the Government of Canada through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Information :

Arnaud Deharte : (514) 875-9911, ext. 293, arnaudd@ceci.ca

www.uniterra.ca

www.ceci.ca

www.wusc.ca

Uniterra is an international volunteer cooperation program jointly implemented by the Centre for Studies and Cooperation (CECI) and World University Service of Canada (WUSC). It is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The program operates in 12 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It supports local organizations working to improve the lives of their communities.

For Greater Justice in the World

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Uniterra Session at AWID:

For Greater Justice in the World
Women’s Organizations Invest in Social Economy and Economic Justice
Examples from Botswana, Guatemala and Senegal

With partners from Botswana, Guatemala and Senegal, Uniterra held a workshop on April 21 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Haliç Congress Centre in Istambul.

The audience was made up of representatives from numerous partner organizations: Marche Mondiale des Femmes - Suisse/Brésil, CECI - Canada, Crossroads International - Canada, AWOMI - Senegal, WRM - Urugay, CARE International - Tanzania, Plan International - Kenya, WUSC - Canada, Global Goods Partners – USA, CEFAR Ladies Circle for Women’s Empowerment - Cameroon, CONSECTORA - Peru, opendemocracy.net – UK, Coalition of Bumickake Workers - USA, Radio de femmes Manoré FM - Senegal, AFEME - Senegal … not counting the Uniterra delegation.

The three panelists (Peggie, Brisna and Héléne) from Botswana, Guatemala and Senegal gave an exhaustive presentation of their organizations’ experiences in women’s economic empowerment through specific examples of women-led activites or actions. In Senegal and Botswana, women in rural and urban areas organized themselves around economic activites, and victims of gender-based violence got their dignity back as they headed down the long road to empowerment. In Guatemala, indigenous women joined forces to demand greater economic justice.

Furthermore, the panelists drew attention to the sociocultural, political and economic barriers that, in addition to decision-makers’ lack of political will, diminish their contributions to the economic empowerment of women considerably.

This goes to show that, in spite of women’s ingenuity, creativity and innovativeness, issues of economic empowerment continue to raise tricky questions. Are women on the right track to truly wielding economic power? Do the informal and traditional business sectors - handicraft, market gardening, microcommerce, microbusiness, fruit and vegetable processing, seafood products, etc. – relegate women to the margins of a global economy controlled by men? How can we encourage women to transform their economic projects into true drivers of individual and collective change?

So many of these questions call for mobilization, synergy and above all alliances at all levels to ACT effectively.

Despite the limited amount of time alloted for the activity (90 minutes), Uniterra’s Regional Project Officer for gender equality gave a brief presentation on the Terms of Reference for Women’s Economic Power and a debate was held after the presentaiton. Before adjourning the session, partipants wrote key words on slips of paper to be displayed on a banner carried in the Solidarity March for Women in Turkey held on Sunday, April 22.

Women’s economic power: a key issue at the AWID Forum

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:36:30 -0500

The 12^th International Forum of the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) will be launched and will have the theme Transforming Economic Power to Advance Women’s Rights and Justice. The event, which will bring together 2,200 activists and heads of women’s rights organizations around the world, will take place from April 19 to 22 2012, in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Uniterra program, WUSC, CECI and Match International will be a part of it! Here’s more information on the two sessions that will be offered.

Get a feel of the Conference by following our bloggers on the Her Challenge, Your Challenge blog!

Women’s groups invest in social economy and economic justice; examples from Guatemala, Senegal and Botswana

Saturday, April 21, 2012 - 11:30 am-1:00 pm

See AWID's Daily program for April 21st
Presented by: Uniterra

Reinforcing women’s economic power is a growing concern for women’s organizations. The influence that the economy has over our lives and destinies cannot be ignored, especially when it comes to the fights for the recognition of women’s rights, against sexual violence, and women’s political participation. Women are aware that strategically it is important to invest in these areas of action and to ensure they are not only financially independent, but also to increase their power to make economic choices and decisions. Women’s groups have supported various economic initiatives and alternatives, which are found in cooperative or social economy movements. In Senegal or Botswana, women in rural and urban areas organized themselves around economic activities, and women who have been victims of violence found their dignity and set out on the long road towards empowerment. In Guatemala, aboriginal women joined forces and demand greater economic justice.

