ACGC is happy to build a partnership with Ram Etwaroo, a Career and Technology Studies teacher at Fort McMurray Composite High School. Ram connected with ACGC though his participation in the

Global Citizenship Summer Institute, where his passion for global citizenship education made an impact on all who attended. Ram’s main contribution to the promotion of global citizenship is his desire to break down cultural barriers and attitudes, and promote cross-cultural understanding within his school and community. Growing up, Ram was involved in promoting issues of equality, solidarity and social justice as these were challenges he faced daily: “Even as a child I understood racism and religious intolerance. In my university days, I was actively involved in the fight against apartheid

and racism. As an immigrant of color, I experienced racism myself and I understand very well the challenges immigrant students and their parents face.” Today, through his many roles as a teacher, a parent, a visible minority immigrant to Canada, and a Canadian citizen, he is able to draw on his unique experience and challenge those around him: “I am fighting to change attitudes in all of us. I believe that for us to change attitudes, we need to promote global citizenship, equality, solidarity and social justice amongst our students in our schools. It is no coincidence that I am a teacher and seek to be actively involved and do my part.” For Ram, teachers play a vital role in shaping a student’s identity and destiny, and need to be equipped with the skills, knowledge and competency to build an inclusive classroom. Formally, Ram advocates for this by being a member of the Alberta Teachers’ Association Diversity, Equity and Human Rights

Call for ‘Top 30 Under 30’ Nominations

Committee, and the Multicultural Association of Wood Buffalo. However, he also promotes simple ideas, such as making those around him aware of various cultural celebrations when they occur: “I expect that teachers and schools will take a minute to say, “Happy Diwali!” to students; similarly, “Eid Mubarak!” and “Merry Christmas!” For Ram, these are things all teachers can do to make schools more inclusive. After years working all over Canada, Ram considers Fort McMurray a unique community in which to work and educate about global citizenship: “Although remote, it is a very diverse, multicultural community with people from many parts of the world who came to work in the oil sands. As teachers, we simply need to connect with the parents and tap into the wealth of knowledge and resources available in the community.” With passion and commitment, Ram’s goal is work towards promoting these ideals for the rest his life.

Educator Profile: Ram Etwaroo

V O L U M E 8

AUTUMN 2014 A PUBLICATION OF THE ALBERTA COUNCIL FOR GLOBAL COOPERATION

Young people are changing the world! Throughout Alberta, extraordinary young people are engaging with the world to create a more sustainable and just future. ACGC is committed to finding these youth and sharing their stories with all Albertans! Since 2012, ACGC’s “Top 30 Under 30” Magazine has done just that. Over the years, we’ve profiled 90 amazing young people and reached a wide Al-bertan audience through print and online distribution. We are excited to

launch the magazine during this year’s International Development Week, Feb-ruary 1 – 7, 2015. This year’s theme is “We are making a difference” with a focus on maternal, newborn, and child health. ACGC is looking for youth engaged in international development from both the Global South and Alberta. We cannot wait to hear about the incredi-ble youth YOU are working with! Visit acgc.ca for nomination forms or con-tact Chelsea at idw@acgc.ca.

International Education Week: November 17-21st, 2014

This annual week, celebrated in over 100 countries around the globe, provides an oppor-

tunity for students, teachers, and schools to showcase the rich variety of innovative pro-

grams and activities that expose students to an international dimension, enriching their

learning and preparing them for global citizenship. Get involved by checking out

http://www.education.alberta.ca/students/internationaleducation/intedweek.aspx

Global, Environmental & Outdoor Education Council of A.T.A. Conference

May 1-3, 2015, at the Palisades Stewardship Educational Centre in Jasper National Park. For

more information contact conference@geoec.org or visit www.geoec.org.

ACGC Change Your World: Youth Leadership Tour 2015: Change Your World is

an opportunity for five Alberta youth to visit and connect with Alberta international devel-

opment organizations working internationally. The destination and nomination process will

be announced early in 2015. Stay tuned for more information, or contact leah@acgc.ca.

