Development Together Pty Ltd

26/10/2021

01/02/2021

With ongoing complications related to Covid-19 it appears that international travel is looking likely to be restricted until at least end of 2021 for university students.

After much consideration our organisation has made the difficult decision to halt all operations until further notice. Emails during this hibernation phase will be checked periodically and we apologise for any delayed responses.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your time and interest in our work integrated learning programs. We hope we can continue to build our relationship further once more information is received about Covid-19 vaccinations and how it will affect international travel.

From the Development Together Team

26/01/2021

📚INTERNATIONAL DAY OF EDUCATION 📚

Today on the 24th of January we recognise the many ways learning can empower people, preserve the planet, build shared prosperity and foster peace.

Not only do we at Development Together try to empower the marginalised through our education programs, but also we believe in the power of transformational leadership. Within our programs we give students the opportunity to conduct education sessions for staff and locals . This empowerment helps up-skill and capacity build for those in need whilst also increasing opportunity in the local community.

To find out more about our sustainable volunteer projects, visit www.developmenttogether.com

19/01/2021

Pictured here is our Prosthetic and Orthotics Past Participant working alongside Sopheap, a Prosthetics and Orthotics Technician who works at a large rehabilitation centre in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Our Past Participants from the January 2020 group enjoyed their time working alongside Sopheap. She is always willing to teach, and she loves sharing her knowledge and skills. Thankfully she also has the confidence to quickly jump in and remind our student volunteers how to safely use their knife and cut away from themselves!

All our Volunteer Internships are supported by local staff as well as a Development Together Supervisor/Professional.

Learn more about our programs here 👉www.developmenttogether.com

13/01/2021

This time last year our first all female group of Engineering Students spent time with our partner BATI in the Tabanan Regency of Bali Indonesia. They learnt about sustainable water technologies and also had the opportunity to design and construct solutions such as water storage tanks and slow sand water filters in a hands on 2 week workshop.

Find out more about our Student Work Experience/Volunteer Internships on our website www.developmenttogether.com

06/01/2021

👬👫Partner Update👬👫

We are so pleased to hear about the progress our partner's SHIM Uganda have made in their efforts to provide sustainable sanitary napkin solutions to their community in Busia Uganda.

With the help of Development Together (through fundraising) SHIM have been able to open a new facility for young girls to learn about reusable sanitary napkins and reproductive and sexual health. They have also been able to provide employment for local women who will make the reusable pads and learn about sustainable manufacturing practices along with receiving training in professional sewing skills.

The business plan used to set up this project was designed by one of our past participants, Casey Hughes, which has helped guide our Not-For-Profit partners to providing more opportunity for marginalised women and girls in Uganda.

Read about Casey's Story in our blog post: http://ow.ly/2xuh50CSJSQ

Find out more about our programs, visit www.developmenttogether.com

04/01/2021

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, volunteers can change a whole community!

An amazing achievement by our groups of past participants from December 2017 and December 2018 saw a local community in Vietnam become self-sufficient.

Through the planning and construction of a system of water tanks and filters by locals and Development Together volunteers, the village of Xom Ke has become fully self-sufficient, with clean water now available to all 22 households in the local community.

If you'd like to know more about our Engineering projects please visit our website www.developmenttogether.com or contact us via email [email protected]

31/12/2020

2021 - A New Year for
• Renewed Hope
• New Opportunities
• New Adventures
• New Ways to Give and Love

From all of us at Development Together we wish all our partners, past partners and followers a Happy New Year!

www.developmenttogether.com

#2021

28/12/2020

It’s safe to say that many of us miss travelling and being able to experience new countries and cultures. Unfortunately studying and interning abroad may be a distant possibility for us. For those who are itching to get out there and see what volunteering abroad is like, luckily we still have a library of stories to tell from Development Together’s past participants.

This week we hand over our blog to Grace, a Development Together Prosthetics and Orthotics Past Participant. She shares with us her experience as a Health Volunteer in Phnom Penh Cambodia and how it has helped her in her career as a certified Prosthetist/ Orthotist. To read more click the link in our bio or visit www.developmenttogether.com/blog

25/12/2020

Development Together would like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas!

For those of you who do not celebrate Christmas, happy holidays!

Let us know how you'll be celebrating the holiday season in the comments below 👇

www.developmenttogether.com

22/12/2020

"To the world, you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."

Our participants have had the opportunity to change the lives of many, all over the globe. 🌎 In 2019/2020 our participants were able to impact 3,373 individuals in countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Uganda, Cambodia and Ukraine! We look forward to the day we can continue to support our partners in-country, but for now we will do the best we can from home.

