February 2010

This initiative takes place February 7-13, 2010 across Canada from Vancouver to Halifax and is supported by the Government of Canada through the Canadian International Development Agency. This year we are celebrating the 20th annual International Development Week; the slogan is ‘Be Yourself, Be Bold, Be the Change’ and focuses on young people aged 15 to 30. Learn about 8 outstanding young people from Armstrong to Victoria, and participate in events throughout the province.     

Visit the website for the BC Council for International Cooperation to learn more about these global citizens, to find events in your community and to enter the contest to win a free FLIP video camcorder – www.bccic.ca.

Katherine Charlesworth

Katherine Charlesworth’s passion is gender equality. Her talent: a booming coloratura soprano voice and her ultimate hope: to harness her talent for global change.  Living in Victoria, 17-year-old Katherine is pursuing both her musical training and her fight against gender inequality at full speed. She has been involved with the Victoria International Development Education Association (VIDEA) since she was 11. Read More…

Jeff Geipel

Jeff Geipel  is the founder of Fair Trade Vancouver - a new non-profit organization that seeks to increase awareness, availability, and sales of Fair Trade products in Metro Vancouver. Fair Trade is an alternative and ethical way of doing business with countries in the South. Unlike conventional trade which seeks to obtain the lowest possible prices for imported products – Fair Trade seeks to ensure that farmers are able to live a life of dignity. Read More…

Rachel Moxham

In the summer of 2009 Rachel Moxham got on her bicycle and began pedaling steadily for the 6690 kilometers from Vancouver to Halifax. Rachel instigated her solo bike trip across Canada to raise awareness and funds for the education of young girls in Ethiopia, through “imagine1day”. This non-profit organization, started by the founders of Lululemon to advance primary education in Ethiopia, also helps people identify and harness their passions for effecting change in the world. Read More…

Harish Raisinghani

Harish Raisinghani is president of the Vancouver Professional Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB). And at the age of 26, he is not a typical engineer, if you believe any of the stereotypes that engineers are passionate about technology and may lack the ability to interact with people.  Harish’s father comes from Delhi and his mother is from the state of Gujarat; this connection with India informs his ability to dream big and work hard.  Read More…

Sonya Sangster

Sonya Sangster, just 26, is a commercial pilot. She also devotes countless volunteer hours as an advocate for Oxfam Canada and the Uganda Rural Fund in the hope of merging her passions for flying and international development by becoming a rescue mission pilot for the United Nations. Read More…

Sarena Talbot

Sarena Talbot is an undergraduate student at Simon Fraser University completing a degree in International Studies, Sociology, and Sustainable Community Development. Although she finds herself at a crossroads with her imminent graduation this spring, she’s excited about her new position with CoDevelopment Canada. Read More…

Matthew Warnock

Matthew Warnock is only 16 years old and is driven to action. At the age of 14, Matt started a non-profit organization named H2O (Hope 2 Others) Canada. The organization’s mandate  is to empower youth, and to raise money and build water filters in Ghana. He has been to Ghana twice, and is returning for a third time and bringing with him a group of high schools students to work on the project. Read More…

Kat Zimmer

Kat Zimmer is a 21-year-old University of Victoria student in political science. She is currently taking a break to snowboard in Smithers, BC for the winter. But even there, she is starting to get involved in the one and only non-profit organization in Smithers called One Sky: Canadian Institute of Sustainable Living, helping them to start a car co-op. “Living in a small town in Northern BC, you can really see the impact you can have on the community.” Read More…

Join BCCIC at Abbotsford in the University of the Fraser Valley Auditorium on February 3rd from 3-6pm for a fascinating presentation on the complex work of development agencies working to build communities and countries in the midst of natural disaster, political unrest or armed conflicts. This highly interactive and dynamic event will help participants learn the hard-won lessons of development practitioners working in Afgahanistan, Haiti, Kenya, Northern Uganda, Palestine and Israel, Pakistan and many other examples from around the world.  Their stories will shed light on what happens during and after a crisis to make sure that long term development can still take place after the emergency aid workers have gone home.

Afghanistan 360 is a multimedia exhibit that combines new technology with an innovative 360-degree design to showcase Canada’s role in rebuilding Afghanistan. The exhibit is on display at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre from February 1 – 12, 2010.

Learn more on the BCCIC website.

