Former student works to

restore peace in Kenya

With his friends being uprooted from
their homes in Kenya, 21-year-old
North Vancouver resident, James
Haga, is dividing his time between
international studies at Simon Fraser
University and finding ways to help
his extended family overseas.

James returned from Kenya last July
before violence erupted there after
January's election. He had spent
nearly a year in Kakamega in western
Kenya doing impact assessment work
through a CIDA-funded internship
with the African Canadian Continuing
Education Society (ACCES).

“T could see the potential for trouble,”
he said, “especially because Kenya
is a relatively new democracy with
people in the government who had
previously been in power and who
are known to be corrupt.”

James initially became involved in
making a difference in people’s lives
through Capilano College’s Global
Stewardship program. The Argyle
Secondary grad went directly into
the two year program after finishing

high school in 2004. By the time
he graduated from the college
with an Associate of Arts degree
in 2006, he knew his future was in
making positive global change.

“I left high school and didn’t know
what I wanted to do, but I knew I
wanted to work to support others in
some way,” he said. “I went to an
information meeting at Cap and met
Cam Sylvester, coordinator of the
Global Stewardship program. He
convinced me that there was a role
for young people to make change.”

In 2007, James enrolled in SFU’s
bachelor of International Studies
program, taking a minor in Dialogue.

“This program is about making a
difference in the world,” he said.
It's the same philosophy as the
Global Stewardship program at Cap,
so it’s nice to have a continuation
of that.”

In addition to his studies, James
volunteers as vice chair of the board
of directors for Watari, a youth and

Seniors receive leadership training

Capilano business degree student,
Chen Lizra, has been named the
2008 British Columbia Student
Entrepreneur Champion by Advancing
Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE) and
program supporter, CIBC.

Since 2005, Chen has owned and
operated Latidos Productions, a hip
Cuban dance company that provides
unique dance classes and events.

“Tam extremely grateful to my
School of Business instructor,
Todd Newfield, who I think

is an incredible instructor and
entrepreneur,” Chen said. “What I
have learned from him in the past
year about business is priceless.

“T have to admit that before I met
Todd, I had a small vision for my
company,” she added, “but Todd

Business student, Chen Lizra,
shows her winning form at her
dance studio, Latidos Productions.

helped me expand my thinking to
the point that it’s now a
multimillion dollar plan—a plan
that I can make happen.”

Former Global Stew, James Haga, is seen with
a group of friends in Kakamega, Kenya.

family services program based in
Vancouver's downtown eastside. He
also sits on a school chapter board
for Engineers without Borders, an
organization that provides practical
sustainable solutions for four
African communities.

“And there is a group of us here and
in Africa working together to solve
the crisis in Kenya right now,” he
added. “We're called the Kenyan
Peace and Solidarity Committee.

“T asked my friends there what
we can do and they just said,
‘Please keep us in mind and try
to convince your government that
we matter! So we're working in
different ways to do that.”

Banner team

Congratulations to the team
responsible for the successful
implementation of the first phase of
Banner HR. Team members include,
from left to right: Nikta Bayanpour,
Corina Stan, Bev Baldwin, Steve
Gallagher, Cindy Turner, Tamara
Ilersich, Barbara Ottley, (back row)
Elham Seyedi, Terry Kennedy,
Lindsey Skaling, and Yvonne Ngai
(front right).

Updates on future stages will be
posted on Frontlines at HR/Payroll
Changes —News found in the column
on the left.

Education
Council report

by Dr. Robert Campbell

At our March meeting, Paul
Dangerfield and Sharka Stuyt
(assisted by student Casey
Charleson) gave a presentation
on the “CAPabilities Based
Learning Model,” which is
derived from Alverne College in
Wisconsin.

In abilities-based learning,
students must demonstrate both
knowledge and the skills to
employ that knowledge in a
meaningful way. This model has
been adopted by Capilano’s
School of Business, with the
emphasis on communications,
analysis and decision making,
social interaction, and
citizenship and a global
perspective.

We also gave approval in
principle to two new non-credit
programs. The first is Business
and Culture in Canada, which is
designed to help students who
have English as a second
language to succeed in a
multicultural environment from
a business perspective. The
second is Civic Leadership for
Seniors. Funded by two
provincial ministries, this
program will bring older people
together with community
experts to help seniors develo
leadership skills that will be
effective in their communities.

Finally, Council was asked for its.
immediate feedback on the
College's proposed scheduling
changes to make more prime-
time blocks available. While
some concern was expressed
about scheduling classes over
the 12:30 to 1:30 p.m: period
on Monday and Wednesdays,
overall members were supportive
of the proposal.

informer
Vol. XXIX No. 3

North Vancouver, B.(
V7J 305

Tel: 604.
Fax: 604
Deadline
Monday,

r the April issue is:
arch 31, 2008.
ans (including :
photographs) may be edited