If you'd like more information about our programs, visit
www.developmenttogether.com | [email protected]

17/12/2020

Have you watched our latest IG TV? Follow Lachlan and Natasha as they show you around Bali and the Bali Appropriate Technology Institute in the Tabanan Region of Indonesia. Learn more about our NGO partner and the different technologies they construct at their organisation.

Our Engineering participants have had the chance to make and implement these technologies in rural communities around Bali, under the guidance of a professional Engineering.

Head to our IG TV to watch the full video, or read more about Lachlan and Natasha's trip on our blog http://ow.ly/6HzA50CCskS

www.developmenttogether.com | [email protected]

15/12/2020

Wanting sustainable gifting ideas for Christmas? Visit the online store for ethically made garments, accessories and bags. Our friends offer a range of products that create opportunities for women who all receive fair trade prices for their goods. If you'd like to help empower more women to break the poverty cycle consider shopping with Fox Glove Project. 100% of profits are reinvested into women's projects in countries such as Cambodia, India and East Africa.

Repost - Our shirts are the perfect way to represent Foxglove in your everyday! 👕 Available in two slightly different styles and designs, there’s something for everyone. 😄⁣
⁣
Designed in Australia by and ethically made in Cambodia by SokHeng from Hosanna Fashion. 🇰🇭 You can find both designs at our link in bio! "

10/12/2020

New Video Alert ⚠️

Ever wanted to take a look inside one of our partner organisations? In this special video, Lachlan and Natasha from Development Together show you around Bali Indonesia and our partner site Bali Appropriate Technology Institute. Learn about the different sustainable engineering technologies that help provide clean water solutions to local communities in the area.

https://youtu.be/SI1oSHn2zZM

08/12/2020

Did you know that a whopping 92% of employers said relevant volunteer experience gives candidates an advantage in job interviews? 😱 (SEEK Volunteer 2020)

The time you spend volunteering on placements like ours can help improve your employability through the interpersonal and cross communication skills learnt.

Although international travel is not possible in the near future we are working to find you other amazing opportunities for 2021!

See www.developmenttogether.com to find out more about our placements and stay in the loop by following us on our socials.

03/12/2020

"Challenge the way you think about disability, and see the ability in disability"

Today is International Day of People with Disability.

This day aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions.

Our partners Shirshur Sevay Childlife Preserve are excellent examples for this particular day.

The staff dedicate their time and resources to protect orphans and abandoned children, including those having differing abilities and disabilities. The organisation based in Kolkata, India provides a safe environment where they are sheltered, nurtured, and educated in ways that build Competence, Confidence, Independence and Leadership.

Learn more about our partner here www.shishursevay.org

Disability

25/11/2020

Today, November 25th, is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

According to the UN violence against women is as serious a cause of death and incapacity among women of reproductive age as cancer, and a greater cause of ill health than traffic accidents and malaria combined.

1 in 3 women and girls experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, most frequently by an intimate partner

We stand with all victims of violence, past and present, and look forward to a brighter and safer future for them.

18/11/2020

Have you ever seen or heard of a Slow Sand Water Filter?

This nifty design allows locals in rural areas around Bali, Indonesia to access clean drinking water. It's made with simple materials such as concrete, cement, saw dust, gravel and sand.

As they require little or no mechanical power and require minimal operator training and maintenance, they are often an appropriate technology for poor and isolated areas.

Our past participants had the opportunity to construct one from scratch on their Engineering Internship in Kelecung, Indonesia with our partner Bali Appropriate Technology Institute (BATI)

Watch our IGTV episode on building Slow Sand Water Filtration to learn more!

www.developmenttogether.com

13/11/2020

"There's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end." - Scott Adams

Today, the 13th November, we celebrate World Kindness Day. At Development Together, we do our best to spread kindness internationally, helping better communities all over the world. It costs nothing to be kind, but it can mean everything to someone else.

What will your act of kindness be today?

12/11/2020

Lockdowns, border closures and nationwide business shutdowns. These are all ramifications of the Covid-19 pandemic that the majority of us have experienced at least once this year. Notably these pandemic generated consequences have made it especially difficult each month for marginalised women and young girls experiencing menstruation.

This week our latest blog discusses how the current health crisis has affected these young girls and women in rural communities of Uganda. To read more click the link in our bio or visit www.developmenttogether.com/blog

30/10/2020

What do you love most about your field of study?

For our partner Moses Ojambo, Director and Founder of SHIMU (Seeds of Hope Integrated Ministries Uganda) its the ability to empower and advocate for the marginalised.

Moses was lucky enough to attend University and acquire a business degree from being a sponsor child. With his skills and knowledge learnt throughout school and university he has been able to help vulnerable children, youth and women in his community of Busia, Uganda.