The session aims to bring together women advocates engaged in actions related to women’s economic empowerment and the overall fight for women’s rights and for more power for women. We will reflect on strategies that can be developed to ensure that the economic alternatives proposed by women can help to change the unequal relationships that exist between men and women in developed and developing countries, and in local and globalized economies. We will also analyze concrete experiences and identify the conditions needed to launch viable, strategic and sustainable initiatives.

Speakers:

Mariame Coulibaly (Senegal, host)
Brina Carina Caxaj Àlvarez (Guatemala)
Héléne Safiétou Diop Diouf (Senegal)
Peggie Ramapha (Botswana)

From left to right: Mariame Coulibaly (Senegal, host), Peggie Ramapha (Botswana), Brina Carina Caxaj Àlvarez (Guatemala), Héléne Safiétou Diop Diouf (Senegal)

Women Work: Strategic alliances to transform Sri Lanka’s tea sector

Thursday, April 19, 2012 - 1:00-2:00 pm
See AWID’s program for April 19th

Presented by World University Service of Canada

Similar to many of the key issues faced by women workers the world over, Sri Lanka’s tea plantation workers reality includes unequal access to and control over resources, male dominated power structures, violence at home and the workplace, and poor working conditions with little recourse among many others. These realities are experienced in the context of ethnic inequalities and remnants of colonial past. Innovative strategies and alliance building are being used to transform power in the tea plantation sector.

The panel will share the process from three different but complementary perspectives. They will address the challenges, the lessons learned and the successes with the aim of stimulating discussion amongst the participants about potential to replicate aspects of the project in other industries and/or countries. Panelists will also touch on challenges this approach may cause.

Plantation Communities Project (PCP) is a successful development initiative underway in the highlands of Sri Lanka. The project works with women workers, the communities and the estates (both managers and CEOs) to collaboratively identify key issues and come up with innovative solutions. Establishing and strengthening women’s groups and women’s voices, they are transforming the sector: inclusion of women as supervisors, paying women directly for their work, productivity bonuses, establishment of savings cooperatives to give them better access to resources, community health projects including alcohol harm reduction programs, and community mobilization to promote unity as a means to address ethnic tension (between Tamil estate workers and Sinhala villagers).

Speakers:

Katharine Im-Jenkins (facilitator)
Stephanie Hoey (WUSC Canada)
Jeganathan Rathna (WUSC Sri Lanka)
Velusamy Krishnaveni, Abbotsleigh Estate, Watawala Plantations

Be the Change, Take the Challenge on March 8th!

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:04:47 -0600

Happy International Women’s Day! On this special day, we would like to thank all our volunteers and partners who make a difference in women’s lives. Your invaluable contributions have helped tens of thousands of women and young girls around the world.

On March 8^th, we join the world in commemorating the International Women’s Day (IWD). This is a day where we celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. We are inviting you not to sit down, but stand up and be the change. Commemorate this day by promoting the Her Challenge, Your Challenge Campaign. There are many things you can do on campus or in your community to promote the campaign, some of them include:

Hold a special coffee house or an open mic event to echo women’s voices, raise awareness on some of the inequalities that exist today!
Play our campaign videos at an event, encourage friends to watch the videos or record their own to inform your community of women’s challenges abroad.
Hold a special movie night that educates people about gender equality.
Organize a public Her challenge, Your challenge exhibit. Present campaign videos and images in a public space to inform students and your community.

That’s not all! There are more things for you: be inspired with stories and updates from the campaign by going to the Her Challenge Your Challenge website

Join also world debates for the International Women’s Day discussion on: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/events.asp

Have you planned an event already? Or planning to have one? Remember to share with us details of your event and we will advertise it on the Uniterra website, write Yves Kalala at campusontario@wusc.ca

Take action and speak for equality among women and men!

In the Toronto Star for International Women's Day!

