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The struggle for justice is a marathon not a sprint: A personal reflection.

CIVICUS General Secretary Kumi Naidoo reflects on the results of last year's Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP. In this personal artical, he identifies three developments that had a particularly emotional draining impact on him last year but also offered opportunities to learn, reflect and move forward. His advice to those worldwide who work for social justice is valuable. (Kumi Naidoo, Civicus, 7 April 2006)

http://www.civicus.org/new/content/deskofthesecretarygeneral29.htm

(Added: Tue Apr 11 2006   Modified: Thu Aug 17 2006   Hits: 123)

What Would the Buddha Do?

Maybe every modern generation feels confronted by some crisis that will determine the fate of the future. But unless your head is buried in the sand, or some Buddhist equivalent, it's not possible to be ignorant of the extraordinary planetary crisis that confronts all of us today. Environmental collapse no longer merely threatens: we are well into it and it's already apparent that civilization as we know it is going to be transformed in some very uncomfortable ways by the mutually-reinforcing breakdown of ecological systems, especially global climate change, ozone depletion, rapid disappearance of many species, and various types of pollution including some we don't know about yet. This article gives a Buddhist perspective on facing up to this critical situation. (David Loy, Adbusters, July/August 2006)

http://www.engaged-zen.org/articles/David_Loy-What_Would_the_Buddha_Do.html

(Added: Wed Sep 20 2006   Hits: 140)

Aid Workers Exchange

"Aid Workers Exchange" is an experimental weekly e-mail for knowledge sharing amongst field staff in humanitarian relief and international development. The format alternates between Q&A and short articles. To subscribe write to exchange@aidworkers.net with the title "subscribe".

http://www.aidworkers.net/?q=exchange

(Added: Tue Aug 27 2002   Modified: Fri Sep 08 2006   Hits: 204)

Aid Workers Network

Aidworkers Network is a website run by aidworkers for aidworkers. Weekly email bulletins share knowledge and advice and spark discussion threads as people working in developing countries around the world share their own experiences and lessons learnt. These are archived and provide a valuable resource for aidworkers.

http://aidworkers.net

(Added: Wed Apr 05 2006   Modified: Thu Aug 17 2006   Hits: 188)

Aidpeople.org: connecting humanitarian people

Aidpeople.org is an online community for people involved in humanitarian aid and development work, to keep in touch, network, find info and share knowledge. Find people like former colleagues or people that share the same interests as yourself. Share Aid Info in the aidpeople.org forums and theme groups. Search for Jobs, career info including job listings and resume upload features.

http://www.aidpeople.org

(Added: Fri Jul 07 2006   Modified: Thu Aug 17 2006   Hits: 234)

All in a day's work: 200,000 refugees and roving bandits

Few volunteers last six months in eastern Chad, but aid worker Claire Bourgeois has spent two years here for the UNHCR, responsible for all 200,000 Darfur refugees. (Claire Soares, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 July 2006)

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0720/p01s02-woaf.html

(Added: Fri Jul 21 2006   Modified: Thu Aug 17 2006   Hits: 200)

Careers Advice from George Monbiot: Choose Life

Every week, sometimes every day, someone writes to me asking for advice about the career they should take. I can't, unfortunately, respond to them all, so I thought I should try to formulate some general guidelines, which I hope people will be able to adapt to their own circumstances. This advice applies only to those who have a genuine choice of careers, which means, regrettably, that it does not apply to the majority of the world's workforce. But if the people writing to me did not have choice, they wouldn't be asking.

http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2000/06/09/choose-life/

(Added: Fri Apr 11 2003   Modified: Thu Aug 17 2006   Hits: 377)

Gap Years Create 'New Colonialists'

GAP year volunteers are in danger of becoming the new colonialists, indulging in a type of "charity tourism" that can do more harm than good, according to a leading charity. It is seen as a chance to broaden horizons, learn about other cultures and make a positive contribution to the world. But organising volunteering programmes is now big business and too often the schemes are designed with the enjoyment of the volunteers in mind. And some argue that too little concern is shown for the communities they are supposed to be helping. (The Times, August 15, 2006)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3223-2313014,00.html

(Added: Mon Aug 28 2006   Hits: 268)

Hope Building Wiki

Website for people to share stories of how people are building hope, new futures for themselves, islands of achievement in their communities and states.

http://hopebuilding.pbwiki.com/

(Added: Mon Oct 29 2007   Hits: 61)

ITDG Technical Briefs

The Intermediate Technology Development Group's (ITDG) technical briefs - a range of introductory factsheets and basic practical information - have been written in response to the demand for information on a broad range of appropriate technologies. An excellent range of topics are covered, from how to use and look after batteries to the building of schools in developing countries.

http://www.itdg.org/?id=technical_briefs

(Added: Thu Oct 07 2004   Modified: Wed Jan 17 2007   Hits: 268)

