The first Global Connection and Exchange Program teacher exchange took place in September 2005. Three Bangladeshi teachers, Mohammed Kashem, Shamima Akter, and Wahida Jahan, spent three weeks in the US. They visited Los Angeles and Washington, DC. Each member of the exchange also spent a week living in the US with a host family. They learned learned new teaching methodologies and how to integrate technology with education, and will share these lessons with teachers in Bangladesh.
Three American teachers travelled to Bangladesh in November 2005 as part of the Global Connections and Exchange Program. They visited schools and other educational institutions throughout the country during their three weeks in Bangladesh, and met with teachers, administrators, government officials, students, and representatives of other NGOs working in the education sector. They also participated in cultural exchange activities and led teaching workshops throughout the country.
As part of the Global Connections and Exchange Program, a National Conference on Education was held during International Education Week 2005 in Manikganj, Bangladesh. Three US teachers visiting Bangladesh discussed curriculum planning and education reform issues. In addition, members of the RI-SOL staff, volunteers from Peace Corps, Bangladeshi teachers, and representatives of other organizations working in technology and education sectors participated in the conference.
Highschool Students from the Los Angeles area visited Bangladesh in 2005 as part of the LINC Exchange Program. In Bangladesh, these students and their Bangladeshi counterparts learned about community service and themselves performed community service activities. They also learned about conflict resolution, international philanthropy and development issues.
Eight students from Bangladesh travelled to Los Angeles California in April 2006 and were reunited with their American counterparts from the earlier LINC exchange program. Together, the two groups of students worked on projects in youth leadership, volunteerism, community service and conflict resolution.
Teachers from Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal gathered in Kolkata prior to traveling to the US to participate in the English as a Foreign Language Institute program. Here are some photos from their orientation session.
Teachers from Bangladesh and three Indian Pradesh (Orissa, Bihar and West Bengal) spent six weeks in the US during May and June 2006, learning EFL teaching techniques at Hamline University in Minnesota.
The EFL Exchange is part of the Bangladesh-East Indian English as a Foreign Language Institute Program implemented by Relief International and Hamline University and funded by the US Sate Department. During the first phase of the program, 30 teachers from India and Bangladesh traveled to Hamline University, Minnesota in April 2006.
The South Asian teachers participated in a 6 week exchange with Hamline Faculty and Minnesota teachers and they leaned new techniques and methods for teaching English as a second language, gained exposure to US history/culture/politics and education and established relationships and linkages with US based teachers. The participating Hamline Faculty and Minnesota teachers who coached and mentored the South Asian teachers recently visited Bangladesh and India to conduct a serious of English Language Workshops. The US participants also conducted several school visits in India and Bangladesh, enjoyed various cultural activities and reunited with their fellow participating Bangladeshi and Indian teachers.
In March, Relief International organized its second GCEP Education Conference in Dhaka which was attended by lead teachers, schools heads and partner NGO representatives from Bangladesh. The two day long conference, held at the BRAC TARC in Savar, provided the GCE teachers with opportunity to share their experience with the GCE program and to build a professional network among them. About 70 participants attended the conference. The event also brought together all GCE staffs from Relief International's Dhaka and regional offices.
