Human violence

Man kills for any excuse, for any excuse whatsoever. Hindus can kill Mohammedans, Mohammedans can kill Hindus, Christians can kill Mohammedans, and Buddhists…and so on and so forth. And for what? For abstract doctrines, principles–and nobody is ready to live for those doctrines and everybody is ready to kill others for those same doctrines. If somebody insults the Bible, the Christian is ready to kill you, and if you ask him, “Are you living your Bible?” he will say, “It is very difficult.” He is not interested in living it, nobody is interested in living it; but if it comes to killing, then everybody becomes very much interested.
—Osho

New BuildaBridge website

The new BuildaBridge website is up and running (sort of). We have some kinks to work out and the coder is working on putting everything into a content management system; but the bulk of it is live. Our first main concern is getting the weblog functional. Any comments or suggestions are welcome (either here or e-mail me).
It’s at the same address: www.buildabridge.org

Coordinating Communications

I have been in the Czech Republic for nearly a month now, but am just now starting to hit the ground (still haven’t set up a post office account). I’m living in Most (in north-western Bohemia on the border with Germany). This is the BOA for Atlantic Bridge, the non-profit I worked with in the Netherlands this past summer. I will continue my work with AB on their curriculum from here (some interesting developments; I’ll talk about that in a later post). I’m living in one of the flats AB has here and will be working with their interns and local partners in the Czech Republic. However, though I am living in Europe, my actual employment is in Philadelphia with BuildaBridge International.
BuildaBridge is an organisation with a bright future; we aim to work with some of the world’s most as-risk people. Unfortunately, this is a growing population. Though globalisation has raised the mean standard of living for the world as a whole, it has also left many behind in an ever widening wake of economic, political, and environmental difficulties. Though we are a small organisation now, there are few who fill our particular niche and we are poised to grow quickly over the next few years (we maintain contact with many creative people who want to make a positive contribution to society). At the moment, we are developing a strategic plan and reviewing our mission and vision. I’ll post much more as we bring these materials on-line.

Though this position is paid, I am expected to raise a major portion of my support through donations an grant funding. BuildaBridge is a 501c3 non-profit organisation. As such, donations are tax-deductible. If you’d like to support my work here, send a check (with “European Office” written on the memo line) to:

BuildaBridge International
attn: Overseas Program Coordinator
205 West Tulpehocken Street, Suite 2
Philadelphia, PA 19144
United States

Alternately, donations can be processed on-line through our Just Give account (again, be sure to note “European Office” in the “Designate my donation” box.) If you give online, drop me an e-mail so I can send back a thank you.

You may request an organisational financial statement from the address above. We are accountable to a board and are required to openly report our finances

Below is a release concerning my new position that will be posted on the BuildaBridge Website.

After serving informally for the past two years as Director of Communications for BuildaBridge International, Jason Nicholas now joins our staff as European Communications Coordinator. Jason comes to us with several years of experience developing media for and consulting with organisations concerning their communications needs. As a freelancer, he has produced promotional video materials for clients such as International Ministries (the mission board of the American Baptist Church), The Campolo School for Social Change at Eastern University, Outward Bound, and (of course) BuildaBridge International.

Jason has a degree in Cinema and Video Production with a minor in English Literature. Recently, he has migrated away from production work and focused on concept development and writing. He lived three months in the Netherlands this summer to work with Atlantic Bridge on their cross-cultural curriculum for youth (which was initially developed by Drs. Corbitt and Nix-Early of BuildaBridge).

While travelling abroad on assignment, Jason makes contact with individuals and organisations who could potentially partner with BuildaBridge on our Overseas Programs. At his current location in the Czech Republic he will extend our program contacts within the European Union.

In addition to his role as program advocate, Jason will also moderate our communications as we re-design and develop our online assets. He will act as the daily editor of our website and maintain standards of language and content for our external communications.

While he will report on his work with BuildaBridge on our website, his personal travels and observations are posted at: www.edgeofsomewhere.com

Writing across borders

I’ve been indirectly involved with Atlantic Bridge for the past two years (beginning at a curriculum development workshop in Liberec, Czech Republic). My initial contact with AB came through Drs. Nathan Corbitt and Vivian Nix-Early of BuildaBridge International. Nathan and Vivian have consulted on the curriculum from the beginning and usually oversee the writer’s workshops. I am the Director of Communications for BuildaBridge; through a series of meetings concerning media planning and development, I was asked by Atlantic Bridge to come to the Netherlands for a short term and concentrate specifically on revising and finishing the Bridgebuilder curriculum. My professional training is in cinema production; however, I have moved increasingly toward communications consulting with a focus on writing and information design and welcome the opportunity to work on a project such as this.

The curriculum has, for the past several years, been a work in progress. It was written in a series of workshops in different locations by many collaborators. We now have the heart of the material; however, as it stands, it is not ready for publication or wide distribution. Though there has been a roughly standard format and structure during the writing process, the curriculum as a whole needs further refining and editing (much of this is merely standardising the language throughout so that “participants” are always called “participants” and not sometimes “students” etc. However, there is still a great deal of thought going into how to best structure and present the material in the leader’s manual as well as generating supplementary content such as a participant’s manual, handouts, audio-visual materials, etc.).

