Exchange Magazine - July to September 2007

FEATURE STORY

A HEALTHIER FUTURE FOR BANGLADESH.PAGE 4

Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development ( AYAD ) Quarterly Magazine

Welcometothefirsteditionofournew

quarterlyExchangeMagazine.

It’sbeenabusyyearfortheAYAD

Teamandaswerollupoursleeves

forthesecondhalfoftheyearit’s

importanttotakeamoment

torecognisetheexcellentworkbeing

donebyourAYADs,theirHost

OrganisationsandourAustralian

PartnerOrganisations.

Exchangeisoneofthewaysthatwewillshareourstoriesand

experienceswithyou.Iamcontinuallyamazedbytheincredible

achievementsanddiversityofexperiencethattheAYADsbring.

Thisfirstvolumeisburstingattheseamswiththeachievementsofour

talentedAYADsincludinggreatstoriesfromacrosstheAsiaPacific

region.

ThecommonthemeforthiseditionofExchangeistheimportanceof

relationshipbuildingandgoodcommunicationinmakingeachAYAD

assignmentasuccess.Allourstakeholdershaveclearlydemonstrated

thatbybuildingstrongpartnerships,bothattheindividualand

organisationallevel,weareabletoachievenotonlytheoverall

objectivesoftheProgramandtheHostOrganisationbutarealsoable

toachievesuccessfulandsustainabledevelopmentoutcomes.

AustralianPartnerOrganisationsareanintegralpartoftheAYAD

Programandwe’reworkingcloselywiththemtohelpbuildstronger

networksbetweenAustraliaandourpartnercountries.TheAYAD

Programrecognisesthatdevelopmentdoesnotbeginandend

witheachAYADplacementandsoweareencouragingAPOs,

RAYADs(returnedAYADs)andHostOrganisationstocontinuethose

partnershipsandrelationshipsbeyondeachassignment.Togetherwe

canbuildasustainablefutureforourregion.

ThisJulytheAYADProgramwillbepresentingourinauguralAYAD

ForuminSydney.We’reparticularlypleasedtowelcomeourkeynote

speaker,MrAbdullahSalehMbambawhoistheUnitedNations

RepresentativeforAustralia,NewZealandandtheSouthPacific.

MrMbambawillbespeakingabouttheMillenniumDevelopment

Goalsandwe’relookingforwardtohearingmorefromhimonthe

challengesandsuccessesbeingencounteredinourregionaswe

strivetoreachthosegoals.

TheAYADForumwillbeagreatnightandafantasticopportunity

forourRAYADsandAustralianPartnerOrganisationstomeeteach

otheranddiscussallthedynamicworkbeingdonebothinAustralia

andourpartnercountries.Welookforwardtofosteringmoresuch

opportunitiesastheyearprogresses.

I’dliketoinviteyoutojoinmeincelebratingthediversityandbreadth

ofourAYADvolunteerassignmentsandhowskillsdevelopmentand

exchangeleadsnotonlytosustainabledevelopmentinourregionbut

alsotoourincreasedunderstandingofourinternationalneighbours.I

hopeyouenjoythesearticlesasmuchasIdo.

PleasejoinmeinsendingourbestwishestoalloftheAYADs,Host

OrganisationsandAustralianPartnerOrganisations.

Ray Ash

AYAD Project Director

RayAsh

AYADProjectDirector

TheAustralianYouthAmbassadorsforDevelopment(AYAD)Program

aimstostrengthenmutualunderstandingbetweenAustraliaandthe

countriesoftheAsiaPacificregionandmakeapositivecontribution

todevelopment.TheProgramachievestheseaimsbyplacingskilled

youngAustralians(18-30)onshort-termassignmentsindeveloping

countriesintheAsiaPacificregion.AYADvolunteersworkwith

localcounterpartsinHostOrganisationstoachievesustainable

developmentoutcomesthroughcapacitybuilding,skillsexchangeand

institutionalstrengthening.

TheAYADProgramprovidessupporttoAYADsincludinglivingand

accommodationallowances,flights,pre-departuretraining,in-country

management,insurance,medicalsanddebriefonreturn.

TheAYADProgramisanAustralianGovernment,AusAIDinitiativeand

isfullyfundedbytheAustralianGovernment’soverseasaidagency,

AusAID.AYADismanagedbyAustrainingInternational,aSouth

Australianinternationalprojectmanagementcompany.

A HEALTHIER FUTURE FOR BANGLADESH

Exchange July-September

Editor ErinGreen

Sub Editor LedaKalleske

Design: DannyConnery

AgencyOfNewDesign.com

Contributors:

RayAsh

LarraineBusch

SebastianFowler

CatherineGearing

SamanthaGrover

AnyaLam

ErinLaw

DavidLipson

JoannaMcErvale

JenniferPickering

AmberRowe

SimonStratford

Photo credits:

CoverPhoto-DeanSaffron

AHealthierFutureforBangladesh–DeanSaffron

Yaksandothersmallscreenheroes–SebastianFowler

CoconutCrabs-JenniferPickering

FantasticPlastic–AmberRowe

MarineResourceStewardshipinBali–JoshuaEstey

PandamoniuminChina–SimonStratford

GoingforGoldandPawpaws–LarraineBusch

PartneringinTibet–SamanthaGrover

ExchangeMagazinewelcomessubmissionsfrom

AYADsandalumni(RAYADs),HostOrganisationsand

AustralianPartnerOrganisations.Pleasecontactthe

AYADMarketingManager,ErinGreenatinfo@ayad.

com.auforfurtherinformation.

Exchangeisprintedonrecycledpaper.

Yaks and Other Small Screen Heroes

Coconut Crab Taskforce

Fantastic Plastic

Marine Resource Stewardship In Bali

Panda-monium in China

Going For Gold & Pawpaws

Partnering In Tibet

Development Internship, Joanna McErvale & Oxfam

Australian Partner Organisations

AYAD Calendar

A HeALTHIER FUTURE FOR BANGLADESH.

Childmortalityisamajorissuefordeveloping

countrieswherechildrenoftendieofeasily

preventablediseasessuchasdiarrhoea,

pneumonia,malnutritionandmeasles.In

Bangladeshthemortalityrateforchildrenunderfive

is7.7%or77deathsperevery1000livebirths(UN

2006).ThisisindirectcontrasttoAustraliawhose

mortalityrateforchildrenunderfiveis0.6%(or6

deathsperevery1000livebirths).

Theburdenofchildmortalityisprimarilyheldby

thepoor,withthepoorest20%ofthepopulation

havinganunder-fivechildmortalityratealmost

doublethatoftherichest20%.Thepoorareless

likelytohaveaccesstoqualityandaffordablecare

andareoftenlackingknowledgeaboutpreventing

andtreatingchildhoodillness.

ErinLawhasbeenvolunteeringasanAustralian

YouthAmbassadorforDevelopmentintheChild

HealthUnitatICDDR,BsinceOctober2006.

Specifically,theprojectErinisengagedwith

addresseshighunder-fivechildmortalityratesin

BangladeshthroughtheIntegratedManagementof

ChildhoodIllness(IMCI)strategy.

IMCIisabroadstrategydesignedbytheWorld

HealthOrganization(WHO)andUNICEFtoreduce

childhoodmortalityandmorbidityandtocontribute

toimprovedgrowthanddevelopmentofchildren

underfiveyearsofage.

Thestrategyconsistsofthreecomponentsadapted

tothecountry’sspecifichealthsystemneedsand

environment.Thefirstcomponentfocuseson

improvementsinthecasemanagementskillsof

healthserviceprovidersthrougheducationand

training.

Thesecondcomponentofthestrategyisto

improvethehealthsystembystrengtheninglocal

anddistrictlevelhealthplanningandmanagement.

Thisensurestheavailabilityofessentialdrugs,

logisticsandothersuppliesaswellasproviding

qualityandsupportivesupervisionforlocalhealth

officialsandimprovingthereferralandhealth

informationsystem.

Thefinalcomponentistoensureimprovementsin

familyandcommunitypracticethrougheducation

andaccesstoinformation.

In1998,theGovernmentofBangladeshadopted

IMCIasakeychildhealthstrategytoreduce

childmortalityandtoimprovechildhealthand

development.TheWorldHealthOrganisation

hadalsochosenBangladeshasoneofthefive

countriestoassesstheeffectiveness,costand

impactofIMCI.

