Greedy cult runs dirty UK school for aid workers? CICD exposed

In 2008 the BBC programme, 'Look North,' aired an investigation uncovering serious concerns about the running of a private college still active in East Yorkshire, England.
Originally aired on August 22, 2008.
“Our investigation into the College for International Cooperation and Development began earlier this year [2008], when we were contacted by a number of former students. It’s the third time in ten years we’ve been told about student walkouts at the college. And all of these incidents have shared a common theme: deep unhappiness at the way CICD is run, and the emphasis the college places on physical labour. The allegations have always been denied.
“During the latest investigation I’ve spoken at length to a number of former students.
“Busking to pay for food and lodgings was not why David and Maya came to East Yorkshire. They originally signed up to a unique college course, which promised to train them as overseas development workers. But along with ten other students they walked out, claiming they were being exploited.
“ ‘There’s nothing. There’s no information ― nothing. You’re constantly kept busy, and then you’re sent out on the streets ― in Hull or northern towns ― to fundraise. By that I mean selling magazines. And literally begging in the streets.’ ”
“Aid College” ― ‘Face the Facts’, BBC Radio 4; Aug. 22, 2008 (Transcript): tinyurl.com/200...
In addition to CICD and Planet Aid UK, Tvind also operates the following old clothes collection entities in England: 1) The 'Gaia Movement Trust Living Earth Green World Action', which has no official presence in Britain at all, but whose logo appears on bins operated by 2) ‘Green World Recycling’, based in Stourbridge; 3) ‘DAPP UK’ (Development Aid from People-to-People), a registered charity based in Northampton.
Two articles by former TvindAlert editor Michael Durham, who appears in the BBC programme:
On Planet Aid UK, Nov. 2015: tinyurl.com/re...
On the Gaia Movement, Feb. 2016: tinyurl.com/uu...
For more on all these and their parent organisation, Tvind, visit www.tvindalert....

[@naomiswain462]

This woman Karin Eversgaard in this video was running the DRH Bogense site. It was terrible. They actually sent a group out to Angola who were attacked by rebel soldiers. Even some local project works were killed infront of the volunteers. The volunteers had to make their own way home from Africa without support feom Tvind.
The idea that some people find the course worthwhile is false. Members may continue their studies or work elsewhere but despite Tvind, not helped by it.

[@TvindAlert]

Thank you Naomi. We would like to hear about your experiences with DRH. Would you please contact us at our website, www.tvindalert.com , by scrolling all the way down to the bottom of the main page, and clicking on 'Contact Us'. Fill in at least your name and email address, then click 'Submit'. Your message will be sent to our email address. We will respond. Thank you.

[@naomiswain462]

I was in Denmark in 1999/2000. Is this still going on in the UK?

[@TvindAlert]

Indeed it is.

[@idealist4life]

I was once management in this organization and was at both IICD Michigan and IICD Mass., which has now changed it's name to One World Center...because of all of the negative world wide press. It is run just the same in Michigan, Mass., and was also in California before that closed. These schools are worldwide...and the last I knew the leaders...that were still getting rich...were living in South America somewhere where they could escape punishment from other countries. You just have to know that EVERY person in the "Teacher's Group" has been through a program as a student and have been brainwashed into working non-stop, often in disorganized ways with NO training in any kind of business management, etc. EVERY one of them, then has to go to Denmark for a couple of weeks to then join the Teachers Group, at which time they meet leaders of this group from all over the world that REALLY BELIEVE they are changing the world for the better. It is THEN, that they are also convinced to GIVE away most of the income they have been promised...right back into the organization. The promise is that the ENTIRE group of leaders, which will now also include YOU, will be able to vote on where this collected money will then be spent...again...to keep doing good works world wide. It is ONLY those VERY high up in the TVIND organization that oversees all of these "schools"...that is actually getting rich. I, personally, met Danish students that had been used to fill a very large mansion type home in Denmark with very expensive furniture...for free...where one of these main leaders lived. I swear, the teachers and the Head Masters of the U.S. schools, at least, live JUST LIKE THE STUDENTS...with very little income personally. They live in the same dorms, and the only difference is that they now have much more responsibility, THEIR own room (students do not) and they get to own a car (also students are not supposed to have their own cars at the schools).

[@idealist4life]

The last I knew you had to pay over $5,000...to VOLUNTEER for one year, mini mum. Then, you have to go begging on the streets 12 hrs a day, at times...wasting gas money driving all over the country to different cities every time...and are expected to RAISE ANOTHER $ 3,000 for the org.

[@idealist4life]

I spoke to students that returned to the school, having been put up in some kind of apartments, many miles away from where they were supposed to be volunteering, and told that they would just let them know if they were ever needed for something.
They found signs on their doors and inside of the apartments from previous volunteers from other schools saying, "The people do not want us here nor do they even seem to need anything we have to offer. What they need is money." Basically, they either could not even afford the elements that were needed to create any sustainability project that might help them...or the volunteers had nothing new to show them, and no one IN those villages were communicated with BEFORE volunteers were to arrive....to make sure they were trained in what the village really needed help with.
Everyone trained first as students to just be as busy as you can be all of the time...with no plan of self care or in the organization of anything...all stressed out, all the time, giving their income away...up the ladder, convinced that it is going towards making all of these 3rd world villages better. But, with working LITERALLY 50-60 + hours a week, with no organizational skills, no self care, no patience with each other...these "schools" can be an absolutely miserable and toxic place to be...to live, actually, as this is what ALL are expected to do, Head Masters, teachers and students alike. It is really awfully sad that the cycle continues the same way, over and over again, producing work-aholics who end up treating each other very badly. My personal experience with the U.S. IICD, now One World Centers spans over 16 yrs. and I was privy to all of the inner workings.

[@TvindAlert]

Hi there, Idealist. I'd like to hear more about your experiences with IICD. Would you please contact me at www.TvindAlert.com , by scrolling all the way down to the bottom of the main page, and clicking on 'Contact Us'. Fill in at least your name and email address, then click 'Submit'. Your message will be sent to our email address. I will respond. Thank you. - Wade Larsen, editor, TvindAlert.com

[@ac81017]

Ha ha, I know all about TVIND :-) Been there, got the tshirt :-)

[@staceykersting705]

Just began reading about it...sounds atrocious!

[@staceykersting705]

12%, u say? Planet Aid's doing Better than Goodwill. I think they're only 10%. Our community needs blankets that don't cost even more than retail prices. Especially baby and kid's clothing should be affordable. Same with shoes and warm coats. It gets cold here, and so many ppl don't have decent winter wear.