We are keeping busy at Global Washington with many exciting events coming up this spring!
The second talk in our GlobalWA // Gather series is called Radical Optimism: Can we end the majority of our global dilemmas by 2035?This special collaboration between GlobalWA, the Seattle Symphony, and Benaroya Hall will take place on April 25th at Benaroya. Our featured speaker is Peter Diamandis, author of the acclaimed book Abundance. The book, subtitled “the future is better than you think,” is an optimistic look at our global future—an important perspective for those of us who are focused on and perhaps weighed down by the problems facing humanity. This event will also feature special guest, Mark Roth, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, who is currently studying suspended animation. Both of these gentlemen have inspiring TED talks that I would encourage you to check out before attending this event!
We are also excited for the opportunity to host an event on May 3th at the brand-new Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center! This event is free and will feature Ayuba Gufwan, co-founder of Wheelchairs for Nigeria, an organization that has donated over 5000 wheelchairs to Nigeria’s polio survivors. His talk will be preceded by an opportunity to explore the exhibits at the visitor center.
We are also excited to release our 2011 Annual Report! If you are interested in learning more about Global Washington’s mission and activities, this is a good place to start. The work of our members is an essential part of what we do and so this report also highlights numerous member projects and stories. You can download the report here or email us to request a physical copy.
We appreciate your engagement and hope to see you soon at a GlobalWA event!
Nutritional self-sufficiency — a foundation for healthy families
By Megan Boucher
“You fall in love with these people,” says Michael A. Bumstead, president of the Institute for Self-Reliant Agriculture (TISRA). He points out some of the people he is referring to in the organization’s new informational video: children playing and families smiling and waving into the camera. He shows me the picture on TISRA’s informational booklet: a blanket filled with brightly-colored fruits and vegetables—tomatoes, corn, potatoes, and bananas. TISRA helps rural farmers achieve nutritional self-sufficiency; the families in the film are now growing enough food to meet their families’ nutritional needs. “I get emotional because I know these people,” comments Mike as the video shows an Ecuadorian couple with two young children. “Remind me to tell you a story about that family.”
The story starts in 2006 when Mike first met the Yambella family in Ecuador, back when he was a donor to the Benson Institute, TISRA’s parent organization. The family was immediately given food for the two young children, whom Mike describes as so malnourished “they were basically on their deathbed. They were checking out.” 18 months after entering the program, the Yambellas were sustainably growing all that they needed.
Mike began his career as a machinist in the aerospace industry, working for a machine shop that his father started in their back yard. The shop grew exponentially over the next 20 years, becoming a supplier to Boeing in the 1980s and growing to include nearly 150 employees. Mike and his brother sold the business in 1998 when Mike wanted to focus his energy on something more personal.
He began funding nutritional programs through the Benson Institute, TISRA’s predecessor. He donated until 2009, when the university associated with Benson closed its agriculture department. Mike couldn’t bear to see such a transformational program go away. “I basically took that whole culture, organized it, and saved it before it disappeared,” he says of his newly-formed a 501(c)3 organization. The Benson directors are now on TISRA’s board of directors and key employees were very happy to retain their jobs. Mike doesn’t take credit for the effectiveness of TISRA’s model, but he did take it to the next level—moving beyond the lab/experiment setting of a university program to a rapidly-expanding organization.
Mike describes a later visit to the Yambellas that showed him the results of this life-changing model. The children’s mother took him into a storage room and showed him barrels filled with beans, grains, and other stored food. “Before, we didn’t know what we were going to eat. Now we have a different problem,” she told Mike, laughing, but with tears in her eyes. “Now we have to figure out what we’re going to eat—what choices we have!” The Yambellas graduated from the program years ago, but Mike still stops by to see how they’re doing. The children are playful with lots of energy. The family has even started an embroidery business.
The Yambellas represent an ideal success story for TISRA’s nutritional program. The TISRA model addresses the chronic malnutrition faced by rural farmers, who work tirelessly to grow their crops but are unable to sell them for enough money to sufficiently feed their families. “Growing a single crop, small farms just can’t compete against large agribusinesses,” Mike explains.
TISRA’s program helps farmers create multi-crop endeavors to generate sufficient food. The Institute employs an agronomist, a human nutritionist, and an animal scientist to comprehensively address each family’s nutritional requirements. The nutritionist and agronomist select food and crops based on the family’s needs and what will grow in the area. They then teach growing techniques that include small rotational gardens for vegetables, field crops for calories, and additional foliage to feed small animals. They combine the crops with affordable technology and instruction on health and hygiene issues. Once the farm is established, TISRA also helps the family raise small animals to augment their diet and to sell for additional income.
TISRA’s anecdotal data suggests that the dollar value of the food they are eating with the rotational model is 5 to 7 times greater than what they were previously generating — a substantial increase in wealth. This results in less disease and health problems for the families. Children are able to better attend and succeed in school. Family resources are freed up for new commercial ventures, such as the embroidery business that the Yambellas started. “Those type of things develop on their own,” says Mike. TISRA stays mission-focused on nutritional self-sufficiency but enjoys working with partners to continue families’ development at the next level.
“It’s important to grow the people as much as a better yield of crops,” Mike emphasizes. “Ownership is absolutely critical.” TISRA only works with families that want the program and never gives handouts. Anything TISRA gives is repaid once the families are self-sufficient.
In only a year-and-half of existence, the organization has impacted hundreds of families in Ecuador, Peru, and Kenya, with plans to expand into Guatemala, Malawi, Ghana, and Zambia. In additional to U.S.-based staff, they have 14 employees in Peru and Ecuador and four employees in Kenya. They are developing a textbook for teaching their program in universities and working on partnerships with regional governments.
The organization is also undergoing a paradigm shift in order to reach more people. “We can’t help world poverty, but our methodology can,” explains Mike. With the current staff they can only work with 50-100 families per country, which is not cost-effective and sustainable on a large scale. The new paradigm will utilize TISRA staff as consultants who will train government employees to implement the TISRA model. TISRA employees will continue working directly with a small number of families, but will be able to reach many more through this strategic partnership. Mike already has letters of intent from regional governments in Peru and Ecuador, expressing their intention to work with TISRA.
Mike has just come back from a trip in South America and recalls a visit to a remote village called Chugay, high in the Andes. The mayor assembled 18 farmers to meet with Mike and his staff—each farmer had traveled for hours and represented 50-100 families. “We need this,” they said, asking for TISRA’s program to come to Chugay.
Chugay will hopefully soon be another success story that Mike that can come back to a few years later. He loves visiting families who are thriving in the program, with healthier homes, surplus food, and growing children. “The teachers start complaining about the kids,” Mike says, laughing. “They have energy and they’ve become a discipline problem. That’s a good sign!”
