Newsflash #266, April 20, 2010

Register Now for the 17th Annual iEARN Conference and 14th Annual Youth Summit in Barrie, Canada (outside of Toronto), July 12-17, 2010!

Early Bird rates for the iEARN International Conference and Youth Summit are avaliabe until March 31. Please register and pay for the conference to qualify for the Early Bird discount. Registration and Payment forms are avaliable at: http://iearn2010.org.  For questions regarding registration, please contact Этот e-mail адрес защищен от спам-ботов, для его просмотра у Вас должен быть включен Javascript .  We will only be able to accept registrations until June 10th, so please register early to assure your place at the conference. After that date, we can not guarantee accommodations at the conference venue.

Workshops

Are you interested in sharing your project, student work or best practices in education? Please participate as a presenter at the conference. Call for Presenter forms are accessible at: http://tiny.cc/workshops516

Visas for Canada

Visa applications to Canada might take a few weeks to process at the Canadian Embassies. We are in the process of preparing Letters of Invitation for the conference. If you require a Letter of Invitation to apply for your Visa to Canada, please complete the form at: http://tinyurl.com/iEARN2010inviteletter Please also be aware that we can not send the Letters of Invitation directly to the Embassies.

We look forward to seeing you all as we meet together to "Catch the Dream" in Canada.  

About the iEARN Annual Conference and Youth Summit: Join hundreds of educators, students, administrators and partner organizations who come together annually from 50-70 countries to share how they are using technology to build global understanding and enhance teaching and learning!  We encourage all who want to make their education programs more global, and who believe that students can make a difference in the world when they work together on collaborative online projects, to join this global gathering.  

Dear friends,

Students and Teachers around iEARN have asked what they can do to help relieve the suffering caused by the disastrous earthquake in Haiti.  Many organizations and millions of people have responded with food, water and other relief supplies.  It’s now time to start to re-build.  Getting young people into schools so they can receive an education is one of the highest priorities. The iEARN global community is ready to assist in getting students back into schools after such situations, as we have done with other natural disasters like the earthquake in Bam, Iran and the tidal waves/tsunamis that hit South and Southeast Asia several years ago.

We hope you become involved in one of the three following initiatives:

1) Equipping one or more schools in Mirebalais, which are working to meet the needs of large numbers of homeless refugees

2) Health/trauma Center

3) Power From the Sun – solar cookers

For more info, see http://iearn.org/supportforhaiti.html or read below.

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1) Equipping one or more schools in Mirebalais with a kitchen

Students and teachers involved in the Natural Disasters Youth Summit (NDYS) have created an NDYS Fund in which there is money raised by iEARN students and from which schools can apply for financial assistance in the rebuilding after such disasters. iEARN  participants have already raised over US $12,000 for such emergencies in past requests.

Fatem, a group in Haiti, has asked for our help to help equip schools in the Mirebalais area, outside Port-au-Prince as part of its “Learning to Read and Write is a Right” program.   12 schools need help to meet the huge numbers of refugee children who have been made homeless by the earthquake. These schools need to be able to serve hot food to meet basic needs such as food and nutrition.  It is clear that a child cannot learn if they cannot sleep or eat on a regular basis.   

In spite of many challenges, Haitians express a remarkable and widespread thirst to learn. Education is high priority for parents and, despite family poverty, tight-knit families demonstrate a passion and willingness to sacrifice in order to send their next generation to school.  School feeding programs have the potential to combat hunger and support nutrition through micronutrient-fortified food and de-worming. They provide an incentive for families to send their children to school—and keep them there— while improving their children’s education.

Food is available from international organizations, but kitchens need to be built to enable schools to provide education and nutrition.  A school kitchen can be built in 14 days and costs about $11,000, which includes the oven, roof, staffing for 10 months, etc.  Can we build at least one school kitchen? Fatem will arrange for feedback to iEARN students from the schools newly equipped with a kitchen.

This NDYS Fund is ready to receive your contributions to make this rebuilding possible.  Can you help? If your iEARN community is able to help, please send contributions of any size to:

JP Morgan/Chase Bank, Acct #:  815644794

Acct Name: iEARN-Earthquake 

Swift/Bank Code: CHASUS33    

BA routing #021000021

Or Donate online: http://www.justgive.org/giving/donate.jsp?charityId=27729&

On the donate form, indicate that it’s for a Haiti School Kitchen.

On behalf of the NDYS Team: Yoshie Naya, Yoko Takagi, Doris Wu

Contact: < \n Этот e-mail адрес защищен от спам-ботов, для его просмотра у Вас должен быть включен Javascript Этот адрес e-mail защищен от спам-ботов. Чтобы увидеть его, у Вас должен быть включен Java-Script >

2) Health/Trauma Center

The NDYS members in Trinidad and Tobago have also created an account for donations.  They will work with UNICEF focus on health and trauma issues in assisting Haitians recover from this tragedy by creating a trauma center.

Republic Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, Natural Disasters Youth Summit, Acct # 879 134 465 531

Refer to NDYSTT in the wire transfer.

Children in Haiti hit by a massive earthquake risk long-term physical and psychological trauma unless they are treated quickly.  Up to two million children could be affected by the earthquake - children under the age of 18 make up nearly half of Haiti's 10 million population according to UNICEF.

