A standardized approach to training for humanitarian response; developed, organized and instructed by Canadian expertise from the global humanitarian sector.

 May 8 – 19 at University of Toronto and Simulation Exercise at University of Toronto Koffler Scientific Reserve 
Application deadline is Thursday, March 21 at 11:55PM EST to elayna.fremes@utoronto.ca 

Successful applicants will be informed of registration steps. 

Program details, faculty list and application from http://www.ghd-si.utoronto.ca/call-for-applications-for-2013-canadian-disaster-and-humanitarian-training-program/ 

The 2013 Canadian Disaster and Humanitarian Response Training Program will provide interested medical students, residents, public health students, other graduate-level students with relevant backgrounds, mid-career professionals and humanitarian workers with the globally-recognized competencies relevant to humanitarian work. The program will include both in-classroom learning as well as participation in a 3-day Field Simulation at the Koffler Scientific Reserve ksr.utoronto.ca/ Content for this program will be informed by expert practitioners and organizations working in the field. 

COURSE PARTICIPANTS WILL GAIN 

• Competency-based essentials in humanitarian response practice recognized by NGOs, 
• Canadian universities and government as the standard for professional-level humanitarian training
• Solid foundation to build a career in international humanitarian research and/or practice
• Opportunity to become part of the humanitarian sector community

“I liked going to school… We used to write and play. When I want to remember something happy, it is playing with my friends on the swings. We laughed. I miss them. At the beginning… there wasn’t shelling at my school, but after some time the shelling started. I stopped going to school when the shelling started. It wasn’t safe. I feel sad that my school was burned because my school reminds me of my friends. I love going to school.”                                                                                                                                                                                   

Noura, age 10   Save the Children (2013)

Early March marks two years since the crisis in Syria began and there is very little indication that the situation is improving. Save the Children and UNICEF both released reports this week highlighting the impact the crisis is having on children and stressing the importance of education – even in the face of an such tragedy.

Save the Children: Childhood Under Fire

UNICEF: Crisis in Syria Two-Year Report

The New York Times featured the work of photojournalist Lynsey Addario in  Daily Life in Syria’s Civil War

As of March 2013, there were more than 1 million people, 52% of them children, registered as refugees living otuside the country. With the support of the humanitarian community, many children living in camps, while they face severe overcrowding and uncertain futures are able to realize their right to education.