Henry Red Cloud, Ralf Kracke-Berndorff and David Bartecchi participated in the United Nations Biodiversity Conference at UNESCO headquarters in Paris this week. One stream of the conference focused on the importance of indigenous knowledge in the protection of biodiversity. 
Above: David Bartecchi, Henry Red Cloud, Celine Planchou (CSIA – Paris), Ralf Kracke-Berndorff, and Sophie, Gergoud (CSIA Paris) 
Above: The Celine Planchou from CSIA – Paris looks on as Ralf adjusts his earphone. 
One of the highlights of our visit to UNESCO headquarters was our meeting with Douglas Nakashima, Director of UNESCO’s L.I.N.K.S. (Linking Indigenous Knowledge Systems) project where we discussed Village Earth’s work on the Pine Ridge Reservation and our efforts to protect and utilize Lakota knowledge systems in our projects.
GSLL 1501 – Approaches to Community Development
This course provides a framework for community development based on a participatory, bottom-up, multi-sector model. Various approaches have been used in community development with varying degrees of success. One approach that has consistently demonstrated effectiveness is the Village Earth model based on participatory practices.
Through personal and structural empowerment, the objectives of economic well-being, environmental sustainability, and socio-cultural vitalization can be met. By looking at an overview of the entire development process and using case studies, this course will prepare participants to work in the field of community development and illuminate how all of the development efforts fit together to support the overall goal of sustainability.
Upon completion of this course participants will be able to:
Compare different development approaches and evaluate their effectiveness.
Understand the basic principles that underlie sustainable development.
Incorporate participatory practices into community development activities
Design a development project based on the Village Earth model
Who should take this course? This course is suited for people who are interested in community development and work or plan to work in this field. This includes people working or volunteering at NGOs, NPOs, governmental organizations, without border organizations, or missionary organizations. In addition, people involved in funding community development projects benefit from this course.
