Testimonials
"My principal was so pleased. He brought several other teachers into the library to see how well [the Skype lesson] was working. As a teacher, I was just thrilled with how well the students engaged, as well as the caliber of their questions! A definite success."
- Michelle Krumm, Social Studies 11 teacher after Skyped lesson with class using Africa: Communities in Action Global Education package. June 12, 2017. |
"Your presentation to the [British Columbia Interior Trustees’ Meeting October 4, 2008] was terrific. It was stimulating and thought-provoking. I had many trustees mention to me that they will look at the world differently now. I particularly enjoyed how you made the connection with kids and their relationship with the other cultures of the world. Thanks for making the Regional Trustees Meeting valuable and interesting."
- Doug Pearson, Superintendent, School District #83: North Okanagan-Shuswap, British Columbia |
"This Teacher's Handbook and film documentary constitute a startling amalgam of intelligence, insight, creativity and what can only be called unabashed enthusiasm. I was, at first, intimidated by the sheer length of the undertaking. But to absorb the material is to be immersed in every facet of African life, presented with mesmerizing clarity, the buoyant and the painful in equal measure. History, poverty, development, gender, culture ... they're all addressed so thoughtfully, with such a range of examples, that every teacher, every student will be drawn to the project of learning. It's hard to heap sufficient praise upon this Guide. I don't quite know how the authors and film-makers pulled it off. I only know that it's an astonishing achievement."
- Stephen Lewis, Professor in Global Health, Faculty of Social Sciences, McMaster University
Mr. Lewis is the former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa and serves as the Co-Director of AIDS-Free World. He holds 30 honorary degrees from Canadian universities and is a Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest honour for lifetime achievement.
- Stephen Lewis, Professor in Global Health, Faculty of Social Sciences, McMaster University
Mr. Lewis is the former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa and serves as the Co-Director of AIDS-Free World. He holds 30 honorary degrees from Canadian universities and is a Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest honour for lifetime achievement.
Before I went to Gambia Rural Adult Instructor Training Program I knew little about community development. Now I know a great deal. I am able to relate to the community now. I was commended by my director for the improvement in all the community meetings and projects I ran.
- Gambia Rural Adult Instructor Training graduate
- Gambia Rural Adult Instructor Training graduate
"Instead of becoming and extension worker, I became a popular educator. I learned that I had to facilitate in the community to bring forth the community members’ own ideas for development. Since completing the Ghana Rural Animator Training Program, I have in turn trained over 40 community development workers using the skills I learned."
- Ghana Rural Animator Training graduate
- Ghana Rural Animator Training graduate
"The Gambia Rural Adult Instructor Training Program made me respect the culture of the community; it made me involve the community in decision-making."
- Gambia Rural Adult Instructor Training graduate
- Gambia Rural Adult Instructor Training graduate
"The training program is full of experience and interaction, which makes it one of the best courses of this sort that can ever be seen or heard."
- West African Rural Development (WARD) Centre participant
- West African Rural Development (WARD) Centre participant
"Without question this has been the most interesting and stimulating workshop that I have ever had the honor of attending.”
- Working with Native Adults workshop participant
- Working with Native Adults workshop participant
"I'm honoured to have a small place in this remarkable [Africa: Communities in Action] project. Any student who successfully completes this ambitious new course material will be more than ready to become Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. In fact, I would go further. No member of a Canadian government should be allowed to deal with international issues unless they have seen this DVD and gone through these materials."
- Dr. Gerald Caplan
Dr. Caplan is one of Canada’s foremost Africa experts and is and an internationally-recognized authority on the Rwandan genocide. He is a professor at the Ontario’s Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) and has acted as a consultant for the Economic Commission for Africa, UNICEF, WHO and the African Union and the UN.
- Dr. Gerald Caplan
Dr. Caplan is one of Canada’s foremost Africa experts and is and an internationally-recognized authority on the Rwandan genocide. He is a professor at the Ontario’s Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) and has acted as a consultant for the Economic Commission for Africa, UNICEF, WHO and the African Union and the UN.
"Don Sawyer is a champion in the field of community and international development. Don is a well sought after Training, curriculum development and adult education expert whose services are needed and hired in different regions of the third world. As a professional trainer and development practitioner, he has helped build the capacities and added value to the lives of African communities and thousands of West African Development Workers. Without doubt, International Development Organisations working in Africa and other regions of the Third World will benefit greatly from expertise and invaluable services of Don Sawyer and his NESA Associates."
- Mamsamba Joof, WARD facilitator and Executive Director of the Agency for Women and Children (ADWAC), The Gambia
- Mamsamba Joof, WARD facilitator and Executive Director of the Agency for Women and Children (ADWAC), The Gambia
"In 2012 my company, Askew's Foods, opened a new supermarket on Salmon Arm. Initial sales were disappointing and below projection. I hired Don's consultancy to conduct market research to see if we could discover what was holding us back and to give us a basis for implementing marketing campaigns to address the situation. Don conducted a thorough literature review and conducted customer panels on other issues. Don's work was a big help in getting our new store on track and we are now enjoying double digit sales increases on an annual basis."
David Askew, President, Askew's Food Service Ltd
David Askew, President, Askew's Food Service Ltd