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 10:12:19 -0600

Pssssit....

On March 8th, check out the Toronto Star! There will be a fascinating 6-page insert on "Investing in Women and Girls” and Uniterra is part of it!

Read how Uniterra volunteers are helping HIV-positive women dealing with the multiple challenges they face.

Read how Leave for Change volunteer Sarah Lowden is contributing to the cause. YOU can also help Sarah in her fundraising efforts! Check out her volunteer profile!

The story presents SEMUS, a WUSC partner in Burkina Faso who is helping people with HIV and AIDS to get tested, to control the effects of the virus, and to get employment.

These stories should inspire you... They are also available here!

Visit of CIDA Program Officer to WUSC in Vietnam

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 10:37:22 -0600

On February 13^th, 2012, CIDA Program Officer from the CIDA Partnership Branch, Janet Lam, has paid a visit to the WUSC office in Vietnam. On February 17^th, Ms Lam participated in a talk with volunteer about how they are doing in Vietnam.

A One-Day Tour

Janet Lam, accompanied by WUSC Regional Director of Asia Michael Emblem, was welcomed by three of WUSC’s partners based in Hanoi: Hanoi Community College, Vietnam Association of Community Colleges (VACC) and Hoa Sua Vocational Training School. Ms. Lam met local partners and two Uniterra volunteers (one long term and one national) to see how the programs were performing. She asked many questions about volunteers’ work at partners’ offices and in the field, and seemed pleased with the results. The tour also gave Ms. Lam a closer look at the great demand for volunteers and how the Uniterra program succeeded in helping to develop educational programs and improving people’s lives in this country.

To round out the visit, Ms. Lam and WUSC representatives were taken on a tour around Hoa Sua school’s classes, which included bakery, room service and embroidery for handicap students. The CIDA representative was also very interested in the role model of this vocational school for disadvantaged youth and gave the school director some advice on how to find ways to make the social-enterprise sustainable, especially during the economic downturn. The progress of the disadvantaged youth shows clearly that the program is going on the right tracks of helping people in need.

Round Table with Volunteers

On February 17^th, 2012, a Canada Embassy’s representative, along with Janet Lam, and Sylvie Groulx, the Director General of the Engaging Canadians Directorate (at the Partnerships with Canadians Branch of CIDA) had a round table meeting with all CIDA funded Canadian and national volunteers in Hanoi.

Four Canadians (long-term and short-term volunteers) and three national volunteers from WUSC Vietnam and Oxfam Quebec attended the meeting. The day started with a talk about how volunteers have been doing in Vietnam. Volunteering in a country with an emerging middle class economy is a learning process and many of the Canadians at the round table were eager to learn about the work the volunteers’ have been doing. The Vietnamese nationals were more than happy to build the bridge between Canadian volunteers and local partners.

Three Leave for Change partners among Canada’s Best Diversity Employers 2012

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:11:06 -0600

Leave for Change partners, Deloitte and Touche, Fraser, Milner, Casgrain LLP and University of British Columbia are among the 50 organizations that lead the nation in creating diverse and inclusive workplaces.

For the sixth year, employers were evaluated by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers. Out of a total pool of 2,750 applicant organizations, 50 employers are recognized for having developed outstanding initiatives, including programs for: women, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, aboriginal peoples, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) peoples. However, not only do these employers have exceptional programs, they also have a well-developed strategy, evaluation and monitoring processes to ensure they are on track.

Several Leave for Change partners have been recognized this year with awards as best employers in various categories. Indeed, studies have shown that employer supported volunteering is an integral practice of companies rated as leaders in community involvement.

Congratulations to these Leave for Change partners!

From hand-made shea-butter to a semi-industrialised production

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:48:11 -0600

To the left, manual sorting of shea kernels. To the right, the new mechanical sorting conveyor.

The cooperation project of the Nununa Federation (formerly the Union des groupements de productrices de produits de karité) in Burkina Faso has the following objectives:

To improve the women producers’ revenues (by reducing the production costs, improving the quality of the product, and providing access to international markets).
To reduce the environmental impact linked to the production of shea-butter.

