Speaker
Ms Nellie Alcaraz
Student
McGill University
Community Interventions: Solidarity with Temporary Foreign Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic in Alberta, Canada
Abstract Narrative
The presentation examines the socio-political environment of Canada that escalated
Temporary Foreign Workers’ (TFW) experiences of social-economic marginalization, and the
community-based responses and systemic advocacy used to support TFWs during COVID-19
pandemic. The TFW program was supposedly established to permit Canadian employers to
employ foreign workers to fill temporary jobs when there are no Canadians who willing to do the
work. In essence however, the program inherently creates a pool of workers characterized by
precarity and temporariness which profoundly restricts their access to social, employment, and
civil rights and denies them political rights.
Since 2000, the number of TFWs in Canada has significantly increased however, their
rights and well-being continue to erode. Their precarious immigration status that is tied to their
employer made TFWs susceptible to abuse and exploitation. The COVID-19 Pandemic has
further intensified their vulnerability in multiple ways, for example, while everyone was entitled
for financial relief programs launched by the Government of Canada and support from their
respective employers in Canada, the TFWs including the seasonal agricultural workers were
treated as “othered”, who were excluded or faced multiple barriers in accessing needed services.
Using case examples of meat plant workers in High River and Brooks in Alberta, Canada, we
begin this presentation with a brief examination of the structural barriers that TFWs faced every
day before and during the pandemic, followed by a discussion of our participatory actions
developed in collaboration with community-based organizations, such as Migrante Alberta and
the Alberta Assembly of Social Workers, to support the TFWs and their families. This is
augmented by a brief overview of our participatory approaches that provided a wide range of
community members from different professions/background/ heritage/neighbourhoods with
opportunities to come in solidarity and assist TFWs. Overall, this presentation will help
participants critically understand intersectional oppression that TFWs in Alberta, Canada face
during COVID-19 pandemic and recognize the urgent need for policy changes and community
interventions during and even after the pandemic.
Biography
Nellie Alcaraz came to Canada as a live-in caregiver under the federal TFW program. She holds degrees in AB Political Science, Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Victoria and MSW from the University of Calgary. She is an appointed member of the first Anti-racism Action Committe created by the City of Calgary, in 2020. She is an active organizer with Migrante Alberta and the Alberta Assembly of Social Workers
Mr Struan Robertson
Business Development
Seriti Institute
Agroecology and Food Sovereignty: from relief to resilience and local value chains and the case of community food gardening projects.
Abstract Narrative
This working paper will present a review of methodological innovations in agroecology and community development facilitation work, to seek diagnostic tools for assessing progress and enhancing food gardening project outcomes, especially in measurement and implementation. The background philosophical approach to this paper is informed by participatory practice and the tools of community and spatial mapping and experiential learning.
The need for projects in promoting local food value chains and food sovereignty in South African marginalised communities will be discussed in reference to inequalities in the production, distribution and consumption of food. The case for community food gardening projects, incorporating practical training in agroecology and input support, and ongoing programme support will be presented.
Successes and drawback will be observed and the challenges to unlocking barriers for agri-entrepreneurs to engage in agribusiness opportunities at the community level will be investigated. The prospects for stimulating market linkages and supporting the development of sustainable community enterprises will be reviewed, with a view to identifying diagnostic tools for tracking progress that is quantifiable.
Examples of work cover both the peri-urban and rural context from several South African districts. The innovations being tested include the effectiveness of immersive learning workshops and phased implementation of development interventions. The right to food is discussed in the context of the need for good nutrition, sustainable community livelihoods and socioeconomic development in communities through agriculture training and opportunities for small enterprise.
Furthermore, this paper will frame the discussion of efforts to strengthen community food sovereignty in the context of responses to COVID-19 and the impact of the pandemic, as well as the ongoing need for vulnerable people to build resilience in the face of climate change and environmental sustainability challenges. All these factors are observed to disproportionately affect poor and vulnerable communities further worsening socioeconomic crises, against a backdrop of persistent poverty, inequality and unemployment.
Finally, this paper invites feedback by outlining strategies for collaboration to help refine these ideas and secure pathways that enhance the impact of agroecology and community food gardening projects which start in food relief thereafter building food security, market access, and local food value chains toward resilience and sustainability.
Biography
I am responsible for new business development at Seriti Institute, which is a development facilitation agency and non-profit. I have a Master of Economics, which thesis is in the subject of development economics and sustainability. I enjoy writing proposals! I have worked on research and M&E assignments for projects, and I am looking forward to sharing ideas and experience at the conference.
