issue 12_october 15, 2011

16
NEWSLETTER October 15, 2011 Inside this Issue Facilitator Corner 2 Our Projects 3 Conferences 4 Regional Updates: Africa 5 Asia 6 Europe 6 North America 7 South America 9 Executive Team 10 Advisory Board 11 Member Organizations 12 Collaborating Knowledge Partners 14 Directory 15 Get Involved 16 Our Sponsors UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR SOCIAL ACTION RESEARCH UCP-SARnet is a growing global social network that was created at Arizona State University in 2008. It is governed by students and young community activists. Its mission is to empower new generations of community leaders to become actively involved in the realization of the UN Millennium Development Goals. Utilizing the recent advances of Information and Communication Technologies, UCP-SARnet offers a platform for the multicultural exchange of visions, ideas and best practices aimed at achieving MDGs. We engage university faculty and students in partnerships with community organizations, local governments and socially responsible corporations. Creating a powerful educational environment for students preparing themselves to become leaders, we also bring about a sustainable social change in their communities. Newsletter Team: Fitzgerald Jerome Abidah Khalife Dorav Kumar Osee Romeo Dr. Marek Wosinski

Upload: ucp-sarnet-admin

Post on 09-Mar-2016

218 views

Category:

Documents


3 download

DESCRIPTION

Issue 12_October 15, 2011

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Issue 12_October 15, 2011

NEWSLETTER October 15, 2011

Inside this Issue

Facilitator Corner 2

Our Projects 3

Conferences 4

Regional Updates:

Africa

5

Asia 6

Europe 6

North America 7

South America 9

Executive Team 10

Advisory Board 11

Member

Organizations

12

Collaborating

Knowledge Partners

14

Directory 15

Get Involved 16

Our Sponsors

UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

FOR SOCIAL ACTION RESEARCH

UCP-SARnet is a growing global social network

that was created at Arizona State University in 2008.

It is governed by students and young community activists.

Its mission is to empower new generations of community leaders to become

actively involved in the realization of the UN Millennium Development Goals.

Utilizing the recent advances of Information and Communication Technologies,

UCP-SARnet offers a platform for the multicultural exchange of visions, ideas and

best practices aimed at achieving MDGs.

We engage university faculty and students in partnerships with community

organizations, local governments and socially responsible corporations.

Creating a powerful educational environment for students preparing themselves to

become leaders, we also bring about a sustainable social change

in their communities.

Newsletter Team:

Fitzgerald Jerome

Abidah Khalife

Dorav Kumar

Osee Romeo

Dr. Marek Wosinski

Page 2: Issue 12_October 15, 2011

Page 2

Facilitator Corner

Our Sponsors Creating a better future for communities through research Founded in 1982, CCBR believes in the power of knowledge to impact positive social change. They are passionate about bringing people together to use knowledge

to provide real and innovative solutions to community needs. Their approach to

research is participatory and action-oriented in a way that mobilizes people to par-ticipate as full and equal members of society.

www.communitybasedresearch.ca

IGLOO's social software solutions help organizations create vital connections

between people, processes and information through the creation of online business

communities. Companies use online communities to improve collaboration, knowledge sharing and drive employee engagement across geographically dispersed

project teams, departments and business units inside and out.

http://www.igloosoftware.com/

Turning theory into practice Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities/SWPS was founded in 1996 by former professors of the Institute of Psychology and the Polish Academy of Scienc-

es. Ever since its foundation, the University has been continually growing and de-

veloping and now consists of 8 faculties located in five academic centers in Poland (Warsaw, Wrocław, Sopot, Poznań and Katowice). SWPS is committed to the

highest academic standards as well as to the transfer of practical knowledge and

skills. http://www.swps.pl/english/index.php

Dear UCP-SARnet Partners, Members and Followers,

This past month our Arizona Leadership Team focused on three tasks: organization of the Stand Up Against Poverty Event, preparations for the International Leadership Summit in China, and

participation in the President's Interfaith Campus Challenge project.

We all expect a very powerful STAND UP event and looking forward to when the efforts of the

Leadership Team and the UCP-SARnet based club at ASU "Forks for Change" will materialize. For the China Leadership Summit we have begun updating the program of presenters and events

and we are also putting a lot of effort into designing a new marketing flyer and application form. We hope this will be completed soon and we hope to begin our marketing campaign beginning to mid-

November.

We had several meetings with the of the Interfaith Campus Challenge leadership team and it was really uplifting to hear during the last meetings reports from different parts of the campus on things that have been already done. The problem

still is, however, that information about projects and events is not easily available for everybody so the need of a web-site allowing fast sharing of updated information is really crucial. Definitely our platform could serve this role, however

we still were not able to register participants of the Interfaith project as UCP-SARnet members. One of the elements of the project is recently completed by students of Community Psychology course who write semester papers describing

and evaluating community projects conducted by diversified faith massed communities. We hope that their papers will

imitate a library of such projects.

The challenge we all need to seriously address in the nearest future is related to the passivity of many members of our

network. When we see how vigorously the members of the ―Forks for Change‖ club are involved in the projects they organize, this leads to reflection as to why we cannot have similar involvement from the majority of our members. In

this context a discussion on the new strategies of involving our members into collaboration with our partner organiza-tions seem to be crucial and next to a fundraising campaign must become the focus for the Leadership Team next year.

MW

Dr. Marek Wosinski

Page 3: Issue 12_October 15, 2011

Page 3

We encourage your collaboration on these projects!

