Well-Being For All

World Accord Board Meeting Reflections

2010-01-28T16:36:00.001-05:00

We came together last weekend from various places across Canada and the United States to meet and discuss the various issues facing World Accord. It was my first board meeting as the executive director and I have to admit that I have gained new insight into the role these women and men play and the dedication they have to the cause of World Accord.

From left to right is: Doug MacArthur from Lethbridge, Alberta; myself, Rosilyn Coulson from New Westminster, BC; Steve Capling - our board President - from Williams Lake, BC; and Lew Shepherdson - board Treasurer - from Ottawa, ON. Seated are Carley Cole from Olds, AB, on the left with Mary Jacks-Dynes from Independence, Missouri.

Missing are Diana Hill - soon to be off the board and into the sailing adventure of a lifetime - and Tiona Taylor of Woodbridge, Ontario. Sadly, Tiona wasn't feeling well on the weekend and was unable to attend.

I had been involved to some degree with the people on the board and have done my financial presentations at board meetings since starting with World Accord but this was the first time I got to see the inner workings of the board. Riveting. Well as you may expect that is not entirely true but there is more to board meetings than mere governance of the charity.

We did our share of discussing the challenges faced by World Accord and our partners in the past year but perhaps more importantly we talked about a vision for where World Accord will be in the future. There was a lot of brainstorming and sharing of ideas and concepts that might be used to help propel World Accord into that future place where we can work to help even more people than ever before. I know I was inspired by the way the board was there to enable me and empower me to lead World Accord into the next phase of our organizational evolution.

In short I would like to thank these board members and all World Accord "board-members-past" for their dedication to the cause; laying the foundations that got us here and helping pave the way into tomorrow. If you run across one of these people, feel free to thank them for the role they play in keeping World Accord a vital and relevant organization.

Peace and Blessings

David Barth, Executive Director

PS On another note, we were visited by Betsy Wall, Executive Director of FIDA, who talked to us at length about her understanding and involvement in Haiti. That is the only country they work in and have a long history of successful projects and some lessons learned from less successful ones. Thank you Betsy. We learned a lot and of course developed still more questions we will be investigating in the future.

We have a New Program Officer

2010-01-11T16:56:00.001-05:00

Welcome to 2010 everyone. It is going to be an interesting and incredible year. We are starting this year off right with the hiring of Nelson Rosales to be World Accord's new program officer. We are really excited by the possibilities that Nelson will help us to realize over the next year and hopefully, into the years beyond.

Nelson was born and raised in El Salvador and moved to Saskatchewan when he was 10 years old and later moved to Toronto. He is just finishing up his M.A. in Adult Education and Community Development and already holds an Honours Bachelors degree in International Development and Anthropology.

Nelson has worked or volunteered in many countries including, Haiti, Cuba, El Salvador, Vietnam, Columbia, Kenya and the Philippines and is fully fluent in Spanish, English and French. He is passionate about gender equality and working with people in a participatory manner right at the community and village group level. It appears to me an incredible match since we have excellent partners and many incredible community groups for Nelson to assist in their development goals.

I am thankful for this opportunity to work with Nelson to help our partners bring new hope to the program participants.

Welcome to World Accord Nelson.

David.

Help Wanted - Program Officer

2009-11-12T16:16:00.001-05:00

Want to make a serious difference? Here is your chance!

World Accord - International Development Agency is a small Canadian charity and NGO based in Waterloo, Ontario, that receives funding from individuals, churches and other groups, businesses and, where possible, government agencies. These funds are then used to support the grass roots development efforts of our partners in several Central American and Asian countries. We are currently seeking an experienced program officer. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the successful candidate will have:

a minimum of 2 years experience in the field,
a post secondary education in International Development or a related field,
a proven capacity to write successful project or program proposals for CIDA,
excellent budgeting skills,
the drive to ensure deadlines are never missed,
strong communication and presentation skills,
the ability to produce clear and concise reports,
solid file organizing and managing skills,
strong people skills,
a very high level of personal integrity and
a clear understanding of environmental sustainability and gender equality issues.

This is a one year contract position that can lead to permanent employment for the successful candidate. There is a requirement for substantial international travel with this position and the ability to work and travel independently is crucial. While the majority of the work will be in English, preference will be given to those with superior Spanish language ability. E-mail applications to waccord@worldaccord.org no later than Nov. 30

We Have A Voice - Let's Use It!!!

