Community Sustainability Global (CSG) is a
volunteer-based project that brings together organizations (especially social enterprises, NGOs and governments) and individuals (mostly experts) to combine efforts in a complementary way to pursue sustainability ends. Two NGOs, Holistic Sustainable Development Network International and Human Dignity Foundation, launched the project in January 2019, but the list of partners is growing.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The idea behind the CSG project comes from the themes driving the two organizations that started it. Combining the "holistic" approach of the Holistic Sustainable Development Network International and the "dignity" focus of the Human Dignity Foundation, the project seeks to deal with sustainability holistically without undermining the dignity of people. In practice, this idea implies that sustainability means different things at different places: our approach in poor communities in Africa is different from our approach in rich communities in North America; and conversely, how we approach rich communities in Africa is different from how we approach poor communities in North America.
Using diverse strategies well-suited for our host communities, we have been implementing the project in Nigeria and Canada. Reaching across two Nigerian states and a Canadian province, we organize workshops to teach community members about sustainability, help them to cut back on unsustainable behaviour and train them on more sustainable livelihood skills such as tie-dye and food conservation. We plan to expand our reach.
PARTNERS
Human Dignity Foundation
Adireseyi Enterprises Company, Nigeria
PROJECT STAFF
Project Director- Temitope Onifade, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, temitope@onifade.org
Temitope Onifade has lived and practiced law in the notorious Niger
Delta where he learnt about environmental issues, igniting his interest in
sustainability. Pursuing this interest, he is currently working on sustainability projects as an International Doctoral Fellow and a Vanier Scholar at the Peter Allard Law School, and as a Liu Scholar at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, UBC. He has also worked as a research consultant for Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative at Oxford University, research associate at Social Impact Firm, research fellow at the University of Calgary, lecturer at Memorial University, policy researcher with the Government of Newfoundland & Labrador, and sustainable business lawyer in Nigeria. He has contributed to several policies, journals and
books.
Temi is an emerging policy and community leader. He co-founded and has led the Liu Institute Network for Africa at UBC. He has served on the UBC Senate and the boards of some NGOs. Additionally, he has advocated for minority groups on Vancouver
Coop Radio, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and other broadcast media.
He is a recipient of the ASIL David D. Caron Fellowship, IBA Scholarship for Energy and Natural Resources Law, Vanier Scholarship (CGS), Joseph Armand Bombardier CGS, International Doctoral Fellowship and several other recognitions, making 34. He has also coauthored 4 successful research grant applications.
Temi designed the CSG project. He pooled the initial funding for the project.
Project Co-manager (Canada) - Jannatul Islam, Holistic Sustainable Development Network International, jislam@grenfell.mun.ca
Jannatul has more than 2 years managerial experience on a World Bank Project and has taught for 2 years as a lecturer. He is currently the Executive Director of Holistic Sustainable Development Network International, registered with the Government of Canada but working across several countries. He led a group of graduate students that co-founded the organization at Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada, but the organization has grown to have student branches at the University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, University of Calgary and in Bangladesh.
Jannatul assists in the management of the CSG project in Canada. He works to draw up plans and policies for the project.
Project Co-manager and Instructor (Canada)- Prerna Thaker, Western University, thaker_prerna@yahoo.com
Prerna is a researcher in the field of epidemiology and biostatistics. She has more than 3 years of experience working on sustainable development projects in The Himalayas and has taught for 3 years as an Assistant Professor. Her training has been in the field of Public Health and Global Urban Health. She has implemented governmental policies and procedures to engage populations from diverse cultural backgrounds by liaising with community leaders and gain their trust and support.
She is a member of women-centric committees giving direction to empowering women in need along with 2SLGBTQQIA and gender diverse peoples in the DTES. She has designed and conducted various workshops on women empowerment and skills development among indigenous women.
She is currently working one to one to support the indigenous women and helping with their progress by creating a life plan and supervising growth. As a coordinator, she has implemented community social programs like language classes and orientation sessions to understand the system in order to engage populations from diverse cultural backgrounds for refugees.
Prerna co-leads the CSG project in Canada. She shapes the policies and practices. She is also an instructor.
Project Co-manager and Instructor (Nigeria) - Toyin Adekanmbi, Human Dignity Foundation and Bells University of Science and Technology, duntval@gmail.com
Toyin Adekanmbi is a sustainability scientist and trainer. With degrees in Chemistry (Distinction) and Applied Chemistry (Upper Second Class), she is licensed to practice laboratory technology in Nigeria and is currently a Principal Technologist at Bells University of Technology. She works mainly on experimentation, laboratory management and undergraduate training. She is also an active member of the University Internally Generated Revenue committee, leading business production of industrial consumables.
Toyin is also a researcher with track record. Her work has been presented at a few university conferences in both Nigeria and Ghana. She has published a few articles and conference papers.
Toyin co-manages the CSG project in Nigeria and is facilitating partnership with the Ogun State Government. She also leads workshops across Ogun State.
