A Year of Raising the Village

Photo copyright - T.Dewar

Happy New Year! We have something exciting to launch in 2011 - 52 community building ideas coming your way! There are many different ways to Raise a Village so we are taking some of the innovative and timeless ideas we have researched and will be sharing them with you. Yes, a year of ideas that in and of themselves might not sound like a sustainable village effort, but pieced together they sure are impressive! Our post ideas will speak to the simple things, or the deep impressions, or a collective experience, or an event, or system changes, as we believe it takes all of this (and more)! We ask you to consider the year of ideas as a united tapestry – by taking these seemingly separate patchwork activity ideas and weaving them together into an integrated and coordinated strategy that aims at reducing child vulnerability and increasing community engagement and awareness. We encourage you to take your own grass roots approach and adapt and create what works for you and your community.

As the year of village raising ideas unfold...

• Be open to new ideas that spark a fresh initiative




• Watch for ideas that add to or strengthen an existing initiative




• Consider the “who” – who might be inspired by this idea. Is there something children, families or grandparents may want to take on?




• Might there be an idea that is the very bridge to services you have been looking for?




• What about ideas that will create new partnerships or new shared leadership opportunities?

Challenge yourself and take the ideas that get you bubbling and talk about them with people to see what develops. We ask you to enjoy the flavour of each individual idea and remember that they are part of a bigger, village raising picture!

We’d love to hear your ideas...please comment on any posts or email us through our website (http://www.raisingthevillage.ca/ )

Tracy & Tammy

Village Raising Questions (for the year)

· What activities add value to your existing community plans? (i.e. ECD strategic plan, governance structures, visions).
· What ideas are most “alive” and capable of continued growth?
· What activities will leave a legacy?
· Which ones speak most to “working together”? Engagement? Partnerships?
· Which activities give a voice to children, youth and families?