Last class notes Spring 2012

Wrap-up 1 - the class
 Overview of glocal issues, key connections, failures and successes.
What would have made the course better for you?
Too vague ? Too detailed? Too much of ? Too little of?
The course changes each year – your input helps me make the course more effective.

Wrap-up 2 - why this class
Interest in issues has grown greatly
More and more people want to get involved.
Interest in global issues is great
Not to be negative!
BUT
Understanding of issues is weak
Standing of domestic orgs is low.
Desire to deal with problems around us is lacking.
Need to connect local and global issues!

Bad news
Problems are not disappearing
Change takes time
Funds and capacity are limited
The situation will get worse before it gets better

Good news
More and more people are understanding the role of citizens
More than a wide array of groups are involved in what used to be “the governments job”
People are getting used to CSOs in Japan!
The situation will only improve with citizen input

Initiative matters! One person can make a difference!

Individuals can not work alone!
Developing sustainable org is a big challenge
Orgs need more than volunteers and 1 strong leader
They need people with knowledge, skills and motivation

Wrap-up 3 - getting involved
Some will tell you - all you need to make a difference is A GOOD HEART or some interest in a problem.
BUT that is NOT enough ! You need the skills and the commitment to
Solving the problem
Achieving concrete outputs
Deal with the difficulties that arise.

Getting involved
You can be a part of the solution to the issues you care about.
Just get started:
Assess your interests and skills.
Do some research - Find out what is available & what is needed.
Reach out to groups.
Join events
Meet people.
Find out what groups are actually doing
Find out with whom you want to work.
Take action and Jump in.

Other types of community service opportunities
Events
Walks runs and hikes
Parties and Fundraisers
Starting your own events
Using your own networks and associations
Invite reps to give talks
Information distribution
In-kind donations
Needed items

Wrap-up 4 EVENTS 
Get more information on events like this at http://tokyo-community-news.blogspot.com/

Tohoku recovery news and needs
Volunteers bus to Tohoku - get involved in Tohoku recovery even if for a weekend this summer
Pick up points throughout the country
http://www.jpn-civil.net/support/volunteer/post_4.html

Wrap-up 5 Nonprofit-NGO sector needs
Diversity and skills are necessities:
An open mind to understand diverse ways of seeing.
Business and Activist skills - admin, org mgt., advocacy, community outreach, research, care, arts, PR, cyber/IT etc.
Approaches at different levels - gov’t, bureaucracy, community, individual, groups
And you need a positive attitude and a lot of commitment -
social/global problems are not easily solved.
Innovative ideas

NPO NGO Online Resources
Mailing lists:
NGO/NPO Walker http://www.npo.info/
Events, orgs and  job listings:
NGO Network Japan http://www.ngo.ne.jp
TVAC http://www.tvac.or.jp
Yahoo! Volunteer http://volunteer.yahoo.co.jp
Data - In English
Development in practice http://www.developmentinpractice.org/
Action without borders http://www.idealist.org
Guidestar www.guidestar.com
Reliefweb http://www.reliefweb. int.
One world net http://www.oneworld.net/

Now go out and get involved!

Thank you and  good luck!
Sarajean

Dear Sarajean,

Yoko and I just sent you our final presentation by e-mail.
If you did not get it, would you let us know? And we will send it again.
Best regards,

Makiko

Dear Yoko,
I am terriblly sorry, I can not come to the class today.
Since I was absent from work for a couple of days last week I had lots of things to do and can not leave the office in ordinary time....
Thank you very much for the draft of the papar which you sent me the other day. I will send you back the draft tomorrow, and we can check the details.

Sarajean,
I will come to the class on 31st for presentation.
Sorry for my absence of today and last week.

Makiko

To Makiko

Hi. I am Yoko of group educaion with remote technology.

Makiko, would you contact me when you see this post?  I think we need to talk for presentation progress paper, assignment for next class. We could not talk at the last class because I was absent. Sorry.

I hope this works. yoko.toyama0225＠ジーメールドットコムです

Excuse this personal post here!

Please!

Let me inform  to people who chose 'child exploitation' as a theme for thepresentation on this blog. Please check your Facebook page!
Thank you!

good evening.....

Does anyone still not decide the presentation's topic? I'm interested in the Syrian revolution or educational obstacles for children who live in developing countries.

Spring 2012 - Understanding the MDGs - course outline

Course Title: Understanding the MDGs - spring 2012
Class schedule: Tuesday nights, 6:50 – 8:50pm

Overview: 
An issues-based course focusing on developing a deeper, more critical understanding of diverse development issues related to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). After introducing international development and the background of the MDGs, the class then focuses on one Goal each week. Weekly online reading assignments introduce background information, reports and important data to help participants understand complex issues. These assignments form a base for class activities and discussion. Class participants are expected to take part in discussion, class work, and a group project. Participants come out of the course with a more critical understanding of international development and the MDGs.


Target Audience: This class is designed for those with some knowledge of issues but interested in developing a more critical understanding of the MDGs and community or international development.

Course Format: This course will be run in workshop format - including presentation, group discussion, pairwork and simulation activities.

Language: All course materials are in English and classes will be conducted in English. Most class presentation and discussion will take place in English but some may take place in Japanese. All evaluated materials should be submitted and presented in English.

Language Requirement: High intermediate and above (spoken and written English).

Evaluation: Participants will receive a pass if they fulfill the criteria for passing: 70% in attendance, class preparation, active class participation, final projects, and a final paper. Class participants are expected to complete readings and/or other course work even if absent.

