Everyone's News Posts - Young Partners in Development

Feel like seeing the world from another angle?

2014-04-11T15:53:29.000Z

We develop alternative trips designed to connect travelers with local people and places for an authentic experience. Whether you wish to travel independently or as a small group, our tours offer a more in depth look at the culture and environment of where ever you go. Our independent trips maintain a focus on sustainable community-based development, health & wellness, conservation management, and/or cultural preservation.

Mini – Adventure experiences allow you to:

· Travel in small group sizes (max. 10 people)

· Support locally owned businesses

· Interact with local communities

· Connect with volunteer opportunities

· Visit off the beaten track destinations

We can design your trip for you. Based on your interest, time frame, and number of participants, we design customized itineraries in unique destinations that offer an authentic experience in a variety of different areas. At the same time we ensure that your experience brings positive benefits to local community development initiatives. Contact us for more details at [email protected]">[email protected] or visit our website for more details at http://www.ivnuganda.net

Are you 12-24 and Interested in Global Issues? BCCIC Wants You!

2013-12-03T19:37:51.000Z

BCCIC is seeking twenty young people, ages 12-24 inclusive, who are actively involved in youth groups or on youth projects that address local-global issues. These young people will attend a social justice theatre workshop on Saturday, January 18th, where they will work with Street Spirits Theatre Company from Prince George to create a performance for International Development Week (IDW). This performance will be filmed and highlighted during BCCIC’s IDW online campaign in February 2014. Those interested in participating, or recommending a youth to participate, should email a brief description of the participant and their involvement in local-global issues to [email protected]">[email protected] by Friday, December 13th. Applications will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis.

http://bccic.ca/

Volunteer in Uganda| Affordable Volunteer Projects| Volunteer in Africa

2013-11-14T23:34:32.000Z

Pay as low as USD$125 to volunteer in Uganda!

Our Volunteer Program is an immersion program customized for individual travelers, students, professionals, families, groups, or anyone with the desire to serve in rural villages in Uganda. The timetable you travel, your village destination, and the projects you may be involved with are all geared to your skills and interests, and the villages' needs.

The program is collaboration between Beacon of Hope Uganda and the under-served rural villages of Uganda. We are committed to meeting the needs of our communities, and to placing developmental volunteers in programs that provide safe and meaningful experiences.

If you are interested in participating in our volunteer program, write to us and we will work with you to identify your best placement options in Uganda. E-mail: [email protected]">[email protected]

Because it is an immersion experience, days in the villages allow for a variety of opportunities. And whether you work in a clinic, school, or children’s home, participate in building or agricultural projects, or simply assist in the day-to-day tasks.

BoHU works closely with each volunteer to ensure comprehensive preparation, including both an understanding of the people with whom you will be working, and all considerations necessary for travel overseas.

BoHU runs on the hard work of all our volunteers, whether they work on construction projects, community development initiatives or take on leadership roles through the BoHU Management Team.

BoHU is an entirely volunteer-run non-profit. We rely on capable, responsible volunteers to take on leadership positions that are essential to the effective management and successful operation of the organization. Placements on the BoHU Management Team (MT) provide unparalleled opportunities to earn invaluable professional experience in an extraordinarily challenging environment. Throughout our history, many people have surpassed their own preconceived notions of personal and professional capacities to accomplish incredible successes that have helped shape the organization as we now know it. These volunteers are of paramount importance to the continuous growth and improvement of BoHU; they make a truly lasting impact in the community we serve by ensuring other volunteers have the tools they need to successfully execute projects each and every day.

The need for consistency and continuity in our management practices obliges us to require BoHU Management Team volunteers undertake a minimum service commitment of three months. The following areas are central to our ability to reach our full potential:

Office Administration
Financial Management & Planning
Organizational Accounting
Fundraising & Grant Writing (Local & International)
Volunteer Coordination & Recruitment
Volunteer Wellness
Marketing & Publicity
Public Relations & Community Outreach
Logistical Support
Tools & Inventory Management
Project Coordination
Site Assessment

Please note, additional benefits are afforded to volunteers who take on certain leadership roles and increased responsibility as part of the BoHU Management Team. In exchange for a 3 month minimum commitment of service, some MT volunteers may receive a significant discount or even be provided gratuitous room and board during their service, so long as they comply with BoHU rules & regulations and are able to consistently meet the established goals and objectives of the position.

Furthermore, both construction and community development projects require strong leadership from capable and committed volunteers. Therefore, we ask volunteers with technical expertise – whether acquired before or after arriving at BoHU – to help guide other team members by ensuring they are prepared and properly trained to effectively execute the tasks required of a particular project. They are also responsible for coordinating with the Executive Chairman and other members of the BoHU Management Team as well as ensuring quality monitoring and evaluation.

Community Outreaches & Improvement of Living Standards:

Volunteer on Community Sanitation Projects:

The BoHU team engage into programs and projects which improve on the sanitation of rural people and this include clearing of drinking wells, building of dry racks and the digging of latrines as well as education of healthy living practices. Join the team and help in improving the poor communities.

Community Outreach and Material Support:

BoHU provides material support to those in the Mukono District who are
unable to and care for themselves. This may include the elderly,
orphans, the disabled, prisoners, and those afflicted or affect by HIV and AIDS.

Teach Volunteer and Internship Opportunities:

The main focus is providing education to hundreds of children in poor communities in Uganda. Village schools provide English, Math, health lessons to children 3yrs-12yrs old. The schools provide not only needed education but opportunities for sports activities, health talks, feeding center and meeting place for the community.

Teaching experience is not required. You can begin as a teaching assistant and then work in small groups with children in need of extra attention.

Develop a poor community in Uganda/ Building Program:

You will have the opportunity to try different roles and projects, dependent on your interests and skills. These volunteer opportunities do not require specialized skills (although these would be an advantage), and we accept volunteers for both short and long-term placements, all the year round. Volunteers certainly gain an amazing life experience from their participation in our placement program.

Health Projects in Uganda:

Knowledgeable and able-bodied volunteers are in great demand. Help assist doctors with several health-related activities, opportunities are available all year around in Uganda.

Fees:

After you have been accepted into the project by the volunteer coordinator, then you will have to pay a non-refundable $100 booking fee. Since we started, the numbers of volunteers applying has increased by each year. Unfortunately only a third of those who promise that they will come, have in fact arrived. The wastage in volunteer coordinators' time and the fact that volunteers who could have come were refused due to holding the space for someone else who didn't turn up, has forced us implement this. We hope that by implementing the fee, only serious volunteers will thus secure the chance to volunteer in our projects.

The booking fee will go towards paying for communication expenses incurred by the coordinators to keep in touch with you and the projects, and website maintenance. You will be given 3 weeks to pay from the time of acceptance.

Program fees:

1 week- USD$200

2 weeks-USD$300

3 weeks- USD$400

4 weeks- USD$500

The program fees can be paid upon arrival or before departure for proper preparations of your placement.

Additional Fees: USD$ 85 Airport pickup for arrival paid upon arrival.

If you would like to bring a group out to work with Beacon of Hope Uganda, please email: [email protected]">[email protected]

Program fees covers:

Pre-service (e.g. culture, health talk, program orientation, training etc);
1 day sightseeing guide fee around Kampala or Jinja, Equator, world heritage sites, (e.g. game parks, zoos, museums, rivers etc)
Accommodation, Laundry and food during placement with a host family or volunteer house (3 meals a day);
Regular follow up support
Support for local staff and volunteers;

When a volunteer arrives in Uganda, our Coordinator meets them at the airport and brings them to our orientation place in Mukono. From that point our volunteers spend between 1 to 3 days in our orientation program. This training provides volunteers with a very detailed understanding of how to be acquainted in Uganda's Life and culture.

