COTR International Newsletter

Spring 2009 Creating awareness by supporting internationalization and global learning opportunities for our students, staff and community

GLOBAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WHAT’S INSIDE...

Department & Team:

Message from the Executive Director..........................2 Welcome to the Team: Omar Badran............................3 Diggin’ It: Graham Knipfel...........................................10

Education:

Global Studies Graduate Certificate Program.............3 Test Your Knowledge....................................................11

International Alumni & Students:

My Canadian Adventure: Nelson Cardenas.................4 The Problem Solver: Romano Penheiro.......................4 From Beginning to End: Abduraouf ElMghirbi.................................................5 Yanan (Ciya) Chen.....................................................5 Miao (Maggie) Yu.......................................................5 2009 Scholarship Recipients.......................................16

Interns:

Resident of the World: Jesse Egger.............................6 International Youth Internship Program.......................6 A Life-changing Experience: Kaven St. Pierre.............7

COTR Staff & Student Mobility:

Canada-EU Mobility Program........................................6 Study in Australia...........................................................8 Griffith University Scholarships...................................9 Ecuador Opportunities..................................................9 Mzungu!: Laura Shaw..................................................10 Consultancy Opportunity, Kenya................................13

Partnerships:

Universidad Espiritu Santo............................................8 Kenya - Sustainable Job Creation Project..................12

Community Development:

Girls’ Opportunities Africa...........................................13 Fair Change - Linking Fair Trade & Climate Change in Canada..................................................................14 Golden, BC: The Next Fair Trade Town?....................15

Photo Credits:

Jeff Cooper; pg 3,4,5,8,14: Graham Knipfel; pg 12: Kaven St. Pierre; cover, pg 7,8,9: Kali Love; pg 8,9

Editor:

Shannon Parnall

Eco-hotel Alandaluz Route of the Sun, Ecuador

www.cotr.bc.ca/cotr-International

DEPARTMENT

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Message from the Executive Director by: Patricia Bowron

omorrow’s workplace is becoming increasingly complex, requiring employees with intercultural competencies coupled with credentials and skill sets that can be applied to a multitude of organizations and cultural settings. COTR International is committed to providing opportunities for global learning for our students and employees, as well as local and international communities.

Over the past few years, many new opportunities have been made available for international mobility for our college community.

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Just what is international mobility at COTR? It is the opportunity to learn or work in a country or culture other than your own, developing international and cultural competencies including: intercultural communication skills; flexibility; tact and judgment; valuing of diversity; willingness to change and adapt; creativity; and applying your learning and making new connections in the world of work. Our government partners have seen the value of such mobility and fund various study and work abroad programs to support such learning.

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In this newsletter, we are presenting stories of staff, students and graduates who have undertaken an overseas adventure, highlighting some of our COTR mobility options including: • Canada-EU Mobility Program - As a partner in a six institution agreement, COTR provides options for students to study in Europe for a semester in our new International Sustainable Tourism Program (page 6 profiles this new partnership); • Student Overseas Work or Study Opportunities - Students can apply to work with our partner in Ecuador to undertake community development and environmental work with Universidad Espiritu Santo in Guayaquil (see our website for more details at http://www.cotr.bc.ca/interDev). Studying in Australia is another option for students. More information about the program and scholarship options is on pages 8 and 9; • International Student Employment – After completing their studies at COTR, international students can apply for a permit to work in Canada.

See the stories about the experiences of Nelson and Romano on page 4; • Study in Canada – In this newsletter, we profile students Ciya and Maggie from China, and Spring 2009

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Abduraouf from Libya (page 5) who are all enjoying their overseas adventures studying at COTR; Student scholarships - To increase the number of options for COTR students to travel overseas to work or study, we have established two new scholarship funds to complement the One World Scholarships already available through the provincial government. For more information and this year’s recipients see page 16; Graduate Internships – COTR International continues to work with various government funding partners to deliver overseas work options for college and university graduates from across Canada. Most recently we had seven interns working in Peru and Ecuador – see page 7 for Kaven’s story, and page 6 to hear how a former intern applied his 2006 experience to his career path; International Development Partnerships – COTR International currently works with partners in Kenya and Ecuador to support their community development and program growth strategies. Our Kenyan partnerships are profiled on pages 10-13; our Ecuador project is outlined on pages 8 and 9; Staff Secondment and Consultancy Opportunities – COTR makes available professional development and consultancy options to work as technical assistants on overseas project or to undertake professional development with our global partners.

Laura Shaw, one of our Tourism faculty members from Golden, BC traveled to Nyeri, Kenya in October 2008. Her story is on page 10; Community Awareness – See pages 14 and 15 to find out more about the Fair Change Initiative hosted by COTR, its second large public awareness venture in as many years; New Global Studies Graduate Certificate Program – COTR is launching an innovative and exciting new program which allows students to prepare for international study and work experiences as well as capture their international learning in a postdiploma program at COTR (page 3).

Finally, I am pleased to welcome Graham Knipfel, International Project Coordinator and Omar Badran, Manager, International Education and Mobility to the COTR International team. Find out more about them on pages 3 and 10. We hope you enjoy our latest edition.

www.cotr.bc.ca/COTR-International

EDUCATION Global Studies Graduate Certificate Program

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re you interested in being a member of the global society? Are you wondering whether the skills you have learned at home are applicable elsewhere on the globe? Do you think it is beneficial to meet people from other cultures and to discover differences and similarities? The answers to these questions and many more similar ones are key to opening a new chapter in your life.

