Entries Written By John Coster
Reportage Club: Snehalaya UK at 10 Years
An insightful in-conversation last night for the final Reportage Club event of 2024 to celebrate Snehalaya UK 10th year. I was joined by Snehalaya secretary Priti Bhombe & Snehalaya UK CEO Joyce Connolly to discuss the last decade and opportunities moving forward to share its journey. Snehalaya in India was founded in 1989 by Girish …
PAVE Conference 2024
Today was the 2024 PAVE Conference at De Montfort University. It’s good to be back on campus talking directly to students. For the first time this year, as well as promoting volunteering opportunities to students with various members of our network in Leicester and overseas, we invited our friends from Snehalaya UK to join us. …
COP29: Train The Trainer Programme
The United Nations SDG 16 Impact Hub at DMU is hosting a dynamic and creative programme of engagement activities linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) up to and including COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan: 11th– 22nd November 2024. The Parallel Lives Network is delivering a number of engagement activities to compliment the wider programme. Our …
Tackling Abuse from Authorities & those Serving in Uniform Conference
On Friday 25th October 2024, I co-hosted the Tackling Abuse from Authorities & those Serving in Uniform Conference International Women’s Conference with Ms Afiffa Shah, Founder of EBE Connect Consultants. This private invitation-only event was for individuals with lived experience of abuse by someone in uniform, both in the UK & internationally to share their stories …
2024 World Day for Audiovisual Heritage
By John Coster, Founder of the Parallel Lives Network: “The Parallel Lives Archive hosts documentary material from across the Global South sourced by the Documentary Media Centre, Conflict Memory Education Centre, and members of the Parallel Lives Network and the Independent Heritage Network. I’m proud to mark the World Day of Audiovisual Heritage and grateful …
UN Day for South-South Cooperation
On 12 September 2024, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) will lead the global observance of the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation under the theme, “A Better Tomorrow with South-South Cooperation”. The Parallel Lives Network will be hosting an event at De Montfort University in Leicester, UK. It takes place in the …
The Importance of Military History in Understanding the Modern World
In our rapidly changing world, a fundamental understanding of military history can provide essential insights into current events and international relations. As noted by Conflict Reportage, “understanding past conflicts is crucial to making sense of present-day geopolitical tensions.” This perspective underscores the value of historical knowledge in interpreting today’s complex global landscape. Military history offers …
Geo-POD: Empowering Communities through Innovation and Sustainability
By John Coster: After the Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004, I created this simple outline sketch of a facility that could help communities start again. After 20 years it’s about to become a reality. There have been a few false starts and dead ends along the way but I’m stubborn. In a world grappling with …
Saturday Heritage Fairs: A New Way To Get Communities Talking
By John Coster: Saturday Heritage Fairs provide a meeting point for individuals and community groups in the early stages of developing a heritage collection and those looking to grow an existing collection; to display what they have, seek feedback, find volunteers and people able to support them develop their heritage collection. It’s become obvious to me …
Celebrating World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2024: A Step Towards a #PeriodFriendlyWorld
May 28th symbolises the average 28-day menstrual cycle and the typical five-day duration of menstruation, reinforcing the importance of the cause it champions. This year, the theme for World Menstrual Hygiene Day is #PeriodFriendlyWorld. The Parallel Lives Network has been collaborating with De Montfort University Global Health MSc students over the past three years to …