2009-11-11T11:26:00.001-05:00

What a month it has been. First there was the Community of Christ International Peace Colloquy. The recipient of the International Peace Award this year was Dr. Halima Bashir. She has spoken out against the genocide of her people in Darfur and written her memoirs of survival in her book - "Tears of the Desert".

Before her acceptance speech there was a short film clip entitled "Voices From Darfur".

Check it out here. Voices From Darfur

Dr. Bashir was introduced by our past director, Rod Downing, who has been producing a Peace and Justice letter for several years now and has become very knowledgeable on the Darfur genocide crisis.

We had arranged to bring three very important people to the Colloquy to participate as keynote speakers: Rupa Kumar of the CORDI Women's Shelter, in India; Felipa Xico, the executive Director of Mujeres en Accion (MeA) in Guatemala; and Domitila Curuchich, a past participant and now director of the MeA program.

During Dr. Bashir's keynote address, I remember looking over at Domitila to see her head down with tears falling onto her lap as she listened to Dr. Bashir tell her story. It brought back for her all the memories she had of the civil war and genocide in Guatemala and the disappearance of her father and brother.

After the award ceremony I saw Felipa sitting alone in the back of the temple. She had not expected to hear such a story and it had been incredibly difficult for her.

Find recordings of the Peace Colloquy here: Recordings

The following day Domitila and Felipa did an amazing job on their keynote address but all the talk later was about the address of Rupa Kumar who held nothing back on her plea. Perhaps it would be more accurately described as "her demand" for equality for women around the globe. It was hard hitting and quite appropriate given the focus of this year's Peace Colloquy - "Justice for Women; Dignity for All".

I was so proud to call these incredible women "partners of World Accord"!

I bought Dr. Bashir's book and began gobbling it up immediately. You can buy it by clicking here.

Once we all returned to Canada we began the journey that would see Terry Fielder and myself cross the country with our partners telling our stories to anyone who would listen. There were several radio interviews, newspaper articles and many meetings with both groups and individuals.

By the time we had completed our journey I had finished Tears of the Desert. What an incredible story! It was very heart wrenching and, as at other times in my life, I was astounded by man's ability to do completely inhuman things to other people. At times like this I feel there must be some fundamental flaw in humans that we could do such awful things to each other.

I am ashamed to admit that, at times, an email came across my desk and, too busy, I hit the delete key when it would have only take a moment to add my voice to those who speak out against atrocities. Never again! It may be a small thing but.......From now on I will be careful to ensure I no longer remain silent. Speaking out is a wise use of a moment. It was Haile Selassie who said:

"Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better;
the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph."

On this, our Remembrance Day, let us not only remember those Canadians who have fallen in wars past and present, but all those people around the world that suffer as a result of human conflict.

Let us use our voices where possible to help end conflict and bring Peace to this World.

Peace and Love

David

ps. Here is a simple thing. Go to the Save Darfur page and download a search toolbar for your browser that will donate funds to the cause whenever you search with it.

8 Days left till "Stand Up"

2009-10-08T10:25:00.001-04:00

It is going to be a big event once again this year. More than 116 million people world wide. Go to a "Stand Up" Against Poverty event and be included in the millions that are sending a message to their respective governments to fulfill their promises of help eradicate extreme poverty by 2015. It CAN be done if we all work together. Check out their new video for Stand Up. I will be at the CEM conference in Guelph and all who choose to participate will Stand up for the photo so we can count our number and send it into the Stand Up organizers.

Sometimes small effort and small time commitments CAN have a large payoff if it is done by enough people. Join us - wherever you are in the world. Thanks for reading.

David

15 Days 'Till We "Stand Up" - ARE YOU IN?

2009-10-01T12:36:00.001-04:00

Once again this year there will be a global event to raise awareness and send a message to governments all over the world; "They should come through on their promises to bring an end to poverty via the Millennium Development Goals".

Anyone and everyone can have a voice in this and participate in any number of ways. Last year there were several congregations across Canada that held small "Stand Up" events. If you register the event with the "Stand Up" website, you can then send them in numbers of participants after the fact and include a photo of your group. Last year more than 116 Million people "Stood Up" against poverty around the world. It is a growing movement and this year I am certain the numbers will swell.

On October 17th we will hold a small "Stand Up" event as part of our presentation at the Community of Christ, Canada East Mission annual general meeting. This is something we did last year and hope to see "Stand Up" become a regular part of the AGM.

Please check out the website and consider getting involved. It is easy and quick, doesn't cost a thing, and can easily be incorporated into any congregation's Sunday service on October 18th. " Every little bit helps." That's what MY mother told me and I KNOW it to be true. Thanks for reading and have an awesome day.

