In my list of global health and development rock stars (which I should publish here one day), Paul Farmer is pretty close to the top.  Friends and I joke about the celebrity-style worship we direct towards people like him and Stephen Lewis or Alex De Waal, for example.  For some background, Farmer is a maverick [...]

The Student University Network for Social and International Health (SUNSIH) Conference started this Friday with a documentary screening of Angels in the Dust, a film about a group that supports orphans in South Africa.  I’ve seen several heart reandering call-to-action docs over the past few years, but this one stood out because of its focus on the practicalities of life in the community it serves, rather than trying to evoke emotion through wide eyed babies.

The film follows the matron of the community as she interacts with the children and families that live in the area, from a scene where she holds a bucket for a vomiting AIDS infected “serial killer” who has passed the virus to several women in the community, to a group counselling session where youth talk about the sadness of losing family members and the fear of the progression of the virus in themselves.

The making of the movie has also prompted the creation of the Do Ubuntu campaign to raise money for the orphans and community members, including a income generation project that produces bracelets for sale here.

Yesterday, I attended a number of sessions and presented my poster on Preventing HIV/AIDS Through Microeconomic Development, based on my thesis research.  The most interesting presentation was made by Jason Globerman, a researcher with the Ontario HIV Treatment Network’s Community Based Research team.  He has been investigating the potential for micro-finance for women living with HIV/AIDS in Ontario.  I can’t find anything about the specific research project online to link to, but he has said that he’ll post his slideshow at some point.

For now, you’ll have to be content with mine.

Last week I managed to check out two events, the World Press Photo Exhibit and Drawn To Develop, both using photography to highlight global issues.

Last Thursday, I headed to the amazing Fermenting Cellar in Toronto’s arts hub, The Distillery District, for the Drawn to Develop event.  The event featured an auction of around 20 photographs by Canadian photographers, each inspired by a drawing by a child living on the street in places as diverse as India and Kenya.  Proceeds from the event went to Street Kids International.

The event was great: one of those that attracts a very diverse crowd, from Queen West Hipsters to art patrons and humanitarians.  The images were stunning, though sometimes it was difficult to see a direct link between the photo and the picture that inspired it.  As well, some of the photographers emphasized a culture of poverty in their photos that wasn’t explicit in the children’s own images.  Some of those that I liked the most were able to take a picture drawn across the world, and recreate it in a very North American context.  Another highlight were the tasty delights of Desserts by Ze (which I helped to prepare during a 24-hour baking factory at my close friend Ze’s house).

This Wednesday, I made my annual trek to the World Press Photo Exhibit at the Allan Lambert Galleria in Brookfield Place.  It’s one of my favourite events of the year, and I’m happy to say that I’ve managed to go three years in a row (not including my year in Ethiopia).  I made it just in time, as the exhibit closed that evening, but all the images can be viewed here.  I must admit, the pictures didn’t make me catch my breath as much as in previous years, except one of two men who looked like they’d been through a war, but had actually experienced violence after Budapest’s Gay Pride parade.

This year, I managed to have a chat with the woman who has organized it for the past 7 years, who suggested that it might be the last year that she does it, mainly because of funding issues.  If you feel as strongly about having the World Press come to Toronto next year, visit their site here to show your support (though they don’t have a direct donation option, I’m sure they’d figure out a way to receive your money if you were interested!).

This week, I’ll be giving a poster presentation at the SUNSIH National Student Conference on Global Health and helping to cover the Canadian Conference on International Health.  Stay tuned!

The Human Poverty Index Map: A little bit skewed?

OXFAM Hunger Banquet
The Oxfam Toronto Community Group is proud to host an Oxfam Hunger Banquet as part of World Food Day. The banquet aims to engage the public on the problems of global hunger. The Huger Banquet will feature entertainment from talented Toronto cultural performers, guest speakers on food…
Wednesday, Oct 15 - 7pm to 10pm - St. Lawrence Hall, 157 King St. E.

Drawn to Develop Charity Gala
Drawn To Develop features stories brought to life from the eyes of street kids through the lenses of photographers. In the spring of 2008,  youth workers from Toronto-based Street Kids International collected drawings from youth across the globe depicting their daily lives. Canada’s top photographers have taken these drawings and created an original print that encapsulates the story which will be auctioned off on October 16th, 2008.  All proceeds raised by the auction will go towards Street Kids International. Thursday, Oct 16 - 7:30pm to 1am - Fermenting Cellar, Distillery District

El Contrato Documentary Night
Residents without Borders & Centre for International Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health are pleased to announce a Documentary Night featuring “El Contrato”.  El Contrato (The Contract) follows Teodoro Bello Martinez, a father of four living in Central Mexico, and several of his countrymen as they make an annual migration to southern Ontario.
Thursday, Oct 16 - 7pm - Room 100, Health Sciences Building at 155 College Street (map)

More upcoming international development events listed here.  Stay tuned for our weekly updates.

I’ve started a google calender here with listings of events in and around Toronto that deal with international issues, from health to human rights.  They include fundraisers, speakers, movies, art exhibits, galas, and anything else that fits, and its updated every week.

Design for the other 90%
The Professional Gallery of the Ontario College of Art & Design hosts a collection of design solutions addressing the basic needs of poor and marginalized populations not traditionally serviced by professional designers. (Opening during Nuit Blanche)
Sat, Oct 4 to Jan 25 - Starting at 7pm - OCAD Professional Gallery, 100 McCaul (map)

War/Dance Film Screening
AMREF Canada and GuluWalk present… Winner of the documentary directing award at the 2007 Sundance film festival and the audience award at the 2007 Hot Docs festival: Set in northern Uganda, a region ravaged by more than two decades of civil war, War/Dance tells the story three children whose families have been torn apart, their homes destroyed, and who currently reside in a displaced persons camp in Patongo. When they are invited to compete in an annual music and dance festival, their historic journey to their nation’s capital is also an opportunity to regain a part of their childhood and to taste victory for the very first time.
Wed, Oct 8 - 7pm, running 105 minutes - Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W. (map)

Food Scarcity in Times of Plenty
Food scarcity in times of plenty: Mendel versus Malthus The Alumni Association of the Department of Nutritional Sciences presents the Edna W. Park Lecture for 2008; Professor Ricardo Uauy, MD, PhD, London School of Hygeine and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Thu, Oct 8 - 5pm-7pm - 610, 155 College Street (map)

If you have upcoming events related to development, please get in touch with me at katejongbloed AT gmail DOT com.