The Global Studies Graduate Certificate (GLST) is an all-new interdisciplinary program being Students from a wide variety of academic backgrounds have the opportunity to apply their learning to international, global and intercultural situations.

delivered at College of the Rockies.

The program will be delivered primarily in a self-directed format utilizing course mentors, distance/online delivery, practicum/internship experience, and portfolio development.

Competencies to be developed include: • Understanding the relationship between international operations, development, and social responsibility • Communicating effectively in a variety of intercultural situations • Preparing yourself for an international placement • Contributing effectively, in a culturally appropriate manner, to an international project • Applying knowledge and skills acquired academically to add value to an international project • Planning effectively for a career involving

international and/ or intercultural aspects • Reflecting on your growth in international competency and communicating this to others With a focus on Internationalization and global working opportunities, Global Studies Graduate Certificate is an exciting new program for students, and will complement COTR International’s goal to place the Kootenay region on the global education map. For more program information, or to enroll please visit the website http://www.cotr.bc.ca/ global-studies, or contact COTR International at 1-250-489-2751.

Welcome to the Team both the private and public sectors, gaining a variety of what he calls “life-supporting” skills.

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mar Badran joined COTR as Manager, International Education & Mobility in February, 2009 and is responsible for the operational management of international student recruitment, and staff and student mobility.

Omar spent the last twenty-nine years living in Jordan, Kuwait, Egypt, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he worked in managerial and non-managerial positions in Spring 2009

Omar received his MBA from Hull University in the UK and, prior to joining COTR, worked for over twenty years for the Higher Colleges of Technology in the United Arab Emirates as Program Chair and Faculty Member in Business and Management.

While there he taught a wide range of subjects including Office Administration, Human Resources, Marketing, International Business, Commercial Law, Computing and even History of the Arab People, and twice received the Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching.

Omar was also chair of the “Work Readiness Program” that targeted UAE Nationals who needed specific skills to make them “ready” to work.

Omar has travelled to many parts of the

world and participated in local and international exhibitions and conferences. A number of his academic papers were presented in Turkey, USA, UAE and Thailand.

He published two academic textbooks during his stay in the UAE and received a number of prestigious academic and nonacademic awards.

When not working, Omar appreciates nature, plays a number of musical instruments including the piano, and enjoys writing poetry. He appreciates the music of the 60’s and 70’s and is a huge fan of the Beatles and penguins (the bird, not the hockey team).

www.cotr.bc.ca/COTR-International

ALUMNI My Canadian Adventure

ALUMNI PROFILE Name: Nelson Cardenas Home Country: Ecuador Program: Adventure Tourism Business Operations and Culinary Arts Graduate Year: 2007 & 2008

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his adventure started the summer of 2006 when I arrived in Canada to take the English program at College of the Rockies in Cranbrook. After completing this short course I started the Adventure Tourism Business Operations program in Golden; one of the best experiences of my life. All the outdoor courses

are incredible and the instructors are very professional and have the passion to practice and teach all these sports. The business classes are based on adventure tourism businesses, where you can use your ideas to develop your own business plans. It’s a good start for your own future business. Two months before the end of the program I had to go back to Ecuador to get knee surgery but all the instructors and teachers helped me to complete the program.

helped me in different moments of my adventure in Canada.

The international department is where I spent lots of time changing programs, visas and more; and is where I like to go to say hi and thanks for all their help.

When I came back to Canada I had to change programs because of my knee and I started the Culinary Arts program back in Cranbrook. It was completely different than the other program, but I found another passion that I didn’t know I had. It wasn’t Chef JC, Nelson, Chef Toni, easy to learn all the technical terminology, but the chefs found different ways to help Restauranteur Heidi and Chef Tim me understand and successfully complete the first year. At the moment I’m working My host mother Leslie Long, where in a local restaurant, where I’m doing my I have been living for almost two apprenticeship to become a chef.

It’s years, with my roommates, Gyu, almost three years now and during this Romano and Steven, have all become time I have met amazing people that have part of my family.

The Problem Solver ALUMNI PROFILE Name: Romano Penheiro Home Country: Bangladesh Program: Tourism Management Graduate Year: 2007

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y favourite memory of COTR was the social activities; meeting new students, making lots of friends.

The instructors were also very helpful and were available to help after hours when I needed it.

In the Tourism Program we learned a lot of different things like accounting and computer skills, which I use now, as well as research and tourism skills. This helped Spring 2009

me get the job at the Heritage Inn where I started work in 2006. Then I took some time off and worked for Tourism BC on a summer job doing survey work. I got this job because of the research development I did with the Tourism program. After that I came back to Cranbrook and now work as Office Manager for the Heritage Inn. At my job I do the accounting, payroll, hiring and monthly billing of accounts. I report to Colin Johnson, the General Manager.

I also oversee the front desk, cooperate with other department managers and employees

and help solve problems. Although I don’t get to use all the skills I learned, I do like that I have a flexible schedule so there is no pressure as long as the work gets done.

In the future I want to continue with my education in a couple of years and get a degree in Tourism, then maybe move to Toronto to join my older brother.