The program fee excludes the following:

Airfare, Visa and Visa extension fee
Transportation during weekends travel
Personal travel and sightseeing (trekking, jungle safari etc);
Internet access, telephone, drinks or other costs accrued during training and placement;
Gifts to project staff and host family, if you wish to buy any;
Should you wish to spend more time in Uganda pre and post placement period, please remember to budget accordingly!
Travel and medical insurances, immunization, health expenses;
You will also need a weekly budget of up to US $50-100 to cater for all your other expenses.

Are you interested in being a volunteer, but would like more information? Contact our team and let us know what your hopes are for your volunteer experience, and we will assist you in planning a meaningful and fulfilling journey.

Website: www.beaconofhopeug.org

A shocking story about my Mother’s Death

2013-03-16T13:29:18.000Z

I am Ismail Mohamed Abdi. I am living in Hargeisa, Somliland. I have been working for Save the Children International in Somali-land as a child protection coordinator. I am extremely happy working for Save the Children International for protecting children from all forms of violations and abuses. Before I joined to Save the Children in November 23, 2002, used to work Hargeisa Orphanage Center.

A shocking story about my Mother’s Death

My mother died at my age of 5 years old. The day that my mother died was a very sad moment. My mother became sick after she gave birth to my third sister. At that time I used to keep lambs near home and I used to come back home every afternoon for food/milk. When I came in the house I used to say to my mother how you are mama. A one day in the afternoon I returned to Home. When I entered into the house (Aqal Somali) my mother was lying where I left her in the morning and she was looking like smiling as her mouth was open. I felt so happy because I thought she has recovered well. With happiness I said mama give me food. Unfortunately, she did not reply. I touched her but she did not move her body. I amazed what happened with my loved mother. After a moment, I heard my aunt (sister) of my mother was screaming /mourning outside. Then I realized that my mother died. I never saw a dead person before sad moment.

A Few days after the death of my mother I faced a very harsh life in various problems and violations including separation from my family (father, sisters and brother), lack of food, lack of care, fears and insecurities, loneliness, discrimination and prejudice. In the first year, I stayed my camel herd cousins in the jungle to get enough milk as my father had not an alternative way to get enough food/milk otherwise in Somali life style its very rare that parents send their young children (boys) with camel herds during camel herds. Because camel herd life is very difficult situations where a young child can’t survive for various reasons including existence of different forms of abuses and violations against children including corporal punishment, hard work fear, lack of food except camel milk, water for draining and washing, separation of family and ongoing fudging over camel looting among camel herds in groups based on clans.

A few years after being a camel boy, my step uncle (brother of my foster mother) took me to help him for keeping his sheep. I have been sheep herds for a few years which was really much worse than during my time in camel herds. After years, I escaped and managed myself and came in Hargeisa to my uncle who was a police officer. My uncle took me to Children’s Home for vulnerable children where I lived until I completed my secondary education in 1985. Living in institutional care is another challenge which affects children in many ways either physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. Many violations against children happen in institutional care center. Either child abuse each other or staff abuse children or there are no adequate basic needs in the institutions.

I am happy now to work with save the children as child protection coordinator to promote protection rights of vulnerable children. I found Save the Children very important organizations to work with to save and protect children from violations and abuses which experienced through my childhood. Save the Children makes a significant change in the lives of vulnerable children across the world.

What's your opinion? UNICEF Germany project

2012-12-13T12:56:50.000Z

Hi all,

your voice matters! Would you like to participate in a project of UNICEF Germany? Your opinions will be posted (translated into German) on our youth platform www.younicef.de - and the best statements will be published in a book!

Please send us your opinion answering (briefly) the following two questions before December 27th:

1) What do you think is the most urgent problem in the world today?

2) What is your vision: In what kind of world would you like to live?

We also need your name (first name is enough), age, place of residence, and a photo (optional). Please send us also some brief information what you are doing (student, work and/ or activities).

Please post your answers here or send them directly to me: ninja.charbonneau/at/unicef.de. Please contact me also if you have any questions.

Thanks! It only takes a few minutes!

Ninja Charbonneau, UNICEF Germany

Harvesting the fruits of the Art of Hosting

2012-11-15T19:30:00.000Z

On November 1-4, YPID, in collaboration with IICRD and the Pender Island Restorative Justice Program, hosted a four-day Art of Hosting session at beautiful Poets Cove Resort on Pender Island, British Columbia.

The Art of Hosting is a global community of practitioners using integrated participatory change processes, methods, maps, and planning tools to engage groups and teams in meaningful conversation, deliberate collaboration, and group-supported action for the common good. The Art of Hosting training is an experience for deepening competency and confidence in hosting group processes - Circle, World Café and Open Space and other forms of hosting which proceed meaningful, collaborative conversations and decision processes.

Pawa Haiyupis, one of the facilitators, reflected back to the group about her journey at Poets Cove:

Ancestral roots ground me through the soul of my boots. In pursuit of connection, looking at you I see my reflection. Art of hosting session sharpens life lessons. You have my full attention. Elder welcomes us to her territory on the Salish Sea and awakens blood memories. Everyone should have the time to share their story. Feel the glory of courageous leadership. It’s fresh and hip... everyone is doing it.

The weekend focused on building and exploring the power of connection, listening and hosting meaningful conversations. Participants found themselves reflective, sharing stories, connecting to

one another and co-creating a collaborative understanding of what it means to host meaningful conversations. Participatory tools were shared and built upon and harvesting the diverse wisdom from both the facilitators and participants was encouraged and explored.

For picture of this event, check out my album on my YPID page!

To read more about this incredible event, view the notes harvested and read more of Pawa's journey through this amazing event, please go to: http://aohpender.posterous.com/

To learn more about the Art of Hosting or to find out how to participate in a Art of Hosting session near you, please go to http://www.artofhosting.org/home/

Tragic Incidence of two young brothers

2012-10-15T20:00:00.000Z

I would like to share with you about a tragic incidence of two young brothers(3 and 5 yrs old) who dead in burnt house in my town (Hargeisa) in Somali-land on 14/10/2012 ,at 2: 00 PM. the media and eye witness reported that the mother these innocent children was away when the house(hat) burnt on 14/10/2012, in Internally displaced village for minority community in Hargeisa, Somali-land.

I think it’s extremely important that international organizations, networks , individuals who work for child protection should take action and publish this case through international media. In my country , there is no child protection policy and government is not very aware about violations against children.

It needs to pressure the government of Somali-land to take an urgent action to prevent that similar tragic incidence to happen again and again to innocent children. At least government should make national funeral for these two innocent children so that the entire nation should aware about it.This needs international pressure and joint action of different child protection organization and networks as well as individual who have love and compassionate for children.