Meeting these people motivates Mike to brave treacherous roads, dine on guinea pig, and shiver through the night in cold villages in order to expand this work. “Part of this story I can’t reveal in words,” he says. “You shake their hands and there are tears in their eyes as they say, ‘our kids need this.’” TISRA will start a program in Chugay and continue expanding into new countries and regions—hopefully soon these farmers will begin seeing a nutritional difference in the lives of their children.
Annual report: Our 2012 annual report has arrived! We are really excited to feature the amazing work of our members. You can view or download the report from our website.
The 18th Annual Washington State Nonprofit Conference & Expo will take place on Friday, May 11, 2012. Global Washington members can register at the “colleagues & members registration rate” of $175 per person. You can register at www.npconference.org using a special promo code that you should have received by email earlier this month.
Share your story! GlobalWA members: if you have a video about your work that you’d like us to feature on our website, email megan@globalwa.org. We love to tell our members stories in the “featured video” spot on our homepage.
Please welcome our newest Global Washington members. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with their work and think of opportunities for support and collaboration!
A Child’s Right: Our mission is simple: To change the lives of vulnerable children in impoverished urban areas by providing clean, safe drinking water to orphanages, schools, children’s hospitals, street shelters and rescue homes. www.achildsright.org
World Trade Center Seattle: World Trade Center Seattle (WTCSE) serves as a tribute to the importance of international trade in our region, providing an environment where business leaders can come together to share ideas and strengthen their connections. http://www.wtcseattle.com/
Microsoft and the International Youth Foundation have released “Opportunity for Action,” a comprehensive report that focuses on the growing opportunity divide among the worlds’ youth – those who have access to education and skills development and those who don’t. The report aims to create discussion on how the use of technology, investments, and collaboration among Microsoft, businesses, NGOs, and governments can help bridge this gap and give youth an opportunity to succeed in the 21st century.
This is a 24-page, approachable report that makes for essential reading for all organizations working towards improving the lives of youth everywhere. Both Microsoft Citizenship Blog and Microsoft News Center have more information and links to download a PDF of the report.
Bonsai People: A Film about the Power of Social Business and the Man Behind the Vision
Muhammed Yunus and the Grameen Bank built a movement by providing microcredit loans to women, and those efforts earned them the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. Forever seeking pragmatic solutions to world issues, Yunus embarked on a social business model to combat poverty and inequality. This inspiring documentary tracks Yunus’ vision and action, and provides a fresh perspective on humanitarian work.
Bonsai People (80 mins) will show on April 18 at 7pm at Kane Hall, Uof W campus. A VIP wine and cheese reception will be held prior to the screening. Admission costs $15 for the movie and $50 for the reception and movie. Purchase tickets here.
Bring on the Next Fifty!
The 50th Anniversary of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair officially begins on April 21st. To mark the occasion, the Seattle Center has scheduled a six-month long celebration, “The Next Fifty,” which will include art exhibits, entertainment, speakers, discussions, and more, all with a look to the future and a shared vision for the region. The celebration kicks off with a full-on, full-day party on April 21. For the next month, until May 21, the focus is “Sustainable Futures.”
Visit www.seattlecenter.com for a complete guide and calendar of the many events to take place, including many organized by Global WA members.
What about the Women? The Role of Women in Post-Quake Haiti
On April 26, World Affairs Council presents acclaimed journalist, author, filmmaker and gender and human rights activist Anne-Christine d’Adesky, in a discussion on the role of women in Haiti. Ms. D’Adesky, an expert in gender and global issues, has reported prolifically on political and human rights issues, healthcare and HIV/AIDS related issues. Following the Haiti quake she networked first responders to women’s and orphans groups, reported on Haiti’s progress, and co-founded PotoFanm+Fl, an initiative advocating for Haitian women, girls and grassroots groups to be leaders in rebuilding Haiti.
The program runs from 7- 8:30 pm at the International District/Chinatown Community Center Multipurpose Room. Cost:
members/non-members: $10/15. More details can be found here.
Celebrate Songea’s Kids Success at a Dinner Soirée
Songea’s Kids brings needed care to at-risk orphans and vulnerable children in one of the poorest areas of southern Tanzania. On May 3, celebrate the organization’s success and support further development on Hope Village at their “Songea Soirée.” The event will feature an East African dinner and keynote speaker, Jawad Khake, former Corporate VP of Microsoft, who was born in Songea.
This event will be held from 6:30-8:30pm at the Northwest African American Museum. Dinner, drinks and entrance to the museum (and knowing you’ve supported the organization) costs $100 per person. Reserve your seat at a table here.
Global Partnerships Breakfast
Start the day off right on May 2, with coffee, pastries, and the chance to hear about Global Partnerships’ innovative projects. Staff will be on hand to answer questions about how to get more involved in the organization and the global development sector. Breakfast and conversation will be served 8-9am. To RSVP, email Elise Ricci or call 206-456-7834 by April 25.
Grant makers and Philanthropists: A Chance to Get Inspired
Registration is now open for the 2012 Pacific Northwest Global Donors Conference. This year’s conference includes the ever-inspiring authors Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen (Giving 2.0: Transform Your Giving and the World) and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, (Purple Hibiscus; Half a Yellow Sun). The conference will center around eight workshops covering a range of topics, including next-generation philanthropy, and end with a tour of the Gates Foundation Visitor Center and a reception for all participants.
This conference, for northwest grant makers, philanthropists and all those curious about global philanthropy, will be held Friday, May 4, at the Best Western Executive Inn, Seattle. Registration fees: $75. For details, see www.globaldonorsconference.org.
Bringing Water to Kenya by Walking in Seattle
Women’s Enterprise International will hold their 4th Annual Walk for Water fundraising event on May 6. By walking the 2.5 to 10 mile distance or sponsoring a walker, you help women in rural Kenya purchase much-needed water tanks.
The walk is held, rain or shine, at Seward Park, Seattle, starting at 1:30pm. Registration costs are $25 adults, $15 students K-12, free for children 6 and under. Visit here for more details and links to register or sponsor.
Nonprofit Professionals and Organizations: Your Chance to Get Inspired
The 18th Annual Washington State Nonprofit Conference & Expo, “Extreme Makeover: The Nonprofit Way,” brings together influential keynote speakers (Deirdre Maloney, Dede Long and Dan Pallotta), workshop sessions, and exhibitors, to promote a strong non-profit sector.
This conference, for nonprofit professionals and their organizations, will be held Friday, May 11, at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue. Visit www.npconference.org for information and registration details.
