Workshop Session 2

Workshop Session #2
Thursday, July 30th at 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Empowering Youth through Sport and Intercultural Learning

Presenters: Taryn Barry, Katie Mahon

How can sport build bridges between individuals and across communities? This lively workshop will get you thinking about the Right to Play and the concept of international development through sport through organizations like UNESCO, the Commonwealth Games Association of Canada. Check out this workshop for cool info like, how to run a short project to develop youth capacity especially in the area of recreation and leisure, sport, physical education and play!

Taryn Barry BIOGRAPHY

Taryn Barry is a 25-year-old Edmontonian whose passion for soccer and other sports prompted her to make the link between another passion, development. Taryn has a BA in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism from the University of Alberta. She recently worked in Belgium for the International University Sport Federation (FISU) and did a Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) internship in Cameroon as the Ecotourism Program Coordinator. While in Cameroon, Taryn also volunteered at an orphanage and at a wildlife centre. Taryn is the founder of Etisah Foundation. Etisah assists in funding educational opportunities for children who live at the Save the Children Alliance Orphanage in Limbe, Cameroon.

Katie Mahon BIOGRAPHY

Katie Mahon graduated from university in 2008. She has spent time in Cameroon and has worked in Thailand with special needs children to improve quality of life and to foster community through play. In 2005, Taryn and Katie were co-coordinators of the Children's Sport and Fitness Camp at the University of Alberta.

Panties for Peace

Presenters: Madeleine Northcote, Kelly O'Connor

Who new panties could be so political? Panties for Peace was launched by the Thailand-based women’s organization Lanna Action for Burma (LAB) on Oct. 16, 2007, in the hopes of bringing an end to the military regime’s rampant abuse of Burma’s population – and the abuse of Burma’s women in particular. Through this multimedia presentation, representatives of the Rights and Democracy student Network will talk about the current human rights situation in Burma and show how you can mobilize your community to challenge Burma`s military regime through the Panties for Peace campaign.

Madeleine Northcote BIOGRAPHY

Madeleine Northcote is a second year student attending Mount Allison University. Currently studying International Relations with a self-directed minor in African Studies, she has been involved in advocacy and awareness raising in the development and human rights milieu since the age of fourteen. This year, she has been a co-lead delegate for Mount Allison’s Rights and Democracy delegation, and took a leadership role in many of the group’s activities, playing a principal organizing role in the group’s highly successful Atlantic regional conference “Silver Spoons and AK-47s”. This year, Madeleine will be continuing her studies abroad at the University of Cape Town.

Kelly O'Connor BIOGRAPHY

Kelly O’Connor is a second year student at Mount Allison University. Her major is in International Relations and her minors in Hispanic Studies and Biology. Kelly is originally from Kelowna, British Colombia and graduated from Lester B Pearson United World College of the Pacific (an international school with 200 students from about 90 countries) in 2007. Kelly has been involved in human rights campaigns for many years, starting with an independent project to draw thousands of people’s awareness to the issue of child soldiers since 2004. Most recently, she has been the co-lead of the Rights and Democracy Delegation at Mount Allison for two years, during which time the group not only sent 270 pairs of panties and 13 boxers to the Burmese embassy in Ottawa through the Panties for Peace campaign, but also planned and hosted the Atlantic Regional Conference for Rights and Democracy on the theme of war-affected children and youth.

Youth and the Global Climate Movement

Presenters: Joanna Defoe

This workshop is all about action and solutions. Climate change is a global issue. Join Joanna as she gears up for the 350.org global climate campaign and the corresponding day of action on October 24, 2009. Youth have a tremendous role to play in shaping the course of action for our governments. In December 2009, heads of state will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark to negotiate an international climate deal. Youth can influence this meeting. Find out how! Learn how to organize creative, politically impactful actions in your community on climate change using web 2.0 and so many other tools.

May Boeve BIOGRAPHY

May is the Director for Partnership and Co-Founder of 350.org, an international climate change campaign. Previously, May co-founded and helped lead the Step It Up 2007 campaign, which helped to change the debate about global warming policy in the United States by combining the efforts of over 200 partner organizations. In 2004, May traveled the U.S. as part of Project Biobus, an educational tour that visited 65 schools to raise awareness about climate change. May was the recipient of the Brower Youth Award in 2006 and was recently featured in Women's Health and Body and Soul magazines.

