AUSTRALIA:
Location: New Zealand
Aotearoa, Auckland, New Zealand, the land of the long white cloud, was the venue
for ICA Australia's January gathering. Our New Zealand colleagues, Michelle and
Helen along with their Maori colleagues, organised a spirit event to be
remembered! The traditional Maori welcome to 40 people onto the marae, meeting
place, began a 24 hour transformative journey, where we were immersed in Maori
tradition. We sat, ate, listened to stories, shared our ancestry, explored
tetanga, rites and rituals which sustain us, and were serenaded with traditional
Maori musical instruments, as we slept.
This heralded a week of deep engagement,
sharing our knowledge, and planning for the future. It provided the perfect
context for 2 days of further developing ourToP Facilitated Leadership Training
Program. This was followed by our AGM and celebration, which led into two more
days focussing on the Global Local Partnerships, ending with our Board meeting.
The video clip 'Blessed Unrest' see link on website, and the new DVD, reminded
us of of the larger we, and our own journeys. Highlights of ICAA planning,
included, the strong focus on supporting capacity building in Timor Leste, our
Indigenous communites and our role in the Asia-Pacific region. Look out for a
full report in due course, in Pacific Waves.
Robyn Hutchinson rjhutchinson@optusnet.com.au Larger pictures
BANGLADESH:
Location: Dhaka
On 24 January the first monthly taskforce meeting January 2008 was held at
Hunger Free World Bangladesh Office and facilitated by Selina, Aziz and Prof.
Mahbub. Fourteen participants were in the meeting. At 530 pm Selina did welcome
to all participants and introduced each other. She also briefly discussed the
context of the meeting. At 600 pm, Aziz briefly reviewed the 9 action areas and
4 broad working areas following the strategic plan. He also highlighted the
accomplishments in 2007 and action plan for 2008, the history of ICA and support
of Maria and Richard and Nicolien and other ICA colleagues and he later
highlighted the planned activities for January-March quarter of 2008.
The
taskforces developed some program implementation designs for the funds raised
through working gift program, TUC aid for sidr affecetd children and the GFC
national workshop and UNAIDS facilitation training and capacity building ToT
training of ICA Bangladesh.
For GFC workshop, 9th February is fixed for field
work study design development. It will be held at Dhaka University.Naimul, Aziz
and Professor Mahbub had a meeting on 25th about the travel plan for Sidr aid
project and Chandpur Ghoramara project visit.
Aziz admin@ica-bangladesh.org
ICA ASSOCIATES INC. (Canada)
Location: Canada
We spent 2 days with Mark Jowett and put the finishing touches on our plan to
open an office in Ottawa. Having an office in the national capital and one of
Canada's IT centres will provide us great opportunities. To see a pic of Mark,
please visit our site at http://ica-associates.ca
Jo Nelson worked with Griffin
Centre and with the community of Malton. She conducted a 6 month Action Review
with the Cree School Board. Since the meeting was held in Montreal, Katie Burke
and Michael Watson were able to observe the facilitation process in a live
setting.
Duncan Holmes facilitated a workshop for ASPECT in Brittish
Colombia.
Bill Staples led a strategic planning workshop with the Saskatchewan
Ministry of Health.
John Miller taught Facilitation Basics to an Ontario Public
Service group.
Christine Wong took a leave of absence of a month to schedule
necessary surgery and recovery.
Wayne Nelson wnelson@ica-associates.ca
PERU:
Location: Chincha Alta earthquake relief
All 60 of the new Promoters are now trained and building houses toward the 1800
additional temporary houses included in this second proposal through ICA-Japan.
Kaoru Ito has returned from a brief trip to Japan and we are preparing for the
visit of Wayne Ellsworth who is coming from Japan to work with us for 6 days.
Meanwhile a new set of ten proposals is being prepared for the next projects in
Chincha as we try to take seriously the task of rebuilding a city of 120,000
people. These are wonderful challenges for ICA methods to meet!
Staff admin@ica-peru.org
UNITED KINGDOM:
Location: UK
Last weekend we held our Annual General Meeting in London, attended by all ICAUK
staff, most of the Board, and a good selection of members and participants from
the Youth Programme. In addition to the formal business, the theme of the day
was on young people, and it was great to see the energy, enthusiasm and
commitment of young people touched by our programme, and who have gone on to do
great things as a result.
The AGM also saw the retirement of Alan Berresford from
the ICAUK Board after more years' contribution than most of us can remember.
Fortunately he is not disappearing altogether and he will be back in March to
facilitate a strategic planning weekend for staff and Board. We look forward to
developing a new relationship with him.
Jonathan Dudding jdudding@ica-uk.org