Ms Ken Retno Budipratiwi
Community Development Officer
Pertamina Ep Tarakan Field
Kelingan Covid-19: Pertamina EP Tarakan Field Strategic to Empowering Communities during the Pandemic
Abstract Narrative
Indonesia’s government considered covid-19 as non-natural national disaster after rapid rising of cases caused by the virus. As a response, President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo formed a team called Indonesian Task Force for Covid-19 Response Acceleration (Satgas Covid-19). Satgas Covid-19 is responsible to mitigate the outbreak with the cooperation of regional administrations, ministries, national agencies, including corporates. Pertamina EP Tarakan Field is one of those corporates who cooperated with Satgas Covid-19 in order to mitigate the outbreak.
Pertamina EP Tarakan Field (Tarakan Field) is an Indonesian oil and gas industry that owned by the state and committed as well as consistently doing corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. When the outbreak hit the whole nation, Tarakan Field immediately took an action to respond. As a first aid in early outbreak, the company distributed thousands of mask and gloves, hundreds of protection equipment, built a portable washing stand, litres of hand sanitizer, etc. The list is so long. Tarakan Field is pretty aware of covid-19 impact and the fact that this pandemic won’t be over in the near future. Distributing basic needs isn’t the answer for the long battle. Communities in the end need to stand up on their own, not solely depending on charities. That’s why Tarakan Field took into real action through CSR practice by establish Kampung Enam Peduli Penanggulangan Covid-19 (Kampung Enam’s Caution of Covid-19 Prevention), or shortened as Kelingan Covid-19.
Kelingan Covid-19 is not only a mere CSR program, but it is a social innovative, a community based coping mechanism to survive during this global pandemic. From community, by community, and for community. As a well-planned CSR program, Kelingan Covid-19 became a collective acts of Kampung Enam civilian. They learned to care and helping each other more. Most importantly, they learned how to stand on their own.
This article summarise Tarakan Field respond to pandemic and how they empowering communities during the hard times. Although it is quite early to say the program is successful, but there are lessons we can learn from. The aim of this article is simply to share CSR practice during outbreak and how corporate and communities work together. In the end, to win this long battle is not only how well the state managing the pandemic, but how much the citizens are willing to take responsibilities, individually and collectively. As well as how much the citizens are willing to care and help each other.
Keywords: covid-19, Pertamina EP Tarakan Field, CSR practice, community empowerment, kelingan covid-19
Biography
A community development officer at Pertamina EP Tarakan Field, a state owned oil and gas exploration and production company located at Indonesia.
Dr Rita Dhungel
Ph.D, Assistant Professor
School of Social Work, Faculty of Health and Community Studies MacEwan University, Edmonton, Alberta,Canada
Who is Responsible? Community -Led Transformative Responses to Address the Issues of HIV Community Amidst COVID-19
Abstract Narrative
“Background: This Presentation explores the intersectional gender oppression that Women Living with HIV (WLWH) experience during COVID-19 and their involvement in addressing their own issues by developing a wide range of community-led transformative programs and activities. The goals of this presentation are: (I) to examine the programs and services that were available for the HIV Community during COVID -19, especially when lockdown measures were imposed in Kathmandu, Nepal; (II) to critically understand their mental health and psychological challenges from social health determinants perspectives; and (III) to identify key community-led transformative approaches and their applications in responding to COVID-19. Methods: Using a qualitative paradigm, a community-based participatory study was conducted in Kathmandu, Nepal. The study began by setting up a virtual stage to engage with 11 WLWH through informal conversations followed by two focus groups and semi structured individual interviews. By recognizing the intersectional challenges experienced by the women, as the study progressed, a wide range of community led transformative responses to COVID-19 such as ongoing peer support, community food hampers, fundraising, mental health support and etc. were developed and implemented to address the collective issues identified. The implications of the responses/programs were also measured. Using thematic analysis, the data was coded and categorised from human rights and equity lenses. Results: The community-based study found that COVID-19 restriction measures drastically impacted on mental health and psychological wellbeing of the women in multiple ways. At a national level, the Government of Nepal imposed a lockdown as an appropriate measure to limit the spread of COVID-19, but this response failed to meet the basic needs of WLWH. The food hampers programs which were launched by the Government of Nepal as part of the lockdown response was unsuccessful to meet the needs of the women. In addition, some community-based organizations who are committed to working with the HIV Community did not even maintain the privacy of women. This presentation will explore the community -led responses and their implementations in depth. Conclusions: For the women in this study, the intersectional oppression they experienced during COVID-19 heightened their levels of stress and anxiety, and disappointingly, there was no system to help with testing and support for their mental and psychological disorders. Therefore, the women and the researcher, Rita Dhungel, developed some transformative strategies to address the identified issues and acted upon them. However, it is imperative for the Government to act immediately and support the women by acknowledging the challenges and vulnerability that WLWH experience from COVID-19. But, sadly, the government is silent as it relates to the issues of HIV community escalating the vulnerability of women to socio-economic marginalization. Overall, it is incredibly important all the actors including government, psychological and counselling associations, Civic society, HIV serving agencies and the HIV community come together and address the collective issues in a timely fashion. Keywords: Community -led responses, COVID-19, HIV Community, Mental health ”
Biography
Dr Rita Dhungel with a Nepali heritage is an assistant professor with School of Social Work, Faculty of Health and Community Studies at MacEwan University. Rita as a community builder and a feminist participatory action researcher has been involved in community practice, teaching, and community-based research both in Canada and Nepal. She strongly believes liberatory education and transformative research can promote community and social change, and this is evidence of her involvement in community based participatory action research with trafficking survivors and people living with HIV in Canada and Nepal.