David

World Accord at the Peacemaker's Summit

2009-09-25T14:01:00.001-04:00

As the new executive director of World Accord, I had the good fortune to receive an invitation to the Community of Christ Peacemaker's Summit. It was held in Independence, Missouri on Monday and Tuesday of this week. This Summit was an opportunity for the Church to get together with affiliates of the church. Some of the organizations were quite formalized and others, not so much. For some the affiliation with the church was clear and formal and with other organizations the affiliation was less clear. This hardly mattered though.

What mattered was that all the people in the room were working toward creating or maintaining Peace in their respective communities through many different approaches. I was struck by the thought of how the Peace mission of the church was being brought to fruition through these many and varied pathways. If we look at the influence we are having as a total, it is incredible. And that is just the officially recognized affiliates. There are so many spin-offs.

For instance, Mary Burbidge went on one of our construction expeditions and felt called to do something for the cold and sick kids in the mountains of Honduras. She started up the pneumonia vest knitting project that has not only given people an opportunity to help here in Canada but has probably touched upwards of 20,000 children around the world that have received a knitted vest or hat. And hundreds of people have participated in World Accord's construction expeditions through the efforts of volunteers Al Wigood, Richard Kirsh and Jens Schoenrank. And this is just one piece of the pie.

Then there is the individual contributions by church members. We stayed at the home of donors Carol and Dave Baltz. Their giving hearts are incredible. The help they have provided for some seriously marginalized youth is truly inspiring. If we were able to look at the sum total of all the good that is done by Community of Christ affiliates, members and friends, I am sure the result would be astounding.

World Accord was well represented. In addition to myself, we had Rod Downing, a former-director of World Accord, representing his Peace and Justice newsletter; Mary Jacks-Dynes, a current World Accord board member, representing the church; and WA Treasurer Lew Shepherdson (on the board of at least three church affiliates), representing Encounter World Religions. World Accord staff member Terry Fielder was there with me but also represented Sionito since he is a member of Sionito's board of directors.

As a group we developed goals and action steps to achieving those goals that will have us all working together more effectively to support the creation and maintenance of Peace. It was an inspiring event to say the least.

Rupa Kumar and Felipa Xico to Visit Canada

2009-09-09T10:53:00.001-04:00

World Accord is planning to have Rupa and Felipa, from the CORDI Women's Shelter in India and Women in Action in Guatemala respectively, participate in the 2009 Peace Colloquy, Justice for Women - Dignity for All. If possible, they will each bring a participant from their programs. This in itself is very exciting. We will be presenting on the use of Micro Credit programs in poverty alleviation. The role of poverty alleviation in supporting Peace was well established when Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank he created were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for their efforts to create economic and social development from below."

In order to get the most out of Rupa and Felipa's trip, we will be taking them to visit various congregations across Canada so they can share their stories, their successes and challenges. This cross-Canada showcase is the brainchild of former executive director, Terry Fielder, who just recently completed the incredible feat of cycling across Canada with his wife Sandra and 24 other very determined people. The cross-Canada showcase itinerary is still open! We will be finalizing plans when Terry returns to the office next week. So if anyone has any awesome ideas for showcasing these incredible women in mid-October, please send them along by email to dbarth@worldaccord.org

We hope to see you at some point on this journey.

For Peace and Justice,

David Barth,

Executive Director

Interesting Rally in Nepal

2009-07-30T10:09:00.001-04:00

This morning we received a You Tube clip link from our partner in Nepal. Incredible they way they are embracing technology to spread news of their works. Something we at World Accord can - and will - take a lesson from.

The clip is of a bike rally to spread awareness and gather support for a commitment to end "armed" domestic violence in the country. Shobha works for our partner SAP-Nepal in Kathmandu and is the woman that points out the issues in this video clip.

David Barth Appointed Executive Director

2009-07-18T16:01:00.001-04:00

The World Accord Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of David Barth as Executive Director, effective July 24, 2009. David replaces Terry Fielder, who is retiring after 25 years of service as the Executive Director.

David’s appointment is the final step in a lengthy search process. The World Accord Board of Directors invested several hundred hours over a twelve month period: defining World Accord's needs and criteria; reviewing more than 60 applicants; interviewing candidates in Canada, Asia and Africa; assessing candidates against the needs and criteria; and finally making the decision.

