Where Did the Money Flow?
Your search for found 629 result(s)
Assessing/Advising New Seed Network (639)
Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela / $709
Year Funded: 2004
One of the Seed Saver interns, Saviana Parodi, a heritage fruit farmer with a PhD in Molecular Biology, traveled to Bolivia, Venezuela and Peru to meet with groups working on agriculture, food and seed issues. Saviana is also the person who encouraged some Ecuadorians to start their Red de Guardianes de Semillas. We also helped agricultural engineer, Pablo Ermini to adapt the Cuban translation of our "Seed Savers' Handbook" for Argentinian home garden conditions and food culture. This will help their group to find local varieties by researching and recording them and acknowledging local people saving their food plant seeds.
Expanding New Seed Network (638)
Argentina / $1,064
Flow Funder: Seed Savers Foundation (Australia)
Year Funded: 2004
We started with an email connection with an agricultural engineer, Pablo Ermini, who used our "Seed Savers' Handbook" to rebuild stocks of his local varieties. Pablo sees people suffering in Argentina from the effects of globalization. He is active in helping the poor produce food in urban areas. He was chosen for the Flow Fund because he wanted to create a National Seed Network with liaisons with other countries of South America. Pablo is working for social change and is active about locally adapted varieties in local agriculture.
Casa Faria (637)
Brazil / $6,033
Flow Funder: Guilhereme Figueiredo Nascimento
Year Funded: 2010
Casa Faria has been feeding the homeless of Sao Paulo, Brazil for over 50 years. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to make this meeting place a little more clean and friendly, including installing a new floor, two new bathrooms and a new ceiling.
Janga & Acao (636)
http://www.jangamaisacao.org.br
Brazil / $172
Flow Funder: Guilhereme Figueiredo Nascimento
Year Funded: 2010
This non-governmental organization (NGO), headed by Negro Rauls, works on the social development of the community of Jardim Jangadeiro in the suburbs of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Every year they organize a beautiful festival and they needed some extra financial help this year, to make it happen.
Arte em Itaporanga: Educacao Pela Arte (635)
http://arteemitaporanga.wordpress.com/
Brazil / $10,000
Flow Funder: Vera F. Alves Ceschin
Year Funded: 2010
Through Flow Funding that began in 2009, an Art Studio was created for the children of Itaporanga, in the south of the state of Bahia in Brazil. It did so well, that Flow Funds were shared with this project again in 2010 to improve and maintain the studio, including: construction of a new classroom, new painting materials to last the year, a new library with over 1,000 books, and the salaries of two art teachers. Currently 114 children are registered for classes and over 70 are on the waiting list. Children receive 2 hour art classes, 2 times a week.
Homeless Garden Project (634)
http://www.homelessgardenproject.org
United States - California / $300
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
The Homeless Garden Project provides job training and transitional employment to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The programs offer trainees an opportunity to rebuild and develop basic life skills and a sense of worth as human beings. Their work brings together people from throughout the community in the beauty and security of a certified organic garden. They also teach principles of economic and ecological sustainability through classes and hands-on experience and provide homeless men and women job training and transitional employment.
Oakland Institute (633)
http://www.oaklandinstitute.org
United States - California / $400
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
This policy think tank increases public participation and promotes fair debate on critical social, economic and environmental issues in both national and international forums, through working in coalitions and networks to strengthen social movements, especially multi-cultural, cross-border and cross-class alliances. The Institute engages in three main areas of interrelated program work: Bringing a social and economic human rights lens to organizing and policy work; Reframing the debate on security; and Building strategic alliances to strengthen popular struggles nationally and internationally.
Farm Fresh Choice (632)
http://www.ecologycenter.org/ffc/
United States - California / $400
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
Farm Fresh Choice is the Ecology Center's Food Justice Program that engages low-income residents of Berkeley, California USA in reclaiming their optimal health through youth empowerment, nutrition education and community outreach that reaffirms collective ancestral wisdom and the relationship to nourishing foods. The program makes fresh, organic, regionally grown, and culturally appropriate foods convenient for purchase at after school programs through partnerships with local farmers that reflect our communities of color. Adult mentors and teen leaders facilitate peer-education workshops that raise critical health awareness and teach holistic wellness that builds off of our sacred food cultures.
Alameda Point Collaborative (APC): Growing Youth Project (631)
http://www.apcollaborative.org/growingyouth.htm
United States - California / $400
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
Please click the image to view the video.
This youth-led food community provides valuable employment and promotes a dialogue around issues related to food, health, and nutrition in the local community. Through these dialogues, action strategies are crafted for addressing food justice issues in the community.
City Slicker Farms (630)
http://www.cityslickerfarms.org/
United States - California / $450
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
The mission of City Slicker Farms is to empower West Oakland, California USA's community members to meet the immediate and basic need for healthy organic food for themselves and their families by creating high-yield urban farms and backyard gardens.
Spiral Gardens (629)
United States - California / $500
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
The mission of Spiral Gardens is to create healthy sustainable communities by promoting a strong local food system and encouraging productive use of urban soil. Their core programs are based at the Urban Garden Center in Southwest Berkeley, California USA on two blocks of public land. Programs include a Nursery, Produce Stand, Community Farm, Community Education, and Community Harvest Project. In addition to the community farm, there is a community garden in North Oakland, California USA. They also conduct outreach, education, and plant sales throughout the local community and at local and regional events, including a consistent presence at the Saturday Berkeley Farmers' Market.
Rooted in Community (RIC) National Network (628)
http://www.rootedincommunity.org/
United States - California / $500
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
This national, grassroots network empowers young people to take leadership in their own communities. They are a diverse movement of youth and adults working together to foster healthy communities and food justice through urban and rural agriculture, community gardening, food security, and related environmental justice work.
Oakland Food Connection (OFC) (627)
http://www.foodcommunityculture.org/
United States - California / $500
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
This non-profit organization is focused on Oakland, California USA's heritage of food, community and culture. Programs are centered on helping Oakland's youth and adult residents engage with the sources and institutions that produce, distribute, and sell their food, such as corner stores, farmers markets, grocery stores, and more.
Intervale Center (626)
United States - Vermont / $500
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
The Intervale Center is a unique community model and resource built around locally-grown food, recycling organic waste, environmentally-sound agricultural economy. They manage 350 acres of farmland, trails, wildlife corridors, a native plant nursery and compost production along the Winooski River in Vermont USA. They grow viable farms, preserve productive agricultural land, increase access to local, organic food, compost and other soil amendments, and protect water quality through organic waste management and stream bank restoration.
Nuestras Raices (625)
http://www.nuestras-raices.org/
United States - Massachusetts / $1,000
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
Please click the image to view the video.
This grass-roots organization promotes economic, human and community development in Holyoke, Massachusetts USA through projects that include: community gardens, youth leadership, economic development, environmental justice organizations, farm plots, and green jobs training.
Garden-Raised Bounty (GRuB) (624)
United States - Washington / $1,000
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
Garden-Raised Bounty (GRuB) is a grassroots, non-profit organization dedicated to nourishing a strong community by empowering people and growing good food. They "grow" self-confident and community-minded youth through educational and employment opportunities and help low-income families and seniors to help themselves by building raised-bed gardens at their homes.
Growing Power (623)
United States - Wisconsin, United States - Illinois / $2,000
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
This national, non-profit organization and land trust supports people from diverse backgrounds (and the environments in which they live) by providing equal access to healthy, high-quality, safe and affordable food by providing hands-on training, on-the-ground demonstration, outreach, and technical assistance through the development of Community Food Systems that help people grow, process, market and distribute food in a sustainable manner.
Added Value (622)
United States - New York / $3,500
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
This non-profit organization promotes the sustainable development of Red Hook, New York USA by nurturing a new generation of young leaders by creating opportunities for the youth of South Brooklyn to expand their knowledge base, develop new skills, and positively engage with their community through the operation of a socially-responsible urban farming enterprise. Added Value has provided long-term training to more than 150 neighborhood teenagers between the ages of 14 and 19, provided hundreds of local elementary school students with educational programs and worked thousands of volunteers to build a more just and sustainable future for all. Their work has helped revitalize local parks, transformed vacant lands into vibrant Urban Farms, improved access to healthy and affordable food, and grown an economy that supports the needs of community. Currently, Added Value has three main initiatives: Growing a Just Food System, Youth Empowerment, and Farm-Based Learning.
The Food Project (621)
United States - Massachusetts / $5,000
Flow Funder: Malaika Bishop
Year Funded: 2010
Since 1991, The Food Project has built a national model of engaging young people in personal and social change through sustainable agriculture. Each year, they work with over a hundred teens and thousands of volunteers to farm 37 acres in eastern Massachusetts in the towns and cities of Beverly, Boston, Ipswich, Lincoln and Lynn. Their work transforms a new generation of leaders by placing teens in unusually responsible roles, with deeply meaningful work. Food is distributed through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, Farmers' Markets, and hunger relief organizations. The young people receive valuable job experiences and a personal connection to food justice.
Casa Nat: Ecological Urban Construction (620)
Brazil / $2,000
Flow Funder: Maria Amalia Souza
Year Funded: 2010
CASA NAT, an environmental education project being developed in downtown Porto Alegre, the capital of Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sulthe is being spearheaded by the Brazilian Chapter of Friends of the Earth International, which is one of the oldest environmental non-government agencies in the country. A gift was shared with this educational project for finishing the tiles and floors of their facility.
Teen Pregnancy Awareness & Education (619)
Brazil / $3,190
Flow Funder: Maria Amalia Souza
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared to create a program to work with teenagers be more aware about the risk of pregnancy in Jaguare, a poor area in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Group and individual counseling is provided, as well as, engaging the full community on activities such as a garden, an internet center, art making and more.
