By Sandy Lam

Being a good neighbor is beginning to take a toll on Syrian’s neighboring countries and limited public resources, including impact on some of the most crucial parts of society: education. Countries such as Lebanon are facing unprecedented problems this school year as the number of Syrian refugees now outnumber the Lebanese students in public schools, causing a shift not only in educational resources, but the quality of education as well.

The increasing conflicts in Syria have forced the amount of fleeing Syrians to double in the last six months to over two million registered refugees, according to the European Union. Over 700,000 have been displaced in Lebanon, the smallest neighboring country which holds the most refugees than any other bordering country. Dana Suleiman, media official at the United Nations Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) reports 300,000 of those registered refugees are students who fled to Lebanon. The United Nations Children’s Fund believes that the amount of displaced Syrian students will reach half a million in Lebanon alone by the end of 2013.

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Welcome to the September 2013 issue of the Global Washington newsletter. If you would like to contact us directly, please email us.

IN THIS ISSUE

• Note from Our Executive Director
• GlobalWA Announcements
• Question of the Month
• Featured organization: Halosource: Clean Water Solutions
• Featured organization: After Decades of Success, buildOn Looking Next at Seattle Area Expansion
• Welcome New Members
• Upcoming GlobalWA Member Events
• Announcements
• Career Center
• GlobalWA events

Note from our Executive Director

Greetings!

I hope you all enjoyed the summer months and beautiful weather as much as we did at Global Washington!  We are looking forward to the busy months ahead, filled with exciting events and culminating in our 5^th Annual Conference: Catalyzing Collective Impact.

In the next few months much of our work will be to highlight the issues affecting women and girls and the organizations that are working on addressing these issues. We are hosting several film screenings of Girl Rising around the state in partnership with local businesses and universities and running a social media campaign working with women leaders to bring awareness to the global issues relevant to women and girls and the organizations that work to generate more equitable situations around the world.  Stay tuned for the details!

If you haven’t already registered for the Conference, do so here.  We have exciting speakers, engaging and interactive sessions, as well as some great networking opportunities planned and we look forward to seeing all of you there!

In unity,

Bookda Gheisar, Executive Director

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Global Washington Announcements

Howard G. Buffett: 40 Chances to Make a Difference

Please join Global Washington and Town Hall on  Monday, November 4, 2013, 7:30 – 9:00pm in an event with Howard G. Buffett: 40 Chances to Make a Difference.

Buffett, co-author of 40 Chances and son of legendary investor Warren Buffett, shares a way of thinking about philanthropy that speaks to every person who wants to make a difference.

Click here to purchase your ticket: http://townhall.strangertickets.com/events/8235523/howard-buffett-40-chances-to-make-a-difference

Group Broadcast Schedule on KUOW 94.9 FM Public Radio for Global Washington Members

Global Washington members have the opportunity to buy underwriting messages on KUOW 94.9FM Public Radio (NPR News and Information)  for a significant discount.

This is a group schedule where each organization can purchase on air messages (spots) to builds an efficient and effective  broadcast schedule to raise awareness about Global Washington and its members among KUOW’s affluent, highly educated and philanthropic minded audience.

KUOW 94.9FM performs extremely well in the market place—ranking #1 for AM Drive time weekend listening.  KUOW is the largest public radio station and ranks among the top 3 of all radio stations in the market.

Please contact KUOW account manager Courtney Miller at cmiller@kuow.org if you’d like to learn more and/or participate in this program.

Congratulations!

World Educator Award
Global Washington would like to extend our congratulations to Noah Zeichner, winner of this year’s World Affairs Council’s World Educator Award! The award is given to an outstanding K-12 teacher who promotes international understanding in the classroom and contributes to the development of resources so that other educators and community members are better prepared to meet a major challenge of our time: to educate youth about world affairs.

For more information on Zeichner and the Chief Sealth International High School, see Global Washington’s feature in our September Global Education and Policy Update.

Globalist of the Year
Global Washington would also like to extend their congratulations to Rita Zawaideh, the Seattle Globalist’s 2013 Globalist of the Year!

Congratulations Rita!

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GlobalWA will ask you a question every month and synthesize the responses and make available to our member organizations. Please take a moment to respond to the question for this month:

Which Global WA event(s) did you find most fun/ useful so far in 2013?

Please click here to respond.

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Featured Organization

Halosource: Clean Water Solutions

By Malena Harrang

Halosource is a for-profit global clean water technology company that has created the innovations to return water to a purer state – whether you drink it, play in it or put it back into the environment.   Its line of products to treat drinking water, pools and hot tubs and environmental water all has one thing in common – it takes ‘the bad stuff’ out.  “’Making Water Better’ is what we are about,” said Martin Coles, CEO.  “Taking things out of water better enables sustainability– you don’t have to drain your pool or hot tub and waste all that water when you have removed what was causing that need in the first place.”

In 2009, the company’s HaloPure® became the first drinking water disinfection technology to be approved and registered by the US Environmental Protection Agency in thirty years.  Approval by the Chinese Ministry of Health followed in 2010, along with several other key certifications around the world. HaloSource partners with companies around the world who put its technology into their devices for consumers. There are currently over five million people in India drinking water that has been purified with HaloPure.

HaloSource’s environmental and recreational water businesses are built on a different technology, which is often considered a greener alternative to traditional, petroleum-based chemicals. The key ingredient is chitosan, a naturally occurring and biodegradable biopolymer made from recycled crustacean shells.  In its early days, Halosource developed chitosan for the US Navy to clarify the water in underwater photography without harming wildlife. Pool and hot tub solutions were developed, and eventually they discovered that it was also very effective in large bodies of water. Recently they worked with Tiller Corp., a frac-sand mine in Minnesota, to help clean up sediment filled streams as a result of their mining. Tiller Corp intentionally turned to HaloSource because of their superior performance while being more environmentally sound.

HaloSource develops and commercializes its innovations in its extensive labs and pilot plant in Bothell, and has labs and manufacturing facilities in Bangalore India and Shanghai China.   In the past few years, Halosource has expanded into Latin America and throughout Asia. Both Martin Coles and Kate Bovey, head of public affairs, both having worked at Starbucks International, came to Halosource with a global-brand mindset. Yet beyond expanding their market, the company finds ways to give back to the communities with whom they engage.

They have created partnerships with both nonprofits and corporations to bring water solutions to those who need it most. Last year they began a partnership with A Barefoot Mile Foundation to donate water purification devices to a community in the Mdolo region of Malawi.

In addition to drinking water solutions, Halosource is committed to other good deeds related to water quality. For example, last year they joined the National Drowning Prevention Alliance. “Cloudy pool water is a leading cause of drowning, and since the company pioneered the technology to clarify cloudy pool water, it only makes sense that we would want to be involved in this arena,” said Bovey.

By joining Global WA, they hope to find more ways to expand their hometown presence and their partnerships.  To find out more about Halosource go to their website at halosource.com.

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Featured Organization

After Decades of Success, buildOn Looking Next at Seattle Area Expansion

By Mark Olmstead

As we get closer to October 11, International Day of the Girl Child, Global Washington will be focusing on member’s work in girls’ education.  buildOn’s innovative program integrates both building schools for students abroad while empowering American urban youth through local and global service.  This is an excellent model for making a real difference in education abroad and for changing hearts and minds at home. buildOn constructs schools in Haiti, Malawi, Mali, Nepal and Senegal with the mission to “break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and low expectations through service and education.”

Randi Hedin, buildOn National Board Member and President of the buildOn Seattle Chapter, traveled earlier this year to construct a new school in Senegal.  The communities former school was not only unsafe and inadequate, but was made of millet – a food source for not only the community, but also for their livestock. One morning, Randi awoke to find a cow literally eating the school!  The village was fortunate to have a new buildOn school to replace it.

Founded in 1991, by Jim Ziolkowski, buildOn has grown exponentially in the last two decades. Currently buildOn has constructed 550 schools that are providing access to education for more than 85,000 children, parents and grandparents. In buildOn’s afterschool programs, American urban youth contribute intensive local service – helping the homeless, seniors and children in their communities – to confront urban struggles with passion and optimism. These same students travel to construct schools in buildOn project countries. Over 1.2 million hours of service have been contributed by buildOn youth and 94% of buildOn students not only high school graduation, but go on to college.

buildOn also works extensively to promote the importance of education for girls. From the beginning of each school construction project buildOn champions the rights of women, emphasizing gender balance in both the Project Leadership Committee and in the school’s attendance. The Project Leadership Committee is responsible for organizing and leading the school’s construction. Members are elected from within the community, and the committee is comprised of equal numbers of men and women. Additionally, as a condition of partnering with buildOn, each village makes a promise to send their daughters to school in equal numbers with their sons. Through this effort buildOn has given women and girls in many rural villages their first opportunity to become educated and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Currently, 49% of students in buildOn schools are female.

