Christina Kuzyk is a music teacher at

Ben Calf Robe – St. Clare School in

Edmonton, AB, where she works with

students from

First Nations

communities.

Christina has

always had a

strong passion

for learning

about and en-

couraging global

citizenship. During her time at MacE-

wan University, she was an active par-

ticipant in the Walk for Darfur as well

as part of the Project HOPE Interna-

tional Development brigade, which

travelled to Nicaragua to work with an

Indigenous community in the Bosawas

Biosphere. Christina is also presently a

member of Ceiba Association, a local

nonprofit organization in Edmonton

dedicated to educating and empower-

ing students on the concept of global

citizenship. All of these experiences

have not only influenced Christina’s

teaching method but also the way that

she lives her every day life.

Throughout her teaching experience,

Christina has found that students are

drawn to the idea of global citizen-

ship and are interested in learning

about others. They feel an inherent

connection and curiosity to others,

regardless of skin color or language.

Students want to learn about others

and make sure that the world is a

safe and caring place for all. She

believes the best way to encourage

students’ interest and motivation

towards global citizenship is to

make meaningful connections. In

her classroom, global citizenship is

an active topic. Students have had

opportunities to participate in vari-

ous activities that foster that sense

of connection, including creating

and painting a large mural showcas-

ing Aboriginal culture while working

with a mural artist from Nicaragua

and writing and receiving letters

from students in the Indigenous

community of San Andres in the

Bosawas Biosphere in Nicaragua.

Christina frequently brings guests to

International Development Week - Youth Day

her classroom to share stories of

their experiences abroad and

working across cultures with her

students.

Some of the most impactful activi-

ties have been in the everyday.

Christina believes that educators

need to lead by example – the

only way you can really make

change is by first changing your-

self. Students ask questions, crave

experience, storytelling and dis-

cussion. They have many ques-

tions about issues that don’t make

sense to them and don’t seem

alright, and the most important

thing a teacher can do is to allow

students to share their voices.

When a child feels that they can

share their concerns, thoughts,

and feelings about an issue it al-

lows them to open up to new

ideas and to take on a new per-

spective. Oftentimes students

have the passion; they simply

need the confidence, encourage-

ment, and support of another to

feel empowered to share their

voice. For many of her students,

Christina is that source of sup-

port and encouragement.

Educator Profile: Christina Kuzyk

ACGC invites you to register your class for Youth Day

2014 for FREE! Scheduled for Thursday, January 30th,

2014 in conjunction with the University of Alberta’s Inter-

national Week, Youth Day is an opportunity for Grade 10

-12 students to step into a post-secondary environment

and, with facilitation by experts in the field, address issues

that are both immediate and controversial. Workshops and

activities are designed to be meaningful and interactive and

to provide students with a forum for constructive dialogue

about important social justice issues.

The goals of Youth Day include exposing youth to basic

and important international development concepts, chal-

lenging youth in their perceptions of international devel-

opment, reinforcing youth social networks by meeting

new people, and empowering youth to take action and

work towards their own vision of social change.

Registration is free and lunch is provide.

For more information, or to register your class click here

or visit the ACGC website at www.acgc.ca

V O L U M E 6

WINTER 2014 A PUBLICATION OF THE ALBERTA COUNCIL FOR GLOBAL COOPERATION

ACGC Change Your World Peru

participant Ross Anderson was re-

cently interviewed by Moon Publica-

tions, a company that publishes books

on international travel opportunities.

He shared some insights about his

experience with ACGC and Sombrilla

in Peru in July 2012.

Below is an excerpt from his inter-

view about his stay in a community

called Vicos, where the tour spent

time with families, organized by an

organization called the

Respons Sustainable

Tourism Centre

(www.respons.org)

What was a high-

light of the experi-

ence?

As part of our

homestay in Vicos

with Respons, we helped build stoves

with our host families. In North

America, there is a disconnect be-

tween the products we use every day

and the actual creation of those

products. The time, effort, and

knowledge that goes into building a

stove, especially with the materials at

hand, is one that cannot be under-

stated.

Also, in Vicos, I noticed the lack of

lighting and electricity—there was

one single light bulb, and it was in the

kitchen. The positive effect of this

one light bulb was enormous: allow-

ing a family to accomplish meaningful

tasks after dark is a powerful impact.

What did you take away from

the experience?

In Vicos, I realized that culture and

tradition are things that are extreme-

ly precious and valuable but also easi-

An Interview with Ross Anderson P A G E 2

ly lost. It forced me to think about

what is happening in my own

country, and about why culture is

important: It reminds us where we

come from and who we are. It

brings us together, makes us fami-

ly, and gives us purpose as a com-

munity.