The major challenge in editing material such as this is compressing down the broad topics it considers into just these few sessions. For example, we propose to cover world religions in one session. Obviously, the participants are not going to develop an in-depth understanding of the history and complexities of world religions in an hour and a half session with games and a snack. However, we do hope they will at least gain an initial introduction; that they will pick up some key points that can be called upon later (either in later sessions or in a life situation where they must either discern the difference between people’s beliefs or call upon their own).

Another considerable issue is that of language; while the curriculum is entirely in English, many of the leaders and participants are non-native speakers. It may be particularly difficult to communicate theological or sociological terms in English. Again, we are attempting to write the materials in such a way that these issues are minimised. This will not be such an issue with the materials intended for participants themselves, as they will mostly pose simple questions concerning interaction with others or straightforward questions such as, “How might your beliefs about God differ from your friend’s?” However, the leader’s manual is more in-depth and aims to provide as much material as possible for leading the session (without, hopefully, overwhelming the leader). The amount of material and the complexity of the language is something we will have to find a careful balance on. In addition to the material we present, we also provide a bibliography and web links for further preparation. It is always preferable for the leaders to find material in the participant’s native language. This will allow them to understand more fully and allow the leader to use the curriculum as a guideline rather than a document that must be first translated from English and read to the participants.

Another variable to consider is the level of technological access available to the leaders and clubs. We would, eventually, like to include much more multimedia material with the sessions (i.e. videos exploring the topics, PowerPoint presentations, music to open sessions); however, we must first asses what kinds of equipment are available to the majority of our clubs (several are in Central and Eastern Europe in schools that my not have ready access to data projectors).

My main consideration at the moment is how to best collaborate with knowledgeable people on the structure and editing of the materials. AB has a small cadre of dedicated people who are all juggling one flaming torch too many at the moment. I’ve had the original materials in hand for several months and feel I have a good grasp of where we should generally go with it; however, I’m looking at a cross-cultural curriculum through the lens of my own cultural understanding. Much better would be to have many people of different backgrounds openly collaborating on such a project. I’m considering making the suggestion that we move the material online to a Wiki. This would (if we made the material Open Source):

1. Expand the contributorship to a global scale.
2. Potentially be the biggest thing this organisation has ever done in terms of broadening its reach and notoriety.
3. Essentially make this a standardised and recognised cross-cultural youth curriculum.

Atlantic Bridge would continue to coordinate the clubs and organise their International Youth Festivals. The curriculum would propagate itself…hypothetically; that’s going to take some more thought.

I believe we are at the beginning of what could become a very useful and life-changing concept here in Europe and beyond. It is certainly the right time to train youth to build bridges and become cross-culturally competent. The doors are opening across borders; we have a common language with which to work; and there is a hope in the air about the possibilities of the future. At the same time, as we can read in the news and see on our televisions, there is still much work ahead to help people understand and tolerate one another. It is programs like Bridgebuilders that can help the youth of today become people that will avoid conflict in the future.

If anyone has experience specifically with curriculum development through a Wiki (open or closed) or can point me to a resource, I’d greatly appreciate it.

Bridgebuilders Nutshell

I am currently revising a cross-cultural youth curriculum for Atlantic Bridge in the Netherlands. I was asked yesterday to write a one-page summary of the concept for general distribution.

The mission of Atlantic Bridge is to connect young people living in a climate of conflicting worldviews so they can develop personal expression and faith through cross-cultural friendships. Our primary way of doing this is through the “Bridgebuilders” concept. We combine a balanced cultural understanding with the mission of building bridges of friendship and faith. A fourteen lesson curriculum is the training method; while international festivals and other events co-ordinated by Atlantic Bridge bring young people face to face. As we work with high school students, we are careful not to make this heavily intellectual or theoretical, but rather a practical and experiential learning tool. Our aim is to make a targeted curriculum that prepares youth for the realities of a multi-cultural society; we equip youth to become the next generation of “complete” citizens in a world that needs people with these special skills.

Bridgebuilders is a combination of team building and cross-cultural training. By first breaking down walls, we become more knowledgeable about others and remove our prejudices and indifference to other cultures, races, and faiths. We can then build bridges which allow two sides to meet and learn from each other. There are five main goals for a complete Bridgebuilder’s cycle (the club meets for roughly a year to complete the following):

• Bridgebuilders weekend (an event introducing the club members to each other and outlining expectations for the year)
• Host a group from another country (one club acts as hosts for another)
• Visit a club in another country (preferably the same group hosted previously)
• Participate in an International Youth Festival (a yearly multi-national festival gathering Bridgebuilder clubs from Europe and the US) and,
• Complete the Bricks curriculum

