Warwick hosts International Development Summit

The weekend of Week 8 saw Warwick become host to the Warwick International Development Summit. WIDS is one of the largest student-run development summits in the UK and runs annully. This year the focus was microfinance with speakers coming from as far as Kenya.

In addition to talks from such personages as keynote speaker Phippe Guichandut from the European Micro Finance Network, WIDS held a number of workshops.

During the workshops the participants were divided into small groups to discuss on their own the issues put forward by the speakers. This allowed for more in-depth criticism and higher participation. Afterwards the groups shared their ideas and they were further explained by the speaker.

Despite a low turnout, WIDS organisers said they felt the weekend was a success. Matthew Spencer, Treasurer, said “we succeeded in our aim…highlighting the issue of development.” He pointed to the WIDS slogan of “inspire, engage, inform.” Spencer did not feel that the turnout was a problem saying that “people know what WIDS is.”

Those who went to the talks had very positive feedback, many saying they found the speakers engaging, especially those from the World Bank said one participant.

Ingvild Skarpeid, a second year EPAIS student, found the weekend “really interesting and rewarding.” The smaller numbers meant that the “speakers were able to answer questions more individually.”

This year also showcased two separate student-led projects, the United Youth Development Organisation and Project Ayuda WIDS Action Group.

UYDO focuses on getting young people involved and connected to further microfinancing of youth in the developing world. This is a group often overlooked, for different reasons, and UYDO hopes to engage youth form around the world.

The WIDS Action Group is a new addition and this year they are developing Project Ayuda, an organisation which targets Columbia’s internally displaced people. Each year the Action Group will focus on a specific problem in the developing world.

“Its main aim is to alleviate suffering at the same time encouraging students to engage with their subjects of study, while developing essential skills,” explained Tatiana Aguilera, a Politics and Sociology student who runs the project.

“It has been a success, we have links with other societies and organisations.”

The reason WIDS has expanded in this way, Aguilera explained, is that there “was no space for action” before, something she feels is essential in development.

Since its inception in 2006 WIDS has grown and attracts not only Warwick students but also outside academics and professionals.