We at Development Together have been working with Moses and his team for over 3 years implementing sustainable, Business, Agriculture and Engineering solutions to provide local people with a better quality of life.

Visit www.developmenttogether.com for more info on our projects.

28/10/2020

Do you know where you water comes from?💧

Not all of us may know exactly where our drinking water comes from as there are many sources such as rivers, lakes and groundwater.

In Bali, Indonesia some rural communities live off only one or two sources of water for example local rivers or rainfall during the wet season. So how is this water stored and how does it become drinkable?

Our partners BATI, have designed water storage and filtration technologies to help local community members gain safe and easy access to water. Some solutions that our past participants have had the opportunity to create include, underground/aboveground water storage tanks, ramp pumps and slow sand water filters.

Find out more about our partner projects here 👉 www.developmenttogether.com

22/10/2020

Education has always been at the forefront of our projects. 📚

We at Development Together believe in making a sustainable impact through educating our local partners and clients.

Our Health placements, for example, focus on applying current therapies and practices that are transferable to the community to allow for key beneficiaries to apply these skills on their own.

In Ukraine our Speech Pathology Volunteers conducted an up-skilling workshop for parents of kids with disability. Their workshop on feeding interventions and techniques allowed parents to learn and apply these new skills at home.

For more info visit www.developmenttogether.com/location/ukraine

20/10/2020

Cultural competency, what is it exactly?

It is the ability to understand, communicate with and effectively interact with people across cultures. Cultural competence encompasses being aware of one's own world view, developing positive attitudes towards cultural differences and gaining knowledge of different culture practices and world views.

Past Development Together Volunteers agree that undertaking an internship overseas has made them more culturally aware and competent.

Activities they partake in include language lessons, visiting historically important sites and also communicating with locals in-country.

Specific skills our participants found to have improved include, cross-cultural communication skills and interpersonal skills .

Want to know if you're culturally competent? Test yourself here 👉 bit.ly/3hV4u6Z

17/10/2020

Today, on the 17th October, we acknowledge International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. According to World Vision, over 736 million people lived in poverty in 2018, a moral outrage in a world with an unprecedented amount of financial resources.

People living in poverty often experience the following interrelated disadvantages, which can prevent them from escaping the poverty cycle:
- dangerous work conditions
- unsafe housing
- lack of nutritious food
- unequal access to justice
- lack of political power
- limited access to health care

At Development Together, we support our Not-For-Profit partners in developing countries, working on projects in rural communities such as assisting with healthcare and creating sustainable water solutions. Be the change you wish to see in the world!

11/10/2020

October 11 is marked as International Day of the Girl Child, addressing the challenges that girls face, while promoting female empowerment.

In the past, women have been leaders of global movements on many issues, ranging from reproductive health rights to equal pay. This International day celebrates and encourages girls to fight for their rights, use their voices and stand strong for what they believe in.

Pictured here is a intern with school girls in Uganda, having an open conversation surrounding menstruation, to create a business proposal for resuable sanitary napkins for the purpose of helping keep girls in school. Girls supporting girls!

07/10/2020

Helping others, it's what we love to do at Development Together. Having the opportunity and ability to change someone's life is so powerful.

Although we can't help our partners in-country at this moment, we are doing what we can by supporting them via our Remote Internships.

The work our students complete during their remote internship makes a positive impact and change on rural communities that have suffered the most during the pandemic.

For more information on how we support our partners visit www.developmenttogehter.com

05/10/2020

Did you know that according to UN Human Rights, women in Asia and Africa walk on average of 6 kilometres every day to collect water for their daily needs? Apart from taking up a lot of their time, it is also an enormous physical effort.

According to World Health Organisation, each person needs 20-50 litre per day for their hygiene and hydration needs. Most of us would never have to make such an effort to get a glass of water, however a large number of people from underdeveloped countries do. We can choose to help these people, and make a difference in their lives.

In 2018 a team of Development Together Engineering students built an 18,000-litre underground water tank in Uganda to help a local farm. All of the profits from this farm go back into local community development projects.

Our volunteers also assisted with constructing a water well to provide easier access to water for the local community. In addition to this, they constructed a new piggery, refurbished an existing chicken house and proposed a design of water filter that could be easily replicated by locals to assure they have access to clean drinking water. This was all done in an 8 week time frame!

For more information on our other life-changing projects visit www.developmenttogether.com

30/09/2020

How beautiful is the artwork created by the residents at our partner site, Shishur Sevay? Over the past three months of the lockdown period in Kolkata, India the girls turned to their creative interests, primary art and embroidery during their time off from remote learning and study.

We love the positive energy and encouragement that the organisation has given through these tough times.

