Workshop

The Workshops of ISFiT 2011 are here

Great arenas to inspire and be inspired, share ideas and feelings, and build long-lasting friendships across borders.

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ISFiT is a meeting place where students gather to discuss, listen and understand. The workshops are small working groups where participants will share their experience and discuss topics related to the overall theme of ISFiT 2011: global health. Some workshops are thematic, while others are more practical and have a creative approach to the theme. There are approximately 30 participants from different countries and cultures in one workshop. Each workshop is facilitated by four students from Trondheim. ISFiT believes that small working groups enhance the possibility for the participants to get to know each other. The workshops are compulsory and participants belong to one workshop during the whole festival. They are great arenas to inspire and be inspired, share ideas and feelings, and build long-lasting friendships across borders. You do not need any special experience in the theme of your workshop; your interest and engagement are the most important contributions you can make.

You will find the application form for workshops here.

01. Politics

Who is responsible for caring and curing?

Health is a fundamental human right. Who is responsible for providing it? A nation’s health system has the overall responsibility to secure the health of its citizens. Unfortunately, many countries suffer from a health care system that is neither healthy nor caring. What are the most basic preconditions to create a well-functioning health system? And what is the role of the national authorities? Who is responsible for the health of refugees that are forced to leave their home country? What can international organizations do to improve global health standards? Health politics can either promote or violate the health of individuals. Who is responsible for your health?

02. Theatre

Dramatize this: Health

Throughout the centuries theatre has been used to challenge people’s attitudes and prejudices. Do you want to learn and use theatre to challenge and change? In this workshop you will have the opportunity to use different methods of theatre, such as improvisation, forum theatre and invisible theatre to capture people's attention and focus on issues concerning health. What attitudes regarding global health do you want to challenge? How does theatre affect your health and well being? How can humour be used to address serious issues concerning health? Theatre is communicating. How and where would you like to communicate global health? On the bus, in a queue, in a café or in the market square? As a participant in the theatre workshop, the city is your stage!

03. Education

Workshop mind map

04. Water

A source of life, a source of conflict

Water has great significance in different cultures – what does it mean to you? Unfortunately we disregard this resource by polluting our rivers, lakes, and oceans. It is estimated that 1.5 billion people lack safe drinking water, and at least 5 million deaths a year can be attributed to waterborne diseases. How can this resource be distributed fairly? Increased private ownership of fresh water is a source of conflict, but can water also build peace? Who owns the water in the Nile? How does water influence our health?

05. Mental health

How are you, really?

How do you feel when you sing as loud as you can? Or scream, when your life suddenly turns the wrong way? How does it feel to lose someone you love? How does it feel to be furious when meeting injustice? Can you feel the deep warmth from a friend's smile? Our mental health gives us a tremendous variety of feelings, and it needs tender care. What is the link between physical and mental health? How does religion affect our mental health? How does experiencing a trauma such as war, a car crash, a rape, or a natural disaster affect us? Suicide - why? Can we prevent mental illness? Can we learn happiness?

06. Literature

What is health? Spread the word!

How would you define the concept of “health”? What is the link between an individual’s health and life quality? What makes life worth living? How much is a human life worth? Who has the right to decide if you are “sick” or “healthy”? And how does the cultural context and religion affect how these questions are answered? As a participant in this workshop you will be given the opportunity to put your thoughts about life and health into words. Do you like writing poems, short stories, feature articles or statements expressing your opinions? This is your chance to get your voice be heard. Join vital discussions, be creative and spread your words to the world!

07. Climate and environment

Workshop mind map

08. Economy

A market for medicine

Is baldness or high blood pressure really a disease? Is a healthy person simply someone who has not been examined thoroughly enough? In the pharmaceutical industry there is no money to be made from healthy people. Therefore, widening the boundaries of treatable diseases is big business. Less than 10 % of the total expenditure on health research and development is focused on 90 % of the global disease burden. Can we create a system focusing on the needs of those who cannot pay? At the same time, medical research has made great achievements. What are the ethical considerations in the pharmaceutical industry?

09. Food

Survival of the fattest?

Food and nutrition are the preconditions and foundations for good health. The gathering and social effects of food exist everywhere. Can we achieve good health through food culture and attitudes? For some people food is everywhere, others have to struggle everyday to get enough, while some even develop eating disorders. Why? Malnutrition is still today’s greatest health problem, but obesity is expected to become the number one health challenge of our time. The globalization of junk food is increasing, but who is responsible for the content of our food? How can what you eat improve your life quality? Why is “Coca-cola” one of the best known words in the world?

10. Sex

Workshop mind map

11. Art

Global street art

Art sets the temperature of society. Do you want to visualize the concept of health through painting, drawing, photos, printing and so on, using different colours, textures and composition to state your message? How can you use your history and culture to enlighten the different aspects of health? How can art open our predetermined views on life or contribute to public education by challenging taboos? What happens to societies where art is censored? How can art express different cultures and identities? Is art necessarily a pleasant experience? Can freedom of expression justify all kinds of art? During ISFiT, this workshop will bring your message out into the streets. You will create art to reach our common goal – to globalize health.

12. The future

Leaders of tomorrow

What will the global health situation be like in 2030? What are the greatest challenges and opportunities? Although global health is everybody’s business, students are the leaders of tomorrow and have the power to set the agenda. Will you launch a local campaign against sexual violence, create a new economic system where the poor have access to crucial medicines, or perhaps find a cure for cancer? Whether you are an activist, an aspiring politician or just want to make a change, this workshop is an opportunity to share your thoughts and make plans for the future. Will you take the challenge?

13. Genes

Look at my new pair of genes

Imagine applying for a job. The boss takes a sample of saliva from your cup, and finds a gene for laziness. Unfortunately, you are rejected. What are the opportunities in exploring our genes? Should this field of research have any limits, and if so, where should we draw the line? Can genes decide if you are born as a homosexual, if you are creative or how aggressive you are? Gene manipulation gives us for instance a chance to make food with new and better qualities, or make improvements to the human race. What possibilities and ethical considerations lie in genes? What pair of genes would you like to wear?

14. Women and children

Workshop mind map

15. Information technology

e-health

Communication is the essence of human activity. How is the Internet and mobile phones affecting our health? Are we becoming more attached to our computers than to people? In what way has this technology changed the role of the media as a provider of news? Who controls the Internet in Germany compared to in China? Are we facing a “digital divide” between those who are and those who are not online? Technology increases the democratic potential by opening new channels of participation. As a consequence, health systems can be improved. How can new technology help you obtain knowledge about your own health?

16. Sports

Join the game

How do sports affect our health? Do we exercise for the same reasons in different cultures? Does sound physical health give good mental health? Can sports be used as therapy? Our everyday life is less physically active than ever before thus the importance of sports and games increases. Our bodies are capable of climbing Mount Everest, yet some find it a huge challenge just to walk up a few flights of stairs. Why? Sport is a social arena and an intercultural meeting place. In this workshop you will be able to discuss different aspects of sport and enjoy physical activities with other students from all over the world. Join the game!

17. Development and Aid

How can I help you?

Either as donors or receivers, all nations are involved in aid and development projects. Aid is an expression of global solidarity and responsibility, but does it always bring about positive changes? The development industry has been accused of cultural imperialism and westernization. Who decides if a country needs to be developed by external actors? How can local culture and empowerment be ensured in development projects? The eight Millennium Development Goals are to be achieved by the year 2015. What have we learned so far? How would you like to see the world develop?