KWIC August 2020 Newsletter
Published: August 5th, 2020
kwic news & events
Book your workshop today!
Please book your workshop here: https://forms.gle/PfY9eWB9TB1XKoRCA
For more information, please email Margaret@kwic.info
What are the Sustainable Development Goals?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. They are also known as the 2030 Agenda because they are intended to be met by 2030. The principle of "Leaving No One Behind" (LNOB) is at the heart of the SDG Framework.
Project History:
In late February 2019, KWIC, GreenUP, and Fleming Office of Sustainability hosted Peterborough's first multi-sector forum on the SDGs called Understanding the UN Sustainable Development Goals: Canada’s Commitment and the Local Connection. The forum opened with an understanding of Indigenous Knowledge as the 'origanal teachings of sustainability' and concluded with 120 participants identifying five local key priorioty action areas for Peteborough/Nogojiwanong. Read about the 2019 SDG Community Forum in the Peterborough Examiner here:
Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals in Nogojiwanong / Peterborough and the Kawarthas:
In July 2019, KWIC applied for Sustainable Development Goals Program Funding, in partnership with GreenUP, to build upon the foundation established at the 2019 forum. This grant was awarded in March 2020 and concluded in March 2021.
During this project, we engaged approximately 100 community members on 5 local priority action areas to reach the 2030 targets:
-
Prioritizing Indigenous Leadership
-
SDG #1 No Poverty
-
SDG # 4 Quality Education
-
SDG #6 Clean Water and Sanitization
-
SDG #13 Climate Action
Key Principles:
The SDG 2030 agenda “recognizes that the dignity of the individual is fundamental and the goals and targets should be met for all nations and people and for all segments of society.” This project is centred on ‘leaving no one behind’ and centering Indigenous leadership into our local approaches and efforts to advance the SDGs.
Key Activities:
- Create educational and informational materials that profile the 17 Sustainable Development Goals;
- Leverage the 2019 Community Forum Report as a tool to help contextualize the Goals, and to highlight the five local priority SDGs that were identied by participants;
- Build upon the 2019 Forum Report to identify existing initiatives and partnerships that are working to advance each of the priority SDGs;
- Establish five Priority Action Teams focused on each of the identied priority goals;
- Build bridges with trusted local organizations, who are already supporting priority populations, to enable and support their ongoing participation; and,
- Host a second community forum in 2021, centred on the theme of leaving no one behind.
Partner:
2021 SDG Community Forum:
On February 24th and 25th, 2021, KWIC and GreenUP hosted a 2-day, virtual community forum entitled, “Centering Indigenous Leadership and Diverse Perspectives to Advance the Sustainable Development Goals in Nogojiwanong/Peterborough”.
For this latest gathering, community members assembled to deepen their understanding of how to advance the SDGs in a way that leaves no one behind and prioritizes Indigenous leadership. Collectively, Indigenous leadership was identified as critical to our local success.
We welcomed over two hundred participants from near and far to work with the Nogojiwanong/Peterborough community in three interconnected workshops. Interconnectedness is a recurring theme in this project. The action teams are aware of how the local SDGs and 17 UN SDGs are related; one cannot be achieved without the others. Locally, we believe that the steps we take in our community will ripple out into the world in a good way.
By the end of the forum, the urgent need to reach our goals was evident. We have nine years remaining to achieve the 2030 Agenda; there is much important work to be done.
The project team would like to offer our sincerest thank you to the organizers, partners, team members, volunteers, speakers, funders, leaders, and event participants who helped bring this memorable event together. We look forward to seeing what comes next!