5ICDDR,B,theInternationalCentreforDiarrhoeal

DiseaseResearch,Bangladesh-betterknown

locallyastheCholeraHospital-isaninternational

healthresearchinstitutionlocatedinDhaka,the

capitalofBangladesh.Themissionofthecentre

istodevelopandpromoterealisticsolutionstothe

majorhealth,populationandnutritionproblems

facingthepoorpeopleofBangladesh.

ICDDR,Bhasearneditsreputationasacentre

ofexcellenceintheworldforitsscientific

achievementsindiarrhoealdiseases,nutrition,

infectiousdiseases,populationprogrammesand

childsurvivalstrategies.

Toseethestrategyinpracticeyouneedlookno

furtherthanMatlabthana,aruralsub-districtof

Bangladesh,hometosome350,000people.

ThepopulationistypicalofBangladesh’srural

populationswithpooraccesstoqualityhealth

servicesandlackofeducationabouthowto

preventdisease.TheroleoftheIMCIteamisnot

onlytoimplementthegenericIMCIstrategyin

Matlabbutalsotoadaptandaddtothestrategyin

awaythatsuitsthecommunities’needs.

TheIMCIteamhasdevelopedinnovativewaysto

reachthecommunity,providingmessagesabout

properchildcareandencouragingmothersand

care-takerstoseekcarefortheirsickchildrenat

thenewlyimprovedgovernmenthealthfacilities.

Communitytheatreusinglocalactorsisusedto

providemessagesaboutcareduringpregnancy

andchildbirth.TheIMCIteamhavealsometwith

communityleadersincludinglocalmembersof

parliament,teachersandreligiousleaderstogain

supportforthestrategyanditsinitiativesand

workedwithlocalImams(Muslimreligiousleaders)

todeliverhealthmessagesduringFridaysermons.

“Thekeyistocommunicateideasclearlyinaway

thatisrecognisableandeasytounderstand”,says

Erin,“usingcommunitytheatreisanentertaining

waytogettheinformationacrossandmakessure

thatthemessageisaccessibletothosewithout

formaleducationandinvolvingcommunityleaders

ensuresthatthereiscommunityownershipofthe

project.”

TheIMCIteamrecognisedthatpeopleinthe

communitywereoftenusingvillagedoctors(local

untrainedhealthpractitioners)forprimaryhealth

care.Thesedoctorswerewidelyaccessiblewithin

communitiesbuthadbeenshowntoengagein

harmfulandsometimeslife-threateningpractices.

Aspartoftheefforttoimprovequalityofhealth

careandaccessibilitytohealthservicestheIMCI

teamtrainedvillagedoctorsencouragingthemto

stopharmfulpracticesandreferchildrenwhowere

severelyilltotheIMCIhealthfacilities.

Toimprovehealthcareaccessibilityanewcadre

ofhealthprofessionalwasintroduced,theVillage

HealthWorker.VillageHealthWorkersarefemale

membersofthecommunitytrainedtoprovide

basiccurativeandpreventativecaretounder-five

childreninthecommunityinwhichtheylive.They

conductdoortodoorvisitsmonitoringthehealth

ofchildrenunder-fiveandpregnantmothersaswell

asprovidingcounsellingonhealthycaringpractices

tomothersandcare-takers.TheVillageHealth

Workershavebeenoneofthemostsuccessful

interventionsinthecommunityandareexpectedto

haveamajorimpactinreducingchildmortality.

OneVillageHealthWorker,Fatema,tellshow

sherecentlydiagnosedalittleboy,18month

oldShohan,withseverepneumoniaand

malnourishment.Fatema,whoisamemberof

Shohan’scommunity,knewhehadlittlechanceif

hisnutritionstatusdidnotimprove.Relyingonher

trainingfromtheIMCIteam,Fatemafirstworked

withShohan’smothertotrainherinbetternutrition

andbasichealthcareforhersonandwhenhis

healthdidnotimproveshewasabletoreferhim

tothelocalgovernmenthealthfacilitywhereIMCI

trainedparamedicscouldassesshimandfindhim

aplaceinthelocaldistricthospital(ahospitalalso

runbyICDDR,B).WithoutFatema’sattentionto

detailsandtheexcellentreferrallinkagesthathave

beensetupbytheIMCIteamitisunlikelythat

Shohanwouldstillbealivetoday.

“We’rehearingsomanygoodnewsstoriesfrom

thevillagesabouthoweffectiveournewlytrained

VillageHealthWorkersare.Becausetheyare

workingwithmothersandchildrenwithintheirown

communitytheyareabletoensurebettercareand

improvedunderstandingofchildhealthissues.”

ErinworkswithhercounterpartsintheIMCIteam

toexaminewhatkindofimpacttheseinterventions

arehavingandhowtheycanbeimproved.Working

withtheIMCIteam,Erinhasbeenamazedtosee

thehugeimpactofsimpleandeffectivelyplanned

interventionsthatworkwithcommunitieson

childhealth.CurrentlycompletingherMastersin

InternationalHealth,Erinishappytoseeresearch

putintoaction.

“I’malwaysreadingstudiesshowingthatwhen

youworkwithcommunitiesyoucanhaveahuge

impactontheirhealth.NowIcanseeonthe

groundlevelhowthisresearchisbeingputinto

actionandwitnessfirsthandhowresearchcan

impactpeople’slives”.

Erinisalwayshappytogetoutofthebustling

streetsofDhakaandgoandvisittheprojectsitein

Matlab,“It’sfantastictogooutintovillagesandsee

smilingandhealthychildrenandknowthatinsome

smallwaysomethingyouareworkingonmayhave

contributedtothat.”

DaveLipsonandSebFowler’sadventuresinnational

broadcastinginMongolia.

Likealotofprojectsindevelopingcountries,producinganEnglishlanguageTVshowandwebsiteforMongolianyouthischallengeridden,chaoticandintheend,amaddashforthefinish.

SoitwasforDaveandSeb,afterbeingconfronted

withthetaskofcomingupwithahalfhourweeklyTV

showandinternetsitewithinaweek,withnocamera,

nostudio,nofunding,noguestsandnosolidconcept.

SigningthecontractwithMNB,theMongolian

NationalBroadcaster,cameassomewhatofashock.

CatherineGearing,aformerAYAD,conceivedthe

Englishlanguageprojectwhichwouldteach,inform

andentertainanewgenerationofMongolians.With

50percentofthepopulationunder20yearsoldand

livingintheleastdenselypopulatedcountryinthe

world,ayouthTVandinternetprojectseemedlike

thewaytoreachthosewishingtolearnEnglish.With

Englishbecomingmoreandmoreimportantasatool

inMongoliantrade,tourismandeconomy,offering

accesstoqualityEnglishlanguageeducationisan

increasingpriority.

Catherine’sroleintheprojectinvolvedlayingtheground

workfortheshowthroughresearchandrelationship

buildingwithotheryouthorganisationsinMongolia.

“Atthetimethereweresomefrustrations,thinking‘is

thisevergoingtogetofftheground?’Youspenda

yeartryingtogetitstartedthensomeonesays‘yes,

it’sgoingtohappen’andyou’vegotaweektofilm,

editanditbereadytogotoair”saidCatherine,“Dave

andSebhavebeenabletotaketheconceptandrun

withit.”

TheAYADProgramworkedwiththeEnglishforSpecial

PurposesFoundation(ESPFoundation)inMongoliaon

astrategicpartnershipwhichenabled3differentAYADs

toworkwiththemoveratwoyearperiodondifferent

aspectsoftheproject.WithCatherinesettingthe

scene,DaveandSebwereabletocomeinandtake

theprojecttothenextlevel.

“Atfirstwewerebaffledbytheapproachtoproducing

TVinMongolia”saidDave,“UnlikeAustralia,where

stationsbuyprogramsandrecouptheircoststhrough

sellingadvertisingspace,practicallyallMongolian

commercialstationsdemandpaymenttoputashow

ontheair.”