Global Washington members can register at for a special price, and should have received a discount code by email in the last few weeks.
World Affairs Council Hosts “Gay Rights as Human Rights” Discussion
On Tuesday, May 15, the World Affairs Council will host a “Gay Rights as Human Rights” event. Speakers Cary Alan Johnson, Executive Director of the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission, and Dr. Kapya John Kaoma, Project Director at Political Research Associates, will lead the discussion about the various international perspectives of gay rights and what can be done to protect these rights.
The program runs from 7-8pm at the Center for Spiritual Living, Celebration Hall, and is preceded by a Community Meet & Greet. Cost: members/non-members: $10/15. More details can be found here.
EarthCorps Now Recruiting Homestay Hosts for International Participants
Each year, EarthCorps builds global understanding by inviting people from various corners of the world to work together here in Seattle and fix up our parks and waterways. EarthCorps is now recruiting potential homestay hosts for these incoming international participants. (This year’s group hails from Laos, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, St. Lucia, Brazil, Russia, China and Guatemala.)
For information on hosting a participant, contact Su Thieda, EarthCorps Program Director (su@earthcorps.org or 206.322.9296 ext. 224). Meet the international participants here.
Travel to Kenya with Habitat for Humanity
Space is still available to build homes with Habitat for Humanity in a Kenyan village. Live and work with the community, participate in cultural activities and build not just homes, but life-long connections with the people. The 9-day build is scheduled for August 31- September 9, 2012. For more information, visit Habitat for Humanity’s website.
Support Global Visionaries at 11th Annual Auction
Fiesta de Guatemala is the theme for Global Visionaries’ 11th Annual Auction which will be held at The Brockey Center of South Seattle Community College on May 12, 2012 at 5:30pm. Global Visionaries (GV) empowers young people to become global leaders through leadership training and service projects, including trips to Guatemala. Proceeds from the auction will be used for GV’s scholarship fund, allowing more students to benefit from GV’s innovative programs.
Panel discussion about inspiring children to think and act globally
On Thursday, April 26th, Sponge, a leader in children’s language education, is sponsoring “Giving Globally: The Power of Children.” This free event will take place from 7pm to 9pm at the Seattle Children’s Theatre’s West Rehearsal Hall. Panelists include Peter Drury, Development Director for A Child’s Right; Tammy Leland, Co-founder and International Program Director, of Crooked Trails; Lisa Merrill, Principal, Merrill Images and Board Member of Seattle Social Venture Partners; andJessica Markowitz, theFounder and Board Member, Richard’s Rwanda-IMPUHWE.
When: Thursday, April 26, 7 to 9 p.m.
Where: Seattle Children’s Theatre’s West Rehearsal Hall (201 Thomas St., Seattle)
Jokona is conducting a small research project trying to understand how non-profits manage their online fundraising
As part of the project, we are requesting non-profits to fill out a quick survey. The survey should not take more than 10 minutes. The information you share in the survey is strictly for research purposes and we will not share your responses with any 3rd parties.
You can find the survey here: http://kwiksurveys.com?s=LMJIFN_d59e7d4e. In addition to filling out the survey yourself, it would be great if you can help pass the survey to other non-profit colleagues you are connected with.
By Akhtar Badshah, Senior Director, Citizenship and Public Affairs, Microsoft
I landed in Cairo earlier today a few hours ago expecting to see significant changes. In many ways everything has changed yet on the drive from the airport to the hotel in Zamalek to across the Nile, Cairo is still the same. The wonderful energy, the crazy traffic with cars moving in a slow dance – it was Friday evening after all and people were out and about enjoying the beautiful evening. Traffic was snarled in some places with the Presidential campaign in full swing and supporters out in the streets waving signs and banners in support of their candidates. For life in a very big city it seems very normal. Yet for many their whole world has been changed completely. Many of us hope for the better but not everyone is that sure.
Right after my arrival I met with 25 youth leaders that have been part of the Microsoft Tech Hope program. This is a program where they are using technology to bring about social change. After the initial introductions the conversation quickly turned to the Arab Spring and the revolution. I asked them if they had been part of the demonstrations in Thahrir Square and all but two raised their hands. The other two were from outside Cairo and participated in local demonstrations. I was surprised as the room had equal number of men and women.
I wanted to know their opinion on the revolution and how they all felt. Almost all of them felt that they, the middle class youth, now felt more empowered. They all felt that they can now do something on their own. They do not have to go into just another job. One of them was very clear, he told me ‘before the revolution my plan was to leave the country and study abroad, find a job there and stay there’. There was no future for him in Egypt. Now he is full of optimism and will stay here and work to bring about positive change in the underserved communities.
Every single one of them felt the revolution had impacted them, but for the poor there has been no immediate impact and for them change will be very slow. All of the youth in the room were concerned about this and as a group felt that they should work together towards equitable change.
I also asked them for their experience with the revolution and if anyone deserves any or some credit for it. One of the young men said the Ministry of Interior. I was taken aback and asked him to explain. He said that January 25 started out as a day of protest as it was Police Day – a day to celebrate the police- and what started out as a protest against the Ministry of Interior spun out of control over the next several days because of the brutal force the Ministry used to squelch the demonstrations. His opinion was if the Ministry had not taken this approach there would not have been a revolution as no one started out wanting a change in power.
One young lady put it best, she said it was the ‘butterfly effect’, one butterfly takes off and then another and suddenly you have a whole flight of butterflies. Everyone got involved, young and old, men and women, rich and poor and that is why she believes everyone is a hero. I just thought that was a great sentiment.
The conversation lasted late into the night and they were all bouncing different ideas off each other about how they can continue to drive positive change and how they all can make a difference together.
At one point, someone asked if the women in the room felt they would lose out when the new regime comes into power. They felt that was not the case, everyone participated and even some try people will not go back and not let anyone push them back.
Hope was the common sentiment in the room, though many are wondering how they can ensure that everyone will benefit from this change.
On Sunday we will launch of Innovate4Good@Microsoft for the Arab region and if this conversation was any indication we’re in for a fantastic event. We have young leaders from across the region including Libya, Tunisia, and Iraq attending the event. I cannot wait to hear their stories.
The butterfly effect – what a great way to start the conversation in Cairo.
The Microsoft-commissioned report, Opportunity for Action, brings us a new perspective on a tale already told about the lack of opportunity for today’s youth. Reports on this dilemma have been written already; the International Monetary Fund made it the focus of their March 2012 Finance & Development magazine , and the International Labour Organization issued its report “Global Employment Trends for Youth: 2011 update” in October ’11. But Opportunity for Action stands out for its overall feeling of optimism. Written by the International Youth Foundation (IYF), the report is a call to action for everyone.
