The Great Turning
We are the ones we have been waiting for.
This group exists to bring together people inspired by the writings of David Korten (The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community), Joanna Macy (Coming Back to Life: The Work That Reconnects) and Brian McLaren (Everything Must Change). We will engage in conversation about how to move ideas and practices of Earth Community forward. Related websites inclu ...learn more
GROUP DETAILS
Created: Apr 29, 2008
Updated: Jul 30, 2010
Membership: Open To Apply
Semi-Private
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Problem
A whole educational institute helps society during our annual the Community Week.
In Holland, our organization exists as a progressive institute in Vocational Education and Training. It is called the King William I College. For one week during the course of four years the students expose their talents to one another and to the community via dozens of development projects.
Our project is located in ´s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, a city with approximately 100,000 inhabitants. The project is carried out by students in the Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education program from the King William I College. In total, the College has approximately 12,000 students.
Action
In 2007, 650 students from 11 departments (including nursery, care, marketing and communication, electro plumbing building engineering, bank and financing, lifestyle, ICT academy, entrepreneurship, dental, doctors and pharmacy assistants, media art and performance) carried out 130 projects within the community (mostly in a multidisciplinary way). They provided ICT aid at home, made websites, painted youth centers, a skate hall, boats for the sea scouts, class rooms, a riding school, a farmers shop. They raised money for good causes (for an orphanage in Kenya and Wings of support), they promoted a festival concerning the millennium goals at secondary schools, they organized events for disabled people, they organized unforgettable days for elderly people, they installed energy saving measurements (worth 60) in 250 houses in a neighborhood with poverty so residents can each save 180 a year (sponsored by the energy company and the municipality), they created a soccer field at an institute for the deaf, they built bridges to an island in a local animal park, and the list continues…
In this way, the institute really makes a difference in society and shows it is a Community College through and through. Twenty percent of the students did their work in such a way the client nominated them for the Community Award. The team of eight girls that won was a team that cleaned up, painted and furnished a house which was completely filthy because a woman who was mentally ill lived in it. She came in a shining clean and new living room and her kitchen was white again instead of black (because she had a fire as well).
Every educational institute can make the difference in this way. Although it is hard to organize such a big event it is now the major project of our institute and next year we organize it for the forth time.
- To create a more sustainable society;
- To learn to help each other;
- To show society the talents of our students;
- To create better contact with society (as an educational institute);
- To show the power of multidisciplinary teams;
- To make a difference;
- To be a real Community College.
Results
- Each year we accomplish 130 non-profit projects. We provide services to the community that residents rarely have the time, money, or materials to carry out themselves. The community is pleased with our work.
- We familiarize students with disabled and elderly people by doing projects with them and for them within the care centers.
- We helped to reduce poverty in one specific poor neighborhood.
- Students become familiarized with society better and are hopefully more willing to do voluntary work.
Limitations
- It takes a lot of time to organize the programs;
- It requires the cooperation of all involved (departments, students, teachers, clients);
- It also takes a lot of explanation to the stakeholders about the aim of the project.
When to Use
What to Do
In September, the beginning of the school year, we inform our clients that we are preparing a Community Week which occurs in April or May. The community is encouraged to come up with projects, and is required to submit them to the organization before February.
In November and December we ask all of our students from 35 classes to come up with challenging non-profit projects. Most of our communication with the community is accomplished through letters and e-mail. We also inform the newspapers, and try to solicit funding from sponsors to buy materials.
We started a website, www.communityweek.kw1c.nl with information about all of the projects, and in February, the students choose which project they would like to work on. In March, the clients are informed which students they can expect, and preparations can be made.
The
technical projects are supervised by a teacher with knowledge of this
subject. For example, the painting projects are supervised by a
professional from the painting department. Each teacher is in charge of
buying the needed materials including brushes, kits, cleaning supplies,
and material to cover furniture, etc. Each teacher is paired with an
appropriate project in accordance with their specific expertise.
Community Week starts off with an opening ceremony. The Community Week
flag is raised and final instructions are given. Then the students go
to their projects within the community, some of which are at the
institution itself. On Thursday afternoon, students clean up and on
Friday, the results are shown to one another. In celebration of a job
well done, Community Week ends with a party.
If every educational institute could accomplish something similar in their community, society would tremendously improve.
Tips
- Challenging tasks for the students;
- Good guidance;
- Good preparation;
- Cooperation of all partners.
Equipment
Employee count:3
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