Discussion Board Week 3

Thursday, 18 March 2010 11:17:57 AM EST Reply Vanessa 2
Oh Karen

BTW back to your topic, which I think is similar to mine, By the time of implementation, we did not need to complete the actual project, jsut be on the way to it. That's the impression I got anyway. So for me, building ties within a culturally diverse marginalised community, I'm starting with a multicultural arts and dance festival but it still may not do what I'm aiming to do. But I've made a start, a connection and in doing so explored, networked and connected and gathered information to plan further.

Because I do think adopt a grandparent is a great topic. I did think it was strange that it was on the Aboriginal and Islander Chart:))).
Perhaps discussing it with Lynda if your still confused about changing your topic.?



Thursday, 18 March 2010 11:12:03 AM EST Reply Vanessa
Thank you for that insight Karen.
I couldn't agree with you more. It is a struggle for me as I am starting to implement in 2 weeks time and I want to constantly make it my agenda, to save time, to make sure it looks good for the project, to fiet this into the structure of my project. I am finding out more and more that a community doesn't wait for your plans, and then bends itself to fit into your timeline and your agenda. So far, for me, things have gone wring, plans have changed, circumstances of the members involved have changed and group members have changed. So to on a daily basis, group this, and make a new plan to fit these circumstances of the new dawn, and make the agenda about the community's interest in a span of two weeks is challenging me very very very very much. What also challenges me is my ability to keep my own ego/fears in check, wvery time things don't go into my perfect little plan, I cna have the tnedency to panic or think no what will people within the community think (some of them I have grown up with, and are my friends). I have to continually keep myself and my fears in check, take a deep breath, and slow down and start slowly again. I am using a breathing CD I fall alseep to it.
Thank you for your insight, it allowed me to uncover my own.
Vanessa


Thursday, 18 March 2010 8:44:11 AM EST Reply Kerline
Hi Karen,
I loved learning more about the whole concept of "adopt a grandparent",but I think you are right in that it probably would take longer to implement and see the whole process through.

Your new topic sounds like it is something that offers a lot of options and potential to see change even in a short amount of time! Although I am not an extremely religious person myself, I spent some time a few years ago working with a group called "Youth for Christ" (YFC) in Geneva, Switzerland.

The activities and events they threw to get youth out and involved in the community were so creative and inspiring, I thought that maybe they would be a good contact for you to have to see some examples of initiatives that have worked in the past.
Here is the website for YFC Australia: http://www.yfc.org.au/
I hope you can find it useful. Good luck!
Kerline


Wednesday, 17 March 2010 10:20:36 PM EST
Community Engagement

In class today whilst going through the 2 different process methods to:
to find a solution for marking and
the top 5 issues in the world today
reminded me of the importance of how we approach our community from the micro to macro.

I found it a struggle to watch and not contribute in the first process (but I did volunteer to be an observer). I was watching as a decision was made that will have a significant impact on my life right now and had no opportunity to be heard. It certainly left me with a strong sense of feeling powerless.

In using the TOP facilitation method (which I have used and love) left me feeling a little frustrated as Linda pointed out that much of the content at the table was lost in deciding what the collective believed the 5 issues were.

And I loved it- this may sounds strange but I did. For me being placed in these circumstances is a beautiful reminder of the importance of my role in community engagement.

Inclusion is hard, but to truly effect change in the community; the people of the community need to be apart of the process, own the process and then determine the outcomes. And ensuring all are involved is a difficult road to navigate.

Having said this on the way home from class I completely changed my idea for my project - not that my idea isn't good and I still am going to follow this up (linking up older people with families in an adopt a grandparent program) but given the risks I think it is a longer term project.

I have been given the opportunity to work with some young people who are from a religious based school. They are looking to form a connection between what they learn at school, the teaching of the principles of the bible and putting these into practice. The aim is to develop within the young people the sense to contribute to their community as an integral and life long commitment.

So today's class made me aware I need to work with my project in an inclusive way and not get carried away with my own agenda of what this should look like.

So thank you all for the learning today. Hope others got the same experience from todays class that I did.
Karen