Age is Just a Number: The Connection Between Youth and Seniors around the World

Presenters: Catherine Alvis , Carla Daniela Ribera Katimi, Juan Pablo Yabeta

In many communities in the world there is a generational gap. Senior citizens are excluded, forgotten, and not included in youth initiatives even though they have incredible knowledge, wisdom, and experience to share with children, adolescents, and youth. Promoting communication among different age groups has the benefit of increasing respect, understanding, and the participation of everyone in your community. This workshop will focus on the integration, cooperation, and participation between youth and seniors. Focus will be on the global themes of the environment and cultural diversity. The discussion should be lively! Of course, all ages are welcome!

BIOGRAPHIES

Catherine Alvis, Carla Daniela Ribera Katimi, and Juan Pablo Yabeta hail from Bolivia. Catherine participated in a Canada World Youth exchange a few years ago and has continued to help build relationships between Bolivia and Canada. She spends the rest of her time working in disadvantaged communities in Santa Cruz and promoting the rights of senior citizens. Carla is finishing her degree in Telecommunications Engineering. She also participated in a Canada World Youth exchange that ignited her passion for volunteering. She now volunteers to improve technology and communication in small, isolated communities. Juan Pablo, petroleum engineer, is the president of EcoClubes, a foundation that works in defense of the environment.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Greening our Organizations

Presenters: Laura Franceschini, Katie Kohlenberg

So you're interested in greening your organization or business? But how do you go about doing it? If you want to know, then this workshop is for you! This workshop will enhance your knowledge about organizational sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and responsible consumerism both on the organizational and individual level. Trust us, this has major global impact!

Laura Franceschini BIOGRAPHY

Laura completed her B.Sc. and BA at the University of Alberta, majoring in both Biological Sciences and Psychology, and she also holds a post-graduate diploma in Environment and International Development from McGill University. Born and raised in Edmonton, Laura’s avid interest in other cultures has led her to travel extensively across the globe, including a 6 month sojourn in India volunteering for the World Wildlife Fund. For the past three years, Laura has been working as a sustainability coordinator for an international consulting firm, where she initiates and executes corporate sustainability programs and enjoys the challenge of trying to balance business and the environment. Laura also holds leadership roles in several non-profit groups including the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition (CYCC) and lend her skills to the City of Edmonton, Waste Management Branch. Laura is also the Director for Helping Youth Through Educational Scholarships (HYTES), a charity working to send disadvantaged youth to secondary school in developing countries.

Katie Kohlenberg BIOGRAPHY

Katie completed her B.Sc. at the University of Alberta majoring in Physics with a Mathematics minor and she also holds a project management certificate. Katie was born in Calgary and lived in Petawawa and Winnipeg before moving to St. Albert in the summer of 1995. Two summer positions as an environmental technologist solidified her desire to work in the environmental field. Katie started her career in a position where she was responsible for educating people on energy conservation and moved in September 2007 to become the Sustainability Officer for NAIT (the Northern Alberta Institute for Technology). The work of a Sustainability Officer at a post secondary institution includes policy, procedure and guideline development, working with internal and external stakeholders to identify best practices and generally working towards being more environmentally friendly and socially responsible. In her free time Katie works with children with disabilities and sits on the TD Friends of the Environment board.

Jeunesse et Éducation à la citoyenneté

Presenter : Oumou Nomoko

Le désintérêt d’une frange de la société, notamment les jeunes, vis-à-vis de la vie publique est manifeste. Ce problème semble bien commun à toutes les sociétés. En effet, les études et les recherches internationales montrent que le phénomène de la faible participation des jeunes, aussi bien aux élections qu’à la vie publique, de façon générale, n'est pas particulier au Canada. André Blais de l’Université de Montréal, dans une étude sur la participation électorale dans neuf pays, de 1967 à 1997, conclut que « les deux déterminants socioéconomiques les plus importants du vote sont l'éducation et l'âge ».

