Resources - Knowledge Mobilization

Y-file - York University’s Daily Bulletin:
www.yorku.ca/yfile/archive/index.asp?Article=8069

Windsor Wired:
/www.windsorwired.org/windsor_faculty.php?page=00

Views and Perspectives

The SWIN project sponsored Joseph Aigbovoruwa, a BSW student and the President of the Social Work Students Association (2006 – 2007), to the 7th Pan Africa Social Work Conference “Designing Remedies to Poverty” held at the Hotel Africana, Kampala, Uganda, between May 20th to May 24th, 2007. The following is his testimonial:

“All through the African continent, there is evidential hunger and starvation, learned helplessness emanating from inability of political actors to meet demand of good governance, war arising from political, tribal and religious conflict; HIV/AIDS pandemic is ravaging greater proportion of the continent. These and many more difficult conditions exist because there is abject poverty in the continent. This was the focus of the 7th Pan Africa Social Work Conference held in Uganda from 20th – 24th May, 2007.”

“For me, it was an extra-ordinary wonderful experience for many reasons. First, it was the first time I was being sponsored to attend any conference. Second, it was the first time I was attending an international conference. Third, it was the first time I was leaving the shores of Nigeria. Fourth, it was the first time I entered an Air Craft and that was an awesome experience that I will never forget; the thrill I felt when the Plane taxied off the ground, the aerial view….What is more, the Conference gave me an opportunity not only to understand poverty in its entire entirety but also to understand models for remedying the continent from the hydra-headed dragon"

Both University of Windsor and York University have made cash contributions that will enable their students participate on the project ($30,000 each for a total of $60,000 over 5 years).

We sponsored our first intern – Petra Okeke who is an MSW student from York University to complete a four month internship at Action Health Incorporated, Lagos – Nigeria. As part of her internship, she had the opportunity to attend a conference in Nigeria. She writes:

“I was in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria to represent Action Health International at the Third African Conference on Sexual Health and Rights. It was the most eye opening and educative experience of the year for me. I met a lot of strong women and men who held very distinct and clear views around the issue of sexual health access and education in Africa."

People attended from East, West, North and South Africa. What kept my spirits really high during this conference was seeing so many beautiful young and intelligent Africans who are working positively for change in Africa, gathered together in one place. I saw our young leaders, and I was more than impressed and very humbled. AHI held a two day sexual health institute, at which I did a presentation on building mutually rewarding relationships. I designed the presentation for people between the ages of 16-24”

….to read more, please check out Petra’s blog at: http://petraokeke.blogspot.com/

Prof Chike Okolocha, SWIN-P’s previous Developing Country Project Director, discussed the project’s progress in the First Annual Progress Report (July 2007 to July 2008) submitted to our funders.

“In spite of hiccups which are usual with collaborative efforts involving several stakeholders, the Project has progressed somewhat satisfactorily. The ongoing MSW programme is a major component which will drive the rest of the Project. Apart from building institutional capacity in the University of Benin, the MSW programme will provide a crop of professional social workers with a cross-national training who will further participate in the training of professionals. In essence, the special MSW programme is a train-the-trainers programme.

The international collaboration represented by SWIN-P has aroused the curiosity of all and sundry in the University of Benin and beyond. Social work has gained a new visibility in Benin and an autonomous department has been approved. This new department may take-off next academic year as the School of Social Work and Community Development. Barely six months into the on-going MSW programme, new applications for admission to read MSW has swarmed University of Benin’s School of Postgraduate Studies.

I am convinced that with SWIN-P in the driving seat, social work will be redefined in Nigeria and re-engineered as a truly professional field. I believe all members of the group share the zeal to achieve all the objectives of Empowering Women by Building Social Work Capacity in Nigeria”.