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HoT
News 4 ]
LOCOA Steering Committee Meeting in Korea
 The meeting had three purposes. The first was to bring together
community organizers from various traditions to reflect collectively on the
lessons of last 30 years, since ACPO was established in the Philippines
February 1971. The second was to identify strategies that would enable the
organizers to meet the challenges of the new century, especially globalization.
And the third was to provide an opportunity for the community organizers to
establish stronger linkages and foster regular exchanges.
Twenty people
attended the meeting and enjoyed their stay because of the great and sincere
cooperation of the Korean friends (CONET).
In the meeting, the organizers shared the need for CO and the plans
of each country, and their finances, and the over all plan of LOCOA.
The following are LOCOA's plans:
-.
Each group
(country) convenes training workshops. To review and evaluate their training
methods, they will review all their training manuals and documentation. All the
workshops should be documented.
A regional workshop is
to be convened in order to report the output of each group¡¯s workshop and to have a regional perspective of CO methods of
training.
-. Based on the
reflections of the homeless people in Japan, Korea and Hong Kong, another
workshop on how CO can be applied in each case and how to develop a framework
on how to proceed, will be held.
-. LOCOA will
provide CO trainers for the countries in need.
-. Regarding
finance, LOCOA will provide modest financial assistance and will help local
fundraising for CO activities.
Some Other Matters:
-. The Trainer¡¯s Training Workshop that will evaluate training methods will be held
in Indonesia in 2002. Persons will be
assigned to go around the Asian region to gather information and help the
documentation for the workshop. LOCOA afterwards will make a full report on the
workshop.
-. Korean
community organizers and leaders who are involved in the CONET training program
will visit the Philippines in December 2001 for an exchange programs.
-.
PHILIPPINES. Two trainers will visit
East Timor to conduct training for local community organizers.
-.
THAILAND. The exchange program between
Thailand and the Philippines will be continued.
-. INDIA. LOCOA will help promote bilateral
networking. There is a need for an exchange program with Bangladesh and Sri
Lanka.
-. JAPAN. LOCOA¡¯s idea is well understood and they will support the program. They
will network with other groups.
-. INDONESIA. The present focus is to develop community
leaders.
-. Denis Murphy
suggested we remember that we are working very closely with the Eviction Watch
program of Asian Coalition for Housing Rights. Also, we should have a plan for
initial organizing work in Burma, Pakistan, and China, he said.
-. Na Hyo Woo
who is coordinator of LOCOA said that there is an on-going exchange program
this year between the Philippines, Korea and Indonesia. Next year, the
exchanges should be promoted in Thailand and India.
-. Wardah Hafidz
from Indonesia suggested that there should be a systematized exchange program
between the visiting groups and the host NGOs, so that the groups will have
common expectations and awareness.
by Na Hyo Woo
LOCOA :
Leaders and Organizers of Community Organization in Asia
28-B, Matino cor. Malumanay Street, Sikatuna
Village, Brgy
Malaya Quezon City, Philippines
Tel :
(632) 925-8432, 426-4119, 922-0988 Fax : (632) 426-4118
E-mail :
locoa2000@yahoo.com |
