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 2009 05 30

BANGLADESH:

Location: Bagerhat

On 25 May 2009 Monday at 11 am, Dhaka Institute of Cultural Affairs ICA Bangladesh organized an Inauguration Ceremony of the ICA project 'Addressing Immediate Needs of Cyclone Sidr Affected Orphan High School Children Through Educational and Urgent Needs Support and Life Skills Training' in Sharonkhola, Bagerhat District 2009 at Sharonkhola Upazila Auditorium.

Sharonkhola Upazila Nirbahi Officer: Mr. Khandokar Johirul Hoque, inaugurated the project by distributing a school bag, stipend, learning materials pen, notes, geometry box etc, and life skills training course on mechanical, dressmaking, livestock rearing, computer training, among 30 orphan high school children from 4 union parisads of Sharonkhola Upazila. The meeting was presided over by ICA Chairperson Md. Azizur Rahman, Upazila Social Welfare Officer: Mr. Ainal Haque, and Project Implementation Officer: Mr. Rizibul Islam.

ICA is implementing the one-year long project in cooperation with Taipei American School Foundation, Taiwan. Due to cyclone AILA, the program was shortened and 21 children could not join the program due flooding in Sharonkhola. Out of 30 parentless children, 2 training locations were selected in Sharonkhola Upazila. One is Tafal Bari School and College and another is R K D S Girls High School at Rayenda.

Class six to eight children will be given life skills training in these two locations on livestock cow, poultry etc. rearing, dressmaking, computer training and food processing. Specialized life skills training for two to three months like mechanical, computer software, electrical, agricultural etc will be given in Bagerhat or other places for older students. On 25 May 9 orphan children were already selected for life skills training. Saiduzzaman of Sharonkhola Degree College was awarded for computer diploma and Dalim Sharif from D N Technical School was awarded for mechanical course, 1 boy for Computer Applications, 5 madrasha boys on livestock and 3 girls on dressmaking course.

On 28 May Aziz met ICA advisors Dr. Mahbub and Dr. Aman at Dhaka University and discussed the formalization of an advisory board, GFC book publication, and shared about ICA activities. Aziz congratulated Dr. Mahbub for being the Chairman of the Department of Sociology from 12 May 2009. Dr. Mahbub appreciated ICA's current activities and Global Buzz reports.

A new staff member, Mr. Nurul Islam Chowdhury joined on 29 May as program officer. On 30 May Aziz, Nurul and Kabir visited TUC Japan supported street children project in 24 Ward of Dhaka City.

Staff           admin@ica-bangladesh.org

ICA ASSOCIATES INC. (Canada)

Location: Canada

Duncan Holmes facilitated the second session with the Durham Police.

Jo Nelson facilitated a strategic planning workshop with the Kitchner - Waterloo Catholic School System. She also worked with the Alberta Education Finance department and the City of Mississauga, facilitating the beginning of their operational plan following the rollout of a major strategic planning exercise facilitated by another consultant.

Bill Staples taught Group Facilitation to a group from the ontario Public Service - Ministry of the Environment. He then traveled to San Francisco to teach Facilitating Conciliation in a course sponsored by US ToP trainers.

We've all begun experimenting with Second Life, the online virtual world program, in our exploration of online facilitation. Associate Jerry Mings did a great deal of work with Second Life for an organizational client and he is helping us navigate this wild west of the internet. It holds some fascinating possibilities for online work and community building.

Wayne Nelson           wnelson@ica-associates.ca

ICAI:

Location: Montréal

This past week we continued to work with a number of national ICAs on project proposals dealing with issues ranging from street children to micro-credit. We are impressed with the bold vision in these projects and are excited about the prospects for many of these initiatives.

Lambert met with colleagues from the Canadian Environmental Network and discussed a wide range of issues, focusing on the work of the international caucus, of which ICA International is a member.

Work on the annual report progressed, and our interns began contacting a number of national ICAs to seek clarification and further information on some of their activities from 2008. The work of writing, editing and layout will continue over the coming weeks.

Staff           info@ica-international.org