Please contact us if you would like to get involved! OUR PROJECTS

Arizona State University Proudly Accepts President

Obama’s Interfaith Campus Challenge

Back in the spring of this year, President Obama invited high-er education institutions to join in an interfaith initiative and

to commit to a year of service towards that initiative; the White House called for proposals for University-Community

Partnerships and Arizona State University (ASU) was one of

250 universities across the nation that responded to that call. The theme for the ASU proposal and this year of service on

our 4 campuses and in surrounding communities is PEACE. “An act of service can unite people of all faiths or even no faith

around a common purpose of helping those in need” – President

Obama in Interfaith and Community Service Campus Chal-

lenge Video Clip Calling for Action

Since the call for action came at the end of last semester, and

since various groups at ASU could not pass down taking part in something that they already believed in so strongly, these

groups came together and formed an advisory board made of students, collaborating offices and organizations, and part-

nering student organizations. They looked at all of the service

plans each of their groups already had in place and threw these together into a very ambitious project proposal that

hopes to use the vast student resources available on our Uni-versity to make all of their goals happen. ASU is the only

university in the state that is participating in this great initia-tive and there are also 2 community colleges involved. Amy

Golden, Director for Strategic Initiatives, Educational Out-

reach and Student Services with Arizona State University is the facilitator of the President’s Interfaith Campus Challenge

at our University. There are 20 students on the leadership team two of whom are also on the UCP-SARnet executive

team – Mohamed Camara and Dorav Kumar. UCP-SARnet is of course one of the organizational partners in this initia-

tive. And finally, the student organizations at ASU are all

under CORA (the Council of Religious Advisors) which is a network of many of the interfaith groups present on each of

the 4 ASU campuses. Ben Sanders with Community Minis-

tries (part of CORA) has been around ASU for a long time, he does a lot of networking in the local community and also

works on campus. He and his wife Sarah (pictured below, right-most and left-most respectively) are very active in the

ASU Interfaith Campus Challenge.

Last month Birendra Kumar, the UCP-SARnet Facilitator

for Asia and the Pacific, created the webpage for the ASU Interfaith Campus Challenge on our UCP-SARnet portal.

Eean Patterson and other UCP-SARnet executive team members will be working on gradually updating this page

with all of the groups, ministries, leadership team members and other partners that are taking part in the challenge as

well as the list of upcoming events. We hope that this will

serve to disseminate information on the vital work that needs to be done and that all students, faculty, and community

members should strive to be a part of. All this initiative calls for is for people to get involved in the efforts and opportuni-

ties that are already in place but that lack the manpower and support and that lack the religious and cultural diversity of

participants; so the effects of the campus challenge and the

proposal at ASU hope to be 2 fold, we need to build commu-nities but at the same time to do so as diverse groups so as to

learn about and accept peoples of all different backgrounds and attain PEACE on multiple dimensions.

To find out about community service and social responsibil-

ity opportunities already in place at ASU please visit: 1) Ser-

vice at ASU , 2) Service Learning Opportunities and 3) ChangeMakers Central.

Abidah Khalife

Page 4: Issue 12_October 15, 2011

Page 4

Mark Your Calendars:

INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT

Sias International University

Xinzheng, Henan Province, CHINA

July 1 – July 23, 2012

Students, faculty members and community leaders are invited to participate in the first official International Leadership Summit at Sias International University. This interactive, project fo-

cused, problem-solving curriculum is designed to engage 1000 international men and women from universities around the world in an event that will accelerate engagement and outcomes for

projects focusing on the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. The International

Leadership Summit is being convened by the World Academy for the Future of Women and organizing partners Sias International University, Global Interactions, Thunderbird School of

Global Management and UCP-SARnet.

The United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) address the world’s most dire economic, educational, health and social conditions and address basic human needs. The impact

of these conditions is devastating to the lives of people around the world. While resources exist

to address these conditions, bold and daring leadership required to achieve these goals is lacking. The International Leadership Summit organizers and faculty are inspired, committed, and re-

lentless in their pursuit to develop an international team of young leaders committed to acquir-ing knowledge and effective strategies and skills that will empower and enable themselves and

others to ensure that these basic human needs are met.

PROGRAM COST AND REGISTRATION DEADLINES

EARLY BIRD REGISTION by January 23, 2012 $ 900.00

REGULAR REGISTRATION by February 27, 2012 $1100.00

Discounts are available to groups of 10 or more with accompanying faculty member.

Program cost includes:

Airport pick-up and delivery at Zhengzhou Airport,

Lodging (double occupancy) and three meals daily, A three-week interactive problem solving curriculum on entrepreneurial skills, leadership and

team action projects addressing world issues focusing on the United Nations Millennium Devel-opment Goals,

Internationally recognized faculty and facilitators,

Optional Mandarin classes at beginning, intermediate, or advanced levels and 24/7 opportunity to engage and practice, and

Historical and cultural visits to introduce and expand knowledge of China. Sites Include:

Xinzheng, birthplace of first Chinese Emperor Huang Di, Zhengzhou Provincial Museum.

Shaolin Temple, oldest Martial Arts School in the world.

Laoyang, historical and cultural city, ancient capital with 5,000 year history. On the list of

UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

APPLICATION FORM AND MORE DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON!

Jerrie Ueberle

President

Global Interactions, Inc

CONFERENCES Presented in Partnership with:

Page 5: Issue 12_October 15, 2011

Page 5

Regional Updates: AFRICA

Sustainability in Cameroon: Ecovillage Rosa Green School Project

A current project that is being developed by UCP-SARnet is the Ecovillage Green School Project in Cameroon. The land for this project has been ob-

tained (some images to the right) and the fully thought out project proposal and governmental requirements are also in place, the current steps that need

to occur are procurement of funding for the project and then after that the

actual implementation. One Objective of the Green School Project that is presented by UCP-SARnet members Dr. Marek Wosinski, Osee Romeo

(Myself), Alban Olivry, Adam Euerby, and Andy Chen is: To provide world

class environmental & ecological education across the whole spectrum of

Cameroonian society in order to aid successful adaptation to climate

change.