Don’t hesitate to contact me for further information related to this tragic incidence See the link below about photos of dead bodies of innocent children

http://www.flickr.com/x/t/0091009/photos/33299935@N05/8086211924/

UN review finds Canada falling short on child rights

2012-10-11T20:32:17.000Z

Convention on the Rights of the Child ratified in 1991, committee conducted 10-year review of progress

Support Orphans| Volunteer with Orphanage in Uganda| African Rural Community Shepherds in Uganda

2012-10-06T07:30:00.000Z

Volunteer Opportunities at ARCOS Uganda

ARCOS Uganda started its volunteer program in May of 2010 and we hope to invite more volunteers in the future. However, at the moment we are still a small family with few volunteer opportunities. Our project is still developing and volunteer needs and requirements will rapidly change as our family grows. Click here to SEE PHOTOS OF PREVIOUS VOLUNTEERS

Working at ARCOS Uganda will require the volunteer to be utterly flexible and open-minded and to arrive with a positive attitude and willingness to jump in where needed. Many volunteer openings are combined positions, meaning that you will be asked to fulfill more than one position, depending on your abilities and schedule. All positions require English fluency.

Volunteer Application

This application is for individuals only. If you would like to work at the ARCOS Uganda with a group of people, please contact us for possibilities.

The application process is very simple, just email us your resume, skills, experience, age, country and references and reason why you would like to come and volunteer with us and for how long would you like to stay with us and which programs or projects you would like to be part of. This will provide speed for the application process and once we have received your application, we shall acknowledge it within 3days time.

Due to the isolated setting of the ARCOS Uganda projects and the stress of volunteering internationally, it is important for us to know about an applicant’s ability and health prior to beginning service. This information allows us to make a well-based decision in the interest of the ARCOS project and the applicant and helps us to support the volunteer during his or her service at ARCOS. All information is kept confidential.

Volunteer Program

The volunteer program at ARCOS Uganda is full of opportunities. We invite people of all backgrounds to participate in the endeavor to create a life of dignity for orphaned and abandoned children in the Uganda where we serve. We open this invitation to people who have the desire to be of service to the ARCOS community and who have an open heart and mind.

For the volunteers, our program offers a wide range of experiences from unique friendships and life enriching cross-cultural encounters to work experience rarely available in the outside world. The idea of having volunteers here at ARCOS Uganda is to support our staff members and to give additional attention to our children and projects.

Our volunteers have the opportunity to share their talents and knowledge while serving others. Often our volunteers are highly trained and skilled individuals whom ARCOS Uganda otherwise could not afford or find in the places where our projects are located. Volunteers always bring fresh ideas and perspectives that help meet the challenges of our daily operations.

What makes a good volunteer?

The most effective volunteers come to ARCOS Uganda with a positive life-loving attitude, a strong work ethic, flexibility, realism and a sense of humor. Typically, volunteers may arrive with the expectation that living conditions are more primitive than they are. However, they are often not aware of how hard they are expected to work.

We also seek candidates whose main motive is to help the children and be models. ARCOS Uganda volunteers are not rebellious to rational authority, disrespectful or insensitive to the cultures where we work and are guests. Please remember, we accept volunteers only if we are convinced that they will be good for the children. We are not judging them as people, only as models for children who need to be prepared for their lives beyond ARCOS.

We have numerous openings for long-term volunteers throughout the year and short-term programs from 2 weeks. We are sometimes able to accommodate volunteer groups such as school and church or youth organizations for short-term volunteering as well. See our volunteer requirements, volunteer opportunities

If you are interested in helping ARCOS Uganda in your local community by fundraising for their programs, please contact our office to find out how you can become involved. There are always positions available for translators, special event staff and office support.

Volunteer in Uganda with us

Volunteer Requirements

Length of Service

Volunteers are asked to give a minimum of 2 weeks and may serve in a variety of positions, including school parents, nurses, physicians, therapists, teachers, secretaries, gardeners, kitchen help, librarians or assistants in the clinics. Because of the difficulties that surround training, language and accommodations for short-term volunteers, most positions require a strict commitment to One month of service.

There are short-term (2-3 weeks) volunteer opportunities, summer projects may involve volunteers in teaching English, music, dance, athletics, and arts and crafts.

Age

Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and in good health.

Language Requirements

Volunteer placement in Uganda will depend a great deal a minimum knowledge in English and this also applies to our technical work and manual labor.

The children and staff at the orphanage in Uganda speak Luganda, while English is taught in the schools. At the Office, a minimal knowledge of English is needed to communicate with others and staff upon arrival. Luganda is not a difficult language and each volunteer is expected to study and learn some few words of it during the first week in Uganda. Most volunteers can learn enough Luganda in their first two weeks to communicate with the children and staff.

Expenses

Volunteers are expected to pay travel expenses to and from the country where volunteering, Accommodation, Transport from the Airport and food

Program fees: - After the Volunteer Coordinator has accepted you into the project, and then you will have to pay a non-refundable booking fee of USD$ 100 paid in 2 weeks’ time upon acceptance into the program, our program is pretty popular, so try to book as soon as possible. Since we started, the numbers of volunteers applying has increased by each year. Unfortunately only a third of those who promise that they will come, have in fact arrived. The wastage in Volunteer Coordinator’s time and the fact that volunteers who could have come were refused due to holding the space for someone else who didn’t turn up, has forced us to implement this. We hope that by implementing the fee only serious volunteers will thus secure the chance to volunteer in our projects. The booking fee will go towards paying for communication expenses incurred by the Coordinators to keep in touch with you and the projects, and website maintenance.

1 week- USD$200

2 weeks-USD$250

3 weeks- USD$300

4 weeks- USD$350

The program fees can be paid upon arrival or before departure for proper preparations of your placement.

Additional Fees: USD$ 75 Airport pickup for arrival paid upon arrival.

Program fees covers:

Pre-service (e.g. culture, health talk, program orientation, training etc);
1 day sight-seeing guide fee around Kampala or Jinja, Equator, world heritage sites, (e.g. game parks, zoos, museums, rivers etc)
Accommodation, Laundry and food during placement with a host family (3 meals a day);

The program fee excludes the following:

Airfare, Visa and Visa extension fee
Transportation during weekends travel
Personal travel and sightseeing (trekking, jungle safari etc);
Internet access, telephone, drinks or other costs accrued during training and placement;
Gifts to project staff and host family, if you wish to buy any;
Should you wish to spend more time in Uganda pre and post placement period, please remember to budget accordingly!
Travel and medical insurances, immunization, health expenses;
You will also need a weekly budget of up to US $50-100 to cater for all your other expenses.

Medical Coverage

Due to the fact that ARCOS Uganda is a small organization with very little resources we expect the volunteer to meet his or her medical coverages during their stay, but we recommend that volunteers call their public health service for any required shots or medical advice for living in Uganda.

You just have to let us know where you want to go and we will take you there and information is available for you. The type of work you are involved with will be dependent on your interests, abilities, level of experience as well as your comfort levels.

One of the advantages of the Community Development project is that you are not limited to one job role and will have the opportunity to ‘sample’ other roles during your placement. To become involved in another projects simply inform a member of staff who will happily make any necessary arrangements.

Kookums take to streets in march for grandchildren

2012-09-24T16:14:33.000Z

http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2012/09/24/kookums-take-to-streets-in-march-for-grandchildren/

Sustainable Volunteer Work in Mukono District, Uganda

2012-09-19T15:38:10.000Z

Sustainable Volunteer Work in Mukono, Uganda

Are you looking to do something more meaningful on your travels?

Beacon of Hope Uganda (BoHU) recruits volunteers for locally-run community, conservation, teaching, health, building and sports projects around Uganda. Volunteers are an integral part of everything that happens at BoHU. We couldn’t do it without them. There are many ways to volunteer your time, as well as your skills, to help out. Depending on the season, we always have a list of much needed services of volunteers within our projects around Uganda.

