Alberta Council for Global Cooperation
Suite 205, 10816A - 82 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6E 2B3
Phone: (780) 988-0200
Fax: (780) 988-0211
Youth Day 2012
February 3 - Youth Day Program
www.globaled.ualberta.ca
The Alberta Council for Global Cooperation (ACGC) and the University of Alberta International’s Global Education Program are pleased to announce an International Development Week Youth Day program for global-minded high school students in grades 10, 11 and 12.
In addition to having the opportunity to participate in youth-focused education activities, students will be able to take part in International Week programming alongside University students, professors and community. The day is divided between a morning creative session, a keynote panel, and afternoon concurrent thematic sessions.
Students will:
● Explore local and global issues linked to greater degrees of democratic practice;
● Strengthen their understanding of a key development strategy – the empowerment of women and girls – and how all of us can make a difference;
● Investigate the concepts of unity, diversity, global interconnectedness, human rights and responsibilities; and,
● Participate in interactive workshops, attend keynote lectures, and action-plan with other youth.
The Format of Youth Day
The day is scheduled to allow for youth to learn and interact in workshops specifically geared towards them, as well as to allow youth to join the regular International Week Program alongside University students, faculty and community members.
Expectations of Youth Day Participants
Participants are expected to attend all scheduled sessions, including the provided lunch. There will not be time during the Program for youth to go for lunch off campus, nor to venture to other parts of campus outside of the Youth Program.
Participants should have a genuine interest in learning and dialoguing on critical global issues and understanding rights and responsibilities in their global community.
Participants will attend two sessions that are geared towards University students, faculty and adults – the Lunch Keynote Panel Lecture and the afternoon concurrent sessions. They will attend these sessions alongside University of Alberta students and adults. The rest of the day will be youth-only events.
Location of Youth Day
The Youth Day Program will take place at the Education Centre, University of Alberta campus.
Transportation
Youth Day participants are expected to arrange their own transportation to and from Youth Day. The University of Alberta Campus is accessible by bus and LRT. Pay-parking is available at various sites across Campus. Click here to see a map of parking lot locations.
Youth Day - February 3rd, 2012
Registration - 8:15am-8:45am
Program – 9:00am-4:00pm
University of Alberta, Edmonton
Teachers are not required to attend as a condition of participation, but are welcome to accompany their students.
Lunch will be provided.
For More Information:
Please contact the International Development Week Project Coordinator, Maja Osmanagic at idw@acgc.ca or at (780) 988-0200.
About International Development Week (IDW)
International Development Week (IDW) is celebrated each year in Canada during the first week of February. It provides a unique opportunity for Canadian organizations and individuals to share their successes and achievements in international development. International Development Week is supported by the Canadian International Development Agency of Canada.
IDW provides an annual opportunity for Canadians to:
•Learn more about Canada’s role in international development and the important contribution of many Canadians in developing countries;
•Learn more about life in developing countries; and,
•Find out how they can become active global citizens and get involved in international development.
About University of Alberta I-Week
International Week is an award-winning event hosted by the University of Alberta International Global Education Program to engage the local and campus community in an open dialogue on global issues. International Week is the University’s largest annual extracurricular educational event and is the largest of its kind on a Canadian campus, with attendance at more than 7, 000. The Week consists of over 60 free events sponsored by various University units, student groups and non-governmental organizations. For a detailed look at previous years’ programs, please visit www.iweek.ualberta.ca.
Youth Day Schedule
Registration – Youth Day Program only
Education North 4th Floor Lounge
8:15 – 8:45
Orientation – Youth Day Program only
Education North 4th Floor Lounge
9:00 – 9:45
Morning Session – Youth Day Program only
Education North 4th Floor Lounge
Eyes Wide Open: Gender, Development and the Participation of All
9:45 – 11:00 am
Facilitated by: Laura Keegan
In this interactive session you will gain a greater understanding of why empowerment of women and girls has become such an important development strategy in international work abroad. Learn about gender inequality and the relationships between women, poverty alleviation and participation in decision-making. Equip yourself with a new “lens” that empowers you to make a positive contribution to equity, gender equality and international development.
Laura Keegan
"Even after being taken hostage and contracting malaria, she remains committed to humanitarianism, teaching youth about international issues and helping refugees and immigrants find displaced loved ones." (Laura Keegan - Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 under 40)
Laura Keegan, MSW (International), has worked overseas in both Panama and Papua New Guinea. After three years developing a community HIV project in Papua New Guinea she returned to Canada where she developed the Humanitarian Issues Program for the Canadian Red Cross in Edmonton. She is currently a YWCA Board Member and a Canadian Red Cross Detention Monitor.
Lunch
Education North 4th Floor Lounge
A catered lunch will be provided for Youth Day participants.
