International Development Week (IDW) is held annually the first week of February.  IDW highlights and illustrates the work of Canada's development community.

IDW provides a great opportunity for Canadians to:

• increase the awareness of the role many Canadians play in international development;
• learn more about life in developing countries; and
• find out how they can become global citizens, actively involved in international development.

Learn more about International Development Week at www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/idw.
BCCIC has been participating in International Development Week for the past 20 years. Find informaiton about specific International Development Weeks below:

2009

Summary

Delivering Results to Make a Difference in the World!

In 2009 IDW initiatives took place across the province including Kelowna, Comox Valley, Prince George, Victoria and the Greater Vancouver Regional District. IDW activities reached out to youth, students, academic institutions, community based organizations and the general public. See our January 2009 Newsletter [1.3 MB] for more details on BCCIC member activities during International Development Week.

Student Paper Insert

BCCIC was successful in securing funding from CIDA to run an insert in four student newspapers across the province:

• The Peak, Simon Fraser University
• The Omega, Thompson Rivers University
• The Martlet, University of Victoria
• The Ubyssey, University of British Columbia

Thirteen BCCIC member organizations contributed content that provided information on the following:

• Volunteer and internship opportunities locally and overseas
• Testimonials of British Columbians, sharing their experience and tips for securing opportunities
• Ways to take action and contribute to international development
• Calendar of IDW events and activities

International Development Week 2009 Insert [4.1 MB PDF]

Prize Draw

BCCIC launched an IDW prize draw to survey reader’s reactions to the insert. The objectives were to determine whether the newspaper insert had affected attitudes and knowledge about international development issues and what the value of the newspaper insert content was to the reader. One of the questions asked respondents to share if their actions locally or globally related to international development would change as a result of reading the newspaper insert. A few of the responses included:

• “Thanks to the newspaper insert I am even more eager to volunteer abroad! Thanks for the wake-up call!”
• “No change not because the content is not effective, but because I am currently involved.”
• “I now have more concrete and practical ideas about how to take part in activities connected to international development both locally and overseas.”

Congratulations to SFU International Studies Student Bergen Vermette, International Development Week Prize Draw Winner

Heather Turnbull, Bergen Vermette, and Shams Alibhai

NGOs Provide Global Education Resources

This article profiles seven BCCIC member organizations that provide resources for schools, students and teachers as well as highlighting the connection between international cooperation and education. The article was published in the following:

1. BCTF 'Teacher' Newsmagazine which is sent to 63,000 British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) members in BC, including all public school teachers, student teachers at universities, retired teachers, subscribers, teacher affiliates, parent advisory councils and some university personnel. To view the article visit http://bctf.ca/publications/NewsmagArticle.aspx?id=17582
2. Winter issue of The Global Educator, PAGE's biannual journal, through BC Teachers for Peace and Global Education reaching out to 150-200 readers. It is now downloadable as a PDF file at http://www.pagebc.ca.