Since 2009, the Nununa Federation has achieved three important results:

It increased in a sustainable way the revenues and the membership of the Federation. In July 2011, the Union des groupements de productrices de produits de karate - UGPPK underwent a major change and became the Nununa Federation, bringing together 4,596 members, a growth of 156% in comparison with the 2,985 members of 2009. Seven community consultation groups and nine community unions were set up. The annual average revenue of each producer has increased from 73,800 to 76,000 FCFA between 2009 and 2011. During this period, the global volume of marketed shea-butter went from 120 to 200 tons and the Federation’s sales from 200 to 270 billion FCFA.

It has secured the sustainability of the shea-butter production (and reduced the painfulness of the work). To achieve this, several of the production steps were mechanized - the hand washing and hand sorting of the kernels, the transportation of the kernels to the nut crasher, and the rinsing of the dough – resulting also in a reduction in production time which, for 1 kg of butter, dropped from 2:30 in 2009 to 1:30 in 2011.

It has reduced its impact on the environment by diminishing the use of firewood and water in the preparation of the butter. Furthermore, measures for the protection/ conservation of shea-butter trees were implemented, consisting of circumscribing 3,345 hectares of shea-tree areas (photo to the left), experimenting biofuel production, and recycling wastewater.

All in all, the semi-industrial production of shea-butter has contributed to improve, in a sustainable manner, the revenues of Nununa Federation’s women producers.

Nonetheless, many challenges remain. Thus, if the semi-industrialization has provided more free time to women producers who could take the opportunity to set up other income generating activities, their initiatives are limited by a high interest credit rate (24% per year) and a lack of training to diversify the activities.

Regarding the reduction of impact on the environment, recycling wastewater and using the residues to produce biofuel remain at the experimental phase. The productive potential of the 3,345 hectares of circumscribed shea-tree areas is not known, and over 2/3 of the 103 groupings collect their kernels in non-secured areas. These unsecured areas can be taken away anytime and/or the shea trees cut down. Even the secured areas are not owned by the Federation, as so far it has no legal documents to that effect.Furthermore, there was quite a bit of mistrust and, in some cases, resistance, to change. For instance, the women producers who take all the decisions feared that the production would be taken away from the family unit to the plant.

In conclusion, the fact that a famer organisation was able to find solutions for the sustainability of its activity (shea-butter production) through the design and implementation of a semi-industrial shea-butter production unit, is indeed a positive and significant result.

The change also positions the Nununa Federation on the international market as it can know respect its requirement, such as the consistent quality of the product, delivery delays and importance of volumes, etc.

Finally, the Nununa Federation is the first organisation to invest successfully in the semi-industrialisation of its shea-butter production based on the churning method. This experience could be replicated in other organisations. If this were to be the case, it would radically change the shea-butter sub-sector!

This February, "Pump your heart for some Bike for AIDS love!"

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:45:57 -0600

This February, share the Bike for AIDS love all month long!

Each year, WUSC members across Canada raise awareness about HIV and AIDS and the challenges health workers face to reach rural populations in need of support. With access to bicycles and bicycle-ambulances, we can ensure health workers can see up to five time as many patients.

Help purchase bikes and bicycle-ambulances for health workers: A $200 donation will buy a bicycle and $500 will provide a bicycle-ambulance – including costs for shipping and delivery.

Get the wheels in motion. You too can save a life.

Set up a candy-gram booth as a fundraiser! Tap into your campus’ competitive love of varsity teams! Here are a few ideas that are sure to make your campus fall in love with Bike for AIDS.

Get fit for a good cause! Host a Valentine’s Spin Class and donate the proceeds to Bike for AIDS.
Raise Awareness! Partner with the Health or AIDS Centre on campus and give out Condoms as Valentines. Encourage donations!
Be silly and have fun! Involve a varsity team in a Trike for AIDS obstacle course

Don't forget to add colour to your activity with our Uniterra Bike for AIDS campaign materials! Need more of our posters or handouts? Just download them on our website.

And most importantly, don’t forget to brag! We can’t wait to see how many great events will be happening this Valentine’s Day!