Was there a downside to your

experience?

Every part of the experience in

Vicos was valuable - the good and

the bad. Nothing is without a neg-

ative, but when it is seen as an

experience to learn from, there is

no real negative.

For the full interview, and more

information about organizations

and projects in Latin America,

check out Moon Volunteer Vacations

in Latin America by Amy E. Robertson

(available on Amazon.ca)

JHC is also proud to be a certified facilitator of

UNICEF Canada's Rights Respecting School (RRS) initiative! As a school-wide approach, RRS

encourages schools to use the United Nations on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) as a tool

to inform school policy, practice, and philosophy. As a RRS lead agency, JHC is dedicated to helping schools

become more respectful and peaceful learning environ-ments for students and adults through the implementa-tion of the CRC. The RRS initiative has been proven to

complement existing school policies and practices as it has simultaneously helped schools achieve higher rates

of student achievement, lower absenteeism, and higher rates of teacher satisfaction. JHC is dedicated to making

Alberta a leading province in promoting student devel-opment and engagement through a rights-based ap-

proach and we would love to have you join us in this inspirational movement.

Please visit

www.jhcentre.org or email info@jhcentre.org

for more information on how you can bring both of

these exciting initiatives to your classroom and school.

The JHC is proud to announce the successful launch of our

newest education program, Free2BeYOUth!

In partnership with (IN)spired, this youth inclusion initiative aims to inspire marginalized youth and their peers to spear-

head meaningful change in their schools and broader commu-nities. As these junior and senior high school youth learn about the issues faced by specific marginalized student groups

(such as youth with disabilities, LGBTQ youth, aboriginal youth, and immigrants and refugees), students collectively

work towards the understanding and appreciation of each and every individual.

As a way of eliminating barriers that keep students from expe-

riencing inclusion, JHC and (IN)spired will provide resources and deliver workshops to F2BY clubs in schools across the

province to ensure that awareness, discussion, and action on critical issues are addressed so that we can all progress to-

wards becoming a more inclusive society.

For the first time, in 2014, the Gandhi Foundation will be pro-

moting The Season for Nonviolence which marks the 64

days between January 30, the

anniversary date of Gandhi’s

assassination and April 4, the

date when Martin Luther

King Jr. was assassinated.

The purpose of the Season is

to focus education and com-

munity action on attaining

peace and justice in the spirit

of Gandhi and King. The

Season teaches that every person can move the world forward

in the direction of peace through daily nonviolent choices and

actions. Stay tuned for events scheduled throughout the Season

for Nonviolence by visiting www.gandhifoundation.ca.

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 6

Ghost River Rediscovery—Summer Camps Ghost River Rediscovery (GRR)

provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity

for its participants to experience a

program like no other. GRR camps

are based on the strengths and

teachings of Indigenous cul-

tures, and through the use of Rites

of Passage, provide opportunities for

self-growth, leadership development,

connection to nature, and cross cul-

tural sharing that leads to greater self-

awareness and knowledge of place.

Having fun and playing games is a seri-

ous business at GRR’s summer pro-

grams. GRR youth camps, for kids 8-

18, are set in one the most beautiful

places on earth.

Connection is at the core of what

GRR does. Participants are taken on a

journey that explores their connec-

tions to themselves, to nature, and to

culture. GRR Elders, who come from

local First Nations, share the teach-

ings of the peoples who have called

the land home for thousands of

years.

For the summer of 2014, GRR will be

offering 8 youth camps between June

30 and August 29. This snapshot

video is a great inside look to the

camps!

For more information, visit

ghostriverrediscovery.com, or phone

403-270-9351.

CBE International Youth

Leadership Summit

More Opportunities! Calgary City Teachers’ Convention—February 13-14, 2014

Join ACGC as we present two sessions at CCTCA this year. Building International School Partnerships will explore some of the es-

sential elements of a successful international school partnership, and how that partnership can contribute to global education in

your classroom and school. The Power of Media explores concepts of media messaging, offering tools for educators to encourage

students to be successful agents of social change with the ability to recognize, address and challenge systems of oppression dis-

played through different mediums of media. Check out www.cctca.com to find out when and where we’ll be presenting!

