Where to from Here

MMMMM
In contemplating where I go to from here - in that the connection has been made and the developing of the relationship is strong, but the business of myself and the students has had a dramatic impact in moving this project froward quickly.
Not sure if that was all about the excitement and wanting to meet that deadline that we tried to push it through with in the short time.
Or possible about wanting to meet my agenda with it being apart of my uni project and having the art works completed in time for the end of semester and my project.

Reflecting on this feeling of unfinished business had left me a bit deflated in my energy. But I think after my chat with the student on Sunday- and having understanding and empathy for all the structural and study pressure she is under right now, I have emerge re focused.

In addressing community development consideration needs to be given to an important issue that action may take time- and this is reflective of allowing the community to steer the project to the means and ends that they want rather than us having a predetermined agenda and running with that, even doing all the work and giving the community something they don't want or need- or more importantly an action that they own and support.

In John Riley article WORKING TOWARDS A BETTER WORLD, Computer Weekly; Dec 19, 2006 p16 he discusses the awards for volunteer's in  the IT industry who give back to their community, he identifies 10 points for people wanting to get involved in their community:

1. Do not over promise
2. Keep it simple at first
3. Ensure all parties have agreed the project definition
4. Check that the charity's management is committed to the project
5. For complex projects the management role should be located within the charity
6. Ensure the project is sustainable without you
7. Cover potential risks and liabilities
8. Define from the start when the project will end, and when any reviews will occur
9. Spread the good news
10. Do it again 

These are 10 great points for people to be aware of when they are wanting to begin community action that will enhance their community which is supported by a community organisation.

This has given me food for thought with how my project is progressing and I think that I am on track as long as I remind myself that it isn't just about meeting my time frames.

School new letter - we made the papers

WE Gen @ In-SYNC 2010 Web: www.spiritus.org.au

In-SYNC Youth Service was privileged to be asked to be apart of the ‘We Gen’ project with Cannon Hill Anglican College. Our part in the project was to have the students(who had given up their break during the school holidays to participate) at our service or two days.

Below is the two day program with the ‘We Gen’ young people:
Day 1- Morning
1. Meet Staff/ Informed about service and what we do.
2. Meet staff from foster care service
3. Learn how to use spray on tattoo machine

Afternoon Videos

1. What’s the story- the truth about Youth (by the Youth Advocacy

Centre

2. Another Way- a look at 3 prisoners over 3 years who do the

Alternative to Violence workshops.

Debrief the videos. Assign homework from discuss- look up websites headspace and beyond blue- to provide information to the group tomorrow

Day 2
Morning Discuss issues facing young people today- and what options are available for them within and outside the school. Confidentiality/ privacy what does this mean for the young person and the services that they seek assistance from.
Afternoon Look at what the young people found out about websites Future focus- what are the ways that they would like to work together in future? How/ who/ when can we develop these ideas to becoming realties (see below)?
Youth Day Out – on Saturday 10th April- come and attend and assist In-SYNC staff with spray on tattoo’s during the event.

T\he ‘We Gen’ two day program is just the beginning of the relationship between the school and In-SYNC. Research shows that young people who become involved in civic and/ or political issues are more likely to be involved in these issues later in their life (Hart, Donnelly, Youniss, and Atkins, 2007 pg199).
In the two days that the students were at the service, the students came up with the following ideas for future activities. First we explored whatmotivated them to be involved:
Chill - share experiences - gain trust - raising funds - giving of self – fun –
Activities - helping out - talk and meet young people: pen pals, become friends

We then looked at ways of how this can occur: The students came up with the following ideas:
• Art project to sell at upcoming Art auction/ wetlands festival through schools
arts committee/
• Baby sitting for young mums through the schools girls’ advisory committee
• round robin lunches open to all community members held at church halls (Bulimba Anglican and Uniting Churches).

The students and In-SYNC are currently working together to get an art workshop run prior to their Art Auction on the 23rd May.

They also named some other ways that could be developed in the future:
• Voluntary work within Spiritus services which included administration and cleaning
• Development of pen pals between students and service users/
• Planning joint activities which could contain a fund raising component by the
school for services.

Spiritus services are generally inundated with demands upon their limited resources to provide support to vulnerable people within the community. And people who access our services usually have limited support networks (formal and informal) on which they can rely on to address issues such as poverty, homelessness, educational, health and mental health.

The on going relationship is seeking to develop the relationship between us and school students who are looking for ways to engage and support those vulnerable within their community.

Karen O’Donohue, Manager Spiritus In-SYNC A 2010

Web: www.spiritus.org.au

Globalisation and the use of technology in collective action

Hi All,
Wow just had a quick flick through others discussion board topics and it seems the community work even with support is difficult for each and every one of us.

For me though I have to say that I have loved the challenges that have presented to me this week- , concerns re marking of assignments, meeting work commitments, placement commitment, the semester fast running out of time, the highs and lows of getting community projects off the ground.

But again like last week I have found my self pulled towards a larger community issue - the depletion of fish in our oceans. There is a new documentary out 'The End of the Line' which discusses the issues of over fishing pour oceans and the gravity of which this is fast becoming inevitability.


The connection of becoming involved in collective community action is something that we can all contribute to in meaningful ways with our level of involvement varying. I am proud to say I am 2 weeks into my fair trade chocolate collective action and I am thus fair doing very well. The fish is something that I am considering with seriousness to become involved in as part of the global community action.

So the what are we doing and why are we here - community action and using technology to enhance this, I came across an article that I felt really captured the importance of technology in collective community action about the labour and union movement in Malaysia. 'The use of the new information technology enables the representation of past victories, experiences and problems: it permits history to be re-integrated and not to be simply lost or fragmented by lack of access to the means of communication. Retaining the integrity of a history is important in achieving the solidarity for present rounds of bargaining' ( Greieco Pg 113) Grieco, Margaret (2005). "Globalisation, collective action and counter-coordination". Critical perspectives on international business 1 (2/3)http://www.emeraldinsight.com.ezproxy.library.uq.edu.au/Insight/viewContentItem.do;jsessionid=4D17DF655D7294F41481A6746BC78794?contentType=Article&contentId=1502662 

Technology is truly the new tool to connecting and developing local and global community collective action. As community workers it will become more and more the methodology that will be used to engage with our communities to involve them to commit to action.

Karen