For nine years now, buildOn has received one of the highest ratings from Charity Navigator, which gives a grade for accountability and transparency of finances and resources. buildOn is looking to expand into the Seattle area.  Currently it has one high school chapter at Renton High School, which has already done a community service trip to Nicaragua.  In the upcoming months buildOn will be sponsoring and attending events in hopes of creating a larger presence in Washington State.  On September 18, founder, Jim Ziolkowski, released his book Walk in their Shoes: Can One Person Change the World? He will also be speaking at buildOn’s Seattle Dinner on November 8th in Woodinville to discuss his book and the organization. This dinner is open to the public.

For more information about buildOn, ways to donate, and details about the event visit their website at buildon.org or email Randi Hedin at randi.hedin@gmail.com

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Welcome new members

Please welcome our newest Global Washington members. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with their work and consider opportunities for support and collaboration!

Champion Members

FSG: FSG is a nonprofit consulting firm specializing in strategy, evaluation, and research. It was founded in 2000 as Foundation Strategy Group and have completed more than 600 consulting engagements with many of the world’s leading corporations, nonprofit organizations, and charitable foundations. www.fsg.org

Advocate Members

Community Colleges for International Development (CCID): CCID is a purpose driven non-profit international membership organization committed to expanding local access to global opportunities through relationship building, education, and development. www.ccidinc.org

Knowledge for People: Knowledge for People works with families and communities around the world to promote greater awareness and acceptance of autism through outreach, education and advocacy. http://knowledgeforpeople.org

Spreeha Foundation: Spreeha Foundation engages deeply within urban slum communities to establish an atmosphere where the community feels enabled to exercise their rights and responsibilities. http://spreeha.org

New Individual Members

Anisha Prasad
Ann Hedreen
Myung Lae
Omar Mumin
Rana Amini

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Upcoming Member Events

Macro on Micro

Microfinance has been promoted as one of the most successful economic innovations for global financial inclusion for people living in poverty. Yet, reports from the MIT Poverty Action Lab and others have come out questioning the value of traditional microfinance institutions to permanently lift people out of poverty. The hard data measuring the permanent effectiveness of traditional microfinance remains elusive but evidence does suggest that microfinance organizations need to play to their strengths in delivering services beyond access to capital. Nathalia Rodriguez Vega, economic & financial analyst at Global Partnerships, will share our perspective on why we need to think differently about microfinance, why we have evolved its strategy to go beyond what traditional microfinance has to offer, why our is not a microfinance organization and why its investment funds are not “microfinance investment vehicles (MIVs).” Click here for more details and to RSVP.

Date:
September 25, 2013 | 7:00 pm

Location:
Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture, Univ. of WA | Seattle, WA

Global Visionaries // Vision Night

Featuring Paul Shoemaker of Social Venture Partners Unleashing the potential of youth to become global leaders

RSVP here.

Date:
September 26, 6pm – 8pm

Location:
Winston-Wachter Art Gallery 203 Dexter Avenue North Seattle, WA 98109

Afghan Girls: Their Time is Now!

Ayni Education International is pleased to announce its 2013 Seattle breakfast fundraiser, “A Place to Learn: Sustaining Girls’ Education in Afghanistan, Post 2014.” Reserve your seat or table today at 206-331-3786 or info@aynieducation.org. For more information, please see http://aynieducation.org/take-action/events-and-giving-opportunities/

Date:
Thu, September 26, 7:00am – 8:45am

Location:
Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41st St, Seattle

Seattle BioMed // Community Event: Harambee Dan Zak, Ph.D

One third of the world’s population has latent tuberculosis (TB). Dan Zak, Ph.D., is working on a study with the University of Capetown to find out who is getting TB and why, and how to use that information to predict whether someone will transition from latent to active TB years before symptoms ever emerge. The program includes light appetizers, beer and wine. For more details, please contact Brooke Longacre.

Date:
Thu, September 26, 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Location:
Seattle BioMed Discovery Conference Room 307 Westlake Avenue N Suite 500 Seattle, WA 98109

Antioch University // Women’s Leadership Summit

The Women’s Leadership Summit is the culmination of the Project, Developing Women’s Leadership ~ Around the Globe. It brings women together to reflect on the ways women lead and to explore ways to support development of women’s leadership around the globe. It honors and amplifies the vision and energy of communities, the grass-roots local level of change that creates global change. A great deal of work has already been completed and the decisions made at the Summit will influence a broad range of further actions. This will be a celebration – marking significant progress, learning, relationships, and development. Being at this point in any journey enables breadth of vision and clarity around other peaks yet to be attained.  http://www.antiochseattle.edu/ai1ec_event/womens-leadership-summit/?instance_id=565

Date:
Sat and Sun, September 28 and 29, 8am-5pm

Location:
Antioch University-Seattle, 2326 6th Ave, Seattle, WA

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center

Family Day: Kids Can

Are you and your family inspired to create positive change, but not sure where to start? The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center invites you to join them for Family Day: Kids Can, a day for families and kids age 5yrs. and above where you can enjoy:

• Hands-on Activities: Play games that allow you to create change in real time
• Youth Presentations: Listen to inspiring stories of kids making positive changes locally and globally
• Volunteer Marketplace: Learn about family-friendly volunteer opportunities

RSVP: Click here!

Date:
Saturday, September 28th // 10:00am-3:00pm

Location:
Gates Foundation Visitor Center // 440 Fifth Ave North // Seattle, WA

Women in Control

Washington Global Health Alliance, PATH, and Open Arms will lead a frank discussion on how the ability to control family size and experience safe childbirth enables women to dream, create, and work together to improve their own lives and that of their families and communities. For more information, click here.

Date:
Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Location:
Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture, Univ. of WA | Seattle, WA

Woodland Park Zoo // Brew at the Zoo

The fabulous tasting event features microbrews and ciders at this adults-only evening. Held in the zoo’s Rain Forest Food Pavilion and Zoomazium, the event also features food and entertainment to “top off” your evening. Must be 21 and over to attend. Proceeds from this fundraiser benefit the zoo. For more information, click here or contact: zooinfo@zoo.org

Date:
Thu, October 3, 5:30pm – 8:30pm

Location:
Woodland Park Zoo

11th Annual Business of Hope Luncheon

Around the world, nearly 1.3 billion people lack access to affordable and reliable sources of electricity. This means that roughly 1 in 5 people do not have light to work and study at night, which greatly reduces their economic and educational opportunities. Green technologies like solar lights allow households to improve: economic and educational opportunities, living conditions, and reduce damage to the environment all while saving money. The microfinance institutions, cooperatives, and other social enterprises with whom Global Partnerships works play a unique role as trusted intermediaries who bring these technologies to millions of households. Your support helps catalyze solutions to empower men and women like our Luncheon speaker Florinda Salinas to improve her family’s quality of life by providing her access to affordable solar light. Click here for more details and to RSVP.

Date:
October 8, 2013 | 11:30 am – 1:15 pm

Location:
Westin Hotel Grand Ballroom| Seattle, WA

World Bicycle Relief // Africa Rides

Africa Rides offers an exclusive opportunity to connect with World Bicycle Relief recipients while experiencing the spirit of ingenuity and hope that comes with a bicycle. During this nine-day adventure you will partner with assemblers to build your own bike which you will then ride alongside entrepreneurs, healthcare workers, and students as you learn their stories and see the profound impact two wheels can make in rural Zambia. This unparalleled access paired with a world class safari excursion provides a truly life changing experience you will cherish forever. For more information, click here.

Date:
Sat, October 5, 12am – Mon, October 14, 12am

Location:
Zambia

Mercy Corps and the World Affairs Council // Syria: Up Close on a Crisis

Join the World Affairs Council and Mercy Corps for an evening of conversation and panel discussion on the crisis in Syria. The panel will include Resat Kasaba, Director of the Jackson School at the University of Washington; Cassandra Nelson, Mercy Corps Director of Syria Response and Communications; and Ҫengiz Candar, a Turkish journalist considered one of the most influential in the Middle East. The evening will provide insight into the historical context of the current Syrian crisis, perspectives from a humanitarian aid worker on what it’s like on the ground in the conflict, and the implications of the crisis for the region and the United States.