For a country such as Cameroon, at the very beginning of its development, here and in our immediate future, climate change threatens to undermine our

economic, social and environmental stability, decreasing food security and

increasing rural and urban poverty to a substantial degree, and in the long term, climate change threatens our very existence.

With rising sea levels, rising temperatures, increased incidence of extreme

weather patterns, rapid escalation in vector and water borne diseases, substan-tial aquifer depletion and salinity, desertification and global food insecurity

the outlook for Cameroon does not look good. Adaptation, both effective and

immediate, is the only chance that Cameroon has of surviving.

To successfully adapt to climate change, to successfully adapt to our new and unpredictable environmental climate and to stabilize that climate in the long

term future, we have to bring about a profound, lasting and sustainable change in the economic climate, in the spiritual climate, in the social climate

and in the global political climate. There is no other way; the environmental

climate will continue to change and the rise in global temperature will contin-ue to escalate, for as long as we, the human race, continue to fuel it.

The Green School will undertake to educate in a holistic manner in order to

raise awareness on some of the necessary social, environmental, economic and spiritual changes that are needed to ensure successful and timely adapta-

tion, and which will also substantially contribute to poverty reduction and

environmental protection on a national scale.

Tourism in Cameroon has a unique part to play in this project; if this can be incorporated into a learning atmosphere, for all participants, where people

from all countries come to teach as well as to learn, then the long term mutual benefits will be enormous. By incorporating the training into ecotourism,

Cameroonian participants will have the unique opportunity and advantage of

having access to potential sponsorship, support and bursaries and the ex-change of ideas and views from both tourists and local participants should go

some considerable way to forging international understanding and assistance.

Osee Romeo Tcheupgoum Njacheun

Assistant Facilitator for Africa & North America

UCP-SARnet

Page 6: Issue 12_October 15, 2011

Page 6

Inauguration of Gandhi College of Social Work through Padyatra

Champaran Satyagraha Walk

The Padyatra or ―journey on foot‖ is a one of a kind inauguration and kickoff of

events for the Gandhi College of Social Work. An event which began on October

2nd, the Champaran Satyagraha Walk is well on its way with only a few days left to complete the journey. More than 5000 people are taking part in this walk of over

600 km through 30 villages – most of which were visited by Mahatma Gandhi in 1917 and 1918 during his Champaran Satyagraha (Indigo Movement), back when

poor farmers and laborers in this region were forced to grow Indigo (for Indigo Dye) and other cash crops rather than the more vitally needed food crops.

It is only appropriate to commemorate the Champaran Satyagraha in light of the new school that hopes to perpetuate the teachings of the highly respected Gandhi.

The entire event is promoting the college in the district as well as promoting Gan-dhian thoughts of Peace and Non-violence. Additionally, the villages along the

route have Gandhi memorials which are going to be important places to setup off-campus study centers. Some of the activities that have taken place in each village

are: 1. a film show on Gandhiji and gram swaraj (concept of self-governance), 2. a

talk to villagers about the college and Padyatra, 3. Prayer, respecting all religions for promotion of unity and peace, 4. Cleaning of the village, the road, the Gandhi

memorials, for promotion of cleaning habits and water sanitation, 5. Walk for next village. More on this exciting event will be shared once completed on October 18th.

Birendra Kumar

Assistant Facilitator for Asia

UCP-SARnet

Regional Updates: ASIA

Regional Updates: EUROPE

This Year’s Nobel Peace Prize recognizes work for

Women’s Rights

After Swedish scientist, engineer and inventor Alfred

Nobel passed away in 1986 and in his will decided to

leave most of his assets to a fund that would endow

recognition on those who have made the best contribu-

tions to advancement in each of several fields, this was

the beginning of the Nobel Prizes. The categories being

Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Litera-

ture, and Peace, Nobel Prizes have been awarded each

year since 1901 by various Scandinavian Committees.

The Nobel Peace prize in particular is awarded by the

Norwegian Nobel Committee, in Oslo, Norway.

This year, of 241 international nominees—comprised

of both individuals and organizations—the Peace prize

was awarded to three women for their championing of

the safety, equality and freedoms of women in their

conflict-ridden regions. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Presi-

dent of Liberia, Leymah Ebowee, also Liberian, and

Tawakkul Karman, Yemeni, were chosen to split the

2011 prize which is comprised of a medal, certificate of

recognition and a sum of money (currently $1.5 mil-

lion). True and lasting peace requires the voices of

women to be heard from strong leadership positions;

these women receiving this year’s prize allows for them

to further the work they have done for women in their

countries and also serves as inspiration to other women

struggling for their rights.

Abidah Khalife

Image from: nobelpeaceprize.org

Page 7: Issue 12_October 15, 2011

Page 7

Regional Updates: NORTH AMERICA

Media coverage of The Hunger Banquet event hosted by Forks for Change: MDG Awareness Group

On October 4th, 2011 Forks for Change hosted a Hunger Banquet event aimed towards raising awareness of world hunger for members of the ASU student body. After sharing the statistics on poverty and hunger in Arizona, the US, and world-

wide, one of the exercises done during the Hunger Banquet was randomly separating the participants by ―social class‖

based on a slip of paper taken from a bag. These students were then seated based on their social class and were served food to depict real world injustices – the ―upper class‖ received of course a full and satisfying meal whereas the ―lower class‖

received nothing more than a piece of bread. The Hunger Banquet closed on a note about ―Feed My Starving Children.‖ Forks for Change is currently raising money and will volunteer at the ―Feed My Starving Children‖ organization location in

Tempe on November 4th. This organization collects money to feed children in South America. Each packet of food prepared contains the nourishment a child needs over 2 days (6 meals) and costs $1.44 only – for 6 meals!

