SDIA Publications

All publications out of the SD Network office can be found here:

Network eNews
Notes from the Field
Reports from Site visits
Conferences Reports
SDIA Annual Reports
Research and evaluations
United Nations related

#1 Notes from the Field: The Slum Dwellers of Chennai: Indigenous Health Practices

Notes from the Field #1:
An initial study of the medical lore and practices of extremely poor people in Chennai, India. In spite of the fact that they live in a modern country where the highest level of medical care is available, these people cannot access it.

Download attachment(s): [ nff1_ccdSlumMedecine-2007-04.pdf ]

#2 Notes from the Field: Sustainable Development: Solutions from Kalimantan

Posted in: Notes from the Field, Community Development

Notes from the Field #2
Our main focus is on supporting the government bottom-up participatory planning mechanism and process. With this approach we think we can achieve meaningful and lasting development solutions.

Download attachment(s): [ nff2_sustDev2007-07.pdf ]

#3 Notes from the Field: Human Rights Education Program in Karnataka

Posted in: Notes from the Field, Education

Notes from the Field #3
The Human Rights Program trains new teachers in human rights education.

Download attachment(s): [ nff3-0712-humanrights-email.pdf ]

#4 Notes from the Field: Gender Study in Kingantoko and Surrounding Area

Posted in: Notes from the Field, Health

Notes from the Field #4:
Charlotte Ndona and the Susila Dharma DR Congo team studied the forces that shape the lives of women in seven villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These included the constraints put on them by a lack of education, early and frequent pregnancy and the long distance each one has to walk to to carry water, food and firewood back to their families every day. They studied the social pressures on, the cultural economic situation and legal status of, and the choices available to these women.
Download PDF version: French | English

Download attachment(s): [ SDIA-Notes4_gender.study_2008-02-fr.pdf ] [ SDIA-Notes4_gender-study_2008-02.pdf ]

2007 - SDIA Annual General Meeting Minutes

Posted in: Conference Reports

Minutes of the SDIA annual general meeting held on August 25th, 2007 in Ascot, England.

Download attachment(s): [ sidaAGMminutesAscot-2007-08.pdf ]

2007.01 - SDIA Lewes Conference: A Report by Ridwan Kennedy

Posted in: Meetings and Conferences, Conference Reports

Director from SD Britain reports on the Lewes Conference:
From Thursday 25 January until Sunday 28 January forty members representing SD International and SD National bodies from various European countries, Norway and North America met in Lewes. All SD (Britain) Board members attended and Ridwan Kennedy gives his recollection of the meeting below.

Download attachment(s): [ sdia_lewesConf_Kennedy-2007_1.pdf ]

2007.01 - SDIA Lewes Conference: An Invitation to Transform the World

Posted in: Meetings and Conferences, Conference Reports

Solen Lees Gratiet from SD France reports on her impressions of the SDIA Conference in Lewes, England, January 2007.

Download attachment(s): [ sdia_lewesConf_sGratiet-2007_1.pdf ]

2007.01 - SDIA Lewes Conference: Lewes is worth a visit!

Posted in: Meetings and Conferences, Conference Reports

Members from SD Germany report on the conference in Lewes, January 2007.

Download attachment(s): [ sdia_lewesConf_sdGermany-2007_1.pdf ]

2007.01 - SDIA Lewes Conference: Summary

Posted in: Conference Reports, Meetings and Conferences

A summary of the Susila Dharma meeting at Pelham House in Lewes from January 25 to January 28, 2007. For the full report, see Widening Our Footprint.

Download attachment(s): [ sdia_lewesConf_sdGermany-2007.pdf ] [ sdia_lewesConf_sGratiet-2007.pdf ] [ sdia_LewesConf_sGardiner-2007.pdf ] [ sdia_lewesConf_Kennedy-2007.pdf ] [ sdia_lewesConfSummary-2007.pdf ]

2007.01 - SDIA Lewes Conference: Widening Our Footprint

Posted in: Conference Reports, Meetings and Conferences

The report from SDIA’s members meeting in Lewes, England, January 2007 was attended primarily by SD National organizations from Europe and North America.

