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Cultural and Environmental Preservation in a Multifaceted Nation: A Short-Term Study Abroad Program Design in South Africa for The Experiment in International Living
No full textEducation abroad programs have based in the continent of Africa, as of late, have faced greater difficulty in attracting applicants to their programs. Traveler interest and numbers are down. Despite the number of US study abroad participants increasing dramatically within the last fifteen years, the number who have chosen to study in Africa has never risen above two percent (Amin, 2015, p.5). The Experiment in International Living (EIL), a program of World Learning Inc., has cherished a long history and connection with Africa. As one of America’s earliest education abroad programs, the EIL program has for over 80 years changed the lives of over 100,000 participants in hopes to create a world driven by engaged citizens and thriving communities. Looking toward the future, EIL seeks to rekindle interest in the great continent by offering accessible short-term, non-credit-bearing education, exchange, and development programs that empower people and strengthen organizations, and also bring people together in one of the most interesting and neglected places in our world.
This capstone proposal offers a particular design that meets the needs of high school students through an accessible EIL model that directly addresses the challenge of education abroad in Africa. The pilot program South Africa: Cultural and Environmental Preservation in a Multifaceted Nation (SACEP) is a five-week summer abroad program based in South Africa for high school students. SACEP will explore the cultural diversity of the “Rainbow Nation” and place special emphasis on connecting culture to the environmental, economic and social dimensions of society. The safe and accessible program strives to stimulate fresh perceptions of Africa, awareness of other cultures, environmental preservation, as well as cross-cultural competence and personal growth. The capstone contributes by 1-returning to the experiential roots of EIL, and 2-modeling changes in evident gap areas of communication, health and safety, evaluation, tour logistics and curriculum to enhance this and other EIL programs.
Keywords: study abroad, experiential education, The Experiment in International Living, South Afric
Policy Recommendations for Alleviating Homelessness in Chittenden County, Vermont
Get PDFChittenden County, Vermont is suffering from increasing homelessness and poverty among both individuals and families. Residents of Chittenden County face an urban rental vacancy rate of less than .5% in Burlington, VT where the majority of jobs are located and only a 3% vacancy in suburban towns. Residents face waiting lists for rental subsidies of up to 8 years, and decreasing access to services for working class populations who are facing rent to income ratios of nearly 70% and utility costs of 30% of their income. The market rent is increasing and the state budget faces deep cuts to services. This paper analyzes the complex problem of homelessness and provides potential policy solutions and strategies for success.
The paper draws information and insights gained through my practicum experience serving as an AmeriCorps member at the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) in Burlington, VT. As a Housing Resource Specialist, I worked with people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in stabilizing or obtaining housing through financial assistance and case management services. In contrast to broad cause-based advocacy approaches to alleviating homelessness, the paper describes the importance of case-based advocacy, a process of advocating for the particular needs of the client, while all the while contributing to sustainable, systemic policy change.
Keywords: homelessness, prevention, rapid rehousing, social work, advocacy, strategy, state government, collaboratio
The Role of Media in Nepal’s Peacebuilding Process
No full textThis capstone paper aims to explore the media\u27s role in post war peacebuilding in Nepal. To address the media\u27s role, this paper looks at the question, In what ways can the media assist in peacebuilding efforts within Nepal?” In addressing this question, qualitative research was conducted and media campaigns were studied. During this process, it was determined that the media definitely has a role in the peacebuilding process. The media campaigns for facilitating the peacebuilding process were successful in attracting large audiences. Programs studied were found to be both participatory and persuasive. The approaches of these campaigns were mostly designed to address the concerns of post war peacebuilding and were mainly produced by a few professional media houses and agencies. However, the size of the audiences of these programs was not sufficient enough to have an actual impact on the larger Nepalese society. Despite the growing size of the media in the country, journalists continue to face serious problems which may hinder the ongoing peace process. Media education, training and higher wages for journalists would likely increase the level of professionalism within the industry. Similarly, the impact of the media would potentially be more positive if all journalists were to abide by the principles embodied by peace journalism.
