BANGLADESH:

Location: Dhaka

Dhaka ICA submitted a proposal to Global Forest Coalition for organizing a national conference on the underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation in Bangladesh. GFC has shown interest in doing something in Bangladesh, as Sandy expressed in correspondances with Sarah Miller and me given our exposure to forest-related issues at home and abroad, particularly the Caucus meeting held in Pune, India hosted by ICA International and funded by Ford Foundation. Dhaka ICA participated in the Forest Workshop and expressed our interest to work with GFC.

Professor Dr. Mahbub Uddin Ahmed of Dhaka University, Dr. A S M Amanullah and Mohamamd Azizur Rahman of Dhaka ICA, Nicholien from Netherlands and Ataur Rahman Miton from Hunger Free World agreed to serve as the steering committee for the forum on Forest at the end of 2007.

Dhaka ICA also sent a proposal to Jonathan Dudding to review and find a potential funder for working with Street children in Bangladesh. Nicolien confirmed to visit our office on 18 May and attend our faculty training sessions.

Six Dhaka ICA members got pre-registered for Japan 2008 conference in the last week.

Three memebrs are making efforts to attend 10th Asia Facilitators Conference to be held in Malaysia.

Azizur Rahman           marahman1976@yahoo.com

CANADA:

Location: Youth As Facilitative Leaders

This week Leah Taylor, the new coordinator, and Jo Nelson, volunteering from ICA Associates, worked on customizing the Youth As Facilitative Leaders curriculum to train 12 youth interns from COSTI Immigrations Services in Toronto. The training will focus on developing their facilitative leadership skills for the workplace.

Leah           ltaylor@icacan.ca

ICA ASSOCIATES INC. (Canada)

This is a very busy time for us. Duncan Holmes facilitated workshops related to the closure of a hospital birthing unit and the merger of two churches. He also taught Group Facilitation to a group from the British Colombia Ministry of Health.

John Miller facilitated a strategic planning retreat with Habitat Humanity in Prince Edward Island and a workshop with the Toronto Zoo administration.

Jo Nelson facilitated workshops for Mississauga Public Health and the Niagra Board of Education. She taught Community Development in Red Deer, Alberta. She was joind by 2 colleagues from the Alberta Community Development Department.

Bill Staples launched a second series of community development modules with United Way staff. While participation in the first series involved  mostly front line staff who came sporadicaly, this group represents more managers, and more people have made a commitment to take all the modules.

Wayne Nelson           wnelson@ica-associates.ca

JAPAN:

Location: Japan and Global

Service Tours
After a wonderful orientation for NTT participants, Naomi and Mamiko left with them for northern Vietnam.

2008 Venue Selection
Four ICA staff, along with eight promotors, visited,a magnificant new venue site, which includes 1200 rooms for participants and abundant working rooms with wireless internet.  It is walking distance from the ocean, and has a modern castle perched high above.  After final negoations next week, we will be ready to announce the place and date!

Mexico Women's Project
Visits to the Ambassador from Japan puts in a great position for the cascading expansion of this great project.  In June we will take a gift from TUC of 10,000 dollars and compassionate care to them, to insure a successful third year.

Wayne Ellsworth           wayne@icajapan.org

ITERLENG ICA South Africa:

Greetings, Fisser and Tshepiso facilitated a 2days PSP for the Aids Consortium.

We have been approached by a group of students from the American University in the United States, they  will be visiting South Africa in early June: we are looking forward to hosting them.

We are well on our way with the Canada proposal. Jabulani YFL group conducted a workshop on HIV/AIDS on  wednesday they will be conducted by-weekly on wednesday.  Sfiso Mbatha is the new volunteer in the organisation, he will be working along side Muzi on the YFL programme.

Muzi Mbonan           imbonanim.ica@telkomsa.net

UNITED KINGDOM:

Location: UK and Iceland and Kenya

Jonathan was in Iceland training 18 young people from 12 European countries in Participatory Strategic Planning, and then facilitated a session with a group of Masters students at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

We had our quarterly Board meeting where three new trustees were appointed. Martin and Ghee delivered a public PSP in London, Amelia and Alan continued to work with four organisations in the Youth Programme. Jonathan and Amelia also worked separately on various proposals, and we heard that the Elton John AIDS Foundation will help finance the impact assessment of the Living Well pilot programme in Kenya

Jonathan Dudding           jdudding@ica-uk.org.uk

ZIMBABWE:

Location: Harare

Beverly and Easther will this week on Wednesday and Thursday facilitate the last HIV/AIDS training workshop for the first cycle which ends on the 10th of May 2007.

ICA Zimbabwe's food relief proposal was approved and will benefit disadvantaged people from Kambuzuma, Rugare, Mufakose, Crowbrough North, and Budiriro. The project is targeted to benefit 400 people who will receive food packs. Marange is therefore working with the respective social workers from the communities in identifying people to benefit from the programme.

Easther Razerera           esther@africaonline.co.zw