David brings experience, skills and passion to this new leadership role in World Accord. His engineering and MBA degrees, his experience as a consultant, teacher, and entrepreneur all complement his ten years of working at World Accord. He has applied his organizational and financial skills in implementing effective systems for fund raising, donor management, and accounting, and has trained and worked with many of World Accord’s overseas program partners to improve their management and reporting systems.

Join the Board in congratulating David and pledge your continued support for World Accord and its mission under David's leadership.

World Accord Board of Directors

[The official press release announcing the appointment.]

Watch for details about events in the fall where you can join us in recognizing and celebrating Terry Fielder's 25 years of service to World Accord

World Accord Announces Planned Retirement of Executive Director Terry Fielder

2009-02-12T23:55:00.004-05:00

The World Accord Board of Directors announces the planned retirement of World Accord Executive Director Terry Fielder, effective June 2009. “Terry has not only been the face, voice and heart of World Accord for 25 years,” said Steve Capling, President of World Accord, “but he has been a tireless advocate for progressive development policies within the Canadian NGO community.”

Terry Fielder, having been the Executive Director of World Accord since July 1984, asked the Board to begin planning for his retirement over two years ago. “It is more difficult to think of leaving than it was to think of coming. World Accord is more than a job or career – World Accord has become part of my signature, part of my last name, part of my expression of things I believe and believe in.” stated Fielder. “World Accord has brought us into friendship with some of the greatest people that our nation and the world community has ever produced.”

Under Fielder's leadership, World Accord has developed funding from CIDA (Government of Canada), Community of Christ World Hunger Fund, Wild Rose Foundation, other foundations and from thousands of ordinary Canadians. Those funds have been channeled through local partner organizations in dozens of countries around the world. This approach allows those local organizations to implement development programs that have improved the well-being of many thousands of hard-working people who have been born into the poorest circumstances.

The World Accord Board of Directors will be launching a search to recruit an Executive Director.

A Personal Note from Terry Fielder:

Dear Friends:

In 1980, a handful of North Americans got together. They were looking for an alternative to the “aid” model that characterized our relationship with what was then called the “Third World.” All had personal lives and other work responsibilities that made them busy people, yet they cared for a world in need and they dared as a group to ask “What if?” They had given a great deal of thought about ways to empower communities of people born in poor circumstances. They conceived an agency that would enable people with resources to share them with those who had not. It was these early thoughts and this new agency that attracted me.

One day in 1984, the phone rang in my hardware store and within a minute, life for me and my family changed forever. Sandra and I had been volunteers with this new agency for four years and now the Board of Directors asked me to be the first staff member of what we now know as World Accord. We would need to leave the security of our home town and a business that was solid and profitable. It was both scary and exciting.

World Accord has evolved significantly over these 29 years. The “what” that handful of people wanted to accomplish all those years ago continues to be proven as valid. The values, the hope, the concept of empowering the poor were visionary at the time and are today accepted as critical to fostering an environment where people can flourish sustainably in peace with each other and the environment we share. While the “what” is the same, the “how” has changed greatly as we have learned what works and what doesn’t. Expectation and Hope are powerfully different concepts. Our Hope motivates us; our Expectation is based on HOW we exercise our power of choice.

In mid 2006, after 22 years as Executive Director of World Accord, my wife Sandra and I made a difficult choice and I approached the Board of Directors of World Accord and asked them to begin a process of Succession Planning. It is more difficult to think of leaving than it was to think of coming. World Accord is more than a job or career – for Sandra and I, World Accord has become part of our signature, part of my last name, part of our expression of things we believe and believe in. World Accord has brought us into friendship with some of the greatest people that our nation and the world community has ever produced.

The belief I share with Sandra and our children and with the Board of Directors of World Accord is that this agency needs to remain a vibrant component of our world community. The realization of Well-Being For All is still some distance off, beyond the horizon. The world community needs organizations like World Accord to express their hopes from a base of shared values.

The Board of Directors takes seriously their responsibilities for governance of this cause-related agency. They employ the same techniques we learned together a long time ago in the villages where projects were designed by listening and deciding together. Over the next few months, the Board will search for the person that World Accord needs to advance the cause of world accord.

Many people have influenced the evolution of World Accord and fostered and encouraged me to experiment as we learned and continue to learn how to express concern and caring. I treasure the life we have shared. I expect a shared future where we can and will still toil with our eyes fixed on our dream for a better and more peaceful world. I hope we get a chance to celebrate together the past we have shared and the future we have yet to experience.

Terry Fielder

Fundraiser Pancake-less Pancake Breakfast!

