2008 workplan approved

Focus on Campaign for the human right to publically owned clean water

The Board of Directors of the UMAVIDA network has just approved a workplan for 2008 which includes a focus on an international campaign promoting the human right to publically owned clean water. The partner Presbyteries of the Cascades, Newark and San Francisco will be invited to join hands in this important campaign.

Youth Congress on the Environment

Another international campaign is underway and will culminate in January of 2008. Youth from Peru, Canada and from the U.S. partner Presbyteries will be gathering in the beautiful city of Potosí, Bolivia, for a Congress on the Environment. San Francisco Presbytery is part of the Youth Congress.

Awareness building on the New Constitution

The Constitutional Assembly in Sucre, Bolivia, has resumed its work to be able to present a new Constitution for a referundum vote by December of this year. Much of the work of UMAVIDA has been to inform Bolivians of the progress of the Assembly and animate the direct participation of Bolivians in the debates on the floor of the Assembly.

New organizations join UMAVIDA network

Four organizations have recently joined the UMAVIDA network. Two of these work primarily with women and education on issues of human rights, domestic violence, microentreprise. Another institution in Sucre focuses on farmers and their issues of contaminated irrigation water, the promotion of organic farming and marketing. The fourth institution is undertaking leadership training and citizenship issues for the indigenous population of El Alto which will double in size in ten years to two million people, many now without basic infrastructure and lacking water due to the impact of global warming. Not long ago CNN aired a program called "Bolivia Meltdown". This program is available to be watched at: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/02/16/untold.stories/index.html

A Note from the Joining Hands Companionship Facilitators    

Joining Hands Companionship Facilitators Bob and Julie Dunsmore travelled on Sept 20 to begin three months of itineration in the US. Julie will be visiting Presbyteries in the Northwest and California and Bob in Kansas and Missouri. October is Mission Challenge month with over 40 missionaries spreading throughout all the Presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church (USA) the good news of our denomination's mission work worldwide. Check with your Presbytery to find out who will be coming your way! You can read more on the Mission Challenge '07 Campaign on PCUSA's website