GIN Project Workbook First Edition v1

WE ARE GLOBAL CITIZENS COMMITTED TO

LIFELONG-LEARNING & SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY-CENTERED EMPATHETIC-ACTION.

WELCOME TO THE GLOBAL ISSUES NETWORK GIN PROJECT WORKBOOK

 

GIN-Logo-800X500 copy (1)

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As Global Citizens, it is YOUR time to ACT. This is (Y)OUR time to create local-global change and have a global impact!  This GIN Workbook will take you through the process of creating and developing a sustainable GIN Project that will change you and your local community forever.

 

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WHAT IS A GIN PROJECT

A GIN project can take many forms. It is an expression of passion and a result of effective collaboration. A GIN project is focused on working to sustainably address global issues in your direct community. GIN student teams develop GIN projects through dialogue and research in their community driven by their self-identified passion.  Student teams are expected to create a sustainable GIN project based on community identified needs and issues while, incorporating and tying together the following thinking frameworks to effect change: historical methodologies, cultural perspectives, community-centered empathetic action, as well as sustainable design and systems thinking.  Within this process, students formulate a shared understanding, expression, and implementation of local solutions to global problems.

Your project can focus on any issue you and your community have found to be important.  Your project must aim to make real and sustainable change in your community.  You can start with your school, your neighborhood, your city, your country, your world; you define (Y)OUR community. Remember, it starts with you!

To make lasting positive change we must realize that this is a joint effort, one that necessitates that we listen and work with our direct community and around the world, shoulder-to-shoulder, to empower and educate each other, as a local-global team of changemakers.

GIN Project Workbook First Edition PDF

INSTRUCTIONS FOR GIN PROJECT TEAMS

  • All GIN Project Teams will register on the main site as individuals and soon as GIN teams.
  • All GIN Project Teams will complete a GIN Project Action Plan.
  • All GIN Project Teams will publish their work on the main website on both their individual GIN Green Resume and as a collective GIN Team on their GIN Project Page.
  • Advisors and Mentors will support Project Team/s in the GIN Workbook process.
  • Share Your message:
    • Present and Publish your work on the main website:
      • Your personal work
      • Your collaborative action
    • Local School Community Network and Schoolwide GIN Conference and GIN Events
      • Present your work to your class and school
        • Encourage your student body to get involved
        • Heighten awareness of your local-global issues and action
      • Local school community network outreach education and workshops
      • Local School Community Network GIN Conferences
    • Participate and engage at your regional GIN Conference
      • Develop and share your GIN Project Workshop
      • Report back to your school community

GIN PROJECT OBJECTIVES

  • GIN Teams will document their project process to support best practices in understanding and creating replicable sustainable change.
  • GIN Teams will work to empower Global Dialogue and Action through their work as local-global changemakers.
  • Seek peer review
  • Continue to grow their knowledge and skills as effective change-makers
  • Measure, Evaluate and Analyze their work
  • Improve, Innovate and reiterate GIN Project solutions and challenges
  • Final Product: There is no final product, we continue to evolve and develop our process; our work is never done!

GET STARTED!

GET STARTED!

What global issues interest to you?
What local issues interest you?
If you could not fail, describe a positive change would you make in your community?
Why is it important to use the term local-global issues?
Identify YOUR local-global challenge?
What challenges do you think your community faces?

WHAT DRIVES YOU?

FIND YOUR PASSION: WHAT DRIVES YOU?

What brings you joy?
What brings you pain?
Identify a global issue in your community that you would like to work to address
What drives you to action?
Why is it powerful to seek and identify your passion?
Why is it powerful to make your work personal?

WHAT DRIVES YOU? + WHAT IS YOUR MEANINGFUL CHALLENGE? = YOUR PASSION

Think about how you can connect what interests you, what drives you, your joy or your pain to the challenges you community faces, what does that look like for you? This is your passion.

EMPATHETIC ACTION, RESILIENCE AND GLOBAL CITIZENRY

EMPATHETIC ACTION, RESILIENCE AND GLOBAL CITIZENRY

Empathetic action, resilience, and global citizenry are the founding values of Global Issues Network. How will you engage these values?
What does resilience look like to you?
How can you become and stay resilient?