2008-07-10T13:33:00.001-04:00

Tuesday July 8th, 2008, at 7:30 AM donors gathered around the kitchen at Ziontario Campgrounds for a pancake breakfast, sans pancakes! What did they eat, you may ask? Bacon and Eggs!! The Eggs were donated by Grayridge Eggs and all was cooked by the Mahoney sisters and 'surrogate Mahoneys'. The event raised $838 for World Accord to support overseas programs.
Thanks to all who prepared, and ate!!
World Accord Staff

Fastathon(s) a Big Success So Far

2008-07-04T15:58:00.001-04:00

Once again this spring, youth and adults from all over the country participated in the 36 hour fasting and fundraising event. Between the events held at Ziontario and Hills of Peace campgrounds, we raised just over $35,000. Another outstanding year. AND there is still more to come.

For the second summer in a row, the directors of the BC reunion have not only encouraged a mini-Fastathon within the reunion but are helping World Accord with handling the planning and organizing as well. It may be a small group of fasters but they are keen to participate and are eager fundraisers too.

The theme for Fastathon this year is "If Everyone Cared... imagine what the world would be". We had great events with more than 120 people showing up to fast so far.

This year we also had some special participants at the Ziontario Fastathon. Kayla Wyer brought 12 of her companions from the Katimivik group she has been traveling and volunteering with.

In a strange twist of fate, Kayla won the Construction Trip. At the western Fastathon, the trip was won by Carson Moor - a driving force behind getting the Fastathon going in the west. Congratulations to Carson and Kayla.

The BC Reunion Fastathon will take place July 21 - 23 at Samish Island campgrounds. Watch for an update after that.

Thank you to all participants and those who sponsored them. The funds from the event will be used primarily in support of the CORDI Women's Shelter in India. Thank you again for helping make that possible.

World Accord Staff

Letters from Honduras Children

2008-06-23T10:55:00.002-04:00

That is Al Wigood Pictured above with Ever Domingo and Marco Brenedi (in green)

To: Mr. Al with lots of love.
From: Ever Domingo Flores Doblado
I wish you all the best of the world. I am firstly a child of God and I will never forget you. I love you so much I pray that God will keep you safe where ever you may be. Thank you so much for what you and your partners did for us and left with us. At the same time I don't know how to properly say I wish you a Happy Christmas and Prosperity in the New Year. Those are my wishes for you Mr. Al from Ever Domingo with all the love in the world.

Ever Domingo's brother Marco writes:

From marco Brenedi Flores Doblado
To: Mr. Al
Although I have a short time of knowing you, I love you. I am five years old and I will never forget you and I ask God that you come back to this place. I also ask God to keep you safe where you live. I want to tell you I have 7 brothers and every one appreciates you though I appreciate you the most. This small and humble paper may you take with you as a memory from the children that wish you health in the name of our Lord and to all of your friends that worked hard in this place with a lot of love. I say good bye with a million kisses and a million hugs.
Brenedi
ps Good Bye not for ever.

2008 Summer Job Available

2008-05-23T09:25:00.001-04:00

As of 23-May-2008 World Accord has a position for a summer student for 2008.

Job title is "Program-Resource Assistant" and duties will include but not be limited to:

Community Awareness initiatives
Fundraising activities
Office Administration

See posting on the website for details.

Excerpt from Jack Allen Memorial

2008-04-17T10:31:00.002-04:00

SHARING OUR ABUNDANCE OFFERINGS - Jack Allen

Sharing Our Abundance offerings for May honors a long time member of UCE, Jack Allen. Many of us remember Jack fondly as he made everyone feel so welcome at UCE. As well, when Jack died, he left a $10,000 life insurance gift to UCE. We really appreciate all the contributions Jack made to UCE and to Unitarianism and therefore, we will be honoring him by donating our charitable sharing of offerings for May to World Accord.

In 1961, Jack was led to the Unitarian church by his daughter, Judy. It was such a good fit with Jack's principles of justice and equity and interdependence. Judy brought him but Social Justice kept him here. He was part of the group in this church who supported with time and money, a hostel for the multitudes of hitchhikers criss-crossing the country. In the 60s the Native Friendship Centre became a focus for him and he encouraged other members of the church to offer hospitality and tutoring at the Centre. He and other Unitarians joined the protest against nuclear testing in Southern Alberta. He long supported the gay and lesbian community, marching in protest when Anita Bryant came to town in the 70s and most recently in the Gay Pride Parade last June in his friend's power wheelchair.