Purchase tickets here: http://www.world-affairs.org/ai1ec_event/syria-close-up-of-a-crisis/?instance_id=1209

Cost:
Students/Members: $10, General Public (Non-Members): $15, VIP (includes reserved seating+ Access to reception): $35

Date:
October 16, 2013 @ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Location:
Town Hall, Great Hall; enter on Eighth Avenue
1119 8th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101

West Africa Live! A Festival of Music, Food, and Dance

Presented by Gambia HELP
For more information, click here.

Date:
Sat, October 19, 6:30pm – 9:30pm

Location:
Townhall Seattle, 1119 8^th Avenue, Seattle, WA

Join Water for Humans in Celebration with a Fundraiser for Water and Stoves!

November 2nd is, Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, and is celebrated throughout Latin America. It’s an especially significant holiday to the people in Oaxaca, Mexico, where WFH has been concentrating efforts to provide clean water and sustainable technologies to the underserved. Join us to celebrate and learn about the clean cookstove project we’re implementing in Oaxaca.

So, you might ask, what do stoves have to do with water? Well, it still all about water and preserving the rainforest land of northern Oaxaca. By providing more efficient sustainable ways to cook and tend the land, fewer trees are cut, preserving the watersheds that provide precious water.

What’s special about our stoves? To preserve the watersheds we have designed a cookstove that burns gathered twigs, not harvested trees. These stoves heat the water quickly and efficiently while accommodating 3 pots and a Comal (a flat steel pan for cooking tortillas). In addition to reducing the harvesting of trees, the stoves vent smoke-pollutants outside of the home, greatly reducing the devastating effects of respiratory illness so common when using their existing stoves.

After introducing a few of the stoves in Northern Oaxaca, the local Mazateca families who call these remote mountains their home, value them so much they asked us to help them build an additional 90 stoves. Thanks to the generous donations of WFH’s supporters, we’ve answered their call and are now planning the next phase of our project.

What’s next? We’d love to tell you what’s next! So why don’t you come see the stove in action yourself (our stove is outside in a garden) and enjoy some fresh cooked Mazateca food while we tell you about our plans for the future. Tents and tarps will keep you dry and fresh Oaxacan drinks will keep you warm.

• Come to our celebration party and enjoy local Mazateca food and coffee cooked on one of our stoves (specialty drinks by donation)
• Celebrate and acknowledge our students, 20 trained stove builders, one-third of whom are women!!!
• Learn about our new “Generation 2” cookstove program.

Date
Open House Saturday Nov. 2nd, 1-7pm

Location
NE Seattle

Tickets
$20 /person $30/ couple, address provided when you get your ticket.

Sign up here

Seattle International Foundation now accepting applications for the 2013 Global Program, Round 2 (Focus on Women/Girls)

Applications must be submitted via SIF’s online portal no later than 11:59pm on Wednesday, September 25, 2013. The second round grant recipients will be announced at SIF’s 4th annual Women in the World breakfast on November 15, 2013.

To learn more about this opportunity and apply, please click here.

Engaging Communities in Needs Assessment & Project Planning: 
Exploring the Challenges & Sharing Our Experiences

How can international development organizations support communities to develop solutions to their most pressing challenges?

One Equal Heart Foundation’s special guests from Chiapas, México will share information about their experiences in developing a methodology to equip indigenous communities with capacities to conduct their own needs assessment studies and identify sustainable solutions to development challenges by marshalling available resources.

One Equal Heart Foundation, Seattle International Foundation and Global Washington invite you to a roundtable discussion. Bring your field experiences to share.

Please bring your own sack lunch.

Date
Wednesday, November 6, Noon-1:30 PM

Location
Seattle International Foundation
500 Union Street, #801
Seattle, WA 98195

iLEAP Open House

We are so excited about our brand new website and the arrival of our 2013 International Fellows that we have decided to throw a party!

Join us at iLEAP for a fun evening of food, drinks, and globally inspired mingling and activities.

• Learn more about iLEAP and our work with grassroots leaders and social innovators.
• Meet our inspiring group of 2013 International Fellows from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
• Win some cool prizes and celebrate global community!

This event is FREE and open to the public. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

Register Now!

Visit Our New Website

Empowering Women Exhibit

Artisan cooperatives that transform communities
June 12 – October 27

From Africa to Asia to the Americas, female artisans are creating grassroots cooperatives to reach new markets, raise living standards, and transform lives.

Empowering Women provides an intimate view of the work of ten artisan enterprises in ten countries. This exhibition illustrates the power of grassroots collaborations to transform women’s lives, through inspiring personal stories, stellar photographs and stunning examples of the cooperatives’ handmade traditional arts. Learn more: http://www.burkemuseum.org/empowering

The Burke is offering up five special opportunities to see Empowering Women with your favorite group of 5 to 20 people on select dates July through October. These are perfect opportunities for your board, a group of colleagues, your book club, or a special group of friends or neighbors to get together to see the show.

Learn more here: http://www.burkemuseum.org/empowering/hour
To reserve a date, email useburke@uw.edu

Date
June 12 – October 27

Location
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture

Empowering Women Fall Programs Explore Global Development Issues from a Local Perspective

Lecture Series: Empowering Women through Art & Action

Discover the challenges and opportunities facing women around the world in a special lecture series at the Burke Museum. Topics include microfinance, women’s land rights, building fair trade networks, women-supported companies, and global health. Lectures led by Empowering Women Community Partners PATH, Global Partnerships, Ten Thousand Villages, and more.

Lineup of talks:
Macro on Micro
Wednesday, September 25, 7 pm, Burke Museum
Microfinance is touted as “one of the most successful economic innovations for people living in poverty.” But is it? Global Partnerships asks us to think differently about microfinance and explains how their funding strategy is evolving.

Women in Control
Wednesday, October 2, 6 pm, Burke Museum
Washington Global Health Alliance, PATH, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Open Arms will lead a frank discussion on how the ability to control family size and experience safe childbirth enables women to dream, create, and work together to improve their own lives and that of their families and communities.

Her Land
Wednesday, October 9, 7 pm, Burke Museum
Women’s land rights activists, participants in Landesa’s Visiting Professionals Program, give us an inside look at advocating for women’s land rights in India and Africa. These international development practitioners will discuss their current projects and experiences working on the front lines, helping women obtain rights to land.

Building Fair Trade Networks
Wednesday, October 16, 7 pm, Burke Museum
Ten Thousand Villages’ director Doug Dirks shares stories about the establishment of artisan cooperatives around the world. As one of the country’s oldest and largest Fair Trade merchandisers, they’ve seen countless lives transformed by fair wages.

Giving Back, Moving Forward
Thursday, October 24, 7 pm, Burke Museum
Olowo-n’djo Tchala, founder of the skin-care company Alaffia, explains how a comprehensive fair trade approach preserves traditional resources and cultural knowledge. Tchala won Washington’s 2013 Jefferson Award in recognition of his mission to advance gender equality and alleviate poverty.

Festival and Exhibit Closing
ISIS: Women Arts Festival
Sunday, October 27, 1 pm, Burke Museum

The 3rd Annual Seattle Anniversary Dinner for Schools for Salone is coming up on October 26th!

Please join us to celebrate the past year of our work to support education in Sierra Leone. We would love to have you with us for our dinner gala, where you will enjoy complimentary wine from Chateau Ste Michelle and Idle Cellars, treats from Fran’s Chocolates, Margaret Larson from KING 5 TV as Emcee, a Key Note speech from the Seattle Sounders’ Steve Zakuani, and a raffle for a week at a vacation house at the Sea Ranch in California. Various items from Sierra Leone will be available for sale, and there will also be a cash bar for beer and mixed drinks during the cocktail hour.

Please click on the link below by Friday, October 18th to register.

Register Now!

I can’t make it

If you have any questions about the event or about registering, you can contact Cindy Nofziger, Executive Director of Schools for Salone.

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Announcements

Student Advocacy Training

In response to the tragic shooting of young Pakistani education advocate Malala Yousafzaid, students in classes across the US have been given a specific example of the importance of ensuring that all young people globally have access to a quality education. That 57 million elementary school-aged young people are out of school is a serious global issue in which students in the US are now taking an interest and working to address.

As part of this effort, the Global Campaign for Education-US launched a “Student Advocacy Training” program for students in the US aged 18-25 to provide them with information and skills on how to advocate for education internationally. Based on the successful April 2013 training workshop,  a second training is scheduled for November 1-5, 2013 in Washington, D.C. GCE-US covers travel (to and from D.C.), lodging and food during the training. The training culminates in visits with members of Congress and a Capitol Hill briefing and reception.