Keeping in mind that the audience will reach beyond policy makers, the report presents the complex problem in an accessible style and structure, centered on six improvements that will help today’s youth move forward: quality education, marketable technical skills, jobs, decent working conditions, entrepreneurship opportunities, and life skills.
Each section of the report highlights an organization that is successfully bringing about change. These sidebars provide examples of what can be done and add a welcome boost of hope to the findings. It should be noted that the organizations share a common factor: funding from Microsoft and/or IYF.
Scanning the membership list of the Global WA network, we can find a number of organizations whose work to improve the future for the world’s youth could also be highlighted: Smiles Forever trains young women in Bolivia as dental hygienists, Rwanda Girls Initiative focuses on bettering education, Kabissa uses ICT to connect African communities, Committee for Children produces life skills training programs for young adults. The list goes on. A common factor they share is the job of securing the funding or building the partnership that would allow their programs to soar to even greater heights.
Microsoft commissioned this report to “[generate] dialogue about how technology and other investments can help bridge the divide for youth around the world and is committed to working with businesses, the NGO community, and governments to help youth succeed in the global economy.” The report gives each sector ‘Action Items’ to help guide forward progress. Those for NGOs and civil society are
• Identify and implement proven practices at large scale.
• Experiment and innovate with new models that use technology effectively and that reduce costs without sacrificing impact and evaluate results.
• Collaborate with the private sector to create demand driven training.
• Work closely with vulnerable youth to strengthen their competencies in preparation for employment or entrepreneurship opportunities.
There is no doubt this report will generate dialogue and encourage all sectors to take some action. There still needs to be more robust dialogue about how collaboration between NGOs and the private sector will be facilitated and by whom, and from what sources will NGOs find the funding to ‘experiment and innovate with new models that use technology.’ It’s good to read that Microsoft is committed to work across sectors. Hopefully, more will follow its lead, and NGOs already engaged in helping today’s youth will have the opportunity to strengthen and broaden the scope of their work.
You might read the title and think, “What, is he crazy? What does a popular band have to do with global hunger?”
Ok, here goes.
For more than a decade, the best selling British band Coldplay has been one of Oxfam’s biggest supporters. With an interest in using their global celebrity for good, Coldplay teamed up with Oxfam’s Make Trade Fair campaign beginning in 2002 to advocate for the end of the rigged rules and double standards of the global trading system. Band members delivered petitions to trade ministers meeting in Mexico in 2003, met with farmers from developing countries to learn more, and spoke out at their concerts around the world.
So what are they up to now?
Coldplay has continued to have an Oxfam presence on their tours and we’re back at it again this year. The U.S. leg of their upcoming tour starts in Portland on April 24 and then comes to KeyArena in Seattle on April 25 and we’ll be there. Want to join us?
We won’t be there to ask for your money, we’re there to ask for your voice.
This year Coldplay is teaming up with Oxfam to support our GROW campaign. We launched the GROW campaign last year with the goal of building a better food system: one that sustainably feeds a growing population (estimated to reach nine billion by 2050) and empowers poor people to earn a living, feed their families, and thrive.
We are advocating for better policies that support the efforts of small farmers in developing countries. We have an opportunity this spring to make changes to U.S. government policy through the Farm Bill – the legislation that governs America’s domestic and foreign agriculture policy. Through our joint research with American Jewish World Service, we found that up to 17 million people could receive life-saving food aid at no additional cost to U.S. taxpayers if Congress cuts red-tape in the U.S. Farm Bill.
Right now, more than 50 percent of the aid money the government spends on basic food grains is wasted. Instead of being used to fight hunger, these funds get caught up in overhead costs and fees, from paying for the high-priced food aid agencies are forced to buy, even if there are cheaper local alternatives available, to covering the exorbitant shipping charges of delivering aid on a limited number of expensive U.S. vessels.
This wasteful government system not only costs taxpayers dollars – it can also create delays of up to four or six months before aid arrives. For a community facing food shortages, such as those facing a pending crisis in the Sahel or those affected by last year’s drought in the Horn of Africa, those months can be the difference between life and death.
We can change this system for the better this year. Congress is currently debating the Farm Bill and Oxfam is gathering petitions across the country. We’ll be out at the Coldplay show to get more people to sign on. In Coldplay’s hit 2002 song “Clocks,” Chris Martin asks, “Am I a part of the cure or am I a part of the disease?” It’s time to rally around a cure for fixing our food aid system. Join us April 25 at KeyArena to spread the word. (Did I forget to mention that you’ll also get to see the show for free?!?)
Jonathan Scanlon is based in Seattle and is Lead Organizer, Economic Justice at the international relief and development organization Oxfam America, a new member of Global Washington.
On March 27, the International Youth Foundation released “Opportunity for Action,” a global snapshot of current state of social and economic opportunities for the world’s young people. That same day, IYF, Microsoft, and The Atlantic marked the report’s release with a worldwide town hall discussion in Charlotte, North Carolina on “The Jobs & Economy of the Future: Educating the Next Generation to Compete.” In the report, Bill Reese, President and CEO of IYF, wrote, “We need concerted, organized action that will lift us beyond today’s array of pilot youth development programs to a place where significant investments are made in proven practices and programs that can then be taken to scale.” The key to achieving this, he says, is partnerships between youth, civil society, and the public and private sectors. Corporate, government, and civic leaders are becoming increasingly aware of this, but if they do not act quickly, entire generation will never recover from the lost opportunities of its youth.
IYF and Microsoft’s programs are empowering some remarkable young people from across the world to meet the challenges they face head-on. An IYF fellowship helped Naadiya Moosaje turn South African Women in Engineering (SAWomEng) into a program where 81 volunteers mentor and guide over 2,000 girls. A Microsoft and IYF-sponsored Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) in Kenya allowed Monica Njau to start a small business that allowed her to attend university, support her destitute family and cancer-stricken mother, land a job as an insurance sales representative, and, most impressively, support her sisters’ higher education as well.
To make the millennial generation’s lives better than those of its parents, we must create millions of new opportunities for people like Naadiya and Monica. Today, there are 1.2 billion people aged 15 to 24. In 2035, there will be 1.5 billion. There is an enormous gap between what education systems give the world’s youth and what the global labor market demands from them. In many rich countries, youth unemployment is the highest in living memory: 18% in America, 22.3% in Britain, 30% in Italy, and almost 50% in Greece and Spain. And yet, as U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan told the audience, “there are no good jobs for high-school dropouts” while “we have over 2 million high-skill jobs that we can’t fill.” In Brazil, 40% of firms have difficulty filling vacancies due to Brazil’s low-quality education outcomes. In the Middle East and North Africa, almost 25% of youth are unemployed in official statistics (the reality is probably even worse). The report estimates that 600 million jobs must be created over the next decade to make up for the jobs lost to the economic crisis.