Viola for Moreno Overa (618)
Brazil / $550
Flow Funder: Maria Amalia Souza
Year Funded: 2010
Please click the image to view the video.
Moreno Overa is a professional musician and father of 4, whose viola (a Brazilian 5-string guitar) was lost when his car was stolen. A gift was shared to purchase him a new viola, that was handmade by a local Luthier (maker of stringed instruments).
Raizes de Cunha (Cunha Roots) CD (617)
Brazil / $4,300
Flow Funder: Maria Amalia Souza
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared to fund this collaborative musical production in which 16 local musicians got together, wrote and performed their own original music on CD. Each musician then received 100 copies of the CD to sell and with the money, they will be able to record their own CDs.
Associacao Bem- Estar Animal Amigos da Celia (616)
Brazil / $2,836
Flow Funder: Charlie Barnett
Year Funded: 2010
The Associacao Bem-Estar Animal Amigos da Celia (Celia Animal Welfare Association or ABEAC Animal Shelter) provides food, shelter and medical care for more than 200 dogs. We shared a gift to help raise funds to buy dog food and cover other expenses of the shelter. Another gift was shared to build a septic system for the kennel to meet government code standards.
Aprendo Contigo (615)
http://www.aprendocontigo.com/
Peru / $1,209
Flow Funder: Charlie Barnett
Year Funded: 2010
Aprendo Contigo sends volunteers to teach underprivileged kids in various hospitals throughout the city. Over 200 volunteers teach reading, writing, arithmetic and other basic subjects to children who are undergoing long term treatment and are therefore unable to attend regular school. The kids come from all over Peru since these hospitals are the only places in the country where they can get effective treatment for free. A gift was shared to cover 3 months salary for Marta Chaves, the Coordinator for Teaching Volunteers.
Assistance to Peruvian Children in the Highlands (614)
Peru / $1,796
Flow Funder: Charlie Barnett
Year Funded: 2010
The people of the Patacancha Valley, thousands of feet above the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Peru, speak Quechua and live mainly off crops of corn and potatoes. Peru has been enjoying an amazing economic boom in recent years, due mainly to the rise in export prices for its minerals and agricultural commodities. This new prosperity however, is mostly confined to Lima, the coastal region, and other major cities. As is usually the case, the rural poor have seen virtually no benefit. At the same time, a boom in tourism around Machu Picchu and Cuzco has led to considerable development in the Sacred Valley. But little progress has reached the indigenous people of the highlands, and the government has largely ignored them. In fact, the main way these communities have benefited is by sending their men to be sherpas for hikers on the Inca Trail. We decided that the best use of the Flow Funds would be help the most vulnerable members of these communities - the children - who are viewed by their parents mostly as a source of labor. Thousands of highland children die each year from from exposure to the freezing temperatures of the Andes, so we decided to buy warm clothing for them. And since education provides one of the only paths to a better life, we also bought school supplies for the children and their teachers and several sewing machines so the children could make their own warm clothes.
Biblioteca Solidaria (613)
http://www.bibliotecasolidaria.com.br/
Brazil / $660
Flow Funder: Bettina Turner
Year Funded: 2010
Librarian Sidnei Pereira da Rosa created a community book library in Sao Francisco Xavier, Brazil, which now houses thousands of good books and has become a cultural landmark in the city. He also organizes workshops and art activities for children. We shared money to purchase 50 educational DVDs on various subjects, to form a community video library at the site.
Farming Funding (612)
Brazil / $2,030
Flow Funder: Bettina Turner
Year Funded: 2010
Miguel is an excellent farmer in the traditional area of Sao Goncalo (Taboquinhas, Bahia) Brazil. Miguel was in need of a water wheel to deliver water to the faucets in his home and his plantations, as well as a brush-cutter to assist him in handling the field, because it is very unproductive to do brush cutting with only a machete. We fulfilled Miguel's dream with a water catchment system for his property and the purchase of a brush-cutter, which with his highly collective spirit, he is sharing with other farmers in the community.
Farming Funding (611)
Brazil / $2,430
Flow Funder: Bettina Turner
Year Funded: 2010
Ivo Goes de Jesus lives in the rural area of Itacare, Bahia, Brazil. He is a talented farmer. Through our gift and the support of the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Mecenas da Vida, he was able to buy supplies and food as well as learning new practices in farming sustainably. He has a wonderful flower garden with a newly reforested grove nearby, which is his pride.
Education for Maria (610)
Brazil / $870
Flow Funder: Bettina Turner
Year Funded: 2010
Maria lives in rural area of Itacare, Bahia, Brazil. When I contacted her, she was studying teaching but was about to abandon her studies, due to lack of funds. Funds were shared to help Maria finish her training and she is due to graduate in February 2011. She is already teaching at the local school, and volunteering at an adult literacy class in her region. In Maria's words: "My first teacher was my mother, with whom I learned to read, write...and dream. At that time, the dream of becoming a teacher like her came to life, and in pursuit of that dream I covered a lot of ground - sometimes rocky, sometimes smooth and today only a few steps away. I feel the sensation of being realized, for on this journey, I gained significant learning experiences, unforgettable experiences and met people - many people - who directly or indirectly are part of my life, just like YOU. The importance or size of your participation, I can not describe, but I can feel and experience the results. Thank you!"
Jussara (609)
Brazil / $3,122
Flow Funder: Bettina Turner
Year Funded: 2010
Jussara is a "Worker of the Planet." She is a founding patron of the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Movimento Mecenas da Vida in Itacare, Bahia, Brazil. She works daily and tirelessly in favor of life, through actions aimed at balancing life on the planet. In her words: "Look how far we can go with a simple action! It's unbelievable the level of reach that an uninterested and selfless action of both parties can express to those who are in tune with the same things, so...this experience also embellished my process that continues, continues stronger than ever, and very determined! I am humbled and deeply grateful to the great Superior Being / Great Spirit / God who coordinates everything!"
Instituto Africa Viva (Institute Alive Africa) (608)
Brazil, Papua New Guinea, Burkina Faso / $1,000
Flow Funder: Bettina Turner
Year Funded: 2010
The Brazilian music therapist Luis Kinugawa and Guinean dancer and singer Fanta Konate are the founders of the Institute Alive Africa, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. They are a bridge between Brazil and Africa, facilitating human development and an improved quality of life through art, education and humanitarian work. The "Biomusic work" created by Luis Kinugawa, uses percussion and music therapy for human development. Institute Alive Africa is building facilities in the Republic of Guinea to perform social and humanitarian work, using artistic and cultural elements combining "Biomusic" and Permaculture. We donated $1,000 to their program.
Oakland-Based Urban Gardens (OBUGs) (607)
United States - California / $1,080
Year Funded: 2009
The vision of this collective is that "Children from disadvantaged families will be educated about nutrition, health and science from a young age." A gift was shared to support their after-school Organic Garden Program, where kids receive hands-on training in planting, harvesting and maintaining organic food gardens. They also learn to cook the food they harvest. In the process, the children learn about health, nutrition, cooperation and resiliency.
Common Ground Relief (606)
http://www.commongroundrelief.org/
United States - Louisiana / $1,080
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2009
This New Orleans-based organization provides "short term relief for victims of hurricane disasters in the gulf coast region, and long term support in rebuilding the communities affected in the New Orleans area." A gift was invested in their Wetland Restoration Project, revitalizing local bayous by replanting indigenous plants.
Kaski Self-Reliant Women's Group (605)
Nepal / $1,080
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2009
Ram Subedi initiated this project in Nepal, in which micro-grants are awarded to 15 women for supplies and training for the development of their small businesses in Pokara, Nepal. The women's businesses are in the areas of bee keeping, goat raising and vegetable farming.
Bukit Lawang: Sustainable Disaster Recovery (604)
Indonesia / $3,800
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2008
A gift was shared with this land conservation project, restoring jungle damaged by a palm-oil plantation ($470). We planted an additional 285 trees around the village of Bukit Lawang, and the around local schools. We also planted 67 fruit trees in order to provide children with healthy snacks at break-time. At the elementary school, we initiated a school garden program where the students will have an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of organic gardening and permaculture ($1,312). At the middle school, we contributed a playground set, volleyball and kick-ball equipment ($532). A gift was also shared to plant a medicinal plant garden at the school to teach the children about traditional medicine ($305). A gift was also shared to purchase supplies for the artists' cooperative ($367), provide a salary for the two project coordinators ($584), and a micro-grant for the Indra Inn to develop its business ($230).
Meulaboh Women's Business Development (603)
Indonesia / $2,200
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2008
This branch of the Sustainable Recovery Coalition is directed by Ibu Rosni Idham, a prominent midwife/community organizer/politician in her community. A grant was shared with 17 female tsunami survivors so they could start their own businesses. The tailors were each given a sewing machine and material supplies ($2,703). The cooks were given seed money to buy gas stoves and start-up cooking supplies ($382). All of the participants were given trainings on business development and quality control ($504).
Bumi Sehat Clinic (602)
Indonesia / $4,000
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2008
A gift was shared to support this natural birthing/health care clinic located near Meulaboh, Indonesia the epicenter of a large tsunami, for general operating expenses and medicine ($1,065). The clinic provides free medical treatment to survivors of the tsunami. A gift was shared with Mimi Riswantu, a Sumatran translator at the clinic, who has also begun teaching English classes to the local village children ($1,870). A gift was shared to plant a medicinal herb garden on the clinic's property to incorporate more of the traditional, natural healing models into the clinic's skill-set ($401). Once the plants are established, cuttings will be available to villagers to incorporate into their own gardens. 28 fruit trees were also planted around the clinic. The food they produce will be shared amongst the community. A number of flowering plants were also planted to beautify the property, attracting beneficial insects, butterflies and hummingbirds. Scholarships for 2 clinic staff members was also provided so they may attend permaculture trainings ($420). Their knowledge will increase organic food production at the clinic, ensuring healthy, nutritious food security for the clinic. Sarongs were also purchased ($244) as part of a New Mother Care Package.
