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The last three months of 2007 was an incredibly busy time for the Bank of I.D.E.A.S., and enabled participation in a range of fascinating projects that reflect our interest in:

  • building healthy communities;
  • developing enterprising local economies; and
  • existing opportunities for young people to lead and teach.

Below are some brief snippets of these initiatives and links to some of the interesting resources that emerged from these activities.

If you prefer, you can click on the links below to go direct to that topic. 

Quote Top ^
Go to the people.
Live among them.
Learn from them.
Love them.
Start with what they know.
Build on what they have.
But of the best leaders, when their task is accomplished, their work is done, the people will remark – ‘we have done it ourselves’

(Ancient Eastern Saying)

Jim Diers Top ^
During July/August, Bank of I.D.E.A.S. coordinated a national and New Zealand tour of Jim Diers, former Director, Department of Neighborhoods in Seattle, USA. Jim’s wonderful storytelling ability and excellent illustrations of Asset Based Community Development inspired over 1000 people who attended his workshops. His matching grant concept has lead many communities to introduce a similar initiative.

For those wanting to rehear Jim’s inspiration, check out his DVD ‘Enhancing Community Participation a Seattle Story’. Contact Cindy Gorton at Learning Centrelink for purchasing details. Click here to visit their website

Business Expansion and Retention (B.E.A.R. Program) Top ^
Click here to enlarge imageThanks to resources from the Municipal Association of Victoria, a new kit for this great community and economic building program is being developed. Click here to download a summary from the Bank of I.D.E.A.S. website. Mid February 2008, MAV will launch the Kit that will contain:
  • Facilitators Handbook;
  • Community Volunteer Guide;
  • DVD; and
  • First Impressions Guide.

Kit and DVD will feature recent application of Program in the Victorian town of Benalla. Details about access to the Kit in next newsletter.

In late November, a training course and B.E.A.R. was held in Melbourne attracting participants from five states and New Zealand.

Photo: Peter Kenyon with Melbourne B.E.A.R. training course – click to enlarge.

‘Toward Partnership with Aboriginal People’ – Training Course Top ^
Click here to download details of a great course being offered in Perth by Kim Bridge, Noel Nannup and Tim Muirhead in February 2008. The course will focus on:
  • A glimpse of traditional Aboriginal culture; and
  • Understanding and improving our relationship.

For more details contact Tim on (08) 92010245 or Kim on 0418 855548.

Somalia – Youth Policy and Action Plan Top ^
Click here to enlarge imageThanks to resources from the Municipal Association of Victoria, a new kit for this great community and economic building program is being developed. One of the most challenging exercises for the Bank of I.D.E.A.S. is the management on behalf of UNICEF Somalia and International Council on National Youth Policy (ICNYP) of the formulation of Youth Policies in Somaliland and Puntland. Currently Somalia is experiencing the greatest refugee movement of people in modern History- due to continuing civil war. Yet despite these difficulties, 60 young people are engaged as facilitators of this process.

Click on the following links Somaliland (1.9mb) and Puntland (1.2mb) to download a copy of the resource guides.

Photo: Peter Kenyon meeting with youth task force members – click to enlarge.
 

Puntland

Somaliland
Life in the Past Lane Top ^
This is a workshop day being offered by the Bank of I.D.E.A.S. In mid October, a program was run in Maryborough as part of the South East Queensland Small Museums Conference. Program content included:
  • Overview of great examples from across the globe utilising heritage to create vibrant and enterprising communities and local economies
  • Inspiring examples of use of heritage in Queensland
  • The importance of the Experience Economy
  • The importance of stories, story telling and the use of appreciative inquiry.

For more details on such workshops, contact Peter Kenyon on 08-62931848

ABCD Oceanic Network Top ^
An organisation linking people across Asia, Australia and the Pacific have come together to promote and share approaches to Asset Based Community Development. Founding members of the Network are Family Action Centre (University of Newcastle), Benevolent Society (NSW), Inclusion Works (QLD), and Heritage Futures International (New Zealand) and Bank of I.D.E.A.S.

The first ABCD Oceanic Conference will be held in Newcastle 3-5 December 2008. This will be an international event worth attending.

For more information and membership details click here to visit the network’s website.

Youth Participation and Empowerment Conference – Goa, India Top ^
Click here to enlarge image It was a wonderful experience to be part of this event in November. 75 participants from 19 countries gathered in Goa to share their thoughts on the theme – ‘Youth Participation and Empowerment – Getting Beyond the Rhetoric and Slogans’ - any ideas on what creates the environment that provides young people with the motivation and confidence to ‘step up and out’ and make a difference.

Click here to download a copy of the ‘Conference Participant Declaration’.