Learn more about our partner organisation and their initiative here 👉 www.shishursevay.org

27/09/2020

Happy World Tourism Day from all of us at Development Together!

Tourism accounts for 10% of the worlds jobs, so by travelling you're helping to keep millions of people employed. During this period of limited travel our hearts go out to those in the tourism industry who have been impacted by Covid-19.

At Development Together, we love being able to connect volunteers with our Non-For-Profit partners overseas, where they will encounter new cultures and experiences. We are counting down until our next overseas volunteer placements, are you?

23/09/2020

Innovation and Simplicity. These are the main themes amongst the technologies invented by Rus Alit, Director of Bali Appropriate Technology Institute.

Take a look at one of these sustainable designs built to help provide clean drinking water for rural communities in Bali Indonesia.

Our Engineering Interns had the privilege of learning how to construct one from scratch during their time in Kelecung, Bali Indonesia.

youtu.be/FYZJ1PcH2Y0

21/09/2020

On this day each year, the UN encourages the world to observe 24 hours of peace, designating this time as a cease-fire and non-violence period to remind people that today is the "International Day of Peace".

This year, the theme is "Shaping Peace Together", promoting kindness, compassion and hope in the face of the pandemic. On this day, Development Together encourages you to perform an act of kindness, and tell us about it in the comments below. You never know how far it will reach!

Peace Together

16/09/2020

We love seeing this image of a very young Moses Ojambo, who is now the Director of the Ugandan NGO Seeds of Hope Integrated Ministries (SHIM Uganda).

What a journey Moses has had after being sponsored by a pair of Australian sisters during his primary and high school years so that he could attend school. This was followed by another Australian couple sponsoring him so that he could attend university where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Logistics.

And now the amazing part of this story is that Moses is giving back to his local community by working directly to change the lives of those who are vulnerable and living in poverty through a Not For Profit charity he started called - Seeds of Hope Integrated Ministries Uganda.

The second image shows Moses chatting to two young boys who are working in a dangerous illegal gold mine where they are sent into small tunnels to bring the muddy soil out. They are often treated badly, poorly paid and exposed to cyanide and other chemicals used to get the gold out of the soil.

Moses is a great example of the type of people that Development Together loves to partner with. Those who reach out to the most vulnerable and who do it with a passion to make change.

13/09/2020

We are so delighted to be contributing to a Virtual Oral Presentation in collaboration with Edith Cowan University, Australia at the OT Exchange event this week!

The online conference theme focuses on practice innovations that have been implemented as a result of Covid-19.

We look forward to presenting our case study and the results from our Remote Occupational Therapy Health Internship to industry professionals around Australia. By sharing this information we hope to assist others to cast a new vision for business, research, and education possibilities for the future.

More info at www.otaus.com.au/tags/event

07/09/2020

Wonderful news for our partners and the school kids they help to support in Cambodia - finally heading back to school!

07/09/2020

Effective team-work is essential. Being a part of any Development Together placement whether it is in-country or remotely will challenge students in their small groups to execute projects and communicate effectively.

This quote from our Engineering Supervisor Tatjana, highlights how important teamwork skills were for her Engineering group in Indonesia. Other prominent employability skills students have learnt include; communication skills, cross cultural skills and interpersonal skills.

For more info about our programs, see www.developmenttogether.com or email us at [email protected]

05/09/2020

Today, September 5th, Development Together celebrates the International Day of Charity. The date chosen stems from the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa, who won a Nobel Peace Prize for her work which aimed to overcome poverty and distress.

The day was established to encourage people to help others through volunteering and other philanthropic activities. At Development Together we do just that, placing interns to volunteer with our Non-For-Profit partners around the world. We are currently accepting expressions of interest for a remote internship opportunity, so if that sounds like something you're interested in, contact us for more information!

31/08/2020

An Update from our Partners in Cambodia 🌏

Kien Kleang National Physical Rehabilitation Center, one of our Not-For-Profit Partners in Cambodia, have advised that they are still operating, and are following COVID-19 hygiene practices. Although they have limited resources, they are also attempting to conduct any online training required.

As a centre of excellence for the treatment of people with a disability in Phnom Penh they continue to do crucial work in physical rehabilitation, changing people's lives for the better. We stand with them and continue to support their transformative work.

27/08/2020

An Update from our Partners in Vietnam 🌏

Our Not-For-Profit partners the Centre for Sustainable Development Studies, are continuing to do life-changing work during this challenging time. Instead of working face to face with those in need they are currently facilitating on-line English lessons between volunteers and Vietnamese students, giving students the opportunity to further their learning.

This correlates directly with their mission: To empower young people by providing them with the opportunities they need, in order to become contributors to sustainable change.

We commend their efforts and hope their new project creates just that!