Of Fair Trade Partnerships and a Global Education Campaign

by Nancy Lister-Settle, Presbytery of Des Moines

Hunger Action Enabler and Joining Hands Coordinator

The Presbytery of Des Moines Coordinating Team continued its Fair Trade campaign by purchasing a partnership box of fair trade products from Partners for Just Trade as well as a variety of scarves and shawls from Fair Trade Egypt and offering them for sale at local holiday markets.

Fair Trade Sale at Central Presbyterian Church, Des Moines

Sales held in partner churches provided the opportunity to educate shoppers on the importance of fair trade to artisans around the world earning less than livable incomes, and to consumers who have choices to make regarding how the money they spend is distributed.

Soccer in support of Education for All Campaign

Our parallel campaign is Education for All, which advocates for funding and support for the millennium development goal that calls for access to education for all primary school-aged children worldwide. The Teams asks you therefore to check out the campaign's website www.campaignforeducation.org and sign on as supporters. Our partners in Egypt are working hard on the implementation phase of their campaign to enable students with disabilities get an education in public schools.

Endorsed by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), this year’s promotion uses the popular 2010 World Cup Soccer Finals in South Africa to raise awareness about the campaign theme. We are therefore encouraging Des Moines’ professional soccer team, the Des Moines Menace, to help us bring attention to Education for All. Watch the videoclip below and go to www.join1goal.org to be a part of the 2010 action.

Together For Family Development Network Update in a Glance

by Nabil Sisostres, TFD coordinator

Exchange visit

On 16 nov 2009 the Aman Center for Special Education organized a meeting for the exchange of experiences and to learn from each other. The name AMAN means freed from harm, injury, or risk, no longer threatened by danger or injury.

The Amaan Center works by reinforcing the spirit of challenge and empowering the inherent energy of children with disability to overcome their limitations and providing the right environment to help them merge into society. In attendance were five participants from the Aman Center, three from the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS), three from Village of Hope and the Together For Family Development coordinator, Nabil Sisostros.

Celebrating the International Day for Disability

This year the celebration of the 2009 UN International Day for Persons with Disability took place on 3 December at the level of three communities in Alexandria, Minia and Cairo. This was decided to avoid the need to gather children and let them travel for long distances. More details on these events will be in the next edition.

Stay tuned!

Visit TFD's updated Arabic and English website