Candidates need to be interested in education’s role in development and be willing to bring the information back to his/her community.

If you know someone who is interested in applying for the advocacy training, share this link: http://www.campaignforeducationusa.org/student-advocacy-training/ .

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Career Center

Highlighted Paid Positions

Executive Director, Washington State China Relations Council
https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/-50/

Development Research Strategist, Splash
https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/development-research-strategist/

Web Applications Developer, Global Impact
https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/web-applications-developer/

Assistant Director of Development, The Northwest School
https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/assistant-director-of-development/

Highlighted Volunteer Positions

Photo Assistant, Facing the Future
https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/photo-assistant-2/

French-English Translator, Ashoka
https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/french-english-translator-2/

Highlighted Internship Positions

Career Center Intern, Global Washington
https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/career-center-team/

Research and Scholarship Fall 2013 Internship, World Justice Project
https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/research-and-scholarship-fall-2013-internship/

For more jobs and resources, visit https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/

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GlobalWA Events

September 18
New Member Orientation

September  19
Monthly Roundtable for Executive Directors, Board Members & Program Directors of small NGOs

Monthly Change-Up Happy Hour with friends of GlobalWA & Humanosphere

September 20
Catalyzing Collective Impact for Spokane’s Global Development Community

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Global Washington applauds the efforts of organizations working to better the lives of those living in poverty all over the world – at home and abroad.  To help those living in the US find resources for assistance, tools for advocating for social justice, and other ways to get involved, check out this post by Carrie Watson, writer for MSWonlineprograms.com: http://mswonlineprograms.org/poverty-hunger

By Mark Olmstead

Yesterday, Washington Representative and top Democrat of the House Armed Services Committee Adam Smith [WA-9] issued a press release on United States involvement in Syria.  Along with other congressional Democrats including Washington Senator Patty Murray, Smith warns of United States entering Syria militarily in any sense should not be approached hastily, “Military action could have significant consequences and there is no guarantee that it would improve the situation or promote a positive outcome.”

Next week the United Nations will release its report on the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government and from that any type of decision will be based.  Senator Patty Murray joins the views of Congressman Smith in calling for no immediate actions, she said “The use of chemical weapons, as well as conventional weapons, on innocent civilians in Syria is abhorrent and must end, however, as the recent past has taught us, we must be exceedingly cautious in making any decision that holds the possibility of entangling our nation in a long, drawn-out conflict.”

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By Emma McKay

In light of the seemingly hopeless situation in Syria, Global Washington, an organization that catalyzes critical collaborations among other global development organizations, leaders and citizens of Washington State, would like to highlight the amazing work of one member organization, Save the Children.

At just nineteen months-old, Syrian child Sham muttered her first word: “enfijar” meaning “explosion,” according to Save the Children’s “Childhood Under Fire” report on the civil war’s effects on children in the region. Children throughout Syria have been traumatized by constant shelling of their cities, watching their schools and homes crumble, losing loved ones and fearing for their own lives. Many children are sick and cannot find any open hospitals. Many have fled to refugee camps in neighboring countries like Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. Others find it too dangerous to flee by walking on the streets. One study cited in Save the Children’s report claimed three in every four Syrian children interviewed had lost a loved one, two in three had been in a situation where they felt in great danger, and one in three had been hit, kicked, or shot at. Numerous Syrian children both within and outside Syria, are going hungry. It is safe to say that the children of Syria need help, and that’s why Save the Children has been doing everything they can to ensure the safety and continued development of children throughout the region.

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Welcome to the August 2013 issue of the Global Washington newsletter. If you would like to contact us directly, please email us.

IN THIS ISSUE

• Note From Our Executive Director
• GlobalWA Announcements
• Question of the Month
• Featured Organization: Habitat for Humanity’s Cambodia Big Build 2013: November 1-9
• World Justice Forum: The Rule of Law for All
• Welcome New Members
• Upcoming GlobalWA Member Events
• Announcements
• Career Center
• GlobalWA Events

Note from our Executive Director

Greetings!

I hope that you are enjoying the lovely summer days.   We at Global Washington are very excited with our work to focus strategically on strengthening membership services.   We completed close to 50 member interviews designed to help us define our value proposition and benefits for our members as well as to help define our priorities for the rest of this year.

We have also completed a member impact report which will help us tell the story of the global development community in Washington State.  This report is now in its final design phase and will be released in the next month.   We will share that report with you in our next newsletter.

As we draw nearer to the 5^th Annual Conference: Catalyzing Collective Impact, I want to draw attention to the Early Bird Registration Deadline coming up on August 30^th.  Please take advantage of the opportunity to attend the conference at this significant discount.  Additionally,  there are several opportunities for you to participate in our conference: you can participate in the fast pitch presentations by submitting a proposal here, you can propose panels by submitting a proposal here, you can nominate a global hero, or you can participate in the conference planning committee by writing to me at Bookda@globalwa.org.

In unity,

Bookda Gheisar, Executive Director

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Global Washington Announcements

Have You Registered for the Conference Yet?

Here are three important deadlines to keep in mind:

1. Nominate a Global Hero DEADLINE August 30
2. Propose a session for the conference DEADLINE August 30
3. Enter your organization in for a fast pitch presentation DEADLINE August 30

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS August 30.
Early bird registration price for members – $100; non-members –  $150.
Price for registration after August 30 for members – $150; for non-members – $225

Check Out Globalwa’s New Post and Listing of Dual Language Programs

http://www.seattleglobalist.com/2013/08/20/five-reasons-washington-needs-dual-language-programs/15764

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GlobalWA will ask you a question every month and synthesize the responses and make available to our member organizations. Please take a moment to respond to the question for this month:

How can Global Washington increase its value to Washington’s business community?

Please click here to respond.

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Featured Organization

Habitat for Humanity’s Cambodia Big Build 2013: November 1-9

By Sara Veltkamp

Constant threat of eviction, kids with no education because their life is spent helping their family to secure a safe place to sleep and food to eat, and imminent threat of illness from exposure and poor nutrition, these are only a few resulting problems of homelessness.

“Having a stable house – a home, a place for your kids to bring their friends and study – helps to improve education which leads to a better life, not an extravagant life, but a better one.  If you can provide that stability, it makes all the difference in the world”, claims Betsy Weyer, board member of Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County and team leader for Habitat’s South East Asia Big Build in Cambodia November 1-9, 2013.

Habitat for Humanity is hoping to send 12-25 open-hearted Seattleites to Cambodia to help them build 330 homes outside of Phnom Penh for hundreds of people who lost their livelihood as “garbage pickers” through the closing of the Steung Meanchey dumpsite in 2009.  In collaboration with a French development organization Pour un Sourire d’Enfant [For a child’s smile], or PSE, Habitat is helping to build Smile Village, a place where these families can live, learn new trades through PSE’s education and vocational training, and once again lead a productive life.

Weyer can attest to the powerful experience that engaging in a Big Build can be.  As one of 75 international volunteers (the Cambodia Big Build is hoping to bring 350), Weyer participated in Habitat’s Big Build in Bangladesh last year.  She found that the experience reintroduced her to how interconnected our world really is:  “The world is small, and every year it gets smaller.  The idea of a global village or global community hits home when you see how millions of other people around the world live.”

Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County is a new affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International and was formed last October by the merger of the successful affiliates Habitat for Humanity of East King County and Habitat for Humanity Seattle/ South King County.  Since its formation, Habitat Seattle-King County has been awarded Habitat International’s competitive “Affiliate of Distinction”, given to only 7 national affiliates and awarded based on detailed requirements for stewardship of resources and efficiency.  The award attests to the strength of their programs and the people living in the over 300 new homes in King County would likely agree.

If you would like to meet your global neighbors in Cambodia, travel to new parts of the world, and recognize your part in something bigger, head to Habitat Seattle-King County’s website for more details and an application.

Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County is part of a global, faith-based, nonprofit housing organization that seeks to put God’s love into action by building homes, communities and hope. Habitat SKC is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing through constructing, renovating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat SKC builds more than houses—we transform local communities. Our unique approach helps families to become successful homeowners while creating a better future for their families and neighborhoods.

For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.habitatskc.org, or follow us at www.facebook.com/habitatSKC  or on twitter @habitatskc.