Community Outreaches & Improvement of Living Standards:

Volunteer on Rural Health Projects:

BoHU sets out to the rural villages with a team of volunteers for 2-5 days a week to organize health workshops. BoHU aims to fight the deadly epidemic diseases by educating the communities in the Mukono District and rural districts about awareness and prevention. Drawing from the education seminars and resources from the Uganda Ministry of
Health training programs, this objective is achieved through the use of workshops, seminars, camps, and Voluntary Counseling Testing (VCT) programs, topics range from Malaria control, family planning, HIV/AIDS, Epilepsy control, and other deadly diseases.

Volunteer on Community Sanitation Projects:

Material Support:

• Home, Prison, or School Visits

• Supplying sanitation sanitary kits to village school girls

• The delivery of food supplies from development programs to orphans

• Sporting events for orphans to improve the social aspect

• Providing school supplies to schools per term for orphans

• Elderly Support Programs including clothes washing, visitation, and the construction of sanitation areas including kitchens and drying areas

• Clothing, sanitation supplies, and relationship building with prisoners

Teach Volunteer and Internship Opportunities:

The main focus is providing education to hundreds of children in poor communities in Uganda. Village schools provide English, Math, health lessons to children 3yrs-12yrs old. The schools provide not only needed education but opportunities for sports activities, health
talks, feeding center and meeting place for the community.

With our volunteer program we allow you to discover the wonders of Uganda, while doing meaningful and rewarding community work. This is a great opportunity to explore life in rural Uganda and rural schools, live and work amongst the locals and realize one person can make a difference.

Teaching experience is not required. You can begin as a teaching assistant and then work in small groups with children in need of extra attention. The objective of this program is to contribute to the academic development of the school in order to provide the best opportunity for the orphans to receive quality education. Volunteers support the local teachers; encourage students to learn and play and instill pride in their schooling.

Develop a poor community in Uganda/ Building Program:

You will have the opportunity to try different roles and projects, dependent on your interests and skills. These volunteer opportunities do not require specialized skills (although these would be an advantage), and we accept volunteers for both short and long-term
placements, all the year round. Volunteers certainly gain an amazing life experience from their participation in our placement program. On first arrival, most volunteers sample all the projects before selecting the tasks that suit them best.

One of the advantages of the Community project is that you are not limited to one job role and will have the opportunity to ‘sample’ other roles during your placement. To become involved in another projects simply inform a member of staff who will happily make any
necessary arrangements.

Volunteer work side by side the locals’ on-going brick construction and water building projects in the community. Volunteers needed for manual labor jobs working alongside skilled and unskilled local workers.

Some tasks include farming, pig rearing, construction of the volunteer center, expansion, water well building and renovation work. Volunteers do not need prior experience, but skilled workers are very welcome. This is a very hand on, hands dirty sort of program. Enthusiasm, a good sense of humor and helping spirit are required.

Work in an Orphanage:

As a volunteer you perform a variety of much-needed services such as teaching Basic English, Math and other subjects to HIV/AIDS infected or hunger-stricken children in Uganda.

English/Math, Geography Teaching in Rural school

Help to improve school children's conversational English and French, paving a road for a brighter future - instilling in them a working command of the English language.

Health Projects in Uganda:

Knowledgeable and able-bodied volunteers are in great demand. Help assist doctors with several health-related activities, opportunities are available all year around in Uganda.

HIV/AIDS Awareness in Uganda:

Interested in helping to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic that has ravaged Africa's continent? Help create hope among the sick in Uganda and to assure them that they can live productive lives.

Other Projects in Uganda:

BoHU has projects in various fields and a wide range of opportunities is available to developmental volunteers who want make a difference in the lives of people in rural Uganda.

Volunteer Projects include:

Community work, HIV/AIDS, Medical work, Sports Coaching, Teaching & Education, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Research, Expeditions, Corporate Volunteering, University
Volunteering, Family Volunteering, Tailor-made opportunities for individuals and groups.

We provide to people of all ages and backgrounds with opportunities to have an active part in helping develop a local community, and accept donations to improve standard of life for people living in Uganda. We make it possible to see what your money has specifically done for the local people and how it has helped them and their community.

BoHU recruits and places foreign volunteers with community based projects and schools around Uganda. Through our volunteer placement program, we aim to build the capacities of local projects and raise awareness around the world about the successes and challenges of life in Uganda.

These include office work (IT training for local villagers mostly youth), Vocational Training (Sewing), and HIV/AIDS education, public health/hygiene, family planning, condom use, creativity workshops, promoting small business development the importance of basic
education, and women’s rights and empowerment.

Community outreach:- Includes home visits to elderly, disabled, and persons living with HIV/AIDS to keep company, offer relief, and assess needs.

Administration:- Budgeting, fundraising and handcraft marketing

Community Development:- You will be encouraged to take part in a flexible schedule which will include some or all the activities offered by the program. The exchange of ideas, experiences and culture is encouraged. This placement sometimes requires walking long distances in the sun; you are encouraged to bring a sleeping bag, protective clothing and shoes.

Teaching Orphans:- Teaching English, Math and other subjects, organize games and arts. The main aim is to create a loving environment for these children. Telling stories, Help in the construction of the new orphanage Homes and schools. Carpentry, builders, porters and helpers, group volunteering is welcome, Fundraisers contact us for details.

Website Designer & Data Base Manager:

We believe that communication through digital media, design and storytelling is the most exciting way to achieve the ambitious goal we’re working towards: providing resources for quality education in under-resourced communities and helping individuals fulfill their potential and shape their world. We think the public responds increasingly more to creativity and outstanding design rather than guilt-driven campaigns. With that in mind, we love exploring new ways of telling the story of our mission, educating the public and
inspiring people to get involved. The BoHU website is visited by over 200 people each month and has the potential to reach the public on a massive scale. We’re looking for a remarkable volunteer designer who can catch our organizational vision and commit to creating a truly unique and impactful brand, helping us change the lives of thousands
around Uganda.

Please choose any project you would like to get involved with and if
you have any questions, let us know and we shall answer it.

Booking Fee:

After you have been accepted into the project by the volunteer coordinator, then you will have to pay a non-refundable $100 booking fee. Since we started, the numbers of volunteers applying has increased by each year. Unfortunately only a third of those who
promise that they will come, have in fact arrived. The wastage in volunteer coordinators' time and the fact that volunteers who could have come were refused due to holding the space for someone else who didn't turn up, has forced us implement this. We hope that by
implementing the fee, only serious volunteers will thus secure the chance to volunteer in our projects.

The booking fee will go towards paying for communication expenses incurred by the coordinators to keep in touch with you and the projects, and website maintenance. You will be given 3 weeks to pay from the time of acceptance.

Program fees:

1 week- USD$100

2 weeks-USD$200

3 weeks- USD$300

4 weeks- USD$350

The program fees can be paid upon arrival or before departure for proper preparations of your placement.

Additional Fees: USD$ 75 Airport pickup for arrival paid upon arrival.

Program fees covers:

Pre-service (e.g. culture, health talk, program orientation, training etc);
1 day sightseeing guide fee around Kampala or Jinja, Equator, world heritage sites, (e.g. game parks, zoos, museums, rivers etc)
Accommodation, Laundry and food during placement with a host family or volunteer house (3 meals a day);
Transportation to the project site from BoHU base in Mukono
Regular follow up support
Support for local staff and volunteers;

The program fee excludes the following:

Airfare, Visa and Visa extension fee
Transportation during weekends travel
Personal travel and sightseeing (trekking, jungle safari etc);
Internet access, telephone, drinks or other costs accrued during training and placement;
Gifts to project staff and host family, if you wish to buy any;
Should you wish to spend more time in Uganda pre and post placement period, please remember to budget accordingly!
Travel and medical insurances, immunization, health expenses;
You will also need a weekly budget of up to US $50-100 to cater for all your other expenses.