Romano at work

www.cotr.bc.ca/COTR-International

STUDENTS 2009 Winter Semester Enrollment by Country of Origin

Zambia USA

From Beginning to End STUDENT PROFILE Name: Abduraouf ElMghirbi Home Country: Libya Program: English Language Training Beginner

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Uganda Trinidad Taiwan Saudi Arabia Netherlands Mexico Libya Korea Kenya

Number of Students

Japan

Total Enrollment 105

Israel Indonesia

y first impression about Cranbrook was they have a breathtaking nature, somehow smaller to my home country since my country has the nature of large deserts, but all nature is beautiful. I loved Cranbrook so much and I like how the people are helpful and friendly wherever you go.

The minute I get to the college I thought this is the right choice I made. When a friend of my family told me that it is a nice town and a good college I understand now what he meant.

Abdu at the Marysville Dog Sled Races

COTR is the best place to study and I am a good example of it since I didn’t know English at all when I came here, but now with the help of my teachers that I really appreciate (Hilary Segarty & Gayle Smith) I can be more confident of my English and I will be exultant soon, hopefully (inshalla). So my next step after finishing English is to start on my Business Administration degree and be one of COTR graduate students that starts from zero and goes to the top.

HK Germany France Ecuador China Chile Cambodia 0

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STUDENT PROFILE Name: Yanan (Ciya) Chen & Miao (Maggie) Yu Home Country: China Program: English Language Training - Advanced

Maggie Yu and Ciya Chen

Spring 2009

Thank you to all the staff of COTR that helped me and my wife to feel at home.

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aggie arrived in Vancouver in July 2008 then came to Cranbrook in September, which is also when Ciya arrived at COTR. They tell us “we enjoy our life in Canada. In the beginning, when we came to Canada we didn’t speak and listen to English very well so we were very confused. But all of the Canadians are friendly and people helped us to study English. We study English Language Training at the College and have good teachers.

Our classes are really interesting and they help us to learn English and give us many opportunities to practice.

Our classmates are from

all over the world. We are all happy to meet each other and have become good friends”.

“Cranbrook is a quiet and pretty city, people here are very friendly. Our homestays are very nice too. Maggie has a really nice Korean roommate.

The homestay families help us learn English in daily life and many more things about Canada”. Maggie would like to become an interior designer so she is taking Fine Art courses and really enjoys it. “It is such a pretty country. I want to stay here a long time to know more about Canada”.

Ciya wants to continue her degree in Canada and further her education.

Ciya says “I love to study in Canada, I love to live in Canada, and I love everyone who has helped me here”.

www.cotr.bc.ca/COTR-International

INTERNS Resident of the World by: Jesse Egger the region for the medium and long term.

Jesse Egger near Guayaquil

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or my internship in 2006, I went to Guayaquil, Ecuador as an international marketing specialist for a tourism consulting firm. I was responsible for preparing a strategic business plan with the general aim of boosting tourism in

I was incredibly lucky in my placement in that I could not have asked for kinder and more supportive co-workers and supervisors.

If forced to list just one favourite memory of my internship, I would have to say the people of Ecuador.

“My internship prepared me for my career by easing the transition between school and ‘real life’. It gave me a chance to travel after graduation while still progressing professionally.”

COTR International Youth Internship Program Overview BENEFITS COTR’s International Youth Internship Program provides the following benefits: • COTR graduates and graduates from other post-secondary institutions have the opportunity to gain international work experience overseas that is directly related to their field of study.

• COTR staff, students and the community gain insight into the global environment and COTR’s international work through intern project presentations and publications.

• Interns help COTR to enhance our international relationships through their day-to-day work with our overseas partners.

• Interns help COTR to create new international partnerships for project development and contract training.

• To date, COTR has hosted 84 interns in 7 countries.

Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) 2002-2009 38 international internships: Ecuador (16); Guyana (2); Mozambique (4); Kenya (14); Peru (2) International Trade Canada (ITCan) 2004-2007 26 international internships: China (8); Ecuador (16); Vietnam (2)

Spring 2009

In the future I would like to move more towards a career in strategic leadership and consulting as well as earn an MBA.

Canada-EU Sustainable Tourism Project

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ollege of the Rockies is involved in a transatlantic Sustainable Tourism student exchange partnership that involves six academic institutions from Canada and the EU. In its final preparation for student exchanges across the Atlantic, COTR welcomed an EU delegation from Finland, Scotland and Spain in April. Sami Tikkanen, Tina Parviainen, Linda Whillans, and Prof. Pablo Aledo held a number of meetings with the International department and Tourism Program specialists discussing a variety of issues that are directly related to the Sustainable Tourism Project.

PARTNERSHIPS Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) 2001-2003 20 international internships: Ecuador (17); China (3)

I now reside in ‘the world’ and work as Project Coordinator for a small European media group. At my job I conduct research for international features, more often than not focused on certain sectors, for example social security reforms in Greece, medical tourism in Southeast Asia and renewable energies in Spain.