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World Justice Forum: The Rule of Law for All

By Malena Harrang

This Fourth World Justice Forum was WJP’s largest event to date. Lasting three days, 550 participants from 100 countries engaged in formal plenary and active breakout sessions. This year topics included Combating Human Trafficking, Cooperation to Improve Environmental Governance and Implementation, Improving the Legal Framework of Disaster Relief, New Technology, Competitive Advantage: Attracting Investment, Ethical Supply Chains, Youth Leaders, Civil Society, and Accountability. Full length videos of these sessions are available to watch online through the WJP blog, Justice Rising.

Through special sessions during the week, conference participants announced 48 new initiatives aimed to strengthen the rule of law. These initiatives consist of innovative methods such as a mobile app tool for human trafficking victims and witnesses and digital platform where post-conflict survivors and participants can build an online community.

The Forum also featured speakers such as US Supreme Court Justices Anthony Kennedy and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, International Criminal Court President Song Sang-Hyun, and Founder & Executive Director of the Afghan Institute of Learning Dr. Sakena Yakoobi. This year’s Forum was dedicated to Nelson Mandela as a “survivor, champion, and beacon of the rule of law.” In an article for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, William H. Neukom, Founder of the WJP, commented that “The Forum was an inspiring and productive event.”

The World Justice Project—founded by Microsoft’s former lead lawyer, William H. Neukom—is a non-profit organization working out of Washington DC and Seattle that has been working to advance the rule of law worldwide since 2006. The WJP is the only Global WA member that works directly to promote the rule of law (learn more about the rule of law).  As part of this work, they support research and scholarship, publish the WJP Rule of Law Index, and engage with community leaders of all levels to develop practical programs at the community level, stimulate government reforms, and increase public awareness about the concept and practice of the rule of law.

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Welcome new members

Please welcome our newest Global Washington members. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with their work and consider opportunities for support and collaboration!

Antioch University Seattle: The University offers quality academic programs relevant to the needs of today’s learners and embraces experiential learning by bridging academic outcomes with the real-world experience of all members of its learning community. The University maintains a historic commitment to promoting social justice and the common good. Students graduate from Antioch University with a heightened sense of their power and purpose as scholars, practitioners, and global citizens. www.antiochseattle.edu

Cascade Designs: Began over 35 years ago with the simple idea of providing a more comfortable night outdoors. Since then, it has grown to become the parent company of some of the most respected brands in the outdoor industry. Though much has changed with this success, its recipe for achieving it has not. It believes that manufacturing the majority of our gear in our U.S. and European facilities is an essential element in maintaining quality, and that by striving to exceed our customers’ expectations of service, it will be successful for many years to come. www.cascadedesigns.com

HaloSource: A global company that develops clean technologies to disinfect and purify the water we drink, play in, clean with and put back into our water systems. As a recognized expert in the industry, they are leading the charge in the human health needs of water worldwide. www.halosource.com/index.aspx

New Individual Members
Anne Crylen
Rachel Anne Fabre Machacha
Roger Johnson

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Upcoming Member Events

UW Jackson School of International Studies // 2013 SVU Conference

The Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences (SVU) is pleased to announce its 2013 regional conference, titled Czechs, Slovaks and North America: Destination, Example, Opportunity, to be held on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle from August 29 to August 31, 2013 (with optional sightseeing extensions through September 2).

For more information click here.

Date
Thu Aug 29 – Sat Aug 31, 2013

Location
Ellison Center University of Washington (map)

World Affairs Council: Exploring Global Issues Workshop

Join Facing the Future and Global Visionaries for a FREE day-long workshop to learn effective strategies to engage students in being active global citizens! You will walk away from this workshop with free resources, new approaches, and a community of support to begin integrating global issues and sustainable solutions into your classroom. This workshop also includes FREE clock hours!

For more information click here.

Date
Fri Aug 30, 2013 8:30am – 3:30pm Pacific Time

Location
University of Washington, Seattle (specific location TBD) (map)

Construction for Change Summer Block Party

The party will be held at The Postat Pier 52 in downtown Seattle. There will be food, beer, wine, games (shuffle board, pool, and yes, corn hole too) and entertainment. This is our way of saying “thank you” to everyone who supports CfC and to welcome newcomers. We will also announce the winner of the Kenya Trip Giveaway for anyone who signs up for the Brick Club, our monthly giving program, up to the event!

For more information click here.

Date
Thu Sep 5, 2013 5pm – 9pm Pacific Time

Location
The Post at Pier 52 (map)

Hike for Water, Mt. Si

Sign-up for the Mt.Si hike on September 7^th!  Hike for Water will have two hikes, Mt. Si and Little Si. Little Si is perfect for families and Mt. Si is for those wanting a harder challenge.

For more information, here.

Date
Saturday, September 7, 2013 (9am – 4pm)

Location
Little Si – North Bend, WA

Kids without Borders // Traveling With A Purpose Vietnam

Carol Pucci – Seattle Times: They’ll do the usual sightseeing, but they’ll also take time out to visit schools, orphanages and hospitals, delivering clothes, medical supplies and toys they spent the past few months collecting. It’s called traveling with a purpose, a chance to not only explore another part of the world, but to make a difference in people’s lives.

Penny LeGate – KIRO television: Participants get a whirlwind swing through north, south and central Vietnam, dropping in on some of the country’s most famous sites. Sprinkled throughout are visits to orphanages and schools and other important places. Traveling with Pham, the inaccessible is accessible. He is our educator, our translator, our facilitator, and the connector to packs of needy kids.
For more information, visit: www.humanitours.blogspot.com or email: info@kidswithnoborders.org

Date
Thu Sep 12 – Tue Sep 24, 2013

One World Now! // 2013 Global Leader Fundraiser Breakfast

OneWorld Now! exists to develop the next generation of global leaders. Our innovative after-school program for underserved high school students includes language classes in Arabic and Chinese, leadership workshops, and scholarships to study abroad.

Date
Thu Sep 12, 2013 7:30am – 8:45am Pacific Time

Location
The Seattle Westin Hotel (1900 Fifth Avenue) (map)

Port of Seattle Candidate Forum

The Washington Council on International Trade and the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association will co-host a Port of Seattle Commissioner Candidate Forum to help members of the trade and maritime communities discuss issues of importance with candidates for elected office, and give them feedback on how to maintain and increase our state’s trade and maritime competitiveness. This forum will be an opportunity for candidates for the Port of Seattle Commission to meet with members of the trade and maritime communities, and discuss their visions for increasing the Port’s role in ensuring the success of our international trade and maritime economy.

Learn more: For more information, contact Eric Schinfeld at erics@wcit.org or 206.389.7273.

Date
Thu Sep 12, 2013 8am – 9:30am Pacific Time

Location
World Trade Center Seattle (map)

OSPI Social Studies Free Teachers Workshop // Islamic Cultures: Foundations, Women & Political Islam

According to a 2010 Pew Research survey, most Americans say they know little about the Muslim religion and its practices. This day-long workshop is designed for middle and high school teachers to promote cultural competency in teaching on Arab and Islamic Cultures. Teachers will be introduced to the historical foundations and cultural diversity within the Arab and Islamic worlds, the role of Islamic politics in current world events, and the experiences of girls and women in Islamic cultures. The workshop will include a roundtable discussion with local Muslim parents and youth discussing the stereotypes and challenges they face in school and in their communities.

The workshop is free and open to all interested teachers and community educators. A complementary Middle Eastern lunch will be provided, along with a number of teaching activities and resources.

For more information click here.

Date
Sat Sep 21, 2013 9am – 4:30pm Pacific Time

Location
The Evergreen State College, Olympia Seminar 2, D-1105 (map)

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Announcements

Music and Movie Night at the Seattle Asian Art Museum

8:30 pm Live music with DJ Bishie-JK POP

9:15 pm Gamera 3 (Shusuke Kaneko, 1999, 108 min. English subtitles). A young girl bent on revenge bonds psychically with the monster Iris, who challenges Gamera, the fire-breathing giant turtle. How much of Kyoto will remain standing?

For more information click here.