Project Co-Manager and Instructor (Nigeria)- Samson Ogutuga, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria and University of Ibadan tugalord001@yahoo.com
Samson
is currently a
Research Scientist at the Department of Forest Products Development and Utilization,
Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Federal Government of Nigeria. He is also a Doctoral Fellow in the field of Wood and Fibre Science at the University of Ibadan. He has over 5 years of experience researching and working on sustainable utilization of Bamboo & Rattan resources and other wood species in Nigeria.
During his time at FRIN, he has trained
students from various tertiary institutions in Nigeria
on sustainable utilization of bio-resources. As an executive of the Academic
Staff Union of Research Institutions, he has co-organised various workshops
on improving scientific skills in the world of natural resources management, alongside other researchers and lecturers FRIN and Federal
College of Forestry, Ibadan. He has published about 20 articles
in journals and conference papers.
He is the new co-manager of CSG in Nigeria. Based in Oyo State, he is coordinating CSG in the state, including organizing workshops, coordinating participants and training community members.
Project Instructor (Canada)- Oluwaseyi Awosiyan, Adireseyi Enterprises and Memorial University, osawosiyan@gmail.com
Seyi Awosiyan is a social entrepreneur and sustainability trainer. She is currently working in the business consult section of Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria. She created the Adireseyi Fashion Brand and serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Adireseyi Enterprises. She is trained as an entrepreneur, a fashion designer and a hairdresser. Her business degree specialization is Entrepreneurship.
Seyi has also been active in training and research. She is currently consulting for the Federal Government of Nigeria to train national youth service corps members, and has trained students at the Osun State University and across secondary schools in Oyo state. Her research has also been presented at the conference of the Canadian Association for the Study of International Development at the University of British Columbia and Osun State University in Nigeria.
Seyi currently co-manages CSG in Nigeria. As a co-manager, she facilitated the partnership of the project with the Oyo State Government and has led the team of trainers across schools and communities in the state.
Project Instructor and Assistant (Canada)- Diana Kim, University of British Columbia, ddianakim@gmail.com
Diana Kim is a soon to be graduate at the University
of British Columbia. She is currently studying her fourth year as a Psychology
Major with an expertise on developmental psychology. With that background, she
plans to pursue an Education degree in order to fulfill her pursuit to become
an Elementary Educator.
Diana has been actively engaging in any experience
with early education in the past 5 years. She is currently working as a tutor
for primary children at an educational network known as Kumon. Kumon is a
program facilitated for children of any age and demographic to become an
efficient, independent student within and outside the classroom. Diana helps the
youngest cohort to build such skills and provide elementary foundations for
reading and math. Diana also volunteers for the Vancouver Dream Church, a
community started in 2015 under the vision of Discipleship, Mission, and
Serving the society. She is the leader of the Newcomer Link team. She also annually
helps manage a Vacation Bible Study (VBS) camp directed for young children in
Vancouver and Taiwan.
Diana is an instructor for the CSG project.
She also works with the Project Director on various tasks, especially for the implementation of the project in Vancouver.
Project Instructor and Assistant (Canada)-
Love Stephen Babajide, University of Victoria, lovebabajide@gmail.com
Love
Stephen Babajide has a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from University of
Benin and a Bachelor of Laws from Benson Idahosa University.
He is currently a Master of Laws (LLM) student at the Law and Society Program
at the University of Victoria.
He practiced law and worked as a professional volunteer in the Rehab
Project, Nigeria. While working in the Osun State Chapter of the Organization,
Babajide and other volunteers represented not less than eight indigent prison
inmates awaiting trial across various courts in the state. This resulted in the
release of five persons within the space of four months. This alone earned the
organization the Prison Humanitarian Award 2019 and two letters of
commendations from the Nigerian Prison Service and the Legal Aid Council, Osun
State, Nigeria. He has also coached about twenty prison inmates with life skills as a first
step towards their rehabilitation. He
has trained students on human rights at Benson Idahosa University and across primary
and secondary schools in Nigeria. He has successfully designed and implemented
courses on access to education for low-income communities and marginalized
groups.
Babajide
currently volunteers in the staff of the CSG project. He is an instructor and also assists with drawing implementation plan for communities in Victoria,
Canada.
Project Instructor (Canada)- Mikaela Frame, Munchies Foodshare and University of British Columbia, mikaelaframe@gmail.com
Mikaela Frame is a Bachelor of Earth and Ocean Science + Masters in Management dual degree student at the University of British Columbia and co-founder of Munchies Foodshare.
Mikaela's wide array of interests, driven by her passion for sustainability and international development, has led to her involvement in a variety of environmentally-oriented activities. Her interest in scientific research first developed during the first year of her undergrad, when she began volunteering in UBC's Environmental Interphase Laboratory. Mikaela has since gone on to conduct her own independent research experiments both locally and internationally, including field work, two independent research experiments, two international research internships in Germany and Peru and numerous volunteer positions.
Beyond her research activities, on campus, Mikaela took part in organizing intercultural events as the global lounge officer and representative of the Jewish student association. She has also volunteered weekly for "A Taste of Coexistence" and other events.