Moneycanbereclaimedthroughadvertisingbutthe

producershavetofindthesponsorsandadvertisers

themselves.Forthisreasonmoststationsareclosely

associatedwithpoliticalparties,whoprovideprograms

andpaymentinreturnfortheopportunitytopromote

theirpolicyplatform.

YAKS & OTHER SMALL SCREEN HEROeS.

Intheend,DaveandSebdecidedtoworkwithMNB,

asitisthemostwatchedstationinthecountryside

wheretheneedfordistanceeducationisgreater

becauseoftheirremotenessandlackofaccessto

goodteachingmaterials.

Unfortunately,MNBwereaskingfordonationsof

equipmentthatDaveandSebandtheircolleaguesat

theESPFoundationdidn’thaveandcouldn’tafford.

Contractswentbackandforthforsixlongmonths.

“Theprojectseemeddoomed”saidSeb,“then,outof

theblue,aweekfromChristmas,wegottoworkand

therewasthesignedcontract.Thebestpartwasthey

wantedashowbyBoxingDay!”

Thusbegantheinsanitythatcontinuedforseveral

months.DaveandSebborrowedacamerafrom

alocaluniversityandhadnochoicebuttofilmthe

firstepisodeoutsidebecausethesetwasyettobe

designed.

Withonlyonedaytofilm,themarathonshootincluded

scenesatChingghisKhanInternationalAirport,Zaisun

Memorial,SukhbaatarSquare,theStateDepartment

store,acaféandahairdresser.Toaddpressuretothe

mix,theteenageguest,amake-upartist,pulledout

atthelastminutebecauseshehad,ofallthings,a

pimple.

Withtapesinhand,DaveenteredtheMNBeditsuites

at5pmonChristmasEve,toemergeblearyeyed

intominus15degreeweatherat7.30onChristmas

morning,withthefinishedepisodereadytoairthe

followingday.TheMongolNationalbuilding,amassive

Sovietera,crumbling,concretebehemoth,witha

mazeofendlesscorridorsandnondescriptdoorways,

wasabizarreplacetospendChristmas.

“ThankfullytherewasabriefhiatusforMongolianNew

Yearprogramming,whichgaveustimetofigureout

theformat,havethesetbuiltandplanthenextfew

shows”saidDave.

Theydecidedonatopicbasedshowhostedby

Bolor,afunkyMongolianwomanwithabackground

inEnglishteachingandDave,asthenativeEnglish

speaker.Theshow,calledVoiceBox,features

interviews,conversations,games,badjokesand

thepopularsegment,“StreetKaraoke”,inwhich

Mongoliansarerandomlyrecordedinthestreetsinging

linesofpopularEnglishsongs(karaokeishugein

Mongoliasomostpeoplehaveagoodrepertoireup

theirsleeve).

Alotofcompaniesandorganisationsshowedinterest

intheprojectandofferedsupportbuttwoinparticular

reallysteppedup.RioTintoandKhanBankprovided

essentialfundingforequipment,thesetandotherstart

upcostsandABCAustraliaNetworkalsosupported

theprogrambyprovidingtheir‘LivingEnglish’series

toincorporateintoVoiceBox.Thishasgivenyoung

peopleinMongoliathechancetoimprovetheirEnglish

throughthedramaseriesbutalsolearnmoreabout

Australiacultureandwayofliving.

“IthasbeenfantastichavingABCAustraliaNetwork’s

support.YoungMongolian’sarereallyfascinated

bytheotherculturesaroundtheworldandthrough

theirsupportwe’vebeenabletoshowthemhow

AustraliansliveandteachsomeusefulEnglishskills.”

TheNewYearbreakalsogaveSebtimetogetthe

VoiceBoxwebsiteupandrunningandmovedtothe

newMongolianbasedweb-hosting.Thewebsitewas

designedtocorrespondwiththeTVprogramand

providelessonsandteachingresourcesthatwould

helpteachersandstudents.Itincludesthescripts

fromtheshow,songlyrics,lessons,somelistening

exercisesandotherlearningresources.

Sebalsogotaforumupandrunningtogiveyoung

Mongoliansthechancetosuggestguestsandtopics

fortheshow.Theforumisnowgainingmomentum

andconnectingwithstudentsandteachersallover

Mongolia(Darkhan,Overhangai,SouthGobiandeven

oneintheUSA).Thefeedbackispositiveandifnothing

else,thewebsiteisgivingstudentsgoodpracticewith

writtenEnglish.Recently,DaveandSebalsoenlisted

thehelpofacoupleofUSPeaceCorpsvolunteers,to

helpwiththeteachingresourcesonthesite.

DaveandSebandtheESPteamarestillfacingregular

hurdles,likeoverzealoussecurityguardswhorefuseto

admitthehostsandguestsintotheMNBbuilding,but

fourmonthsafterthatfirstmanicweekofproduction,

thingsarerunningmuchmoresmoothly.

Evenfindingguestshasbecomeeasier.

“Sofarwe’vehadablindFulbrightScholarship

recipient,amonk,aradiojock,anarcher,a

contortionist,arapper,aconcertviolinistandeven

MissMongolia.Morerecentlywe’vefeaturedanactor

(whoonceplayedChingghisKhan),anarchaeologist

andaspecialonyaks!”

Oncecompleted,DVDsofthe40weekserieswill

beproducedanddistributedtoschoolsandlibraries

aroundthecountry.Withplanstoexpandtheproject

toincludeaVoiceBoxnewspapercolumnandradio

show,themaddashcontinues.

Checkouthttp://www.voiceboxtv.org

9

InVanuatu,itseemskastomdictatesmorethan

justhumanculture.Onmissiontoputahaltto

diminishinglevelsofcoconutcrabsintheSanma

ProvinceinVanuatu,AYADJenniferPickering

realisedthatevenenvironmentalscienceisbound

bycustom.

Sometimesknownasthe‘palmthief’,thecoconut

crab(Birgus latro)issostrongitcancrackcoconut

shellswithitsbarepincers.Astheworld’slargest

crustacean,you’dthinkitwouldbehardtomiss.

HoweverasJenniferhasdiscoveredduringher

AYADassignmentworkingwiththeWanTok

EnvironmentCentreonOperationSaveCoconut

Crab2006-2007,itspopulationinVanuatuis

atdangerouslylowlevelsandseriousactionis

neededtomakesurethiscrustaceankingdoesn’t

disappearcompletely.

TheWanTokEnvironmentCentre,alocalNGOin

Vanuatu,enlistedJennifer’shelpin2007toassist

withacommunity-basedconservationinitiativeto

bancoconutcrabharvesting.Havingsuccessfully

lobbiedforathree-yearbanintheSanmaProvince

in2004,thetaskforcewasconsciousoftheban’s

The coconut crab taskforce

Buttherewaspositivenewsforthetaskforcetoo.“Conservationsitesthatwesampledshowedhigh

numbersandlargersizedcoconutcrabs”,Jenniferreported.“Thisisanexcitingdevelopmentforus,and

provesthatthebanwillhaveeffectovertime”.

Thetaskforcecollectedthefindings,alongwithawarenessmaterialsonthebiologyandecologyofcoconut

crabs,whichJenniferdevelopedinBislama(thenationallanguageofVanuatu).Thiswaspresentedtorural

communities,theCouncilofChiefs,restaurantownersandgovernmentagencies.“Giventheimportance

ofcustominVanuatu,involvingthechiefsandcommunitieswasvital.Byinvolvingcommunitiesinthe

decisionmakingprocess,themanagementofthisspeciescanbeadoptedatagrassrootslevel.Wehope

thattheownersoftheresource-theruralvillagecommunities-willcontinuetomonitorcoconutcrab

populationswithintheProvince,providingapositiveconservationoutcomeandsustainablemanagementof

animportantresource.”

ForthepeopleofVanuatu,traditionalcustomisnotjustamatterofritualsandceremonies;itisawayoflife

whichgovernsbehaviourandprovidesinterpretationsforwhatoccurs.Customisinvolvedineverymajor

eventinlifeandensuresthatlawandorderismaintained.Kastom,itseems,isanimportantelementfor

eventhemostscientific-mindedwhenitcomestoallthingsVanuatu.