Program Contact Information:
Name: Shaelyn Wabegijig
Position: KWIC Program and Outreach Coordinator
Email: Shaelyn@kwic.info
In the News:
Kawartha Now:
- Part 1: From global to local: how Peterborough is implementing the UN’s goals for sustainable development
- Part 2: Indigenous leadership central to local action on United Nations’ sustainable development goals
- Part 3: Virtual community forum advances UN sustainable development goals in Peterborough/Nogojiwanong
Peterborough Examiner:
- Part 1: GreenUP: Peterborough navigates the U.N’s 2030 agenda for sustainable development
- Part 2: GreenUP: Indigenous Leadership Guiding the Local Sustainable Development Goals
- Part 3: Community forum localizes sustainable development goals
Project Reports are being developed! Keep an eye out for them in the coming month.
Above is an illustration by local artist, Jason Wilkins, to capture themes and key concepts shared at the 2019 Community Forum on the SDGs.
On March 1st, 2019 over 100 community educators, activitsts, students, academics and leaders gathered to begin a process of localizing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The resulting Priority Action Plan & Open Space Summary Notes are attached as printable pdf documents at the bottom of this page.
In local communities across the world, governments, the private sector, and civil society have started to mobilize efforts to take action on the UN SDGs. At this Community Forum, we explored diverse local actions and initiatives that connect to the Goals through a facilitated Open Space activity.
We undertook a collective process of prioritizing existing and emergent initiatives, in order to identify five key goals - and related actions - that reflect our community’s strengths and concerns, and that can inform the development of a local strategy to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. These priorities are captured in the SDG Forum Priority Action Plan. Summary Notes captured during the Open Space discussions can be found also in the SDG Forum Open Space Summary Notes, below.
The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. The 17 Goals are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. The Goals interconnect and seek to address the complex global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice.
To find out more about the UN SDGs, please visit: sustainabledevelopment.un.org
Are you or your organization involved in international development work or community work with Indigenous and/or global perspectives and connections? Please a take a few minutes to complete our survey!
Please click here to complete the following survey! By participating in this survey, you help to reassess the wide-range of global education and international development work currently undertaken by individuals, groups, and organizations in Peterborough and the Kawartha area. The results of this research will allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the work being done to increase global awareness and citizenship - both locally and internationally, who is involved, the challenges and best practices, underlying values or approaches, and opportunities for networking and collaborations
Youth Leadership in Sustainability (YLS) is a new and innovative program based in Peterborough, Ontario that will prepare grade 11 and 12 students for leadership roles in local and global sustainability initiatives at the local and global levels. The one semester program will launch September 2018 and is open to students from any KPR, PVNC, private or home school, provided they can get themselves to Trent University on school days.
YLS represents a partnership program with Kenner Collegiate, Trent University, the Kawartha World Issues Centre (KWIC) and Fleming College. The YLS classroom is on Trent University campus but the program will take us into our forests, communities, and the world!
YLS will be taught as an integrated 4 credit package that will give us much flexibility in our day for extended field trips, outdoor exploration, and even a 2-week study tour to northern Europe! Our learning experiences outside and within the traditional classroom will be rich and incorporate teachings from Indigenous and global perspectives.
For more information please visit: http://yls.green/
Rachelia Giardino has a wonderful ability to view worldwide change through the lens of small communities. Working with the Kawartha World Issues Centre, she helps youth enact change through training, workshops and community outreach events. On Feb 2nd, Rachelia was recognized by the Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC) during the Global Citizens Forum 2017: Mobilizing Leadership for Global Sustainable Development in Toronto. The Global Changemaker Youth Ambassador Program is organized annually by OCIC with an aim to increase the capacity of youth working with OCIC member organizations and institutions.
For the last 3 years, Rachelia has worked with the Kawartha World Issues Centre (KWIC), a global education and resource centre that promotes dialogue and understanding of global issues and their local connections, in Peterborough and the Kawartha area, with a focus on youth leadership.
