|
The vision of the Community Xchange programme is to develop active citizens globally who make a positive difference to their own and other communities. In Pakistan, like elsewhere around the world, we do this by bringing together formal and informal community leaders here and in the UK for reciprocal visits to both countries where these inspiring and committed individuals can work in each other’s societies to learn from one another.
- build active networks and dialogues that did not exist before in communities in Pakistan and the UK
- support the participation of large numbers of young people globally as active citizens
- deliver benefits to communities by strengthening existing community development initiatives, promote community cohesion and encourage community participation
- increase the effectiveness of community leaders in facilitating learning and positive social action
- promote intercultural dialogue
- disseminate the learning from the exchange to the wider community
- strengthen relations between the UK and overseas communities
In Pakistan Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan, Sargodha and Narowal are the communities involved in the Community Xchange taking place. In 2008/09, three pilot programmes of Community Xchange took place involving young people to become active global citizens working within their respective communities. So far outside Pakistan two exchanges have been completed between Luton & Harlow/Jakarta-Indonesia and Thurrock/Mombassa-Kenya.
Volunteers who belong to the participating communities and are passionate about learning and working with others to help communities can participate. If you care, it can be you.
We all know that volunteering means giving your time, energy and skills to help other people, communities and societies. But did you know that by helping others, you are actually helping yourself by:
- experiencing the real world through hands-on work and meeting different people
- developing new skills like team-working when you work with others to achieve a goal
- returning to the community some of what it has given you
- feeling motivated with a high sense of achievement
- boosting your career with new skills and knowledge – a career change perhaps?
- discovering new hobbies, interests, talents
- building your networking opportunities
- inspiring others around you!
Community Xchange works with teams of up to 30 community leaders, with equal numbers coming from the UK and an overseas partner country. Participants work in host communities for 3 weeks in the UK and 3 weeks in the overseas country, making Community Xchange an innovative initiative offering formal and informal community leaders the opportunity to develop professionally by participating on an accredited training programme.
Over the course of an exchange participants take part in professional development modules, work attachments, shadowing and community events to promote active citizenship among young people.
A key supporting product of Community Xchange is the Community Learning Framework. This is a set of principles and tools designed to inform and support community leaders working with communities. The core principles of the Community Learning Framework are to help identify community learning from involvement in community activities and to be able to positively measure the impact
The volunteers will also understand social development, especially in governance issues of both the informal community structures and formal local government structures.
This experience will give them the insights, knowledge and awareness that they can’t find easily in a book!
Living with a host home and family in a different country gives the volunteers the real experience of a different culture. It’s real work that helps make a difference to people living in challenging conditions.
Volunteers are expected to concentrate on their personal goals and to think about how to help their host communities.
Each leg of the exchange visit will be of three weeks.
You can all us toll-free at 0800-22000 or drop us a line at info@britishcouncil.org.pk for any details you may wish to have regarding this programme.
| 