ThisphilosophymeansthatcustomandtheenvironmentareofteninseparableinVanuatuculture,Jennifer

explains.“Duringarecentfieldstudyinthrivingcoconutcrabterritoryourteamwasconfusedtofindthatwe

onlycollectedaverysmallnumberofcrabs.Thelandownerhadrecentlypassedawayandourfieldofficer

hadnotpaidhisrespects.Vanuatucustomsaysthattheareacouldnotshowusitstruelifebecausehis

spirithadnotbeenreleasedfromtheland.Thefieldofficerdidn’tcomewithusonthesecondround,andwe

recordedmorethandoublethenumberofcrabs.Intheend,weallagreedthatitcamedowntokastom”.

expiryinMarch2007.Jennifer’sfundingapplication

totheDepartmentofEnvironmentandHeritage’s

RegionalNaturalHeritageProgrammehasensured

thecontinuationofthetaskforce’sveryimportant

work.

Aspartofthe“OperationSevemKrabKokonas

2006-2007”taskforce,Jenniferhasassisted

theinitiationofcoconutcrabpopulationsurveys,

communityconsultation,amonitoringworkshop

andpublicawarenessactivitiestoassesshow

effectivethebanhasbeeninimprovingcoconut

crabnumbersandeducatethecommunityabout

thisimportantspecies.

Thetaskforcediscoveredfrompreliminarysurvey

resultsthatdespitesmallpopulationincreases

duringthethree-yearbanseason,coconutcrab

populationsremainedlowandtheaveragesizeof

crabsrecordedatmostsitesareunderthelegal

sizelimitforharvesting(9cm).Jenniferexplainsthat

thisislikelytobeduetotheveryslowgrowthrate

ofthecoconutcrabwhichcantakeuptotwelve

yearstoreachthelegalsizelimit,aswellaspoor

monitoringandenforcementoftheban.

Extensionofthebanoncoconutcrabharvesting

hasalreadyreceivedoverwhelmingsupportfrom

communitiesandstakeholdersintheSanma

Province.Thetaskforceispreparingafullreport

ontheresultsofscientificsurveysandcommunity

consultationtogototheMinisterofAgriculture,

FisheriesandForestry,whowillultimatelydecide

whethertoextendtheban.

Regardlessoftheoutcome,thetaskforcewillholda

workshoplaterthisyeartotraincommunity-based

monitorsandenforcementofficers.Withsupport

fromcommunitiesandgovernment,Jenniferis

confidentthatasustainablefutureforcoconut

crabpopulationsinVanuatuisimminent-andthat

customwillstillreigntrue.

Coconut crabs and Jennifer out in the field with her local counterparts,

collecting data on the coconut crab population of Vanuatu.

“HowcanIintegrateintomyprofessionalpracticewhatIlearntandtheinspirationIfeltwhilstontheAYADprogram”

ThisisthequestionReturnedAYADAmberRoweaskedherself

afterreturning,in2005,froma12monthassignmentasResearch&

DevelopmentOfficerwithCEAEinManilathePhilippines.Theanswer

wasTrashBags,anethicalandenvironmentalsmallbusinessthatimports

bagsandhomewaresmadeoutofrecycledmaterialsbycommunityand

livelihoodorganizationsfromaroundtheworld.

“WhenIgotbacktoAustralia,Iwasatabitofalossastowhattodo

next.Iwasonlysureofonething-Iwantedtocontinueworkingwiththe

communitiesIhadcomeincontactwithonmyplacement.”

TrashBagswastheanswertoheruncertainty.Itintegratedherdesireto

continuetobepartofthedevelopmentofeconomicallydisadvantaged

communitiesandherinterestinenvironmentalsustainability.The

businessisbasedonthetriplebottomlinephilosophy.Thisbeingthat

business’sshouldmeasurethemselvesequallyacrossthreeindicatorsof

success;economicperformance,environmentalsustainabilityandsocial

responsibility.

FANTASTIC PLASTIC.

“ThisphilosophyisintegraltoTrashBagsoperationsandwhyIstartedit

inthefirstplace.Weareveryhappytoreportthatthisyearwesentback

nearly50%ofourturnovertoourtradingpartners.”

Thebusinessstartedwithtworangesofproducts;PaperTrailand

Rejuiced.BothrangeswerefromlivelihoodprojectsAmbermetduringher

placementinthePhilippines.

PaperTrailisauniquecollectionofbagsandhomewareshandwoven

fromrecyclednewspaperandtelephonedirectoriesbythecommunity

livinginandaroundtheinfamousSmokeyMountaindumpsiteinManilain

thePhilippines.

SmokeyMountainisahugedumpsiteontheshoresofManilaBay–

covering40hectares,risingupto10storeyshighandwithconstantly

burningpocketsofdecayinggarbage.Itishometothousandsofpeople

whohadnoothermeanstofeedtheirfamiliesthanscavengingthe

dumpsite.

In1983,FatherBen,aFilipinocatholicpriest,beganworkingwiththe

communitytoimprovetheirlivesandlivingconditions.Togetherthey

createdtheSmokeyMountainLivelihoodCenter,acommunityrun

organisationmakingbagsandhomewaresfromrecyclednewspaper

andtelephonedirectories.TheLivelihoodCenterisacooperativewhich

notonlyhelpsfundcommunityeducationcoursesandmicro-financing

programsbutisalsowhollyownedandrunbycommunitymembers.

“It’srewardingworkingwithcommunitydrivenorganizationsandgiving

themanoutletforlocallyinspiredanswerstolocalissues.”

TrashBag’sRejuicedrangeisalsomadeinthePhilippines.Awomen’s

cooperativeemploysfiftyfamiliesinthecollection,cleaningandsewingof

‘doypacks’(ortetrapacksastheyareknowninAustralia)tobecleaned

andsewnbycommunitymembersintoavarietyofcolourfulandpractical

products.

TrashBagshassinceexpandedtoincludethreefurtherranges;Fantastic

Plastic,bagsmadefromheatfusedplasticbagsbyanon-profit

organizationinDelhiIndia;Cut-Offs,carpetsandrugsmadefromhand-

hookedt-shirtcut-offsbyawomen’scollectiveontheThai-Cambodia

borderandSacks,bagsandwalletsmadefromrecycledricesacksby

survivorsofland-mineandpolioinCambodia.Alongwiththeexpansionof

TrashBagsandtheirabilitytobuymoreproductstheprojectsthemselves

havealsoexpandedandbeenabletoprovidealivelihoodtomorepeople

intheircommunities.

“TrashBagsisthelargestcustomeroftwoofourtradingpartnersanditis

gratifyingtoknowthatwhenwegrowsodothey!”

Eachproductcomeswithinformationonwhereitisfromandwhoitwas

madeby.ItisanimportantpartoftheTrashBagsphilosophytobepartof

theeducationprocessofconsumersaboutthelifecycleoftheproductthey

buy.Toshowhoweachproducthasanaffectontheworlditwascreated

in.AmberhopespeoplewhobuyTrashBagsproductswillstarttothink

aboutalltheproductstheybuyinthesameway.Whereisitmade,how

manyresourceswereusedinitsproduction,wasthepersonwhomadeit

fairlypaid,whataretheircircumstancesandlivingconditions?

Left Image Fantastic Plastic-thewomenwashingandsortingtherecycledplasticshoppingbagsbeforelayingthemoutandheatfusingthemtogether

Middle Image Cut-Off -DitchinPoiPetCambodiawherethefactoryusedtodumpthet-shirtcut-offswhichtheynowgivetothewomen’scooperativethatmakethemats

Right Image Paper Trail-Apictureofsmokymountainwherethecommunitylivewhomakethebags.

AmberhasonlyjuststartedherjourneywithTrashBags.Sheislearning

andimprovingwitheachnewproblemandsuccess.HerAYADplacement

notonlygavehertheinspirationtostartthejourneybutmostimportantly

theinvaluablecontactwithsmalllivelihoodandcommunityorganizations

thatwouldotherwisehavebeenimpossibletofind.

AmbercontinuestomaintainherlinkswiththeAYADprogramandisan

activememberoftheAYADAlumni.ShecompletedanAYADdevelopment

internshipandwastheNewSouthWalesStateRepresentativeforthe

AYADprogramin2006-7.SheisalsohopingTrashBagswillbecome

anAustralianPartnerOrganizationinthenearfutureandsendother

youngAustraliansoverseastoworkwithTrashBagstradingpartnersand

experiencetheprofessionalandpersonaldevelopmentthatisintegral

totheAYADexperience.AsAmberstates:“Itwas,inallhonesty,alife

changingexperienceandoneofthebestofmylife”.