Want to Apply?

Great thanks for choosing Beacon of Hope Uganda

Please send us your resume, attach a photo, skills and interests and how long would you like to stay in Uganda and which project interests you, we shall get back to you within 48hours.

E-mail: [email protected]">[email protected] / [email protected]">[email protected]

Website: http://www.beaconofhopeuganda.webs.com / http://www.beaconofhopeug.org

Save The Children Launches Project

2012-09-06T21:59:36.000Z

To Help Street Kids Hargeysa, Somaliland, June 2, 2012 (SL Times) – Save the Children launched a new program to help homeless children. A ceremony to mark the occasion was held at Mansoor Hotel on May 24. The ceremony was attended by the chairman of Somaliland Supreme Court , the minister of resettlement, legislators, the Director of humanitarian assistance in the Presidency, the deputy head of the custodial forces, representatives from the ministry of justice, labor and community affairs, human rights organization, the director of the Mohammed Moge center for the rehabilitation of street children, and some street children. The ceremony’s program was opened by the Director of humanitarian assistance at Somaliland presidency Amina Mohamud who spoke on behalf of Somaliland’s first lady. Amina Mohamud emphasized the importance of this project and how the government has both short-term and long-term plans for improving the situation of children, especially those in dire need such as homeless children. She conveyed the first lady’s congratulations to Save the Children and stressed the first lady’s commitment to assisting children. She also reminded other government departments to work with Save the Children. Mr. Eric Kitsa, the head of child protection gave some details about the project whose formal name is Strengthening Community Based Responses for Improving Care and Protection of Vulnerable Children in Somaliland (SCORE). Mr Kista said the purpose of the project is to help street children and children from low income families who live in such neighborhoods as Dami and State House. Mr Kista also revealed that the genesis of the idea for the project and its content were based on information provided by homeless children and children who work in the market. That information had to do with the problems that plague street children and how they could be helped. Some of these children who helped in launching the program were Farah Muhyaddin (6 yrs old), Muhayadin Khadar (13 years old) and Hassan (15 yrs old). The head of Save the Children, Mohamoud Muhammad Hassan, also spoke on the occasion. He said Save the Children is dedicated to helping children and that it operates in 120 countries. He disclosed that the program was funded through Danish TV Collection. The Director of Mohammad Moge homeless children Center, Lul Hasan Matan addressed the audience and spoke of the urgency for helping needy children. The other speakers included legislators Abdiqadir (Indho-Indho), Sanweyne, Na’na’, Ibrahim Ka’an, the Deputy Head of the Custodial Corps, Hassan Ali Dheere, the Minister of Resettlement, Abdirizaq, and the Chairman of Somaliland Supreme Court, Dr. Yusuf Isma’il Ali. Towards the end of the ceremony, Save the Children announced that it will donate a vehicle to the homeless children Center. Children from Hargeysa’s Orphanage Center performed very sad songs that highlighted the troubles of homeless children and touched the hearts of the audience. The project will go on for two years (2012-2013).

VOLUNTEER IN TEACHING| HIV/AIDS PROGRAM| COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT/HEALTH CARE/VOLUNTEER IN UGANDA| VOLUNTEER UGANDA| HOPE DEVELOPMENT VOLUNTEERS| UGANDA VOLUNTEERS| VOLUNTEER IN RAKAI| KYOTERA DISTRICT.

2012-07-24T18:58:31.000Z

Program Dates: This program runs all throughout the year. Program orientation will take place the second day of your arrival.

Program Duration: Volunteers can choose to volunteer for a period of 1 month to 6 months.

Program fees: - Placement booking fee: USD$ 100paid in 2 weeks time upon acceptance into the program, our program is pretty popular, so try to book as soon as possible. After the Volunteer Coordinator has accepted you into the project, then you will have to pay a non-refundable booking fee. Since we started, the numbers of volunteers applying has increased by each year. Unfortunately only a third of those who promise that they will come, have in fact arrived. The wastage in Volunteer Coordinator’s time and the fact that volunteers who could have come were refused due to holding the space for someone else who didn’t turn up, has forced us to implement this. We hope that by implementing the fee only serious volunteers will thus secure the chance to volunteer in our projects. The booking fee will go towards paying for communication expenses incurred by the Coordinators to keep in touch with you and the projects, and website maintenance.

1 week- USD$200

2 weeks-USD$300

3 weeks- USD$400

4 weeks- USD$550

The program fees can be paid upon arrival or before departure for proper preparations of your placement.

Additional Fees: USD$ 75 Airport pickup for arrival paid upon arrival.

Program fees covers:

Pre-service (e.g. culture, health talk, program orientation, training etc);
1 day sight seeing guide fee around Kampala or Jinja, Equator, world heritage sites, (e.g. game parks,zoos,museums, rivers etc)
Accommodation, Laundry and food during placement with a host family or volunteer house (3 meals a day);
Transportation to the project site from Hope Development Volunteers base in Mukono
Regular follow up support / visit (1-2 week interval) by HDV’s staff
Support for local staff and volunteers;

When a volunteer arrives in Uganda,our Coordinator meets them at the airport and brings them to our orientation place in Mukono. From that point our volunteers spend between 1 to 3 days in our orientation program. This training provides volunteers with a very detailed understanding of how to be acquainted in Uganda’s Life and culture.

The program fee excludes the following:

Airfare, Visa and Visa extension fee
Transportation during weekends travel
Personal travel and sightseeing (trekking, jungle safari etc);
Internet access, telephone, drinks or other costs accrued during training and placement;
Gifts to project staff and host family, if you wish to buy any;
Should you wish to spend more time in Uganda pre and post placement period, please remember to budget accordingly!
Travel and medical insurances, immunization, health expenses;
You will also need a weekly budget of up to US $50-100 to cater for all your other expenses.

We are one of the few organizations that offer low cost volunteering placements in Africa! And the only volunteer referral center in Africa

Program Description:

This is an opportunity to work with grass roots projects in rural Uganda. The program site is located about 170km outside of Kampala- in Rakai district- New Kyotera District.

This is a rural community, with dirt roads that turn to sticky mud in the rainy season and dust in the dry season. Boda-Boda taxi bikes share the road with bicycles and animals. As in most parts of Uganda, the community members struggle to meet their basic needs and strive to put their children in school. Main jobs include brick making, selling fruits and vegetables, small-scale animal rearing and other manual labor jobs.

As a volunteer in this program, you will experience traditional Ugandan life and participate in daily activities such as visiting elderly villagers, collecting water from a well, teaching children in outside classrooms, assisting in the brick making programs, feeding animals as well as health outreach programs.

These programs serve the most vulnerable community members in Rakai District (New Kyotera District). The main focus is providing education to hundreds of children in the surrounding villages. Village schools provide English, Math, health lessons to children 3yrs-14yrs old and high school for 15yrs-18yrs. The schools provide not only needed education but opportunities for sports activities, health talks, feeding center and meeting place for the community.

