The ORI
CE Annual Symposium on Global Community Engagement will take place on
Join us to hear from individuals and groups who are tackling complex issues from various levels and in many different ways. We hope this dialogue will prompt questions\, spark connec tions and initiate conversations that lead to more sustainable and just com munity engagement and collective action.
Join us for:
Action Amplified will take place on Thursday\, October 1 9th\, 2023 at the UBC Liu Institute for Global Issues and the UBC C.K. Choi Building
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How to build a movement?
A lot of the challenges we are collectively experiencing to day can feel overwhelming\, and opportunities to create change can be hard to find. Through the story of a 200 -year-old tree\, Ash will highlight how to identify your strengths as a changemaker\, cultivate active hope\, and get involved in the everyday movement building that just might be happe ning on your own street!
Ash Peplow Ball (she/her) is a communi ty organizer who loves to help people find their voice and power\, and buil d the skills to participate in democratic processes. This passion has taken Ash to work in Uganda\, Mexico\, Nepal and Cambodia\; working for non-prof its as a campaigner and as an adviser to government Ministers.
< p>Ash now calls the Kootenays home\, where she gets to bring together her passion for climate action\, democratic par ticipation and movement building that's rooted in decolonization in her rol e as the Executive Director of Women Transforming Cities. < /span>[accordion
s collapsible=true active=false][accordion title="1a. More than a Job: Rura
l Employment's Ripple Effect on Local Livelihoods (Lucas\, Kabir\, Shyla\,
Vera)"]
Session 1a: 6:45 - 7:30 pm (Choi 120)
Presented b
y Lucas Mehling\, Kabir Fardin\, Shyla Gheek\, Vera Huang
Sub-Saharan Africa has reported slow but steady economic growth over the
last number of decades. Despite this\, there are concerns that rural areas
are being left behind and are not seeing the benefits of modernization enj
oyed in urban centres. Rural poverty is widespread\, and many residents lac
k access to critical infrastructure such as electricity and running water.
AFRIpads\, a Ugandan social enterprise\, seeks to change this by investing
in rural employment through their reusable sanitary pads factory in the vil
lage of Kitengesa. Our study examined five-year trends in the surrounding v
illage’s socio-economic conditions and found significant gains in overall w
ealth\, access to financial resources\, gender equality\, and more. These i
mprovements occurred despite immense challenges suffered from COVID-19 and
lockdowns. We suggest that investment in rural development and employment h
as the potential to uplift entire communities. We will present a story of g
rowth and resilience\, our learnings around this\, and what it means for ou
r understanding of development.[/accordion]
[accordion title="1b. Cha
mpions of Change: Empowering Communities in Kenya (Andro\, Emma\, Alicia\,
Josh)"]
Session 1b: 6:45 - 7:30 pm (Seminar Room 121 @ Liu Ins
titute)
Presented by Andro Abaya\, Emma DeSouza\, Alicia Leong\, Joshu
a James
Kenya is a wealthy country in terms of financia
l resources and human capital. However\, socio-economic disparities are eve
r present in the country\, and the average Kenyan does not benefit equally
from the country’s resources. Additionally\, the impacts of colonization\,
“international aid\,” and capitalism have contributed to top-down power str
uctures in social services/programming across the country – resulting in un
equal access to important community services\, many of which we take for gr
anted here in Canada. During their time in Kenya\, UBC ORICE Social Work st
udents saw first-hand how organizations such as Basic Needs Basic Rights\,
Greenstring Network\, and RefugePoint are working to reverse these trends t
o empower local communities. A recurrent theme for all of these organizatio
ns was the crucial need to empower individuals and communities from a grass
roots level to establish and increase agency over their own mental health.
Our presentation will highlight some of the innovative strategies being use
d in Kenya to leverage the resources and strengths of communities to suppor
t sustainable well-being. Many of these strategies can be applied in a Cana
dian context\; although our countries are different\, many of the challenge
s faced by people with mental illness are universal.[/accordion]
[acc
ordion title="1c. Navigating Uganda's Healthcare Crossroads: Economics\, Su
stainability\, and Maternal Health in Tekera (Nippun\, Helena\, David\, Val
armathi)"]
Session 1c: 6:45 - 7:30 pm (Choi 351)
Presente
d by Nippun Arora\, Helena Baik\, David Chen\, Valarmathi Vishnu
In this presentation\, we navigate the intricate web of Uganda's
healthcare landscape\, with a primary focus on Tekera Health Centre. We del
ve into the economic underpinnings of healthcare delivery\, shedding light
on the formidable challenges confronting private\, not-for-profit (PNFP) en
tities like Tekera. These organizations operate in a socio-political climat
e where economic development and self-sustainability are paramount. One of
our primary areas of exploration revolves around the arduous task of provid
ing affordable healthcare services. Within a context where sustainable fund
ing is not always guaranteed\, non-profits\, including Tekera\, face unique
difficulties. We also explore the intriguing genesis of social service org
anizations like Tekera\, often born from the goodwill of international dono
rs seeking to make a meaningful impact. Yet\, we illuminate how this charit
able model can be precarious\, leading to significant disparities in the he
althcare sector between non-profit/private and public service providers. Ou
r journey unfolds by examining the realm of maternal health\, an area of cr
itical concern. We scrutinize the status of birthing facilities and the tes
ting and treatment of HIV/AIDS\, particularly among vulnerable groups like
mothers and children. Throughout the presentation\, we integrate our experi
ences from a close examination of Uganda's healthcare system\, emphasizing
Tekera's aspirations to enhance its existing healthcare center by expanding