3

MARINE RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP IN BALI

FormostAustralians,theword“Bali”conjuresup

imagesofacheapholidayamongsttropicalflowers,

worldclasswavesandtoutsselling“Rolex”watches

onKutaBeach.ButbeyondthericepaddiesofUbud,

theconcealingglossoftourismdissipatestoreveal

therealityofeverydaylifeinthefishingvillagesofthe

Bulelelengdistrict,NorthBali.

Here,exploitingcoastalresourcesprovidespeople

withameagreentrancetothecasheconomy.The

troubleis,theneedinessofpastgenerationsdrovethe

useofdestructivefishingandminingpracticesalong

thecoast,leavingtoday’spopulationwithdamaged

coralreefs,decliningfishharvestsandareceding,

erodingcoastline.Worseningconditionsareprompting

communitiestoseekwaystorepairandprotectthe

ecosystemsthatsupporttheirlivelihoods.

AYADAnyaLamisanecologistworkingwithReef

CheckFoundationIndonesia.ReefCheckconducts

trainingworkshopsinthesevillages,providingpeople

withtheknowledge,techniquesandskillstoimprove

coastalmanagementatavillagelevel.Anyahasbeen

workingalongsideReefCheck’sIndonesianstaff,

sharingherknowledgeinMarineProtectedArea

managementwithBalinesevillagers.

ReefCheck’smainprojectisworkingincollaboration

withtwoothernon-governmentorganisationsto

improvethesustainabilityofthemarineaquarium

trade.Sincethelate1970s,aquariumfishershave

beenusingcyanidetocollectfish.Thecyanideis

squirtedintothenooksandcranniesofcoralreefs,

anddazedfishemergeforcapture.Butthecoral

iskilledtoo,andwithit,thecapacityofthereefto

supportthefishthatprovidesuchanimportantincome

forfishers.Thehealthofthecollectorsthemselves,

divingusingcompressorsamongstthepoison,isalso

compromised.

Thetrainingisamixoftheoryandpractice.Trainees

learntorecogniselivinganddeadcoralandrecord

observationsonthehealthoftheirreefsbydoingcoral

healthsurveys.ThevillagersandtheReefCheckteam

taketothewaterinatraditionaloutriggerwhichtows

atrainerandtraineeusingmaskandsnorkel.Anyahas

trainedseverallocalfishermen.

“Thevillagersareatfirstdauntedaboutmaking

percentageestimatesoflivinganddeadcoralcover.

Butafteracoupleofturns,itallmakessense.Adapting

tothesnorkelgearcanalsobedifficult-sometimes

theparticipantputsthesnorkelonbackwardsand

can’tbreatheproperly,whichalwaysgetabiglaugh

fromtheirmatesontheboat,”saysAnya.

Theparticipantsareeagertolearnaboutthebiology

oftheirreefsandhowtoprotectthem,butconcerns

abouthowmanagementchangeswillimpactupon

theirlivelihoodsarehighontheagenda.

Cross-culturalcommunicationhasbeenattheheartof

Anya’sworkbothinthevillagesandatReefCheck.

“Inthevillages,thestructuredapproachtoworkthat

IuseinAustraliagetsmenowhere.Instead,Iam

learningamorefluidstylethatfollowsthenatural

progressionofvillagers’discussions.InBali,wehave

tofocusonpolitenessandgoodrelationshipsrather

thanbeingoutcome-driven.That’ssometimeshardto

balance,becausewehavetoproducetangibleresults

toreporttoourdonorsandpartnerorganisations,”

saidAnya.

TheprojecthasattractedfundingfromtheInternational

FinanceCorporation-adonorwhichrequiresa

specificstandardinresultsdeliveryandreporting.To

helpReefCheckmeettheseexpectations,Anyahas

beenassistinglocalstafftoimprovetheircapacityin

projectplanning,publicationplanning,reportwriting

anddatabasemanagement.

“Myexperienceherehasshownmethatwritingstyles

areshapedbyculture.Whatsoundsgoodinanofficial

Indonesianlanguagedocumentisnotnecessarily

appropriatewhentranslatedintoEnglish.Sopartofmy

workhasbeenanexchangeofknowledgeonwhatis

appropriateandwhatisnotineachlanguage.”

AnabilitytocommunicateinBahasaIndonesiahas

beenfundamentaltoAnya’sworkandithascertainly

madehermoreaccessibleforlocalcommunity

members.

“Queriesarejustasoftenpersonalasprofessionally-

related.Thestandardresponsetomyunmarriedstatus

is,‘howaboutmarryingaBalinese!’”saysAnya.

Afterninemonths,AnyaispreparingtoleaveBaliand

returnhometoAustralia.

“AdaptingtolifeinBalihasrequiredsomechangesin

outlookthatwillbehardformetomaintaininAustralia,

andit’sgoingtobepainfulsayinggoodbyetofriends,

andaculturefilledwithincense,flowersandalaissez

fairewayoflookingattheworld.I’lltakebackto

Australiawithmeanewperspectiveofconservation

inadifferentculturalandeconomiccontextandI

thinkthatthroughworkingalongsideReefCheck

staff,Ihaveleftthemwithaclearerperspectiveofthe

projectexpectationsofwesterndonorsandpartner

organisations,whichshouldhelptheminthefuture.”

“TheReefCheckteamisabletoconveythatachangetowardssustainablemanagementistheonlywaythatlivelihoodscanbemaintainedinthelonger-term.Theresultisinspiring-seeingthevillagers’enthusiasmtoreclaimstewardshipoftheirmarineenvironment”.

5

ChangqingNationalNatureReserve,oneofthemost

importantofecologicalareasinChina,isalsohometo

oneofChina’sfournationaltreasures;thegiantpanda.

ForAYADSimonStratford,itsoonbecameclearthat

hissustainableecotourismprojecttosavethepeaceful

giantwouldnotbeblackandwhite.

SimonlivesandworksinChina’sremoteChangqing

NationalNatureReserve.Whereexactly?

“Inthemiddleofnowhere,really”,Simonjokes.“In

thebeautifulQinlingMountains,ShaanxiProvince,

incentralChina.”Inotherwords,oneofthelast

remainingplaceswherethegiantpandacanbefound

inthewild.

Asanecotourismprojectassistant,Simon’srole

istoprovideadviceonthereserve’sdevelopment

ofasustainableecotourismprogram.Making

recommendationsonsuitablewalkingtrailsand

campsites,initiatinginterpretivesignageand

developingacomprehensivetourguidemanualof

Changqingwaspartoftheeveryday.“It’sallabout

sustainabletourism,”hesaid.“I’vebeenworkingto

communicatethattourismwilldestroynaturalareas

unlesstheseimpactsarecontrolled.Thisway,the

damagecanbemitigated.”

ThepreservationofChangqing’sprecioushabitat

isimportantonmorethanonelevel.TheNature

Reserve’sworkisparamounttothesurvivalofthe

giantpanda,oneofChina’sandtheworld’siconic

conservationspecieswhichislistedasafirstcategory

protectedspeciesbytheChinesegovernment.

Aftersevenweeksworkingwithhiscolleaguesto

assessproposedhikingtrails,developChangqing’s

websiteandstrengthenthereserve’srelationships

withtourcompanies,outdoorgroupsandindividuals,

SimonassistedtheBBCinaweeklongpandatracking

programduringtheirfilmingofthenew‘WildChina’

seriesforreleasebeforetheBeijingOlympicsin2008.

Thefirstthreedaysoffilmingproducedfootageof

twogiantpandaswhichatonepoint,Simonexplains,

camewithinfivemetresofthecrew.Howeveronthe

fourthdayoffilming,anintimateexperiencegavenew

meaningtothetermawe-smacked.“Ispentwhatmust

havebeenthreehoursinclosequarterswithagiant

panda,”Simonexplained.“Thepandaclearlyhada

personalitywhichwasstrengthenedbyitslargehead,

itsdistinctivecolouringandthewayitcasuallymoved

throughtheimpossiblethicketsofbamboo.Thiswas

oneofthegreatestwildlifemomentsofmylife.”