Indonesian Development in Education & Permaculture (IDEP) (601)
http://www.idepfoundation.org/GFS.html
Indonesia / $9,000
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2008
Several gifts were shared to train tsunami survivors in permaculture methods, providing them with the necessary knowledge and supplies that enable them to grow organic food in their own home gardens and communal co-op land. An intangible benefit of the program is the re-establishment of social networks and ties that help community members to recover from the loss and trauma experienced from the tsunami. One gift supported Permaculture Design Courses (PDCs), attended by 32 women from three different villages, teaching them technical skills related to permaculture, organic gardening and food security ($2,834). They are also given a general knowledge of nutrition, household waste management and sanitation. Two Component Intensive Trainings (CITs) were also sponsored, attended by 44 women ($1,812). Two of the participating villages, Miruek Lamredep and Krueng Kala, established women's cooperatives in order to assist each-other in implementing the knowledge gained in the Permaculture course. In addition to sponsoring the PDC and CIT courses, community grants were provided to purchase necessary tools, equipment, fences and organic seeds to implement their new knowledge and training ($4,354).
Bukit Lawang: Sustainable Disaster Recovery (600)
Indonesia / $8,200
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2007
Several gifts were shared with the village of Bukit Lawang, Indonesia, focusing on education, micro-grants for small businesses, and planting trees. In order to stimulate the local economy and create opportunity, micro-grants were provided to 30 families to help them revitalize their small businesses ($2,871). To support continual education, we funded one year of school fees for 45 children. To encourage adults to learn new skills in sustainable, organic methods of agriculture, we sent three people from Bukit Lawang to the Green Hand Field School in Aceh, Indonesia ($1,796). For the benefit of the community and land, we planted 530 trees throughout the village and along the riverbanks ($2,848). The trees were selected specifically for the purposes of nourishment, medicine, erosion-prevention, land restoration and shade for the community. In order to ensure the survival of the seedlings, we protected them with bamboo cages and hired a caretaker to look after them for the first 6 months. We invested in a project to restore land from a palm oil plantation back to its natural jungle state. We planted fruit trees on the land to provide food for the people, orangutans, monkeys, birds, and other wildlife to share.
GreenHand Field School (GFS) (599)
http://www.idepfoundation.org/GFS.html
Indonesia / $1,280
FFCH: Indonesian Development in Education & Permaculture (IDEP)
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2007
Run by Acehnese tsunami survivors, this school offers hands-on trainings for sustainable community recovery, based on permaculture design. Some of the courses offered include: Soil and forest rehabilitation; Seed saving and nursery development; Home and community gardening; Natural pest management; Rehabilitation of irrigation systems; and Small business development. Several gifts were shared to support the teaching of these courses, as well as: Gardening tools and equipment ($224); Fences to protect gardens ($573); Organic seeds and seedlings ($277); and Tools and equipment for seed saving and production ($206).
Krueng Kala Village Cooperative (598)
Indonesia / $1,703
FFCH: Indonesian Development in Education & Permaculture (IDEP)
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2007
This cooperative established several organic home gardens in their village, using techniques for self-propagating organic seeds and organic compost production systems. Several gifts were shared with this cooperative, including: Gardening tools and equipment ($445); Fences to protect their gardens ($673); Organic seeds and seedlings ($277); and Tools and equipment for seed saving and production ($308).
Lamsujen Village Cooperative (597)
Indonesia / $2,724
FFCH: Indonesian Development in Education & Permaculture (IDEP)
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2007
In the village of Lamsujen, Indonesia, seven women started a small sewing cooperative. Several gifts were shared with them, including: Ten sewing machines ($1600); Tools, materials and training in product design/quality control so their skills can be developed to meet local market needs ($373); and Cloth for their initial product of bags with environmental messages to be used and reused in the marketplace, reducing the use of plastic bags ($751).
Mireuk Lamreuduep Village Cooperative (596)
Indonesia / $2,293
FFCH: Indonesian Development in Education & Permaculture (IDEP)
Flow Funder: Chimene Hickey
Year Funded: 2007
Located in the village of Mireuk Lamreudeup, this women-run cooperative established several organic home gardens in their village, using self-propagating organic seeds and organic compost production systems. Several gifts were shared with this cooperative, including: Gardening tools and equipment ($445); Fencing to protect gardens from wild pigs, goats, and other animals ($852); Organic seeds and seedlings ($312); Tools and equipment for seed saving and production ($417); and Establishing compost production systems ($267).
Global Women's Water Initiative (GWWI) (595)
http://africanwomenandwater.org/
Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria / $15,000
Flow Funder: Jan Hartsough
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared in the form of seed grants with African women implementing water projects, through three small non-governmental organizations (A Single Drop, Crabgrass, and Women's Earth Alliance). These three organizations have combined to create the Global Women's Water Initiative (GWWI), and have organized Safe Water Trainings in Africa. Because over 1.2 billion people - over 60% of them women - lack access to safe water and the fact that more people die from polluted water than from violence (including wars), a year-long training program was created with the goal of empowering local women with technology and project-planning skills to launch Safe Water Projects in their home communities. Attendants come from Ghana, Togo, Liberia, Nigeria, and Cameroon.
Support for Cyclone Nargis Survivors (594)
Myanmar / $20,000
FFCH: Business Kind Myanmar
Year Funded: 2008
A gift was shared for immediate relief (the first 4 weeks) for survivors of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (Burma), including medical/supplies, shelter, clean water and food. Another gift was shared for intermediate relief (the next 4 to 12 weeks), which included pond/crop restoration and re-building schools, churches and monasteries. A gift was then shared for long-term recovery (the next 4 to 8 months), which included income-generation programs for widows and orphaned daughters, as well as economic start-up funds for sewing, baking, fish-drying, noodle-making, and candle-making small businesses.
Lara Lepionka's Community & Backyard Gardening (593)
http://www.capeannfarmersmarket.org/
United States - Massachusetts / $600
Year Funded: 2010
Lara Lepionka is a community-based artist and Coordinator for the Cape Ann Farmer's Market (CAFM) Backyard Growers in Massachusetts USA. A gift was shared with Lara for her work with low- to moderate-income youth to build and maintain organic vegetable gardens, including training, ongoing support, seeds, seedlings and compost. Through Lara's work, these youth are also selling their organic vegetables at the Farmers' Market, as well as donating an equal amount to the Open Door Food Pantry Mobile Mart, where residents receive free vegetables to prepare and eat.
Youth Gig Rowing Program (592)
http://www.gloucestergigrowers.com
United States - Massachusetts / $300
Year Funded: 2010
Five low-income youth were sponsored by a Flow Fund gift to learn how to row on the Gloucester harbor in Massachusetts USA. The Gloucester Gig Rowers program teaches leadership, encourages exercise and gets participants excited about the history of the Gloucester harbor. Their community is about enthusiasm as well as skill, determination as much as strength, and team pursuit rather than individual.
Sheridan Gates (591)
http://www.purposeatwork.com/aboutus.html
United States - Virginia / $400
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared with Sheridan Gates to help support her in her work as a Core Individuation Energy Healing Practitioner. She has served as a coach and consultant in organizational, learning, and change management, and her coaching experience includes career management/renewal, leadership development, and personal growth.
Susan Davis & The Capital Missions Company (CMC) (590)
http://www.capitalmissions.com/
Ecuador / $500
Year Funded: 2010
The Capital Missions Company (CMC) creates networks of investors, business leaders and philanthropists to catalyze a globally-sustainable economy. The President of CMC, Susan Davis uses her networking method "KINS (Key Initiator Network Strategy)," as a time-efficient and cost-efficient approach to introducing innovation into culture. KINS Networks leverage philanthropic dollars into catalytic initiatives to solve social problems and is based on the understanding that "we are all one." Susan Davis' passion and inspiration in her work moved me to help support her in her work in Ecuador.
David Brooks & Art Haven (589)
United States - Massachusetts / $500
Year Funded: 2010
Please click the image to view the video.
David Brooks is a young entrepreneur in Gloucester, Massachusetts USA, who developed Art Haven, a community space where artists of all ages and abilities are encouraged to develop creativity and confidence through hands-on learning and collaboration. I knew that despite all of David's hard work, he often did not pay himself. I had a dream in which I wrote him a check for $500 and I am happy to say that that dream became a reality with this Flow Funding gift.
Erika Hansen's Youth Entrepreneur Program at Chill Zone (588)
United States - Massachusetts / $1,500
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared with Erika Hansen to support her teaching Youth Entrepreneur classes in business at the Chill Zone. This gift enabled Erika to purchase laptops and a freezer to store food to feed the youth dinner, during their classes.
Unitarian Universalist Youth Program in Gloucester, MA (587)
United States - Massachusetts / $250
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared with this Unitarian Universalist Youth Program for new supplies, including a new rug, books, easels, and dry erase boards.
Desda Zuckerman & The Spirit Way Healing Center (586)
United States - Massachusetts / $300
Year Funded: 2010
Core Individuation is a healing modality based on a comprehensive One Body approach to achieving wholeness and well-being. At its heart, Core Individuation is a new paradigm for how to view individual human potential and how to own personal transformation. A gift was shared to help secure a location for Desda to share an afternoon Core Individuation healing workshop on Cape Ann, Massachusetts USA.
Tesa Silvestre (585)
United States - Massachusetts / $4,000
Year Funded: 2010
Tesa Silvestre works locally to promote sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, a strong economy and vibrant communities. I have witnessed the transformation of many folks here on Cape Ann, Massachusetts USA, due to the work of Tesa Silvestre. Wonderful growth continues to happen in many lives, due to her vision and support of others.
