Fair Trade Fair 2011

The Fair Trade Fair is an annual event that brings together over 30 fair trade vendors and over 1000 members of the public in support of the fair trade movement. Often products that are sold in North America and in other developed countries originate in developing countries, where the producers are paid unfair wages and are subjected to very poor working conditions. Fair Trade certification of products ensures that the people who grow or make the products are paid, treated fairly, and use sustainable methods. Most of the organizations and vendors at this event are local and deal directly with the producers of the goods, so if you are interested in shopping ethically during this holiday season then this event is for you!

There will be a variety of fair trade products for sale, including clothing, crafts and holiday gifts. Hot food will be sold by the International Women’s Catering Co-op and fair trade coffee will be available from Level Ground Trading. There will also be live music and door prizes to be won! The venue is wheelchair accessible and admission is by donation.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, November 26th
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Location: First Metropolitan United Church Hall, 932 Balmoral (off Quadra)
Admission: By donation and open to everyone

For more info about this event: (250)-385-2333 or kcadger@videa.ca or http://www.videa.ca

I hope to see you at the event and as always, VIDEA has an online fair trade shop (located at http://www.videa.ca) for more fair trade products!

International Aboriginal Youth Internships

VIDEA currently has 10 internships available, The International Aboriginal Youth Internships (IAYI) initiative provides opportunities for Aboriginal youth to participate in international internships in developing countries. The program aims to:

• Improve the skills of young aboriginal women and men to engage in international development in the field

• Enhance the awareness and understanding of international development issues among young aboriginal women and men

• Increase the capacity of young aboriginal women and men interns to promote international development work in Canada

• Develop the essential skills for employment of young aboriginal women and men

International Aboriginal youth internships consist of a two-month period in Canada and a four-month period spent in a developing country working on issues such as equality between men and women, the environment, health, education, small business development, and agriculture.

In partnership with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Victoria International Development Education Association (VIDEA) will be coordinating 10 International Aboriginal Youth Internships in 2012. Following a training and orientation component spent in Victoria, British Columbia, interns will travel to Uganda and Zambia to work with grassroots development organizations.

Internships will last six months, from January 2012 until June 2012. Interns will receive a modest living allowance including living expenses, food, and accommodation. Applicants must be available for a pre-departure briefing in mid January – mid February in Victoria, BC. The interns’ travel, visa, and vaccination costs will be covered. The program start date is January, 2012.

too learn more about the individual internships available check out the website at http://www.videa.ca/index.php?pageid=155

Water Walk 2011

This water walk was an event to raise awareness of a critical global issue - WATER – and raise funds for a project affecting 15,000 Kenyans.

OSOPET- a HIV Support Society in Kenya works in rural villages in a 50 square mile area around Norak, Kenya.  Osopet focuses on community health, and discovered that more than half the community’s health problems could be eliminated if clean drinking water were available.  Currently women walk an average of 10 km to get murky water from a drying river.  Osopet looked at many options for accessing water and  proposed a water truck because wells are not feasible in this area due to the depth to water table and salinity issues.  A water truck will not only provide a continual source of clean water to the women and their families but also a source of income for Osopet and a big step toward independence.

Each Water Walk 2011 team (up to 10 people)  carried enough water for 1 day for a household in Kenya (10 litres).  They walked 10 km around Elk Beaver Lakes.  It would have taken thirty-five teams to carry enough water for the daily needs of an average INDIVIDUAL living in the Capital Regional District (CRD). Amazingly, the average person in the CRD uses 353 litres of water per day.

Everyone was invited to join the activities near Beaver Lake’s Picnic area from 1 to 4 pm.  And it was not necessary to be a water walker as the event featured a gallery of children’s water art, displays on the importance of water conservation locally, information about global water realities, and entertainment throughout the afternoon.

The goal of the event was to raise not only awareness, but the $16,000 needed to buy a used water truck.  The truck can service seven communities where clean water is not available; and where poverty, drought, and HIV continue to create huge challenges.

 Watch our website – www.positivelyafrica.org for more details.

Day of Global Solidarity

What does it feel like to be silenced? How about to go hungry? It’s pretty rare that we experience actual hunger, or find ourselves without access to a voice – but its not that rare for people all around the world.

How can you, as an individual, affect change? It’s simple – join our Day of Global Solidarity and start by contributing to the unjust global relationships upon which the West enjoys such privilege.

Gather pledges from friends and family, register on our online platform, and awaken to a new form of FUNdraising that makes collecting funds for community-based projects on girls’ empowerment, education, and food security in sub-Saharan Africa, and social justice education in Canada, a breeze.

Play a part. Be a global citizen. Join the movement.

To donate OR register visit: http://solidarity.videa.ca/

Emily Sikazwe at Camosun College

Emily Sikazwe Speaks on Gender and Human Rights in Africa

Emily Sikazwe is the Executive Director of Women for Change, Zambia, a member of the AU NEPAD Gender Task Force,co-Chair of Social Watch International and delegate at the UN Commission Status of Women. Emily Sikazwe is a dedicated and outspoken advocate for gender and human rights, with nearly two decades of experience working to create social and political change to empower women and eradicate poverty in southern Africa. She joins us at Camosun College in Victoria BC to speak on Gender and Human Rights in Africa.

 

1st Prize!

We have more and more fresh images rolling in… check them out here

Comment, vote, discuss, challenge!

First prize is a camera care kit, valued at $200 which includes a backpack for your camera, a tripod, a flash diffuser, a cleaning kit, and a 4gb memory card. The follow up 15 contestants are rewarded with a professional print job, framing, and display on the evening of our next Youth Open Mic in Victoria, BC, Canada.

Emily Sikazwe comes to Victoria!

Well the poster says it all. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to hear Emily Sikazwe speak on Gender and Human Rights in Africa. A Camosun College event is being hosted by the African Awareness Committee and takes place on February 17th at 2:30 p.m., in Young 211 on Lansdowne campus, and the UVIC event is hosted by VIDEA and takes places on February 17th as well, at 7 p.m., in the Social Sciences & Math building, room A102.