Networks

CLAYSS Team Continues Weaving Service-Learning Networks Worldwide

On 1st February, Luz Avruj (Institutional Relations and Network Coordinator) participated in the Social Enterprise Scholar Practitioner Forum, an open, free meeting organized by Catalyst 2030. Naida Culshaw, Co-Chair, Social Enterprise Scholar Partitioner Network, Catalyst 2030, hosted the event and introduced Luz Avruj, who provided an overview of different service-learning initiatives, emphasising their effect and transformative power, alongside their potential to strengthen social capital and citizenship in times of crisis.
At the end of this online meeting, the participants asked interesting questions and made insightful comments. Once again, service-learning proved to be surprising and captivating, hand in hand with students as true agents of change worldwide.
More information: https://catalyst2030.net/about-catalyst-2030/

CLAYSS was invited by World Vision International to an internal meeting with its staff in February to share our experience working in service-learning networks worldwide. WVI, an organization supporting vulnerable families and children of all backgrounds since 1950, hosted the meeting. During the event, Luz Avruj, CLAYSS Institutional Relations and Network Coordinator, delivered a presentation to over 100 participants from various countries, including Albania, Brazil, Burundi, Canada, Cambodia, Colombia, Congo, Chad, Ethiopia, Philippines, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Romania, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Zambia, among others.
Following the CLAYSS presentation, there was time for discussion and sharing. WVI colleagues affirmed their belief in “adolescents as partners” in their projects and acknowledged that “service-learning values the community wisdom.” WVI works in service-learning initiatives across different regions worldwide, and during the meeting, a publication was launched to encourage more national offices to work in this direction.
One of the speakers, Maria Neagu, from New Horizons Foundation  in Romania, discussed the implementation process of service-learning in that country and the establishment of the Romanian and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) networks, mentioning CLAYSS as a partner in their creation and expansion process.

New Authorities in Global Service-Learning Networks

In the last elections, the Talloires Network appointed four new members of its Steering Committee, who have been serving since 1st January. We congratulate and introduce them all as follows: President Fana Hagos Berhane, Mekelle University (Ethiopia); Rector Javed Mahmood Bukhari, National University of Sciences and Technology (Pakistan); Vice-President Aromar Revi, United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network; and President Sunil Kumar, Tufts University (USA). More information: https://talloiresnetwork.tufts.edu/who-we-are/talloires-network-steering-committee/
In addition, we are pleased to announce and welcome the appointment of the new IARSLCE (International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement) Board Chair, Darren Lortan, from Durban University of Technology (South Africa) and its new Vice Chair, Dr. Rochelle Smarr, from UC San Diego (USA). More information: https://www.iarslce.org/boardhttps://www.iarslce.org/board