The following is a list of BCCIC members who are initiating emergency response following the devasting earthquake that took place in Haiti in January. For more information, please visit their websites below:

• Canadian Red Cross Society - www.redcross.ca/haiti2010
  
• Oxfam Canada - www.oxfam.ca
  
• Global Aid Network - www.globalaid.net/about/disaster/immediate-aid-for-haiti
  
• Hope International Development Agency - www.hope-international.com/ways-you-can-give/earthquake-emergency-in-haiti
  
• Food for the Hungry - www.fhcanada.org
  
• Mennonite Central Committee - mcc.org
  
• Partners for Prosperity - www.partnersforprosperity.org

International Development Drinks took place on Thursday, January 21 at Ceilis Irish Pub in Vancouver. BCCIC co-hosted the night with Engineers Without Borders. The theme of the evening was Fair Trade and guest speakers included Kevin McCartney with Canadian Crossroads International, Kirsten Daub with Cafe Etico and CoDevelopment Canada, Josh Workman from EWB and Jeff Geipel from Fair Trade Vancouver.

Pictures from the event can be found on BCCIC's Picasa album online at picasaweb.google.com/BCCIC1/January21InternationalDevelopmentDrinks# and there is a YouTube video of Josh Workman's talk available online at youtu.be/1iOsyifH0_k?a.

BCCIC is also excited to announce 'An Island Toast to International Development' that will take place in Victoria on February 9th. Please learn more about this event on the BCCIC webpage.

BCCIC also hopes to host another drinks night in Vancouver with EWB in March. Please be sure to follow our calendar to learn more about upcoming events.

AU Declares 2010 ‘African Year of Peace’

(PANA)--The African Union (AU) has declared the Year 2010 the African Year of Peace, reiterating its commitment to further push the peace process in Africa, where millions of people are killed an d displaced due to civil strife.

‘The month of January 2010 marks the beginning of the Year of Peace and Security in Africa’, the African Union Commission said in a statement obtained by PANA on Sunday. AU Commission Chairperson (AUC) Jean Ping pledged the commitment of the entire Commission towards intensifying its efforts in the area of peace and security and appealed to African Governments, people, media and civil society organisations to take advantage of the Year of Peace and Security to re-dedicate themselves to the realisation of the objective of a conflicts free continent.  Read More…

Bilingual Program Officer, Women’s Rights
Canadian Crossroads International
Ghana, Togo

Reporting to the Team Leader, the Program Officer, Women’s Rights will work with partner organisations, allies and volunteers in Ghana, Togo and Canada to reduce violence against women and girls, and to increase women’s political representation and participation in decision making. Working closely with other members of the women’s equality program team, s/he will also work on women’s equality initiatives across countries and issues. 

For more information email info@cciorg.ca.

Reporting to the Director, External Relations, this position is part of a dynamic and proactive team committed to raising awareness of Canadian Crossroads International and its work.   Versatile, creative and committed to excellence, the Communications Officer will employ a variety of public relations and marketing tactics to attract new CCI supporters and engage existing stakeholders. For more information email info@cciorg.ca.

Amnesty International Volunteer Activities
Amnesty International
Vancouver, BC

Amnesty International is looking for a number of volunteers to help out with public engagement events, in the office and fundraising projects. Please contact Don Wright at dwright@amnesty.ca for more information.

Program Assistant
North Shore Community Resources Society
North Vancouver, BC

The Program Assistant is responsible for general office duties associated with the project such as creating packages for course participants, preparing mail outs  for clients, client registration record maintenance, education session registration management, collating evaluations from programs, filing, assisting with reports, helping with promotion and other duties.

For more information contact Barb MacLellan, Manager of Information Programs, barb.maclellan@nscr.bc.ca

Researcher/Writer
North Shore Community Resources Society
North Vancouver, BC

The Researcher/Writer of the Supporting Caregivers Across the Life Span Project will work closely with the Project Coordinator to complete research at various junctures in the project and provide reports, summaries and some initial analysis.  As a writer the person will write reports on various phases of the research and the project as a whole and will prepare content for the website. He/she will also do writing associated with promotion of the project, the production of new materials and resources for caregivers, health professionals and employers and will help with the preparation of the updated Family Caregiver Resource Guide - North Shore Edition.

For more information contact Barb MacLellan, Manager of Information Programs, barb.maclellan@nscr.bc.ca

First Contact Volunteers
Canadian Red Cross
Lower Mainland

Refugee claimants arriving in the Lower Mainland often find themselves in vulnerable situations in which accessing the most basic of services becomes a real challenge.   You can help  by joining their multilingual information and referral phone line.  For more information,  please contact  : 604-709-6673 or firstcontact@redcross.ca

Arts Co-op Students are available for Summer 2010 Workterms

Co-op students are well-known for their energy, enthusiasm, self-motivation and community spirit.  Prior to starting a Co-op workterm, students participate in professional development workshops and complete a guided pre-employment curriculum.  Funding Announcement  Service Canada announced that the federal wage subsidy program Canada Summer Jobs will be available for Summer 2010. Application guidelines and forms will be available starting February 1st at http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/epb/yi/yep/programs/scpp.shtml. 

Interested in working in International Devlopment?

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