Two videos covering the event can be viewed HERE. These videos were shot and edited by: Loc Nguyen (Myself), Media Relations, UCP-SARnet and Forks for Change. The first video is a little over 4 minutes long and is a brief overview of the

event including comments from a few participants. In the second video, Humza Salim, Leadership Team member and Club member, gives a 1 minute post-event commentary. Check these out!

Loc Nguyen

Meeting with Faith-Based groups in Tempe

On Sept. 20, Dr. Marek Wosinski, Osee Romeo, Mohamed Camara, and I repre-sented UCP-SARnet at a meeting with ministers, pastors, and community members

from surrounding cities, which was convened at the 1st Congregational United

Church of Christ in Tempe, located near the ASU campus. After presenting UCP-SARnet’s vision and mission, we tied our global reach back to the importance of

work to solve problems from a strong community foundation upwards. Our involve-ment with the ASU Interfaith Campus Challenge group has reminded us of the im-

portance of faith-based organizations in community work since these organizations have some of the strongest ties with individual community members.

It is our hopes to collaborate with the various groups we met with; we hope that UCP-SARnet members will volunteer to advance the little projects that are already underway to end poverty, homelessness, the abuse of women and children, dis-

crimination, and more. Special thanks to Rev. Robert Koth and Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer from the Southwest Conference United Church of Christ for their role in making this meeting happen.

Abidah Khalife

From 1st Congregational Website

Page 8: Issue 12_October 15, 2011

Regional Updates: NORTH AMERICA

Page 8

Advocacy Through Photography

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Phoenix Art Museum to see the work of Gordon Parks in the Bare Witness exhibi-tion. The photographs brought home to me two things: the powerful effect photography has had in bringing awareness to

life's issues and how many of these issues are right in front of us but taken for granted. Many of these photographs are of everyday occurrences: a family in their apartment, a woman holding a mop and broom in a state building, but they make us

stop and really look at the sights we pass every day, to really see these individuals' struggles and strengths. Moreover, the contrast of images of high fashion and celebrities with the photographs of Harlem gang members and an impoverished family

of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil bring home to me personally the contrast in focus of U.S. media, with celebrity stories being listed

right next to reports of fighting in the Middle East. Which ones do you most likely read?

Amazingly though, the series of photographs of that family from Rio de Janeiro resulted in aid being sent to the family. The power of the simple action of clicking a button to take some pictures to share with others is amazing. This experience renews

in me the purpose of meeting our Millennium Development Goals around the world, and to recognize and assist those indi-vidually who may not be meeting the MDGs even if their particular country is on track so we can maintain our success-

es. For this reason, I ask that UCP-SARnet members and collaborators take the time to share inspiring photographs that we

can all learn from. Shannon Monn

President Obama and ASU's Interfaith and Community Challenge

Tuesday Sept. 26, kicked off ASU's involvement in the President’s Interfaith and

Community Campus Challenge. Jannah Scott, the Department of Homeland Securi-ty's deputy director for neighborhood partnerships, presented President Obama's

challenge and call for action.

Jannah Scott, Amy Golden, Ben Sanders, Dr. Marek Wosinski, and other partici-pants in the Interfaith Campus Challenge at ASU spoke to a promising crowd of

organizations and individuals about tackling the challenges of the 21 first century.

The speakers stressed the communication across faiths and communities for a com-mon goal.

The ASU Interfaith Group announced peace as their overall theme for the challenge.

UCP-SARnet has signed on to serve as a window for ASU and other organizations on a local and international level.

I hope through this interfaith and community challenge, ASU and others are able to demonstrate that peace is not just a utopian dream, but a reality within reach. But to

achieve such a glorious challenge we cannot do it alone. It requires the help of our neighbors, friends, and those around the community. Like the United Nations Mil-

lennium Goals by 2015 this poses a challenge and is no easy task. But with convic-tion and the determination of others, peace and the betterment of humankind is at-

tainable.

Eean Patterson

Regional Updates: NORTH AMERICA (continued)

CURRENT EXHIBITION:

Bare Witness: Photographs by Gordon Parks

Norton Photography Gallery

August 20—November 6, 2011

Image and Exhibition Info found on Phoenix Art Museum Website

Page 9: Issue 12_October 15, 2011

Page 9

Regional Updates: SOUTH AMERICA

What has TESA been up to lately?

During this year TESA has signed multiple agreements between Argentine universities and Israeli university to accommo-

date exchanges of students, professors, and information. We have already had several successful exchanges. Additionally, we are growing steadily and have added branches in Paraguay, Israel, and are working to expand into Spain. Our aims are

the same as always: promote ethics and environmental awareness through positive and proactive examples.

We’ve acquired a weekly radio spot on Radio UBA (radio of university of Buenos Aires) where we bring guests to discuss

environmental and ethical issues. So far we are happy with the number of listeners and queries we receive.

We are currently working on getting a slightly different web address at: www.fundacion-tesa.org. There is only the Spanish version being set up along with a blog whose link can be found on the website. There we give advice and simple tips for

the home and classroom on environmental responsibility and ethics. The English version will hopefully come soon.

New UCP-SARnet Member & Our New TESA Contact

My name is Valentina, I am 23 years old, and I am originally

Uruguaian. I have my degree in International Affairs which I consider it's a very interesting career to learn more about the

world, other cultures and be more connected with each other.