Still looking for ideas? Contact Maggie Crump in Campus Engagement (campuseast@wusc.ca).

"Be My Fair Trade Valentine!"

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Invest in people. Let's make a more human economy.

WAnt to show your love in a Fair Trade way? This year, Be "my fair valentine"!

This Valentine’s Day, we challenge our WUSC Local Committees and members to spread the love further by promoting ethical purchasing habits that will support the fair trade industry in developing countries. Incorporate fair trade products in your St-Valentine's day celebrations with the cross-Canada My Fair Valentine campaign.

Join other campus groups and Canadians who are asking their friends, family and campuses to express their love with fair trade flair!

Support Fair Trade: Buy Into Change!

A cup of fair trade coffee for your best study-budy? A fair trade rose for your loved one? Maybe a funny valentine info-booth to collect donations for Uniterra programs supporting Fair Trade? Here are some sweet options that are sure to make your campus swoon for February 14 and beyond.

Click to learn how purchasing and giving fair trade flowers, chocolate, coffee/tea and wine can make St-Valentine's a whole lot sweeter!
DIY! Prepare and sell special valentines with fair trade chocolates to fundraise for Uniterra's Buy Into Change!
Check-out the new Canadian Fair Trade Network’s (CFTN) free online resources! Download colourful posters and special valentines to share with your friends or at your fair trade info-table to keep fair trade awareness the way it' supposed to be: fun! Consult their list of fair trade products you may not have known about!
Use Fair Trade Canada’s “Fair Trade Finder” to promote amazing products in your region or to purchase your Valentine’s stock directly from retailers in your area. Are you able to negotiate a good price/obtain free mini-chocolates to give out in order to promote a local business?
Don't forget to add colour to your activity or spontaneous event with our Uniterra Buy Into Change campaign materials! Need more of our posters? Just download them on our website.

Oh won't you be my fair trade valentine? Download, print, and cut these nifty valentines to promote fair trade on your campus and in your community! Download these and other materials on the My Fair Valentine website, courtesy of the Canadian Fair Trade Network.

Land seizure and its impact on women’s rights

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:43:01 -0600

The following text is drawn from an article written by Kathambi Kinoti for AWID.

For several years now, Africa has been experiencing an increase in land seized and sold to foreign interests for commercial reasons, to the detriment of farmers, and more specifically of women.

In Africa, a billion people, i.e. 70% of the population, live off the land. Women not only cultivate the land, they harvest the crops and prepare most of the foodstuff for both household consumption and the local markets.

But women can only work the land through their husband, following a patriarchal system of landed property. Women work the land for the benefit of the family, but do not have any title deed.

According to Oxfam, in the course of the last 10 years, non-African societies and governments have acquired at least 227 billion hectares of land in Africa, to grow foodstuff or biofuel, or to extract minerals for international markets. The acquisitions are mainly done without the knowledge or informed consent of the affected communities.

The land grab threatens food security as well as access to water (also a woman’s task) and results in a loss of income. Further, it entails an even heavier workload for women. This to fill the needs of energy of Europe, among other!

The complete original document is available upon request to Caroline Roger at: caroliner@ceci.ca

Registration for the annual Canadian Global Campaign for Education (CGCE) Learning Forum is now open!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:43:01 -0600

“On the Brink of 2015: A Shift in Focus from Education for All to Learning for All”

The exciting 2-day program features international and Canadian speakers and will explore topics including the following:

· Gender Equality & Girls’ Education

· Learning Outcomes & Literacy

· Teacher Training & Development

· Canadian ODA Directed to Education and Basic Education

The Learning Forum (bilingual) will be held at the University of Ottawa, with a keynote Address by Rt. Hon. Michaëlle Jean, UNESCO Special Envoy for Haiti, Chancellor, University of Ottawa

Registration is available at www.cgce.ca/lf-2012.

A poster and draft agenda are available for download.

For more information, please contact Natalie Poulson at npoulson@cgce.ca.