Education alone cannot provide a comprehensive solution for youth unemployment. While higher education improves young Latin Americans’ employment opportunities, university-educated youth in the Middle East and North Africa are actually more likely to be unemployed than their less-educated peers (especially in Morocco and Tunisia). Across the region, civil service jobs are declining, the private sector is struggling, and rates of female participation in the labor market are stagnating. These problems demand a fundamental re-ordering of the region’s political economy and education system, but there are few signs, even in post-revolution Tunisia and Libya, that such a process is taking place.
“Opportunity for Action” concludes with an action plan that everyone can play a role in. The report calls on policymakers to reduce barriers to youth entrepreneurship, to create new programs and incentives for training, internships, and apprenticeships for disadvantaged youths, and to ensure high-quality secondary and tertiary education that matches the labor market’s demands. It urges NGOs and bilateral and multilateral donors to evaluate program outcomes rigorously, to support demand-driven skills training programs, and to invest in public-private partnerships that turn successful, proven practices into large-scale, sustainable programs. Lastly, it encourages young people to seek career guidance, to be continuous learners, to let go of preconceived notions about livelihood opportunities, and, most importantly, to not give up.
To watch the video of the town hall event, please visit the Atlantic’s website or watch the embedded video below.
I hope you are all enjoying the beginning of spring!
The highlight of March for us was an event called “How Girls Can Save the World,” featuring women’s advocate and award-winning actor Geena Davis; Christine Grumm of the Chris Grumm Consulting Group; and Andrea Taylor, Director for North America Community Affairs at Microsoft. We were thrilled by your response and interest! Investing in women and girls is crucial to the future health of our communities, both globally and locally. Over 800 people signed up for this event, which turned out to be a lively conversation about gender portrayals in the media, feminism, and women’s issues in global development. If you missed the talk, an audio recording is available online.
This event was the first in a new series for us called GlobalWA // Gather, in which we will bring global development thought-leaders to town for lively conversations about some of our world’s most pressing issues. I hope you will be able to join us for more events in this series!
Spring is about new beginnings; we have just launched our annual membership satisfaction survey to help us begin this season well by effectively serving our members and the community. If you are a Global Washington member, you should have received this survey in your email last week—we very much hope you will fill it out! Your satisfaction is important to us and your feedback is invaluable as we plan our work.
And speaking of beginnings—if you have not yet joined Global Washington as a member, now might be the time to do it! We expect to bring you many high-caliber events this year, and often have discounts or early registration for members. We also offer several newer member resources like our careers in development centerand online giving platform.
Finally, we expect this to be a big year for spotlighting our members’ work through special promotional opportunities! If you would like to find out more about membership or any of these resources, please contact our Office Manager, Megan Boucher at megan@globalwa.org and she will assist you.
Best wishes for enjoying the return of the warmer weather and the sunshine!
Committee for Children: Taking Steps to Bring Social and Emotional Health to Children Around the World
By Carolyn Hubbard
Second Step being taught in Slovakia
When a country’s president shows up at your conference to praise your program, you know you’re doing something right. Such was the case at Committee for Children’s International Consortium, when Lithuania’s president, Valdas Adamkus, praised the Committee’s violence prevention program for helping Lithuania’s high-risk kids.
Committee for Children (CFC) is a leading provider of curricula and trainings focused on strengthening children’s social and emotional health. Subjects for kids from preschool through middle school range from bullying prevention and personal safety to emotion management and empathy. Once a local volunteer-powered start-up, CFC is now a dynamic social entrepreneurship with partners around the world and the goal to bring their evidence-based programs to more children the world over.
CFC’s origins are the result of research studies conducted by Drs. Jennifer James and Debra Boyer that showed that most youth involved in prostitution had been victims of at-home sexual abuse. With the goal to curb this trend and give children the necessary skills to prevent sexual abuse, the pair founded the group Judicial Advocates for Women, garnered some funding, borrowed some office space and developed the Talking About Touching program to teach children about personal safety and self-assertion. Before they could even think about marketing their product, organizations and schools were calling and asking for more. CFC delivered, and later developed their Second Step and Steps to Respect programs focused on social and emotional health and bullying prevention. Soon, they were getting calls not just from other states but from other countries as well.
There’s a reason for this success: the programs work. Executive Director Joan Cole Duffell explains that since day one they have developed programs from sound pedagogical and psychological research and practice. Not only that, the programs are evaluated and fine-tuned until there is, as Duffell says, “a nexus between rigorous research and simplicity of use. That sweet spot between the two is what brings the success.”
Today, the programs are taught in over seventy countries, including Lithuania, a country burdened with the highest teen suicide rate in the world. CFC’s pilot program there showed that the most at-risk kids made the strongest gains in self-respect and emotional growth through the lessons. President Adamkus sang the program’s praises with good reason.
Committee for Children’s international success has taken the organization into a whole new playing field. At first, they simply licensed the use of the programs to interested parties, an easy step that brought in a bit of revenue for the quickly growing organization. “We had a light touch with international partners,” explains Duffell. Despite the light touch, the organization still oversaw all translations and cultural adaptations of the materials. Changes could be made to meet cultural needs (change a photo here, a scenario there), but as International Partnership Manager Paige Mac Leod notes, the core lessons required little change across cultures.
Most of the schools and organizations interested in using the programs were in countries with a culture of purchasing classroom curricula, i.e. more developed countries, such as Scandinavian nations, Japan, Australia, Germany. They are also places that can readily access CFC’s online trainings and have the resources to pay for and produce the products. (Note that these programs are a far cry from a typical textbook. Program packages come with puppets, DVDs and large colorful laminated lesson cards, as well as teacher reference binders—plus an online activation key that gives teachers a robust array of digital tools.) Partnering with curriculum providers in these countries became CFC’s main focus as they built their international presence. Taking success a notch higher, the governments of Greenland and the Philippines adopted programs, mandating that they be taught in all of the schools of their respective countries.