IDENTIFY (Y)OUR TEAM & (Y)OUR PATH TO EMPATHETIC ACTION USING YOUR PASSION

IDENTIFY (Y)OUR TEAM & (Y)OUR PATH TO EMPATHETIC ACTION USING YOUR PASSION!

You have discovered your what drives you to action and identified a local-global issue that your would like to address, TIME TO CONNECT!

IDENTIFY (Y)OUR COMMUNITY?

IDENTIFY (Y)OUR COMMUNITY?

It is paramount to include your stakeholders, your community team, at every stage of your planning.

You cannot create sustainable change without your community partners at your side and on your team.

Identify your community: This can be (y)our school, (y)our city, (y)our country, (y)our globe, it is up to you to define who your community is.
Why is it important to understand who your stakeholders are when creating sustainable change?
Define the term stakeholder:

Who will (y)our project directly affect?

Who will (y)our project indirectly affect?

Put it all together: Who are ALL your GIN project stakeholders?

CONNECTING LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP

CONNECTING LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP
Think about how you will encourage stakeholder empowerment and partner with community leaders to ensure sustainable change. How will you create a GIN project team that includes your stakeholders?
Identify community leaders that are respected and trusted by your stakeholders: Who are they and how do they take on a leadership role in (y)our community?

INTERVIEW (Y)OUR COMMUNITY: GIVEN (Y)OUR LOCAL-GLOBAL ISSUE OF INTEREST, WHAT DO WE THINK?

INTERVIEW (Y)OUR COMMUNITY: GIVEN (Y)OUR LOCAL-GLOBAL ISSUE OF INTEREST, WHAT DO WE THINK?

Describe in depth the direct needs of (y)our community?

Research, Interview, Make Connections and Analyze your findings

Describe in depth the indirect needs of (y)our community?

Research, Interview, Make Connections and Analyze your findings

Describe in depth the ISSUES (y)our community faces?

Research, Interview, Make Connections and Analyze your findings

Describe in depth the what your local-global issues look like at present?

Research, Interview, Make Connections and Analyze your findings

Describe in depth the PAST SOLUTIONS models of change to the ISSUES (y)our community faces?

Research, Interview, Make Connections and Analyze your findings

Identify and describe in depth the historical and cultural contributors to (y)our issues?

Research, Interview, Make Connections and Analyze your findings

Describe in depth where these past “solutions” succeeded and where they have faltered?

WHO IS ON YOUR TEAM? WHAT ROLE WILL THEY PLAY?

BUILD AND SUPPORT YOUR TEAM

WHO IS ON YOUR TEAM? WHAT ROLE WILL THEY PLAY?

Direct Team

What is their role on your team?

Self-Identified Talents & Skills

Partners

What is their role on your team?

Self-Identified Talents & Skills

Mentors

What is their role on your team?

Self-Identified Talents & Skills

Allies

What is their role on your team?

Self-Identified Talents & Skills

WHO ARE YOU MISSING ON YOUR TEAM THAT WILL HELP YOU SUCCESSFULLY REACH YOUR GOALS?

After reviewing your team, identify who and what skills or talents you may need to recruit to your team to successfully put into practice your project.

STRATEGY FOR EMPATHETIC ACTION

IDEATE AND BRAINSTORM

(Y)OUR POSITIVE CHANGE & ACTION WITH YOUR TEAM

Write every idea down, no matter how wild it is! In the next sections you’ll have space to filter them out. GIN encourages Design Thinking! Apply what you have learned! (You can even draw it out!)

Rework old methods and strategies, succeed where others have not!

OR

Create something entirely new!

Write down ALL your solutions to local-global issues in your community?

UNDERSTANDING BACKWARDS DESIGN: NEXT STEPS (CREATE TWO TABLES, ONE FOR 3 MONTHS AND ONE FOR 6 MONTHS)

What essential question will guide (y)our project?
What are the desired learning outcomes of this project?
What skills are needed to achieve desired results?
What is acceptable evidence to show desired results?
What is the sequence of activities, learning experiences, etc. that will lead to the desired results (the plan)?
How have I included my community stakeholders in my project design?

