There are those who need help (resources, ideas, dollars, etc.), those who have these resources, and intermediaries who can connect the two.
Dear World Wide Friends, I agree with Mr. Levy. "Our goal should not be to create forums for collaboration, which already proliferate, but an actual collaboration." However, I feel that action will only come as the result of the collective commitments and responsibilities of individuals. While the United Nations has the potential to be a massive intermediary, the Internet makes it possible for anyone to be a broker that connects "help" with those who might put it to work. My organization models this concept in a unique way. We create GIS maps of Chicago showing poverty concentrations and indices of need (poorly performing schools is one). We maintain a database of non-school tutoring/mentoring programs and map the location of these to show where they are and where there are voids. We maintain a library of links to organizations all over the world that have information that stakeholders can use to build and sustain tutor/mentor programs. Finally, we attempt to educate anyone who looks at our information about common needs of all tutor/mentor programs, such as volunteers, training, IT support, dollars, etc. Our marketing intends to draw any stakeholder to this information so that resource providers become partners in distributing help to every existing tutor/mentor programs and leaders in filling voids where there are no programs. We started our effort with 7 volunteers and remain a small non-profit. Anyone, in any part of the world can duplicate this process, creating a database of people who are providing a needed service in some location of the world and connecting that group with people who could be providing the resources. While the United Nations might provide some leadership to this, I doubt that they will ever provide detailed maps and leadership that distribute needed resources on an on-going basis to the places where these resources are most needed. That responsibility has to be taken by hundreds, or thousands of individuals and organizations who inventory what they have to offer and make a real commitment to bridge the divides that separate us and create a better world for our children. I hope that our model provides some inspiration for the leaders (big and small) who participate in this forum. Daniel F. Bassill, L.H.D. President Cabrini Connections Tutor/Mentor Connection 800 W. Huron Chicago, Il. 60622 http://www.tutormentorconnection.org http://www.tutormentorexchange.net ------------ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, an NGO that is a GKP member*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: <http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/>