Alberta Council for Environmental Education: Earth Matters Conference

Join ACEE in Canmore Alberta on April 24-26 for their exciting Earth Matters conference. The conference promises to provide

inspirational speakers, relevant workshops, and ample opportunities for you to work with other educators in a community of

practice that is directly relevant to your work—because the Earth Matters. For more information, visit www.abcee.org

The Mahatma Gandhi Canadian

Foundation for World Peace The Calgary Board of Education's annual International Youth

Leadership Summit gathers students from across the city and

from different corners of the globe to discuss matters of local

and international importance. This year's summit will be hosted

by Robert Thirsk High School from April 24th to April 26th

and will embrace the theme of "Engaging Locally and Con-

necting Globally". The goal is to bring like-minded youth

leaders together to inspire and motivate them to build commu-

nity, engage in civic activities and contribute to the betterment

of life in the global village.

If you’re interested in participating

or having some of your students

participate, contact Julie

Muhlberger for more information

at JAMuhlberger@cbe.ab.ca

Suite 205, 10816A-82 Avenue

Edmonton, Alberta T6E 2B3

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

admin@acgc.ca

Follow us on:

ACGC can be contacted at:

What’s your school doing?

Share your activities with

us and see your school

profiled in our next

ACGC teach newsletter!

www.acgc.ca/teach

ACGC CURRENT MEMBERSHIP

December 2013

Action International Ministries ˑ Ainembabazi Chil-

dren’s Project ˑ Alberta Public Interest Research

Group ˑ Alberta Teachers’ Association ˑ Altamas

for Peace and Development Association ˑ Bridges

of Hope International Network of Development

Agencies ˑ Calgary Board of Education Global

Learning Program ˑ Canada World Youth ˑ Canadi-

an Association for Participatory Development ˑ

Canadian Catholic Organization for Development

and Peace ˑ Canadian Department of Peace Initia-

tive ˑ Canadian Humanitarian ˑ Canadian Moravian

Mission Society ˑ Canadian Peacemakers Interna-

tional ˑ Canadian Women for Women in Afghani-

stanˑ Caro-Canadians Reaching Out to the

World's Children Foundation ˑ CAUSE Canada ˑ

CEIBA Association ˑ Centre for Affordable Water

and Sanitation Technology ˑ Centre for Global

Citizenship Education and Research ˑ Change for

Children ˑ Covenant International Ministry ˑ Engi-

neers Without Borders- Canada ˑ Four Worlds

Centre for Development Learning ˑ Ghost River

Rediscovery ˑ Global Education Program, Universi-

ty of Alberta International ˑ HIV Edmonton ˑ Hu-

man Development Foundation ˑ John Humphrey

Centre for Peace and Human Rights ˑ Keiskamma

Canada Foundation ˑ Light Up the World ˑ Maha-

rashtra Seva Samiti Organization ˑ Mahatma Gan-

dhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace ˑ Marda

Loop Justice Film Festival ˑ Mennonite Central

Committee Alberta ˑ Micah Centre ˑ Minkha Knit-

ters Cooperative ˑ Mission of Mercy ˑ One Child's

Village ˑ One! International Poverty Relief ˑ Opera-

tion Eyesight Universal ˑ Optometry Giving Sight ˑ

Oxfam Canada ˑ Rainbow for the Future ˑ Rainbow

of Hope for Children ˑ RESULTS ˑ Rotary Club of

Edmonton ˑ Sahakarini Inter-World Education &

Development Association ˑ Samaritan's Purse Can-

ada ˑ Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute ˑ Sinkunia

Community Development Organization ˑ Somali-

Canadian Education & Rural Development Organi-

zation ˑ Sombrilla International Development Soci-

ety ˑ STOP TB Canada ˑ Student Umbrella for

Social Justice ˑ Trickster Theatre ˑ True Vision

Ghana ˑ Unisphere Global Research Centre ˑ Unit-

ed Nations Association in Canada ˑ Women's Em-

powerment International Foundation ˑ World Fit

For Children- Alberta Chapter ˑ

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

Canada provided through Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada

(DFATD).

Rethinking Globalization is a comprehensive

400-page book that helps teachers raise critical

issues with students in grades 4-12 about the

increasing globalization of the world’s econo-

mies and infrastructures, and the many different

impacts this trend has on our planet and those

who live here.

It offers an extensive collection of readings and

source material on critical global issues.

Through numerous role plays, interviews, po-

ems, stories, background readings, cartoons and

hands-on teaching activities, the book offers a

memorable introduction to the forces that are

shaping the future of our world.

Available online at www.rethinkingschools.org

“Rethinking Globalization is a breathtakingly rick collection of essays, photos, cartoons,

poems providing an extraordinary one-volume education on wealth, poverty, corporate

power, and popular resistance in the contemporary world...I can think of no other book

that teaches so much, so engagingly.” - Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of

the United States

Featured Resource Rethinking Globalization Teaching for Justice in an Unjust World