Date
Fri Aug 23, 2013 8:30pm – 11pm Pacific Time

Location
Amphitheater (map)

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Career Center

Highlighted Paid Positions

Senior Finance Officer, World Vision
https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/senior-finance-officer-2/

Development Manager, Global Visionaries
https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/development-manager-5/

Program Officer, Financial Services for the Poor Job; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/program-officer-financial-services-for-the-poor-job/

Highlighted Volunteer Positions

Volunteer at Literacy Bridge
https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/volunteer-with-literacy-bridge/

Build Big Trip to Cambodia, Volunteer Nov 1-9; Habitat for Humanity
https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/big-build-trip-to-cambodia-volunteer-nov-1-9/

Highlighted Internship Positions

Fall Development and Special Events Intern, buildOn
https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/fall-development-special-events-intern/

Research Intern, Initiative for Global Development
https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/research-intern-3/

For more jobs and resources, visit https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/

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GlobalWA Events

August 30
Deadline for Early Bird Conference Registration

September 11
Global Social – Sub-Saharan Africa
New Member Orientation

September  19
Monthly Roundtable for Executive Directors, Board Members & Program Directors of small NGOs
Monthly Change-Up Happy Hour with friends of GlobalWA & Humanosphere

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By Stephanie Tam

“These humanitarians often brave great danger, far from home. They work long hours, in the most difficult conditions. Their efforts save lives in conflict and natural disaster. They also draw the world closer together by reminding us that we are one family, sharing the same dreams for a peaceful planet, where all people can live in safety, and with dignity.”
UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon

In tribute to our amazing members who share the dreams described above by Ban Ki-moon, Global Washington would like to highlight this significant day that the United Nations has celebrated over the years.

Each year on August 19^th, the UN marks World Humanitarian Day. It is a day dedicated to recognize and honor all of the humanitarian aid workers who have faced countless hardships and have lost their lives in order to help others. The day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly to correspond with the anniversary of the catastrophic bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq in 2003, which tragically killed 22 people.

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By Sara Veltkamp

“The indigenous peoples of Chiapas believe that the land belongs to no one and the right of the Earth is equal to the rights of people. The people of One Equal Heart share this vision. One Equal Heart works in partnership with the Center for Indigenous Rights and the Tseltal Maya to create healthy families, healthy communities and a healthy planet. […] This holistic approach means indigenous communities can live with dignity and in harmony, protecting the Earth’s precious resources for a sustainable future for us all.”
Kaitlyn Sullivan, The Heart of Indigenous Rights: Ancestral Lands

In commemoration of The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People on August 9th, GlobalWA would like to highlight the work of One Equal Heart among the peoples of Chiapas.

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By Emma McKay

On Tuesday, July 30^th, GlobalWA hosted Gregory Myers, Division Chief for the Land Tenure and Property Rights Division at USAID and Tim Hanstad, President and CEO of Landesa at The Hub Seattle for a discussion on global property rights’ affect on food security, the environment and poverty levels. Hanstad moderated the discussion, asking questions about Myers’ experience working in the land tenure division at USAID, and why land tenure is an issue worth paying attention to.

The discussion began with a question about Myers’ hefty title as Chief of Land Tenure, and what it really means. Myers explained that he approaches the issue of property rights as an issue of power, and described it as a “very multilayered fabric.” According to Myers, often times, land is effectively owned by a variety of different people. On a cocoa farm for instance, there can be the person who actually owns the land, and the one who’s allowed to lease it out. All the while the actual cocoa trees are individually owned by different people. It can get tricky when it comes to who actually reaps the benefits from the cocoa.

“That’s why it’s so important when I fight for property rights,” Myers explained. “I want to protect everyone in that fabric.”

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Welcome to the July 2013 issue of the Global Washington newsletter. If you would like to contact us directly, please email us.

IN THIS ISSUE

• Note from our executive director
• GlobalWA announcements
• Featured organization: SE Asia Children’s Foundation
• Changemaker: Kentaro Toyama : Valuing quality over quantity of impact
• Welcome new members
• Upcoming GlobalWA member events
• Announcements
• Career Center
• GlobalWA events

Note from our Executive Director

Greetings!

Hope you are taking time out to enjoy the lovely summer days. We, at GlobalWA, have been very busy with preparation for the 5th annual conference. We are excited to open registration this week and look forward to working with our membership on the details of the agenda. There are several opportunities for you to participate in our conference: you can participate in the fast pitch presentations by submitting a proposal here, you can propose panels by submitting a proposal here, you can nominate a global hero, or you can participate in the conference planning committee by writing to me at Bookda@globalwa.org.

This year’s conference theme will continue to highlight the work of GlobalWA and the collective impact framework we use to bring our members together. You can find a list of member working groups and their focus areas here. Let me know if you are interested in joining one of these groups.

Thanks for all of your continued support. We look forward to seeing you at some of our upcoming fall events.

In unity,

Bookda Gheisar, Executive Director

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Global Washington Announcements

Join us for an opportunity to meet Chief Land Tenure and Property Rights Division at USAID

Join us on Tuesday July 30 for a conversation between Dr. Gregory Myers and Tim Hanstad (President & CEO, Landesa).  This event  will explore the relationship between food security, local land tenure, and poverty. For those not familiar, the global farms race is the practice of wealthy countries or investors leasing or buying outright huge swaths of arable land in low-income countries, often displacing local populations without consultation or compensation.

Using real world examples of land right acquisition from Benin to Tajikistan, Dr. Myers will demonstrate the importance of inclusive land use policy in ensuring proper nutrition, mitigating conflict, gender equality, environmental conservation, and ending the cycle of poverty in many low-income countries.   Dr. Myers will highlight how developing countries, investors, international organizations such as USAID and DFID, and non-profits like Landesa, are addressing the opportunities and challenges presented by the Global Farms Race. And will discuss how with strong land tenure policies and transparency, the Global Farms Race can benefit both investors and locals alike.”

RSVP: Click here!

Update from U.S. Global Leadership Coalition: The Heat is on for Foreign Aid

the House Appropriations Subcommittee responsible for foreign assistance slashed the International Affairs Budget this morning by 19 percent compared to current funding, even with sequestration.  This represents a nearly 30 percent cut in funding just in the past three years.  Our National Security Advisory Council co-chairs sent a strong statement of concern stating that this bill puts both our national and economic security at risk at a time when the challenges we face around the world only continue to grow.

The good news is that next Tuesday, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee will mark up their version of the same bill, which is $10 billion higher than the House level for international programs. For a more detailed analysis, you can view USGLC’s budget center here.

Send us your success stories!

We at GlobalWA are on a mission to promote the global development sector in Washington State.  As an organization, we know that you, our members and supporters, do amazing work on a daily basis that impacts thousands around the world.  However, we want everyone else in Washington to know!

In an effort to raise awareness among the general public, policy makers, and businesses, we are collecting short member success stories so that we can better advocate for you among our networks.

Don’t miss the opportunity to get your story out there!

If you have a story that you want us to share, please email Sara Veltkamp at SaraV@globalwa.org to request the easy-to-fill-out form.  We look forward to hearing from you and sharing your story!

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Featured Organization

SE Asia Children’s Foundation

By Emma McKay

Bill and Pat with girls at the orphanage in Bali.

For Bill and Pat Taylor, founders of the SE Asia Children’s Foundation, giving back doesn’t just mean pulling out the checkbook. What started as a pleasure vacation to Bali in 2005, quickly changed into an effort to sponsor the education of 140 Indonesian girls, and has now become a full fledged ambition to create sustainable change for children’s organizations throughout SE Asia. The couple, who are both mostly retired, fell in love with the girls they visited at an orphanage in Indonesia, but were heartbroken by how little the girls had. They wanted to do more than their original plan to sponsor two of them through high school. Eight years later, their work has changed the lives of hundreds of children in SE Asia and helps numerous organizations in the region function in a more efficient, impactful way.

Meeting with Theany, director of Future of Khmer Children.

Global Washington featured Bill Taylor as our “Changemaker” in the March, 2012 Newsletter, when the SE Asia Children’s Foundation was just getting off the ground. The couple had already created The Bill and Pat Bali Fund, which financially supports the seven orphanages in the Widhya Asih Foundation system, including the one they visited on their first trip to Bali. Through the SE Asia Children’s Foundation, they have expanded their work to organizations in Thailand, and now Cambodia and Myanmar. Their work has moved far beyond just financial assistance. Bill  is now using his years of experience as a management consultant, focused specifically on organization development, human resources management, strategic planning and training to work directly with organizations in the region to help them better manage their resources. Bill is doing what we all aspire to do in this field, using his own resources to help the children in the best way he knows how.

“[The girls’ situation is] not something you can change by writing a check,” he said. “It’s about bringing some new skills and working patiently with the organizations to combine our efforts to make a bigger impact.”

Anjali House.

Bill now travels to SE Asia four times a year He just returned last Saturday the 13^th from his most recent trip to Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar. Though the trip was a month long, he didn’t waste any time, taking only one day off, and staying at most, only four consecutive nights in one place.

