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What does it mean to be poor, or an immigrant? What form should Aid take? This album begins to explore the complex issues of international development in a globalised world, starting with a look at schemes which attempt to alleviate poverty. Small business owners are empowered by micro-financing in Glasgow, while in Argentina a disastrous economic collapse has led to people taking matters into their own hands by creating an alternative social exchange currency. Migrant communities, such as Greek Cypriots and Ethiopians in London, and Sierra Leoneans in Liverpool, have a chance to reveal the issues they’ve faced; while in the audio tracks we hear from experts who are working to expand the contribution that African migrants abroad can make to Africa’s development. Finally, a Chinese "beer pioneer" and China trade experts discuss China’s membership of the World Trade Organisation. To complete the album, Dr Helen Yanacopulos of The Open University's Development Policy and Practice unit explains the choice of some of the case studies, and unpicks some of the issues that emerge. This material is taken from The Open University course TU871 Development: context and practice.
Track 14: Studying international development
Dr Helen Yanacopulos talks about The Open University course and some of the case studies on this album.
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Tracks in this podcast:
| Track | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | International development: microcredit and migration | Introducing the album's content Play now International development: microcredit and migration |
| 2 | Small change for a better world | Micro-credit unions, how they work and how they are empowering women in Glasgow to start their own small businesses. Play now Small change for a better world |
| 3 | Argentina’s Poor: Surviving without money | The poor of Argentina are trading goods and services in replace of currency in a global exchange network. Play now Argentina’s Poor: Surviving without money |
| 4 | Establishing migrant communities in London | Why Greek and Ethiopian migrants came to London and what has made them stay. Play now Establishing migrant communities in London |
| 5 | London's Greek community | How Greeks in London are keeping their cultural identity and how this is changing. Play now London's Greek community |
| 6 | Keeping in touch with home | How London's migrant communities maintain links with their country of origin. Play now Keeping in touch with home |
| 7 | Challenges faced by Ethiopians in London | A look at the a challenges Ethiopians are facing in London and how they are coping with them. Play now Challenges faced by Ethiopians in London |
| 8 | Moving to England | Two Sierra Leonean women on their experiences of arriving in England, and their experiences as immigrants in England. Play now Moving to England |
| 9 | Internationally organised AFFORD | Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie, Director of AFFORD, explains the role of his organisation within the African Diaspora Play now Internationally organised AFFORD |
| 10 | Developing for the future | Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie, Director of AFFORD, describes his hopes for the future of the African Diaspora Play now Developing for the future |
| 11 | Doing business in China | How entry into the World Trade Organisation will help both businesses in China and those trying to export to China. Play now Doing business in China |
| 12 | Negotiating China's accession | Why the negotiation for China's accession to the WTO has taken so long. Play now Negotiating China's accession |
| 13 | Is China a developing country? | The importance of the categorisation of China as a developed, or a developing, country Play now Is China a developing country? |
| 14 | Studying international development | Dr Helen Yanacopulos talks about The Open University course and some of the case studies on this album. Play now Studying international development |
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What makes the story powerful is its simplicity: a small amount of support can lead to lasting improvement. The documentary reminds us that when women are empowered, entire communities benefit. It is a positive and welcome example of how thoughtful development efforts can truly make a difference.