http://www.globalgiving.com/cge.html

For the second year in a row, the Global Engagement Summit has teamed up with the GlobalGiving Foundation to offer our GES2008 alumni the chance to compete to raise funds and engage their supporters in an effort to have permanent listing and fundraising assistance at www.globalgiving.com

This year, about 15 student projects ranging from English Education in Papa New Guinea to IT training in Rwanda to International Business education in Argentina are actively hunting for support. These projects represent some of the most innovative and creative approaches young people are taking to changing the world.

The projects have the next couple weeks to engage as many supporters as they can. At the end of the competition, the two projects with the most dollars raised and one project selected by the GES student staff will be awarded winners and invited to continue fundraising on the GlobalGiving site. Additionally, they will share in $7,000 of bonus prizes provided by GES and GlobalGiving. This year, GlobalGiving will also invite any project that raises $4,000 or more from 100 or more donors to stay on the site until their fundraising objectives have been achieved.

During the next couple weeks of the competition, we'll be inviting the delegates who are promoting these projects to share more information with you, our readers, on this blog. Stay tuned!

The summit--for all its learning, questioning, and inspiring--is propelled by a single force: Creativity.

This is what drew me to the summit from the start.

Creativity calls for getting out of your comfort zone.  For knowing your foundations, yet knowing no limits.  It calls for sharpening your skills to be effective, yet taking risks when the time is right.

We see this at the summit.  There's a roller coastering throw-your-hands-in-the-air and shout-for-dear-life enthusiasm during those 5 days, that I've never seen replicated elsewhere.  There's an "audacity"--to quote our opening keynote--to take new ideas and run with them.  It's exhilarating.

It is this aura of creative possibility that has kept me so dedicated to this group, summit, community over the past three years.  And it is this same aura of creative possibility that has frustrated me in my limitations as a student.  It is this limitation that I want to touch upon now.

The past year of co-directing the Global Engagement Summit has been a thrilling experience.   It's involved up and downs of inspiration, of frustration, yet always a deliberate tone of excitement, consistent throughout.  And while I (and other contributors to this blog!) have illustrated the bountiful excitement of a successful summit, I wanted to touch on the frustration that it has produced as well.  I feel that it is something many of us face: wanting to do so much, to be overwhelmingly creative, but just not having enough time.  I've certainly felt this constraint as a busy student.  I'm sure you have, too.

I took on the role of co-director with googly eyes of creating new programs, new outcomes, new connections.  I wanted to approach things differently, be more deliberate and innovative about the summit, about how we as a staff worked together.  While handsdown I believe we achieved this innovation during this year's summit-- our community development program brought together a dedicated, fun-loving staff, more outcome opportunities are available to participants than ever before, the five-day run was smooth without major hiccups, and there are now talks of an exciting new alumni network community---it was not in the way I expected.  My grand plans were cut short by a simple fact--there's just not enough time!

I am profoundly overwhelmed by those of you who go out and start a project, or join a project, within this busy framework.  Who dedicate themselves to a cause, to an action, while still being a student--while still having a job.  I am curious to know how many of you, dear readers of this blog, do it.  How do you pursue the big ideas while getting the everyday done?  And furthermore, how do you balance enacting ample creativity with achieving the simple logistical tasks?

These questions have been on my mind throughout the planning process.  And yet, during the actual summit, all of that was thrown out the window.  I found myself surrounded by growing ideas, being thrown back and forth.  Walk a couple steps to the left, hear talks of collaboration in Ghana.  Walk a couple steps to the right, hear talks of a formative alumni network.  This blog itself--dynamic and continuous--is just one more example of the possibility of collaborative ideas. Here I was, surrounded by as-busy individuals, and the creativity was still possible.  For the first time in a while, I let myself jump wholeheartedly into these conversations.  It was re-invigorating, to say the least. 

I am still invigorated.  I realize that school work is inevitable, that the tediousness of logistics is unavoidable, but that possibilities will wait for you.  Creative ideas don't stay stagnant.  If anything, you get to keep them stored away, growing and collecting interest, while you wait for the perfect opportunity to release them.  (If only there was a Creativity Bank that did this for you!)  Beyond the relationships, the new ideas, and the inspiration that I gained at this year's summit, there is one profound lesson I have learned: even when you don't think you can do it, you can.  You just might have to wait a bit--the right moment will come.

Thank you, everyone, for re-inspiring me.  This summit is a powerful thing.  I'm so thankful I've been a part of it.