Second Step being taught in Japan
Now, as less-developed nations seek out access to the programs, CFC is intentionally looking for partners with whom they can strategize program implementation, in light of production costs, limited online access, and more intricate cultural nuances. They already have fledgling partnerships in Colombia and are forging a partnership with Escuela Nueva, a non-governmental organization dedicated to improving the quality of basic education in developing countries. MacLeod explains that they are looking at both urbanized and rural/marginalized settings in resource-poor countries to determine what each setting needs and how to best fill those needs. Their first pilot project in a rural setting will be with the Anglican Diocese in the Upper Shire region of southern Malawi, an area where Duffell and her family regularly visit and volunteer. Other countries in which they are building a presence include El Salvador, Chile, Singapore, Turkey and the Kurdish region of Iraq.
There’s a hitch to all of this growth and interest: how to fund it. While program sales are robust each year, that revenue just covers CFC’s annual costs. There is little extra revenue to support meeting the demand of countries that simply can’t pay for the programs in their current structure. For the first time since their grassroots days, CFC is building relationships with funders and looking at innovative partnership models to find ways to bring their programs to more of the world’s children. With social and emotional health part and parcel of a child’s health and development, opportunities are bound to emerge.
“We are thrilled Global Washington exists,” Duffell remarks. “It really is a great benefit. When you bring people together that have similar goals to reach out to people, you are going to make magic happen.” She has met with other Global WA members to look at partnerships and to learn strategies, including PATH, whose approach of using the country’s strengths and unique cultural qualities to introduce programs, rather than assume a U.S cultural model is a great example for Duffell. “PATH has done that so brilliantly, so elegantly,” she notes.
Second Step being taught in the Kurdish region of Iraq
As Mac Leod strengthens CFC’s international presence, work continues throughout the organization to develop more programs to help vulnerable kids in the States. The Raynier Foundation granted the organization over $500,000 for a landmark evaluation study of Steps to Respect, CFC’s bullying prevention program, and the Raikes Foundation awarded the organization a $250,000 three-year grant to develop online training tools for Second Step in collaboration with three Washington State middle schools with at-risk (of substance abuse, bullying, peer pressure) populations. Recent research from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) showed that the use of intervention programs such as these increases students’ academic achievement. As the debate about how to improve schools continues to rage across the country, this study is sure to bring more attention to Committee for Children.
In April of 2013, CFC will host its biannual international partner’s conference in Seattle. Accolades are sure to be given, strategies developed, and reports of children’s improved emotional well-being broadcast. Chances are a few more extra chairs will need to be at the table for people, maybe even heads of state, to stop by and sing Committee for Children’s praises.
“All the Good You Can Do” for Children in Southeast Asia
By Megan Boucher
Bill Taylor is quick to point out that his work is all about how ordinary people with ordinary resources can make a difference. The Bill & Pat Bali Fund and the SE Asia Children’s Foundation, two initiatives started by Bill and his wife Pat, connect sponsors to children (especially girls) in Southeast Asia with a mission to break the cycle of poverty by educating children and making sure girls have an opportunity to succeed. Bill’s journey started in an ordinary way: with a vacation and then a simple gift from his wife.
When asked why he began this work, Bill laughed and said “we just showed up! It’s what the universe decided.” He and Pat went to Bali, Indonesia for a holiday in 2005 and sponsored a few girls at a local orphanage because it seemed like a nice gesture. “We dabbled with it for the first several years,” Bill recalled. They met the girls and fell in love with them. After finding out that many didn’t have sponsors, they took it upon themselves to get their friends involved. The first year they found eight sponsors. The next year, fifteen. Of these humble beginnings, Bill said “we would write checks, we’d go visit, but it was still a holiday.” Then one day Pat gave Bill an oval river rock about 5 inches long for his birthday. Engraved on it were the words, “you cannot do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good you can do.” That rock touched Bill and made him realize that he was not doing nearly all the work that could be done! He started asking himself what they could really do with the resources that they had. The work escalated from there.
The Bill & Pat Bali Fund is a self-directed fund within Give2Asia (a San Francisco-based nonprofit). Bill and Pat cover the administrative expenses themselves so that every dollar donated goes to the Widhya Asih Foundation, an organization that supports seven children’s homes in Indonesia. Though the word for the children’s home translates as “orphanage,” most of these kids are not orphans—their parent or parents are simply too poor to send them to school. If a family can afford to educate only one child, it is usually the oldest boy, so girls are often left behind. Sponsorship through the Bill & Pat Bali fund helps pay for food, a safe place to live, and school fees for the girls. Bill calls it “an environment of achievement,” giving young women a chance for a life that they wouldn’t otherwise have.
Bill and the staff are clear on what success for these children means and careful to measure their progress. To be considered a full success a girl stays at the orphanage, finishes and passes high school, passes her national exams, and obtains self-sustaining employment. “Anything short of that is a failure,” Bill said emphatically. This work is not simply about helping these girls get by—it is breaking the cycle of poverty so that they and their future families will all have a better life. In order to achieve this, they involve the girls, parents, and sponsors in the process.
“We’re not wealthy,” Bill insisted. “But we have a little money, and talents, and friends.” He puts all of these resources to good use in his work with the fund and the foundation. He has over 40 years of experience as a management consultant, with skills in strategic planning, human resources, and organization development. Though Bill is obviously in favor of donating to a worthy cause, he believes strongly in augmenting that money with coaching and guidance. Any organization that he funds, he also works with to achieve optimal management and sustainability. This personal involvement helps him assure his donors that the funds for Bali are being used effectively. “I know these people personally,” he said. “I know the leaders. I’ve seen their facilities. I’ve looked at their financial records.”
Unlike some sponsorship organizations, the Bill & Pat Bali Fund facilitates active and strong connections between sponsors and the girls they are sponsoring. Sponsors commit to supporting their girls through high school. And it is not merely about the money. “We believe strongly that it really matters to that girl to know that somebody some place in the world loves her and cares about her and encourages her to study hard and make something of her life,” said Bill. He travels to Indonesia himself 4 times a year and is happy to carry cards, letters, and small amounts of money from the sponsors to the girls, although he knows that this will probably not be scalable as the work expands. The kids have access to technology (facebook and email) and are able to communicate with their sponsors. Feedback from sponsors indicates that this personal relationship is meaningful for them as well.
Bill’s newest project is called the SE Asia Children’s Foundation and will be a big expansion of the work to fund orphanages in Thailand. He has been visiting different organizations to find the best partners. He described a visit to one home in northern Thailand where a picture of one rice bag and a few pumpkins stuck out in his mind. That was all that the children had to eat at the time—they weren’t even receiving 3 meals a day. “We can’t let that happen,” Bill said. “We just can’t.”
