Enjoy catching up with what is happening in ICAs across the globe.....If you wish to SEND a report...send to your ICA contact person OR...go to the members section on the ICAI website

Weekending: Saturday 2007 09 29

IN THE MEDIA

This is a new section where links to articles about the work of ICA will be posted

Innovative Program Launched to Empower Women in Japan to Become ...

PR Newswire (press release) - New York,NY,USA
The partnering Institute of Cultural Affairs in Japan selected the women through a competitive process, including a written essay about personal goals for ...
See all stories on this topic

BANGLADESH:

Location: Dhaka

Dhaka ICA Executive Director Aziz met Nicolien at Dutch Club in Dhaka on 26 September and discussed about Dhaka ICA activities. Aziz shared the forthcoming 1st Regional ICA Meeting and 4th Sub-Continental Annual Meeting to be held in Dhaka along with ToP training courses during 26 November-6 Decemebr 2007. Nicolein knew who are coming and got excited to meet ICA colleagues from different countries. She also offered her house to accommodate some colleagues during the event to save Dhaka ICA's expenses. She also learned about our proposals for different small community projects - school, water and sanitation and landless community.

Aziz also shared about Dhaka ICA's two advocacy  programs one on MDGs and another on deforestation and forest degradation.  She knew that GFC is considering for funding the second one. But for first one, Dhaka ICA is still looking for sponsorship. Nicolien also promised to visit Dhaka ICA's Chandpur project in November 2007. Dhaka ICA's volunteer Mehdi Hasan was also with Aziz during the meeting at Dutch Club.

Dhaka ICA has planned to visit Hunger Free World Bangladesh Executive Director on 27 September to discuss about his visit at ICA Japan and the propsoed joint project. Aziz is also expected to meet Hunger Free World Japan staff who is now in Dhaka.

Aziz
          admin@ica-bangladesh.org


ICA ASSOCIATES INC. (Canada)

Location: Across Canada

Duncan Holmes taught Group Facilitation and Facilitated Planning in our training centre.

John Miller led 2 strategy planning events and facilitated a workshop with Kids Link.

Jo Nelson made her final report to the Cree School Board. and taught 2 courses to teachers and administrators in Regina. There are now over 400 people in the Regina School System who have taken Group Facilitation.

Bill Staples led a one day training event for a government department and a strategy planning retreat for a hospital in Kenora. He also taught another Community Development module to Toronto United Way leadership. He taught Facilitated Planning to the YFL group.

An associate, Janine Higgins, taught a mediation course to a government employees group in Thunder Bay as part of our ongoing relationship with the Ontario Public Service.

Wayne Nelson
          wnelson@ica-associates.ca


JAPAN:

Location: Japan and Global Partnerships

Pune Partnership Project to start in 2008

We received an phone call from JICA Japan announcing they have accepted ICA JAPAN's proposal for a 3 year project in the outlying vicinity of the Environmental Education Center of Pune India.  Thanks to Shanker and Kaoru for preparing a great proposal.

Peru Earthquake Emergency Resonse

Kaoru and team completed the first week in the villages, and we sent over US200,000 to assist their recovery.  Soon the Peru staff will facilitate the training and planning event for 60 village leaders in ICA Peru's training center.2008 Japanese

Conference Registration System

We are researching the best way to implement the Japanese registration system, and brainstormed all the requirements to register for the conference, site visits, hotel and travel arrangements.  We anticipate this component of actual registerations needs to be timed carefully with the discerning of the working groups. Our goal is to be ready in January 2008.

Vietnam Projects

Mamiko Tanaka and Shizuyo Sato are doing GFM Action planning this weekend for the remote communities.

Wayne Ellsworth           staff@icajapan.org


NEPAL:

Location: Kathmandu

ICA Nepal organised meeting of the Steering Committee for 'Underlying Causes of Forest Destruction' project today at its office at Kopundole. Global Forest Coalition GFC has supported ICA Nepal to reveal underlying causes and organise varieties of activities. Mrs. Yog Maya Kandel shared the objectives and ongoing activities of the project. Mr. Ghanashyam Pande, Chairperson of the FECOFUN who is also the member of the committee shared that this project is first of its kind for Nepal. Mr. RC Lamichhane, Lecturer of Kathmandu Forestry College told that revealing such causes needs in depth analysis. ICA Nepal's Tatwa P. Timsina told that participatory tools and techniques are used to make this project practical and useful for concerned stakeholders. Through this project a series of activities such as developing case studies, organising training, national workshop etc. will be carried out.