The community development projects including pig and poultry house construction and repairs, home repairs, health/HIV/AIDS workshops, youth education, animal rearing, water and sanitation (including well and waterway construction) and project planning and management or other skills that can help us transform this community

With our volunteer program we allow you to discover the wonders of East Africa, while doing meaningful and rewarding community work. This is a great opportunity to explore life in rural Africa, live and work amongst the locals and realize one person can make a difference.

It is important for potential volunteers to understand that the culture in Uganda is quite different from what you are accustomed to. Volunteers should bring with them an easy-going, open-minded and relaxed attitude. Locals are curious, very friendly and social people. While Volunteer Uganda will endeavor to maintain a daily routine, volunteers should understand that things move slowly in Africa (and indeed in rural communities). Relax and enjoy the slow pace. Remember that life in Africa is not as organized and predictable as life in developed countries. Although volunteer work can be very busy and active, at other times work is determined by many number of factors including weather, availability of resources, whether a relevant contact has turned up, cultural activities etc.

Time and Schedule:

Program Length: From 1 to 12 weeks

Program Date: Flexible Start & End Date

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 hour per day

Accommodations: Local Host Family

Meals: Yes, 3 meals a day

Requirements: 18 years or older, an open mind to new adventures.

Children’s Education – Teaching Program

Volunteer in a rural school. Nursery and primary school level classes are provided (ages 3yrs-14yrs and high school- 15yrs-18yrs) teaching English and other subjects. *Teaching experience is not required. You can begin as a teaching assistant and then work in small groups with children in need of extra attention.

The objective of this program is to contribute to the academic development of the school in order to provide the best opportunity for the orphans to receive quality education. Volunteers support the local teachers; encourage students to learn and play and instill pride in their schooling.

School terms vary from year to year but are approximately as follows: February 1 to April 30, and May 20 to August 30, September 15 to early December. Volunteers can assist with the physical upkeep of the school; painting, decorating, mending desks etc. Most important volunteers should try to develop activities/programs that can be sustained in the future. Prior teaching experience is not required; volunteer simply need an open mind, caring spirit and a compassionate nature.

Community Development Program

The first few days of your placement will be orientation and adjusting to Ugandan life. After this initial period, your placement work will begin. The type of work you are involved with will be dependent on your interests, abilities, level of experience as well as your comfort levels.

Program Includes:

Accommodation provided with a local host family. Family home has electricity. Volunteers have their own sleeping quarters with bed and bedding. With rural communities, there is no indoor plumbing. Outhouse facilities at the home, and fresh water available for boiling and bathing. All programs are within walking distance from the host family. Three local meals per day are provided. Airport pick up and drop off at Entebbe airport. Hope Development Volunteers Project Coordinator will provide orientation tour on arrival, project briefing, an introduction to work placement and local host family.

Placement Organization: African Rural Shepherds in Uganda.

Placement Location: Rakai District (New Kyotera District)-(Rural Setting).

Accommodation: Host family

Extra activities you will not miss: Horse riding, Ostrich Riding, Village Safaris| Walks, Boat Riding, Equator safari and photo shots, visiting western Uganda for safaris and more tourist attractions, cultural heritage villages, ancient caves, exotic African birds, legendary Kijjanebalola Lake, enjoy the natural pollution-free wonderland of beautiful hills, Musamba Eco-Tourism Site,

Apply now and book a placement at this program:

How to apply!

Please send a copy of your resume, a list of your skills/interests, and tell us why you want to come live and volunteer in Uganda. Our program is pretty popular, so try to apply well in advance of when you’re traveling. If you’re interested in volunteering with Hope Development Volunteers write to:

[email protected]">[email protected]

Tel: +256-757-389926

Website: http://www.volunteerabroadafrica.com

Young Partners in Development as a Community of Practice

2012-06-07T20:30:00.000Z

Young Partners in Development is committed to a process of collective learning and development within the world of youth-led and youth-serving organizations. It is being founded by the International Institute for Child Rights Development (IICRD) and is a partnership between academic institutions and youth organizations.

Collectively we are co-producing a mesh-network (meshwork) of individuals, groups, and organizations focused on deeper understanding in the areas of peace-building, governance, higher education, child protection, ICT for development, and social transformation.

We envision four Levels of Participation for the Community of Practice:

1. Community of practice member: open to all (existing YPID site): Join an international community of practice which bridges youth led movements, post secondary educational institutions, research-practitioners, UN agencies, foundations and other partners.

2. Subscription: as a subscriber of YPID you will receive monthly updates from the widespread educational resources emerging from the applied activities with youth lead projects, latest research, video lectures, podcasts and links to educational initiatives undertaken by ourselves and our friends

3. Certificate courses and educational "badges": Take on-line courses for certificate on a variety of subjects including: youth led community research; mediation and conflict resolution and peace-building; the application of social media for social justice; applied human rights, and youth in governance

4. Enroll in an interdisciplinary Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate specialization in Youth Partners in Development through the Royal Roads University, IICRD partnership program. Offered via an on line/residency program various regions of the world. Emphasizing a "reflexive" model of community practice for youth engaged in community development and broader social justice work, Masters and Doctorates for scholar practitioners focusing on in depth research and policy development.

Your feedback will shape and guide our identity, structure, and resources at this earliest of stages.

Continues this week in Geneva: 60th Session of Committee on the Rights of the Child.

2012-06-04T11:51:05.000Z

Details, documents & more: http://j.mp/JDdfMd

The Future of Youth Movements Summit February 16-17 2012 NYC

2012-05-30T05:00:00.000Z

The Future of Youth Movements Summit was convened in New York on February 16-17 to gain insight from organizations, institutions, and individuals on the development of a collaborative network of youth-led and youth-serving organizations. The objectives of the event were to model competencies, identify points of collaboration, and strengthen understanding and alignment across the youth sector to maximize collective impact. In addition, the summit featured the launch of the YouthMovements platform, including an interactive map and knowledge hub.

Through a creative process of facilitation, participants identified key areas of focus upon which a cohesive network will evolve. The mission of YouthMovements.org was defined by the participants as an inclusive youth-centered network to create awareness, gather evidence, share insights, and leverage our collective power to amplify youth action for local, national, and global impact.

To communicate the spirit and need and YouthMovements.org, key stakeholders of youth-led and youth serving organizations were consulted and involved in creating the ‘Declaration of Interdependence’:

We are connected.
We are many.
We all dream of a better world.

The pace of change is accelerating and the challenges we face are more global and complex than ever before.

We need new ways of thinking and working collaboratively to address these issues.
We must work inclusively across cultures, organizations, generations, and networks to champion the role of youth.

We will challenge old paradigms, move beyond divisions, and hold our leaders accountable.

We can harness technology to co-create a peaceful, sustainable planet for all.

Together, we will help to grow young people as leaders; enabling them to change the world.

Here is the final report from the summit.

two young children died

2012-05-09T15:07:21.000Z

I’m sorry to share with you two young children -brother and sister (13 years old girl and 10 yrs old boy) from Internally Displaced (IDP) State House camp in Hargeisa died in a water dam in Jigjiga yar Village in Hargeisa on 8 May 2012, at 4:30 PM. The young girl was washing clothes at the dam. The young brother brought lunch for his sister. Unfortunately, the young boy fallen into the dam. For her kindness, the young sister tried to protect him. Unluckily, both of them died. Each year during the rainy season many young children die in the dams either in this dam or others in Hargeisa and other towns of Somaliland. It’s the time that Somaliland as a whole to wake up and take collective and an urgent measures to protect the innocent children from preventable hazards and negligence.