I-Week Youth Day 2015! P A G E 2

More Opportunities!

...that Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (often referred to as

MNCH) is Canada’s flagship development priority? The Department of

Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development’s YouTube Channel has a variety

of short videos highlighting how Canadians are tackling issues faced by

women and children globally. Use the videos to start discussions with your students!

Look for the MNCH Playlist on the DFATD MAECD YouTube Channel.

Did you know...

Do you know a youth that wants to change the

world? Tell them about I-Week Youth Day 2015

on January 29th!

Youth Day is a full day of interactive workshops and

lectures from some of the world’s most fascinating

humanitarians, development workers, and social jus-

tice leaders. It is the perfect place to learn how to

make a positive impact in a smart way. Focusing on

thoughtful and effective development work, Youth

Day will challenge your perceptions of “helping the

third world” and help give you the tools and connec-

tions to make impactful change.

Put on by ACGC in co-ordination with the University

of Alberta Global Education Program’s flagship event, International Week, I-Week

Youth Day is the ideal introduction for grade 9-12 students to the amazing develop-

ment work Albertans are doing.

We welcome both class-size registrations or single students interested in contributing

to a better world. Teachers are welcome to register alongside their students though

not required. Students are expected to arrange their own transportation to and from

the University of Alberta, though ACGC can help facilitate transport for individuals

coming from longer distances. Early registration closes December 19, 2014 and regular

registration closes January 19th, 2015. Youth that register early will have first session

choices. Registration is free. Space is limited so register early to guarantee a spot!

Register by

December 19th

2014

Students can register

online at www.acgc.ca.

For specific inquires

please contact Chelsea

Donelon at

idw@acgc.ca.

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 8

Global Citizenship Summer Institute a Success! Thirty-five teachers from across Alberta convened this

past summer for the Global Citizenship Summer Institute

held in collaboration between ACGC, Aga Khan

Foundation Canada and the Centre for Global Citizenship

Education & Research (CGCER) at the University of

Alberta. Months of planning

came to fruition during the

weeklong Institute where

teachers explored the

theoretical foundations and

practical applications of

themes such as critical

global citizenship,

international development,

human rights based

approaches & Indigenous

ways of knowing and being.

One of many highlights was

an insightful trek into the

River Valley led by

Professor Dwayne Donald,

that explored Edmonton as

a traditional gathering place.

He called upon teachers to

create opportunities for

students to see themselves,

and their actions, as

connected to the natural

environment. Dr. Fawad

Akbari from Aga Khan

Foundation Canada, spoke

about development challenges and successes in health and

education in Afghanistan. Participants were also fortunate

to have in attendance Dr. Rosemary Moyana, Dean of

Education from the University of Zimbabwe, who shared

yet another international dimension that examined

initiatives underway to prepare global educators in

universities in Zimbabwe and across the continent.

The K-12 teachers were thrilled each day to learn about

contemporary issues in global citizenship education from

leading experts, Dr. Ali Abdi and Dr. Lynette Schultz, lead

co-facilitators from the CGCER. The GCSI participants

left with a deeper understanding of how to transform

themselves into critical

global citizenship educators

and how to create

environments within their

classrooms that enable

students to move beyond

awareness of rights and

responsibilities toward

empathetic local and global

actions centered around

equity and justice across all

communities.

The Global Citizenship

Summer Institute

participants have since

returned to their teaching

contexts with motivation

and inspiration to extend

their learning to their

students and colleagues.

The Institute was a

tremendous success,

serving the long awaited

need to build a cohesive

community of educators,

all experts in their own

right, who continue to work tirelessly to advance quality

global citizenship education to students across this

province.