11:15 – 11:50
Lunch Key Note Session – Youth Day Program and International Week Program
Room TBA
Women, Decision-Making and Development
12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
Judith Wakhungu, Senior Agriculture Officer - Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture; Aliza Dadani, Edmonton Post Secondary Vice-Chair - Ismaili Council for Canada; Donita Large, Residential Schools Advisor for Ahlstrom, Wright, Oliver & Cooper LLP, and sole proprietor of Tools for Life Consulting; Rebecca Mellett, CIDA Director, Prairie and Pacific Region (moderator)
What impact does women’s participation in decision making have on development, and how does this result in poverty alleviation, personal safety and human rights for all? According to the United Nations Development Program, women and girls account for six out of 10 of the poorest people in the world, only 18 percent of the world’s parliamentarians are women and one-third of all women are subjected to violence. Join us as we discover how the empowerment of women plays a critical role in food security, income generation, access and management of natural resources, personal health and much more.
Judith Wakhungu is Executive Director of the African Centre for Technology Studies in Nairobi, an independent, inter-governmental science, technology, and environmental policy think tank that generates and disseminates new knowledge through policy analysis, capacity building, and outreach. Dr. Wakhungu serves on several national and international boards, task forces, and committees, including the African Conservation Centre, the GoDown Arts Centre, the Legatum Centre at M.I.T, amongst several others.
Aliza Dadani is the Edmonton Post Secondary Vice-Chair for the Ismaili Council for Canada and near completion of a double-major undergraduate degree in Political Science and Women and Gender Studies. For two years she ran Youth Leadership Development Initiatives, Afghani Refugee Support Program, and held leadership positions with the International House Community Council and Greenpeace.
Donita Large is a Residential Schools Advisor for Ahlstrom, Wright, Oliver & Cooper LLP, and sole proprietor of Tools for Life Consulting, which provides services in curriculum design, workshop-facilitation, and Indigenous community capacity building. Two of her professional achievements include Asset Mapping for 8 First Nation Communities in Alberta and coordination of the Grandmothers Guide FASD Conference for First Nations, Métis and Inuit grandmothers.
Rebecca Mellett is the CIDA Director, Prairie and Pacific Region. Prior to her current position, Rebecca was the CIDA Head of Aid and Development Counsellor in the Canadian Embassy in Peru, and Head of Mission and Aid in Honduras, and Regional Program Manager and Senior Analyst in the Central America Program. Through CIDA’s Policy Branch she has worked closely with Africa, Asia and Americas programs in the area of governance policy.
Concurrent Sessions – Youth Day Program and International Week Program
Youth Day Program Participants attend pre-registered sessions – Please indicate on your registration form or contact idw@acgc.ca
1:00 PM – 1:50 PM
Citizen Solutions: Mobilizing for Water Justice in Nicaragua
Education North 2-119
Jessica Gray and Trina Moyles, Change for Children Association
Chinandega is the driest, most ecologically fragile region in Nicaragua. The rural population has struggled for access to potable water for decades, and climate change intensifies the situation with unpredictable weather patterns and periods of severe drought. Since 2003, Centro Humboldt, a Nicaraguan civil society organization, has been helping communities to advocate for their water rights through a holistic water project that drills/repairs wells, uses sustainable technologies, distributes eco-stoves, and most importantly empowers Community Water Committees to organize, advocate and influence water policies and laws on local and national levels. In partnership and solidarity, Canadian educators are integrating social justice learning into their curriculum and mobilizing students to recognize and protect water as a universal human right.
Play Around the World: A Transformative Learning Experience
Education North 2-123
Allison Pratley, Brittany Dyke, and Kristina Laban
Sponsored by the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation
What if you started a game and the whole world joined in? A child’s right to play is enshrined in Article 31 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Play Around the World (PAW) is an international service learning course that selects and prepares U of A students for a 3-month placement in Thailand and Cambodia, providing under-served populations with opportunities for play and recreation. While abroad, students have the opportunity to explore diversity and experience the interconnectedness of humanity. Join us for a panel discussion where participants reflect on past experience, the global citizenship education they received and how they have become more active and engaged citizens since their return. We will close with a traditional Thai game.
Student Refugee Panel: A Reflection on Democratic Processes
Education North 2-117
Sponsored by World University Service of Canada Local UofA Committee
How are concepts of democracy, civil engagement, and dialogue viewed from inside a refugee camp? When striving to meet basic needs, how important is having a democratic voice, and are these practices feasible in all environments? Meet three U of A students who grew up in the refugee camps of Kenya, reflecting on their democratic voice back home, and now here at home, in Canada.
Son Preference: Implications on the Status of Women
Education North 2-135
Mahvish Parvez and Sabrina Atwal, Indo Canadian Women’s Association
Due to female feticide the number of women and girls in the world is on the decline. More than 80 million females are missing in India and China alone. The practice of “son preference” restricts women from reaching their full potential, preventing them from accessing basic health care, education, and personal security. Let’s work together to build alternatives so women may exercise their full rights as citizens.
Snack Break – Youth Day Program only
Education North 4th Floor Lounge
Nutritious snacks will be provided for Youth Day participants.
1:50 – 2:20 PM
Wrap Up – Youth Day Program only
Education North 4th Floor Lounge
Towards Change: Your Role in the Global Community
2:20 – 4:00 pm
We’ve talked about some tough issues – now what can we do about them? This session will be an opportunity to brainstorm with other students on ‘what’s next’. Join in an open discussion of the day’s events and objectives and reflect on the kind of world you would like to see. Look into the future through your new “lens” and invent new ways of living democracy!