Assignments: Weekly reading materials related to class discussion and project preparation.

Assignments and course materials: We will use a wide array of online readings for this course. Links
are on the class blogspot: http://idskills.blogspot.com/ This is be open to class participants only.

Independent study task: Participants will be asked to attend a workshop, event, symposium or seminar of their choice and submit 2 items before or in Class 8
a) a short report b) event documentation (such as a flyer).


Group presentation: Each student is expected to take part and prepare a collaborative presentation and submit a related final paper, related to any 1 MDG target.
General Contents Concept focus
Class 1 Introductions, Overview of the course
Intro to MDGs and current issues Connecting issues
Class 2 MDGs, poverty (MDG #1) Creation of the MDGS, why necessary
Class 3 Universal Education (MDG #2) Understanding targets and indicators
Class 4 Gender Equity (MDG #3)
* Setting project groups Women and the MDGs
Class 5 Infant and Maternal mortality (MDG #4 & 5) Gaps in coverage
Class 6 Infectious disease (MDG #6)
* Project status report Basic, chronic and ongoing health issues
Class 7 Climate Change (MDG #7) The connectedness of issues
Class 8 Discussion on independent study papers
* Independent study reports due Learning from each other.
Class 9 Collaboration (MDG #8)
* Final project papers due Understanding how and why nations need to work together
Class 10 Class presentations and final discussion Synthesis of skills and issues


Course outline – Understanding the MDGs – Spring 2011

Class theme and focus
Class 1 Introductions, Overview of the course
Connecting issues
Intro to MDGs, why necessary
Class 2 Poverty (MDG #1)
MDGs connection to poverty
Understanding poverty and approaches
Class 3 Education (MDG #2)
Understanding indicators, research and data
* Setting groups
Class 4 Gender Equity (MDG #3)
Understanding what is and is not included, women’s roles and rights? Training and empowerment
Class 5 Child and maternal mortality (MDG #4 & 5)
Local situations, priorities and why some issues are supported less than others
Class 6 Infectious disease (MDG #6)
Community action, understanding MDG reports
* Project status report
Class 7 Climate change (MDG #7)
Public education programming, Understanding each person's role
Class 8 Collaboration (MDG #8)
Understanding how and why nations need to work together
* Independent study papers due
Class 9 Global campaign for MDGs => what how and why
* Final project papers due
Class 10 Class presentations
Synthesis of skills and issues

Fall Course outline: International Development Issues

Course Title: Current Issues in International Development

Instructor: Sarajean Rossitto

Class schedule: Tuesday nights, 6:50 – 8:50pm

    

Overview:

An issues-based course focusing on developing a deeper, more critical understanding of current issues using the MDGs as a base. After reviewing the MDGs and some points related to international development, the class focuses on specific issues. Weekly online reading assignments introduce background information, reports and important data to help participants understand complex issues.  These assignments form a base for class activities and discussion. Class participants are expected to take part in discussion, class work, and a group project.

Participants come out of the course with a more critical understanding of the causes and impacts of current issues as well as ideas for hope they are being dealt.

Target Audience:

This class is for anyone wanting to gain a deeper understanding of issues and lacking depth of knowledge or professional experience in international development or nonprofit NGOs.

Course Format:

This course will be run in workshop format - including presentation, group discussion, pairwork and simulation activities.

Language:

All course materials are in English and classes will be conducted in English. Most class presentation and discussion will take place in English but some may take place in Japanese.  All evaluated materials should be submitted and presented in English.

Language Requirement:

High intermediate and above (spoken and written English).

Evaluation:

Participants will receive a pass if they fulfill the criteria for passing: 70% in attendance, class preparation, active class participation, class projects, and a final paper. Class participants are expected to complete readings and/or other course work even if absent.

Assignments and course materials:

We will use a wide array of online readings in this course. Links are on the class blogspot: http://idskills.blogspot.com/  

This is be open to class participants only.

Class project:

Each student is expected to take part and prepare a collaborative presentation or final paper, related to the class theme. Each presentation will focus on one problem in one particular place, review the causes and effects as well as 3-5 approaches to the problem. 

Presentations will be done in the last class.

Independent study task:

Participants will be asked to attend a workshop, event, symposium or seminar of their choice and submit a) a short report and b) event documentation (such as a flyer). These are due in Class 8.
Course outline

	General Contents	Concept focus
Class 1 Sept 27	Introductions, Overview of the course  Intro to some current issues, discussion on issues that matter to us.	Connecting issues, assessing interests and goals
Class 2 October	Hunger food and  (MDG #1)	Hunger, food security, solutions to food access
Class 3	Access to education (MDG #2 & 3) * Setting groups	Literacy, inclusion and conflict and education
Class 4	Women’s rights and gender based violence (MDG #3)	Understanding the politics of gender issues.
Class 5	Reproductive & sexual health (MDG #4, 5 & 6)	Child and maternal health care, the politics of women’s health AIDS
Class 6	Water and sanitation  (MDG #7) * Project status report	Understanding the connection between issues
Class 7	Disasters and emergencies	Disaster mgt, the difference between relief and recovery
Class 8	Emergencies: conflict and disaster * Independent study reports due	The connection between human made and natural disasters and development issues
Class 9	AID effectiveness (MDG #8) * Final project papers due	Understanding the role of donors and effectiveness of Aid
Class 10	Class presentations and final discussion	Synthesis of skills and issues