PANDA-MONIUM IN CHINA

AccordingtoSimon,filmingthreepandasinfourdays

isaprettyimpressivetally,keepinginmindthatthe

missionrequiredcrouching,crawlingandcommando

rollingthoughsnowandbamboostiltsatthebestof

times.Butinhismind,thehardworkspenttracking

China’snationaltreasurewasworthitsweightingold.

“Allofusatonetimeoranothersimplystaredatthe

pandawithlooksofdisbeliefandthemostgenuinely

happysmilespossible,”saidSimon.“Foramoment

IwasinanotherplaceasIwatchedthepandatear

downbamboo,twirlitarounditsfacetogetridofthe

snowandthenmunchtheleaves.Iturnedtooneof

theBBCguysandsaid,‘thisisridiculous!’Itwasthe

onlywaytoexpressmydisbeliefoftheexperiencewe

werehaving.”

Theexperiencedidn’tonlymakeitsmarkonSimon.

GiventhattheBBCcrewhadfilmedwildlifeacross

theglobefromAfricatoPatagoniatoIndia,Simon

explainedhowfortunatehefelttohavebeenpartofan

experiencetheyalsodescribedasahighlightintheir

careers.“Whenwearrivedbackatthebase,wewere

allblownawaybywhatwe’djustexperienced,”Simon

recalled.“Igotoutofthetruckandhi-fivedeveryone.

Thewholeteamhadputinsuchagreateffortand

wewererewardedwithanintimatemeetingwithone

ofthemostelusivecreaturesthatwandersthisgreat

earth.”

InSimon’sopinion,hisencounterinChangqingin

nowaytypifiestheAYADexperience.Heexplains

thatthechallengesfacedbyAYADsaresubject

tounpredictablevariationandhebelieveseach

experienceisunique.

Onhisexperience,Simonfeelshestruckgold.“Iam

foreverindebttothestaffatChangqingNational

NatureReserve”,hesaid,“Ifeelincrediblyluckyto

havebeenselectedaspartoftheAYADprogramto

workinsuchawonderfullybeautifulpartoftheworld.”

“Igotoutofthetruckandhi-fivedeveryone.Thewholeteamhadputinsuchagreateffortandwewererewardedwithanintimatemeetingwithoneofthemostelusivecreaturesthatwandersthisgreatearth.”

7

DevelopmentInternships:JoannaMcErvaleandOxfam

Australia

TheAYADProgramsupports30Development

InternshipseveryyeartoprovidereturnedAYADs

(RAYADs)withopportunitiestocontinuetheir

professionalinterestinthefieldofdevelopmentupon

theirreturntoAustralia.

SimilartotheAYADProgram,DevelopmentInternships

aredesignedtomutuallybenefitboththeRAYAD

andanAustralianhostorganisation.Development

Internshipsprovidefundingofupto$1,200tosupport

theRAYADasaninternfor20workingdays(4weeks

full-time)andmustbecompletedwithinoneyearof

finishinganAYADassignment.

Recently,JoannaMcErvale,whospent12months

asanAYADinPapuaNewGuinea,appliedfora

DevelopmentInternshipwithOxfamAustralia.A

memberofOxfamInternational,OxfamAustralia

carriesoutdevelopmentworkin27countriesaround

theworld.JoannawasassignedtothePacific

ProgramssectionduringacriticaltimefortheOxfam

Pacificteam.Jo’sfirstdaycoincidedwiththeSolomon

Island’stsunamiwhichcreatedanintenseresource

andpersonneldrainonthePacificProgramsteam.

“AtthebeginningofmyplacementwithOxfam

Australia,Iwasratheroverwhelmedbythetask

offamiliarisingmyselfwiththeprocessesand

backgroundinformationofsuchalargeorganisation

andtherelevantprogramsforwhichIwastomake

contributions,”saidJo,“Thankfully,Ihadwonderful

supportinmysupervisor–KarenMcPhail-Bell–

whoclearlyarticulatedherexpectationsofmeand

frequentlyofferedopportunitiestodiscussandreview

myrole,despitetheshort-termnatureofmyassistance

tothePacificProgramsteam.”

WorkingwithKaren(anotherreturnedAYAD)andthe

OxfamPacificProgramsteam,Jo’sprimarytaskwas

toresearchandcomposecasestudiesfortheAusAID

“BuildingDemandforBetterGovernance”initiative.

SheliaisedwiththeOxfamPacificProgramsOfficer,

CoordinatorandRegionalManager,andinterviewed

keyfieldcontactsintheSolomonIslandsandFijito

acquirerelevantdocumentationandinformationfor

caseanalysis.

“Duringaperiodofparticularlyheavyworkload,Jo’s

inputwasakeyfactorinensuringthatOxfamAustralia

deliveredthe3casestudiesfortheAusAIDGood

GovernanceProgramontimeandofquality,”said

supervisor,KarenMcPhail-Bell,“Jo’sassistancewas

integralforprogressingotherprogramactivities,such

asprogramappraisalsandthetsunamiresponse,

meaningthatstepsareunderwaytobeginnew

programsinourfieldofficeswitharangeofpartners.”

BothKarenandJoareenthusiasticaboutthe

outcomesoftheAYADDevelopmentInternshipwhich

alsoledtoJoacquiringworkwiththePacificPrograms

team.

“Theinternshiphasgivenmeanexcellentinsightinto

internationalNGO(INGO)developmentprograms

administration,”saidJo,“Ihavedevelopedmy

understandingoftheprocessesthatunderpinthe

relationshipbetweenprogramdevelopersand

theirpartnerorganisationsinthefieldbutalsoan

understandingoftherespectiveinternalprocessesof

aninstitutionsuchasOxfam.I’mgratefulforhaving

beengiventheopportunitytoinvestigateopportunities

inProgramsandAdvocacyandlookforwardto

fosteringthatopportunityinthenearfuture.”

TheexperienceprovidedbytheDevelopment

InternshiphasgivenJobothprofessionaldevelopment

andnetworksforfuturework,whileOxfamAustralia

hasgainedtheinputandassistanceofanenergetic

andexperienceddevelopmentworker.

Ifyouwanttoknowmoreaboutapplyingfororhosting

aDevelopmentInternshipcheckouttheDevelopment

InternshipGuidelinesandApplicationformavailablefor

downloadfromwww.ayad.com.au/returned_AYADsor

[email protected].

AccordingtoAYADLarraineBusch,typicalvillage

lifeinVanuaturevolvesaroundpigs,volleyballand

family.“I’mnotsureiftheygointhatorder,but

involvingallthreecreatesagreatfoundationfor

beingabletodevelopbeachvolleyballintheisland

paradiseofVanuatu”,shesays.

AsaneliteAustralianbeachvolleyballplayercome

AYADvolunteer,Larrainehasspentthelastthree

monthsinVanuatucoachingthelocalteams

tocompeteintheSouthPacificGamestobe

heldinSamoathisSeptember.Quiteanexciting

endeavour,giventheGames’status;“Iarrivedin

thecountrynotknowinganythingabouttheSouth

PacificGamesbutquicklylearntit’sliketheOlympic

GamesofthePacific”,Larrainerecalls.“Youwinthe

PacificGamesandatickertapeparadeVanuatu-

styleawaitsyourreturn”.

Foracountywhosefoundationrestsonthesport,

volleyballisembeddedearlyoninlifeinVanuatu.In

Larraine’sopinion,thesituationcouldn’tbebetter;

shebelievestheskillsdevelopedasapikinini

(smallchild)arewhatcouldcatapultVanuatuinto

successfullycompetingataninternationallevel.

Comparedtothestyleofvolleyballplayedinthe

villages,thebeachvolleyballversionofthesport

wasbornintoVanuatuin2004byAYADDebbie

Wooster.Sincethen,asilvermedalhasbeenwon

bythewomen’steamattheOceaniaGamesin

Samoain2006.Thisearlysuccesshasgiventhe

sportenormousmomentuminVanuatu,andthe

proudachievementofsilverhasputavisionfor

goldonthehorizon.

