NGO Resource Centre Newsletter January 15 – 31, 2009

Dear Members & Friends,

Welcome to the NGO Resource Centre Newsletter for January 15 – 31, 2009.

In news this week, the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) coalition in Vietnam is inviting all interested organisations to get involved in this year's campaign. Launched in 1999, the GCE is a movement of organisations and individuals all over the world who believe it is imperative that everyone has an education.

Vietnam joined GCE in 2003 and the GCE coalition in Vietnam consists of international and local organisations together with Ministry of Education and Training (MOET). Each year, the coalition has organised events and activities in response to GCE’s Action Week in April annually. In 2008, millions of students, teachers, parents and politicians in 64 provinces throughout Vietnam joined with others in over 100 countries to register a new Guiness Book of Records record for the World’s Biggest Lesson. The event was organised successfully with MOET and other members of the GCE coalition in Vietnam, including ActionAid, Aide et Action, ChildFund, CRS, Oxfam, Plan, Save the Children (Sweden), UNESCO, UNICEF, the NGORC, Viet Nam - Belgium Education Project, World Vision, and UCNEV.

In 2009, the GCE’s Action Week will be held from April 20-26 with the theme The Big Read, as the campaign this year will focus on "Literacy for All". Full campaign materials and information can be access from the GCE’s website
http://www.campaignforeducation.org/en/big-read.

Focusing on the global message to promote youth and adult literacy and lifelong learning, some initial ideas for activities in Vietnam include working with MOET and provincial DOETs to coordinate this event at local levels with the participation of non-formal education centres and schools.

Activities might include the development of local Big Read/dossier with stories of adult learners and illiteracy case studies while a ‘reading festival’ may be the main event where local communities can join in. Campaign materials will also be developed, including Big Read posters, and TV and Radio spots.

Details of the action plan will be discussed and finalised in the coming coalition planning meetings. For further information or to confirm your participation, please contact [email protected] by 23 January 2009.
 
There is one working group meeting coming up in February: the Disaster Management Working Group will meet at 2:00pm on February 17, 2009 at the NGO RC.

From all of us at the NGO RC, we wish you a very Happy New Year and Tet holiday season.

Chuc Mung Nam Moi!