Curriculum Project
Update Summer 2005

Our third meeting with our counterparts was held with STITCH counterparts in Antigua , Guatemala , on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 st , 2004 . The ten unionists who attended reviewed the second chapter of the gender module (patriarchy), and we also reviewed the previous training on popular education methodology to provide follow up on the new training tools presented at the last meeting. During the practice session for the patriarchy chapter, the participants found ways to make our language more concise and identified points where more clarification is needed. We received encouraging feedback on the meeting and our counterparts clearly found the participatory model relevant to their practice as organizers and educators.

In early 2005, STITCH staff worked with a professional design team to provide a high quality and consistent format for the curriculum that would be fun and easy to use. The first two finished chapters have been given the new format and now are in the hands of our Central American partners for field testing and evaluation.

We hosted our fourth meeting of partners in Puerto Cortez , Honduras from May 11-13 th , 2005 to review the last chapter of the gender module (sexuality) and the first chapter of the globalization module (globalization in your life). In their review of the two chapters that we presented, members of our advisory group suggested ways to improve and clarify instructions and content, and they agreed that overall minimal changes were needed. They also reached consensus about how to structure the globalization module—a first chapter on globalization basics and showing how it impacts workers' everyday lives; a second chapter on the institutional dimensions of globalization, such as the role of the WTO and international financial institutions; and a third chapter focused exclusively on women and globalization, or how women experience the multifaceted nature of economic integration in their lives.

Several important developments took place at this meeting. First, and most importantly, our partners affirmed their commitment to this project and we had nearly full attendance. The fact that very busy women take time from their full schedules to participate in this process tells us that it is important to them and the organizations they represent. The counterparts reported feeling ownership over the material given the participatory process. Second, the STITCH team led a conversation with our partners about how we can improve both the writing and communication processes, and the group agreed on concrete steps we can take to continue moving forward on our timeline. Third, partners were given hard copies of the two finished chapters with a new design to begin field testing. Each organization began planning for field testing, and each was asked to reflect on what kind of support they would need from STITCH to do so.

We are currently following up with all of our partner unions to assist them in the field testing of the curriculum, and we will be attending their events to give them feedback and logistical support (and in some cases providing financial support for food and supplies). We will begin planning for our next regional meeting, expected to be held in November, where we will present the final two globalization chapters to our partners for their feedback. For more information on how you can support this project, write to stitch@stitchonline.org.