I am currently living in Argentina. I have joined TESA Founda-tion as a Co-coordinator of the foundation with the President

Susana Pesis. Our mission is to educate about environment and

economics which I believe it's very important for helping improve the world we are living in, be more aware and try to help we

whatever we can.

Valentina Jinchuk

Co-Coordinator with President

TESA Foundation

Image from TESA Website

TESA will again be giving the yearly trip to Israel/Palestine with a

new delegation of opinion-formers. This is something that has been done for several years now. We will begin our trip the last week of

November and be there interviewing politicians and citizens alike to

bring deeper understanding to the world about life in the area and the politics that affect the daily lives of the citizens. Visit our website to

read more about this project and to find out how to get involved.

Another upcoming project is a bi-cultural art exposition that we will

be hosting in Buenos Aires to promote peaceful co-existence. The participants will be exclusively Argentine citizens of either Jewish or

Arab descent, and they will present work based on that theme.

Finally, my internship with TESA is coming to an end but replacing

me is a new Co-coordinator, Valentina Jinchuk, who will be working

alongside Susana Pesis to expand the exemplary work of TESA Foundation.

Rachel Lysak

Assistant to the President

TESA Foundation

news.bbc.co.uk

Page 10: Issue 12_October 15, 2011

Page 10

Executive Team This Fall marks the formation of a New Executive Team.

Learn more about our members by checking out their profiles.

This Month in Meetings:

September 16th, 2011 We began this meeting by discussed "sharing" knowledge; how people use communication methods to share knowledge with others but the knowledge is not always successfully grasped on the receiving end of the communication. The key to

proper communication is to give constant feedback to ensure that a message (or knowledge) is properly received. We then watched a video clip on SIAS University's Annual Culture Week 2010 to observe the liveliness and vibrancy of their Uni-

versity Community. We continued on to discuss what will be happening regarding the International Leadership Summit in China 2012. During last week's meeting we had Ben Sanders join us briefly to discuss the Obama Interfaith Campus Chal-

lenge Project, this week Amy Golden, Director for Strategic Initiatives, Educational Outreach and Student Services joined

us to give us a little more background as she is also a facilitator for the President's Interfaith Campus Challenge at ASU. Though the proposal that was submitted to the Whitehouse by ASU is quite broad and ambitious, it does not entail starting

projects from scratch and building upon them; the plan is to bring together people already involved in service initiatives, to bring people of different faiths/beliefs together through service events to highlight the common interest in helping others.

September 23rd, 2011 This entire meeting was devoted to the planning of the STAND UP against POVERTY

event at ASU. Like last year, we hope to have cultural entertainment to grasp the attention of

passer-bys. But we definitely want to include an interactive element to the whole event. The event coordinators, Olivia and Fritz, will be contacting as many community organizations,

interfaith groups, and ASU Clubs as possible (all related to the vision of ending poverty and accomplishing the MDGs). We hope for students to interact with us all and find out how

they can get involved on campus and in the surrounding community. Humza is also securing funding, and then subsequently designing and ordering spirit wrist bands to hand out at the

event which we will most likely be calling the "SUN DEVILS STAND-UP 2011 EVENT".

September 30th, 2011 This meeting was to discuss plans on the best ways to go about inviting new members to UCP-SARnet, both individuals and organizations. The official points of discussion began with the brief learning workshop focused on who of the general

population most gets involved in organizations. This information will be useful to us all when we decide to reach out to organizations and universities around the world to invite them to join UCP-SARnet.

All members were encouraged to reach out, to our network members and organizations around

the world to remind them about the STAND UP events and to encourage them to take initiatives

of their own. We are also disseminating information on STAND UP events to new Universities and Community organizations, both to encourage carrying out STAND UP events but also to

introduce our mission and invite them to be a part of UCP-SARnet. We will also be inviting various interfaith organizations to join UCP-SARnet. The final points made during the meeting

were regarding events coming up - these being in collaboration with our Forks for Change Club and the ASU President's Interfaith Campus Challenge.

October 7th, 2011 Fritz is the new meeting coordinator, filling in for Osee while he is in Africa. The first point we briefly touched on was the

ASHOKA U Conference which will be at ASU Feb. 2012. Dr. Wosinski recently put in a workshop application for the conference and we will wait to hear back from them. We continued on to our objective of finalizing the Sun Devil

STAND UP at ASU Event. When all the details are confirmed we hope to advertise them in the State Press, in our news-letter, and also in other newspapers in Arizona to reach out to a broader audience. Some updates from Dr. Wosinski are

his meeting with a new possible organizational member- the Lula Washington Dance Theatre. We also have a few more advisory board members that are joining our team this semester.

This meeting closed with updates on the club and upcoming club events most notably the Forgotten Faces of America Poetry and Poverty Jam on Oct. 18th, and a

visit to "Feed My Starving Children" on November 4th.