-Liz Voeller

I was extremely fortunate to participate in this year’s Global Engagement Summit. The conference brought 60 students from nearly 40 countries to Northwestern University for a long weekend to take a critical and energizing look at their altruistic ambitions. Delegates were encourage them to discuss their ideas, learn techniques from some established non-profit, business, and NGO leaders and to leave the summit with a better understanding of how they plan to accomplish their goals.

Having been peripherally involved in GES (formerly the International Youth Volunteerism Summit) for the past three years, it is particularly interesting to see the new ways in which the Internet is being used to put projects into action. Before the summit was over, many of the delegates had organized themselves into an online alumni group so that, despite global geographic divide, they will be able to stay in close touch. Delegates, who are required to the conference with projects (at varying stages) in development, are anxious to figure out how to best make the Internet work for them in their overall efforts. This year it was difficult to run into someone who had not somehow integrated web-based techniques into the execution of their plans.

From Alec Ross from the One Economy Corporation sharing insight on his efforts to bridge the digital divide to Christine Arnold of Prevent Human Trafficking talking about taking aim at human slavery and exploitation, participants were given great opportunities to hear from ambitious and awe-inspiring professionals who are making something happen both on the web and on the ground.

I admit it. I came to Uganda last month with a lot of fears. Would I be able to really accomplish anything meaningful? Was I doing the right thing? Would I lose touch with family and friends in ways not easily repaired? These fears were compounded by the fact that I was leaving such exciting projects like helping to build the Center for Global Engagement at Northwestern.

But, nonetheless, I left.

On April 1, I began a year long research project to explore how residents of Northern Uganda are rebuilding communities after two decades of displacement, and how government and international actors are aiding in this process.

I would argue that my fears are common to young people venturing off into the world in pursuit of real relationships and positive change across cultural boundaries. When you're truly honest with yourself, I think you'll agree.

Fortunately, my GES community is alive and well in Uganda and has—to a great degree—helped me make the transition to life here.

There is Halle, the founder of One Mango Tree and former GES delegate that lives across the hall from me in my flat. There are the Resolve Uganda guys that I met at GES as workshop facilitators—Michael, Peter, and Stephen—that provide research and simple living advice through regular email contact. And the list goes on…

To some extent, its sad and surreal for me to know that you're all there enjoying a powerful and productive summit while I'm an ocean away. But, we all have our own stories to write, and my current chapter unfolds in Uganda.

As you soak in the amazing-ness that is GES2008, find comfort in the fact that the GES community you're now a part of will be there when you depart for the place where your next life-chapter unfolds.

 

jon looking incredulously as he prepares to dig into some delicious Matoke and Boo

Katy McElligott of the Microcredit Summit Campaign presents the microfinance and microcredit innovations. The campaign’s goal is to alleviate poverty by addressing the first millennium goal – to reduce by one half those living under the $1/ day poverty level. The need for microcredit was discusses and the current controversy of commercial investment in microcredit. Participants wrestled with how to set interest rates and add microcredit components to their own projects. McElligott concluded with a presentation of innovations in microcredit including the Jamii Bora Revolution, kiva.org, microplace.com and advocacy through groups such as results.org that pressures the World Bank. She encouraged the group to get involved by learning more,  building awareness, becoming and entrepreneur, advocating, and giving.

Carol Orme-Johnson’s workshop entitled “Healthy Working Groups” communicated to workshop participants various effective methods to positively engage groups working together.  Through various icebreaker activities including “Bean Bag Toss,” “Concentric Circles,” and the “Yes Game,” participants were equipped with the tools to get groups working together off to a productive start.  Workshop members also learned the importance of taking the time to get to know group members and developing personal connections before delving into the task at hand.  Carol Orme-Johnson, who works with Teen Empowerment demonstrated that although taking the time to conduct icebreakers may seem like an inefficient use of time, these exercises generally turn out to be fun and the group as a whole benefits from the experience.  Martin, a delegate from Buenos Aires, commented that incorporating icebreakers into a group meetings gives group members the chance to “get to know each other on a more personal note.”  Peong Vattana, a delegate from Cambodia, added, “The more we talk to each other, the more we get closer.”  Overall, Carol Orme-Johnson emphasized that icebreakers work for groups because they help people learn to communicate effectively, are attention-grabbing, and help people to establish understanding.