COTR Faculty & EU Delegates

The EU delegation also met with a number of COTR tourism students who have shown interest in being part of this great international opportunity. The one semester long student exchanges will start in September 2009 and will take place over a 3 year duration. Each year, up to 3 COTR students will travel to EU for a full semester to study international sustainability and tourism concepts, with reciprocal European exchanges to Canada during that same period. The Kootenay region is ideal for such a program providing international students the opportunity to learn more about Canadian tourism practices, places, and Canada’s multicultural society.

www.cotr.bc.ca/COTR-International

INTERNS A Life-changing Experience by: Kaven St. Pierre

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rom a bike ride down the highest volcano of the country to a cultural journey in an organic farm living with the local people, Ecuador is one small country with an incredible variety of activities to offer. With all the potential they possess, focusing on a responsible way of developing tourism is crucial for them. I was sent to this country by College of the Rockies as a Sustainable Tourism Development Officer to contribute to the good practices in a tourism consultation agency named Cardinal.

Canoa’s Wild Beaches

Because I traveled there in the past, I was already aware of how beautiful and full of potential Ecuador is. I also recently graduated in Tourism Development, so I was aware of the latest trends and best practices in tourism. This internship opportunity in Ecuador was a perfect fit with my background and my personality. It was an incredible opportunity to put my knowledge into practice while contributing to a project focusing on the respect and contribution of the local people, as well as being environmentally-friendly in the development of their tourism activities.

Spring 2009

Working in Ecuador allowed me to have an a daily routine, learning Spanish, as incredible experience in many ways. First, well as traveling to many different I was able to develop my own project in places all contributed to turn these an important position, something I would six months into a life-changing have never been able to obtain in the North experience. This internship not only American context. I had the freedom and allowed me to re-consider my way the challenge to be in charge of a lot of of seeing the world and the way we different tasks that resulted in live, but it also an exchange of information and made me learn knowledge that were beneficial a lot about my for both Cardinal and me. I inner-self. improved several skills such as autonomy, project planning, Being back in inter-cultural teamwork and Cranbrook at the understanding the realities end helped me Vicugna near of working in an international going through Chimborazo Volcano context. On the other hand, the shock of my project allowed them to coming back develop some new sustainable partnerships very easily. I had the chance to share with Ecuadorian companies, as well as with some people that lived similar helping them to attract Canadian travelers. experiences, as well as improved my With an up-to-date website and a new public speaking skills by making variety of packages including adventure presentations about what I lived in tourism, ecotourism and cultural tourism the last six months. especially made for a growing market I targeted, they are now ready for the next The next step for me will be to step in their operations. obtain a position in an international development organization to work This working opportunity wasn’t the only in another part of the world, and great thing about the internship. I also had eventually be able to develop my own the chance to live in a completely different sustainable tourism development culture. Living with the local people, projects in beautiful countries with a experiencing new food, a new way of living lot of potential such as Ecuador.

Ecuador Interns & Friends Lorien Nesbitt, Carol, Chelsea Wilson, Kaven St. Pierre, John Probyn, Sophie, Nathalia Lizarazo

www.cotr.bc.ca/COTR-International

PARTNERSHIPS Universidad Espirito Santo

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ollege of the Rockies (COTR) and the Universidad of Especialidades Espiritu Santo (UEES) have embarked on a 3-year partnership to develop a post-graduate program in Environmental Entrepreneurism.

This post-graduate diploma program, to be offered at UEES in Guayaquil, Ecuador will enable students and professionals from diverse areas of study to develop knowledge and skills that integrate entrepreneurial activities with community development. Graduates will become familiar with responsible business operations that meet environmental, social and economic criteria and create opportunities for local participation at all levels.

UEES Campus

This project is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency, and administered by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges.

STUDY IN AUSTRALIA COTR has articulation agreements with universities in BC, Canada and around the world. Down under, we have an agreement with Griffith University that allows students to complete a degree in as little as one year after graduating from COTR with a diploma or associate degree. For example, Early Childhood Education Diploma holders can complete a Bachelor of Arts in Education in one year. In other programs such as Business or Tourism, COTR students can complete a degree in only 3 semesters.

2 years at COTR + 1 year at Griffith = 1 degree

Located on the Gold Coast, Griffith University is one of Australia’s most progressive, innovative and dynamic institutions. In addition to Griffith, COTR is working with other Australian universities to establish similar agreements; these universities include Newcastle University, Southern Cross University and La Trobe University.

For further information regarding course transfer and applications, please contact COTR International Australia partner: AustraLearn - Toll-free at 1-800-980-0033 Ext 100; email: canada@australearn.org or COTR International at (250) 489-8248; email: international@cotr.bc.ca Spring 2009

www.cotr.bc.ca/COTR-International

COTR STAFF & STUDENT MOBILITY Ecuador Opportunities - Spring/Summer 2009 COTR STAFF CONSULTING:

COTR STUDENT PRACTICUM:

COTR faculty will have an opportunity to travel to Ecuador as consultants with our Environmental Entrepreneurism project to: • Deliver Internationalization of Curriculum workshops at UEES in Guayaquil; • Provide UEES faculty with increased knowledge and skills of teaching techniques & instructional style; • Deliver Train-the-Trainer asset mapping workshops to UEES employees (faculty and/or staff).

Three COTR students will have the opportunity to travel to Ecuador through our Environmental Entrepreneurism project and work with university students in the city of Guayaquil and in coastal Ecuador to conduct community asset mapping to identify environmental and entrepreneurial projects.

This opportunity is expected to be approximately one month in duration during the summer of 2009.