Page 11: Issue 12_October 15, 2011

Page 11

Introducing Members of Our Advisory Board

New Advisory Board Member: Solomon O. Kanu

Originally from Nigeria, Mr. Solomon O. Kanu (J.D.) is a

first generational immigrant. After earning his BA in Eco-

nomics and Masters Degree in Business & Finance, both at Universities in India, Mr. Kanu earned his JD from the

Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Michigan. He became a citizen of the United States a year or so later and attained

the right to practice law in Arizona shortly after that in 2001. He is currently the managing attorney at the Kanu &

Associates, P.C. law offices in Phoenix. The other two

attorneys at Kanu law are also immigrants, and as the law firm deals primarily with immigration law, their slogan is

quite appropriately ―Immigrants Helping Immigrants.‖ The attorneys at Kanu & Associates are also equipped to

handle various other legal matters that relate to long term solutions for immigrants—visas for short or extended stays,

becoming a legal resident, getting citizenship if that’s what

they want, starting businesses, asylum… as Mr. Kanu de-scribes: ―I have been there and done that as an immigrant

and so I understand why people come to the United States and why they want to stay, live, work and contribute to

this great country.‖ (Kanu Law Website)

Dr. Wosinski met Mr. Kanu on the occasion of some legal

consultations on behalf of a friend. This is when the subject

of interesting charitable work Mr. Kanu is doing in Nigeria came up, and Dr. Wosinski shared with him information

The following distinguished colleagues agreed to serve on our Advisory Board:

Robert Cialdini, Arizona State University (USA), Liz Cunningham, University of Brighton (England), Aecio D’Silva,

University of Arizona (USA), Kim Eagles, Grassroots Activist (USA), William A. Foster, Foster and Brahm

Management Consulting (USA), Rajesh Jangareddy, Vitesse Semiconductor (India), Solomon O. Kanu, Kanu and

Associates (USA), Joanna Ochocka, Centre for Community Engaged Research (Canada), Grazyna Prawelska-Skrzypek,

Jagiellonian University (Poland), Jan Sadlak, Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities (Poland), Daniel

Schugurensky, Arizona State University (USA), Jerrie Ueberle, Global Interactions Inc. (USA), Christopher

Zambakari, Student Representative (USA).

about our network. Mr. Kanu expressed interest in UCP-

SARnet and accepted the invitation to be part of our distin-guished advisory board members. Dr. Wosinski will be

meeting with him again in a few weeks to find out more about the work being done in Nigeria. We welcome Mr.

Solomon O. Kanu to our network, we hope to be able to advance our efforts with his expert knowledge, and we also

hope that this new collaboration will help us to expand the

UCP-SARnet’s presence in Nigeria.

Abidah Khalife

Image from Kanu Law Website

October 14th, 2011 Dr. Wosinski is leaving for China later today. He is going to present the EcoVillage project in Cameroon to potential inves-

tors. He is also planning on meeting with governmental officials and CEO’s of companies to give background on a confer-

ence in May 2012 hosted by SIAS and the government of Zhengzhou and which will be focused on the importance of in-vesting in primary schools and early education. We discussed various means of fundraising and the importance of fundrais-

ing to keep UCP-SARnet and our projects going and then moved on to mention to all members what phase we are at in planning the International Leadership Summit in China, by the end of this month we will have a confirmed program, list

of presenters, and list of moderators. We will also be preparing a brochure soon to advertise the event.

Abidah Khalife

Page 12: Issue 12_October 15, 2011

Member Organizations

Page 12

AASRA for Community Transformation (ACT) is a non-profit advocating for universal human rights and children’s

rights. Website: www.aasraindia.org/

African Woman and Child Features Service (AWC) ensures that the voices of the women and children in

Africa, and the issues they face, are better represented in mainstream media. Website: www.awcfs.org/

Ann Foundation empowers people who live with the daily challenges of vision impairment, hearing loss and other

disabilities in some of the world’s most impoverished places. Website: www.AnnFoundation.org

Anti-Poverty Project (TAPP) assists communities through job training, personal development training and provid-

ing technology to non-profit organizations and to the disadvantaged. Website: www.tapp.org.

Association for Welfare, Social Action, and Research—India (AWSAR) is an organization comprising of a group of

professional social development workers from diverse background. Website: www.awsarindia.org/.

Beam Foundation provides needy children in the developing world with school uniforms and necessary school supplies. Website: www.beamindia.org/

Cameroon Association for the Protection and Education of the Child (CAPEC) works with children, youth, par-

ents, and governmental bodies to identify the needs of underprivileged children in Cameroon. Website: www.capecam.org.

The Canadian Forum on Civil Justice works towards a civil justice system that is accessible, effective, fair and

efficient. Website: cfcj-fcjc.org/news/

The Centre for Community Research and Action, Laurier works to advance community knowledge, social poli-

cy, and practice for community wellness and social equity. Website: www.wlu.ca/homepage.php?grp_id=2615

Changes for New Hope supports the impoverished children from the Peruvian Andes region through educational pro-

grams, personal development, and building of social and emotional wellbeing. Website: www.changesfornewhope.org

The Community University Research Alliance explores new ways of providing community mental health support.

Website: www.communitybasedresearch.ca/takingcultureseriouslyCURA/

Department of Youth Development, Sport & Training (Vanuatu). A government ministry that oversees sports

and recreation along with technical vocational education and training which provides applicable life-skills to

Youth and forges national, community and individual development. No Official Website: More Info Here.

Ecuador Volunteer Foundation volunteers for social, community, educational, healthcare, and ecological pro-

jects throughout Ecuador. Website: www.ecuadorvolunteer.org/

FIRBEJC—Fondation Islamique de Recherches pour le Bien-Etre de La Jeunesse Congolaise—is an NGO dedi-

cated to helping youth in region fight economic, human, sociocultural, and political poverties. No Official Website.

More Info Here.

Global Thinking Women empowers women of all ages throughout the various stages in their lives. Website:

www.odatsglobaltrainingandrecruitmentservice.com/index.html

Greater Boghé Area Association, INC is a US based organization that partners with groups in the Boghé region of Mauritania to improve health conditions there and underlying factors affecting health. Website: www.boghe.org/

Helping Lives International is a non-profit focusing on eradicating poverty. Help youth gain employment and to work

as Ambassadors and leaders. Website: www.helpinglives.7p.com/

International Youth Peace Tourism & Development Initiative (Nigeria) is an NGO that envisions volunteerism,

especially of young tourists, as a key to accomplishing the MDGs and achieving sustainable development in regions

around the globe. Website: iyptding.wordpress.com.