STRATEGY FOR EMPATHETIC ACTION

Interview your community, Do your research & Think about successful models of change in your locale and beyond

Which solutions/models of change will you emulate or modify to fit your project’s strategy/approach to your local-global issue(s)?
Given your findings to date, what will your sustainable and empathetic action plan look like? How will you accomplish your goals?
Start to break down big ideas into projects and big projects into tasks. This is where you get your team to help you shine! (Remember when you return you will discuss and innovate your ideas with your community partners)

HOW WILL YOU MEASURE THE ISSUE YOU ARE ADDRESSING AND YOUR PROGRESS?

HOW WILL YOU MEASURE THE ISSUE YOU ARE ADDRESSING AND YOUR PROGRESS?

A key performance indicator (KPI) is a type of performance measurement. KPIs evaluate the success of an organization or of a particular activity in which it engages.

KPI Best Practices:

Your KPI should be

well defined and quantifiable

easily measured and thoroughly communicated throughout your organization and department

crucial to achieving your goal

Ex: conversion rate: Conversion rate tells you how many donors took an action when prompted by your organization

What are (y)our project goals?

Create your GIN Project Key Performance Indicators.

Note*** This will help you measure and understand your project’s impact.

Given what we’ve learned from our ongoing research and dialogue, what is the best way to measure our efficacy?

Then consider ways to improve the efficacy.

HOW WILL YOU EVALUATE YOUR PROGRESS?

HOW WILL YOU EVALUATE YOUR PROGRESS?

Analyze your KPI results. According to your project progress measurements, what are your success and challenges to date?
Given your successes and challenges to date:
Describe your successes
Why do you do you think you were successful?
Describe your challenges
How will you overcome your challenges?
What will your impact statement look like? Impact Statement Example:

We have successfully served______amount of people by______date using_______resources,__________strategies, and_______methods to accomplish our goal effectively organizing______community. (Please note, impact statement will vary by project, but should include who or what are you impacting, resources used, strategies and project dates)

HOW TO ASSESS YOUR PROGRESS? CONSIDER (Y)OUR IMPACT BEFORE YOU BEGIN!

REITERATE

LONG-LASTING CHANGE: How to assess your progress? Consider impact before you begin!

IDENTIFY SOCIO-SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL BEST PRACTICES YOU WILL USE IN YOUR GIN PROJECT (Exs below)

Determine (y)our carbon footprint from start to finish, how will you offset your carbon emissions?
Determine (y)our methodology for waste management and reduction from start to finish, what will this look like?
Consider (y)our team, how will you ensure that your team is supported and sustainably engaged into the future?
Define and describe why the terms below are fundamental for long lasting change?

Empathy not Pity

Partnership not Charity

Empowerment Model not Welfare Model

How will you apply the following thinking and practices to your project process, measurement and evaluation?

My program shows collaboration and partnership between other organizations, experts and entities which help support our effort and help us use the most cutting-edge and appropriate practices.

Define and describe why the terms below are fundamental for long lasting change?

Ongoing Community Dialogue

How will you apply the following thinking and practices to your project process, measurement and evaluation?

My program is community-centered. The people being served by my program were and are the ones that identified the needs that your program is based on.

Define and describe why the terms below are fundamental for long lasting change?

Collaborative Learning and Problem Solving

How will you apply the following thinking and practices to your project process, measurement and evaluation?

My program’s success relies on many different stakeholders with shared responsibilities.

Define and describe why the terms below are fundamental for long lasting change?

Measurement

How will you apply the following thinking and practices to your project process, measurement and evaluation?

My program’s impact is measurable. We collect quantitative and qualitative data that help us understand if we are meeting goals and having an impact.

Define and describe why the terms below are fundamental for long lasting change?

Evaluation

How will you apply the following thinking and practices to your project process, measurement and evaluation?

My program is accountable. Progress is shared with participants, providers, educators, and anyone that is connected to the program.

Define and describe why the terms below are fundamental for long lasting change?

Reporting back to your community stakeholders

How will you apply the following thinking and practices to your project process, measurement and evaluation?

My program has a plan that extends into the future, and considers challenges your program may encounter in time, funding, resources, political or social situations…etc.

Define and describe why the terms below are fundamental for long lasting change?

Sustainability

How will you apply the following thinking and practices to your project process, measurement and evaluation?

My program is intergenerational–the process and impact involves youth as well as adult participants.

FUNDING AND MATERIALS

FUNDING AND MATERIALS

Identify realistic and potential financial resources?