Natural Balance Magazine (584)
http://www.naturalbalancemagazine.com
United States - Michigan / $500
Flow Funder: Penny Kelly
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared with this publication, which presents positive alternatives, thoughts and approaches available to better the lives, health and spiritual well-being within the people and environment of Southwestern Michigan. By using of the writings of local professionals, experts and lay people who work in various fields, "Natural Balance" covers various issues that pertain to promoting a sustainable future in our environment - for ourselves, and our children's children. By having a means to share our local resources, products, services, knowledge and wisdom, they strive to build peace, unity and sustainability for all, including the Earth herself.
Ken Maley (583)
United States - Missouri / $1,000
Flow Funder: Penny Kelly
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared with this former Catholic bishop who is working to build a small retreat center in Missouri USA for advanced thinkers to meet and have conversations on spirituality.
Link TV: Television without Borders (582)
United States / $2,000
Flow Funder: Penny Kelly
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared with this first nationwide television channel and website dedicated to providing global perspectives on news, events and culture. Its programs provide a unique perspective on international news, current events, and diverse cultures, presenting issues not often covered in the U.S. media, connecting viewers with people at the heart of breaking events, organizations in the forefront of social change, and the cultures of an increasingly global community.
Shelly Claflin (581)
United States - Michigan / $500
Flow Funder: Penny Kelly
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared with this avid gardener in Kalamazoo, Michigan USA who used the money to fulfill her dream of owning a small tiller for her garden.
Christopher Bedford, Filmmaker (580)
http://www.chrisbedfordfilms.com
United States - Michigan / $5,000
Flow Funder: Penny Kelly
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared with this grass-roots activist and filmmaker to create a film entitled "Growing Health," examining the connection between health and eating a traditional, place-based diet.
Lori Evesque (579)
United States - Michigan / $2,000
Flow Funder: Penny Kelly
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared with Lori Evesque to teach local women how to can, freeze, and dehydrate foods from their gardens.
Fair Food Matters (578)
http://www.fairfoodmatters.org
United States - Michigan / $1,000
Flow Funder: Penny Kelly
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared with this non-profit in Kalamazoo, Michigan USA whose mission is to support thriving local communities worldwide that are growing and distributing safe, nutritious, locally produced foods that foster healthy communities, environments, and economies.
Circulos (577)
United States / $500
Flow Funder: Penny Kelly
Year Funded: 2010
A gift was shared with this American Indian organization, to buy Christmas gifts for Indian children.
Swaraj University (576)
India / $1,800
Flow Funder: Siri Gunnarson
Year Funded: 2010
The vision of Swaraj University resonated deeply with my ideals - a co-creative, supported learning process in areas of sustainable livelihood. 15 or more young learners from diverse areas and backgrounds in India come together for a 3-year learning journey and then return to their communities to put what they have learned to work. Many of the people who want to join the program do not have the means, so I offered a match grant of half their scholarship goal.
Tamera (575)
Portugal / $1,500
Flow Funder: Siri Gunnarson
Year Funded: 2010
Please click the image to view the video.
A gift was shared with this cooperative of people in Portugal who work towards a non-violent future. The people of Tamera engage peace work in a holistic way, following the belief that the outer revolution in the world has to go hand-in-hand with an inner revolution. Their projects include: permaculture gardens, water landscapes, a solar village, a children's village, the Peace Research Village of the Middle East, peace pilgrimages, the Monte Cerro Global Campus for a Peace Culture, and collaborative work with other peace centers located in crisis areas. At Tamera, the most important focus is love and sexuality. They believe that there cannot be peace on earth as long as there is war between the genders. This philosophy and peace work moved us and challenged some of our foundational beliefs, inspiring us to learn more and share the story.
Land for Growing Food (574)
Myanmar / $0
Flow Funder: D.J.
While I was living at and funding projects to help a monastery, I noticed that many of the children who lived there were undernourished. Many of these children were small for their age and it was obvious that this monastery needed help feeding their children. The next year, I returned with money donated by private individuals to buy five acres of land for this monastery to grow food on, and the following year I brought more private money to buy over one hundred fruit trees and to put in an irrigation system. This land continues to be a rich source of healthy vegetables and fruits for this monastery and the children who live there. Looking back, this was one of the most successful projects that I was involved in during the six years that I was a Flow Fund Circle member. Even though the money that bought this land and the fruit trees came from private individuals, purchasing this land would not have happened if I had not been in Myanmar as a Flow Fund Circle member.
Shirley Sherrod (573)
United States - Georgia / $500
Flow Funder: Larry Yee
Year Funded: 2010
Shirley Sherrod, a black woman from Albany, Georgia, was asked to resign from her position as the USDA Director of Rural Development for the state of Georgia. She was the target of conservative bloggers and radio talk shows, and was branded a black racist, because of remarks she made during a speech to a meeting of the NAACP. The excerpt that was used was taken out of context. Her speech was actually about redemption and how she evolved from an experience where she acted slightly discriminatory toward a poor white farmer, but whom later she helped to save his farm. Both USDA and the White House acted in haste by asking for her resignation. After they realized their mistake in rushing to judge, they apologized, but the damage had been done. I have the utmost respect and admiration for Shirley Sherrod, as I have personal experience of her character and her integrity is impeccable. Shirley plans to fight her case legally, and this Flow Fund gift will help with her legal fees. This case has re-opened the conversation of race in this country and brought attention to the destructive and hate-filled agenda of ultra conservative groups.
Nomad Foundation (572)
http://www.nomadfoundation.org/
United States - California, Niger / $1,000
Flow Funder: Larry Yee
Year Funded: 2010
Founded by artist and humanitarian, Leslie Clark, the Nomad Foundation is dedicated to helping the nomads of the Tuareg and Wodaabe tribes of Niger to support them using expertise that has sustained them for centuries. Balancing cultural traditions with economic development the Nomad Foundation focuses on five essential areas: water, food, education, health, and work. They also engage in famine relief and are helping with the building of the Tamesna Center for Nomadic Life and the Tamesna Medical Clinic. Many of these people have never ever seen a doctor.
BusinessKind (571)
http://www.businesskind.org/AboutUs.html
United States - California, Myanmar / $4,000
Flow Funder: Larry Yee
Year Funded: 2010
I was struck by the work that fellow Flow Funder, Helen Gunthrope is doing in Myanmar helping the people to restore the countryside, following the wake of devastation left by Cyclone Nargis. Very simple technologies and solutions to common and often overwhelming problems are being developed and implemented. I really liked what BusinessKind is doing to create jobs and enhance the local economies.
Food Alliance (570)
United States - Oregon / $5,000
Flow Funder: Larry Yee
Year Funded: 2010
The Food Alliance are the nation's leading certifier of sustainably-produced food. As the demand for sustainably-produced food explodes, consumers need to know that food meets certain quality standards. Food Alliance sets the standards and then assures compliance, thus giving consumers the confidence that the food products are what they claim to be. My Flow Fund gift helped the Food Alliance to continue developing into the national organization they hope to become.
Educate!: Educating & Empowering Africa's Future Leaders (569)
http://www.experienceeducate.org/
United States - Colorado, Uganda / $5,000
Flow Funder: Larry Yee
Year Funded: 2010
The mission of Educate! is to empower the next generation of socially responsible leaders in Uganda, Africa, where 50% of the population is under 18. Uganda's youth are faced with growing problems of poverty, violence, disease, and environmental degradation. Through Educate!, teachers are mentors and the classroom is the community itself where students start initiatives that contribute to the sustainable development of their society. Already 20,000+ seedling trees have been planted to begin to restore their devastated environment and to start a nascent environmental movement. Other new initiatives include: a business that turns waste paper into bulletin boards; raising money for a resource/training center for children in the slums; a flower selling and landscaping business; a mobile grocery store; and a jewelry business. This organization has a winning leadership development model for social change and economic development and a highly talented and committed staff.
Coastal Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) (568)
http://www.coastalalliance.com/
United States - California / $3,000
Flow Funder: Larry Yee
Year Funded: 2010
CAUSE was established in 2000 by the Ventura County Living Wage Coalition to promote economic and social justice for the working people of the Central Coast region of California, through policy advocacy, research, organizing, leadership development and community building. CAUSE has successfully undertaken developing several important community planning and public policy initiatives addressing such issues as living wage jobs, uninsured working families, women's economic justice, fair political representation, environmental cleanup, health access, and regional transportation. My Flow Fund gift went toward general support of this organization.
Project Understanding: The Serra Center (567)
http://www.projectunderstanding.org/
United States - California / $1,500
Flow Funder: Larry Yee
Year Funded: 2010
Project Understanding is a day shelter center for the homeless of Ventura, California. 50 to 100 homeless come there daily for a hot shower, facilities to wash their clothes, food to eat, and a place to access services. My wife and I have been cooking soup for them every Tuesday. The center needed money to spruce up the facility and give it a face-lift. My flow fund gift went to improve the front reception area and for a new entrance door.
Pen Pal Program (566)
Myanmar / $0
Flow Funder: D.J.
Year Funded: 2006
I wanted the students at my school to experience what I was doing in Myanmar, and a pen pal program seemed like a good place to start. I invited the 3rd/4th and 5th grade class to participate with me in this new program and they wrote letters that included drawings and photos of themselves. I brought these letters with me to Myanmar and my friends translated the letters into Burmese. A nunnery school was found with students the same age and they soon became pen pals with the school students back home. After this letter writing exchange, the 5th grade class organized a Read-a-Thon that brought in over $700. They decided to use the money to build a playground and a basketball court at their Myanmar nunnery pen pal school and matching funds more than doubled what the Read-a-Thon had generated. When I next returned to Myanmar, a beautiful new playground facility and basketball court were built at the pen pal nunnery school, which made the Myanmar children very happy.
