In addition to the work placement overseas, the programme offers volunteers the opportunity to learn more about the culture, society and politics of their host country and the development challenges they face. The Global Perspectives theme offers: reading materials, field trips, lectures and meetings with a wide cross-section of people from both Public and Private Sectors, local and international NGOs.
Pre-departure, volunteers are encouraged to learn about the social and political context of their host country. The Preparation Weekends include an overview of key issues and talks from invited speakers. Previous topics include: - 'Leading in the HIV Challenge' by Dr Ceppie Merry of the Realta Foundation,
- 'The Rwandan Genocide' by Dr Andy Storey, UCD Development Studies,
- Migration stories of African women in Ireland by Salome Mbugua Henry, AkiDwA, African Women's Network
- Introduction to work of Irish Aid by Frank Flood, Irish Aid
- Introductory talk on Concern by Tom Arnold, Concern CEO.
Overseas
Throughout the work placements, volunteers have the opportunity to meet people from a wide range of backgrounds and to visit other NGOs in their area. Previous volunteers have met with representatives of UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, Concern, WB, Transparency International and local NGOs.
Mid-way through the summer, all the Suas volunteers in each host country gather for a series of workshops and field trips - 'Global Perspectives Week'.
By this stage, volunteers will have spent 4-5 weeks working at a grassroots level for their host project, and the Global Perspectives Workshops provide a chance to take a step back and to put what has been seen at a local level into a broader context.
For example, some volunteers will have faced the difficulties of working in an overcrowded classroom why are these class sizes so huge? What are the challenges of providing Universal Primary Education? What is the government doing to improve education? What other challenges is the government facing? And how do other organisations like the UN, the World Bank, other NGOs fit in? What are the challenges faced by the Partner Organisation? Why have they arisen? What can be done about them?
Development raises many complex questions and the Global Perspectives theme does not seek to provide clear answers but to support volunteers develop their own views.
In addition, the week provides a forum for the volunteers to review what is going well and the challenges faced, then to develop ideas and agree plans for the second part of the placement.
The week also provides a chance to relax a little and have some fun!
After the Programme..
Many volunteers have shared what they have learnt and experienced of other cultures and the challenges of development through giving presentations, talks, writing articles for local, national and college newspapers. Volunteers have also the option of signing up for one of the Global Issues Courses.
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