Utrecht University Centre for Global Challenges (UGlobe)

🌍 Event Recap: Movie Screening & Panel discussion on the First 1,001 Days in South Africa 🎥 Our Global Health group recently hosted a movie screening and panel discussion on '1001 Days', a documentary highlighting the lives of young mothers and dedicated community health workers in Alexandra, South Africa. The film showcases the resilience of health workers like Zanele, Thandiwe, and Khosi, who tirelessly support mothers during the crucial first 1,001 days of their babies' lives. Key Takeaways: 🤔 Acting vs. Listening: The conversation challenged us to consider our role—are we just observing, or do we have an obligation to act? 🔗 Intersectionality: Compounding challenges like poverty, HIV, mental health and minimal support systems create unique, intersecting vulnerabilities for young mothers. 💬 Safe Spaces: Programs like the Ububele Home Visit Program provide essential, trusted support and break cycles of disadvantage. 📈 Inter-generational Impact: Despite the obstacles, the resilience of these women and their hope for a better future were inspiring. The discussion underscored the importance of early intervention and social support in giving children and mothers a stronger start in life. If you're interested in streaming '1001 Days' or supporting the Ububele Home Visit Program, visit their websites to learn more. Together, we can make a difference! 🌟 Read more about the event here: https://lnkd.in/dnRdzFfS #UGlobe #UtrechtUniversity #GlobalHealth #MaternalHealth #EarlyChildhood #Intersectionality #SafeSpaces #1001Days Megan Milota Tienke Vermeiden, MA PhD Sisay M. Alemu Regien Biesma Chloe White Kethiwe Ngcobo Rose Palmer Global Health UMC Utrecht

📢 Update: working on a Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Community-Engaged Platform 🌍    We are excited to announce that we are currently developing our Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Community-Engaged Platform! 🌍 While we are working on this platform, we want to take you along on our process, occasionally sharing updates as we take important steps towards a more enriched learning experience.    The goal of the platform is to equip teachers - primarily from the Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance - with hands-on tools that foster real-world engagement with the SDGs. In the end, the platform will connect Utrecht University with diverse local communities, especially in the Global South, through academic courses 🤝 This way we hope to enrich student learning while contributing meaningfully to social responsibility and community development.     🇰🇪 First stop: Elangata Wuas, Southern Kenya 🇰🇪    As a first step in shaping our new platform, our UGlobe interns Andrea Di Maio and Lianne Pieterson spent the month of September in Elangata Wuas engaging with members of local organizations to identify opportunities for collaboration with Utrecht University.    Elangata Wuas is a traditional Maasai community where the SDGs can inspire impactful collaboration. The community relies on livestock, small-scale farming, and small businesses, and they’ve established self-help groups to support each other financially and socially 👥 However, they also face significant challenges, including limited water access, roads in poor condition, and the impacts of climate change, especially harsh droughts.    Elangata Wuas holds a special connection to UGlobe through Joost de Laat, our former director who supported community-based activities there from 2006 to 2015.     🎯 We are creating an immersive introduction to the Elangata Wuas community with videos, photos, and interviews with local members. Teachers will learn about the activities, goals, and challenges of local organizations, and how the SDGs are embedded in their context. We will also share academic publications and resources to help teachers to incorporate Community-Engaged Learning into their courses. Plus, we are developing a live feature that will allow teachers to connect students with community members in real-time!     Follow us on social media and check out our website (https://lnkd.in/epgT2Vsv) to stay updated! 📲    Universiteit Utrecht Rechtsgeleerdheid Universiteit Utrecht   #UGlobe #UtrechtUniversity #SustainableDevelopmentGoals #SDGs #CommunityEngagement #CommunityEngagedLearning #ElangataWuas 

We (Mensen met een Missie and Utrecht University) are organizing a special event in The Hague on the topic of polarisation - both in the Netherlands and beyond - and we would love for you to join! Please do not hesitate to get in touch with me if you would like to know more. You can sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eijDvZFC 📆 On November 14th, we are organizing an expert meeting on transforming polarisation into connection, at Het Nutshuis in The Hague, in collaboration with the Utrecht University Centre for Global Challenges (UGlobe). 🌍 Together with experts such as Simon Polinder and Bea ten Tusscher, we will discuss how we can combat polarisation, drawing inspiration from initiatives both within the Netherlands and beyond our borders. 💡 In his keynote speech Bulama Bukarti, a renowned analyst from Nigeria, will share how Nigeria has fostered social cohesion despite deep religious and ethnic divides, and during interactive workshops participants will practice techniques for strengthening relationships, fostering dialogue and transforming polarisation into connection. 🤝 We're looking forward to an inspiring day and engaging in dialogue with many experts and taking a meaningful step towards a future with less polarisation! #mensenmeteenmissie #polarisation #polarisatie #bewegingvoorverbinding #dialoog #dialogue #expertmeeting #JISRA Utrecht University Centre for Global Challenges (UGlobe)

