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Global Buzz Report: December 2018

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ICAI Board Report:


The new Winds and Waves magazine

We are delighted to invite you to share your stories
via medium.com/winds-and-waves which is the public platform
we have moved to now, to publish Winds & Waves.
Please see the attachment which sets out how you can now
personally publish your stories for Winds and Waves magazine.


See here W&W@Medium PDF


Re Winds and Waves

Good news - we posted the first Spanish-language video, along with an English-language story about it. The URL is https://medium.com/winds-and-waves/rebuilding-young-peoples-trust-in-politicians-and-democratic-life-7211ea12b841

The title is:  Rebuilding young people’s trust in politicians and democratic life: Sharing ethical practices that work! The video was submitted by Catalina Quiroz of ICA Spain/ICA Espana, and Abel Ferrero, ICA Spain Ethics Works! youth coordinator.

COTE D'IVOIRE:



English translation below
< click)
Cliquer pour agrandir les photos

Dans le cadre de la conférence sous régionale des ICAs de l’Afrique de l’Ouest organisée par EPID à Lagos au Nigéria, ICA Côte d’Ivoire a pris part avec la présence de deux personnes dont Mademoiselle Brou Reine Assistante de Direction et de Monsieur KOUAME Eugène Directeur Exécutif.


Durant les 5 jours de la conférence nous avons travaillé sur le Thème « Re-positioning West Africa ICAs for greater effectiveness » avec les représentants des autres bureaux ICAs (Togo, Bénin, DI Ghana et EPID Nigéria).

 Nous avons trouvé que dans l’optique de ce Repositionnement il nous faut avoir un site Web, finaliser notre projet commun qui va permettre à tous les bureaux d’être en activité avec un projet à exécuter et en idée de projet, la création du bureau sous régional.

Au niveau du bureau d’ICA Côte d’Ivoire, les activités du projet Banque Mondiale se déroulent bien. Les populations bénéficiaires commencent à mieux comprendre le bien-fondé de ce projet qui va à la longue les amener à ce faire des crédits internes dans leurs différents groupes. Ces épargnes vont à la fin dudit projet permettre à la banque mondiale de faire une inclusion financière en apportant un financement aux projets des groupes qui auront fait une bonne épargne.

La mobilisation des différents groupes a permis de faire des épargnes d’un montant de : 301000 francs Cfa qui se repartie de la façon suivante :
Total Epargne : 232300 F Cfa
Total Solidarité : 68 300 F Cfa
Total Amende : 400 F Cfa

Cette épargne a été mobilisée en deux mois par les bénéficiaires qui malgré les difficultés financières qu’ils rencontrent ont décidé de relever se défit de projet pilote dans la région de l’Agnéby-Tiassa.


Les facilitateurs qui conduisent le projet dans les différents villages



COTE D'IVOIRE:
Click pictures to enlarge

As part of the ICAs Sub-Regional Conference of West Africa organized by EPID in Lagos, Nigeria, ICA Côte d'Ivoire took part in the presence of two people including Miss Brou Reine Assistant and Mr. KOUAME Eugène Executive Director.

During the 5 days of the conference we worked on the theme "Re-positioning West Africa ICAs for greater effectiveness" with the representatives of the other ICAs offices (Togo, Benin, DI Ghana and EPID Nigeria).

 We have found that in view of this Repositioning we need to have a website, finalize our joint project that will allow all offices to be active with a project to run and project idea, the creation of the office sub regional.

At the level of the ICA Côte d'Ivoire office, the activities of the World Bank project are going well. Beneficiary populations are beginning to better understand the merits of this project, which will eventually lead them to make internal loans in their different groups. These savings go to the end of this project to enable the World Bank to make a financial inclusion by providing funding for the projects of groups that have made good savings.

The mobilization of the various groups made it possible to make savings of an amount of : 301000 CFA francs which is distributed as follows :
Total savings : 232300 F CFA
Total solidarity : 68 300 F CFA
Total fine: 400 F CFA

These savings were made in two months by beneficiaries who, despite the financial difficulties they encountered, decided to take up a pilot project in the Agneby-Tiassa region.