Photo: Peter Kenyon with Goa Conference participants – click to enlarge.

Community Based Youth Employment Initiatives Top ^
Bank of I.D.E.A.S. is currently involved with a fascinating exercise commissioned by the Youth Employment Program of the International Labour Organization (ILO) to assemble a global collection of case studies that illustrate best practice in terms of community based youth employment initiatives that involve significant private sector contribution. If you are aware of a good example anywhere in the world can you let Peter Kenyon (pk@bankofideas.com.au) know.

Attached is an example from Australia – ‘The Sunraysia Indigenous Project’ based in Mildura, Australia. Click here to download an article which illustrates. Some excellent lessons regarding its success.

Alternative to Schoolies Week Top ^
Bank of I.D.E.A.S. is thrilled to have contributed in a small way from its Community Fund to assist a group of year 12 students from Kerang Technical High School who decided to spend two weeks in a small Cambodian village helping build eight houses for disadvantaged families rather than participate in a traditional end of year ‘schoolies week’. The idea was the brainchild of teacher David Dickson who wanted students to celebrate the end of their school year in amore meaningful way. Supported by the local Kerang Rotary Club and local people from a town struggling with drought, the trip in the words of Rotarian Sharon Champion –

‘To say we achieved our goals would be an understatement. We achieved them plus more...if that is possible. We were all stunned, as leaders, by the developments/changes we observed in our students over the short period of 2 weeks. They were challenged beyond belief and dealt with it amazingly. Almost everything they knew and held dear was challenged. They were faced with extreme poverty, beggars, homeless people, pollution, lack of road rules, corruption and often unsanitary conditions. They took up the challenges and interacted with the Khmer people in a way that was exhilarating. They played "Duck, Duck, Goose" with children in a small village after building houses for a day and danced unashamedly with homeless children in the street. Despite their own emotions, they smiled and laughed with those around them. If it sounds like I'm proud, that's because I am....extremely proud of the whole team. Will we do it again? Definitely. Will we attempt to change much? Probably not, but we will extend on and refine a few things.’

Click here to download a copy of a press story from the Northern Times newspaper.

For further details, contact Sharon Champion of the Rotary Club of Kerang on 0417058663 or email schampion@westnet.com.au.

Clinton Vaz Top ^
Another recent recipient of a Bank of I.D.E.A.S. Community Fund grant was Clinton Vaz – an amazing 26 year old from the village of Benaulim in Goa, India. Clinton over the last 8 years has committed his life to working on environmental protection and with wildlife.

Following a study tour to Sweden, Clinton has initiated a number of waste recycling and public education programs in Goa. Bank of I.D.E.A.S. has provided a grant to help him publish an Eco-Tourist Guide in his village for the growing international number of tourists now visiting. Clinton simply demonstrates that one with commitment can make a difference to the world.

365 Ways to Change the World Top ^
This simply is the best resource publication we have discovered in 2007. Written by Michael Norton, it provides examples of ‘how to make a difference – one day at a time’. Produced by Penguin Books, it is a classic. January’s Newsletter will provide some of the book’s great ideas.
 

‘Each of us has a fire in our hearts for something – find it and keep it lit!’

(Mary Lou Retton)

 
Australian Geographic Magazine Top ^
This is an excellent resource for those interested in rural development. Always full of interesting articles, including specific community initiatives. Well worth subscribing or giving as a Christmas present!

Click here to download an article ‘Trees Carved in Memory’, a great story from the April/June edition highlighting the Tasmanian town of Legerwood where locals raised $30,000 to carve wooden sculptures into dying memorial entrance trees to remember seven local young people who did not return from World War I. A great public and memorial piece of art.
Derby WA – You Tube Top ^
In 2005/6, Bank of I.D.E.A.S. was privileged to be asked by the Derby Chamber of Commerce to work on the Derby Revitalisation Project.

Click here to watch a 10 min clip on "You Tube" which was funded under the Project and produced by John Muirhead in 2006.

The clip is not specifically about promoting Derby as a tourism destination - rather what Derby is about, why people live there and what's good about Derby. The intent is to change perceptions and encourage people to live there.

Other communities may find the use of You Tube a useful way to promote their town & activities.

  Top ^
It has been a full on year for the Bank of I.D.E.A.S. – our thanks to so many partners and communities who we have shared many memorable and learning times.

Enjoy the Christmas season and may 2008 be a wonderful year for you personally and professionally.

Bank of I.D.E.A.S. Team
Top ^

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Bank of I.D.E.A.S.

(Initiatives for the Development of Enterprising Actions & Strategies)

 14 Bird Rd, Kalamunda WA 6076

  Ph: 08 6293 1848 Fax: 08 6293 1137 E: pp@bankofideas.com.au