Boththemenandwomen’steamswillbe

representingVanuatuintheSouthPacificGamesin

2007,butthisyear,alocalrefereeofficialwillalso

betheretocalltheplays.Theopportunitytotravel

andearnmoneyinallaspectsofbeachvolleyball

isbecomingincreasinglyapparenttotheNi-Van

people.

HenryTavoa,CEOoftheVanuatuNationalOlympic

Committee,believesthistobeanimportant

developmentforthecountry.“Thebiggestfactor

contributingtothesustainabilityofsportsin

Vanuatu”,Henryexplains,“istheabilityofsports

organisationstodeveloptheathletesandofficialsat

thesamerate”.

Butthere’salotmoretoLarraine’simpressionof

theVanuatupeoplethantheirknackforbeach

volleyball.Larrainesaysthatcoachingthewomen’s

squadhasallowedhertoparticipateinthetrue

natureofthepacificisland’sculture.

“Afterarun,theteamandIweredrenchedinsweat

fromthehumidity.Wedidn’tcarrywaterbottles,

sotruetoNi-Vanstyle,oneofthegirlsclimbed

acoconuttreeandfoundplentyofwatertogo

around.Betterstill,therewereacoupleofripe

paw-pawsreadytopick.Upgoesanothergirland

weallstandunderneathplayingcatch”.

Tofillthetimewhenshe’snotcatchingpaw-paws

orshowingherteamtheropes,Larraineissharing

herskillsinamorecreativeway.Withthehelpof

counterpartJoeShem,Larraineispreparinga

picturebooktoillustratethedifferencesbetween

villagevolleyballandinternationalbeachvolleyball.

Ifapicturetellsathousandwords,Larraineand

Joewilltranscendmorethan100differentdialects

spokenacrosstheislandsandletpicturestellthe

story.

Amajorityofpeopleliveontheouterislandsof

Vanuatu,whichcanrequireuptosixdaysoftravel

byboat.Withthisinmind,Larrainehopesthe

picturebookcanbeusedbylocalathletesduring

schoolandvillagevisitsasatooltopassonthe

knowledgeshe’sintroduced.

Butwhataboutthepig?“Thepigholdsavery

prestigiousplaceintheNi-Vanculture”,Larraine

says.“Itrepresentspeaceandstability.Andthe

family?Well,whenitcomestobeachvolleyball,no

oneisleftonthesidelines.AccordingtoLarraine,

“whatoftenstartsoutastwopeoplekeepingthe

balloffthesandsoongrowstoincludeGrandpa,

Grandma,Mama,Papaandchildrenofallages,

alwayswithbigsmilesontheirfaces”.

goingforgold...andpaw-paws

going for gold...and paw-paws

9

NeW GROWTH FROM PARTNERSHIPS.

OrganisationandtheAustralianPartnerOrganisation

contributedtoboththesuccessofSam’sAYAD

assignmentandthelongertermeffectivenessofthe

projectinTibet.

“BeforeIleftforTibet,Iwasfortunatetobeableto

meetwithbothDrDavidCoventryandDrNicholas

Paltridge,theUniversityofAdelaidestaffworking

onthisproject”saidSam,“Theygavemelotsof

backgroundreadingandgenerouslysharedtheir

impressionsoflifeinLhasa.”

Sam’sarrivalinLhasacoincidedwiththebeginning

ofthesecondyear’sharvestandthearrivalofthe

UniversityofAdelaide’sDrNicholasPaltridgeonthe

project.Therelationshipsalreadyestablishedbetween

theHostOrganisationandtheAustralianPartner

OrganisationeasedSam’stransitionintoherroleas

CropSystemsOfficer,andenabledhertoslipstraight

intotheresearchschedule.

“Sammadeaconsiderablecontributiontothe

project,helpingestablishanagronomylaboratory

andagronomicdatacollectionprotocols”saidthe

ApartnershipbetweentheTibetAcademyof

AgriculturalandAnimalSciences(TAAS)andthe

UniversityofAdelaideisprovidingrichsoilforgrowth

forbothorganizations.

AYADSamanthaGroverspentfivemonthsworking

asCropSystemsOfficerattheTibetAcademyof

AgriculturalandAnimalSciences(TAAAS)inLhasa,

TibetwhereshewasalsosupportedbyherAustralian

PartnerOrganisation,theUniversityofAdelaide.

“IntensifyingproductionofgrainandfodderinCentral

Tibetfarmingsystems”isajointresearchproject

betweenTAAASandtheUniversityofAdelaide,funded

bytheAustralianCentreforInternationalAgricultural

Research(ACIAR).ThedualaimsoftheACIARproject

aretointensifycroppingsystems,particularlybarley

andwheat,andtostrengthenthecapacityoflocal

scientiststoconductresearch.

Sam’sTibetansupervisorandcolleagueshadbeen

workingwiththeAustralianPartnerOrganisation,

theUniversityofAdelaide,forseveralyearsbefore

shearrivedandthestronglinksbetweentheHost

Top Left. Field Research : Counting grain heads at TAAAS research station, Lhasa.

Left to right: Sam, 2 Tibetan agricultural labourers, Ze Xiu, Jin Tao, Tse Yang.

Top Right. Soils Workshop : Sam running a workshop on soil profile description at

TAAAS research station. Left to right: Sam, Tse Yang, Drolma, Ze Xiu, Jin Tao.

Bottom Left. Sorting grain from fodder : Harvest at TAAAS research station, Lhasa.

Left to right: Nick, Drolma, Sam, Ze Xiu.

Bottom Right. Surveying Farmer : One of our staff, Zomkyi, in her family home.

Back row Sam, Nick. Front row: Zomkyi’s mother, sister-in law and nephew, father,

Zomkyi herself, Zomkyi’s brother.

UniversityofAdelaide’sDr.NicholasPaltridge,“she

alsoinitiatedasurveyofsoilsinthecrop-production

zonesofcentralTibet–thefirstofitskindforsome40

years.”

Sambelievesthattheimpactofhercapacitybuilding

workwiththelocalTibetanscientistswillbemore

enduringduetotheircontinuedinvolvementinjoint

researchwiththeUniversityofAdelaideandwas

excitedtocontinueherinvolvementwithherAPO

throughanAYADDevelopmentInternshipwiththe

UniversityofAdelaideuponherreturntoAustralia.

“Myprimaryrole,asoutlinedinmyposition

description,wastoestablishalaboratory,anda

regimeoflaboratoryprocedures,tosupportthefield

researchprogram,”saidSam,“Thisconcretetask

wassuccessfullyachievedand,inliaisonwithNick,I

devotedmuchtimeandenergytothelessconcrete

taskofcapacitybuildingwiththelocalteam.”

BeinganAPOhashadmultiplebenefitsforthe

UniversityofAdelaide.Theyhavebeenabletoprovide

strongerandmorediversesupporttotheirpartners

inTibetthroughtheplacementofanAustralianYouth

AmbassadorforDevelopmentontheirprojectand

buildontheirownlinkagesandexpertisebyworking

withskilledyoungAustraliansbothinthefieldandback

inAustralia.

“Forusthebenefitisthatwecanincreaseour

effectivenessintheworkwe’redoing.Samhasdone

somuchandverysoonwe’llbehavinganotherAYAD

workwithus.AYADsfitinsowellwithwhatweneed

andaddsomuchtowhatwe’redoing.It’sjustterrific.”

DavidCoventry,UniversityofAdelaide.

2

DEVELOPMENT INTERNSHIPS: JOANNA MCERVALE & OXFAM AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIAN PARTNER ORGANISATIONS

TheAYADProgramworkswithadiverserangeof

AustralianPartnerOrganisationswhoprovidesupport,

enthusiasmandexpertisetoprojectsinallourpartner

countries.

AustralianPartnerOrganisations(APOs)are

Australiangovernmentdepartments,non-government

organisations(NGOs),educationalinstitutionsand

privatecompaniesthathaveorwishtoestablishlinks

withorganisationsworkingindevelopmentintheAsia

Pacificregion.

ThebenefitsofbeinganAustralianPartner

Organisationaremanyandvariedincludingbuilding

newpartnershipsinourregion,providinganamazing

professionaldevelopmentopportunityforstaffand

makingapositivecontributiontodevelopment.