Dr Marc Felizzi
PhD,LCSW,Associate Professor of Social Work
Millersville University, USA
Promoting Community Resilience in Rural Areas Following a Natural Disaster
Abstract Narrative
Abstract: There are key characteristics of rural areas making them vulnerable following natural disasters. Due to these inherent vulnerabilities, there is a need to utilize community assets to enhance capacity. This presentation utilizes a case study approach to examine strengths and challenges within two rural communities that experienced a natural disaster.
Proposal:
Of the total land mass in the United States, 83% encompasses rural areas (U.S. Census Bureau, 2011). There are key characteristics of rural areas that often make them vulnerable when natural disasters occur. These characteristics include a dependence on the natural environment for economic survival; and a belief about individual autonomy, self-reliance, and distrust of outsiders (Zakour, 2007). Additionally, in regards to emergency response, rural communities often lack the infrastructure necessary and this can lead to severe consequences (Pilemalm, Stenberg, Granberg, & Axelsson, 2012). The lack of infrastructure is related to the geographic location, economic vulnerability, difficulties in transportation and communication, and inadequate health and human services often characteristic of rural areas. This lack of infrastructure places residents in rural areas in vulnerable positions as they are often left to meet their own needs following a disaster (Flint & Brennan, 2006).
According to Mathbor (2012), disaster can be defined as a hazard causing significant damage to a vulnerable community. Emergency management is the practice of preparing, responding, and recovering communities before, during, and after a disaster. Due to the inherent vulnerabilities in rural areas, there is a need to utilize community assets to enhance capacity of the people and organizations within these communities. These community assets include solidarity, social cohesion, social interaction, and social networks (Mathbor, 2012).
To recover from a community trauma, supports must be strong, dependable, and grounded in the communities’ culture and values (Chin & Talpelli, 2015). Local institutions, including schools, community centers, religious and cultural organizations as well as the community administrative, legal, medical, and social service agencies provide the systems necessary to help a community recover from trauma. Utilizing case studies from disasters occurring in Valparaiso, Chile and Sa Juan, Puerto Rico, the presenters will highlight the vulnerabilities present in each rural community and the effect they had during the response and recovery phase of emergency management. Additionally, a comparative analysis of the community assets will highlight the importance of building community capacity to ensure effective response to the disaster and the ability to “bounce back” afterward.
Biography
Dr. Marc Felizzi earned his MSW from Delaware State University in 1995, and his PhD in Social Work from Widener University in 2011. He has spent the last 25 years working with and researching children, adolescents and their families, as well as the effects of trauma and the impact of traumatic reactions, in addition to the effects of addictive behavior of adolescents and their families. Dr. Felizzi is a trained provider of the Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) substance abuse assessment model. He has examined the effects of family violence, juvenile violence, and the consequences of family instability on youth. Dr. Felizzi has written extensively on these topics, and his findings and opinions have appeared in local and national publications, and he has been interviewed on a number of national radio and television regarding juvenile violence. Dr. Felizzi joined the Millersville University School of Social Work in 2013, where he teaches Advanced Human Behavior in the Social Environment, Family Violence, Social Work Practice and Mental Health. Also teaches classes in conjunction with the Master of Science in Emergency Management program in Emergency Mental Health and Trauma. Dr. Felizzi is also the Principal Investigator for the Millersville University School of Social Work’s Federal Opioid Workforce Expansion Program grant. Dr. Felizzi often brings his clinical experiences to life in class and shares his experiences as a therapist with students. In addition, he has a thriving clinical practice in Wilmington, Delaware where he works with children, adolescents and their families.