maternal and birthing services. We also evaluate how strategies grounded i
n asset-based community development empower PNFPs to engage their communiti
es and secure the vital resources necessary for impactful outreach.[/accord
ion]
[accordion title="1d. The Gender+ Paradigm: Implications for Res earch and Everyday Life (Gaylean Davies and Krystal Go)"]
Ses
sion 1c: 6:45 - 7:30 pm (Liu Institute 316)
Presented by Gaylean Davie
s and Krystal Go
Housed und er UBC ORICE\, the Gender+ in Research Collective works to build a communit y for rich dialogue in which gender and other identity intersections\, incl uding race\, class\, sexuality\, and ability\, are considered when conducti ng community-engaged research. Join us for this discussion session about th e Gender+ in Research Collective as we speak to what gender+\, in tersectionality\, and positionality me an and their importance to research and everyday life. How do our identities shape our experiences? Do the int ersections of our identities affect how research is conducted? If so\, how? Why does this matter to our everyday lives?[/accordion]
[acco
rdion title="2a. A Healthcare Harambe in the Northeastern Kenyan Rangelands
: Supporting Local Networks in Wajir\, Kenya (Adeline & Jesse)"]
Presented by Adeline Chartol
and Jesse DeCoste
Historically\, international development strategies have been rooted in paternalistic\, ‘top-down’ approaches to pov erty reduction. These models highlight ‘deficits' in communities and ignore the myriad ways that they build and sustain wealth: through social connect ions\, mutual aid\, and deep-rooted knowledge systems. Asset-based developm ent seeks to use these skills and this knowledge to build capacity within t he community and create sustainable programs for change. Our summer was spe nt with Alternative Livelihoods for Pastoralist Communities\, a home-grown community based organization composed of professionals from Wajir\, Kenya. Most of the members involved in the organization come from livestock herder families in a small town called Bute near the Kenya/Ethiopia border. This presentation will outline the ownership and structure of the ALPC to demons trate its asset-based community development approach. It will then provide an overview of the organization’s programming. Specifically\, we will highl ight a health insurance program that our project supported. Finally\, we wi ll outline the development of a program evaluation methodology that was co- created reciprocally with the ALPC\, and how we hope to see the project con tinue in the future. During our placement\, we learned a lot about sustaine d\, mutually beneficial relationships in international development\, which we will reflect on at the end of our presentation.[/accordion]
[accor
dion title="2b. Culture is Healing: Incorporating Indigenous Practices in a
Western Context (Christie\, Kay\, Sajedeh\, Wande)"]
Session
2b: 7:40 - 8:25 pm (Seminar Room 121 @ Liu Institute)
Presented by Chr
istie Bernados\, Kristine Harrison (Kay)\, Sajedeh Zaki\, Wande Abimbola
According to Babu Ayindo from Greenstrings network\, “the hosp ital is a microcosm of society”. In a society that is still healing from th e trauma of colonization\, this quote demonstrates how its legacy can manif est in society in a myriad of ways. For example\, in institutions such as h ospitals\, education\, government\, religion\, family\, etc. Canada and Ken ya share a history of colonization\, with forcible and violent suppression of traditional indigenous practices (e.g. Indian residential schools\, potl atch ban\, Kenyan anti-witchcraft legislation). Suppression of indigenous p ractices continues today with an emphasis on the Western biomedical model t o treat mental health. While in Kenya\, UBC ORICE Social Work students soug ht out different modes of approaching mental health care in a non-western c ontext which we could apply here. We saw examples of both traditional and m odern approaches to mental health. Both approaches have the potential to he lp and harm\; therefore a hybrid to amplify the benefits of both are a prom ising way forward. This is demonstrated by the concept of Two-Eyed Seeing\, "learning to see from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous ways of kno wing and from the other eye with the strengths of Western ways of knowing a nd to using both of these eyes together” (Bartlett\, Marshall\, & Marshall\ , 2012\, p. 335). In this presentation\, we will use storytelling as a deco lonized approach to sharing our insights in Kenya.[/accordion]
[accor
dion title="2c. Tackling HIV Transmission among AGYW in Uganda: Insights fr
om TASO's Sustainable Livelihood Programs (Siena\, Tyler\, Julia)"]Session 2c: 7:40 - 8:25 pm (Choi 351)
Presented by Siena Serikaw
a\, Tyler Stevenson\, Julia Bricio
In Uganda\, as in many ot her regions of the world\, the HIV epidemic continues to pose significant c hallenges\, particularly amongst adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). AGYW face a disproportionate burden of HIV infection and experience the hig hest incidence rates of transmission\, affecting them socially and economic ally. The AIDS Support Organization (TASO) Uganda\, is taking action to add ress this critical issue\, in part\, through targeted sustainable livelihoo d programming (SLP). This presentation will share some of our learning and experiences working alongside TASO on a report that highlights the multifa ceted dimensions of this approach and assessment while they investigate if SLPs are an effective preventative measure. We will delve into topics of in tersectionality\, vulnerability factors\, community engagement\, policy\, a nd advocacy. [/accordion][/accordions]
CATEGORIES:Featured Homepage,Featured News Events LOCATION:Liu Institute for Global Issues GEO:49.276764;-123.220800 URL;VALUE=URI:https://orice.ubc.ca/events/event/action-amplified-the-orice- annual-symposium-on-global-community-engagement/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://orice.cms.arts.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2023/07/SYMPOSIUM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Vancouver BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 DTSTART:20230312T100000 TZNAME:PDT END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR