Development Education Research Centre, Institute of Education, University College London
Abstract
Asian Foundation for Philanthropy (AFP) is a UK-based charity that was established
in 2004 with the aim of linking British Asians with innovative social change initiatives
in India.
This report is a final evaluation of the AFP’s Gyaan Yatra project. The project began
in April 2010 and ended in March 2013. The overall aim of the Project was to engage
and build the capacity of a team of British Asian Development Ambassadors (DAs)
so that they are equipped with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of
challenges and prospects for development and poverty reduction, global
consequences of poverty.
The main features of the Project were:
(1) Training a team of Development Ambassadors (DAs), and later Gyaan Yatra
Fellows, who developed their knowledge and understanding of development
issues and shared their learning with contacts in UK Indian diaspora
communities.
(2) Supporting the DAs to run events and to raise awareness and understanding
within their communities on global and development issues.
(3) Creating a range of communication tools to promote greater understanding of
development issues. This included an online portal that acted as a focus for
sharing ideas and debating key issues of interest to members of diaspora
communities. In addition, a series of videos were produced by some of the
DAs and supporters and then shared via AFP community YouTube channel.
Gyaan Yatra more than achieved its project target of engaging 30 Development
Ambassadors. In the end, 26 DAs and 20 Fellows were actively engaged in the
project through training and activities provided by AFP.
In addition, the project raised awareness of development and global issues with
several thousand people within the wider UK Indian diaspora communities. This is
illustrated by the fact that over 4,500 people attended events and nearly 5,000
people joined the debates on the AFP website.
The project was also an excellent example of how to engage members of Indian
diaspora communities in development education by (i) building on existing social and
cultural perspectives, and (ii) focusing on a learning approach that encourages
debate, dialogue and critical reflection