Clothing Donations to Children (565)
Myanmar / $1,200
Flow Funder: D.J.
Year Funded: 2003
Myanmar monasteries and nunneries are dependent on the local community for support. Children novice monks and nuns who live in monasteries and nunneries go out into the community every morning barefoot, with alms bowls in their hands to collect the food that is shared with everyone who lives at their monastery or nunnery. Myanmar communities are often very poor and are not able to give much more than food, but sometimes there are wealthier members of the community or local businesses that make larger donations to help buy food, build a building or dig a well. The costs involved in supporting a hundred or more children can be expensive, and so additional donations that help the children are always appreciated and important. Each year during the six years that I was a Flow Fund Circle member, clothing donation ceremonies took place in a Myanmar monastery or nunnery where clothing, blankets, towels, sleeping mats, pillows, pillow cases, and mosquito nets were given directly to the children to use and to keep. Over 1,000 children received clothing and other donations during the six years that I was a Flow Fund Circle member.
Scabies & Ringworm Program (564)
Myanmar / $800
Flow Funder: D.J.
Year Funded: 2004
In nearly ever Myanmar monastery and nunnery, where large numbers of children live, scabies and scalp ringworm can be found. The scabies mite burrows under the skin and lays eggs that hatch six days later and creates an ongoing cycle of discomfort, loss of sleep, and possible secondary infections and weakened immune systems. Scalp ringworm is also contagious but is usually spread when children novice monks and nuns share razor blades, pillows and hats. I made my first effort to help educate and treat Myanmar children for scabies and ringworm in 2001, and continued to fund scabies and ringworm programs for the next three years. Since leaving the Flow Fund Circle in 2007 I have continued to fund annual scabies and ringworm programs in Myanmar.
Providing Toilet Facilities (563)
Myanmar / $1,200
Flow Funder: D.J.
Year Funded: 2004
Myanmar is 80% Buddhist so there are a vast number of Buddhist monasteries and nunneries. Most of them are established to teach Buddhist moral lessons and the monks and nuns act as the clergy for the local community. But there are special monasteries and nunneries in Myanmar that are committed and devoted to helping poor, displaced and orphaned children. These monasteries and nunneries feed, clothe and educate the children they care for. During the six years that I was a member of the Flow Fund Circle, I dedicated myself to helping these special monasteries and nunneries that help Myanmar children. Health issues were always a primary concern of mine and so when I saw a dilapidated dirty outhouse being used by the children, I knew that I could fund the building of a new, clean toilet facility. Approximately 65 individual toilet stalls were built in these special monasteries and nunneries during the time that I was Flow Fund Circle member.
Children's Art Program and Exhibition (562)
Myanmar / $1,250
Flow Funder: D.J.
Year Funded: 2003
As an art teacher and artist, I know that children must be given the chance to creatively express themselves. But many children, schools and families cannot afford the cost of art materials, such as brushes, watercolors and paper. These things could be considered a luxury when having to choose between food and the other important necessities. For the six years that I was a Flow Fund Circle Member, children's art programs were funded, in which art teachers were hired and art materials were purchased. We also celebrated the young artists work by organizing two-day art exhibitions, where the paintings were put on display for members of the community to see.
Concrete Reproductions of Burmese Traditional Designs (561)
Myanmar / $600
Flow Funder: D.J.
Year Funded: 2004
I first taught rubber mold-making and concrete-casting to children in Myanmar Buddhist monasteries in 1999. This experience was so satisfying and rewarding that I discovered what I wanted my life to be about. I was no longer just a tourist seeing the sites - I was making a positive contribution to a people and a culture that I loved very much. I returned to Myanmar again in 2000 to teach rubber mold making again, and during that time, I also made additional contributions that helped Myanmar children, thanks to the donations that friends had given me. This was my first experience being a philanthropist. In 2001 I was invited into the Flow Fund Circle and continued to teach rubber mold making in Myanmar monasteries during the six years that I was a member.
Coal River Mountain Watch (CRMW) (560)
United States - West Virginia / $750
Year Funded: 2010
This grassroots organization was formed in direct response to the fear and frustration of the communities living near or downstream from large mountaintop removal sites. Their three major campaigns - Mountaintop Removal, Sludge Disposal, and Stopping Toxic Waste Storage near schools - have all been successful, in spite of everything working against them.
Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) (559)
United States - Maryland / $7,500
Year Funded: 2010
The Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) was formed to restore the Anacostia River, so that it is once again a clean and healthy place to live nearby and visit. Since 1989, AWS has worked to protect and clean the Anacostia River and its watershed communities by cleaning the water, recovering the shores, and honoring the area's heritage. What moves me most about the work of AWS is the emphasis they place on both environmental and economic justice. They are restoring not only the natural elements of the river, but also the communities which live near the river. Over the years, AWS has focused on bringing jobs to the area and developing recreational activities on the river, including giving urban youth their first experiences with boating, hiking and healing the planet. By supporting the work of AWS I know I am not only helping to clean the river, but also creating a space where nature will once again flourish, the community will be healthier, and the crucial issues of environmental racism are addressed directly.
A World Institute for a Sustainable Humanity (A.W.I.S.H.): Sierra Leone (558)
http://www.awish.net/projects/115.html
Sierra Leone / $4,000
FFCH: First Peoples Worldwide
Year Funded: 2010
A World Institute for a Sustainable Humanity (A.W.I.S.H.): Sierra Leone works with the Mende People of Sierra Leone to restore their traditional agricultural practices from pre-war times. By helping to facilitate the return of agricultural services and production, A.W.I.S.H. is restoring women's traditional role in agriculture to provide food through subsistence farming. Cultural traditions are also being renewed, ensuring that these gender sensitive roles are maintained. Women are also reviving traditional cloth-weaving activities to create additional income for themselves and their families.
Circle of the Defense of Environment (CEDEN) (557)
Congo The Democratic Republic of The / $2,000
FFCH: First Peoples Worldwide
Year Funded: 2010
The Circle of the Defense of Environment (CEDEN) works toward the reorganization of a healthy society that protects the equity and preservation of natural resources for present and future generations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. To achieve these goals, CEDEN works with communities to monitor illegal logging, map Indigenous lands, promote logging alternatives, and provide ecological education. Through this grant, CEDEN is promoting the traditional ecological practices of the Batwa people with forest resources to increase their revenues for a portion of their non-wood-based forest products, especially beekeeping. CEDEN is providing equipment for beekeepers, installing beehives, and monitoring production. Additionally, CEDEN is working with the Batwa to document their traditional knowledge around beekeeping activities. This grant will allow, for the first time, the formation of a group of Batwa people to draw on human capital to increase profits and capitalize on beekeeping activities. The revenue from these activities supports the children to attend school and other household expenses.
Association Baaka de la Sangha (556)
Congo The Democratic Republic of The / $2,000
FFCH: First Peoples Worldwide
Year Funded: 2010
The Association Baaka de la Sangha empowers Baaka people in the People's Republic of Congo to engage in co-management of their forest areas with both logging companies and wildlife conservation organizations to address the Baaka needs in these new contexts. With a grant from Keepers of the Earth, the Baaka are building a series of small farms at each Baaka education center to support the young attendees by providing a necessary lunchtime meal. Currently only one Baaka has literacy skills and speaks sufficient French to represent his community to outsiders, so these educations centers serve a vital role in the Baaka community as children increase their ability to represent their community among outsiders. As members of a traditional hunter-gatherer society, children at the learning centers are not able to collect food and are often hungry. By building these small farms, the Baaka are actively addressing this situation to provide the children with some food each day. Approximately 50 Baaka men and women will clear plots and grow crops from seedlings and the children will manage the small farms once they are established. An estimated 400 children will benefit from these farms.
Native Solutions to Conservation Refugees (555)
http://www.conservationrefugees.org/
Ethiopia / $2,000
FFCH: First Peoples Worldwide
Year Funded: 2010
Native Solutions to Conservation Refugees responds to Indigenous and local communities' wishes when conservation and environmental factors threaten to displace them and is committed to local communities providing solutions to local problems. Native Solutions has a long-established relationship with the Mursi community and has helped facilitate the development of a Mursi Community Conservancy. This additional funding supports the Mursi to travel from their territory to urge local and regional Ethiopian government officials in Awassa and Addis Ababa to sign documents officially establishing the Mursi Community Conservancy and to discuss with other local Indigenous communities, including the Hamar and Ari tribes, the possibility of joining in community conservation on their own territories.
Cultural Preservation, Ecology/Sustainability, Inter-Cultural
Indigenous Heartland Organization (IHO) (554)
http://www.indigenousheartland.org/
Tanzania, United Republic of / $2,000
FFCH: First Peoples Worldwide
Year Funded: 2010
The Indigenous Heartland Organization (IHO) is a Maasai-led organization in Tanzania, which has been active in advocating for Indigenous Peoples' rights, focused on their relationship with natural resources and crucial elements like access and benefit sharing. In the Ngorongoro district of Tanzania, the organization has been engaged in advocacy for the active and effective participation of the pastoral Indigenous Maasai in management of Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Throughout its existence as a multiple land use area, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area has also been known for its suppressive style of management, which does not provide space for the Indigenous Peoples of Ngorongoro to fully participate in decision-making processes regarding their homeland. IHO thus seeks to empower local Indigenous communities living in or adjacent to protected areas by forging unique partnerships between conservation initiatives and communities. IHO's Ngorongoro Brotherhood Mission seeks Indigenous control over the developments affecting their communities, lands, territories and resources enabling them to maintain and strengthen their institutions, cultures and traditions, while promoting development in accordance with the community's aspirations and needs. The Maasai of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area currently face the threat of violent eviction from their land and this grant is a step toward preventing this for the 52,000 Indigenous residents in the area.