Creating hope for kids in the system: U of W waives tuition for kids in care

2012-03-15T20:03:36.000Z

http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/uw-news-action/story.771/title.uwinnipeg-first-to-offer-youth-in-care-tuition-waivers

WINNIPEG, MB - When she was 14-years-old, Shirley Delorme Russell and her five siblings were placed in foster care. She would change homes three times in the next several years. Although she was a bright student, Shirley stopped going to school after graduating from Kelvin High School.

“I had no money. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, but I was not really sure what student loans were and the thought of them and getting into debt terrified me,” said Shirley, “It is awkward for a child in care because you can feel you are not really anyone's kid. So at 18 I went out to work.”

Young people like Shirley will now be able to achieve their full potential. The University of Winnipeg today launched the Youth In Care Tuition Waiver program to ensure that youth who have grown up in care can dream about and plan for their academic future at UWinnipeg regardless of socio-economic background. This is the first program of its kind in Manitoba and believed to be unique for a University in Canada.

“We have a very deep commitment to addressing the needs of youth who are underrepresented in University classrooms, and we know that children and youth in care face multiple barriers that keep them from pursuing post-secondary learning, including financial hurdles,” said Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, President and Vice-Chancellor, UWinnipeg. “Removing the tuition hurdle dissolves an important barrier, but more importantly, it says to this group of young people who have faced so many challenges that their dreams matter, that they are welcome and they belong here.”

UWinnipeg expects to support 10 students per year through its Youth In Care Tuition Waiver program in the initial pilot project stage, beginning September 2012. The Province of Manitoba Authorities will cover all additional living expenses for youth on extensions of care, including housing, textbooks and meal plans, up until age 21 and while they are attending The University of Winnipeg. There are more than 9,500 children and youth in care in Manitoba, the majority are First Nations and Metis, and it is estimated that less than 5% ever pursue a post-secondary education.

"Children in care often face hardships growing-up that don't end when they turn 18," said Children and Youth Opportunities Minister Kevin Chief. "I want all our children to be able to look forward to a future full of opportunities. With this initiative The University of Winnipeg is setting an important example of looking past hardship to the potential in each young person."

“We all strive for better opportunities for our children and children in care should be no different,” said Bernice Cyr, CEO of the Metis Child and Family Services Authority. “The relationship between Child and Family Services, the Province of Manitoba and The University of Winnipeg is an extraordinary example of how in searching for successful outcomes for our children substantial opportunities arise.”

“Belief is one of life's most powerful emotions. With that in mind we strongly believe this program will go a long way in realizing dreams,” said Elsie Flett, CEO of the First Nations of Southern Manitoba Child and Family Services Authority.

Today, Shirley Delorme Russell is a mother of two and a successful Education and Resource Coordinator with the Louis Riel Institute. She went back to school at the age of 28 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education in a joint University of Winnipeg - Red River College program.

“I would have gone straight into University after high school if the help had been there,” she said. “To know that a University believes you have the skills, ability and strength and that if you want to come, we have a spot for you, that's incredible. It is an incredible message of affirmation for young people.”

Proof that the voices of children have power

2012-03-01T17:50:46.000Z

Native teen's posthumous plea for education finds traction in Parliament

Native teen’s posthumous plea for education finds traction in Parliament

Shannen Koostachin had a dream: to go to school in a proper building, not a decrepit portable on contaminated soil.

The Grade 8 student from Attawapiskat in Northern Ontario journeyed to Ottawa to make her case. When she was rebuffed, she mobilized native and other youths to pressure the government to correct years of unequal funding that had left first-nations children attending schools without libraries, computers and, in some cases, running water.

Video

Teaching legacy of residential schools necessary: Commission

On Monday, politicians in the House of Commons told Shannen’s supporters they had heard her plea and would finally take the first steps toward ensuring that first-nations students receive the same quality of education as other Canadian children.

But Shannen was not able to rejoice at the news: She was killed in a car crash in 2010 at the age of 15.

“I am here today for my best friend Shannen Koostachin,” 16-year-old Chelsea Edwards said Monday in Ottawa. “She told us we shouldn’t have to beg for equal rights. Shannen inspired young people across Canada to work together. Attawapiskat children started this campaign. Non-native children across Canada joined our fight. Together we are strong.”

It was in 2008 that Shannen and two classmates travelled to Ottawa to ask Chuck Strahl, then the Conservative minister of Indian Affairs, to replace the portable. Mr. Strahl explained to the trio that his department could not afford the expense. Shannen was skeptical. She later recalled that, looking around the minister’s richly appointed office, she told him she wished she went to school in surroundings that nice.

Back in Attawapiskat, Shannen went on Facebook and other social media to organize a campaign to increase funding for native education. Since 1996, increases in the money provided by Ottawa to reserve schools have been capped at 2 per cent, while the federal money for provincially funded education has been increasing by 6 per cent annually.

Eventually, the campaign’s message hit home. In 2009, the government relented and said it would put a new school in Attawapiskat; it is slated to open in 2014. And on Monday, the Conservatives supported an NDP motion calling on the government to provide the funding to put reserve schools on par with non-reserve provincial schools – money that could be written into a budget that is anticipated in the coming weeks.

Charlie Angus, the New Democrat whose riding includes Attawapiskat, said improving the quality of education on reserves will be a long-term effort.

“We want to see money in the budget, we want to see that funding gap closed,” he said. “We know that it’s going to take some time to get our schools up to standards, but that’s what this commitment is about, that’s what the government is signing on to, and that’s what we expect will be the result.”

Shannen’s friends and family were in Ottawa to celebrate the news and the young girl who helped make it happen. Ms. Edwards told reporters she had never seen a real school until she left Attawapiskat to attend high school in Timmins, 300 kilometres to the south.

“We want the funding gap closed. We want proper plans for building schools. We want funding for textbooks and libraries. We want clean and comfy schools,” Ms. Edwards said. “Children only have one childhood. This government has wasted the potential of too many first-nations children. It’s time to make things right.”

Andrew Koostachin, Shannen’s father, said the vote marked a special moment for the people of Attawapiskat and for all first nations of Canada.

“A young girl had a dream that all children of this country deserve safe and comfy schools,” he said, “and when she was denied that dream she came back and said that she wasn’t going to give up until this dream becomes a reality.”

Tribunal allowing Canada to duck duties to First Nation kids: advocates

2012-02-21T16:25:42.000Z

Tribunal allowing Canada to duck duties to First Nation kids: advocates

OTTAWA — A decision to dismiss a landmark attempt to hold the federal government legally responsible for the plight of aboriginal children living on reserve allows Canada to duck its responsibility to a generation of youth, human rights advocates told an Ottawa courtroom Wednesday.

A three-day judicial review of that 2011 decision concluded on Wednesday, with First Nations advocates hammering home the argument that was dismissed by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal last year — that the federal government is discriminating against aboriginal children by consistently underfunding child-welfare services on reserves, leading, they contend, to poverty, poor housing, substance abuse and a vast over-representation of aboriginal children in state care.

"The Canadian Human Rights Act is about fixing the problem," said Human Rights Commission lawyer Philippe Dufresne. "If you don't hold the federal government responsible, the problem will remain."

"At the centre of this is kids currently in care — they're in the highest-risk situations, and Canada seems to want to absolve themselves of any public accountability," said Cindy Blackstock, executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada.

In 2007, the Assembly of First Nations and the Caring Society took their claim against the federal government to the Canadian Human Rights Commission which referred it, after consideration, to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.