Utrecht University boasts a vibrant and distinctive community of research and teaching fellows. They incorporate the perspectives from the Global South and beyond in their education or research. In our series ‘faces of global perspectives’, we’ll put them in the spotlight. Introducing Payal Arora ⭐ In January 2024, Arora was appointed Professor of Inclusive AI Cultures at Utrecht University’s Faculty of Humanities. She is a ‘digital anthropologist’ and looks at media cultures from the bottom up and from a user’s perspective. As 90 per cent of young people live outside the West, she argues that it is inevitable to look at the Global South in the context of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital cultures 🤖 Arora highlights the importance of adopting a fresh perspective that includes marginalized voices, focusing on AI’s potential to create opportunities, especially in the Global South. “Many Western organizations still hold top down and condescending views towards the Global South. This results in a failure to learn and co-create solutions to the world’s most formidable problems in climate change, social inequality, and the future of work.” Last month, Arora’s book ‘From Pessimism to Promise: Lessons from the Global South on Designing Inclusive Tech’ was launched, coinciding with the official launch of the Inclusive AI Group. The Inclusive AI group is a diverse consortium that aims to ensure that AI is optimized for social justice and planetary wellbeing by uniting diverse voices and expertise 🤝 In a world where technologies are quickly evolving, an inclusive approach becomes all the more important. For more information about Payal Arora, visit https://lnkd.in/e3SF3S6M, for a recap of the Inclusive AI Group & book launch visit https://lnkd.in/ep86Pgvm #UGlobe #UtrechtUniversity #InclusiveAI Universiteit Utrecht Inclusive AI Lab

📆 On November 14th, we are organizing an expert meeting on transforming polarisation into connection, at Het Nutshuis in The Hague, in collaboration with the Utrecht University Centre for Global Challenges (UGlobe). 🌍 Together with experts such as Simon Polinder and Bea ten Tusscher, we will discuss how we can combat polarization, drawing inspiration from initiatives both within the Netherlands and beyond our borders. 💡 In his keynote speech Bulama Bukarti, a renowned analyst from Nigeria, will share how Nigeria has fostered social cohesion despite deep religious and ethnic divides, and during interactive workshops participants will practice techniques for strengthening relationships, fostering dialogue and transforming polarization into connection. 🤝 We're looking forward to an inspiring day and engaging in dialogue with many experts and taking a meaningful step towards a future with less polarisation! #mensenmeteenmissie #polarisation #polarisatie #bewegingvoorverbinding #dialoog #dialogue #expertmeeting #jisra

Proud to share this update from our Global Health alumn Cheyenne Gumbs, Msc. 🤩 #UtrechtUniversity #UGlobe #GlobalHealth Universiteit Utrecht UMC Utrecht Global Health UMC Utrecht

📣 Announcement: new Tackling real-world problems through Interdisciplinary Collaboration (TIC) course 📚 After a successful TIC course last year, we are glad to announce a new edition for this academic year. TIC is centered around interdisciplinary and cross-level collaboration to solve societal challenges within the four strategic themes of Utrecht University. The themes of the course this year are: 🛣️ Investing in the future (Pathways to Sustainability) 🌍 Humans on the Move (Institutions for Open Societies) 💚 Green Teens (Dynamics of Youth) 🩺 One Health (Life sciences) The course takes place in period 3 (starting in February 2025) and brings Bachelor-3 students, Master students and professionals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines together to develop solutions to authentic social problems proposed by an external partner. You can register for the next course now! The deadline to apply is November 22nd 23:59! Read more: https://lnkd.in/e67VtMHq Universiteit Utrecht #UniversiteitUtrecht #UGlobe #TIC #interdisciplinary

📢 Event alert: Lecture ‘Decolonizing Access to Justice under Kenya’s Transformative Constitution’ ⚖️ On October 25th, guest lecturer prof. Justice Joel Ngugi will enlighten us with his knowledge in this event hosted by Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM) and Montaigne Centre for Rule of Law and Administration of Justice. Our esteemed colleague Julie Fraser PhD will chair the meeting. 📆 Friday, October 25, 2024 ⏰ 10:00 - 11:30  📍 Johanna Hudig building, Achter Sint Pieter 200 (Alex Brenninkmeijerzaal, Level 2), Utrecht Will we see you there? For more information, visit https://lnkd.in/e36kb_Gv #UGlobe #UtrechtUniversity #AccesToJustice #Decolonization

Looking forward to this engaging event next week 🤩 The movie '1001 days' highlights the importance of crucial interventions. An example is the Home Visiting program by Ububele, a mother and infant mental health charity. This program aims to enhance infant development by empowering mothers to provide the best care ❤️🩹 Ububele trains local mothers to visit homes in Alexandra, a township facing high unemployment, poverty, and HIV rates. These home visitors support new and expecting mothers, many of whom live far from family. 80% of the mothers had unplanned pregnancies, and 73% report experiencing physical or emotional abuse. Sign up now for the event (next Thursday, October 24th): https://lnkd.in/e32DHWpY

🌍 Global Health highlight 🩺