For details about the above opportunities please contact: Jeff Cooper, International Project Coordinator, COTR ext.3578; or by email at cooper@cotr.bc.ca

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS Griffith University has twenty-five (25) partial tuition scholarships – covering tuition up to AUD $1500 per semester for a maximum of two semesters. The scholarships are offered to students from their Canadian college partner schools and commence in January or July of each year. Applications will be assessed on academic merit, demonstrated leadership and personal character. Applications for February 2010 commencement close on October 31, 2009. Applications should be sent directly to the Griffith University International Office.

For further details and an application, contact: Griffith University International Office Attn: Manager, Financial Aid & Sponsorships Gold Coast Campus GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY QLD 4222 Australia Email: intl-financialaid@griffith.edu.au Phone: +61 (7) 5552 7190 Fax: +61 (7) 5552 8978 Spring 2009

www.cotr.bc.ca/COTR-International

STAFF MOBILITY

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Diggin’ It by: Shannon Parnall

OTR International welcomed Graham Knipfel as our newest International Project Coordinator in January 2009.

Graham is a familiar face around the College having been a previous student in 2004/2005, working with COTR in 2007/2008 as an HIV/AIDS Education Assistant – Youth Intern in Kenya, and facilitating workshops at the Fair Change Conference in October 2008.

Mzungu! by: Laura Shaw

provided Graham with the skills, direction and passion for employment opportunities in international development. He fondly remembers the children and his work creating and teaching the HIV Groove - be sure to ask him about it when you see him.

Graham is now responsible for development and implementation of international projects for COTR. He currently coordinates our Kenya project “Sustainable Job Creation”.

Graham’s skills Graham says of and passion were Headmaster Joseph Mwaniki his internship with definitely tested & Graham Knipfel Mama na Dada as he hit the at Muringato Primary School Africa that it was ground running, “challenging, wonderful, difficult, preparing for a COTR recruiting and and highly rewarding”. Holding project coordination trip to Kenya and a Music Diploma and a Political Zambia taking place only two weeks after Science degree, Graham was able he was hired. He enjoyed the opportunity to blend the two disciplines by to renew friendships and see the results of developing exciting and interactive his internship during the trip. Now that HIV awareness curriculum using he is back settling into COTR, Graham music as a teaching tool, writing is enjoying the diversity of the position proposals that successfully obtained and his youthful enthusiasm makes him a funding, and conducting policy welcome addition to the department. analysis for the organization.

Graham reports, “I discovered that this was a perfect occasion to embrace a different culture and challenge myself to thrive, both personally and professionally, in an intercultural environment. I have grown as an individual and I am confident that I will witness the benefits of this internship for years to come. I am proud of what I have accomplished, but more importantly I am thankful for what I have learned and experienced.” The internship Spring 2009

Graham gets his hands dirty tree planting Community Resource Centre, Kimathi University

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ain pelted down as I carefully picked my way through deep and slippery mud puddles. I was headed for some small wooden shacks that make up Muringato primary school, which had been built primarily for the children of coffee pickers just outside of Nyeri town in Kenya. Despite the rain, some curious kids darted out of their classroom shacks and splashed across the field to greet me. Uniforms tattered, grins wide, eyes glued to mine. “Mzungu!” “Mzungu!” (visitor!). I greeted them in my tentative Swahili, which set off peals of laughter to the sky. At that moment, I sensed that this was a special place, but I still

Laura with students of Muringato Primary School

had no idea I was about to meet one of the most influential and humbling teachers of my life.

Mr. Mwaniki, the headmaster of this school, pours his heart and soul into empowering these kids. He helps them realize that they are something special and that they can be or do anything they dream of. As I sat in Mr. Mwaniki’s office, I could barely hear him as the rain on the tin roof thundered down. He had placed

www.cotr.bc.ca/COTR-International

STAFF MOBILITY buckets strategically around the mud floor of his office to collect the leaks. Following my eyes taking everything in, he smiled and shrugged, indicating that maybe it wasn’t perfect, but it worked. I watched him as he motioned to the large sheets of paper pinned to his walls showing the budget for pencils, paper and the other meager supplies he somehow manages to pull together. This amazing man somehow manages to run this school on but a few hundred dollars a year. He explained that things were better now that they had a cow because it supplements the grains (usually oatmeal) that the World Food Program provides to feed each child the one meal they get a day (while the rations last). Now with the milk from the cow, the health of the kids has significantly increased. He also has the kids growing a garden in one corner of the field – a garden to grow some vegetables, and to feed the cow.

Some of the kids took me by the hands and led me on a tour of a couple of the classrooms. I

noticed that each workbook is gratefully shared by two children; one writes on the left side, and the other on the right. I had to swallow the lump in my throat as I witnessed this cooperation.

These kids know they are lucky to be able to go to school, however, in Kenya, only elementary school is free. After grade eight, they must pay for their education.

imagining what we might be able to do for them with our leverage from here; a country where most of our students have their own laptop computers (never mind workbooks!), their own bedrooms, three meals a day…

So now, after coming back to British Columbia and sharing my stories, a friend of mine has offered to help the graduates of Muringato Primary school continue their education. He is purchasing cloth bags that these students are making in their home economics class.

These bags will be shipped to British Columbia and given Classroom and Students out to each of his students.

