Saturday, April 25, 2009

Willing to contribute 4 hrs / week

Sunday 19 MAR 2009 21:30 – 23:00 EST

Session Attendees: Nishi Andra, Vivek Nath, Taylor Hickem, Olivia Campos

Next Session

SUN 26 MAR 2009 20:30 - 21:30 EST

Moderator

Vivek


Weekly Update

Brigitte forwarded us a contact at UVA who knows of a lot of development projects that could use engineering work.

Discussion Topics

Details of email response to contact,
Tim Redden
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/4/a52/179

Conclusion – Taylor will send draft email to group, and

The rest of the group will provide resumes and approval before sending to Tim

Each member will be willing to contribute 4 hrs/week

Contents of email draft may be found in the google group under “Engineering Project in Africa


New Affiliated Organizations

Conversation Transcript: (available at SustainableAfricaGroup documents)

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Sunday, April 12, 2009

Feedback from field experience

Sunday 12 MAR 2009 22:30 – 23:30 EST

Session Attendees: Nishi Andra, Vivek Nath, Taylor Hickem, Brigitte Silver


Next Session

SUN 19 MAR 2009 21:30 - 22:30 EST

Moderator

no moderator this week


Weekly Update

World Bank Millennium Goals – Fight: poverty, hunger, infant mortality, disease,

Improve: maternal health, education, women’s rights, sustainability, global integration


Brigitte Silver – UVA Law student with experience in humanitarian projects – welcome!


Peace Corps – can be dangerous, not much positive feedback from those who have gone. A lot of manual labor. Response to applications can be slow.


Discussion Topics

Brigitte Silver – experience in humanitarian projects in
Guyana, Guatemala Panama, and Costa Rica


New Affiliated Organizations

SOIL
http://www.oursoil.org/


Global Development Learning Network
http://www.gdln.org/


Meetup.com
www.meetup.com/


Conversation Transcript: (available at SustainableAfricaGroup documents)

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Global Learning Development Network (GDLN)

From the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) Website

Coordinated by the World Bank, the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) is a partnership of over 120 recognized global institutions (Affiliates) in over 80 countries that collaborates in the design of customized learning solutions for individuals and organizations working in development [...]

Collectively, Affiliates put on 1000+ learning sessions a year that range from training courses and informal brainstorming sessions to multi-country dialogues and virtual conferences. GDLN learning specialists in these organizations collaborate in designing customized learning solutions for clients [...]

Sessions are designed for specific learning objectives and audiences and also draw on applied knowledge and expertise from across the network. They usually feature a combination of learning techniques, such as expert panels, case based learning and action plans, as well as information and communication tools, used in face-to-face, videoconferencing and e-learning events.

GDLN is present in most major cities and in many secondary cities. We offer direct access to local, regional and international development experts, provide tailored learning programs, knowledge or technical assistance programs, and state of the art facilities for multi-point videoconferencing and internet-based learning.

Our services fall into four broad categories: program and session design, session management and coordination, learning product development, and promotion and marketing services.

Since GDLN first opened its doors in 1999, thousands of people around the world have been inspired to improve their lives. From a group of women in Tanzania who created their own national Chamber of Commerce, now boasting 2,000 members — to the government of Nicaragua who collaborated with the United Nations Development Programme to create an emergency response plan to the Avian flu threat.

Another example

Productivity improvements through collaboration between Toyota and Mongolian textile fatories

GDLN’s Japan affiliate [organized] a course on business efficiency, entitled “Toyota Production Systems"[...] Through [the GDLN affiliate], Japan’s APO [extended] its capacity building regionally, and Mongolian companies [became] more competitive.