Many schools collapsed in the remor when children would have been in schools; plus 4 million people live in and around the capital.  Many children have lost their parents and homes - It is with this in mind that the Natural Disasters Youth Summit Trinidad and Tobago, are calling on all to help the children and youth of Haiti

Global Facilitator: Gia Gaspard Taylor

Global Youth Facilitator: Abe Fergusson

Contact Person: Gia Gaspard Taylor < \n Этот e-mail адрес защищен от спам-ботов, для его просмотра у Вас должен быть включен Javascript Этот адрес e-mail защищен от спам-ботов. Чтобы увидеть его, у Вас должен быть включен Java-Script >

3) Power from the Sun

As you all know, the people of Haiti have recently suffered a terrible catastrophe.

It is times like these that the basic necessities such as food and water are vital to the well-being of millions of Haitian residents.

Unfortunately, they lack the resources to cook their food. They would benefit immensely by having solar cookers to allow them to cook their meals and pasteurize water by using the widely available power of sunlight.

Solar Ovens cook 24/7 with their propane attachment and can make 2,000 meals per day. There is an established network of solar cooker experts in Haiti.  Donations can be made at: http://www.powerfromthesun.us/_/Our_Cause.html

Contact person:  Rowena Gerber < \n Этот e-mail адрес защищен от спам-ботов, для его просмотра у Вас должен быть включен Javascript Этот адрес e-mail защищен от спам-ботов. Чтобы увидеть его, у Вас должен быть включен Java-Script >

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iEARN, http://www.iearn.org

(International Education and Resource Network)

Connecting Youth...Making a Difference in the World

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iEARN IN ACTION #264, News Flash, February 24, 2010

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! -- Register Now for the 17th Annual iEARN Conference and 14th Annual Youth Summit in Barrie, Canada (outside of Toronto), July 12-17, 2010!  Join hundreds of educators, students, administrators and partner organizations who come together annually from 50-70 countries to share how they are using technology to build global understanding and enhance teaching and learning!   Workshop proposal deadline is March 31.  See http://www.iearn2010.org/program/ to submit a proposal.  Conference and registration info can be found at: http://www.iearn2010.org/

SEEKING PARTNERS: iEARN PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES

1. Bridge of Generations Project connects youth and elders for technology training and mentoring.

2. Check out new artwork from Pakistan in the Calligraphy Project.

3. New proposed project from educators in Sierra Leone and Slovenia - Bring Them to the Light.

4. Interested in a new Children's Rights project collaboration with UNICEF?

5. Students commit to reduce CO2 output as part of Our Footprints, Our Future Project.

RESOURCES, CONTESTS, WEBSITES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

6. Collaboration Centre Tip - Update Your Profile!  

7. YES Exchange and Study Program Alumnus from Pakistan featured in New York Times guest blog.

8. Research shows positive impact of iEARN Professional Development Program in Delaware, USA.  

UPCOMING EVENTS

9. iEARN-Oman participating in Global Education Forum Expo in Dubai, UAE, February 23-25, 2010.  

10. YouthCaN Environmental Conference  in NYC, USA, April 24-26, 2010.

11. Register for 17th Annual iEARN Conference and 14th Youth Summit in Barrie, Canada, July 12-17, 2010.

12. 2010 Natural Disaster Youth Summit in Turkey, August 23-27, 2010.

RECENT EVENTS

13. iEARN-Russia and iEARN-Belarus host joint Adobe Youth Voices Workshop, January 28, 2010.

19 февраля 2010 года в Минском областном институте развития образования ссостоялся семинар-тренинг «iEARN ПРОЕКТЫ КАК МЕХАНИЗМ РАЗВИТИЯ МЕЖДУНАРОДНОГО СОТРУДНИЧЕСТВА ШКОЛ». В семинаре приняли участие  учителя из Молодечно, Нарочи, Марьиной Горки, Жодино, Несвижа, Клецка, Борисова, Логойска, Копыля, Солигорска, Старых Дорог, Узды, Дзержинска, Лошницы, Минска. Основные цели  семинара: представить участникам технологию  iEARN-проектов как механизма организации международного сотрудничества в школе; включить новых участников в проектную деятельность  сети iEARN;

February 19, 2010 : Workshop  “iEARN PROJECTS AS A TOOL FOR SCHOOL  INTERNATIONAL  COLLABORATION” was organized  on  February 19, 2010 at Minsk Regional Institute of Teachers Professional Development .  Teachers  from Molodechno, Naroch, Maryina Gorka, Zhodino, Nesvizh, Kletzk, Borisov, Logoisk, Kopil, Soligorsk, Starye Dorogi,  Uzda, Dzerzhinsk, Loshnitza, Minsk  participated. 

28 янавря 2010 года в Московском Центре образования № 1471 состоялась   международная встреча участников образовательного сообщества iEARN: в гости к школе, много лет назад стоявшей у истоков создания международной образовательной сети iEARN, вместе с Софьей Савеловой, тренером-консультантом сети iEARN-Bleraus приехала команда организаторов интернет-проекта «Вместе в птицами» из гимназии № 19 г. Минска.

Встреча в Москве была очень полезной и информативной для развития сотрудничества между нашими странами. Очень важной для  нас оказалось само знакомство с деятельностью школы, имеющей столь богатый опыт работы в различных проектах, умело использующей этот опыт для развития своих образовательных программ, непосредственного включения учеников в организацию жизни и школы, и своего муниципального округа, описания способов организации международного сотрудничества в повышении эффективности образовательных практик школы и распространения идей и образовательной методики «интернет-проект» в Московском регионе.