Cultural competency program For schools
Cultural competency is critical to ensuring responsive public services. Our proposal is about how we might develop individual cultural competency in a meaningful way, including interventions that are effective in enhancing the cultural competence of experienced teachers, or other employees. We explore possible interventions for the development of an individual’s cultural competence. From our experience working and supporting community members across the spectrum of essential services, we have noted the importance of understanding cultural competency as a developmental process that requires attention to the multidimensional aspects (knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors) of cultural competency and developing training that reflects these realities.
Methodology
A 2-hour participatory workshop that explores the concept of cultural competency, using a human rights framework.
By the end of this Workshop, participants will have achieved the following:
- Acquired knowledge on the impact and the interconnection of culture, and human rights (access, the self-worth of the service recipient, etc.)
- Identified and analyzed the tensions between human rights and cultural norms and practices and discussed the alternative strategies;
- Been introduced to the different facets of the “Culture Lens” and the knowledge and skills needed to implement it;
- Been familiarized with Culturally Competent Approaches to find entry points for meaningful interactions within the different cultural contexts;
- Taken the acquired knowledge learned in this workshop to enhance further reflection for future practice.
“The Arbitrary deprivation of life is not limited to the illicit act of homicide; it extends itself to the deprivation of the right to live with dignity.”
Antonio Cancado Trinidade Ex‐President of the Inter‐American Court of Human Rights Brazilian