Keywords: Nepal, Peacebuilding, Media, Journalism, Role, Professionalism, Impac
The Zen of Charity Giving in China: An Understanding of the Chinese Philanthropic Sector and Recommendations on Moving Towards Sustainability
Get PDFChina has shifted from a centrally planned to a market based economy in 1978. Since then, the country has experienced rapid economic growth and social development. With a more liberal economic environment, the voice of civil society becomes stronger, which incentives the emergence of philanthropy and charitable giving. As a result, the government has begun to encourage private donation and development of foundations, while watching carefully and constraining its activities. By analyzing both qualitative and quantitative data, this paper explores and evaluates the effectiveness of this emerging sector. The paper further advocates for improving current charity law and developing a sustainable giving model. Policy recommendations will be given to address issues in shaping a better future of the philanthropic sector
A Comprehensive Framework for Monitoring and Evaluating Corporate Social Responsibility Programs
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to provide a Comprehensive Framework for monitoring and evaluating corporate social responsibility programs (CSR). This paper utilizes the latest CSR concept introduced by the European Commission as “A process to integrate social, environmental, ethical, human rights and consumer concerns into business operations and core strategy in close corporation with the stakeholders”. This framework provides a comprehensive advice on how to set up and implement a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system for improving working conditions in supply chains, ensuring improvement-oriented critical reflection and learning from issues such as child labor, forced labor, minimum wage, discrimination, freedom of association and collective bargaining and encompasses human rights, environmental and occupational health and safety (H&S) principles and international standards.
This paper analyzes the evolution of the CSR since its first conception up to date and discusses the most important CSR global initiatives in the effort to foster workers’ rights and align private sector with CSR principles
Giving a Voice to the Powerless: Participatory Monitoring & Evaluation as a Tool for Inclusive Development through Microfinance
Get PDFThe greatest experts on the situation of the marginalized peoples of the world are the marginalized communities themselves. This paper explores how participatory monitoring & evaluation can be a powerful tool for giving voices to marginalized communities, ensuring that the voices of beneficiaries and local stakeholders are heard and inform sustainable project design. It analyzes a participatory monitoring and evaluation methodology implemented for women’s credit cooperatives in Gujarat, India by the Human Development & Research Centre, and examines lessons to be learned to design evaluations facilitating inclusive development.
Strategies for the monitoring and evaluation of microfinance have evolved along with the microfinance industry itself. The choice of the design of evaluation frameworks has shaped the learning process used to design subsequent microfinance interventions. If the purpose of microfinance is inclusive development, then the voices of marginalized peoples meant to benefit from it must be included as part of the evaluation of microfinance interventions.
Because of the complex and multifaceted nature of the issues that marginalized populations face, it is essential that international development reflect the perspectives of the people who are most intimately familiar with the intersection of these issues in a given local context: the local stakeholders themselves
Extractivist Agribusiness Model: Analysis of social resistances emerging in response to the extractivist agribusiness model: a case study of the Industrial Belt of Gran Rosario
Get PDFIn regards to human rights and environmental rights, there is a paradox that exists between the rhetoric and actions of the government regarding agribusiness. While the Argentine government increasingly connects their rhetoric to the promotion of these rights, they have allowed transnational corporations to modify the agricultural model in a way that exploits the land for the production of commodities. People living in fields where biotechnology is operated and urban-industrial zones where the commodities are exported report health problems and deaths in light of the corporations’ presence. Confronted with the degradation of their fundamental rights, those whose lives are being degraded as a result of the presence of agribusiness have begun mobilizing with increased frequency. However, social mobilization strategies become even more complicated when the coupled with the fact that the agro-companies financial sustain the same people whom they are killing. This investigation examines emerging grassroots mobilization apparent in the “Industrial Belt” of Gran Rosario, Argentina to better understand dynamic between the respect of human rights within a vicious capitalistic context. I find that even though there exist a range of social actors focusing on different aims, their financial dependency on the agro-model has prompted them to frame their discourse to highlight the importance of human life and dignified work