If you would like to join the global citizenship educator

mailing list for updates, please email Leah Ettarh at

leah@acgc.ca

A comprehensive list of resources for classroom

use developed as part of the institute is available

to download on the ACGC Website! Look under

the banner ‘For Educators and Youth’

The organisers created an open learning environment, where the

experiences of both the lecturers and participants were shared

openly. I was able to take back a number of tools for addressing

international citizenship with youth across the Yukon. It was a

privilege to be involved! - GCSI 2014 participant

Watch a video and clips from presentations by

visiting the Aga Khan Foundation Canada’s

website.

http://akfc.ca/en/get-involved/gcsi

Suite 205, 10816A-82 Avenue

Edmonton, Alberta T6E 2B3

Phone: 780-988-0200 | Fax: 780-988-0211

admin@acgc.ca

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Share your activities with

us and see your school

profiled in our next

ACGC teach newsletter!

www.acgc.ca/teach

ACGC CURRENT MEMBERSHIP

November 2014

Action International Ministries ˑ Ainembabazi Chil-

dren’s Project ˑ Alberta Teachers’ Association ˑ

Altamas for Peace and Development Association ˑ

Bridges of Hope International Network of Devel-

opment Agencies ˑ Calgary Board of Education

Global Learning Program ˑ Canada World Youth ˑ

Canadian Association for Participatory Develop-

ment ˑ Canadian Catholic Organization for Devel-

opment and Peace ˑ Canadian Department of

Peace Initiative ˑ Canadian Humanitarian Organiza-

tion for international Reliefˑ Canadian Moravian

Mission Society ˑ Canadian Peacemakers Interna-

tional ˑ Canadian Women for Women in Afghani-

stanˑ Caro-Canadians Reaching Out to the

World's Children Foundation ˑ CAUSE Canada ˑ

CEIBA Association ˑ Centre for Affordable Water

and Sanitation Technology ˑ Centre for Global

Citizenship Education and Research ˑ Change for

Children Association ˑ Crossroads Christian Com-

municatioins Inc ˑ Cuso International ˑ Energy4Eve-

ryone Foundation ˑ Engineers Without Borders-

Canada ˑ Ghost River Rediscovery ˑ Global Educa-

tion Program, University of Alberta International ˑ

Human Development Foundation ˑ International

Centre for Development Learning ˑ John Humph-

rey Centre for Peace and Human Rights ˑ

Keiskamma Canada Foundation ˑ Light Up the

World ˑ Maharashtra Seva Samiti Organization ˑ

Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World

Peace ˑ Marda Loop Justice Film Festival ˑ Mennon-

ite Central Committee Alberta ˑ Micah Centre—

King University College ˑ Minkha Knitters Cooper-

ative ˑ Mission of Mercy ˑ One Child's Village ˑ

One! International Poverty Relief ˑ Operation

Eyesight Canada ˑ Optometry Giving Sight ˑ Oxfam

Canada ˑ Rainbow for the Future ˑ Rainbow of

Hope for Children ˑ ReadAfrica ˑ Rotary Club of

Edmonton ˑ Sahakarini Inter-World Education &

Development Association ˑ Samaritan's Purse Can-

ada ˑ Sinkunia Community Development Organiza-

tion ˑ Somali-Canadian Education & Rural Devel-

opment Organization ˑ Sombrilla International

Development Society ˑ STOP TB Canada ˑ Sustain-

able East African Education & Development Socie-

ty of Alberta ˑ True Vision Ghana ˑ United Nations

Association in Canada ˑ Women's Empowerment

International Foundation ˑ

ACGC Teach is undertaken with the financial support of the Government of

Canada provided through Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada

(DFATD).

Teachers looking to connect younger

readers with issues of peace and

human rights will find inspiration in a

blog written by University of Alberta

graduate student, Muna Saleh. The

site contains insightful overviews and

thoughtful reflections on twelve

picture books, as well as the

reference information necessary in

order to obtain copies.

The blog reflects a compilation of

resources used by professors in courses at the Mahatma Gandhi Summer Institute

on Building Peaceful Communities, put on annually by ACGC member organization,

the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace, and the University of

Alberta’s Center for Research for Teacher Education and Development (CRTED)

within the Department of Elementary Education.

The blog is available under the heading ‘CRTED Resources’ at

http://www.elementaryed.ualberta.ca/Centres/CRTED.aspx

Featured Resource: Picture Books for Peace