ÿþ<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <title>CWY&rsquo;s Alumni Newsletter - October 2007</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> </head> <body leftmargin="0" rightmargin="0" topmargin="0"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; background-color: B2B2B2"> <tr> <td> <!-- <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="520" align="center" border="0" style="padding-bottom: 10px"> <tr> <td> <span style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Verdana; font-color=white"><font color="ffffff"> You received this email because your email address is in Canada World Youth's contact list. To remove your address from the list, please click on the link at the bottom of this email. </font></span> </td> </tr> </table> --> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="520"border="0" align="center"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <!-- <img height="77" src="img/bannieretitre_e.gif" width="520" border="0"><br> --> <img height="110" src="img/entete_img.jpg" width="520"></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="520" align="center" border="0"> <tr> <td bgcolor="#00215C" style="padding: 7,15,7,15; valign: middle"> <img src="img/logo_petit2.gif" align="left"> <br> <div align="right"> <span style="font-size: 14px; font-family: Verdana; color=#ffffff"><font color="ffffff"> <strong>CWY's Alumni Newsletter</strong></font></span> <span style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Verdana; color=#ffffff"><font color="ffffff"> <br> <strong>October 2007</strong></font></span> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="520" align="center" border="0"> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 7,15,7,15; background-color: #ffffff"> <div align="left"> <span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: Verdana"><strong><a href="http://www.canadaworldyouth.org" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">WWW.CANADAWORLDYOUTH.ORG</a></strong> </span> </div> </td> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 7,15,7,15; background-color: #ffffff"> <div align="right"> <span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: Verdana"><strong><a href="CwyENewsSendFriend.aspx" style="color: #000000; text-decoration: none">SEND THIS PAGE TO A FRIEND</a></strong> </span> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="520" align="center" border="0"> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 0,0,0,0; background-color: #DDFF75"> <span style="font-size: 1px; font-family: Verdana">&nbsp;</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 10,15,10,15; background-color: #ffffff"> <span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: Verdana"> <p> <i>Welcome, former Canada World Youth participants! This newsletter contains the latest news from CWY's alumni network and information on activities across the country in which you can participate. Please join us!</i> </p> </span> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 7,15,7,15; background-color: #DBFF75"> <span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana"><strong>A message from CWY's president</strong> </span> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 10,15,10,15; background-color: #ffffff"> <span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: Verdana"> <p> <img border="0" src="img/2007-10_Don_2007.jpg" align="left" hspace="10" vspace="0" width="120" height="160">I am pleased to say a few words to our alumni network and to talk about some exciting initiatives for the future. </p><p> While I have been in my present position with CWY since June 2006, my history with the organization goes much further back. I worked for CWY from 1980 to 1990: for six years as regional director of the BC office, one year in the field with the Thailand exchange, and three years in Montreal the last two as program director and associate director general. </p><p> I am a born and bred British Columbian from the city of Nelson in the West Kootenays. My entire career has been with organizations working in community development, with a strong focus on youth and youth issues. </p><p> CWY has always been part of my reality; I have always used "we" when speaking about the organization. I see Canada World Youth as a family made up of an incredible collection of diverse people who have had a profound shared experience. The work of CWY and other like-minded organizations has never been more important. In this world of conflict and geopolitical tensions, we need to promote understanding and shared responsibility for building a more just world community. I am thrilled to be in my current position and to have the opportunity to use my skills and experiences in the service of CWY and its mission. </p><p> This past year has been one of change and some struggle for CWY. We live in a changing context and have had to significantly rethink our organizational structure and administrative overhead. While we have centralized many administrative functions, we remain committed to offering quality programs and have staff located across the country, from Vancouver to Halifax. </p><p> One of our highest priorities is to find ways to more effectively involve alumni in the organization and in public engagement work across Canada. You, as the people who best understand the power of the CWY experience, are a critically important part of our future. We will be presenting you with a host of opportunities to become engaged and to support our work so future generations will have the same opportunities you have had. Please read on to find out more! </p><p> <i>Don Johnston<br /> President of CWY</i> </p> </span> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 7,15,7,15; background-color: #DBFF75"> <span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana"><strong>Seeking a recent past participant to join the board!