Michael Homerang carving Malagan Mask
Malagan mask carved by Michael Homerang, Papua New Guinea |
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WHAT WE HAVE DONE
Four Worlds has been involved in hundreds of projects over the
past twenty years. These projects have ranged from curriculum
development for schools to community planning and development
work, to conferences and seminars on development issues. We have
selected several examples to highlight here that give a sense
of what we do and how we do it.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANS
Four Worlds has been approached by many communities and the agencies
that work with them to help with certain issues or problems they
are facing; alcohol and drug abuse, teenage violence, suicide,
economic development, family violence, etc. We take the view that
these issues are manifestations of deeper problems and we work
with communities to develop local solutions to deal with the root
causes or determinants of the presenting problems. The community
plans that result come out of intense dialogue with the community
(leadership, elders, youth, clans, women, men, community programs)
and with funders in the government and private sector. One of
many examples of such community plans is the Nuxalk
Community 10 Year Plan.
One of the tools Four Worlds has developed to help communities
tell their story and develop action plans is the Community
Story Framework. It is a participatory action research community
inquiry framework organized around the medicine wheel. It guides
the community in an analysis of what life was in the past, what
it is like now and what it can be in the future in the economic,
political, social and cultural areas. Different parts of the community
and the different professionals that work with them tend to hold
different pieces of the puzzle which this process ties together
in a story framework. People who are interested in this approach
can read in depth about it in the book, Recreating
the World, available in the bookstore.
EVALUATION
On the basis of our considerable experience working with communities,
development organizations and programs in different parts of the
world, Four Worlds has often been contracted to assess, evaluate
or monitor development agencies and programs. Our evaluations
are usually formative, that is, we are concerned about assisting
the organizations we work with in becoming better at what they
do. In order to achieve this we generally use a participatory
approach that engages both professionals and people in the communities
they serve.
We have evaluated large integrated development projects in countries
such as Thailand, Papua New Guinea, and Zambia (Governance and
Institution Building). We have also evaluated both local and international
organizations and programs in the health, education and community
development sectors. Our work also targets research programs and
projects with a particular focus on methodology and on the application
of research to practical solutions to development issues (Interventions
and Impacts).
RESEARCH
The Four Worlds approach to research is characterized by the following
features.
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It is an attempt to find solutions to practical problems.
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It
is embedded in actual development processes.
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It is transdisciplinary. That is, not only does it engage
a variety of different disciplines in shedding light on development
problems, but it also seeks to rise above the boundaries of
disciplinary thinking, and it is often focused on problems
that cannot be resolved from a single disciplinary approach.
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It
engages resources and processes from within the cultures of
developing people.
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It
combines qualitative and quantitative approaches and anchors
them in participatory methodology. |
We
have become particularly good at facilitating research processes
that involve a wide variety of stakeholders and ensuring these
processes meet the information needs of communities as well as
the institutions trying to serve them. An example of such research
is a report we prepared for the Aboriginal Healing Foundation
on the determinants of family violence in aboriginal communities
entitled Aboriginal
Domestic Violence in Canada. Another example of our research
is a report we prepared for the Solicitor General of Canada on
best practices in aboriginal community responses to the residential
school crisis entitled Mapping
the Healing Journey.
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
Four Worlds has been involved since its inception (1983) in
curriculum development for schools and life-long learning. The
Sacred Tree book (and curriculum guide) explores universal
human values in a First Nations context and is used as a guide
for personal growth, for native studies, and for life skills courses.
Our
Unity in Diversity curriculum package was developed for the
Alberta government to address ethnic conflict at the junior and
senior high school levels. Our Walking
with Grandfather curriculum package revolves around a series
of animated videos of legends which we produced with funding from
the Public Broadcasting System (PBS).
Four Worlds has also developed an accredited Masters Program in
Human and Community Development Leadership. It is aimed at practitioners
who combine knowledge and skills of a community psychologist with
the practical hands-on experience of a community development worker.
One of the distinguishing aspects of the Four Worlds approach
to higher education is its community-based focus, which begins
in practice and moves to theory. The program was piloted through
the Alliant International University (formerly the California
School of Professional Psychology). We are currently negotiating
a redevelopment of this program to be offered through a Canadian
university in a form that can be delivered at the community or
regional level anywhere in the world.
EDUCATION REFORM
Four Worlds has worked with school systems in a variety of settings
including international schools, ministries of education, and
Aboriginal schools. We have facilitated interventions in schools
and boards in crisis and as well have helped systems develop new
curriculum and instructional processes. We view curriculum as
something that cannot be separate from the culture of the community
and we often work with school systems and other allied agencies
to build partnership to solve critical human problems.
TRAINING
Four Worlds has developed and delivered numerous training sessions
for the federal government departments in Canada, for staff in
community organizations, for Aboriginal band councils and programs
and for international development programs and projects. Topics
include leadership for transformation, employment equity, managing
ambiguity, cross-cultural management, conflict resolution, program
management, training of trainers, community development, personal
growth and healing, and a whole range of mental health issues
such as sexual abuse, family violence and alcohol and drug abuse.
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