Muringato Primary All profits go to the Muringato School graduate fund, which has Nyeri, Kenya been set up by Mr. Mwaniki.

It is terribly exciting to be part Many of the kids at Muringato are orphans, of a project that is opening up a or come from families who don’t have the brighter future for these amazing means to support their futures. I asked Mr. students.

Mwaniki what happens to the kids that can’t go on and he simply replied that he adopts some of them to make sure they’ll be ok.

I visited Muringato as often as I could for the rest of my time in Kenya. I was so struck by the way Mr. Mwaniki uses his leverage to help these kids (on his slim paycheck in a school without electricity). I can’t stop

Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day. ...Thomas Jefferson

TEST YOUR INTERNATIONAL KNOWLEDGE 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Which country has the highest average life expectancy? a) Angola b) Vanuatu c) Macau d) Norway Where did the first ever Amnesty International mission go? a) Ghana b) Portugal c) Czechosolovakia d) East Germany What is the name of the extremely dry desert in northern Chile? a) Mojave b) Atacama c) Sahara d) Kalahari How many countries does the Arctic Circle pass through? a) 9

b) 4

c) 5

d) 7 What percentage of Kenyan females age 15 and over are literate (can read and write). a) 47.8

b) 12.6

c) 86.5

d) 79.7

Spring 2009

Answer Key: page 15

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www.cotr.bc.ca/COTR-International

PARTNERSHIPS Kenya - Sustainable Job Creation Project by: Graham Knipfel

Graham Knipfel, Patricia Bowron, Principal - Professor Kioni, Joseph Sarisar, Dr. Nick Rubidge, Director of VocationRosemary Kagondu, Deputy Principal -Professor Gachari Kimathi University College of Technology

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OTR International is continuing to work successfully with a variety of educational institutions and non-governmental organizations in Kenya. In partnership with Kimathi University College of Technology (KUCT) located in Kenya’s Central Province, COTR is currently planning activities for the fourth year of the

Kimathi Institute coffee plantation

five year Sustainable Job Creation project. This project aims to reduce poverty in the Nyeri district through development of entrepreneurial capacity in various sectors, including sustainable tourism, and by incorporating health promotion throughout the project.

Spring 2009

The Sustainable Job Creation project is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) through the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) in a program that facilitates the involvement of Canadian Colleges in institutional cooperation projects with developing country partners. The partnership also includes Parkland College in Saskatchewan, a Canadian partner who has assumed a learner role in the project in order to develop its capacity to work in international development. This collaboration with KUCT is leading to the development of a Sustainable Tourism Certificate, is providing training to increase sustainability and profitability of existing cottage industries, and is increasing awareness of health promotion and HIV prevention in the community.

of Youth Affairs, and the Nyaribo Dispensary. The commitment of KUCT is tremendous and they continue to leverage the project for positive outcomes and future success.

Silkworm Farm (top)

Fish Farm (right)

In January 2009, a technical assistance mission from COTR funded Sustainable Tourism Projects

by CIDA observed significant developments at KUCT The Project Steering Committee, including the completion of a benefited from the knowledge community resource centre, the and experience of Dr. Rubidge in beginning of a coffee quality government and post-secondary laboratory, and the expansion education. As the project strives of the student population, to develop KUCT’s strength in 35% of which are female. The governance and management, the delegation from COTR included institutional governance sessions President and CEO, Dr. Nick were highly beneficial. COTR Rubidge; International Affairs International is looking forward Executive Director, Patricia to the next year of the project Bowron; and International where sustainable tourism and Project Coordinator, Graham entrepreneurship will grow, and Knipfel. The team participated in health education will expand in meetings with the new Principal the Nyeri and Senior Management team, district. toured the revenue generating coffee plantation which is currently adding value to its product with an emphasis on shade grown coffee, and met with the Chairman of the Board of Governors.

Additionally, the team was able to consult with a number of community partners Mr. Mugambi Nyaribo including the Africa Wildlife Foundation, Dispensary Muringato Primary School, the Ministry 12

www.cotr.bc.ca/COTR-International

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Girls’ Opportunities Africa by: Lil McPhail

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ollowing the “Africa: Development Challenges” conference in October 2007, a group of employees at COTR formed a small fundraising team, now known as Girls’ Opportunities Africa (GO Africa). Our goal is to raise money to cover the costs of secondary school education for girls who are graduates of Muringato Primary School in Nyeri, Kenya.

school with GO Africa support. She is an HIV-AIDS orphan living with her aunt, who could not afford additional education. Esther was identified by the headmaster as being a promising student.

Since then we raised enough money to also commit to 4 years of support for Lydia.

GO Africa is a small project making a difference. It works well because it is supported at so many levels. In Secondary education in Kenya, the headmaster Mr. Mwaniki with Esther Kenya is not free and many of Muringato School and Headmistress at Muruguru Secondary capable students are unable helps to identify and School to continue their education support the students. Staff due to poverty and the effects in COTR’s International of HIV/AIDS. Girls, in particular, Department visit Kenya regularly and are have fewer opportunities to continue able to assist with the financial arrangements their education. It currently costs for GO Africa. All of the money raised goes about $500 (Canadian) per year for directly to funding educational opportunities tuition, room and board, uniform, for deserving girls. and supplies for a girl to attend a boarding school in the region.