After 41 years he resigned his membership in this church but immediately joined the Westwood congregation where his partner, Elaine Roberts, was an active member. He became an active member of their Social Justice Committee and supported enthusiastically their projects in Nicaragua and Peru. Together, Jack and Elaine journeyed to Central America 5 times with World Accord, an organization whose development philosophy embraces the idea that "development is not a destination, but a journey". World Accord works with people, families and communities, helping create opportunities and choices that improve their well-being in ways consistent with their culture and value. Each time he went, he joyfully assisted a campesino family to build a home or the people of a village to build a school or community center. He was very sad in 2005 when he realized that his balance was so compromised that he was unsafe on the worksite and that it would be his last trip. He was 81.

A team of Jack's family and friends are going to Honduras in January 2009 to build a school in his honour. Contributions to World Accord, to the Jack Allen Memorial Fund are still being gratefully received. Further information about this is available from Elaine Roberts or from World Accord.

World Accord www.worldaccord.org
1C-185 Frobisher Dr. Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2V 2E6 1-800-525-3545

Hunger Awareness '08 in Ottawa

2008-03-18T11:26:00.003-04:00

We just received a note from Erny Cowan of the Community of Christ in Ottawa regarding their Hunger Awareness event. Thanks Erny.

We had about 30 people attend, mostly families with young children. Our first activity was an hour of swimming at the local Dovercourt pool. Then there were some activities around building cooperatively, such as building a bridge out of straws and connectors and churches out of cardboard boxes and tubes. A short sing-a-long, let by Christine Pigeon, wrapped up the activities. Then we shared a meal of chili or rigatonni.

The event was organized by Barb Kernohan, with assistance from Steve Wozniac in the kitchen, and Dianne Galbraith and Connie Hicks keeping the kids busy.

AND they raised $290 in support of World Accord programs. This is a great example of having fun while learning and supporting a cause. Way to go everyone. Thank you all for putting on this wonderful event.

The staff of World Accord

Dave Snell's Perspective

2008-01-08T23:37:00.000-05:00

Terry thought it would be interesting to get Dave Snell's perspective particularly because he was one of the first to visit back in 1985. Here's what he has to say:

My first impression having arrived here at La Buena Fe is just how much all of the vegetation has grown up around all of the buildings because it was pretty open when I was here before. The houses weren’t there at the roadway. The village near La Buena Fe is much bigger and more prosperous. There are new schools and the hydro line had just gone up months before I was there. There is certainly a lot more traffic on the highway than what there was then.

Sunday, when we went out to Conception, the road was paved!! That was a real shock to go up there to a paved road. Henrique spoiled it all by bringing us back on the gravel road.

Certainly the level of poverty is not what it was on my first trip back in 1985. A lot more people are living in either Adobe or concrete houses. Most people were living in stick houses with thatched roofs. There was certainly no hydro up in the villages in the mountains. There’s a lot more roads in the hills than what I remember. There are a lot more schools as well.

Alfonzo has that concrete house up on the hill now. He wasn’t living in anything near that when we saw him the first time. I don’t think it was even an adobe house. To me, seeing him today, he is one of the more prosperous men in the town. Not having seen the rest of the men, but that would be my take. His land around his property has a lot more growth on it than what it had then.

As we were driving along the roads, the corn fields and the coffee growers, everything is just much more prosperous. Before there would be a stock of corn every two feet in the fields and they were considerably smaller than the fields we were looking at today.

The one thing that I haven’t noticed is the bees. The first time we were down here, quite a number of the homes had honey bees. They would have a hollowed limb by their house and that is where they got their honey from. We got to actually watch them process the honey.

Dave Snell

Honduras January 7th

2008-01-08T22:14:00.000-05:00

Our focus today was on housing. We took the time to travel around and see some of the homes and schools that PRR has built.

Those of us who were feeling adventurous, hopped into the back of a truck and took the tour with the wind blowing through our hair. There was nothing blocking our view of the mountains and valleys.

One home that we stopped at was particularly tragic. This shack had been built out of mud and is dangerous in this area, because the walls provide a place for a disease carrying bug to dwell. This bug, called a chagas, is about an inch and a half long and bites you in your sleep and sucks blood. The family is actually a candidate for a new hom ethat will be funded in party by PRR. These homes are to be constructed by mud blocks that the family makes themselves. PRR will help with building the concrete floor, a tin roof, and put concrete over the mud walls in order to seal them. The family has already started to build their blocks, but is having difficulty getting them made because the father has two broken legs and cannot walk. The mother stays up all night killing the chagas that are already filled with the blood of her three children. She cannot take them to the medical clinic to even get them tested for this disease. Even while this family is struggling so hard to live their life, they are still trying to plan for their future. Some of the group members were suggesting that the community should step in and help them form their blocks because it was an extreme situation. If you could have seen the look on the woman's face though, when she said no, that this was something she had to do for herself. It was going to be her home. Amazing.

