Appreciative Inquiry - Process for Collaboration

The Appreciative Inquiry Process is an established method for collaborative social change.   Several online sources can help one see how it works, this one consolidates many different resources.  It was chosen for this Nsukka Catholic Schools projects because it recognizes all participants as valuable questioners and helps teachers, school administrators, pastors, bishops, and parents from both churches to find a common ground while improving the educational setting for Catholic Education in Nsukka Nigeria.    A lengthier presentation on Appreciative Learning can be found in this paper.

Meet the Health Initiatives Team

Who will create a plan with Shanahan Hospital to deliver holistic health care to families and children; and complete work of Shanahan Hospital extension?  These team members are Mary Romuald, Chuck Neuman, Kathy Petitti and Norma Thornton.  Norma Thornton will be the team leader as they work with the hospital to care for the children of Nsukka so they can learn.

Meet the Educational Seminars Team

Who will develop and deliver educational seminars for 175 to 200 principals and teachers from 47 schools that cover nursery classrooms, primary classrooms, junior and senior secondary classrooms?  The team members are Sr. Barbara Jean Ciszek, CSJ, Stephanie Clausell, Vito De Frisco, Bernadette Felicione, Dr. Carol Fendt, Jeanne Henry, and
Dr. Desmond Odugu.  Carol's focus on educational research makes her a natural team leader.  Seminar participants will touch the lives of students in countless classrooms like these.

Meet the Planning, Research and Management Team

Who will direct planning for new school building site with local contractor and builders; and connect planning to health initiatives?  These team members are Dr. Carol Fendt, Esther Hicks, Chuck Newman,  Dr. Desmond Odugu, Kathy Petitti, and Norma Thornton.  Esther is the team leader, she has been working in institutional development for several decades.  Here, she is pictured with the children who will benefit from team planning through more effective education and health care systems.

2011 Delegation Leaves Chicago This Week!

The Archdiocese of Chicago expresses its commitment to the Diocese of Nsukka in Nigeria Catholic Schools through an annual spring delegation.  During this trip the delegates will work in three teams.  Each team is responsible for goals in their own specific area: education, health care, and planning.  Since the beginning of this project many accomplishments have been noted.

• The strategic plan for the diocesan schools has been completed, 
• partnerships have been formed, 
• blueprints for the central teacher training complex are being improved, and
• the 2011 delegation brings graduate level teacher training to school teachers and administrators.

Please return often to follow this year's delegation.

Join us! on September 2, 2010 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Quigley Pastoral Center 835 North Rush Street Chicago, IL

Reception for Fr. Wilfred Odo, JCD  Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Nigeria  Bishop Francis Okobo  In Partnership with The Office of Catholic Schools  Archdiocese of Chicago   RSVP mbermudez@archchicago.org  or 312-534-5242

Fr. Odo will be happy to greet his many friends and companions in Chicagoland who support the Catholic educational planning in Nsukka, Nigeria. We invite you to join him and the Nsukka Planning Committee to enjoy conversation, learn the latest in the educational planning process and celebrate the hopes and dreams of the  2020 Vision for Nsukka Catholic Schools!  There will be food and refreshments, informational materials and a brief presentation at 7:00 p.m.

 

Sometimes I feel like I'm not very grateful for what I have... I believe that working on this blog, has made me a bit of a better person, and also got me thinking about how little Nigeria has, but what joyous spirits all the children have. We complain that we don't ever get what we want, when it really matters about what we need. For example, here in schools, we have books that will help us understand what the teacher is talking about or even books that teach us the concept of the subject: math books, science books, social studies books, etc., etc. In Nigeria, children don't have the books we use. If they even have any school books, they are VERY, VERY outdated. The books are so old, they might even have wrinkles!
Another example is that the children don't have lunch at school. Here, kids whine about not having a long lunch/recess, or that we don't have enough time to talk to each other. Children in Nigeria are there to LEARN, if they choose to interact with each other, it's outside, not during class. Maybe we should get some teachers from Nigeria to come here to our schools and teach us a lesson... WHACK! There goes that stick again!
Now as I finish this post, I really think that I should go to Nigeria soon (and this time, i'm not figuratively speaking...). As I write more for this blog, I feel attached to helping Nigeria. Now is the time for you to start helping too...OR THE STICKS WILL FIND YOU!!!!! (Please do not feel intimidated, it really doesn't hurt that much!)