Facilitators who lead the project in the different villages

Kouame Konan         konaneug@gmail.com

 

ICA EUROPE:

ICA Europe Gathering




Please see PDF for ICA Europe Gathering

Report written by Jonathan Dudding ICA:UK


JAPAN:

Super Intern Power
Our 3 Interns completed their journey here this week in the Tokyo House with outstanding success. They finished the West-Africa-icas.org WEBSITE that you will really enjoy, including the pages about their recent Conference. And they are providing providing simple operating instructions for them to operate the site. We very much appreciate their work and the excellent materials that were given by each location and the commons unifying area.

Membership Campaign Launched
We have started a 400+ membership campaign using a new super brochure. Success will be sweet in January. You all can get a “seat” too! We will add on-line Credit Card and Pay-Pal payments by the end of the year.

We held our third Facilitating Client Collaboration Course
with about 8 people have taken all 3 courses in TFE program which covers the IAF Competencies. We are on the way to a great staff buildup!

Kenya Drought Relief
Shizuyo went to Kenya from Nov. 19 to 29th She visited Isinya town, Kajiado District for a tree plantation funded by ERCA. They planted 220 trees near each of 5 schools, children participated and enjoyed. In Kenya a severe drought happened last year. One village lost 5000 cows last year since the animals had no way to eat grass and drink water. The villagers have to change their way of life, and plant many trees and vegetables and fodders. They cherished the good old days where the could roam the wide open ranges. ICA Japan and ICA Kenya also distributed food to the Ukalani Primary School and the community as well. 300 people were gathers together at that time. This was sponsored by Table cross. It was big celebration. They said food, water, and tree are most important gift in Kenya.

Fukushima area Radiation Relief
Maki Tsukamoto and Mr Kitagaki bought more than US$2000 worth of flowers for Fukushima people and delivered an impactful workshop to around 50 individuals as the move back to their towns and homes after more than 5 years living in very small homes. The town is envisioning hi-tech solutions to fill the town’s gaps.

Submitted by Wayne


NEPAL:

1. Empowering Women through Sewing and Tailoring Training

ICA Nepal in cooperation with ICA Japan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Japan is carrying out the project entitled ‘Improving the Poverty Situation of the Earthquake Disaster Survivors of Sindhupalchowk District in Nepal.’ To empower the women of Sindhupalchowk district of Nepal skill development training on sewing and tailoring was conducted from November 22-28, 2018. A total of 25 participants benefitted from the training. The training was provided by Ms. Devaka Shrestha of the Changunarayan Learning Center. The training was conducted with the hope of providing vocational training and new job opportunities to the local women. The training will not only provide them job opportunities, but also help to raise their confidence and their share in the decision making process in their families.

Group photo taken after the completion of the
7 day Sewing and Tailoring Training course

2. Environment and Personal Hygiene Awareness Program
ICA Nepal in coordination with the Rotary Club of Rudramati Kathmandu and the Rotary Club of Sant Rosa East conducted the ‘Environment and Personal Hygiene Awareness Program’ at three villages named: Thankune, Chipling and Digam, from November 17-19, 2018. These are the rural villages of the Sindhupalchowk and Nuwakot district of Nepal. The program was done under the project named ‘Improving Lives of Deprived Communities in Digam, Chipling and Thankune.’ The awareness program included information on personal hygiene, nutrition and menstrual hygiene management. We were able to enlighten a total of 75 local people, including men, women and children of three villages. One of the Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Sant Rosa East, Mr. Barry Cogbill, US, also attended on the second day of the program. The major aim of this awareness program was to reduce the spreading of disease and increases overal public health, which automatically increases the rate of school enrollment. Also it helps to reduce spending on health care as the targeted village has less job opportunities. The program also included the street drama where the volunteers performed about sanitation habit and disease.

Volunteers and participants during the Environment and
Personal Hygiene awareness program at Chipling village

Teaching hand washing technique to the
participants and demonstrating to them

3. Motivational Leadership Training
On November 26, 2018 ICA Nepal welcomed the Certified Professional Facilitator (CPF), Mr. Yateen Gharat from ICA India. Mr. Yateen conducted two days of ‘Motivational Leadership Training’ for ICA Nepal staff and other interested participants. The training took place at the ICA Training Center in Koteshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal. The training included the sub topics; Experiential Learning and Servant Leadership. Altogether 17 people actively participated in the training, including ICA Nepal staff. The training had lots of fun activity which made the training more interesting and engaging. Mr. Yateen also demonstrated the ‘Pecha Kucha’ presentation style which was new and refreshing to most of the participants.