The Canadian Global Campaign for Education is a coalition of civil society organizations working to enhance Canada’s contribution to meeting the Education for All goals. WUSC is a proud member.

Thank you, looking forward to seeing you there!

Refugee rights at Vancouver Island University's Uniterra Symposia Event!

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:33:14 -0600

VAncouver Island University's Takes on Refugee Rights at their 2012 Uniterra Symposia Event

Join VIU Local Committee's "Refugee Rights, Issues and Ressetlement" Uniterra event and participate in lively discussions with international speakers. Their special International Development Week event takes place this Tuesday, February 7th 2012 from 6-8pm.

30 years of WUSC worth celebrating! Dalhousie University's Local Committee Symposia Event

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:44:28 -0600

Dalhousie's WUSC Local Committee takes on health, education, equality and refugee rights on campus during this year's International Development Week! Join their 2012 Uniterra Symposia Event held this Sunday February 5.

"30 years of history and the Millenium Development Goals"

Dalhousie University Local Commitee Uniterra Symposia Event

Dalhousie University (Halifax, NS)

12-4:30pm, room 224, Student Union Building.

Dalhousie's Local Committee aims to educate students in the Halifax area about WUSC (World University Service of Canada), the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) and international development work done by students and staff on campus. They will be highlighting an impressive 30 years of WUSC presence at Dalhousie University. Join the celebration and partake to interesting debates!

The Uniterra Symposia Event will focus focusing on current development issues such as health, refugee education and rights as well as gender equality. WUSC speakers include a current and former sponsored student (1993-1994) of the Student Refugee Program (SRP).

Guest speakers include Dr. Mendez speaking on narrowing the gap of inequality with remote presence medicine with examples from his work in Bolivia, Dr. McMillian speaking on child health with examples from his work in Uganda, Dr. Huish speaking on thinking of the MDGs closer to home using examples from his work in Nunavut and Shiva Nourpanah, a former UNHCR case worker speaking about refugee rights and gender equality using examples from her time in Iran working with Afghan women.

Nipissing University's Local Committee takes on Gender Equality at its Uniterra Symposia Event!

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:10:53 -0600

Nipissing University's Local Committee members.

Do you have something to say about women's contribution in a post-conflict world? Then join the discussion at Nipissing University's Uniterra Symposia Event organized by its WUSC Local Committee this upcoming February 8th. The active North Bay, Ontario Local Committee has rounded experts and dynamic panel presenters to offer insight from unique perspectives gained from the experience of living or working within the country researched, interacting with populations and through their own studies.

"Towards Gender Equality in a Post-Crisis World"

FEBRUARY 8, 5:00 PM -7:00 PM

NIPISSING UNIVERSITY (NORTH BAY), A246 (SMALL CAFETERIA)

The Evening event will consist of presentations from:

1. Dr. Lanyan Chen - "Harvesting Feminist Knowledge for Public Policy"

2. Presentation by Dr. Manuel Litatlian - "Women's Role in Developing South East Asia"

3. Panel discussion of researchers moderated by Dr. Manuel Litalian

4. Discussion Summary: "Tying together common themes" - Dr. Lanyan Chen & Dr. Manuel Litatlian

The presentations will be followed with a reception.

A Reference Centre for Social Economy ?

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:26:44 -0600

The following news is taken from the Chantier de l’économie sociale’s International Bulletin-January 2012.

Boosted by the success of the International Forum on Social and Solidarity Economy (FIESS) and in view of making good use of the information presented and collected on the state of social and solidarity economy (SSE) across the world, the Chantier de l’économie sociale is currently working on the creation of a International Reference and Liaison Centre on Social and Solidarity Economy Public Policies: RELIESS.

The RELIESS will disseminate information on public policies, namely on the collaborations approaches between civil society and public sector that enable the development of social and solidarity economy internationally. It iwll also seek to encourage international networking of actors around public policies in favour of social economy, within civil society as within public administrations.

Discussions are currently ongoing between the Uniterra Program and the Chantier de l’économie sociale du Québec in view of a collaboration which could provide visibility to the work of our partners in social economy. Indeed, several Uniterra partners have directly contributed to the design and development of public policies on social and solidarity economy, namely in Mali and Bolivia. The governement of these countries have officially recognized social economy as an effective means to reduce poverty and have implemented policies to encourage the development of this economic sector.