Yog Maya kandel
          ica@icanep.wlink.com.np


PERU:

Location: Earthquake Relief

We have been asked...How do you organize an emergency relief project?  For the challenge of building over 1500 temporary earthquake-relief homes in 90 days, we have created the simple plan of 30-2-5.  We have divided up the targeted community into 30 sectores of neighboring blocks, such that each sector has the need for about 50 homes to be built.  Next, we have asked each sector to choose 2 Promoters to commit to work at least 4 hours per day for three months as volunteer coordinators for their sector. 

These 60 people will receive 5 days of ICA leadership training in our Azpitia Training Center, beginning with the first 30 next week.  When they return to the community they will be given a complete tool kit and will participate with fellow Promoters to build a model home in each of the 30 sectors.  This will give them the practical experience they need to guide and motivate others, and it puts a well-built model in the midst of each of the 30 sectors.  Then the Promoters orgnanize the families who need homes into teams of five.  Each team is assigned to build the houses of ALL of its members, working together, and when all five houses are built, then that team will receive very nice wooden doors for their houses -- the reward for their good team work. 

So it's just 30-2-5 or 30 sectors of work, 2 Promoters per sector to be trained to guide and motivate, and 5-member teams of families to do the actual construction of the temporary homes.  It's been exciting for the ICA-Peru team to see the instant acceptance of this model by the community, and in just 6 days the 30 sectors have been created and the 60 Promoters named and ready to go.  In the midst of so much despair from the destruction, it's been great to see the smiling faces again!

Staff
          admin@ica-peru.org


UNITED STATES:

Location: Chicago IL

The Board of Directors of the Institute of Cultural Affairs in the USA ICA USA is pleased to announce the selection of Mr. Nino Tillman as its new Executive Director. His hiring is the result of a broad-scale national search that yielded a diverse array of prospective candidates. Mr. Tillman is a proven leader and brings 20 years of professional nonprofit operations, finance, program, and strategic planning experience to ICA USA.

He has been an Executive Director with the YMCA system and two community development corporations. His experiences include being a Project Manager for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer for the Chicago Games, an eight-day multi-sport and cultural event. Most recently he has been a strategic and financial consultant for the University of Chicago, A Natural Harvest Health Food Stores, Partners in Charity and Bottomless Closet.

He has received several awards acknowledging his service, including the award for Outstanding Contribution to Community Development and the Community Service and Leadership Awards from the City of Atlanta and Miami, respectively.

He graduated from the University of Maryland, and holds an MBA from Northwestern University's, Kellogg Graduate School of Business and has provided training to various community groups on cultural sensitivity, human resources and grant-writingoversight. Mr. Tillman stated that he is excited and honored that he will be able to continue ICA USA's mission of facilitating positive social change, being a resource for research and using best practices to empower the community.

He lives in Chicago with his wife and their two children.

Cheryl Zaleski
          czaleski@ica-usa.org


ZIMBABWE:

This is notify the network that ICA Zimbabwe has now moved to new office and our contact details have changed

from: 1 Montagu Mews,
11 Josiah Chinamano Close,
Harare, Zimbabwe.
Tel/Fax + 263 4 705197

To New Address:
9 Weale Road,
Milton Park,
Harare, Zimbabwe.
Tel/Fax +263 4 778381

Many thanks.

Gerald Gomani


ICAI:

Location: Montréal

We have now finalized the proposals for the 7th Global Conference, Forests with Peoples, and Organizational Assessments and Development of Strategic Capacity Building Plans programs.  Sarah M. is circulating these to donors.

Lambert pushed ahead with fundraising for ICAIs crucial start-up period. Katie led a final meeting to review the Human Resources Policies and Procedures manual, which will soon be passed to the ICAI board for approval. Michael received some first responses to his call for participation in a Task Force on HIV and AIDS.  If you are working in this area, please contact Michael to make sure that your contribution to the fight against HIV and AIDS is known and that you have a chance to become an active participant.

Sarah M. finalized the brochure design, and the ICAI conference team Michael, Sarah M., and Lambert moved ahead with conference planning in partnership with ICA Japan.

Sarah F. started to compile responses from national ICAs about their active projects.  This information helps ICAI find ways to support national ICAs actively engaged in fundraising.  Work plans are due for each Unit next week, so all staff have been busy planning the best ways to implement the ICAI strategic plan in 2008.

Remember that WORKING GIFT ideas are due October 15th!

Sarah Farina           sfarina@ica-international.org