Download attachment(s): [ SDIA_widening-our-footprint_2007.pdf ]

2007.03 - Working with Community: Visit to SD projects in Colombia

Posted in: Site Visits

In March 2007 SDIA’s Executive Director, Virginia Thomas made a visit to Susila Dharma projects and SD Colombia.

"In a country suffering from 50 years of armed conflict, violence, and widespread displacement and poverty, it is fascinating to see how Subud members approach community building and re-building. Building strong local partnerships, promoting community participation and empowerment are key factors for achieving sustainable organisations and results."

Download attachment(s): [ sdia_working-with-community_2007.pdf ]

2007.04 - UN: Report on the Human Rights Council

Posted in: United Nations, Human Rights

By Katherine Carré, 11 April 2007

As representative of SDIA/WSA to the UN Geneva, Kathrine Carré attended some of the meetings of the Fourth Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC), and has produced a summary of events and meetings.

2007.06 - UN: Report on the Human Rights Council

Posted in: United Nations, Human Rights

by Katherine Carré, June 20, 2007

The UN Human Rights Council held its fifth session in Geneva from 11th to 18th June 2007 and has successfully survived its year of transformation and institution building, but not without pains. Only a few thematic reports were presented, amongst which the Right to Food. The UN Special Rapporteur on Food will be one of the speakers at the Forum in Geneva later this month which two SD people will attend.

2007.10 - UN: Meeting on Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue

Posted in: United Nations, Peace Building

Professor Patrice Brodeur (University of Montreal) attended the UN Meeting on Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogues October 2007 in New York.

Download attachment(s): [ un_interrel_intercult_Panels.pdf ] [ un_interrel_intercult_provisionalProgramme.pdf ] [ un_interrel_intercult_ConceptNote.pdf ]

2007.11 - ICDP: Paloma de la Viña visits Argentina

Posted in: Site Visits

Paloma de la Viña’s report on Projects and Schools in Argentina that use the methods of the International Child Development Programme (ICDP).

Download attachment(s): [ ICDP_Argentina-2008-01.pdf ]

2008 - Governance and Development Project Report

Posted in: Research, Project Planning, Development Issues

To make progress towards poverty reduction and sustainable development we must understand how local, regional and international decision-making serve the people. The Governance and Development project explored grassroots development initiatives and how they can generate more inclusive and participatory decision-making processes as well as governance structures and mechanisms.

2008 - SDIA Annual General Meeting Minutes

Posted in: Conference Reports

2008 Minutes from the Annual General Meeting of SDIA members in Colombia.

2008 - Social Enterprise: A New Model for Poverty Reduction and Employment Generation

Posted in: Community Development, United Nations

Initiatives in post-communist states often focus on bolstering the private sector or the state, ignoring organizations that combine for-profit activities with social aims. This report suggests ways to promote social enterprises, to make the legal and political environments more favourable, to support social enterprises, and to provide ‘seed money’ and small grants to sustain social enterprise.

2008.04 - Mithra Foundation: Lawrence Fryer visits India

Posted in: Site Visits

In April 2008, on behalf of SD Germany, Lawrence Fryer, who is also on the board of SDIA, paid a visit to Mithra Foundation which is a long-term partner with SD Germany and an associate member of SDIA.

2008.05 - ICDP: Lailah Armstrong visits Columbia

Posted in: Site Visits

ICDP Trainer Lailah Armstrong, who lives in England, regularly visits the ICDP programs in Latihan America. In May 2008, she travelled again to Colombia to support the activities there.

2008.06 - Despite the Hardship: Susila Dharma in DR Congo

Posted in: Site Visits

In June 2008 SDIA's Executive Chair Virginia Thomas made a visit to Susila Dharma projects and SD DR Congo.

"As we travelled to the SD projects and met with Subud members in different centres, we became aware that life here is very hard, illness and death very present, and food and goods too expensive. People are unemployed or underpaid, if they are paid at all; and they need to be very entrepreneurial to survive."

Download attachment(s): [ sdDRC_visit_2008-6.pdf ]

2008.06 - UN: World Food Security Conference Fact Sheet

Posted in: United Nations, Environment

High level conference, sponsored by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO). A fact-sheet created by Myra Margolin and Solen Gratiet.

