Agenda - 03-06-1996 - X-C - Laserfiche WebLink

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MEL Sister Community Project . FaWWinter News and Reports _ 1994/1995 New South-South Exchange Program! The Sister Community Project is develop- institutions and community structures which South,Southern Echo,Federation of South- inganewproject thatwill link SouthAfrican support the on-going training and empower- ern Cooperatives, New South Coalition, community development efforts with rural ment of these rural black communities. The Southerners for Economic Justice,Institute development efforts in the South of the U.S. experience of thirty years of work--how the for Southern Studies and the Highlander The goal is to share the thirty years of accu- organizations evolved and changed, their Center. mulated experience in community develop- successes and failures, their management ment work in the American South, where challenges and the alliances they built--can The centerpiece of the trip is likely to be an people worked under conditions which are provide important lessons for South African international conference inconjunefion with very similar to South Africa. communities and NGOs working on Waal the annual meeting of the Federation of development issues.' Exchanges with rural Southern Cooperatives,in August 1995.This With the end of the apartheid government, Southern development activists from orga- conference will bring together FSC's coop- disadvantaged and rural communities in hizations that are primarily Black led and erativemembers,as well as participants from South Africa must confront basic needs, staffed,can provide the experience and train- other developing countries. This will help such as lousing, economic development, ing currently being requested by South Afri- expose the South African participants not education, health care, provision of basic can communities. Importantly,their expe- only to the American Southern experience, services and the creation of new community rience of empowerment links community but also to that of other`South-South'prac- institutions. Rural communities in the U.S., developmentwith political enfranchisement, titioners. particularly black Southern communities, the conditions now facing so many commu- can provide models for this development miles in South Africa. Building these ties between South Africa process. Thirty years ago these poor com- and the American South can also be an munities faced miserable housing,minimal In September,Sister Community Project important way of contributing to commu- aervices and limited economic opportuni- Field Director Myesha Jenkins held initial nity development in the U.S.,as Americans ties,similar to South Africa.But the passage meetings with a variety of organizations in learn from some of the innovative new pro- ofthe Civil Rights Act andthe Voting Rights the South. This was to begin planning the gmnisbeingdevelopedinSouthAfticzt. This Act set in motion a political process which first stage of the exchange program,which initial delegation is intended to serve as the demanded significant change. Organza- will bring 10-12 SouthAfricans to the South base for on-going collaboration between tions and programs were created that could for four weeks in 1995. Their focus will be American and South African institutions,as address these basic needs. on the delivery of services with a strong well as lead to the creation of a number of emphasis on economic development.Orga- new sistercoamnunity relationships.itmarks Today there is a wealth of housing coop- nizations that have expressed interest in the a significant new expansion of ourthe Sister eratives,community development and eco- project so far include: MACE, Voice of Community Project network in the South nomic development corporations,financial Calvary Ministry,Foundation for the Mid- and we are extremely excited about it. 4 U.S.-South Africa Sister Community Project 3254 Adeline St. Berkeley,CA 94703 (510)601-7635 Fax:655-7440