La radio comunitaria: hacia un futuro más democrático para Bolivia
No full textRadio has been a companion of and crucial partner in democratic social change in Bolivia since its arrival to the country. Many of its inherent characteristics make it an ideal medium for communication of messages made for and by marginalized groups that are otherwise excluded from the production of and access to information. Historically, radio has been implemented in processes of progressive resistance to authority, in response to the oppression of the groups that community radio seeks to represent. This investigation attempts to understand the role of community radio in Bolivian society, with a view towards the democratic participation and representation of the public, historically and today. The context of the institutionalization of the most important social movement of the last 20 years in Bolivia (MAS, decolonization, and the enfranchisement of the huge indigenous population) makes this issue a complicated and multifaceted one. When the figureheads of progress and radical change come into positions of power, should the role of progressive media be to support the progress as it is, or criticize it, and continue to push for more radical change? Using several community radio stations in the city of Cochabamba as case studies, this paper will attempt to demonstrate some of the subtleties of the relationships between the government, community/alternative radios, and the constituents that both attempt to represent. The argument presented hereby concludes that there is evidence of tension between the stated goals of community radios and the attitude of government bodies towards community radios, despite the striking similarities between their theoretical missions. However, there is great potential for collaboration, as the network of state-community radios and the new telecommunications law both can be improved upon to support the continuing democratization of media. The definition of community radio, and indeed of democracy, is a very present theme in the consciousness of the government and radios in Cochabamba. Thus, it will be crucial to define the relationship in the coming years, as MAS tries to marry power and progress in an ever-modernizing nation, increasingly garnering attention for its unique goals and rapid growth
Llama a tu abuela: mujeres cochabambinas en su tercera edad
Get PDFEsta investigación intenta clarificar las perspectivas de las mujeres de la tercera edad en Cochabamba, Bolivia, sobre cuáles son sus necesidades para tener una tercera edad exitosa y en qué medida, estas necesidades importantes son satisfechas. Para este fin, hice entrevistas formales con 18 mujeres cochabambinas de la tercera edad y seis directores de organizaciones privadas y públicas que trabajan con la tercera edad, averiguando sus ideas sobre lo que se necesita para una buena vejez. Además, utilicé mi diario de campo para complementar las entrevistas con observaciones que hice durante las actividades sociales de grupos de la tercera edad. Con estos métodos, analicé las respuestas, por tema, con la intención de encontrar patrones entre las necesidades que mencionaron los participantes. Las respuestas indican como resultado que mis participantes valoran más los factores sociales (la familia y la comunidad de adultos mayores) que los aspectos fisiológicos o económicos (la salud y la seguridad económica)
Vamos creciendo La educación bilingüe e intercultural en Ecuador: Lecciones de Peguche, Imbabura
No full textAunque Ecuador es un país intercultural según la ley y según la sociedad, el pueblo Kichwa, un grupo indígena, ha sufrido mucha pérdida cultural debido al poder del colonialismo. Un sistema de educación bilingüe e intercultural empezó oficialmente en Ecuador con la DINEIB, Dirección Nacional de Educación Intercultural Bilingüe, bajo la dependencia del Ministerio de Educación, en 1988. Sin embargo, debido a problemas metodológicos, falta de profesores preparados y falta de apoyo del gobierno, este sistema educativo no tiene mucho éxito actualmente. El pueblo indígena no tiene autonomía, y hay una deficiencia de recursos y una falta de apoyo estatal también. Para sobrevivir, la educación bilingüe e intercultural necesita practicar unos cambios drásticos—conseguir más recursos, más profesores, y más apoyo estatal y del pueblo Kichwa. He examinado este sistema educativo desde la perspectiva de unas lecciones de una escuela intercultural bilingüe en Peguche, Imbabura; se puede ver el aporte de unas observaciones de la escuela, unas entrevistas con los profesores, unas entrevistas con otros académicos del sector educativo, y información de autores locales e internacionales involucrados en movimientos similares