Purchasing food is a simple, inexpensive, and effective way to help. Bill is encouraged and encourages donors with the fact that even small changes can make a significant difference. When asked about his biggest accomplishment, Bill said “just the fact that we’re doing it! We’re having a profound impact on the lives of many kids.” They currently have sponsorships for around 140 girls but also support 400 children in the orphanage as a whole through other major projects like a vocational training center, a bus, a new dormitory, a well, water purification, and a new information system.
Bill commented that many things happening in the world are overwhelming to try and change. However, the theme of Bill’s work is that ordinary people can find a way to make a difference if they find the right cause and use their resources effectively.“And these changes will ripple for generations,” he emphasized. “The bottom line is to connect with something where you can actually make a difference in the world.” And then, as Bill and Pat have done, just go out and do it!
Please welcome our newest Global Washington members. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with their work and think of opportunities for support and collaboration!
Port Townsend Film Institute: We want to tend the most valuable resource we have, the fertile ground of imagination right here at home. We believe that a shared cinematic experience of creating and viewing film can strengthen our community and expand our shared humanity. www.ptfilmfest.com
Office of the Superindent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is the primary agency charged with overseeing K-12 public education in Washington State. Led by State School Superintendent Randy Dorn, OSPI works with the state’s 295 school districts to administer basic education programs and implement education reform on behalf of more than one million public school students. http://www.k12.wa.us/
The Village Pig Project: The Village Pig Project supports a free and self-sufficient people in rural Cambodian villages by helping families to create self-sustaining pig farms. http://www.villagepigproject.org/
Engineers Without Borders hosts annual fundraising dinner
Engineers Without Borders is hosting “Building Across Borders 2012,” the third annual fundraising event to support their Puget Sound Chapters. The event—featuring dinner, interactive project demonstrations, and a live auction—will take place on April 23rd at Seattle University’s Campion Ballroom. The organization is currently seeking auction donations, table captains and volunteers, and sponsors (email fundraising@ewb-pugetsound.org for more details about sponsorship). Early bird tickets to the event are available until March 31st!
Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) is a nonprofit humanitarian organization that supports community-driven development programs through partnerships that design and implement sustainable engineering projects around the world.
“Nonprofits in an Election Year: Understanding the lines between advocacy, lobbying and political activities,” a presentation by Riddell Williams and the Alford Group, will help nonprofits learn how to safely lobby or advocate for issues they care about. They will also learn how to navigate some of the rules relating to nonprofit political activity.
This breakfast briefing is free and will start at 7:00am on April 11th at 1001 4th Avenue, Suite 4500. Reserve your space by April 4th by calling Kim Tran at 206.389.1710 or emailing ktran@riddellwilliams.com.
World Bicycle Relief’s 100,000th bicycle and new partnership with Theo Chocolate
Since 2005, World Bicycle Relief (WBR) has provided 100,000 bicycles in Asia and Africa. Their bicycles are locally assembled; made for rugged terrain; and utilized by a variety of individuals from students, to healthcare workers, to entrepreneurs.
The organization started as a disaster relief operation in Sri Lanka following the 2004 tsunami and has since expanded to many more countries. Congratulations to WBR for this milestone and for your continued, innovative work of changing lives through bicycles!
Another exciting new project for WBR is a special partnership with Theo Chocolate, which has announced a new “Theo/World Bicycle Relief Sea Salt 70% Dark Chocolate” chocolate bar. A percentage of the bar’s $4.99 price goes to support WBR’s bicycle programs for students in Africa.
Seattle-based Theo Chocolate is known as a socially responsible company, selling delicious organic, fair trade chocolate. The partnership was a natural fit as both Theo and WBR support sustainable livelihoods for people in developing nations. Buy the new chocolate bar at www.theochocolate.com.
Seattle International Foundation Announces Call for Applications under its 2012 Global Program
The Seattle International Foundation (SIF) is accepting applications under its Global Program beginning April 1st. The Global Program (small grants for local organizations) supports and fosters local organizations working internationally. SIF is interested in development projects in all regions of the world.
The Global Program is open to 501(c)3 organizations, or those with fiscal sponsorship, with an annual organizational or project budget of less than $2 million (USD). Preference will be given to organizations based in the greater Puget Sound region; organizations based outside of Washington State are not eligible. The program seeks to support organizations launching new projects, or working to establish or expand an international project or program.
For more information on how to apply, please visit www.seaif.org, or contact Michele Frix (Program Officer) at mfrix@seaif.org.
New GAPPS Repository will help scientists improve maternal and child health
This month the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS) opened a first-of-its-kind biorepository of pregnancy specimens, which combines biospecimens from pregnancies worldwide (e.g. placenta tissue and blood) with data about the mother (e.g. pregnancy history and nutrition) to provide scientists the comprehensive information they need to learn how women can have healthier pregnancies.
The repository currently has over 8,000 individual specimens from women of all different backgrounds, with more specimens continually added. Scientists can request specimens from www.gapps.org/repository or gappsrepository@seattlechildrens.org.
Imaging the World advances project in Uganda
Imaging the World combines ultrasound technology with training to provide medical imaging to rural populations who previously lacked access this technology. Through innovative data transmission systems, ITW allows local health care providers to make life-saving diagnoses even in the poorest, least accessible regions of the world. ITW recently celebrated “phase 2” their project at the Nawanyago Health Center in Uganda. Local nurse Sister Angela Njeri has completed an 8-week training course in ultrasound technology, an important step for the sustainability and quality of the program in Nawanyago. For the full story, visit http://imagingtheworld.org/2012/03/nawanyago-health-center-advances-to-phase-2/
9th Annual Western Regional International Health Conference focuses on “hidden paths”
UW students have organized a fantastic lineup of speakers and programs for “At a Crossroads: Choosing Hidden Paths in Global Health,” the 9th Annual Western Regional International Health Conference. This year’s conference will take place from April 27 to 29 and the keynote speaker will be human rights advocate Kavita Ramdas, Executive Director for a new program on social entrepreneurship at Stanford University.
This weekend-long conference will feature 18 breakout sessions with top leaders, centered around topics like global mental health, marginalized populations, organizing and funding of global health, clinical issues in global health, communications and technology in global health, and the environment and global health.
Registration is $50 for students and $100 for community members. For more information or to register, visit www.wrihc.org.
2012 Challenge Accepted Conference
“The largest youth conference on U.S. foreign policy in 2012” will take place in Washington, D.C. from April 14-15. Challenge Accepted will help young people discuss key problems and issues facing their generation from economics to world hunger. For more information or to register, visit www.acceptthechallenge2012.org.