</strong> </span> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 10,15,10,15; background-color: #ffffff"> <span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: Verdana"> <p> The <a href="http://www.cwy-jcm.org/en/aboutus/board" target="new">CWY board of directors</a> has taken great strides to make sure that they are connected to the field: each year they invite a participant from one of the preceding year's programs to join the board. </p><p> Last year, past participant Augusta Acquah (BC/South Africa 2005 2006) was chosen. This is what she had to say about her experience as a board member after the first year of her three-year term: </p><p>  I have enjoyed giving feedback from the participant perspective and helping some of the board members understand the reality of what it is like to take part in a program. I think it is important to include alumni on the board because they have a wealth of knowledge to share that only people who have done a CWY program can attest to. It has also been interesting to learn about the organization from a different perspective, which has included learning about the operational and logistical aspects of CWY. </p><p> <img border="0" src="img/2007-10_AugustaAcquah.jpg" align="right" hspace="10" vspace="0" width="100" height="100">One of Augusta's roles is to help select another recent past participant to join the board. The candidate must have been on a CWY program during the 2006 2007 programming year and must be able to commit to a three-year term. Like Augusta, this person will be a fully-fledged board member, a position that carries with it great responsibility and commitment to the organization. To find out more, or for information on how to apply, please <a href="img/2007-10_Board_member_EN.pdf" target="new">click here</a> (PDF). </p> </span> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 7,15,7,15; background-color: #DBFF75"> <span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana"><strong>Canadian phase in full swing</strong> </span> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 10,15,10,15; background-color: #ffffff"> <span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: Verdana"> <p> Fall is an exciting time for our teams in the field, when the Canadian phase of many programs is in full swing! One such program is the Ontario/Kenya Green Miles program: a bold environmental initiative which enables participants to plant trees in order to offset the carbon dioxide generated during their international flights. From September 17 to 21, the group, composed of Canadian and Kenyan participants, planted over three thousand trees and enthusiastically participated in many different environmental initiatives in the greater Sudbury area: cleaning a portion of Junction Creek, training with Earth Day Canada's "ecoMentors" to do presentations for elementary school children, and volunteering at the Sudbury Children's Water Festival. The team will also be planting trees in Kenya during the overseas phase of their program. </p> <img border="0" src="img/2007-10_Green Miles.JPG" align="left" hspace="10" vspace="0" width="242" height="147"> <i>Participants Tracy Groenewegen and Minnie Waithera of the 2007 2008 Ontario/Kenya program volunteer at the Children's Water Festival in Sudbury, where kids learn about the importance of protecting our water.</i> </span> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 7,15,7,15; background-color: #DBFF75"> <span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana"><strong>Engaging the Canadian public in development issues: CWY alumni have a role to play! </strong> </span> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 10,15,10,15; background-color: #ffffff"> <span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: Verdana"> <p> As Canadian volunteers at home and overseas, many of you have seen the effects of devastating poverty first-hand. Your experience as past participants gives you the right and the responsibility to share what you have learned and to play a part in ending global poverty. </p> <p> Many of you have voiced a desire to continue learning about international development issues and to apply what you've learned. We want to support you in your efforts! Under the umbrella of <a href="http://www.citizens4change.org/en/" target="new">Global Citizens for Change</a>, CWY is collaborating with thousands of other returned volunteers from nine volunteer-cooperation agencies in Canada (CUSO, VSO, CCI, CECI, WUSC, CESO, Oxfam Quebec, and SUCO). This year, as a coalition, we will have the opportunity to raise awareness and take action on three important issues: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17th); UN World AIDS Day (December 1st) and International Women's Day (March 8th). </p> <p> <img border="0" src="img/2007-10_standupspeakout.jpg" align="right" hspace="10" vspace="0" width="129" height="76"> On October 17th, organizations around the world will be asking people to "Stand Up and Speak Out" against global poverty. Want to get involved? Simply contact <a