Terry Rogocki

I presently work with the UBC Centre for Intercultural
Communication as an instructor/facilitator in two of their programs:
Professional Global Innovation and Pacific
Bridge. I worked in Sri
Lanka from November 2006 February 2008
with World University Service of Canada (seconded to a local NGO) as the
Livelihood Coordinator. Much of my work involved building cross-sector
partnerships with government, UN bodies, NGOs and private organizations. I
facilitated a monthly livelihood forum, helped support various projects around
the island, helped implement value chain projects, and researched
human/workers' rights in IDP camps and on tea plantations. Before that, I was involved in international education as the Director of a
private language school, as an English teacher in Japan,
and as the Program Assistant at the University
of Alberta's
International Centre. I did my undergraduate degree in Anthropology and Geography and have a Masters
degree in Leadership and Training with a focus on sustainability.

I have always had a keen interest in far-away places, cultures, and human
rights. To date, I have been to about 70 countries; I love how my perspectives
change during and after each "adventure."

I became involved with Oxfam as a result of my time in Sri Lanka. As a coordinator for a local NGO, I worked in
partnership with various I/NGOs. I
particularly liked the work being done by Oxfam Great Britain and was
impressed with the grassroots work they were doing. I linked in to one of their Dairy Cooperative
Programs and enjoyed learning about the innovative approach they were
taking. When I came back to Canada, I
wanted to stay connected to my overseas experience, and found out about the
Oxfam BC/Yukon regional office.

I am fairly new in being `active (locally) with Oxfam. I became a volunteer after attending one of
the intake sessions in 2008, and quickly jumped into becoming a member (it helped
me become more committed to the organization).
I had ongoing discussions with the coordinator at the regional office
who encouraged me to get more involved.
As a result, I attended the regional assembly, became a regional
steering committee member, and have since gotten involved in the `We Can
campaign as a facilitator, and with the Regional Action Team in a support
role. I see myself doing a lot more once
I have a greater understanding of the `big picture...only time will tell.

Simply put, I enjoy just being part of an organization that
really cares about social justice and envisions a world without poverty, not
only in theory, but through the action of its members. I have learned that
there are many people out there (like myself) that are frustrated and want to
see changes made to certain (detrimental) processes taking place globally. With that in mind, I am learning to throw
those frustrations aside and not be so focused on my cynical-realistic `nature. Through constructive practice, rather than
destructive thought, I'm reinventing and balancing my realism with idealistic
vision.