After working with the Peterborough youth engagement program Speak Up Speak Out from the age of 17, Rachelia quickly transitioned from shy teenager to outspoken community advocate. She came across KWIC initially as a high school student, and again when she attended Trent University and was looking to continue her service work. “I love their {KWIC’s} mandate and mission,” she says. “It marries two things I didn't think I could bring together: youth engagement and social justice.” Rachelia is currently the coordinator of KWIC’s Seeds for Justice Youth Program, which creates opportunities for youth engagement, including training in workshop design and facilitation of global education workshops using a peer-mentorship model.
“The award is important recognition of Rachelia’s work which builds youth capacity for leadership and action, as well as awareness about important global-local issues. She’s really amazing!” explains Julie Cosgrove, Executive Director at KWIC. Last year, Rachelia was nominated for The Everyday Political Citizen award for political role models between ages 18-29 and hosted by Samara, a non-partisan charity that works to increase political participation in Canada; the SFJ youth program was awarded Honourable Mention in the Healthy Communities category by Sustainable Peterborough, as well.
Community members are asked to support Rachelia and the SFJ youth program with an opportunity to win an additional $500.00 to support their work through a social media competition during the next 2 weeks. An easy way to engage is to share & like this post on Facebook or retweet on Twitter. OCIC is also asking people to tag Ontario Council for International Cooperation on Facebook and Twitter (@OCICtweets) and use the hashtag #GCYArachelia!
To read more about Rachelia and her work with KWIC - Seeds for Justice, watch the video below or view her full profile at http://ocic.on.ca/GCYARachelia
Support KWIC at the Annual Gilmour Street Sale on Saturday, May 28, 2016.
The Gilmour Street Sale is an annual phenomenon in Peterborough in which Gilmour Street (and now some surrounding streets) feature yard sales. It's a great opportunity to find some treasures or support your favourite local charities (like KWIC!). Get nice and early to find the best deals, and be sure to stop our tent!
KWIC will have a tent located at 586 Gilmour Street (north side of street near Monaghan Road). Stop by from 7am-1pm to say hi and check out what we're offering:
- fabulous books and baked goods for sale
- cool Rocky Ridge water
- and a raffle featuring: Harper Collins books, Zatoun olive oil & zaatar, and Kyoto tea & coffee!
All the proceeds support KWIC's local education and youth engagement programs.
A special thank you to our sponsors and supporters:
Haper Collins, Minute Maid, Rocky Ridge Drinking Water Ltd., Doug Olthuis and Larry & Dave
Women in Solidarity – International Women’s Day 2016
Thursday, February 25, 2016 -- Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre and the Kawartha World Issues Centre are once again co-hosting a dynamic and interactive evening for International Women’s Day. Taking place at Seeds of Change (in George Street United Church, 534 George St. N.) on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, at 6pm. Doors open at 5:30 pm for an evening of pot luck, music, speakers, solidarity and celebration. This is a free public event that is gender and child friendly, and organized with support from Trent University and several local community organizations.
Peterborough is excited to welcome Canadian author Camilla Gibb, who will be available for book signings, as well as:
· Drumming by Erin Hayward- Hill, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory
· Dr. May Chazan, Gender and Women’s Studies, Trent University
· Fadya Adnan Falah, Draa, Syria
· Dana Wesley, MA, Gender Studies
· Lisa Trefzger Clarke, Needs Assessment Project Manager, KSAC
· Raging Grannies, Musician Lorinda Frudd, Under One Sun and more...
“The theme of ‘Women in Solidarity’ was selected in response to discussions the committee had in which women of varying ages expressed concern at the lack of support often provided for each other,” explains Julie Cosgrove, Executive Director of the Kawartha World Issues Centre. “This plays out in various ways, such as in social media, and competiveness in work or school spaces.” The speakers will bring global and local perspectives to the theme, referencing also a recent Community Needs Assessment conducted by the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre and partners.
“This year’s International Women’s Day event will explore why women don’t always support one another, where women are actively supporting each other or acting in solidarity, and how to create opportunities for our community to inspire greater solidarity for women.” Visit kwic.info for more information.
Pages
