Ouch!

Professionalising something is inevitable, especially in a society  
that, justly or unjustly, values professionalism.

I also understand how, for grassroots advocates, this can leave a  
bitter taste, much less smell foul!

Yet some people need to be taught these skills, as not everyone is  
born an advocate. Moreover, not all advocacy is grassroots, and I  
think this is where this course may lead people astray as well,  
especially if it plans to educate those that meet such eligibility  
criteria.

My critique also concerns the role of universities in such things. I  
have observed a trend amongst health sciences faculties, who  
increasingly use outreach activities as a form of selling feature,  
even though in many places, outreach programming has not changed all  
that much. A more humanised university it is said, who offers such  
services to benefit those in social need, much like the course  
discussed here.

A new way to meet fiscal need perhaps? Whatever the case, universities  
need to be careful, and not confuse advocacy for service.

Advocates for hire anyone?

CQ


Quoting Chrystal Ocean <[log in to unmask]>:

> Among the issues for me with respect to the linked page provided in Linda's
> post is the $2,000 fee for a three-week course. Then there is the
> eligibility criteria, including:
> * Mid to senior level position in a community-based organization, people's
> organization, government department, intermediary organization, NGO or
> equivalent
> * At least five years of experience in community-based development
> * A university degree (preferred)
> * Minimum secondary school certificate
> * Have some direct experience in advocacy work
>
> I have difficulty understanding why anyone who already does advocacy and has
> been doing it long enough to have reached a 'mid to senior level position'
> would have need of this certificate. Of course, it's a certificate from an
> institution of 'higher learning', so perhaps that's it. I see no value in it
> otherwise.
>
> Advocacy is something one does and lives. It is fundamentally an activity
> which relies on making connections, in multiple senses, with people.
> Advocacy is best learned on the ground, in the trenches. As one's
> understanding of the issues grows, one's praxis that is advocacy improves.
>
> But now, we are supposed to believe that an organic activity which grows
> from the grassroots up is somehow deficient, because...
>
> "As a result of this program, participants will be able to:
>
>     * Understand the conceptual frameworks for engaging in effective
> advocacy work;
> 	[All the work we activists are doing is ineffective because we haven't
> conceptually framed it?]
>     * Demonstrate skills in influencing public policy and mobilizing public
> opinion in support of social and economic change;
> 	[We don't demonstrate this in doing our advocacy?]
>     * Enhance knowledge through the sharing of advocacy and networking
> experiences, issues and approaches;
> 	[We don't do this already, in our day-to-day advocacy activities?]
>     * Explore ways to establish an ongoing learning network for capacity
> building in advocacy.
> 	[Oh, now I get it.]
>
> I wonder who the instructor is.
>
> Ocean, WISE Coordinator.
> http://www.wise-bc.org/
>
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