Program Areas
Education Rights: Building Solidarity for Public Education
CoDev’s partners improve public education by increasing gender equity, both in the classroom and in education unions; developing participatory classroom teaching practices; and promoting public input into policy creation.
“The goal of an education system should be the transformation of our societies.” ~ Luzmilla Sanchez, FOMCA Three specific objectives aim towards this goal: to increase participation and representation of women in teaching unions; to promote inclusive and participatory classroom teaching practices; and to promote the participation of civil society in the improvement of public education. CoDev also supports the development of the Non-Sexist teaching approach in Central America, which includes the development of learning materials and teachers’ guides and the training of Non-Sexist Pedagogy promoters selected by CoDev’s teacher organization partners in Central America.
Human Rights: Strengthening Grassroots Community-Led Development
CoDev supports grassroots community groups working to improve people’s health and social well-being. Our partners enable local people to find their own solutions for improving their communities. All of our community-led development projects are initiated and designed by the communities themselves, enabling local people to find their own solutions for improving their communities.
Labour Rights: Women Maquila Workers
CoDev supports solidarity between trade unions and local groups working for social justice in sweatshops. CoDev’s partners educate and empower workers in their struggle to protect their labour rights.
The maquila garment-assembly industry in Central America has boomed since the early 1980s, creating a large number of desperately needed jobs in the region. Unfortunately, factory conditions and worker wages are abysmal, meaning social injustice for the labour force, 80% of whom are women who live in poverty. In this program area, CoDev supports women’s groups whose aim is to educate and empower workers.
Visit our Latin American partners page to learn more about who we work with in each of these program areas.
Public Engagement: Involving Canadians
CoDev helps Canadians understand their connections to global issues and the challenges of our partners in Latin America. Our annual film festival, curriculum resource production, and public speaking tours focus on key development issues. Through seminars, tours and presentations with our Canadian partners, CoDev raises awareness about our Latin American partners’ struggles and successes.
Involving Canadians is a key component of CoDev’s partnership model. CoDev works especially closely with its Canadian partners, sharing information from their Latin American partners and providing education on development and social justice.
The Government of Canada provides funding for these initiatives.
