The CUT Transient Plunge

Publisher:  Canadian Urban Training Project (CUT)
Year Published:  1982
Resource Type:  Organization
Cx Number:  CX2459

CUT is a national organization dedicated to providing training for social activists.

Abstract: 
CUT is a national organization dedicated to providing training for social activists. Centered in Toronto, CUT offers various programmes that are geared to enabling the activist or student to develop skills in issue analysis, strategy planning, group process skills and value/theological reflection. CUT has local contact people and collectives in most major cities across Canada.

The Transient Plunge is one element of most CUT programmes. During the Plunge the student spends two and a half days (66 hours) experiencing the urban core (skid row) reality in a Canadian city. Each student is given $5 by the CUT project and is requested not to take any more money with her/him. The student is expected to find her/his own housing accommodation and other services in the skid row "survival" system. During the Plunge students are requested not to associate with one another or with other friends and associates.

The goal of the Plunge is to enable the student to get a "gut-level" sense of the day-to-day struggle of an oppressed person (in this case, the single displaced person). Most participants find the Plunge to be a challenging and powerful learning experience.

CUT has written information available about the various programmes it offers.

This organization no longer exists.
This abstract was published in the Connexions Digest in 1982.