The College of the Rockies community has generously supported our many fundraising In 2008, 15 year old Esther began activities. People have bought our cookies her first of four years of secondary and muffins, purchased Kicking Horse

Coffee, participated in our silent auction, joined us at an international lunch at the Class Act Dining Room, and/or entered our Valentine Basket draw. We have raised over $4000 and definitely plan to continue.

Fundraising for GO Africa has been rewarding, with results and benefits far exceeding our initial expectations!

For more information contact: Lil McPhail: mcphail@cotr.bc.ca

Graham Knipfel & Mr. Mwaniki accompany Lydia and her mother to her first day at Ndiani Secondary School, a boarding school 20 minutes from Nyeri Town

Consulting Opportunity Kenya

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ollege of the Rockies (COTR) and Parkland College (PC) have forged a partnership with Kimathi University College of Technology (KUCT) in Kenya in the form of an Association of Canadian Community Colleges project entitled Sustainable Job Creation. This project, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency, aims to reduce poverty in the Nyeri district through the development and delivery of new training programs to assist industry in addressing their skill needs.

CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITIES:

A project consultant from COTR and/or PC will travel to Nyeri, Kenya for two to three weeks between June and August, 2009 (specific dates to be determined). Working closely with KUCT, the consultant will achieve the following outputs: 1. Curriculum design in the final development stages of KUCT’s Sustainable Tourism Certificate 2. The completion of the Sustainable Tourism Certificate program 3. Develop and jointly deliver Tourism workshops with KUCT to three community based organizations For details about the above opportunity, please contact: Graham Knipfel, International Project Coordinator, COTR ext 3468; or by email at gknipfel@cotr.bc.ca Spring 2009

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Fair Change - Linking Fair Trade and Climate Change in Canada by: Jeff Cooper

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estled away in Canada’s beautiful Rocky Mountains, College of the Rockies recently played host to the Fair Change: Fair Trade & Climate Change in the Kootenays conference. The goal of the project was to engage business owners, community leaders, local youth, educators and community members in British Columbia, Canada, to explore local solutions to global challenges. The College has been a regional leader specializing in adventures in life and global learning, and provided an ideal setting for a conference with an international scope.

In particular, we wanted to explore the impact local Fair Trade & Climate Change choices have not only on developing communities, but around the world and in our own backyards. This was achieved through strategic marketing, interactive workshops, presentations, a Fair Change trade fair, a 100-mile and Fair Trade gala banquet and keynote speakers.

Fair Trade Trade Fair

One of our conference facilitators eloquently summed up not only the importance of our two key conference themes, but also the natural link that brought these two themes together:

“Eating is one of the most intimate acts we engage in. What goes into our bodies becomes part of us. We are worth feeding properly and well – socially, environmentally, politically, morally and culturally. All of us deserve to eat well and to know that we will eat well tomorrow. And those who produce or gather our food deserve to be treated fairly, with dignity and with respect. Local food systems support our health, our communities, our cultures, our food security, and, ultimately, our future.” - Abra Brynne, Fair Change conference speaker The conference raised awareness of Global Warming and the resultant need to reduce carbon emissions and waste. Several initiatives were implemented including providing large canisters of tap water for participants and encouraging them to bring their own drinking containers. Carbon Offset Credits (http://planetair.ca/ for more information) were purchased for Speakers and facilitators coming from as far away as Eastern Canada, the USA and Mexico. All catering was provided by local caterers who used local food suppliers within 100 miles for all their ingredients. It was an interesting and thoughtprovoking exercise to discover the limitations on the types of foods actually available in our community within that parameter.

Fairly Local Dinner Canadian Museum of Rail Travel

The Fair Change trade fair portion of the conference included representation from regional, provincial and national organizations selling only locally produced or Fair Trade products. Participants were very supportive and impressed by the wide range of products available locally for purchase and increased their knowledge about the principles behind Fair Trade (http://transfair.ca/ for more information). The conference received tremendous support from local business sponsorships, as well as excellent media coverage including radio, newspaper and television.

As a direct result of the Fair Change conference, Nakusp, British Columbia has become BC’s first Fair Trade Town.

The communities of Cranbrook, Golden, Creston and Kimberley are also engaged in the process to become Fair Trade Towns by achieving the six significant goals set out by TransFair Canada (http://transfair.ca/en/fairtradetown).

Fair Trade-related activities at the conference were sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency.

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

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Golden BC: The Next Fair Trade Town? by: Laura Shaw

t’s happening. Golden is well on its way to becoming the next “Fair Trade Town” in British Columbia. As it stands now, it looks like they might be the fourth town in Canada to receive this recognition behind Wolfville, Nova Scotia; LaPeche, Quebec; and Nakusp, BC. The towns of Cranbrook, Creston and Kimberley are also in the process of becoming Fair Trade Towns in British Columbia.

just waiting for approval and support for this campaign from their town council. As a Fair Trade Town, Golden will not only gain recognition for being a progressive and ethically responsible town, but also, consumers will have increased access to high quality, healthy products.

