TSUNAMI - The students held a session on the causes and effects the Asian
tsunami had on the area and the people, and if the aid was reaching the worst
affected areas. The members also discussed their ideas on why Asia does not have
an early warning system in place.
AIDS IN AFRICA - We had a guest speaker John McCallion from Oxfam who described the effects aids has in Africa, and how medication was too expensive for the region to buy; we also discussed how myths grow about possible cures for aids victims.
POLLUTION - A group called Trapeze visited Bothkennar and we learned how pollution is destroying the environment and how we can change our own habits to help save on energy. Grangemouth's oil refinery was discussed as one of the worst areas for pollution in Scotland.
VIDEO
LETTERS PROJECT - Some of our students took part in making their own videos
about the pollution the oil refinery in Grangemouth causes to both the local and
surrounding areas. People in Brazil also produced a video about pollution in their
part of the world and joined forces with the people who made the film in Grangemouth
so giving them more of a voice to reduce the poison that is being put into our
air.
POVERTY - The students had discussions on the effects poverty has on the poor in the world and decided to make a banner to take to the make poverty history march in Edinburgh on July 2nd, to try to bring our feelings to the attention of the most powerful men who were attending theG8 meeting at Gleneagles.
INTERNATIONAL
WOMENS DAY - some of the group attended a women's day held at Falkirk College
to give a talk on some of the banners that have been made by the students at C.T.D.U.
PILTON - The students visited the Pilton project where the two sets of members gave an insight on what their projects are all about, we displayed the CTDU banner and explained how the idea for our own banner was discussed and the process of making the banner.
CRAIGMILLAR - The students also visited Craigmillar where we exchanged information about our projects inspiring each other with different ideas.
CEILIDH - After the success of last year's celidh we decided to hold another. We didn't think we could better the last one but everyone agreed it only gets better. The Robert Fish band was excellent making it easier for everyone to learn the steps. The amount raised for our funds was £1,012.
GARDEN - Members took part in creating a willow work screen as well as a beach scene with our very own boat. We were very proud to have won a newcomers garden award from Falkirk Council, it made all the hard work worthwhile.
FILM4UM - The students participated in a film4um held at Bothkennar and watched 'Inside I'm Dancing' and debated the issues that arose from watching the film.
DISABILITY AWARNESS GROUP ACCESS TRAINING - the students also watched a film made by this group of people with disabilities who challenged a councillor and a service manager to use a wheelchair for a day.
IYAAH
- The members of the students association made a banner for Iyaah when she
sadly left to take up a new post. We all made a copy of our hands
putting our
own messages on them, we also gave her an album with pictures inside, going back
to her first days until the present day at C.T.D.U. so she could look back with
pride on what she achieved here.