A New Birthing Centre in Nepal

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:44:25 -0600

The inauguration of a new birthing center in Bhaktapur district was made possible by the contribution of former Leave 4 Change volunteers Rosana Pellizzari and Barbara Parish.

On January 6th 2012, Siddhi Memorial Hospital’s brand-new safe delivery facility welcomed its first newborn. The emotion was palpable among the staff, partners and donors of this non-government and not-for-profit institution that has been working hard over the last few years to expand the obstetric services in Bhaktapur district.

Founded in 1997, Siddhi Memorial Hospital already compensated the lack of public health facilities in the district by providing accessible pediatric, gynecological, dental, immunizations, family planning and emergency services to the local population. However, there was a striking need for additional birthing facilities in the region. The inaccessibility of healthcare services for women and children was contributing to the increase of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality rates in Bhaktapur, which are higher in comparison to its neighboring districts. Most pregnant women had to travel long distances to give birth in a hospital in Kathmandu, Lalitpur or Kavre districts, and many others were forced to give birth at home without any medical assistance. To tackle these issues, few years ago, Siddhi Memorial Hospital decided to complete its range of services offered to women and children by developing a new birthing center within its walls.

To support this promising initiative, Uniterra-Nepal, in partnership with the Canadian Medical Foundation, recruited two highly skilled Canadian volunteers. In November 2010, Dr. Rosana Pellizari and Dr. Barbara Parish arrived in Nepal. As Maternal Health and Gynecology Advisors, they were given the task to help Siddhi Memorial Hospital staff conceive its new safe birthing unit.

In spite of their short three-week assignment, the two physicians accomplished several notable achievements. First, they visited the existing healthcare institutions in the district to assess the actual delivery and demand of services and identify partnership opportunities. Then, with the information collected, they revised and improved the five-year plan of the hospital to establish a Low-Risk Birth Center as well as a Women's Health Center and set up a Steering Committee to implement it.

To support the concrete development of the new birth center, the volunteers also designed a floor plan that maximizes the potential of the existing infrastructures of the hospital while incorporating new features. With Uniterra sector funds, they acquired new equipment to help treat women with first trimester pregnancy complications and provide access to safe abortions. Furthermore, in order to standardize the documentation in the institution, they requested the provision of Government Antenatal Records. Finally, to prevent infant and maternal mortality, they facilitated trainings and created a new Pregnancy Risk Assessment Tool for their Nepalese colleagues.

Thanks to the synergy between their generous collaboration, Uniterra’s support and the hospital team’s strong dedication, a new chapter could be written in the Siddhi Memorial success story. Today, a new, safe and accessible delivery facility is available to the women of Bhaktapur.

2012 Ontario Regional Meeting for Local Committees

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:33:03 -0600

Ontario’s 2011-2012 WUSC Local Committee Regional Meeting is happening this weekend (January 21-22^nd 2012) in Toronto! Over 35 Local Committee members from Southern Ontario campuses will gather at Ryerson University in downtown Toronto to perfect their campaigning skills, knowledge of Student Refugee Program (SRP) and leadership prowess! Students will be tackling everything from strengthening their members’ skills, to post-sponsorship independence, to engaging the media and partners on campus. To top it all off, the 2 day meeting will be preceded with a special workshop on utilizing video as a dynamic and creative communication tool on Friday afternoon!

Our Local Committee members will also have the unique opportunity to network with WUSC alumni - past Uniterra international volunteer and Seminar participants along with former sponsored students and Local Committee members - during a special WUSC lunch to exchange ideas and build a tighter pan-canadian WUSC network. Are you a WUSC alumni living in the Greater Toronto Area? Join us (please contact: cdolbel@wusc.ca)!

Don't miss it! Pictures to follow!

For more information on the Regional Meeting, please contact:

Yves Kalala, Ontario Regional Liaison Officer: campusontario@wusc.ca