Cultural Preservation, Ecology/Sustainability, Inter-Cultural
Sengwer Cultural Center (SCC) (553)
Kenya / $2,000
FFCH: First Peoples Worldwide
Flow Funder: Rebecca Adamson
Year Funded: 2010
The Sengwer Cultural Center (SCC) is a Sengwer-led organization which researches, protects, and promotes Sengwer Indigenous Peoples' social, cultural, and economic rights. The SCC is a key player in the conservation of the Cherangany Hills Indigenous Forests and through this grant, the Sengwer community is working toward reducing pressure on the Cherangany Hills Indigenous Forests by curbing deforestation and documenting human rights violations against the Sengwer peoples, evicted from their ancestral homes in the Embobut Forest. In order to achieve these goals, the SCC is holding a training and education workshop on the role of the Sengwer in forest stewardship and will examine traditional indicators, impacts, and adaptation measures relevant to climate change. The Sengwer are continuing to establish tree nurseries to collect Indigenous seeds from the forests and grow seedlings for reforestation and prevent the need for further deforestation for fuel. The forest is a vital asset for the Sengwer community, and through this grant, they are further protecting their livelihoods.
Institute of Culture & Ecology (IFCAE) (552)
Kenya / $2,000
FFCH: First Peoples Worldwide
Year Funded: 2010
The Institute of Culture & Ecology works to revive and promote Indigenous knowledge for environmental rehabilitation and conservation and to enhance local communities' resource-based livelihoods and sustainable development through local knowledge. The goal of this project is to promote the role of Indigenous knowledge and sacred sites in protecting natural ecosystems at Kivaa Hill. Kivaa Hill has an important sacred site at the top, with other smaller sacred sites in surrounding areas. However, the primary sacred site is being threatened by over-grazing, and local elders have raised their concern over imminent desecration of the site and eventual loss of natural biodiversity on the hill. The project is restoring respect for the identified sacred sites on and in the area of Kivaa Hill as a strategy for conservation of local biodiversity and responding to adverse climatic changes. This grant is helping the community at Kivaa Hill protect the assets, including local biodiversity and sacred sites, and maintain their cultural relationship with the Hill, which in turn protects their livelihoods and livestock.
Saru Enkiteng (551)
Kenya / $2,000
FFCH: First Peoples Worldwide
Year Funded: 2010
Saru Enkiteng is establishing itself as an organization working for the promotion, protection, and effective conservation of natural resources through rational and sustainable utilization of the resources on Indigenous lands and territories for present and future generations. While the Maasai community has appointed a board for the organization, it lacks a central office and point of contact for local communities, so Saru Enkiteng is using its very first grant to build their organizational capacity to enable themselves to more effectively serve the Maasai community. First Peoples' grant supports Saru Enkiteng to create an operating infrastructure by establishing a formal office and installing modes of communication such as a telephone and computer.
Koiyaki Guiding School (550)
Kenya / $2,000
FFCH: First Peoples Worldwide
Year Funded: 2010
The Koiyaki Guiding School plays a pivotal role in the Maasai community as it provides the only local curriculum for Maasai students to gain marketable skills in the field of tourism that are based on traditional knowledge and local practices. Funds were used to initiate a forum for Indigenous Maasai landowners to co-manage their land and resources through learning exchanges, and by sharing best practices to enhance biodiversity conservation and livelihood sustainability. A two-day workshop at the Koiyaki Guiding School was held to analyze the capacity of community groups, identify conservation planning tools, identify best practices within existing community conservancies, identify ways to integrate traditional Indigenous knowledge into resource planning, and develop an action plan to establish a regional 4 conservancy and scout network among the Maasai. All of these objectives support the goal of creating a Masai Mara Community Conservancies Network that will allow Maasai communities to work together to leverage resources, share best practices, and network across the region to continue to protect their natural and cultural assets.
Cultural Preservation, Ecology/Sustainability, Micro-enterprise
Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice (DWEJ) (549)
United States - Michigan / $5,000
Year Funded: 2010
Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice empower individuals, communities, and community organizations in Southeast Michigan to educate, advocate and organize for cleaner, healthier communities and environments. A gift from the Flow Fund Circle supports DWEJ’s work, including: Support of Build Up Detroit (BUD), which uses sustainability principles, citizen engagement, and green job development to help Detroit take the lead in sustainability; Support of the Green Jobs training program, which focuses on building a green collar workforce to transform the city's 50,000 brownfields into viable and sustainable communities; and Support of Youth on Patrol Against Pollution (YOPAP), which enlists young people in environmental advocacy and civic engagement to help shape long-term commitment to environmental justice.
Puget Sound Sage (547)
United States - Washington / $5,000
Year Funded: 2010
Puget Sound Sage brings together labor, faith, and community to make the region's economy work for working people by raising job standards, upholding workers' rights, and growing communities where all families thrive. Puget Sound Sage is a member of the Partnership for Working Families (PWF), a national movement dedicated to building power and reshaping the economy and urban environment for workers and communities. A gift from the Flow Fund Circle supports Puget Sound Sage's work on three areas affecting low-wage workers: green jobs, transportation equity, and clean and safe ports. Recent accomplishments include: Creation of a green jobs coalition in Seattle, including community development, environmental and labor organizations; Launching of a new Transportation and TOD Equity Project, focusing on access to transit, access to transit construction, operation and maintenance jobs, and equity impacts of transit-oriented development (TOD) on affordable housing and permanent job quality; and Supporting the Coalition for Clean and Safe Ports (CCSP), whose goals are to make the Port of Seattle's trucking industry more efficient, to reduce air pollution, and to improve the quality of jobs.
Got Green (546)
United States - Washington / $5,000
Year Funded: 2010
Got Green is a grassroots group led by young adults and people of color that promotes the movement for Green Collar Jobs as the best way to fight poverty and global warming at the same time. A gift from the Flow Fund Circle supports a variety of Got Green's activities, which include: Partnering with the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) and Seattle Vocational Institute to develop our region's only union-certified Weatherization and Installer Technician Training program; Connecting low-income workers to training and green collar job opportunities; and Convening focus groups of low-income women (primarily young women of color) to develop an organizing strategy that better engages women in the opportunities provided by the sustainable green economy.
Sound Alliance (545)
United States - Washington / $5,000
Year Funded: 2010
The Sound Alliance is a member of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), Northwest Region. A gift from the Flow Fund Circle supports a variety of the Sound Alliance's activities, which include: Working with state policymakers to draft and pass legislation using the Sustainable Works model to create a Community Energy Efficiency Pilot program to create jobs for disadvantaged constituencies through energy efficiency retrofit projects; Developing a neighborhood-based customer recruitment model capable of organizing hundreds of customers at a time; and Recruiting and training 80 block organizers in two Spokane and Seattle neighborhoods.
Regenerative Design & Nature Awareness (RDNA) (544)
http://www.regenerativedesign.org/
United States - California / $1,450
Year Funded: 2010
Please click the image to view the video.
This 9-month program offers a unique, diverse, and complimentary set of skills to students of all ages who are connected to the world of nature, through observation, community building, regenerative design and personal-inquiry. The journey of awareness and connection to the planet are fundamental skills in Permaculture, as are bio-regional living, peace-making, natural history, and cultural mentoring. The program encompasses personal, communal, and global perspectives and stands alone in the kind of holistic training it offers. The gift shared with this program was enough to initiate the establishment of the RDNA Scholarship Fund.
Kisha Montgomery (542)
http://www.kishamontgomery.com/
United States - California / $500
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
A gift was shared with Kisha Montgomery, to support her leadership development. Kisha is a truth-telling poet, activist, and healer working for love and justice, based in Oakland, CA.
Sisterhood is Global (SIGI) Institute (541)
Afghanistan, Iran, Islamic Republic of, Iraq / $500
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
This gift was shared to support the Sisterhood is Global (SIGI) Institute, which is a network of women working for peace, justice and human dignity throughout the world. SIGI pioneered the first global campaign to make women's unpaid labor visible in national accounts, and they created the first human rights manuals for women living in Muslim societies, which have been translated into 13 languages. This funding supported their work to create virtual communities of women working for human rights and living in the Muslim world.
MOVE (Making Our Voice Empowered) (540)
United States - California / $500
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
This gift was shared with The 418 Project, who supports MOVE (Making Our Voice Empowered), an innovative, cost-effective arts education organization serving at-risk youth in Santa Cruz County, California USA. MOVE provides tools to motivate and inspire youth in juvenile hall and schools for at-risk youth, by developing artistic expression and personal empowerment. Classes include: Art, Video Social Documentary, Drumming, Hip Hop Poetry, World Dance, Capoeira, Integrated Movement, Exploration of Holistic Health, Yoga, Pilates and Mural Design.
NeEddra James, Principal at Semaphore Creative (539)
http://www.plantingjustice.org/board/needdra-james
United States - California / $500
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
This award was shared with NeEddra James, a Bay Area, California USA Social Justice Activist and Principal at Semaphore Creative, as well as Board Member for Planting Justice, and The Common Fire Foundation. This award helped her get a new laptop computer which will enable her to make use of her considerable creative talents in greater service to the causes she holds dear.
10th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World (538)
Egypt, India / $950
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
A gift was shared to support Yasser Mohamed Adel of Egypt in traveling to India for the 10th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World, which held a global symposium on "Awakening Planetary Consciousness." Yasser was selected as the only Egyptian delegate, and was asked to present a workshop on interfaith dialogue. Yasser is a Board Member of the International Council of Christians and Jews, co-founded as a cooperation circle for interfaith dialogue in Egypt, and has organized youth, intercultural exchange programs between Europe and the Middle East.
Nipun Mehta, Founder of Charity Focus (537)
http://www.charityfocus.org/new/
United States / $1,000
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
This award was shared with Nipun Mehta, founder of Charity Focus, in honor of his generous heart and bold service to all people. Nipun’s promotion of “paying it forward” and bringing joy and service everywhere he goes is beautiful and contagious. He helps to create a world of abundant generosity.
