Second year Geography and Internation Development students link up with safe house in Tanzania

There are some topics in the geographies of development field that are never easy to deal with and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is one of these. Instead of delivering a fairly standard lecture on the subject, I decided to involve a charity and a field practitioner in helping me introduce students to the subject at last Thursday’s session.

We began by Skyping Janet Chapman at the London office of the charity Tanzania Development Trust (TDT). Janet is a Trustee and Campaigns Manager of the charity that began its work in 1975. TDT have helped develop the FGM Safe House at Mugumu in north-western Tanzania amongst a range of other projects.

With the help of a set of PowerPoint slides, Janet explained that one of the many challenges facing young girls who wish to avoid FGM is finding their way to a safe house. There are no maps in this part of Tanzania and Janet has made use of online technology and Crowd2Map software to provide accurate maps. The students had the opportunity to join the thousands of volunteers already mapping this region. It soon became a competition to see who could map the most houses.

Fighting FGM at Mugumu, Tanzania. Rhobi talks to villagers at a Roadshow

The highlight of the session was talking to Rhobi Samwelly, TDTs representative in Mara, Tanzania. We used Skype again and had a three-way conversation with her and Janet with students able to ask questions about the safe house she runs and FGM.

It was a fantastic session and I am grateful to both Janet and Rhobi for giving up their time to help us understand a little more about FGM. I am also grateful to the IT support staff who helped me with the technology which worked perfectly.

Kevin Cook, Module Tutor

Graduates return to talk about job opportunities

In February we welcomed back a number of our Geography and Environmental Science graduates.

The graduates talked with current students about their current role, job opportunities in that sector, and recruitment processes. A great opportunity to learn about careers in planning, transport, data analysis, teaching, and the environmental sector, and to find out more about postgraduate study.

 

 

Thanks to Steve Pyer from Mobike, Kate Howe from the Environment Agency, Hayley Townsend from Skanska, Adam Thomas from Aylesbury Vale District Council, Natalie Beer from Experian, Lewis Waterfield from Tresham College and Daisy Holmes from the University for Northampton.

Students learn about graduate recruitment

Third year Geography students take part in a number of workshops facilitated by the University's careers advisors to help boost their employability.

This week the students tried out some of the activities used by graduate employers at Assessment Centres.

Getting started on the modelling clay activity

The first task was a 'tell me about yourself' activity. Students had 5 minutes to create an object that represents them using modelling clay, and then 20 seconds to introduce themselves to the rest of the group.

A wide range of objects were produced using the modelling clay

A lovely mammoth!

Then groups were given a scenario to read and had to discuss and plan a response to it.  They were required to present their work to the class.

Notes taken by one group in response to the scenario task

Presenting findings to the rest of the class

Careers Advisors and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Science & Technology provided feedback on students' performance at the tasks and gave tips for how to be successful at Assessment Centres.

Geography and Environmental Science students make film

Geography and Environmental Science students recently worked with staff from the University's Media Production department to produce a film about their experiences studying at Northampton.

The film provides information about their experiences of classes and fieldwork, and about the support they receive from staff.

Geography students are giving older people a helping hand to keep warm this winter

Second years on the Human Geography course have collected 53 pairs of gloves to donate to charity Age UK Northamptonshire, which urgently needs warm clothes for isolated older people in the county.

Students and Prof John Horton modelling some of the gloves donated

The partnership with Age UK came about when the students began exploring research about experiences of poverty and social exclusion in the UK.

Jo Gunnett, Volunteer Coordinator for Age UK Northamptonshire, visited the group to talk about the charity’s work in local communities. Age UK Northamptonshire provides a wide range of services for people in later life, including many who live in situations of chronic poverty and isolation.

Jo also outlined opportunities for students to take part in fundraising and volunteering activities in support of the charity. In response, the Students’ Union Geography Society is planning two fundraisers – a pancake evening for society members, followed by a larger event for students in the spring.

Jo Gunnett from Age UK Northamptonshire, with Prof John Horton

Geography Society president, Gabriella Dyche, said: “When Jo from Age UK explained the situation many older people can find themselves in, it was a real eye-opener for us.

“We were determined to do something to help, and the glove collection is the first of a series of initiatives we are organising.”

For more details about Age UK, visit the website.

This story was first published here.