From February 4 to 9, Durham College (DC) took part in Global Affairs Canada’s International Development Week (IDW). Held to celebrate Canadian contributions to poverty reduction and international humanitarian assistance in the developing world, this year’s IDW theme at DC was “Together for Equality.”

The college’s International Office organized a number of events for the campus community to mark IDW with a focus on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015.

A non-profit marketplace took place in The Pit on February 4, giving students the opportunity to meet representatives from local and international non-governmental agencies and community based organizations to learn about internships, volunteer placements and causes to get involved with.

February 5 saw students and employees gather for a screening of the movie I Am, a documentary from the director of Bruce Almighty and Ace Ventura, where intellectual and spiritual leaders discuss global challenges and what we can do to address them.

On February 6 DC graduates living and working overseas came together in real-time, thanks to the college’s Global Classroom, to discuss how their experiences have changed their view of the world and their role in it.

The week ended with a screening of the Kenya Education for Employment Program (KEFEP) documentary. Captured, scripted, edited and produced by four DC students and two faculty, the crew spent three weeks in Kenya documenting KEFEP, a five-year initiative funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada focused on strengthening and supporting technical and vocational education and training in Kenya.

International projects at DC are tied to the SDGs and the college’s Internationalization and Global Engagement Plan, which clarifies its global vision for the next three years. The plan provides a foundation for students, employees, communities, and industry partners to understand how DC will infuse internationalization and global engagement into the fabric of the institution and help students learn locally and engage globally.

Of the importance of IDW, Bogumila Anaya, manager of International Projects and Partnerships at DC said, “Canada has made a commitment to the 17 UN SDGs to build a more peaceful and environmentally-balanced planet for everyone. International Development Week gives us a chance to showcase some of the work the college is doing on those fronts while also raising global awareness within the DC community.”