Sameer Dossani, an activist with experience dealing with institutional obstacles, encouraged the delegates to take a step back from the specificity of their individual projects in order to analyze the broader institutions that will be encountered during the implementation of their projects. In a discussion-oriented workshop, delegates explored the accountability of societal, national, and local institutions through distinct examples. Sameer then asked the delegates to strategically approach these institutions in order to realize systemic change. The delegates considered the uses of insider versus outsider strategies, coming to the conclusion that a combination of both inside and outside pressures best accomplishes positive change. At the conclusion of the workshop the delegates acknowledged the importance of understanding the structure of institutions in the formation of effective strategies to implement their project and systemic change.

Engagement 101 focused on the philosophies that motivate service. Discussion centered on different realms of relatedness to the people and issues of interest. Delegates talked about practical ways of taking issues that seem “abstract and non-related” into a realm that is “real and related” to themselves personally and also to family, friends, and potential donors. The philosophies behind Project Focus were used as a model to bring seemingly distant issues and people into a more accessible light for the average American. Delegates discussed the responsibilities that we have as socially engaged youth to involve others in our pursuits and the challenges that come with trying to convince others that our projects are worthwhile. The workshop focused on the importance of becoming truly invested in the communities with which we work. It also centered on our responsibility to allow others—be it family, friends, or the community itself—to share in the cross-cultural engagement in order to bring about sustainable and empowering change.

Project Focus is on the web at www.projectfocus.org

        It is important to see short-term development for what it is, as not the most sustainable form of development, but still with an important value add that can have both immediate and sustainable affects. Construction is a common form of short-term development that can have positive ramifications, but as with all development, without understanding a community’s assets projects cannot reach their full potential. A school library he had worked on building did not reach its full potential, at least at first, because of a misunderstanding of the community’s assets.  The school’s lack of experience with a formalized check-out system for books among other things made it hard to turn the short term construction into a sustainable project of change. Development should be responsive to community needs and therefore must incorporate their actual, not perceived needs. Knowledge of existing physical infrastructure, social norms, protocol/process, politics, and roles/knowledge of projects and goals are essential to achieving lasting results. With this information it is possible to develop a project with local ownership.
        Saul Garlic stressed the necessity of the “train the trainers” approach to development as a means to reaching sustainable development. This gives another dimension to ownership and by creating a complex system of local community leaders and members (note complex does not require complicated) the loss of outside influence, whether money resources or physical presence, will not lead to the collapse of the program. There is inherent tension between the roles of donor and community, but by educating donors it is possible to give freedom for local ownership.
        In defining sustainability by its original meaning environmentally Saul was able to point out how sustainable development isn’t actually the key because the purpose of development is not to sustain the status quo, but to see improvement and growth. The goal of developmental organizations should be to leave the community to develop from within.  The questions of two delegates Bethany and Eric, both with projects both involving engineering, highlighted the hard to answer questions of development. Bethany’s environmentally conscious engineering project questioned how to reconcile the goals of the organization with the needs of the community and Eric’s brought up how it is difficult to gauge when and how an organization should phase itself out of a community, since that is the dream of an organization – to no longer be needed.

In February 2007, GlobalGiving hosted the GES (then called IYVS) Project Challenge on our website (www.globalgiving.com), an outcome opportunity for all delegates to apply their learnings from the Summit and fundraise for their projects. Four were invited to become part of the GlobalGiving site. Alfinio’s award is a celebration of his impressive and compelling presentation of the challenges and accomplishment of the community in Jazmin, Costa Rica. His project has shared great stories that have engaged new donors and as a result have continued to raise funds.

 

Nathaniel Whittemore, the co-founder of GES introduced the first-ever GlobalGiving Achievement Award, Alfinio and GlobalGiving. He talked about our personal " moments of obligation - moments when we can longer do nothing". Recounting the story of William Wilberforce and Britain’s abolitionist movement, he, in fact, told the story of the GES delegates in that room gathered from nearly 40 countries.  Profound change is driven by these very moments of truth. His words resonated within me. This is also the story of GlobalGiving which began with one such moment for its co-founders Mari Kuraishi and Dennis Whittle. It led to the creation of Development Marketplace at the World Bank and then GlobalGiving. In the true spirit of  social entrepreneurship, GlobalGiving isn’t the perpetuation of an individual’s sense of obligation to social change, but a living commitment to inspiring people towards another realization - not just that we can be connected into something larger but more importantly, we can influence it. This is the mission of GlobalGiving - to provide a space to realize these moments of truth and to borrow Nathaniel's words – moments in which we can no longer do nothing whether we are a donor or a social entrepreneur.

