MCC and Lakehead International co-host week of workshops and discussions aimed at empowering students.

Stacey Goyan

News Editor

Next week, the LUSU Multicultural Centre and Lakehead International hope to bring international development issues to the forefront.

Events will be taking place next week as part of International Development Week. It is co-hosted by the LUSU Multicultural Centre and Lakehead International.

International Development Week is a national event with three goals of creating awareness of life in developing countries, as well as Canadian organizations working on international development and non-governmental organizations. The week encourages people, particularly students, to enact change.

MCC coordinator, Neva Bassingthwaite, says many of the speakers during International Development Week are passionate students who want to share their knowledge and experience.

“I really see this week as bridging those partnerships between the students groups that exist, between the faculty, [and] between Lakehead International,” said Bassingthwaite.

Bassingthwaite says International Development Week is intended to also give students access to different resources in the community they may not have been previously aware of.

“I think the biggest thing is that there is so much going on in the Thunder Bay community. You could go to university here for four years and not realize that. I think that’s a real shame.”

Different campaigns are included in International Week, such as the 8 Goals t-shirt campaign, meant to recognize the Millennium Development Goals led by the United Nations.

Bassingthwaite says International Development Week also hopes to reinvigorate the profile of World University Service of Canada or WUSC on campus. Presently, Lakehead is involved in the Student Refugee Program, which gives persecuted, exiled, or imprisoned students an opportunity for post-secondary education.

Despite having a set schedule, Bassingthwaite says International Development Week presents an ideal opportunity to help with the relief effort in Haiti following the recent disaster.

A panel on Haiti will be included in the schedule to allow students to hear about the disaster and learn how to get involved. As well, a Concert 4 Haiti will take place on Wednesday.

Bassingthwaite credits LUSU president Dave Grad for kick starting the event. The concert will take place in The Study and will charge a $5 donation to help efforts to raise $10 000 for Haiti relief.

Thursday’s hand-drumming workshop will also charge a $3 donation for Haiti. Students can sign up at the LUSU office to participate in drumming lessons on one of thirty provided drums. A previous workshop held in October boasted a full attendance.

The funds from the Haiti fundraisers will be donated to Lifewater Canada, the Center for International Studies and Cooperation, as well as Health Partners International of Canada.(DOUBLE CHECK)

The week of events incorporates many different aspects of LUSU, including a presentation from Sustainabilty Commissioner Alex Boulet, Aboriginal Awareness Centre Director Brent Kelso, as well as Pride’s Queer Film Friday.

Other presentations taking place on campus will include presentations on myths about refugees, an NGO fair, as well as workshops on food issues by Roots to Harvest.

Students who would like more information can contact the MCC in their office in UC2014A email them at mcc@lusu.ca.