Ifyouareinterestedinlearningmoreaboutpartnering

withtheAYADProgrampleasecontacttheAYAD

PartnershipsManager,SianBlackwellat

[email protected](freecall)1800225592.

TheAYADProgramsupports30DevelopmentInternshipseveryyeartoprovidereturnedAYADs(RAYADs)withopportunitiestocontinuetheirprofessionalinterestinthefieldofdevelopmentupontheirreturntoAustralia.

SimilartotheAYADProgram,DevelopmentInternshipsaredesignedtomutually

benefitboththeRAYADandanAustralianhostorganisation.Development

Internshipsprovidefundingofupto$1,200tosupporttheRAYADasaninternfor20

workingdays(4weeksfull-time)andmustbecompletedwithinoneyearoffinishing

anAYADassignment.

Recently,JoannaMcErvale,whospent12monthsasanAYADinPapuaNew

Guinea,appliedforaDevelopmentInternshipwithOxfamAustralia.Amemberof

OxfamInternational,OxfamAustraliacarriesoutdevelopmentworkin27countries

aroundtheworld.JoannawasassignedtothePacificProgramssectionduringa

criticaltimefortheOxfamPacificteam.Jo’sfirstdaycoincidedwiththeSolomon

Island’stsunamiwhichcreatedanintenseresourceandpersonneldrainonthe

PacificProgramsteam.

“AtthebeginningofmyplacementwithOxfamAustralia,Iwasratheroverwhelmed

bythetaskoffamiliarisingmyselfwiththeprocessesandbackgroundinformation

ofsuchalargeorganisationandtherelevantprogramsforwhichIwastomake

contributions,”saidJo,“Thankfully,Ihadwonderfulsupportinmysupervisor–Karen

McPhail-Bell–whoclearlyarticulatedherexpectationsofmeandfrequentlyoffered

opportunitiestodiscussandreviewmyrole,despitetheshort-termnatureofmy

assistancetothePacificProgramsteam.”

WorkingwithKaren(anotherreturnedAYAD)andtheOxfamPacificPrograms

team,Jo’sprimarytaskwastoresearchandcomposecasestudiesfortheAusAID

“BuildingDemandforBetterGovernance”initiative.SheliaisedwiththeOxfam

PacificProgramsOfficer,CoordinatorandRegionalManager,andinterviewedkey

fieldcontactsintheSolomonIslandsandFijitoacquirerelevantdocumentationand

informationforcaseanalysis.

“Duringaperiodofparticularlyheavyworkload,Jo’sinputwasakeyfactorin

ensuringthatOxfamAustraliadeliveredthe3casestudiesfortheAusAIDGood

GovernanceProgramontimeandofquality,”saidsupervisor,KarenMcPhail-Bell,

“Jo’sassistancewasintegralforprogressingotherprogramactivities,suchas

programappraisalsandthetsunamiresponse,meaningthatstepsareunderwayto

beginnewprogramsinourfieldofficeswitharangeofpartners.”

BothKarenandJoareenthusiasticabouttheoutcomesoftheAYADDevelopment

InternshipwhichalsoledtoJoacquiringworkwiththePacificProgramsteam.

“TheinternshiphasgivenmeanexcellentinsightintointernationalNGO

(INGO)developmentprogramsadministration,”saidJo,“Ihavedevelopedmy

understandingoftheprocessesthatunderpintherelationshipbetweenprogram

developersandtheirpartnerorganisationsinthefieldbutalsoanunderstanding

oftherespectiveinternalprocessesofaninstitutionsuchasOxfam.I’mgrateful

forhavingbeengiventheopportunitytoinvestigateopportunitiesinProgramsand

Advocacyandlookforwardtofosteringthatopportunityinthenearfuture.”

TheexperienceprovidedbytheDevelopmentInternshiphasgivenJoboth

professionaldevelopmentandnetworksforfuturework,whileOxfamAustraliahas

gainedtheinputandassistanceofanenergeticandexperienceddevelopment

worker.

IfyouwanttoknowmoreaboutapplyingfororhostingaDevelopmentInternship

checkouttheDevelopmentInternshipGuidelinesandApplicationformavailablefor

downloadfromwww.ayad.com.au/[email protected].

•ACIAR

•ADRAAustralia

•ANZBank

•AUSTCARE

•AustralianDevelopmentGateway

•AustralianFoundationforAsia

andthePacific

•AustralianNationalUniversity

•AustralianOrangutanProject

•AustralianPublicService

Commission

•AustralianRedCrossSociety

•AustralianSportsCommission

•BlueDragonChildren’s

FoundationAustralia

•BoxHillTAFE

•BurnetInstitute

•CAREAustralia

•CharlesDarwinUniversity

•ChisholmInstitute

•ChristianBlindMission

International

•CSIROSustainableEcosystems

•CurtinUniversityofTechnology

•DepartmentofAgricultureand

Food

•DepartmentofPrimaryIndustries

andFisheries

•DepartmentoftheEnvironment

andWaterResources

•EnvironmentalDefender’sOffice

Ltd

•FoundationforDeveloping

CambodianCommunities

•GeorgeInstituteforInternational

Health

•GHDPtyLtd

•GriffithUniversity

•GuidesAustralia

•HabitatforHumanity

•HassallandAssociates

International

•HopeWorldwide

•HumaneSocietyInternational

•InternationalCricketCouncilEast

Asia-Pacific

•InternationalOrganizationfor

Migration

•InternationalRugbyBoard

•InternationalWomen’s

DevelopmentAgency

•JTAInternational

•KelloggBrown&RootPtyLtd

•LandEquityInternationalPtyLtd

•LiveandLearnEnvironmental

Education

•MacquarieUniversity

•MarieStopesInternational

Australia

•MonashUniversity

•MonashUniversityAccident

ResearchCentre

•MurdochUniversity

•NationalLibraryofAustralia

•NatureConservationCouncilof

NSW

•NSWDepartmentofPrimary

Industries

•OxfamAustralia

•PlanInternational

•PlanningInstituteAustralia

•RoyalAustralasianCollegeof

Physicians

•RoyalChildren’sHospital,

Melbourne

•RoyalLifeSavingAssociationof

Australia

•SavetheChildrenAustralia

•SinclairKnightMerz

•SusilaDharmaAustraliaInc.

•SustainableTourism

Co-operativeResearchCentre

•TAFEQueensland

•TAFESouthAustralia

•TheCentreforCulturalMaterials

•TriathlonAustralia

•UNHCRAustralia

•UNICEFAustralia

•UNIFEMAustralia

•UnionAidAbroadAPHEDA

•UniQuestPtyLtd

•UnitingChurchInternational

Mission

•UniversityofAdelaide

•UniversityofMelbourne

ConservationService

•UniversityofNewcastle

•UniversityofQueensland

•UniversityofSydney

•UniversityofTasmania

•UniversityofTechnologySydney

•UniversityofWesternSydney

•URSSustainableDevelopment

Australia

•WalterandElizaHallInstituteof

MedicalResearch

•WesternSydneyInstituteofTAFE

•WorldSocietyfortheProtection

ofAnimals

•WorldVision

•WorldWideFundAustralia

July

Intake19AYADsheadin-country

28-29 StateRepresentativeWorkshop

August

20 MelbourneInfoSession

21 HobartInfoSession

22 CanberraInfoSession

23 SydneyInfoSession

25-26 RAYADDebrief(Sydney)

27 AYADForum(Sydney)

29 Brisbane&AdelaideInfoSessions

31 Intake21Assignmentsonline

September

3 Perth&DarwinInfoSessions

4 BendigoInfoSession

9-14 Intake20Pre-DepartureTraining(Canberra)

Intake20AYADsheadin-country

October

5 Intake21Applicationsdue

20 RAYADDevelopmentForum(Melbourne)

21 StateRepresentativeWorkshop(Melbourne)

November

4-9 In-CountryManagementWorkshop

24-25 RAYADDebrief(Melbourne)

December

5 InternationalVolunteersDay

Thesedetailsarecorrectattimeofprinting.Please

checkwww.ayad.com.auforthelatestinformation.

S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S

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TheAYADProgramwouldliketothankourcurrentactiveAPOsfortheirinvolvementandsupport.

23

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Exchange Magazine - July to September 2007

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Transcript of Exchange Magazine - July to September 2007