Download attachment(s): [ faoFactsheet-2008-08.pdf ]

2008.07 - Gathering of the Americas Report

Posted in: Conference Reports

From July 21–August 3, SDIA members — project leaders, SD national representatives and interested Subud members — met at the Gathering of the Americas in Colombia, to share their SD experiences, learn together and from each other, and share with the Subud community stories about the education, health, social and psychological projects that are helping to transform lives of individuals and families across the Americas

2008.07 - Gathering of the Americas: SDIA Education Workshop Report

Posted in: Conference Reports, Education

At the Pan-American Gathering in Amanecer, Colombia, a Subud Educators' Workshop was held on July 27 and 28, 2008.

2008.09 - UN: Reaffirming Human Rights for All

Posted in: United Nations, Human Rights

Raphael Bate, chair of SD France, attended the Human Rights Conference in Paris in September, 2008.

2008.09 - UNHRC: Ninth Session Report

Posted in: United Nations, Human Rights

Katherine Carré's report on the Ninth Session of the Human Rights Council meeting in September 2008.

2009 - UNDP: Capacity Development

Posted in: Training and Capacity Building, United Nations, Development Issues

Capacity development is the process through which individuals, organizations and societies obtain, strengthen and maintain the capability to achieve their own development objectives. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) helps people to access the knowledge, experience and resources they need to build better lives.

2009.03 - NGO Committee on UNICEF

Posted in: United Nations, Education

Alexandra Woodward recently attended a meeting of the UNICEF NGO Committee in New York. She had a chance to present Susila Dharma work with children — in particular ICDP — and to make contacts with other organisations and working groups active on specific issues, such as children without parents.

2009.03 - UN Commission on Social Development

Posted in: United Nations, Community Development

In her article on the 47th UN Session of the Commission on Social Development in New York, Myra Margolin deftly pulls together definitions to clarify our understanding of social integration, what she learned from this meeting, her observations of the UN processes and her experience as a Subud member.

2009.04 - Navigating the UN in Geneva

Posted in: Human Rights, United Nations

Between the 16th and 27th March 2009, Solen Lees Gratiet attended the Advanced Geneva Training Course in Human Rights Law and Advocacy at the International Service for Human Rights. Here is her report of that experience.

2009.04 - UN: Durban Review Conference

Posted in: United Nations, Human Rights

Katherine Carré reports on a UN review of progress in combating racism since the UN Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held in Durban, South Africa, in 2001.

2009.04 - UNHRC: Freedom of Religion or Belief

Posted in: United Nations, Human Rights

Amalia Rasheed of Spain, reports on the UN-HRC session in Geneva on Freedom of Religion or Belief, held March 12, 2009.

2009.04 - UNHRC: The Right to Food

Posted in: United Nations, Human Rights

Amalia Rasheed of Spain reports on the UN-HRC session held in Geneva on the Right to Food.

2009.04 - UNHRC: The Rights of the Child

Posted in: United Nations, Human Rights

Amalia Rasheed of Spain reports on the UN Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva on The Rights of the Child, March 2009.

2009.07 - Looking Back, Looking Forward: SDIA Loudwater Meeting Highlights

Posted in: Conference Reports

“Over the years, SD has broadened my view of the world and given me an international perspective of humanity. SD has a small capacity but I have seen it make a big difference.”

“Pat ourselves on the back for just how much we achieve with an almost exclusively, volunteer network.”

“We need to build capacity, strengthen initiatives, and continue on our current path but do it better.”

2009.07 - SDIA Loudwater Meeting: Solihin's Impressions

Posted in: Conference Reports

Assessing the work of Susila Dharma: from greatly improved communications (but still more to be done) to not good enough assessment and evaluation; from the significance of SD in expressing Subud in the world to the need to raise its profile in our own local groups, and also strengthen links with the World Subud Association; from improving skills of SD Boards to protecting project leaders from burn-out; and being aware of how much SDIA has, does and can achieve with few resources.…

Download attachment(s): [ sdia_zone3GatheringSpain-2009-4.pdf ]