Oakland Food Connection (536)
http://www.foodcommunityculture.org/
United States - California / $1,000
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
A gift was shared with Jason Harvey, Founder & Director of Oakland Food Connection. After attending university, Jason returned to his roots in East Oakland USA to work for food security, health and social justice. East Oakland has high rates of disease and violence, and Jason helps community members grow healthy food to maintain healthy lifestyles and strong community ties.
Judith Morgan, Shamanic Healer (535)
United States - California / $1,500
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
A leadership award was shared to support the work of Judith Morgan, a Shamanic Healer and Community Wellness Facilitator in Santa Cruz, California USA. Judith's work helps facilitate healing with many activists and changemakers in the community.
Kimmie Weeks (534)
http://www.kimmieweeks.com/index.php
Liberia, Sierra Leone, United States / $975
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
Please click the image to view the video.
This leadership award was shared to support the life and work of Kimmie Weeks. At age nine, Kimmie nearly died of hunger during Liberia's brutal civil war. At age twelve, he negotiated with rebel leaders and precipitated the release of 20,000 child soldiers who had been forced into the fighting, helping to bring about an end to the war. At age 17 he broke the story of then-president Charles Taylor's arming and training children to be used as soldiers in nearby Sierra Leone's civil war to the world press, and fled the country for his life, settling in the US for university. Today, Kimmie has returned to west Africa, where he works to rehabilitate child soldiers, and end of the use of children in war throughout Africa and the world.
Joseph McCormick & The Transpartisan Alliance (533)
http://network.transpartisan.net/profile/JosephMcC
United States / $1,000
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
Please click the image to view the video.
This leadership award was shared to support Joseph McCormick, founder of the Transpartisan Alliance and Reuniting America, to take time to work on a book capturing the stories and learning from his work bridging the partisan divide in America. Joseph has convened leaders from groups like Moveon.org, The Christian Coalition, Freedom Works, and the Green Party, as well as movement icons like Grover Norquist and Al Gore, to engage in the revolutionary act of speaking their truth and listening. His work is helping end the “civil war” in American politics, bringing all of America to a vibrant win-win democracy.
Anasa Troutman (532)
http://www.anasatroutman.com/anasatroutman.com/hom
United States - Georgia, United States / $1,000
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
This leadership award was shared with Anasa Troutman. Anasa is a fellow with Movement Strategy Center, and has done extraordinary work as a social justice organizer and community builder with many organizations. Anasa also has a spectacular voice with an incredible message. This award specifically targeted bringing her music to the world. She is now working on an album, and has premiered a concert in her home town of Atlanta.
M-LISADA (Music, Life Skills & Destitution Alleviation) (531)
Uganda / $1,000
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
Please click the image to view the video.
This gift was given to Seeds for Hope, to support the M-LISADA (Music, Life Skills & Destitution Alleviation) orphanage in Kampala, Uganda. Charles Terry, another Flow Funder, had this to say about M-LISADA: "The young people of M-LISADA survive by doing what they love - playing traditional African music, performing cultural dances and acrobatics, and by creating a brass band - and they've earned a reputation that brings them invitations to perform at local functions. But there are still times when they have too little food and must go hungry, and times when they become sick with malaria, cholera or typhoid fever and have to struggle to pay for medical care. Meanwhile, there is more that they dream about. They long first and foremost for education (their past income has allowed only some to go to school), and they believe that if they had better musical instruments and better dance costumes and a bus, they could use their well-practiced talents to generate greater income that would significantly enhance their quality of life. But even more than their own personal goals, they aspire to become a model for actualizing the potential of marginalized youth - a model that could provide inspiration and leadership to other orphanages and young people growing up in impoverished conditions."
Salim Mohamed, Director of Carolina for Kibera (CFK) (530)
Kenya, United States / $1,000
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
Award was shared in support of Salim Mohamed, Director of Carolina for Kibera. For most of his life, Salim has been working for peace and human dignity in Kibera, Eastern Africa's largest slum, located outside Nairobi, Kenya. Kibera is one of the most polluted and economically destitute places on Earth, but Salim's work has been supporting peace between warring gangs, job training for young people, and youth sports leagues to help young people build health and community. In 2009, contested elections triggered a wave of violence in Kibera and throughout Kenya. Salim experienced the heartbreaking loss of many people he loved. As the violence died down, he needed some time and space to heal and regenerate. This award helped him to travel to the US to get some perspective, and then to participate in a Be Present training with Lillie Allen, which created a healing environment for him to digest and reconnect with his center.
Common Fire Foundation (529)
United States - New York, United States - California / $1,200
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
A gift was shared with Common Fire Foundation in support of their work to build multicultural, cross-class, sustainable, educational, land-based communities in New York and California USA.
The Slavery & Civil War Museum (528)
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/289804/th
United States - Alabama, United States / $1,000
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
An award of support was shared with Malika Sanders, African-American community organizer and president of 21st Century Youth Leadership Movement, to support her and her family as she launched the Grassroots Democracy Coalition, and the Slavery and Civil War Museum in Selma, AL USA. Malika carries on the next generation of the civil rights movement in the face of rampant racism in the rural south. On the day that the award arrived (as a total surprise), Malika informed me, she had just been telling her husband that morning “somehow we need to pull together $1,000 to make it through this pass, and I don’t have a clue how it’s going to happen.” So when she opened the mail, she burst into tears at the synchronicity and the affirmation that, as she put it, “if I do the Lord’s work, the Lord will provide.”
Activists at The Farm Midwifery Center (527)
http://www.thefarmmidwives.org/
United States - Tennessee, United States / $3,000
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
Please click the image to view the video.
A gift was shared to underwrite natural, midwife-assisted, home-style births, for two young activists, giving birth at The Farm Midwifery Center. Birth is a profound moment for every family, and too often insurance considerations are forcing activists, many of whom have given up financial opportunities to give their lives to the betterment of their communities, to have their babies in hospital settings where Cesarean rates now exceed 33%. These two young women are: Malika Sanders, African-American community-organizer and founder of Grassroots Democracy Coalition and president of 21st Century Youth Leadership Movement in Selma, Alabama USA; and Coumba Toure, West African director of Ashoka and a leader in the Institute for Popular Education in Bamako, Mali. Malika’s father is an Alabama State Senator who is now lobbying for legalization of home birth in the state. Coumba is working to bring midwives over from Mali to be trained in midwifery and bring that knowledge back with them.
Be Present: Transforming the World, One Voice at a Time (526)
United States, United States - Georgia / $3,000
Flow Funder: Ocean Robbins
Year Funded: 2009
Please click the image to view the video.
A gift was shared to support the work of Be Present, an organization that does cutting edge work on gender, power, race and class as doorways towards healing and transformation. Be Present has played a pivotal role in helping thousands of activists and changemakers to do the human and community work to help their social impact to be more clean and effective, and to help our movements to evolve.
Sustainable Development Project in the Fifth Ward (525)
United States - Texas / $16,000
Year Funded: 2009
The Fifth Ward Enrichment Program, founded by Ernest MacMillan, directly addresses the high mortality rates of young, black men by providing a safe, after-school environment and exposure to male role models who instill values and standards of conduct. I approached this program with the idea of incorporating environmental issues into their services. The Sustainable Development Project resulted from this conversation and now there are partnerships with many other organizations, collaborating on plans for community gardens, peer-sustainability training and green jobs training. The urban poor are often overlooked as part of the solution to climate change and environmental issues, yet these populations are often the first people to be adversely affected by the damage we are doing to our environment. By empowering poor communities to be part of the solution we create real, sustainable opportunities for community development and stabilization, job creation, and improving the quality of life. This program has already touched more than 800 boys, their families, senior citizens and neighbors.
A Mule for a Small Business (523)
Brazil / $334
Flow Funder: Edmundo Barbosa
Year Funded: 2003
The first gift was a mule bought to help a family run a small restaurant business at a remote beach. The owners had been carrying all of the food, beverages and ice for four hours across the mountain every day, on their own backs. With the mule, they were able to expand their business and employ more family members. With the spare time that the mule gave her, Elena, the owner of the restaurant, started to work with children in the village teaching them their African roots and traditions that were vanishing from the island. She teaches groups of girls traditional African dance and boys African drumming, giving these children a deep sense of pride in themselves. It also gave them opportunity to present their work for visitors to the island instead of hanging around getting into trouble. The children now travel to the mainland to present performances and they have an annual festival of African traditions on the island.
School in India (522)
India / $500
Flow Funder: Beth Ames Swartz
A gift was shared to help this Indian children's school to buy art supplies.
Sixth Street Garden Events, New York (521)
United States, United States - New York / $2,000
Gifts were given to artists working with children to create art after school.
Art for Health Facilities (520)
United States - Arizona, Canada, United States - Illinois / $10,100
Gifts were shared with 13 artists to create art to donate to hospitals and health centers, including the Hospice of the Valley Children's Wing at the Phoenix Memorial Hospital, the Scottsdale Health Care Children's Facility, both in Arizona USA, and the Chicago, Illinois USA Yoga Studio for people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and the Vancouver Eye Clinic.
Art for New Planned Parenthood Clinic (519)
United States / $6,000
The Flow Funder and five artists met with architects, designers and management to discuss the use of art throughout a new women’s health facility which serves women from all socio-economic backgrounds, providing high-quality, fine art which creates a soothing and healing atmosphere. A gift was shared with the five artists involved, who then created and donated the art.
Youth Community Radio Project (518)
Thailand / $1,250
Contributions were shared for the creation of Youth Community Radio Center in Prae Province, where violence and discontent is growing among youth population. This center is run with a very small budget by a local activist named Prasart Pratetrat, whose vision is to create a learning opportunity for youth where they can enjoy spending free time learning among themselves and about social and environmental issues in the local area.