Cindy's Perspective

2008-01-07T11:51:00.000-05:00

Cindy's Perspective on our experiences so far:

I found the amount of information that I heard today overwhelming at times. I was really fascinated by Pablo and his work and what they’re doing with the agricultural side. There is genius in using the farmer’s as their own scientist. To be able to teach farmer’s who in many cases are not literate to follow a scientific method of developing their own food source for their own micro climate is just genius. I’m not sure how else to describe it. The buy in that’s needed to get people on board to do that kind of thing. As he was explaining with the beans, it’s a very painstaking, detail oriented process. To have a group of people that dedicated to a long term project is really amazing.

What also struck me was the simplicity and the common sense ideas of the silos. The simple solution to a very big problem. The silos mean that the beans and the corn can be sold at a time when the price is better in order to maintain an income for the family throughout the year and they’re then not losing 30% of their crop or having rodents in their house that carries disease. There is no mold this way, it’s just a very simple, powerful solution.

When Marina and Claudia were talking this afternoon, I felt really helpless. Claudia was sitting there and she’s ill and her daughter is ill and thousands of people are ill through no fault of their own. To take on a corporation like that requires so much tenacity and so much courage and they have no resources. People in that situation never have resources. It’s one of the huge injustices in the world. The lead in the environment is going to persist forever unless it’s cleaned up. How will that clean up be forced onto the big business? They don’t want to do it. It’s going to be very costly for them. Caught in that squeeze between Claudia and her family.

Tonight we went to church. I was humbled by the dedication of the pastor from Tegucigalpa. He had to drive for hours to get here for just one family to worship. They were very gracious to us. I was struck again by the familiarity of the community of Christ, even in a language that I can’t understand.

January 6th

La Buena Fe January 6th

2008-01-07T11:42:00.000-05:00

January 6th

The next morning, roosters greeted us as we woke, alarming us of the morning. Other birds chirped softly and cheerfully in the background which made it a little less annoying. We had a relaxing morning, half of that may have been the fact that most of us did not have our checked luggage, so our choice of outfits was somewhat limited. We took our leisurely stroll over to the Casa Blanca (white house) for our breakfast. The breakfast was wonderful. There was porridge with milk and cinnamon, pancakes with honey (or maple syrup was also available) and fresh fruit. They roast the coffee bean after it has already been sweetened, so there was no need to add sugar to your morning coffee.

After breakfast, we took a tour of the project here at La Buena Fe. We had a chance to walk around the grounds and see all of the organic farming that is being done here. They have been able to actually cross pollinate bean seeds in order to make them resistant to drought and other hazards. All of the farming is purely organic, no chemicals are being used. We walked to the compost piles and dug through the beautiful black dirt that the worms are making out of the stalks from the beans.

We had the opportunity to share lunch with two women from El Salvador that shared with us after lunch about their project in El Salvador focusing on education and heard of a new problem that they are currently facing: lead poisoning. It’s a tragic story about a battery factory that was dumping their waste into the water and it has now penetrated basically everything in the community. Children are dying, people and cows are mutilated, and the treatment for lead poisoning will cost each person $2500, which is just an impossible amount of money for the people in El Salvador.

In the afternoon, we took a walk through the town. Walking down the path, we were greeted by the local people who all came to the doorways and windows to look at the bunch of white people walking through town. Children would giggle as they spoke their bits of English that they knew. Several curious individuals followed us along the way as we walked. We paused to take pictures of the dense foliage on the mountainsides.

New sounds were all around us. Animals are all around us, goats, cows, horses, chickens, dogs, cats, lizards. There is a heavy undertone of crickets playing in the background at night.

After dinner, we all had the opportunity to cram into the ambulance. Yes, that’s right, we had 10 people packed in an ambulance on the way to church. No one was injured, we simply were using the ambulance as a means of transportation. The members at the church were waiting for us when we arrived. I think that we overpopulated the local people that were there, but they seemed excited to have us there. We were without a translator at this part, so we got by with the little Spanish that we had. We started off the service by sharing in music. We sang “This Little Light of Mine” in English and then the congregation shared in a song in Spanish. The minister was from Tegucigalpa and had traveled to this small church for the first time. He was wonderful at engaging the congregation and was very energetic in his message. It was obvious that he had a lot of experience in being a minister and giving powerful messages. They took up an offering, which I think was more money than they may have gotten all year long, even though some of us were being much more modest than what we would put in the offering plate at home. They sang another song in Spanish and then I attempted to lead what I know to be the words to Santo, Santo, Santo. Fortunately, it appeared anyway, that what I was saying was close enough to the actual Spanish words, that they were able to pick up on the song.