href="mailto:ltripp@cwy-jcm.org">Laura Tripp</a>, CWY's alumni & volunteer coordinator, to let her know you want to organize a  Stand Up activity in your home, school, or workplace. She'll be happy to send you t-shirts, buttons, and info-cards to help you spread the word about this incredibly important issue. Join the CWY family across the country, either on your own or with a group, and "Stand Up" on October 17th! </p> <p> <b>Don't forget to count yourself in online that day </b> - please see the "<a href="img/2007-10_CWY_en1.pdf" target="new">Stand Up and Speak Out</a>" (PDF) invitation to learn how. </p> </span> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 7,15,7,15; background-color: #DBFF75"> <span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana"><strong>A program with enduring impact</strong> </span> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 10,15,10,15; background-color: #ffffff"> <span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: Verdana"> <p> Thirty-five years after founding CWY, we wanted to find out if our programs were still fulfilling the organization's mission and objectives. To this end, we undertook an ambitious process of self-evaluation last year to determine the impact of our programs on participants and society as a whole. This major study, carried out in five countries with 578 people, shows that CWY had a profound and positive impact not only on past participants, but also on host families and host community members. Please <a href="http://www.cwy-jcm.org/en/press/presskit" target="new">visit our Web site</a> to read more about the results of our impact assessment. </p> </span> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 7,15,7,15; background-color: #DBFF75"> <span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana"><strong>Thank you!</strong> </span> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 10,15,10,15; background-color: #ffffff"> <span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: Verdana"> <p> We would like to thank all the volunteer representatives who supported us this year at various events across the country and who answered questions from journalists wanting to learn more about CWY. Your efforts in getting the word out about CWY inspire many young people to apply for the program. In this way, you are helping to increase the numbers of global citizens who will be more likely to make responsible, informed decisions and bring about change! Listed below are the names of many of CWY's recent recruitment volunteers:<br /> <table cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: Verdana"> Aastha Sahdev<br /> Angela Lee<br /> Annie Veillette<br /> Anshula Chowdhury<br /> Augusta Aqcuah<br /> Bethan Stewart<br /> Brandon Umpherville<br /> Bridgid Tierney<br /> Britt Lehman-Bender<br /> Catherine Scheelar<br /> Charles Du Rocher<br /> Claudio Warneboldt<br /> Elisa Gilmour<br /> Emily Cumming<br /> Gabrielle St-Louis Deschênes<br /> Hope Hannah<br /> Jenna Benko<br /> Jocelyn Wattam<br /> Kefira Reid<br /> Jonathan Williams </span></td><td><span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: Verdana"> Katie Jeffery<br /> Kristel Tremblay<br /> Kristen Lawrie<br /> Lee Reaney<br /> Maxime Michel<br /> Michael da Silva<br /> Michael Plewman<br /> Nabeel Yar-Khan<br /> Naheed Gilani<br /> Nathan C.S Treloar<br /> Nicole Mackenzie<br /> Parker Mah<br /> Philippe Murphy<br /> Ryan Newton<br /> Sara Campos-Silvius<br /> Sarah Corbett<br /> Sonam Ringpa<br /> Tyler Colbourne<br /> Vanessa Thomas</span></td></tr></table> <br /> We know that there are also many more of you out there representing CWY on your own by writing articles, talking to high school students, and carrying out a variety of other activities. We would like to thank you and help you in your efforts, so please don't hesitate to get in touch with <a href="mailto:ltripp@cwy-jcm.org">Laura Tripp</a> and tell us about your initiatives.</p> </span> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 7,15,7,15; background-color: #DBFF75"> <span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: Verdana"><strong>CWY is recruiting: talk about it to your friends!</strong> </span> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 10,15,10,15; background-color: #ffffff"> <span style="font-size: 11px; font-family: Verdana"> <p> CWY is currently recruiting candidates for programs starting in the spring and summer of 2008. You know CWY better than anyone else, so please help us by inviting your friends to take part in this unique experience! </p> <p> We encourage you to talk about CWY and forward this message to potential candidates particularly young men, people from visible or cultural minorities, or young Aboriginals, as we are trying to reach more candidates from these groups.</p> <p> Candidates who apply <b>before January 15, 2008, will be given priority for the 2008 2009 programming year</b>.</p> <p> It's easy to apply: <a href="http://www.jeunessecanadamonde.org/en/apply/form" target="new">www.canadaworlyouth.org/en/apply</a> or 1-866-7-VOYAGE (1-866-786-9243). </p> </span> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding: 10,15,10,15; background-color: #00215C"> <span style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Verdana"; font-color: #ffffff"><font color="ffffff"> <div align="center"> <strong>Jeunesse Canada Monde 2007</strong></div> </font></span> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </body> </html>