This curriculum is an informal and experiential learning plan, not a university-level course. Our aim is a fun and active experience for young people, designed to broaden their worldview and equip them to draw their own conclusions and solutions concerning problems they see around them. To teach them to build bridges and break down walls, we have created the following “Bricks.” Each Brick is one more step toward the goal of empowering participants with knowledge (about themselves and others), attitudes (concerning the topics we explore), and skills (to put their knowledge into practical use). The sessions are (in no particular order):

• team building
• discovering your culture
• communication
• introduction to world religions
• world changers
• identity
• discovering others
• empathy
• developing a personal faith
• expressing your culture and convictions
• personal autonomy
• hospitality
• standing in the middle
• flexibility

Each Brick takes approximately one and a half hours to complete, depending on the group and the leader. At every stage, we encourage the participants to ask questions about themselves and their role in society such as: What are my skills and strengths as and individual and in a group? What is the past and future of society; how do I fit in? How can I make better links between myself and others? What role does faith play in my life and how can I use it to benefit others? What positive actions will I undertake for myself and my society? We hope they will discover a new sense of self worth and responsibility; each of these Bricks is designed to give participants tools for finding a productive place in their own community, country, and world.

As of August 2006, Atlantic Bridge has existing Bridgebuilder clubs in several countries and is preparing leader training for start-up groups (NL in August, US in September, and CZ in October). Now that we’ve basically established the structure and look of the curriculum, I’m ready to start putting them all out on paper for review and clarification by the leaders over the incoming months. (I think I’ll write a separate entry about the difficulties and considerations of writing materials in English for multiple cultures and ESL leaders and participants). This is something I will continue working on for some time; we hope to have the complete set ready for publication by next Spring. In the meantime, we will do beta testing with our existing clubs. If you are interested in further information please contact Atlantic Bridge or e-mail me at nicholas[dot]media@mac[dot]com (replace the [dot] with actual dots).

Podcast on Arts Education

Natalie Payne from Buildabridge International was a caller on WHYY’s Radio Times this morning; the show was about using the arts with at-risk youth.
You can listen to the podcast on WHYY’s site here

BI Overseas Programs

I have been involved with BuildaBridge International in Philadelphia for the past two years (I am currently acting as director of communications). Though it is a small organisation, the people involved have a great deal of experience and professionalism; we are now concentrating on doing a few things very well. Since 1997, BI has provided opportunities for artists and socially-minded people to experience other cultures and serve people in great need.
Our overseas programs are greatly expanded this year; I know some of you who may be interested in exploring one or the other of these programs so I’m posting an excerpt from the BI website here:

Arts Relief and Restoration
Arts Relief and Restoration is the advanced volunteer program of BuildaBridge International; it is comprised of arts therapy professionals, artists and community service workers trained in emergency relief through artistic intervention. The mission ARR is to provide, through the arts, a sense of normalcy, bring emotional healing, provide aesthetic nourishment, and to primarily feed the souls of children who have experienced traumatic circumstances as a result of war and catastrophic events around the world.

Requirements for the artists participating are:

• Strong motivation,
• Ability to deal with difficult environments,
• Creativity in working with scarcity of artistic tools, and
• Training in therapeutic arts methods and crisis management.

Overseas Institute for Arts and Transformation
The Overseas Institute for Arts and Transformation provides training and workshops to artists abroad. Around the world, BI professionals teach artists how to use their gifts as an instrument for help, education, and aid. Artists trained by BI professionals will implement the skills learned in working for social development in their communities.

Goodwill Tour
Goodwill tours provide overseas concert tour opportunities for US-based performance groups. BuildaBridge International partners with the group to promote and advocate its mission overseas and, at the same time, bring an experience of the arts internationally. ed. BI has previously organised a wide variety of touring groups, from interpretative dancers to gospel choirs.

Cross-Cultural Discovery Tour
The Cross-Cultural Discovery Tours are trips to many areas of the world that offer opportunities for global education. These trips are especially for those who wish to broaden their understanding of other cultures and experience firsthand the lives of people around the world. The Cross-Cultural Discovery Tour enables BI to promote its mission and activities overseas by bringing people from different cultures face to face. Travelling in a Cross-Cultural Discovery Tour means meeting with other cultures, learning new traditions, and discovering how diversity means enrichment.

This year’s scheduled trips:

Arts Relief and Restoration

• Dec 2006 Guatemala
• Jun 2007 Borneo
• Aug 2007 West Kenya

Institute for Arts and Transformation

• Jun 2007 Malaysia
• Jun 2007 India
• Aug 2007 West Kenya
• Aug 2007 Ethiopia
• Sept 2007 Guatemala

Goodwill Tours

• Jul 2007 Europe
• Aug 2007 Kenya

Cross Cultural Discovery Tours

• Jun 2007 South Africa
• Aug 2007 Italy: The Art of Wine

As you can see, It’s quite a docket of activities for the year. Some of these are pre-planned with existing groups. However, for most, there are opportunities to get involved. If you’d like further information either contact me at nicholas[dot]media@mac[dot]com (replace the [dot] with actual dots) or e-mail Elisa Schwab-Clewis, the overseas program co-ordinator at BuildaBridge.