Page 13: Issue 12_October 15, 2011

Member Organizations (Continued)

Page 13

India Vision Foundation (IVF): founded in 1994 by Dr. Kiran Bedi to expand upon the work of

Navjyoti India Foundation. It strives to improve conditions in prisons, the lives of those incarcerated and that of their children. Website: www.indiaviosionfoundation.org/

LUKMEF helps Cameroon to embrace peace, non-violence, social justice, and sustainable development in order to

alleviate poverty. Website: www.lukmefcameroon.org/

Navjyoti India Foundation (NIF) was founded in 1988 by Dr. Kiran Bedi. NIF works in collaboration

with IVF for positive change, beginning with a flagship program for correction, drug-addiction and reha-

bilitation. Website: www.navjyoti.org.in/

Network of East West Women - Polska (NEWW-Polska) is a Poland-based women’s advocacy network that

provides knowledge and resources to empower and strengthen women while working towards social and economic equity. Website: www.neww.eu/en/about/neww/0.html

“New Choice” Children’s Charity (Mongolia) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization based in

Ulaanbaatar that seeks out volunteers to participate in their many projects based around helping the Mongoli-an community especially underserved children and orphans. Website: www.volunteer.org.mn/.

Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition (NYCC) is focusing on climate change and collaborates with collaborating with

youth, policy makers, and other stakeholders. Website: nigerianyouthclimatecoalition.blogspot.com/

Pluribus Europe is a consulting organization which coaches and trains their clients, comprised of

international companies, in diversity and inclusion techniques at all levels of corporate manage-

ment. Founded in 2006. Website: www.pluribus-europe.com/en/

Social Care Youth Initiative (Rwanda) is a youth-run organization that also incidentally works for the empower-

ment of youth in their region. They are devoted to accomplishing the MDGs as well as to addressing issues of Hu-

man Rights and Justice through various programs that they have developed. Website: scyi-rwanda.weebly.com.

Somali Family Services, established in 2003, envisions a peaceful and thriving Somalia. They promote the caus-

es of human rights, social justice, democracy, and sustainable living by empowering the marginalized groups

and communities in the country. Website: ussfs.org.

Students Travel and Exposure South Africa (STAESA) is a non-profit organization promoting and enhancing

cultural exchange and development in Africa. Website: www.staesa.org/

TESA is a nonprofit organization aimed at researching, training researchers, outlining an implementing

projects for the promotion of sustainable economy. Website: www.fundaciontesa.org/eng

Unreasonable Institute supports globally-minded social entrepreneurs who are developing solutions to pressing issues. Website: unreasonableinstitute.org/

UCP-SARnet The Gambia is an officially registered NGO that undertakes a diverse and creative range

of educational, humanitarian, and peace-building initiatives in to help achieve MDGs in the Gambia. Website: ucpsarnet.iglooprojects.org/gambia.

Woman As Hero is an ASU Student Organization driven by the importance of the empowerment of women to

societies. Their main interests are education and entrepreneurship opportunities for women, and they hold aware-ness campaigns on gender-related issues such as violence against women to spread the message. Website:

womanashero.weebly.com

Youth Alliance for Justice & Peace (Sierra Leone), an NGO dedicated to the youth in the region fights the

evils of poverty by encouraging saying no to narcotics, by creating education and employment opportunities,

and by providing desperately needed housing and medical care. This NGO unites youth, gives stronger self-worth, and allows them to help their own country. No Official Website: More Info Here.

Page 14: Issue 12_October 15, 2011

Collaborating Knowledge Partners

Page 14

Amity University (India) is one of the best private universities in India with over 50000 students. http://www.amity.edu/

Centre for Community Based Research brings people together to share knowledge in order to impact positive social change.

http://www.communitybasedresearch.ca/

Coaching the Global Village works with social changers to use coaching to create innovative solutions to pressing global challenges.

Website: http://coachingtheglobalvillage.org/

Comunitaria provides technical support and tools for community and psychosocial intervention programs. Four professional psy-

chologists run this organization. http://www.comunitaria.cl/

Community-Campus Partnerships for Health promotes health through service-learning, community-based participatory research,

broad-based coalitions, and other partnership strategies. http://www.ccph.info/

Community Toolbox provides resources for community leaders.

http://ctb.ku.edu/en/default.aspx?404;http://ctb.ku.edu:80/en/default.aspx

East Europe Foundation seeks to support successful community-driven development initiatives. http://www.eef.org.ua/

Global Alliance for ICT & Development creates an inclusive global forum and platform to promote discussion on using ICT for the

achievement of the Millenium Development Goals. http://www.un-gaid.org/

Global Alliance for Community Based Research promotes Community-Engaged Research as a fundamental means to contributing

to human betterment by the sharing of knowledge across the world. http://communityresearchcanada.ca/

Global Interactions, Inc works with professionals to interact with domestic and global counterparts to increase exchange of practices,

technologies, and research. www.globalinteractions.org/

Indira Gandhi National Open University (India) offers 338 programs of study through over 3,500 courses to a cumulative student

strength of over 30 million students. http://www.ignou.ac.in/

Jagiellonian University (Poland) is the second oldest university in Europe located in Krakow. http://www.uj.edu.pl/en_GB/

Leadership Learning Community identifies, evaluates, and applies ideas and practices in leadership development in order to make

leadership more effective. http://leadershiplearning.org/community-connections

Orbis Institute develops global leaders through programs that advance awareness, critical thinking, and action.