Cramming back into the ambulance was even more interesting this time, because we picked up an extra passenger, the minister. Also picture, in your mind a windshield that is completely fogged up and no defroster functioning. So Terry had to wipe away a clear spot on the windshield with a Kleenex. The roads here are not what I would call paved for the most part either. I don’t think anyone hit their head on the roof when we went over bumps, but it wouldn’t have surprised me. All in all, we made it back safely and dropped of the minister who was spending the night at La Buena Fe.

I can’t get over how much I feel at home here in this place. It’s strange to be in a foreign place where nothing seems foreign to you. Except maybe throwing the toilet paper in the waste basket. That still seems a little awkward to me.

Erin Clark

Another Perspective

2008-01-07T11:29:00.000-05:00

January 6th

I will be posting both my own viewpoint and a short perspective from another person on the trip with us.

Today´s perspective is brought to you by Barb M:

It was good to meet Henrique and know about what they’re doing. You can put a face to the project, you can see their concerns and their dedication. You see how proud they are of their accomplishments. I think all of us should become activists for the causes that we believe in, justice. I just recently joined Amnesty International, so I feel like I’m doing something globally. We need to be thinking of our own communities as well as other parts of the world.

La Buena Fe, Honduras January 5th

2008-01-07T11:05:00.001-05:00

Dear Friends:

My name is Erin and I am writing to you from our Discovery Expedition to Honduras.

Upon arriving at La Buena Fe, Honduras we were shown to the building in which we’d be staying. It was originally a medical clinic and has 4 separate rooms with a couple of beds in each one. As we settled into our rooms and divvied up the best beds, the sound of the birds in the trees greeted us, as if saying “Welcome back to this place called home.”

After settling in, our first task was to be fed. Stepping outside, we realized that twilight had vanished from the skies. As we walked along the stone path, overgrown by the lush grass, we were reminded of the cornerstone that connects us, because in the background, slow and steady, came a familiar hymn being sung in Spanish, “How Great Thou Art” enveloping us and blessing our journey. The only thing lighting our way was the dim glow of the fireflies nestled into the blades of grass.

We were led to a small white house, quaint and welcoming with the porch light on and dogs to greet us at the steps with their tails wagging feverishly. The aroma of what lie ahead wafted through the doorway. A wondrous spread of scrambled eggs and mashed beans with sour cream and fresh, home made tortillas had been prepared for our feast. Fresh fruits were also available and fried plantains were tasted by many for the first time.

We passed the time after our meal by telling stories and sharing in laughter around the table. Many of us gathered together to play cards before heading off to bed. It had been a long day for all of us, having to wake early in the wee hours of the morning to catch our flights.

Erin Clark

Letters From Young Children

2008-01-04T14:18:00.001-05:00

The Passing of a Great Canadian

2007-12-13T09:32:00.001-05:00

Dear Friends:

We have just received some sad news. Lewis Perinbam passed away early this morning , December 12th in Vancouver after fighting a difficult heart condition over the past few months.

Mr. Perinbam was asked by Maurice Strong, the founder of CIDA, to create a program to support Canadian NGOs engaged in international development like World Accord. He did so, taking the reins of the new and budding "NGO Division" in 1969 and moved up to the new position of Vice President in 1974. He remained in that post until the early 90s. After leaving CIDA, he joined the Commonwealth of Learning in Vancouver, eventually becoming its Chair, a position he held until today. Along the way, he was closely associated with many Canadian agencies, including WUSC, CUSO, and CESO. When it began, Mister Perinbam gave strong support to South Asia Partnership which World Accord has been apart of since the 1980's.

As the key architect of Canada's international NGO program with CIDA, he helped hundreds of agencies across Canada. He facilitated the community as he championed development cooperation and civil society for more than 60 years.

Lewis Perinbam was the first advocate of innovation and of giving everyone an opportunity to be engaged in international work. His admirable characteristics and his accomplishments in and for the NGO community are legion. We understand there will be a memorial for him in Vancouver on December 28 or 29 and another in the New Year in Ottawa.

His vision will be missed. His legacy remains because of what he made possible. He was truly a great Canadian.