Pourquoi les jeunes votent-ils moins et pourquoi ne s’intéressent-ils pas à la vie publique?
Cet atelier a pour objectif d’élucider les différents facteurs qui influencent et expliquent la faible motivation des jeunes d’une part et, d’autre part, nous donnera l’occasion de souligner l’importance d’inciter les jeunes à s’impliquer activement dans la vie publique.

BIOGRAPHY

L’Alliance Jeunesse Famille de l’Alberta Society (AJFAS) est un organisme francophone à but non lucratif qui œuvre dans les domaines de l’éducation et de la prévention du crime auprès des jeunes et familles francophones d’origine immigrante de l’Alberta à travers des programmes de développement social. Elle collabore activement avec différentes communautés dans le but de valoriser la diversité culturelle canadienne. L’AJFAS est un organisme qui prône l’harmonie, la sécurité, l’acceptation, la cohésion sociale et l’appréciation de la différence.

Have Your Say in Canada's Position at the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s Youth Forum 2009!

Presenter: Marie-Christine Lecompte

This is your chance to speak your mind about Canada's approach to education, science and culture on the world stage! UNESCO is a specialized United Nations agency that works to "build peace in the minds of men" by creating the conditions for genuine dialogue based upon respect for shared values and the dignity of each civilization and culture. Every two years, Canada and countries from around the world meet at the UNESCO General Conference to set UNESCO's programmes. A Youth Forum takes place during this period and allows young people to voice their ideas and concerns and make recommendations on behalf of Youth throughout the world, which are meant to inform UNESCO's policies and programmes.

This is your chance to learn more about UNESCO, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, and more important, to ensure that your views are included in this year's Canadian recommendations to the Youth Forum in Paris, France. Education, science, culture and communication and information matter to all of us in so many ways. HAVE YOUR SAY and help the Canadian Commission for UNESCO build a culture of peace today!

Marie-Christine BIOGRAPHY:

Marie is Programme Officer for youth-related files at the Canadian Commission for UNESCO in Ottawa. In April 2009, she returned from a 2-year field posting in Laos (South East Asia), where she held the position of Programme Advisor for Oxfam International's Anti-Human Trafficking Programme in the Mekong Sub-Region. Prior to this, her professional experience includes assignments with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)'s Asia branch, UNESCO’s section for Peace and Human Rights Education in Paris and with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Serbia. She holds a Masters degree in Peace and International Development from Jaume Primero University in Castellon, Spain and a Certificate in Children’s Rights from Ghent University in Belgium. Marie-Christine's specific interests include questions pertaining to migration, human trafficking, labour exploitation, Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) and human rights of vulnerable groups in multicultural societies.

Is Canada still in the peace business?

Presenter: John Siebert

Canada was once known as a world leader in United Nations in peace keeping operations. Today Canada is concentrating its military efforts elsewhere. What are the facts? Is President Obama changing the international playing field? How do you get involved to change Canada's role in the world with respect to peace? Project Ploughshares has been promoting peace and disarmament for over 30 years. Find out where and how peacebuilding is stopping conflict.<\p>

John Siebert BIOGRAPHY:

John Siebert has been the director of Project Ploughshares, located in Waterloo, Ontario, since 2005. In addition to his leadership role at Project Ploughshares, John has been engaged in peacebuilding processes in East Africa, including efforts to control and reduce the number of small arms and light weapons and engaging development processes to assist peace. He speaks frequently at universities and public events on Canada's foreign and defence policy and the non-weaponization of outer space. www.ploughshares.ca

OMD: le rôle prépondérant des jeunes

Presenters: Sophia Kaméni, Carine Lamba

L'atelier vise à accroitre la compréhension des jeunes leaders et des dirigeants du mouvement étudiant relativement aux objectifs du Millénaire pour le développement (OMD) et au rôle précis du Canada dans l'atteinte de ces objectifs. Plus important encore, il a pour objectif de doter les leaders étudiants des compétences et des arguments pour faire la promotion du rôle du Canada dans l'atteinte des OMD auprès de leurs pairs, des medias et des décideurs. L'atelier est principalement interactif afin de permettre aux jeunes d'explorer les enjeux et d'apprendre dans un climat ouvert et détendu.