Two years later, the attorney general, arguing on behalf of the Canadian government, asked the tribunal to dismiss the case.

The government argued first that the tribunal didn't have the jurisdiction to hear the case and secondly that, as the federal government funds agencies who deliver services on reserve, and the provinces pay for services off reserve, there is no way — under the Canadian Human Rights Act — to compare two governments who deliver services to two recipients.

In 2011, the tribunal chair, Shirish Chotalia, agreed with the government's argument and dismissed the case.

Speaking before the court Wednesday on behalf of the government, Jonathan Tarlton, stood by the tribunal's decision to dismiss, saying the Canadian Human Rights Act — which the tribunal is charged with upholding — deals with discrimination in services or in employment.

As the federal government says it merely funds services on reserve, while band councils themselves deliver those services, the government contends that the tribunal doesn't have jurisdiction to hear the case because funding is not a service within the meaning of the Canadian Human Rights Act.

He said it would be better heard in another venue; he did not say which one.

But Blackstock said the government is arguing a technicality because they know they can't win on merits.

She pointed to former auditor general Sheila Fraser's reports which consistently confirm Canada's funding arrangements for First Nations child and family services are inequitable.

"It's a case of discrimination," she said when asked if a human rights complaint was the proper way to tackle the issue. "We had been at the table with the federal government for ten years, showing them report after report about the realities of child-welfare on reserve . . . we got tired of waiting for them to do the right thing so we filed the complaint."

Blackstock's counsel and the other complainants are arguing that Chotalia made an error in law when she dismissed the case before hearing any of the main evidence.

They contend the issue of jurisdiction is murky because, while it's true that the federal government funds the provision of services on reserve, those services are subject to provincial laws and the entire system is designed by the federal government through the Indian Act, so they cannot shirk their responsibility.

The case has critical implications for aboriginal people of all ages because the federal government is responsible for funding health, education, police services and child welfare on reserves, all of which fall under provincial jurisdiction off reserves.

Blackstock said if the case is dismissed, "that would basically immunize the government from any discrimination or human rights claim relating to its funding policies and procedures on reserve."

"If we're unsuccessful in overturning the tribunal's decision, then the Human Rights Act will fail to apply to First Nations people living on reserve — we'll have a complete human rights vacuum," she warned.

But, while Tarlton acknowledged the importance of this case for aboriginal people, he said "it would be problematic if one group of Canadians argued that a different standard should be applied to them."

"Access to justice does not mean that you are heard in whatever forum you decide," he said.

The complainants are asking Justice Anne Mactavish of the Federal Court to overturn the decision and send the case back to a differently constituted tribunal for a full hearing.

The judge said she is mindful that the case concerns the most vulnerable children and will, therefore, attempt to make a speedy decision — but because of the complexities of the case, she could not say exactly when it would come down.

CFAR - Chidren's Fund for Action Research

2012-02-20T17:46:55.000Z

If you have the research and action capacity to enable systems change by government and/or NGO's to progressively impact child soldiering, child prostitution, child labor, organized child begging and child homelessness, or child trafficking please be in touch by emailing details to [email protected] for possible partnering and funding of action research in third world regions.

Morris Saldov, M.S.W., Ph.D

Retired Professor of Social Work in International and Community…

First Nations youth tell the UN "It is time for Canada to keep its promises to First Nations children"

2012-02-02T23:33:32.000Z

First Nations youth tell the UN "It is time for Canada to keep its promises to First Nations children"

PRESS RELEASE – “What can I do to help the Families of Missing and Murdered Aboriginal women and girls?”

2012-02-01T16:36:57.000Z

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Community Resource Guide: “What can I do to help the Families of Missing and Murdered Aboriginal women and girls?”

January 31, 2012 (Ottawa, ON) - The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is pleased to announce the release of a new product entitled, “Community Resource Guide: What can I do to help the Families of Missing and Murdered Aboriginal women and girls?” The Community Resource Guide (CRG) is a plain-language publication that has been designed to assist educators, health and social providers and other allies with the necessary information and tools to work in a culturally safe and sensitive manner with families who have lost a loved one.

Since 2005, NWAC has been leading the way in research and community outreach on the issue of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. “NWAC’s ongoing work with family members who are missing or have been murdered has revealed a need to centralize the toolkits, factsheets and violence prevention materials that NWAC has produced over the years,” explains NWAC President Jeannette Corbiere Lavell.
The CRG contains a poster, three fact sheets, 10 toolkits and other resources for educators as well as a CD for easy access to electronic files for printing and distribution. Some of the topics addressed in the CRG are: “Sisters In Spirit Vigils”, “Men as Effective Allies”, “Unlocking the Mystery of Media Relations”, “Navigating Victim Services”, and “Safety Measures for Aboriginal Women”.
NWAC encourages the use of the CRG for violence prevention activities, community support, capacity building and to promote healthy relationships.
The CRG will be available in February 2012 and available online at www.nwac.ca .

Media Advisory - Canada Must Give First Nations Children Equal Rights, Indigenous Youth Tell United Nations Committee on Rights of the Child

2012-02-01T16:27:40.000Z

Media Advisory - Canada Must Give First Nations Children Equal Rights, Indigenous Youth Tell United Nations Committee on Rights of the Child

Photos: Urban art project in Colombia aims to stop child exploitation

2012-01-31T18:38:19.000Z

Photos: Urban art project in Colombia aims to stop child exploitation

The municipality of Medellin, Colombia presented an artistic project called Heroes Without Borders, an exhibition of 23 photographs placed in different facades and roofs, to prevent the recruitment of children by illegal groups.

CBC's 8th Fire Documentary Series: Q & A with Cindy Blackstone on First Nations child welfare

2012-01-24T20:54:28.000Z

First Nations file a historic human rights case against the federal government for under-funding child welfare services on reserves.

8th Fire: Q & A with Cindy Blackstone

Carleton youth raise funds for First Nations

2012-01-23T04:48:59.000Z

Carleton youth raise funds for First Nation

Fathers without Fathers: Aboriginal Men in Canada

2012-01-12T17:17:20.000Z

CBC: Townhall Meeting Podcast

Aboriginal fathers have two traditional roles - to provide and to protect. But when Aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their homes and placed in residential schools, their fathers lost their ability to protect their children. And when many of those children got out of the schools, broken from years of abuse, they had lost their capacity to provide and protect. And while society focused on the struggles of single mothers, these men became lost and invisible.

In Whitehorse, Yukon, The Current's Anna Maria Tremonti hosts a Town Hall where you'll hear from men who have struggled and returned to their families, and from younger men who grew up with engaged fathers, and are better equipped to raise their own families. Meet the folks who are quietly and determinedly changing the lives of Aboriginal fathers and sons.

Native Daughters Multi-media Documentary

2012-01-12T16:58:33.000Z

Native Daughters

Native Daughters is a two-year project from the first meeting to the finished magazine and website, involving five University of Nebraska-Lincoln professors and about 30 students. The idea stemmed from several brainstorming sessions among professors looking for a new way to tell an older story about indigenous America.

The magazine and website products were broken down into three semesters of work: Spring ’09 involving content producers traveling to Pine Ridge during spring break for grass roots reporting; Fall ’09 involving students writing stories, shooting photos/video and creating new media; Spring ’10 involving students editing and pulling together content to produce the finished printed and digital products.

Aboriginal Children's Village takes shape in Vancouver

2012-01-05T17:41:46.000Z

Aboriginal Children's Village takes shape in Vancouver