Participants Required for Online Humanitarian Survey

Natasha Tassell, doctoral student as Massey University's School of Psychology is doing a study on the psychology of health work in humanitarian settings. She writes: "I am interested in the psychology of health work in humanitarian settings - what motivates people - how they feel about the work, themselves and life in general. I have been involved in humanitarian work myself, so am aware it can be difficult and demanding! But also very rewarding too! So an increased understanding of the dynamics of the humanitarian experience seems a worthwhile research endeavour from my point of view. So if you have recently or are currently deployed to a humanitarian relief or development setting, I'd like to invite you to take part in this research. If you would like to help out then follow the link below."

http://psych-research.massey.ac.nz/tassell/

(Added: Mon Feb 11 2008   Hits: 35)

Re-Entry Syndrome

(Aid Workers Exchange) By Moira McCreesh, 6th August 2003. "Re Entry Syndrome (RES) or Reverse Culture Shock is a psychological response experienced by many people returning home from field work in a different culture. RES does not only impact on the sufferer, it also affects the returning worker's family and friends. As well as being experienced by aid workers, it has been recognised in people who have been released from jail or soldiers returning to civilian life."

http://www.aidworkers.net/?q=node/263

(Added: Wed Aug 27 2003   Modified: Fri Sep 08 2006   Hits: 293)

Sharing Experiences: Sustainable sanitation in South East Asia and the Pacific

This book provides an opportunity for those in South East Asia and Pacific region who work in sanitation to share their experiences-whether they started out as engineers, educators, public health workers, marketers, anthropologists or development generalists(WaterAid and International Water Centre, March 2008)

http://www.watercentre.org/resources/sharing_experiences/san_pub

(Added: Mon Apr 14 2008   Hits: 49)

Sojourners to another country: The psychological roller-coaster of cultural transitions

Development workers or volunteers, like some business people or students, are temporary visitors to another country who return to their home country. This chapter explores the psychological aspects of the cultural transition cycle experienced by the sojourner. The concepts of enculturation and cultural identity are introduced followed by a discussion of a transition model which focuses on awareness, adjustment, adaptation, self-concept change, cultural identity response and repatriation. Ideas for minimizing repatriation distress are suggested. (Nan M. Sussman, Online Readings in Psychology and Culture, 2002)

http://www.ac.wwu.edu/%7Eculture/sussman.htm

(Added: Thu Dec 14 2006   Hits: 226)

The Change Agency

This organisation develops and shares resources to support effective community action. This site provides access to: resources and manuals on working with groups, strategising and community organising; case studies, articles and reports; workshop outlines for trainers. including critical path analysis and power mapping.

http://www.thechangeagency.org/

(Added: Wed Dec 14 2005   Modified: Thu Aug 17 2006   Hits: 463)

The Global Education Fund-- Next Funding Round

The Global Education Fund (GEF) provides funding for small projects to develop awareness and understanding of global perspectives among New Zealanders, and to encourage them to become responsible global citizens. Applications for the next round must be submitted by 31 October 2007. Grants are between $2,000 and $15,000 (ex GST).

http://www.dev-zone.org/downloads/The%20Global%20Education%20Fund.doc

(Added: Fri Oct 12 2007   Hits: 113)

The People In Aid Code of Best Practice

The People In Aid Code of Good Practice is an internationally recognised management tool that helps agencies enhance the quality of their human resources management. The Code provides a comprehensive and sector specific framework relevant to organisations of any shape or size. Built on the guiding principle that "people are central to the achievement of our mission", the Code comprises seven principles: 1. health, safety and security 2. learning, training and development 3. recruitment and selection 4. consultation and communication 5. support, management and leadership 6. staff policies and practices 7. human resources strategy

http://www.peopleinaid.org/code/

(Added: Tue Mar 12 2002   Modified: Fri Feb 09 2007   Hits: 459)

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Training for Aid Workers

Is there any current training for NGOs relating to the use of Weapons of Mass Destruction (nuclear, chemical or biological)? What with the posibility of an impending war in the Gulf (plus ongoing tension in Kashmir etc), NGOs may suddenly find themselves needing to support people affected by a WMD scenario. Online discussion thread, includes summary of available courses and key contacts, for you to download.

http://oldforum.aidworkers.net/messages/142/352.html

(Added: Fri Jan 31 2003   Modified: Thu Sep 07 2006   Hits: 213)

Why Not Practice What We Preach?

This article argue that unpaid internships go against all of the values that international development NGOs preach. In addition, because those without a private income cannot afford to live without a wage, the internship system is biased towards the upper middle classes, helping to exclude many other sections of society from working in the field of development and human rights. (Adam Davies and Tom Allen, Bond, August 2006)

http://www.bond.org.uk/networker/2006/aug06/internships.htm

(Added: Wed Oct 18 2006   Modified: Thu Feb 08 2007   Hits: 257)