PATH announces Steve Davis as new CEO
PATH recently named Steve Davis as its new president and CEO. Davis has extensive industry and leadership experience. He was most recently the global director of social innovation at McKinsey & Company. Prior to that, he served as CEO of Corbis, interim CEO of the Infectious Disease Research institute, and interim Director of PATH’s India program. He has also served as a board member for many prominent organizations including PATH, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Global Partnerships. PATH’s former CEO, Christopher Elias, started a new position in January as president of the Global Development Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
NGO Roundtable Meeting with Representative Adam Smith
Don’t miss an upcoming opportunity to meet with congressional representative Adam Smith. Congressman Smith is holding a roundtable for NGOs on Friday, April 13th at the Burien Communtiy Center.
Date: Friday, April 13, 2012
Time: 12pm-1pm – Networking | 1pm- 2pm – Meeting
Location: Burien Community Center, Manhattan Room
14700 6th Ave. SW
Burien, WA 98166
Contact or RSVP to: Linh Thai, linh.thai@mail.house.gov or 253-272-1488
Special Screening of Bonsai People on April 18th
Lumana, Washington Micro, and Fortunato Vega for a special screening of, Bonsai People, a documentary about the vision of Muhammad Yunus and his work in microcredit and social business. This event will take place on April 18th at 5:30pm at the University of Washington’s Kane Hall and will also include a wine and cheese reception. For more information or to RSVP, visit http://bonsaipeopleseattle-esearch.eventbrite.com/?srnk=1.
World Affairs Council presents talk on “Diseases Without Borders”
On April 3rd, the World Affairs Council will host a talk with Dr. Nils Daulaire, Director of the Office of Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. King Holmes, Chair of the Department of Global Health at the University of Washington will moderate a talk on “Diseases without Borders: How Global Health Issues Impact Domestic Health Policy.”
It will take place at 6:00pm at The Broadway Performance Hall in Seattle and will cost $10 for students and WAC members and $15 for non-members.
GiveBIG is a one-day giving event for nonprofit organizations in the area, organized by The Seattle Foundation. TSF will match a percentage of funds donated through their website on May 2nd. TSF is offering a special GiveBIG training workshop to Global Washington members, that will provide technical assistance and help participants develop a fundraising strategy for the campaign. Participating organizations will have a chance to sign up for one-on-one support and all will receive a planning checklist and other resources. Global Washington members, please watch for a separate email with more details!
Cindy Nofziger, a physical therapist for Seattle Public Schools, is a state winner of the Jefferson Award, the “Nobel Prize” of public service.
It started with a plea from an old friend on the other side of the world, begging for help rebuilding a school that had been destroyed in a brutal civil war.
Seven years later, Schools for Salone has raised money to build 12 schools with a 13th in progress, two libraries and numerous water wells in war-torn villages across Sierra Leone.
This year, organization founder Cindy Nofziger, of Seattle, is being honored as one of five Washington state winners of the Jefferson Award, considered the “Nobel Prize” of public service. Residents can vote this week on their favorite local winner at www.king5.com, with the top vote-getter receiving entry to the national competition in June.
Actress Geena Davis was in Seattle on Monday for a forum on women and girls organized by Global Washington, a membership group for the state’s global health and development sector.
It was an unusual pairing; the Academy Award-winning actress founded a nonprofit focused on improving the portrayal of women in U.S. media, while Seattle-based Global Washington has an international development focus.
Davis spoke at Seattle’s Town Hall, where an estimated 800 people enthusiastically welcomed the star, who shared the stage with Andrea Taylor, Microsoft’s director of corporate giving for North America, and Chris Grumm, the former CEO of the Women’s Funding Network.
Actor and women’s advocate Geena Davis — Thelma in the 1991 hit ‘neo-feminist’ movie Thelma & Louise — was in Seattle Monday evening calling for a renewed women’s movement worldwide.
Women 3.0
“We’re due for a resurgence of the women’s movement,” Davis said to a packed room at Seattle Town Hall. Though the Seattle crowd was by far mostly women and girls, she spoke earlier in the day on the Microsoft campus in Redmond to a packed room of mostly men. The event was sponsored by Global Washington.
Davis, who was in town stumping for her philanthropy, the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, spent a lot of time fielding questions and criticizing the way women are portrayed — and perceived — in Hollywood and throughout the media. But her concerns are much more global.
Washington state is big on international trade, the largest exporter per capita in the U.S. with about one in three jobs linked directly or indirectly to international commerce. We are indeed a globalized state.
We constantly hear that our educational system today should be geared toward keeping the U.S. “internationally competitive” in the global economy. Folks attending a Wednesday Seattle Chamber of Commerce event on education and the workforce will likely hear it again.
But what often gets left out of this mantra is that you can’t really compete in the world if you don’t understand it.
“What we need is a new way of thinking,” said Bookda Gheisar, executive director of Global Washington, which as part of its mission to strengthen Washington state’s efforts in global development and international affairs is now targeting education.
Greetings,
“You fall in love with these people,” says Michael A. Bumstead, president of the Institute for Self-Reliant Agriculture (TISRA). He points out some of the people he is referring to in the organization’s new informational video: children playing and families smiling and waving into the camera. He shows me the picture on TISRA’s informational booklet: a blanket filled with brightly-colored fruits and vegetables—tomatoes, corn, potatoes, and bananas. TISRA helps rural farmers achieve nutritional self-sufficiency; the families in the film are now growing enough food to meet their families’ nutritional needs. “I get emotional because I know these people,” comments Mike as the video shows an Ecuadorian couple with two young children. “Remind me to tell you a story about that family.”
TISRA’s program helps farmers create multi-crop endeavors to generate sufficient food. The Institute employs an agronomist, a human nutritionist, and an animal scientist to comprehensively address each family’s nutritional requirements. The nutritionist and agronomist select food and crops based on the family’s needs and what will grow in the area. They then teach growing techniques that include small rotational gardens for vegetables, field crops for calories, and additional foliage to feed small animals. They combine the crops with affordable technology and instruction on health and hygiene issues. Once the farm is established, TISRA also helps the family raise small animals to augment their diet and to sell for additional income.
In only a year-and-half of existence, the organization has impacted hundreds of families in Ecuador, Peru, and Kenya, with plans to expand into Guatemala, Malawi, Ghana, and Zambia. In additional to U.S.-based staff, they have 14 employees in Peru and Ecuador and four employees in Kenya. They are developing a textbook for teaching their program in universities and working on partnerships with regional governments.
Chugay will hopefully soon be another success story that Mike that can come back to a few years later. He loves visiting families who are thriving in the program, with healthier homes, surplus food, and growing children. “The teachers start complaining about the kids,” Mike says, laughing. “They have energy and they’ve become a discipline problem. That’s a good sign!”
I hope you are all enjoying the beginning of spring!