 

GlobalGiving celebrates Alfinio, Liz, Caitlin and Daniel -- the GES alumni on GlobalGiving-- and their passion, energy and commitment to leading social change. We're very excited to continue working with the amazing young entrepreneurs that attend the Summit each year. This year's GES Project Challenge will run from April 24th to May 13th. You can track it by visiting the GlobalGiving website during those dates. We're very privileged to be able to support them as they realise that they can no longer do nothing.

Manmeet Mehta, GlobalGiving

Last night we attended Ethiopian Diamond, ate a ton of amazing food and danced with each other and the restaurant staff. This is surprisingly not the first time this has happened, as last year we went, we ate, and we danced as well. The staff recognized us and helped to instigate some jolly and raucous behavior. Despite the fact that some unrelated restaurant goers were somewhat irritated by our controlled chaos, others, elated by our enthusiasm, came up to us and were excited to learn about who we were and what we were doing.

It was wonderful to tell interested onlookers that we are a group of engaged young people who are trying to figure out how to better give ourselves to the causes in which we believe. Folks were blown away to learn that we were from nearly 40 different countries and that we were having such a great time. It all made for another great evening with a beautiful and inspiring collection of driven young people.

Summary: Chris Day, in his workshop “Disaster Mediation” discussed aid work specifically aimed at disaster relief efforts. With a background working with Doctors Without Borders and the Goal International, Chris Day focused on manmade disasters and invited participant input on the definition of humanitarianism, the causes and consequences of manmade disasters, the definition of famine and the political impacts of humanitarianism. Participants reflected on their experience with Save the Children in the Philippines, economic empowerment in Kenya, the vulnerability illiteracy allows, infrastructure issues produced by colonial legacy, religious conflict between Muslims and Christians in the Philippines, and the corruption surrounding the control of illegal substances in Colombia. Bringing up questions that are often avoided, Chris Day expressed the need to acknowledge the issue of accountability of NGOs, how to measure the impact of NGOs and whether sustainability is in fact achievable.  

Grant Writing with Edie Canter
In 2006, Americans contributed $295 billion to charitable organizations; 4% coming from corporations, 12% coming from foundations and 83% coming from individuals. Opening with these statistics, Edie Canter gave a comprehensive synopsis of the process of grant writing, highlighting the different kinds of grant sources, the benefits and challenges of pursuing grants, resources helpful in identifying prospects, what information these prospects are looking for and what they are looking for from you, and how to write a grant proposal. Often seen as the drier business side of nonprofit work but undoubtedly one of the most important, participants were eager to learn the basics of the funding process in a convenient hour and a half period. 

Grant Writing with Coleen Burrus
SUMMARY: Grant Writing, while it is perhaps one of the less interesting topics at the summit, is perhaps one of the most beneficial to the delegates. On Thursday, Coleen Burrus (Associate Director for Foundation Relations at Northwestern University) and some of her colleagues conducted an information packed workshop on different types of grants and the grant writing process. The workshop first focused on the different types of foundations that offer grants and what each type has to offer. She discussed the difference between foundational and corporate grant programs and how to approach them both. A major part of the grant process is searching for funding sources and grant makers. Focusing on an example project, the facilitators walked the delegates through the grant search process using the online tool, Foundation Directory Online. Other potential resources mentioned were the Foundation Center (www.fdncenter.org), Chronicle of Philanthropy, Foundation websites, Guidestar (www.guidestar.org) and google searching. Finally, the delegates learned about the specific components of writing a grant proposal and the key parts.
    Overall, some key points that were hounded home include: knowing the type of foundation you are targeting and if it is a match to the type of grant and purpose of grant you are wanting and focusing on and communicating the geographic area of both the organization and project locations so that donors will know where funds are going. Also emphasized was the importance of being affiliated with an organization when applying for a grant. Rarely are grants awarded to individuals. Additionally, focusing on outcome and evaluation in your grant proposal will appeal to grant makers as they have a better idea of where the grant money is being used. Finally, it was emphasized to the delegates that they are clear about how they are going to solve the particular problem they are addressing and why they are the best person to do it. More than anything, the workshop gave the impression that obtaining grants to fund projects was not out of reach for people who knew where to look and how to go about it.

