title: Letters to the Security Council by Two Prisoners of War, Israel and Palestine (I)

authors: Alvarez-Jimenez, Alberto

abstract: Yarom was the name of a student from Israel whom the present author had at the University of Ottawa. His roommate in the distant Canadian capital was a Palestinian, and while the Israeli flag hung on one side of the wall that separated the two rooms, the Palestinian flag was affixed to the other. Yarom mentioned that he and the Palestinian student got along well. Their story is short but rich in humanity. At almost the same time, Israel and Palestine were running their separate stories before the United Nations (UN) Security Council. These two narratives, on the contrary, were long and monotonous in their brutality.

text: Letters to the Security Council by Two Prisoners of War, Israel and Palestine (I) Yarom was the name of a student from Israel whom the present author had at the University of Ottawa. His roommate in the distant Canadian capital was a Palestinian, and while the Israeli flag hung on one side of the wall that separated the two rooms, the Palestinian flag was affixed to the other. Yarom mentioned that he and the Palestinian student got along well. Their story is short but rich in humanity. At almost the same time, Israel and Palestine were running their separate stories before the United Nations (UN) Security Council. These two narratives, on the contrary, were long and monotonous in their brutality.

year: 2018

title: New Zealand Kindergartens 2005 to 2010: Funding and operational changes

authors: Davison, Claire

subjects: kindergarten

abstract: Participation in good quality early childhood education has positive outcomes for children, families and society. Supportive policy frameworks and sufficient, secure and predictable funding are necessary to encourage participation and ensure that flexible services, designed to respond to the needs of children and families are available. This has not always been the case in New Zealand early childhood education. New Zealand kindergartens for example have always relied on significant voluntary donations and support to maintain their sessional services and provision. In 2005 and 2007, however, new early childhood funding initiatives opened up opportunities for kindergartens to review their operation and make changes to their provision. This article is based on the findings from a survey of New Zealand Kindergarten association management conducted in 2010. The survey sought to find out what changes had occurred in kindergarten provision as a result of the funding initiatives. Association responses show that significant change has been embraced and that this has resulted in improved quality, greater flexibility of hours and attendance options and less reliance on voluntary donations and support.

text: New Zealand Kindergartens 2005 to 2010: Funding and operational changes Participation in good quality early childhood education has positive outcomes for children, families and society. Supportive policy frameworks and sufficient, secure and predictable funding are necessary to encourage participation and ensure that flexible services, designed to respond to the needs of children and families are available. This has not always been the case in New Zealand early childhood education. New Zealand kindergartens for example have always relied on significant voluntary donations and support to maintain their sessional services and provision. In 2005 and 2007, however, new early childhood funding initiatives opened up opportunities for kindergartens to review their operation and make changes to their provision. This article is based on the findings from a survey of New Zealand Kindergarten association management conducted in 2010. The survey sought to find out what changes had occurred in kindergarten provision as a result of the funding initiatives. Association responses show that significant change has been embraced and that this has resulted in improved quality, greater flexibility of hours and attendance options and less reliance on voluntary donations and support.

year: 2012

title: He Pikinga Waiora: Supporting Maori health organisations to respond to pre-diabetes

authors: Beaton, Angela

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Background
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a common long-term condition affecting the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders; one in every four New Zealanders is pre-diabetic. Māori, the Indigenous people of New Zealand, are at an increased risk of developing pre-diabetes and T2D and there are significant inequities between Māori and non-Māori for T2D complications. The purpose of this study was to explore the questions of how the strengths of Māori heath organisations may be leveraged, and how the barriers and constraints experienced by Māori health organisations may be negotiated, for the benefit of Māori; and from a systems perspective, to identify strategic opportunities that may be considered and applied by Māori health organisations, funders and policy makers to respond more effectively to pre-diabetes and reduce health inequities between Māori and non-Māori.

Methods
Utilising case study methodology, a range of data sources were triangulated including nine semi-structured interviews, documents, and a diabetes system map to identify possible strategic opportunities for key stakeholders to respond more effectively to pre-diabetes.

Results
Key themes and possible actions to improve health outcomes for Māori with pre-diabetes include: (1) Recognising Māori health organisations as conduits for the community voice and influential partners in the community to effect change; (2) Strengthened partnerships with Māori health organisations for community benefit and to support measurable, evidence-based change and service delivery, particularly when Māori knowledge systems are viewed alongside a Western scientific approach; and (3) Intersectoral integration of health and social services to support provision of whānau-centred care and influence the social determinants of health and local environment.
Conclusions
Māori health organisations are important actors in systems seeking to improve outcomes and eliminate health inequities. Support from funders and policy makers will be required to build on the strengths of these organisations and to overcome system challenges. To realise improved health outcomes for Māori, the value placed on whānau and community perspectives not only needs to be acknowledged in the implementation of health interventions, health and social policies and funding arrangements, but performance measures, service design and delivery must evolve to accommodate these perspectives in practice.

text: He Pikinga Waiora: Supporting Maori health organisations to respond to pre-diabetes Background
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a common long-term condition affecting the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders; one in every four New Zealanders is pre-diabetic. Māori, the Indigenous people of New Zealand, are at an increased risk of developing pre-diabetes and T2D and there are significant inequities between Māori and non-Māori for T2D complications. The purpose of this study was to explore the questions of how the strengths of Māori heath organisations may be leveraged, and how the barriers and constraints experienced by Māori health organisations may be negotiated, for the benefit of Māori; and from a systems perspective, to identify strategic opportunities that may be considered and applied by Māori health organisations, funders and policy makers to respond more effectively to pre-diabetes and reduce health inequities between Māori and non-Māori.

Methods
Utilising case study methodology, a range of data sources were triangulated including nine semi-structured interviews, documents, and a diabetes system map to identify possible strategic opportunities for key stakeholders to respond more effectively to pre-diabetes.

Results
Key themes and possible actions to improve health outcomes for Māori with pre-diabetes include: (1) Recognising Māori health organisations as conduits for the community voice and influential partners in the community to effect change; (2) Strengthened partnerships with Māori health organisations for community benefit and to support measurable, evidence-based change and service delivery, particularly when Māori knowledge systems are viewed alongside a Western scientific approach; and (3) Intersectoral integration of health and social services to support provision of whānau-centred care and influence the social determinants of health and local environment.
Conclusions
Māori health organisations are important actors in systems seeking to improve outcomes and eliminate health inequities. Support from funders and policy makers will be required to build on the strengths of these organisations and to overcome system challenges. To realise improved health outcomes for Māori, the value placed on whānau and community perspectives not only needs to be acknowledged in the implementation of health interventions, health and social policies and funding arrangements, but performance measures, service design and delivery must evolve to accommodate these perspectives in practice.

year: 2019