So far, the Committee has found it to be an inspiring journey and the response to this campaign has been overwhelmingly positive. Once people understand the Fair Trade movement has many benefits to both the producer and the consumer including providing economic stability and a higher standard of living for small-scale farmers and workers and encouraging environmentally sustainable practices, they become more aware of the impact of their consumer choices, and they want the option to make socially, environmentally and economically ethical purchases in their day to day lives. Overall, as consumers, we can have a clear conscience as we enjoy the Fair Trade products we bring into our homes.

Golden is seeking to become a Fair Trade Town by meeting the following six goals, set out by Trans Fair (www.transfair. ca), Canada’s national non profit Fair Trade certifying organization: 1. The local council uses Fair Trade Certified products and supports the Fair Trade Towns campaign 2. Stores & restaurants serve Fair Trade Certified products 3. Workplaces, faith groups, & schools use and promote Fair Trade Certified products 4. Public awareness events and media coverage held on Fair Trade and the campaign 5. A steering group created for continued commitment 6. Other ethical and sustainable initiatives promoted To get involved, or for Fair Trade business/licensing within the community information, call Golden’s Fair Trade co-ordinators: Craig Of these six goals, #2-5 are well underway and Golden is Cooper 250-439-9340; Laura Shaw 250-344-5901 ext. 123 It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change....Charles Darwin

1. c) Macau. The average life expectancy at birth is 84.36. Angola has one of the lowest life expectancies at 38.20. The tropical paradise of Vanuatu is 63.98 and Norway is ranked number 24 with an average life expectancy of 79.95. Canada rates number eight in the world at 81.23. (2009 “CIA World Factbook”) 2. a) Ghana. Amnesty International’s first mission was to Ghana in January, 1962. In February they went to Czechoslovakia, and then to Poland and East Germany.

3. b) Atacama. There is a place in the desert where no rain has been recorded to date.

4. d) 7. The countries are Canada, United States (Alaska), Greenland, Norway, Finland, Russia and Sweden.

The line passes about 10 miles north of Iceland.

5. d) 79.7%. The male literacy rate in Kenya is 90.6%. Afghanistan ranks amongst the lowest female literacy rates at 12.6% with a male literacy rate of only 43.1%. India has a rate for females of 47.8% while the male literacy rate is 73.4%, and China has a rate of 86.5% for females and 95.1% for males. (2009 “CIA World Factbook”) Answer Key for the International Knowledge Quiz:

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS COTR International By the Numbers

Winter 2009 Students by Program

International Students at COTR (full-time equivalents) 2008/2009 International Students at COTR (full-time equivalents) 2007/2008 Countries represented by students – Winter 2009 English Language Training Students – Winter 2009 Academic Program Students – Winter 2009 International Development Partnerships underway 2008/2009 Youth Interns and COTR students on overseas study/work options COTR consultancy trips overseas on funded projects 2008/2009 Total Fair Change Conference participants 2008

Tourism Management Timber Frame Program University Studies - Science University Studies - Arts Recreation Management Office Administration & Technology Network Support Technician Mountain Adventure Skills Training Liberal Arts - Environmental Studies Human Service Worker Human Kinetics English Language Training

125 124 21 40 65 6 11 10 448

COTR International Students’ Excellence Scholarship 2009 Recipients

Early Childhood Education Canadian Tourism Practices Business Administration

(L-R) Chieko Izumi, Lan Shu Lee, Sunghyuk Lim, Takako Shimada

Adventure Tourism Business Opportunities Automotive Service Technician Adult Basic Education, Advanced 0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

International Scholarships COTR Global Learning Scholarships - $2,000 each: Global Learning Scholarships recognize international learning opportunities for COTR students.

Up to five $2,000 scholarships per year will be awarded for students to complete international experiences including studies, practicums, volunteer postings, internships or other approved experiences, and who are returning to COTR for at least one semester.

2009 Recipients: • Ruth Adam – Nursing • Chelsey Acierno – University Studies – Global Studies Graduate Certificate, Nyaribo Dispensary Kenya • Kimberley Jackson – Adventure Tourism Business Operations, Practicum in New Zealand

COTR International Students’ Excellence Scholarship - $2,000 each: International Student Excellence Scholarships are open to COTR international students planning to enroll in University Studies, Business Administration, Tourism and Recreation Management and other programs as approved by the Awards Committee. Up to five $2,000 scholarships to COTR will be awarded to successful applicants for tuition based on academic merit, community involvement and instructor or employer reference that identifies the student’s potential for program completion.

2009 Recipients: • Lan Shu Lee – Business Administration • Takako Shimada – Business Administration • Liao Li Huizhen – Office Administration & Business Administration • Chieko Izumi – Office Administration • Sunghyuk Lim – Human Service Worker

Irving K. Barber and Province of BC One World Scholarship - $1500 each: One World Scholarships are awarded to BC students pursuing part of their post-secondary studies, co-op work experiences, internships and other approved experiental learning opportunities overseas.

2009 Recipients: • Chelsey Acierno – Youth awareness, Kenya • Erik Shore – Surfing instructor, Nicaragua Chelsey Acierno receiving awards from Omar Badran

Visit our website: www.cotr.bc.ca/cotr-International for electronic versions of newsletters Questions or Comments? Contact us: College of the Rockies, International & Partnership Development Box 8500, Cranbrook, BC Canada V1C 5L7 Telephone: (250) 489-8248 Fax: (250) 489-8254 E-mail: international@cotr.bc.ca

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