China Program Review 2002
International Collaboration
Currently, organizations in Mongolia, Thailand, Myanmar, Tanzania, and Russia are using programs developed by the Badi Foundation. Among the NGOs working with the Foundation is:
The Mongolian Development Center (MDC) in Ulaanbatar, Mongolia. MDC is using the Social Enterprise training materials in its own Family Capacity Building projects, which aim to enhance food security and nutrition by assisting families to establish vegetable gardens. It is also using the Foundation's Hidden Gems kindergarten curriculum in its projects to enhance moral education in schools.
Ruaha School in Tanzania. The Ruaha School has been implementing the Enhancing the Learning Environment specialization of social enterprise with all its teachers and staff for the past three years through regular visits of Badi Foundation staff members. The impact of the program has been so pronounced that the school has been identified as a national training center for cooperative education.
Young Lions Club in Ulan Ude, Russia. Members of the Young Lions Club have recently decided to implement the Social Enterprise program in their work with urban youth, and have taken part in a facilitator training for the project.
In addition, the Badi Foundation is a member of the Luxembourg-based Development Learning Association (DLA). DLA is an association of learning organizations that seek to advance society through the development of human resources. Among other countries, members include NGOs in Bolivia, Colombia, Zambia, and India, . Collaboration with members of DLA to develop materials for junior youth is described below.
Publishing
In 2002, the Badi Foundation's Center for Curriculum Development (CCD) was able to publish a number of much-anticipated educational materials. The first of these is the Character Development and Science components of its kindergarten curriculum, "Hidden Gems". Developed through experimentation in the Foundation's own school, The School of the Nations, the materials include a Teacher's Guides, Teacher's Resource Materials, and Student Workbooks for each subject for each of the three levels of kindergarten education (3-4 year olds, 4-5 year olds and 5-6 year olds). In addition, six storybooks designed to complement the program were published.
CCD also published a book for the empowerment of Junior Youth (ages 12-15), called "Walking the Straight Path". This is one of a series of publications focusing on junior youth that is being developed by members of the DLA. The series aims to enhance the youth's ability to use the power of language as they strive to transform themselves and advance their communities. Other books in this series include "Breezes of Confirmation", developed by the William Mmutle Masethla Foundation in Zambia, and "Drawing on the Power of the Word", created by the Ruhi Foundation in Colombia.