Photos taken during the first day of the
training of Motivational Leadership

Photos taken during the second day of the
training of Motivational Leadership


Yashoda
          yashoda@ica-nepal.com.np


NIGERIA:


ESTO PERPECTUA DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (EPDI), NIGERIA

WEST AFRICA ICAs CONFERENCE HELD IN LAGOS, NIGERIA
                        OCTOBER 28 – NOVEMBER 3, 2018 

Introduction

EPDI hosted the 2018 West Africa ICAs regional conference from October 28 – November 3, with the theme “Re-Positioning West Africa ICAs for Greater Effectiveness”. The conference objectives were:

  • Promote West Africa ICAs through Publicity
  • Strengthen ICAs in ToP methodologies 
  • Share individual and collective experiences in the last 12 months, and celebrate each ICA
  • Review our 3-year Strategic Plan and 1-year Action Plan and Develop the next one-year Action plan
  • Discuss the way forward with our common proposal and Action plan

The week-long event held at the Redemption Resort, Diligence Road, Beside Redeemer High School, Redemption Camp, Km 45 Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and all five (5) ICAs in the region were represented at the meeting.

Highlights

Day 1

  • Opening ceremony, the purpose of which is to enlighten the public on the activities of ICA. Nine guests, including two staff of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Channel 10 Lagos and fourteen members of all 5 ICAs were in attendance.

The Chairman of EPDI board welcomed everyone to the programme and wished every participant successful deliberations. The ICAI Board representative, Adufu Yawo Gator and Hannah also spoke about ICAs’ activities, after which we had question and answer session where guests wanted more information and how they could be involved with ICA. The coverage of the ceremony was aired on NTA 10 Lagos. It’s also on (https//youtu.be/W-ysZxXIKBY)

It was generally agreed that NGOs need support from well-meaning organizations and individuals to be able to fulfill their mission.

  • Then came the presentation of activities from ICA Benin and Cote D’Ivoire, after which questions were asked for more explanation on the various activities and their impact on target beneficiaries.

Day Two

  • After the recap by Eugene,   ICAs Togo, Ghana and Nigeria made their presentation of activities, with further discussions.
  • Presentation on Cassava Processing and its Value Chain by Godwin Atser, Communication & Knowledge Expert, IITA Ibadan. He also showed a video clip on how Thailand uses cassava in the production of various items. The presentation exposed participants to various opportunities in cassava and how engagement in it can drastically reduce unemployment in the region, while generating income for the people and the nation.
  • Repositioning ICAs for Greater Effectiveness was taken by Oluseyi Oyebisi, the Executive Director, Nigeria Network of NGOs, Lagos. He exposed participants to some of the challenges the sector is facing in terms of regulations by government and how the sector can effectively strengthen relationship with government i.e. strategies such as developing a strategic plan for your organization – understanding the issues/challenges e.g. carrying out proper research on the SDG Goals, for example, to know which to focus on, identifying ways or activities to solve the problem. He also suggested that NGOs should begin to create social enterprises to reduce dependence on outside funding. 

This was followed by a review of the Focused Conversation Method as a follow up to the training in Group Facilitation Methods carried out in Benin last year.

Day Three

  • The One Welfare Project – an initiative of the Association for Integrated Community and Animal Welfare (AFRICAW) to be test-run in Northern Nigeria in partnership with EPDI and ICA,UK.  Hannah presented the initiative on behalf of Dr. Olagoke (AFRICAW) who unavoidably absent.
  • The term welfare is used to emphasize the many links between animal welfare and human welfare, and to acknowledge that both depend on (each other) and on a well-functioning ecological environment i.e.
  • The welfare of food-producing animals is often crucial for the owners’ livelihood and productivity;
  • The prosperity and mental well-being of animal keepers are important to permit good animal care and to prevent abuse and neglect of animals;
  • The welfare of working and assistance animals is important for their ability to provide services to their owners.
  • One welfare is thus, a call to consider human welfare, animal welfare and the environment together as the
  • well being of one depends on the wellbeing of the other.