He stayed the longest in Siem Reap Cambodia where he met with several organizations including Future of Khmer Children, which provides supplemental education in English, computer skills, sewing, and Khmer arts, music and culture.

“Kids come from local villages, go to government schools for half the day and go there for additional education,” said Bill. “So they’re really getting ahead.”

Along with Together We Can Change The World, a nonprofit also focused on helping children in Southeast Asia, the foundation is funding a technology center there that will provide the 322 children at the school with access to education enhancing technology such as DVDs, computers and satellite links to educational programs.

Bill with three monks.

In Siem Reap, he visited Anjali House as well, an organization that also provides supplemental education specifically in the arts, as well as healthcare, meals and safe drinking water for disadvantaged children in the area. He was more than impressed and is considering supporting the program in the future.

Another favorite visit was with a project with the monks of Dama Haywon in Myanmar, where over 70 monks live on a 70-acre property in the jungle along with 400 children who are provided shelter, food and education. In addition, these monks are also working in 20 nearby villages, providing 1,600 addition children with an education.

“Some monks are really dedicated to introspection and meditation,” said Bill. “Others are dedicated to community service. These monks are exceptionally dedicated to community service.”

Bill visited the monks along with his friend Treasure Shine who is the Thailand Project Manager for Partners Asia, a fellow Global Washington member. They were able to fund a small project to create a shelter to cover drying clothes outside so they don’t get wet in the rain. The two plan to return next January or February with a bigger group to show more people the phenomenal work the monks are doing.

Throughout the month, Bill visited many more new organizations, and spent a total of eight days coaching the organizations he and Pat already partner with. He was impressed with most of the organizations he visited, but some he found disappointing. The foundation is extremely careful in who it decides to support. It seeks out leaders to support who are committed, inspired, dedicated and ambitious, because that’s who can take their support the furthest in helping the children.Poor planning and potential corruption led Bill to lament, “there are so many kids in need, I can’t possibly help them all, The key for me is really looking for reputable confident leaders.”

Drying rack where a shelter will soon be built.

Bill is looking to expand to 6-8 people.He says that other consultants will have different skills to teach providing leaders the requisite skills and resources  to implement big change.

When asked about success stories, Bill had plenty to list. He cited his Bali “daughter” Siska and several other girls with sponsorships who recently graduated from university with a four year degree, as well as the loads of text messages from thankful children he receives whenever he first arrives back in Asia. He constantly has organizations asking him to come back and do more work because they have had so much success.

The SE Asia Children’s Foundation welcomes any contact, conversation and support from the public and would love to hear from anyone interested further in their projects and how to get involved.

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Changemaker

Kentaro Toyama : Valuing quality over quantity of impact

By Sara Veltkamp

Do you believe that nurturing people and communities is the best way to have an impact in international development?  Do you think that technology is only “an amplifier of human intent and capacity” rather than a standalone solution?

Global Washington individual member, Kentaro Toyama, does too and he is writing a book about these topics.

With the tentative title Heart, Mind, and Will Toyama’s book, which he describes as being “ambitious and (possibly) foolhardy”, tackles the problematic emphasis on “packaged interventions”– easily replicable interventions that are meant to be widely scaled for use in many diverse areas, but which fail to include elements of human or institutional growth that are critical to meaningful development.

“The most important things for the international development community to focus on are the maturation of individuals and societies so that they can better achieve their own aspirations” and according to Toyama this focus is in opposition to programs that universally apply a cookie-cutter treatment to development challenges.

A PhD in computer science and a former Microsoft employee, Toyama began focusing on technology in development when he went to India to help build a new research lab in Bangalore. He dedicated the next six years to the use of technology in development programs such as computers in classrooms, mobile phones for communicating with sugarcane farmers, text-free user interfaces for non-literate users, etc.

After nearly six years of that work, Toyama quit the technology industry and became a researcher at UC Berkeley but is living in Washington. He believes that many development practitioners who work closely with poor communities would agree with his premise, but his book is also aimed at philanthropists and policy makers who tend to be removed from ground realities and overly focused on quantity of impact over quality.

In addition to writing, he volunteers at several different international non-profits. At Global Washington, he helped organize the 2012 Annual Conference, and is currently using his research expertise to gauge the total impact of Global Washington members.

Toyama is also a Global WA member.  This year, Global Washington introduced individual memberships at $100 per year. Through this program, Toyama feels that he is able to connect with a community here that shares his interests in international development. Most recently he taught a ‘Dr Is In’ session on evaluation of program impact at Global Washington’s offices (follow the link to our blog for a recap).

If you’re interested in becoming an individual member so that you can interact with Toyama and our other amazing individual and organizational members; get access to our career center; and get discounted rates on our numerous workshops, educational, and networking events, email us at info@globalwa.org, or sign up at https://globalwa.org/get-involved/membership/.

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Welcome new members

Please welcome our newest Global Washington members. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with their work and consider opportunities for support and collaboration!

US Fund for UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works in 190 countries and territories to save and improve children’s lives by providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education,emergency relief and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF’s work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States. www.unicefusa.org

Linksbridge
Provides experienced teams and individuals to support executives in businesses and non-profit organizations. http://www.linksbridge.com/

New Individual Members
Leslie Stroud-Romero
Lynly Beard
Jack Purdie
Kentaro Toyama

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Member Events

Facing the Future and Global Visionaries in partnership with OSPI, the World Affairs Council, and Global Washington present: Exploring Global Issues and Building a Democratic Classroom

Join Facing the Future and Global Visionaries on August 30 for a FREE day long workshop to learn effective strategies to engage students in being active global citizens.

You will walk away with free resources, new approaches, and a community of support to begin integrating global issues and sustainable solutions into your classroom.

During a lunchtime keynote, Rick Steves will share with us his thoughts on using the classroom as a springboard for building global awareness and global citizens. Steves has authored over 50 European travel guidebooks, hosts a weekly national public radio show, writes a weekly column for the Chicago Tribune, and hosts a popular travel series on public television. He will give away free copies of his book “Travel As a Political Act” to workshop attendees.

Workshops are geared toward high school teachers, but all are welcome to join. Free clock hours provided! Click here for a workshop flyer.

Date
Friday, August 30, 2013
8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Location
Seattle, WA (specific location TBD)

Please mark your calendar and click here to RSVP.

Questions? Please contact Noah Zeichner: nzeichner@gmail.com

Love Parks Day with EarthCorps and Seattle Parks Foundation

Looking for a way to start your weekend green? Love Parks Day is an opportunity to roll up your sleeves and spend a summer Friday working with other rock star volunteers at one of Seattle’s well loved parks. The event is being organized by Seattle Parks Foundation in partnership with REI, EarthCorps, the Green Seattle Partnership, and Seattle Parks and Recreation. An inspiring group lunch will be provided to all volunteers. We are grateful to REI, The Seneca Group,and Wells Fargo for their generous support of this event.

Date
Fri Jul 26, 2013 10am – 2pm Pacific Time

Facing the Future’s Sustainability Education Summer Institute

The 3-day experience, held on the beautiful and sustainably-bui lt IslandWood campus on Bainbridge Island, is the perfect setting for collaborative and reflective learning.

For more information, click here.

Date
Mon Jul 29 – Wed Jul 31, 2013

Location
IslandWood
4450 Blakely Ave NE,
Bainbridge Island, WA

Lift Up Africa Golf Tournament 2013

Sign up today to play in Lift Up Africa’s 2nd Annual Golf Tournament in Cle Elum, WA. We expect to host over 70 golfers and have at least 12 sponsors who are making this day possible.

For more information, click here.

Date
August 1, 2013

Location
Tumble Creek Golf Course,
3600 Suncadia Trail,
Cle Elum, WA 98922

Register: https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/LiftUpAfrica/2013Golf.html

AEI Fall Event 2013: Afghanistan 2014: Sustaining Girls’ Education

The Topic: How will a diminished Western presence impact girls’ education in Afghanistan?
After twelve years of war in Afghanistan, the United States and its Western allies are withdrawing troops from the nation. During those twelve years, significant progress has been made on the education front for girls and women with school construction projects and literacy program development. The rates for girls entering school skyrocketed in some regions of the country. And while there is still significant work to be done, the foundation has been laid in many regions of Afghanistan to continue building a better future for girls and women.

However, donors are cautious now about giving their resources to causes in Afghanistan.Why give to a nation where headlines of top newspapers report increasingly volatile security conditions?