Ex. Individual Foundations, Grants, Corporate Responsibility, Community Events & activities

We suggest that you interview the development officer at your school or ask your advisor to introduce you to someone who has expertise in the field of development.

What strategies can you use to put your project into action in the most sustainable and cost-efficient way?

Ex. Volunteers, mentorships between older and younger students at your school etc.

What materials will be required for the prototyping and execution of the project?
What methods can you use to put your project into action in the most sustainable and cost-efficient way?

Ex.

BUILD AND SUPPORT YOUR TEAM

 

BUILD AND SUPPORT YOUR TEAM

WHO DO WE NEED ON OUR TEAM?

WHO ARE YOU MISSING ON YOUR TEAM THAT WILL HELP YOU SUCCESSFULLY REACH YOUR GOALS?

After reviewing your team, identify who and what skills or talents you may need to recruit to your team to successfully put into practice your project.

Direct Team

What roles need to be filled?

What skills will they need to have?

Partners

What roles need to be filled?

What skills will they need to have?

Mentors

What roles need to be filled?

What skills will they need to have?

Allies

What roles need to be filled?

What skills will they need to have?

PROJECT TIME MANAGEMENT

 

PROJECT TIME MANAGEMENT
Instructions: the following is a checklist of dialogue, innovation, and learning that you MUST work to collaborate and problem-solve with your community stakeholders. Empathetic action necessitates that you move forward together as partners, as a team.
Project Process: Understand (Y)our Intentions and Passion: What drives you to action?

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

Project Process: Understanding (Y)our Local-Global Challenge

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

Project Process: Community Stakeholders Identify Direct Needs and GIN Project Leaders Research Direct Needs

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

Project Process: Community Stakeholders Identify Indirect Needs and GIN Project Leaders Research Direct Needs

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

Project Process: Community Stakeholders Identify Past and Current Solutions and GIN Project Leaders Research Past and Current Solutions

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

Project Process: Brainstorm Solutions and GIN Project

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

Project Process: Who do you need on your team to develop a successful GIN Project?

Team Leaders

Direct

Partners

Mentors

Allies

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

Project Process: Funding and Materials Next Steps and Plan

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

Project Process: GIN Project Sustainability and Best Practices

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

Project Process: Measure (Y)our GIN Project Efficacy: Did you reach your GIN Project goals?

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

Project Process: Evaluate, Analyze, Iterate, Redesign (Y)our GIN Project

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

Project Process: Collaborative problem solving and communal strategy for Empathetic Action: GIN Project Team Made Up of Youth Leaders and Community Stakeholder Partners

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

Project Process: Project Management Task and Timeline Breakdown

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

Project Process: Roles, Responsibilities & Timeline Assignments

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

Project Process: Share Your Message

Present and Publish your work on the main website:

Your personal work

Your collaborative action

Local School Community Network and Schoolwide GIN Conference and GIN Events

Present your work to your class and school

Encourage your student body to get involved

Heighten awareness of your local-global issues and action

Local school community network outreach education and workshops

Local School Community Network GIN Conferences

Participate and engage at your regional GIN Conference

Develop and share your GIN Project Workshop

Report back to your school community          

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

Project Process: Seek Peer Review

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

Project Process: Continue growing your expertise and knowledge of (y)our local-global issue

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

Project Process: Measure and Evaluate Your Progress and Challenges

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

Project Process: Improve, Innovate and Reiterate (Y)our GIN Project Action Plan  

Start Date

Projected Date of Completion

Date of Completion

 

DURING THE ACTION PHASE: CHECKPOINT QUESTIONS

DURING THE ACTION PHASE: CHECKPOINT QUESTIONS

Has your work in the field changed your perspective on the issue and your actions to solve this issue changed? Check your bias assumptions and commit to lifelong learning.
Are you staying true to your vision?
Are you measuring and evaluating your process with your community partners?
Have you successfully reached your goals? Why or Why not?
Is your project sustainable and (socio-environmental sustainability and socio environmental sustainability & long lasting change)? Why or Why not?
How will you work to make your project more sustainable?
Are you continuously working to strengthen your community partnerships and relationships?
Why is it important to use empathy and a global mindset as a compass to guide your strategic planning when building community in partnership with your community?
How can you change your approach, method and attitude depending on various possible outcomes to realize goals?