  • It was generally agreed that it’s a worthwhile project and all ICAs are interested in having the project in the
    region.
Presentation on ICAI by the West Africa Regional Representative on the ICAI Board, Adufu Yawo Gator. He traced how ICAI has evolved since the 1950s to what it is today:

1950s:  the Faith and Life Community founded to explore how and where their Christian faith was elevant to the social issues of the day

1960s: pioneering participatory local community development with the Fifth City Community Project

1970s: replicating human development projects worldwide, expanding to 30 countries and ICAI established and registered in Brussels, Belgium in 1977 to facilitate the activities of autonomous national member Institutes

1990s: diversifying our local programmes:  In 1992 at the global conference in Prague, ICAs activities were described in four primary themes: enabling sustainable development, facilitating organisational transformation, advancing life-changing learning and promoting international dialogue

2000s:  strengthening our global presence: Diversification of locally driven programme activities continued as it appeared in 2008 global conference in Japan focused on 10 human development challenges:

  • Effective Governance and Protection of Human Rights
  • Persistence of Poverty
  • Environmental Degradation and Climate Change
  • Consumerism and Over-Consumption
  • Sustainable Agriculture and Livelihoods
  • Violent Conflict and Social Disintegration
  • Disconnectedness and Barriers to Engagement
  • Private Sector Collaboration
  • Access to Healthcare and Preventing the Spread of Disease
  • Literacy and Education
2010s: Developing our ‘‘Peer to Peer’’ Approach:  develop a decentralized, “peer to peer” approach, with a regional perspective, as the most effective way for national ICAs to support one another and collaborate together at the global level.  This new ‘peer to peer’ approach was agreed to allow for new opportunities & creativity among ICAs themselves.

One of the issues raised was the administrative structure
of ICAI which is:


ICAI Board
           
Regions e.g. West Africa

Member Countries

  • Group Facilitation Methods review continued with the demonstration of the Workshop Method on: “What can we do to ensure we have a comprehensive proposal for sponsorship by the end of this year?”

Below are the key responses to the focus question:
Get a catchy title
Source potential funders
Ensure every aspect is well defined
Draw up detailed budget
Produce Project Proposal
Collate each country’s specific data

  • Common Proposal Review and Design: The region is developing a common proposal on Cassava for funding. We started the discussion using the log frame format. Participants worked individually, then in teams and finally plenary on the project title and goal where we finally arrived at a consensus, and these are:

Project Title:  Promoting Food Security through Cassava Production and its Value Chain in all ICA Member Countries in West Africa

Project Goal: Contribute to eradication of extreme poverty and hunger among target beneficiaries through the introduction of best agricultural technologies in Cassava value chain by 2030

Day Four

  • Welcome, prayers and then a recap of the previous day by Baudauin, ICA Benin and Joshua, ICA Togo, who wrote questions on all topics treated, on small slips of paper which participants picked and responded to.
  • Discussion on our Common Proposal considering other aspects of the log frame which include: outcome, outputs and activities. This took the rest of the day.  It was agreed that work on the log frame continues in our various ICAs with Hannah coordinating.

Day Five

  • Recap of previous day by Mike Bateren asking everyone to cover their nametags and then each person to mention the names of three persons they did not know before coming for the conference.

  • An action plan was created to round off the week’s activities with the focus question: What can we do to transform our ICAs in the next twelve months?

    Click here for table to summerise the above
An evaluation of the week’s activities was carried out with participants filling out the evaluation forms. Below are some of the responses:

Some notable moments experienced during our meeting
in the last one week
:

• The process of ORID exercise and Workshop Method presentation
• Presentation of the IITA Facilitator – knowledge expert’s presentation
   of Cassava varieties
• Being in the midst of people from different countries
• The group brainstorming sessions are eye opening
• Working through the focus questions
• Listening to French speakers speaking English
• The two presentations were very interesting
•  All days-I liked the atmosphere that prevailed during our sessions,
   especially the courteous way we conducted debates/discussions
• The facilitation, Group sessions and Country reports
•  More knowledge on Cassava opportunities
•  Started our common proposal writing
•  Discussion of the One Welfare Project
•  Teamwork and active participation of all
•  Strategic planning session
•  Specific actions to support peer-to-peer education
•  Real sharing of experiences- be able to share information between
    ICAs (Circulate decisions, plans, experiences with each other for
    others to benefit)
•  ToP training workshops in each country and send a ToP trainer in
    different countries
•  Do training twice a year but practice more as individual and ensure
   ToP and ORID are well mastered
•  Exchange
•  Provide timely notice to each West Africa ICAs on up-coming events

Some comments from participants:

•  It was a well organized and rewarding conference to build the
   capacities of ICAs in West Africa.
•  I have thoroughly enjoyed every part of the conference.
•  No time wasted.
•  Returning home to review and start using the workshop
    method first with my family and training others.
•  I would like to say thank you to EPDI, the entire Nigeria team
   that took part in this conference.
•  A special THANKS to Hannah for availing herself, and for her patience.