We’ve designed the breakfast so that you’ll hear from seasoned foreign affairs experts–a military veteran now devoted to humanitarian work in Afghanistan and a woman who served under 3 administrations representing the U.S. working for women’s rights in Afghanistan, Iraq and other nations. You’ll also hear from our own non profit organization’s leader about building and repairing over 20 schools during the past decade in Balkh Province, Northern Afghanistan.

Why should donors care now, more than ever, about sustaining programs that support and foster girls’ empowerment in Afghanistan? Join us for a conversation about the ways that philanthropists’ dollars have made a difference in opening the doors to education for millions of girls in Afghanistan. And help us celebrate the work of a Northwest donor who has pioneered innovative giving projects in Afghanistan in architecture, the environment,and girls’ empowerment.

Speakers
Charlotte M. Ponticelli
Lieutenant General John A. Bradley

Date
September 26, 2013
Registration & Coffee: 7:00 -7:30 am
Breakfast & Program: 7:30 – 8:45am

Location
Center for Urban Horticulture
3501 NE 41st St, Seattle

* Special Afghan pastries will be served

Reserve seats by e-mail or call 206-331-3786

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Announcements

Empowering Women Exhibit

Artisan cooperatives that transform communities
June 12 – October 27

From Africa to Asia to the Americas, female artisans are creating grassroots cooperatives to reach new markets, raise living standards, and transform lives.

Empowering Women provides an intimate view of the work of ten artisan enterprises in ten countries. This exhibition illustrates the power of grassroots collaborations to transform women’s lives, through inspiring personal stories, stellar photographs and stunning examples of the cooperatives’ handmade traditional arts. Learn more: http://www.burkemuseum.org/empowering

The Burke is offering up five special opportunities to see Empowering Women with your favorite group of 5 to 20 people on select dates July through October. These are perfect opportunities for your board, a group of colleagues, your book club, or a special group of friends or neighbors to get together to see the show.

Learn more here: http://www.burkemuseum.org/empowering/hour
To reserve a date, email useburke@uw.edu

Date
June 12 – October 27

Location
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture

WCIT Summer Trade Luncheon: The Trade Policy View from DC

An opportunity for high-level business leaders from across Washington state to gather for an update on Federal trade policy achievements in the first six months of the year, and to look ahead to the next six months. Close to 150 attendees gather to hear a keynote speech by high-level trade experts, followed by discussion and analysis.

For more information, click here.

Date
Thu Aug 8, 2013 12pm – 1:30pm Pacific Time

Location
Chamber’s office (in Microsoft Conference Center),
1301 5th Ave,
15th Floor, Seattle 98101

To register, follow the link below: http://www.seattlechamber.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?articleID=2832

Members, pre-paid is $45, $55 after 8/6. Non-members is $65.

Fitz & The Tantrums

Oxfam supporters Fitz & The Tantrums will be touring this summer, and have invited Oxfam to reach out to their fans at concerts around the country. If you are headed to this show, please look for the Oxfam table and join us and the band in taking action against hunger and poverty!

Event contact person: Bob Ferguson
concerts@oxfamamerica.org

Date
Fri Aug 9, 2013 8pm – 11:45pm Pacific Time

Location
Showbox Sodo,
1700 1st Ave South,
Seattle, WA 98134

Update on Charity Navigator Results Reporting Dimension from InterAction

As most of you know, Charity Navigator has been making several changes to its rating system. In 2011, it launched CN 2.0, which consisted of the introduction of a new Accountability and Transparency dimension. Earlier this year, Charity Navigator introduced the third dimension of its rating system (CN 3.0), which is focused on results reporting. You can see their announcement on CN 3.0 here, and find an explanation of how they plan to evaluate results reporting here. Additional information is available in a Results Reporting Concept Note.

Charity Navigator is currently piloting the new methodology in one cause area at a time, and have stressed that, while organizations’ scores on this dimension will be posted online, star ratings will not be affected until they have had an opportunity to test this methodology in many, if not most, of their cause areas. We have been told that they will not get to the cause areas under the international category for at least six months.

First comprehensive regulatory map is a blueprint for how to defeat tuberculosis

Despite decades of research on the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB), scientists have not had a comprehensive understanding of how the bacterium is wired to adapt to changing conditions in the host. Now, researchers at Stanford University, Seattle BioMed, Boston University and the Broad Institute, Max Planck Institute of Biology in Berlin, Germany, Caprion Proteomics Inc. in Montreal, Canada, Brigham and Woman’s Hospital (Harvard University), and Colorado State University have taken the first steps toward a complete representation of the regulatory network for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Read more In The News.

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Career Center

Highlighted Paid Position

Senior Business Development Officer, Program Development; PATH
PATH seeks a Senior Business Development Officer to support PATH’s program development efforts with multiple donors, including the United States government (USAID, NIH, etc.), other governments, foundations and the private sector. This position will focus on developing new business intelligence, new business response strategy and proposal implementation, requiring both strategic and tactical levels of support. This position is pivotal in the development of sound, responsive and compelling bids. Partnering with program leaders and others across the organization, the successful candidate will be in the center of the work, able to affect the direction of key bids. S/he will work both internally across the organization as well as externally with donors and partners. Opportunities to lead both time and a flexible work schedule to permit for either early morning or late evening teleconference calls or assignments. https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/senior-business-development-officer-program-development/

Office and Accounting Manager, Vittana
This position is critical to the core business functions of Vittana and touches a wide range of responsibilities with a primary focus on accounting.  Successful candidates for this position will have a strong, mid-level accounting background and willingness to do what it takes to make a medium-sized office run.  Tasks for this position could include everything from helping to set up accounting systems for the newly forming debt fund, ordering office supplies, project managing an audit, trouble-shooting tech problems and helping to plan staff events.  Willingness to stretch both up and down are essential for this role.  Given the growth stage Vittana is entering, this promises to be an exciting, interesting and challenging position for the right person. https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/office-and-accounting-manager/

Development Director, buildOn
buildOn seeks a dynamic Development Director to strategically execute on a variety of fundraising initiatives, including: major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundation/grant research & individual giving. The Development Director must have marketing and communication experience which will translate to an increase in annual revenues through running local campaigns & event fundraising. In addition to developing and implementing strategies for prospecting and bringing in new donors, the Development Director will manage an existing pool of donors. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in fundraising and sales as well as be an exceptional writer. The director will also be an excellent communicator, with the ability to listen and create a tailored pitch, both in writing and verbally, and will be excited by the responsibility of being accountable for significantly increasing financial support for buildOn. Reporting to the Vice President of Development, West Coast, you will be an integral part in engaging strategic partnerships that will help achieve buildOn’s aggressive fundraising goals. https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/development-director-3/

Highlighted Volunteer Opportunity

Citizen Ambassador; PeaceTrees Vietnam
PeaceTrees Vietname’s Citizen Diplomacy trips reach beyond simplistic views and provide an opportunity for travelers to volunteer and experience Vietnam from a unique and rewarding perspective. PeaceTrees’ ambassadors make personal connections with our Vietnamese sponsors by working alongside them, sharing meals, and planting trees. https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/citizen-ambassador/

Bankers without Borders, Grameen Foundation
Bankers without Borders® is a program of the Grameen Foundation that engages individuals and companies to help break the cycle of global poverty. It is a global reserve of business professionals with experience in a variety of fields – from finance and technology to human resources and marketing. By contributing their time and knowledge, Bankers without Borders volunteers support social enterprise, microfinance, and technology-sector initiatives throughout the developing world. https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/bankers-without-borders-volunteer/

Highlighted Internship Opportunity

Graduate-level Internship Rotavirus Vaccine Advocacy and Communications, PATH
This internship requires a 15-20 hour/week commitment and is expected to last for approximately three months.  A stipend of 900 USD per month will be offered. In addition to a cover letter and CV, please submit a writing sample of approximately 300-400 words (e.g., newsletter article, blog post, webpage content, fact sheet) that demonstrates your ability to effectively translate scientific findings into a communications piece for a non-technical audience. https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/graduate-level-internship-rotavirus-vaccine-advocacy-and-communications/

Osborn Youth Engagement Zone Intern, buildOn
buildOn is breaking the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and low expectations through service and education. For the past two decades buildOn has mobilized urban youth to lift up their communities and change the world through volunteer service. https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/jobs/view/osborn-youth-engagement-zone-intern/

For more jobs and resources, visit https://globalwa.org/strengthen/careers-in-development/

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GlobalWA Events

July 30
The Global Farms Race: Implications for Food Security, Poverty, and Foreign Investment

September 11
Global Social : Sub-Saharan Africa

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