http://www.orbisinstitute.org/index.php?id=141&no_cache=1

SIAS International University combines Chinese educational philosophies with Western educational models to develop professionals

who are prepared to meet the demands of trans-national corporations and enterprises. http://www.sias.edu.cn/en/

SoReCom conducts and disperses research that focuses on social issues relevant to Europe and its policies.

http://www.europhd.eu/html/_onda03/01/00.00.00.00.shtml

Taking It Global uses the power of online community to facilitate global education, social entrepreneurship, and civic engagement for

millions of youth worldwide. http://www.tigweb.org/

UN Millennium Campaign supports and inspires people from around the world to take action towards the Millenium Development

Goals. http://www.endpoverty2015.org/

United Nations Foundation advocates for the UN and a platform for connecting people, ideas and resources to help the United Na-

tions solve global problems. http://www.unfoundation.org/

Video Voice Collective: brings academic researchers, filmmakers, technology mavens, social justice champions, and community

leaders together to improve the health conditions of underserved communities. http://video-voice.org/

Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities is a private university that educates students in psychology, philosophy, humani-

ties, and social sciences. http://www.swps.pl/english/

World for World Organization (Italy) is an Italian-based non-profit organization, operating in Italy and internationally. http://

www.worldforworld.org/

Page 15: Issue 12_October 15, 2011

Page 15

Directory

HEAD OFFICE

Arizona State University

Department of Psychology

P.O. Box 871104, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA

Tel. 480-965-6253

Email: [email protected]

FACILITATOR

Executive Officer

Dr. Marek Wosinski

Email: [email protected]

ASSISTANT FACILITATOR FOR

AFRICA

Osee Romeo Tcheupgoum

Email: [email protected]

ASSISTANT FACILITATOR FOR

ASIA & PACIFIC

Birendra Kumar

Email: [email protected]

ASSISTANT FACILITATOR FOR

EUROPE

Ganeswar Sahoo

Email: [email protected]

ASSISTANT FACILITATORS FOR

NORTH AMERICA

Osee Romeo Tcheupgoum

Email: [email protected]

ASSISTANT FACILITATOR FOR

SOUTH AMERICA

Susana Pesis

Email: [email protected]

ASSISTANT FACILITATOR

John Mabey

Email: [email protected]

ASSISTANT FACILITATOR

Robby Uppal

Email: [email protected]

COORDINATOR OF

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Andy Chen

Email: [email protected]

ICT COORDINATOR

Adam Euerby

Email: [email protected]

ICT ASSISTANT COORDINATOR

Dorav Kumar

Email: [email protected]

ICT TEAM

Uttam Bhat

Adam Euerby

Dorav Kumar

Loc Nguen

Karan Puttannaiah

EXECUTIVE TEAM

Dr. Wayne Goulet

Dr. Eva Szeli

Angela Abolhassani

Mohamed Camara

Olivia Friend

Nicole Hale

Fritzgerald Jerome

Abidah Khalife

Shannon Monn

Jonathan Oakes

Sonal Patel

Eean Patterson

Omar Saleem

Humza Salim

Maureen Schirmer

Kaitlynn Wernsing

REGIONAL OFFICES

AFRICA

Contact Person: Osee Romeo Tcheupgoum

No. 1 Ansumana Ceesay Street, Dippakunda UCP-SARnet -The Gambia

(Non-Profit & Charitable organization) P.O.BOX 2192, serekunda, KMSD. The GAMBIA

Tel. (00 220) 6548963/7953521/ 3438 808 /6717761 Email: [email protected]

ASIA & THE PACIFIC

Contact Person: Birendra Kumar University Community Partnership for Social Action Research Network. UN Commission on Sustainable Development (Youth and Children Major Group )

Tel. +91-9910711112 Email: [email protected]

EUROPE

Contact Person: Ganeswar Sahoo

via s cosma e damiano 103 trento, tn 38122, ITALY

Tel. +39 3319782685

Email: [email protected]

CANADA

Contact Person: Adam Euerby Candidate M.ASc. Systems Design Engineering, B.ASc. Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo

Advanced Interface Design Lab 1.519.888.4567 x34904

[email protected]

UNITED STATES

Contact Person: Fritzgerald Jerome

Department of Psychology P.O. Box 871104, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA Tel. 480-965-6253

Email: [email protected]

SOUTH AMERICA

Contact Person: Susana Pesis

Email: [email protected]

ADVISORY BOARD

Robert Cialdini, Arizona State University

(USA)

Liz Cunningham, University of Brighton

(England)

Aecio D’Silva, University of Arizona (USA)

Kim Eagles, Grassroots Activist (USA)

William A. Foster, Foster and Brahm

Management Consulting (USA)

Rajesh Jangareddy, Vitesse Semiconductor

(India)

Solomon O. Kanu, Kanu and Associates (USA)

Joanna Ochocka, Centre for Community

Engaged Research (Canada)

Grazyna Prawelska-Skrzypek, Jagiellonian

University (Poland)

Jan Sadlak, Warsaw School of social Sciences

and Humanities (Poland)

Daniel Schugurensky, Arizona State

University (USA)

Jerrie Ueberle, Global Interactions, Inc. (USA)

Christopher Zambakari, Student Representative

(USA)

Page 16: Issue 12_October 15, 2011

For more information about our worldwide network

of educators, researchers, students and community leaders,

please visit our website:

http://ucpsarnet.asu.edu

If you want to get involved, please click CONTACT US

and fill in the relevant application form.

.

Educating, Empowering and Engaging Communities Page 16