Closing

The ICAI Board Representative, Adufu Yawo Gator, appreciated everyone for the achievements of this conference.  He also appreciated each ICA for being fully represented at the programme and then EPDI for the successful hosting of the conference.

He reiterated that great achievements await us as we work together as a group. Since we have great dreams we have the obligation to achieve our dreams.
 
The Chairman of EPDI Board, Patrick Onomhante, also appreciated everyone for their active participation in a friendly atmosphere and was glad to see everyone for the first time. He hoped that all we have learnt and acquired in this conference will be applied in our various ICAs.

The day ended with a TAO reading titled “The Ripple Effect” by Hannah, EPDI Executive Director, to wish all participants the very best in our endeavours.

THANK YOU!

Hannah Anighoro and the EPDI team


UNITED STATES:




Clck PDF for full report:
2018 Fall Sojourn Board Report revised (1)


ICA Canada

ICA Canada is offering the following online study series


Click picture above for more details

Description of the study series (#CTLSeries
We all know from experience that a leader can make or break an organization, a country, a community group, or a family unit. Leadership is no easy task, especially during difficult times. It is during these difficult times that we’re all witnessing in our present day (e.g. from gender discrimination to inhumane policies) that courageous leadership is so much needed.
Many of us want to make a positive difference in this world. However, it takes courage to lead with purpose. This begs the question; what does courageous leadership mean to you? What would it take for you to lead compassionately, courageously and authentically in every situation? If you have ever asked yourself these questions, we would like to invite you to join our 13-week online study series, where you will get to explore your relationship to life, self and the world. The aim of this study is to provide the tools for deep reflection on how you can become the best leader you can be. Sign up today to reserve your spot.
To register, click here.  After you have registered, you will be emailed the log-in details a week before the study series start date.
Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-courage-to-lead-online-study-series-tickets-48610267619

From people who use The Courage to Lead (CTL) in their work:
“Many of us can master techniques. But transformative leadership which releases the spirit and possibilities of the group and individuals we serve is more than techniques. It is about how we show up, what we value, our relationship to our work and life.” (Jane Stallman, Founder and Senior Partner for Strategic Facilitation) 
“Reading The Courage to Lead, and participating in the course first as a student then as a facilitator, makes me realise that I can create positive change in the world any time, on a large or small scale – and that in fact I already do – simply by relating authentically to myself, to all parts of life, and to everyone I meet along the journey.” (Sara B., University Health Network) 
“I definitely look at problem-solving in a new way, instead of just working to change everything, I have new insights on what makes a great leader.” (Anonymous)

CTL Facilitators:

Ekta Bromley has over a decade of experience in the fields of Education, Adult Education, Organizational & Leadership Development. She has a keen ongoing interest in the applications of discourse and community development theories to the construction of social structures and realities. As a ‘happily transformed’ alumna of the Courage to Lead program (and a proud proponent of participatory planning methodologies), she is grateful for the ability to meaningfully contribute to positive social change through the brilliance of ICA’s impactful resources and results.

David Buwalda is a professional facilitator with 15 years experience across four continents. He is the former General Manager of ICA Canada and is co-owner of Haliburton County Coffee Roasters Inc.

Jo Nelson is a respected, prolific guru in the facilitation field. She’s one of the principal owners of ICA Associates Inc. and the lead for all the training and curriculum. She is also the author of several books. Jo is a founding member of the International Association of Facilitators and is on the Hall of Fame of IAF.

Jeanette Stanfield is an educator with a Master of Arts degree who first encountered the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA) in a local community on the west side of Chicago. Since that time Jeanette has worked with ICA in Australia, India, USA and Canada and is currently on the board of ICA Canada.

Staci Kentish is a former ICA Canada Program Director with over 12 years of leadership development experience. Her passion lies in enabling conversations about leadership with those who are open to more compassionate possibilities. Much of Staci’s professional experience has been working with young people and early career professionals to facilitate productive dialogue, support individual growth and create participatory processes that encourage shared leadership.

Please note that we’ll be using “The Courage to Lead” book for the study which can be purchased separately on Amazon or iUniverse

Virginia          virginia@icacan.org



Notices

ICA Canada online study series
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