Discussion Summary:
A clear strategic vision has the potential to transform a passion for change into a visionary project or organization. Being specific, critical, and realistic in the organization’s management, costs, accessibility, and target audience is valuable to truly make a difference in the world. Earned income strategies may help make an organization sustainable, but they involve the risks of starting any business and also the danger of losing sight of the project’s original mission.

Key Points:
-    The Value Equation: value = (results + process quality) / (cost + ease of access)
o    Results: define your purpose in terms of results, success = be SMART (Specific topic and target, Measurable progress, Actionable, Realistic plan, Time frame)
o    Process Quality: dependability, timeliness, authority, empathy (keep in mind the needs of your target audience), tangible evidence (audience sees value of your project)
o    Cost: costs should serve the target market you have chosen, keep in mind your overhead costs (salaries, facilities, advertising, travel costs)
o    Ease of Access: access to your organization’s services can increase or reduce your total costs
-    Earned Income Strategy – things to keep in mind
o    Diversification by using earned income strategy may cause your organization to lose sight of its central mission and focus
o    Using earned income strategy may not be the final answer to making your organization sustainable – Earned income can dry up as easily as donations and can be risky (change in customer preferences, competition, government policies)

Facilitators: Katherine MacDougall and Katherine Nelson from Kellogg School of Management

Many of us have learned recently that going into a workshop looking for bullet point answers will get us nowhere, and that’s exactly how Jared Leiderman began his workshop “Tensions in Aid and International Development.” Not only did he tell participants he won’t be giving any answers, but after a quick discussion of the problems with international development- such as sustainability and paternalism- the workshop began with little hope on which I could cling. However, when Leiderman brought up a Bolivian crop- quinoa- as an example case to assess development tensions, I lit up. I studied in Bolivia and had eaten quinoa, a crop that is grown mostly in harsh rural climates. The initiative in question would be funded by USAID and implemented by Bolivian Development Initiative, and bring in agroscientists to develop the crop as a continued staple to local populations as well as compete on a global market.
 
I loved eating quinoa and immediately thought how delighted I would if it were readily available here while still benefiting farmers in Bolivia. But the discussion that ensued got me asking: who are the other actors in this scenario? What knowledge is effective? How do we define success and, furthermore, who is even capable of creating this definition? Perhaps the biggest question we grappled with was: what is success? 

Most participants agreed that we must determine how the Bolivian farmers themselves, who have been growing this ancient crop for ages, would define success in this situation. This  “success” however, would differ greatly from that of the agroscientists, whose motivations are wrapped in the efficient development of this complicated crop. For USAID, perhaps success is building up quinoa as a competitive crop to bring Bolivia into the global market. You, me, us, as a GES community, we are the BDI workers who feel that we must understand the interests coming in, the power of each actor and the knowledge that is most effective to carrying out the project. But “efficiency” and “knowledge” are just words we use to get closer to these non-existent solutions. I think here at the summit, these words, discussions and debates are preparing us for on-the-ground interaction with people and communities. What Leiderman indicated is that this day-to-day interaction and constant self-reflection are the only ways we will get any sort of answers.

Lisa Matuska
GES Community Development

Today we'll be posting the last set of workshop notes, blogging the closing keynote, and beginning the final reflections that will continue over the next few days.

Fifteen delegates with projects ranging from Buenos Aires to the northern plains of Haiti gathered this afternoon to discuss the common challenges to engaging with communities in Latin America. Many have faced the difficulties of being seen merely as a source of funds despite the desire to move beyond and work alongside community members. Part of this challenge stems from the "culture of silence," said Felipe Cordero, a delegate from Chile who is working to develop a multi-faceted agricultural program in Colombia. He said that his project faced initial stalemate because of the community members belief that "things are so bad they cannot change." Andres Angel, a delegate from Colombia who currently attends Clairmont-McKenna College, said that he was able to overcome the silence by giving a lot of responsibility to people, that "whether of not you think their choices are good or bad- let them make the decisions. Then, they will feel they had a stake." Others contributed that the gaining of trust takes time, especially in a region where rhetoric has not always led to actualization. Delegates pursuing projects in Latin America will be participating in an ongoing conversation via a blog on the GES website.

By this point, bonds are being cemented and people are beginning to look outward and beyond the summit. Today students will have their final sets of workshops. While the past two days have featured more technical workshops such as business planning and impact assessment, today will break it down a bit and help students think about the fundamentals of cross-cultural, trans-national relationships.

Look for more workshop reflections, slide shows and speeches.