Documentation of Herbal Medicine (517)
Myanmar / $1,000
Flow Funder: Anonymous
A Gift was given to an activist who has been involved in promoting and preserving traditional culture and literature of the Shan people in Burma. He is a teacher and a Buddhist lay priest, quite well known and respected in many parts of the Shan State of Burma. His long term dream is to establish a farm and ashram where people can come and learn about various aspects of Shan traditional wisdoms, Buddhism, and the interconnectedness between people and the environment/ecology. This project promotes and preserves Shan traditional wisdoms by creating a book containing photos of different herbal medicine plants and descriptions of their usefulness in medical and health purposes.
Healing Arts for Children Project (516)
Thailand / $250
In response to the need for care for children affected by HIV/AIDS in Chiengrai, the Wiangchai Hospital has developed a healing program for small children whose parent(s) died of AIDS, and/or have emotional challenges and needs. 30 children are enrolled in the project, ranging from 4- to 12-years-old. The arts therapy sessions are organized once a month and conducted by local art practitioners with good results. This project is locally-innovative, as most children affected by HIV/AIDS are helped only materially without adequate psychological or emotional support. It is possible that this can be a model from which other social workers and hospital staff in other areas can learn and create their own program.
Ladakh Nunnery Center Building Project (515)
India / $1,250
Flow Funder: Aigul Dyusenova
Tibetan Buddhist nun, Tsering Palm, lives in Ladakh, India. She is also a Tibetan traditional medicine doctor and directs a nunnery school which supports young women from poor families to gain proper education. There are twenty nuns staying at the nunnery center, five of whom are staff, and the rest students. There is big shortage of rooms at the nunnery - currently six nuns have to share one room, and seven nuns are sleep in the office. A Flow Fund Gift supported new rooms to be built for the nuns.
Pgakenyaw Community Forest Fund (514)
Thailand / $2,500
Gifts were given to the Pgakenyaw (Karen) people in the Soblan village of Chiengmai for their ecological conservation and cultural empowerment work. Over the past 15 years, the Pgakenyaw people are one of the biggest indigenous group in Thailand, and they have been struggling to gain land rights to live on their ancestral land and practice their traditional agriculture. The fund given to the village was managed by the village committee and has been used for different activities, such as fighting forest fires, and creating community forest boundaries. The fund is also used for organizing the Dhammayattra Peace Walk from Chiengmai to Bangkok to communicate the intention of protecting the remaining native forests. In addition, traditional Thai massage and herbal workshops were also organized to re-educate villagers to know how to take care of their own health.
Flower Aceh (513)
Indonesia, Thailand / $2,500
One of the oldest women's rights organizations in the province, Flower Aceh has been actively helping women who have fallen victim to violence, including torture and rape, during and after the bloody conflict between the Indonesian army and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). Of all the areas hit by the tsunami, the Indonesian province of Aceh, suffered most. In the aftermath of the tsunami, Flower Aceh also provided basic necessities and ran a Women's Crisis Center in conjunction with other local women's groups. Using the experience garnered from empowering women in conflict situations, Flower Aceh is working to include women in the re-construction process, post earthquake and tsunami. A gift was shared with 3 women from this organization to attend the Sustainability Leadership Training program, which was held for activists, community leaders, and representatives from organizations around Asia and held at Pun Pun, an earth-house, organic community based in Chiengmai, Thailand.
Foundation for an Evolving Society (512)
Thailand / $2,500
Over several years, the Foundation for an Evolving Society, a non-profit organization based in Chiengrai, Thailand, received the funding from the Flow Fund to develop a holistic education program for their primary homeschool which benefit 4 children and families. While homeschool education is still new to Thai Society, it can serve as an alternative to education for parents who seek non-violent, liberal and spiritual education that can help children to grow a sense of service, generosity and compassion. This project is intended to create a model which can be replicated else where if parents are interested. The challenge though involved getting the Thai Euducation official to legally recognize the rights of parents to minister sound education for their children. While there are a wide spreading concern and frustration around the superficial educational reform in Thailand, a real practical success, even small, can inspire many who seek real education for the young generations.
Women for Water Partnership (WfWP) (511)
United States, Philippines, Armenia / $1,000
This worldwide strategic alliance of local, national and international women's organizations and networks is active in the areas of sustainable development, water & sanitation, poverty, and gender. It consists of 24 women's networks with subsidiaries in approximately 100 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Western Europe.
Highlander Research & Education Center (510)
http://www.highlandercenter.org
United States / $1,000
This organization serves as a catalyst for grassroots organizing and movement building in Appalachia and the Southern United States. They work with people fighting for justice, equality and sustainability, supporting their efforts to take collective action to shape their own destiny. Through education, participatory research, and cultural work, they help create spaces where people gain knowledge, hope and courage - expanding their ideas of what is possible. They develop leadership and help create and support strong, democratic organizations that work for justice, equality and sustainability in their own communities and join with others to build broad movements for social, economic and restorative environmental change.
Detroit Summer (509)
United States - Michigan / $1,000
Community organizing with young people.
Women's Clinic (507)
Nicaragua / $350
Flow Funder: Fran Peavey
A gift was shared with this women's clinic that teaches economic skills.
Traditional knowledge in Central America (506)
/ $500
The Flow Fund gift was to a woman working with women’s healing using traditional herbs and medicines.
Sankat Mochen Foundation (505)
India / $3,000
Sankat Mochen Foundation For Cleaning up the Ganges River
Center for Protection of Women and Children (504)
Serbia and Montenegro / $2,000
Center for Protection of Women and Children Kosovo
Equity Institute (503)
Serbia and Montenegro / $1,000
Training for four social change workers in Serbia to do diversity work.
Ellen Diederich's Peace Education (502)
Germany / $1,000
Flow Funder: Veronika Bennholdt-Thomsen
Ellen Diederich is a well known feminist peace activist. She has built up an Archive of Feminist Peace Education over several decades. A gift was shared to help her develop materials for school children, so she can teach them about making peace.
Christa Mueller's International Gardens (501)
Germany, United Kingdom, France / $2,000
Flow Funder: Veronika Bennholdt-Thomsen
A gift was shared with Christa Mueller to found this organization promoting international gardens in cities and regions of Germany and Europe. Through her organization, immigrants from all over the world come together and garden a plot of land. Through this collaborative work, they learn from each other by planting vegetables and flowers from their place of origin. This gift also helped recruit volunteers and philanthropists to obtain land, tools, and plants to create international gardens worldwide.
Equipment for Ute Schultz's Goat Dairy (499)
Germany / $1,000
Flow Funder: Veronika Bennholdt-Thomsen
Ute Schultz is running a small farm, breeding and milking goats to make cheese. By selling the cheese, Ute makes a modest living and Ute urgently needed a new steel vat for processing the milk. A gift was shared for the purchase of this new steel vat.
Stinson/Bolinas Community Fund (498)
United States - California / $60,000
Year Funded: 1997
$20,000 seed money was shared to start a new community fund for the towns of Stinson Beach and Bolinas, California USA with the hope of leveraging additional donations so the fund can be self-sustaining. An initial group of seven donors agreed on the philosophical underpinnings of this new fund and The Marin Community Foundation became the fiscal sponsor, creating grant guidelines, as well as an application form. Since then, the fund has made many grants for improving community and cultural life, and enhancing the well-being of local residents.
Legal Support for Political Detainee (497)
Sudan / $300
In Darfur, people who are suspected of opposing the current government are being tortured and often end up disappearing without a trace. We became aware that the brother-in-law of a good friend was arrested by the security police in South Darfur, and was being detained without accusation. Over time it became clear that legal intervention could help his release. We decided to share a Flow Fund Gift to provide the very costly legal support required to lobby for this man's release.
Healing Adolescent Girls in Darfur (496)
Sudan / $2,000
Almost 2 million people in the three states of Darfur are refugees or internally-displaced, due to the violent conflict that began in March 2003. More than 60% of them are children under 18 years of age. In South Darfur alone, hundreds of thousands of people are seeking refuge in camps, which lack basic services and security. In order to provide the local children and adolescent girls with structure and a sense of normality, the Sudanese Popular Committee for Relief (SPCR) established nine Children Centers in three locations in South Darfur, where internally-displaced people live. 40 people were trained to organize daily, social and recreational activities for the almost 10,000 children served. Many of the children are survivors of sexual abuse, and some of them are dealing with unwanted pregnancies. Several services help these young girls heal from their experiences. At present more than 500 girls meet and encourage each other to cope and accept their often unwanted baby. We shared a Flow Fund Gift to support these activities.
Naturalization of Iraqi Woman in Jordan (495)
Jordan, Iraq / $400
Flow Funder: Lilian Peters
Abu Islam makes a living selling English and Arabic newspapers. His wife is Iraqi and she was facing the risk of losing her passport because the Iraqi embassy was not functioning anymore and could not renew it. Naturalization costs at least 320 Jordan Dinar (about $450 American), which is more than a month's salary in Jordan. My gift helped Abu help his family.
Quaker Play Center's Amari Refugee Camp (494)
Israel, Palestinian, Territory Occupied / $2,000
Flow Funder: Lilian Peters
Founded in 1975, the Quaker Play Center's Amari Refugee Camp is located on the grounds of the United Nations Welfare & Relief Association (UNRWA), in the village of EI-Bireh, next to Ramallah on the West Bank of Israel and Palestine. The Quaker Play Center provides pre-school education for 50 children. A gift was shared with the Quaker Play Center to purchase central heating and hot water for the cold winter months.
Soblan Oral University of Nature (492)
Thailand / $2,500
Year Funded: 2003
After the Solidarity Forest Walk of 2003, the Karen (or Pgakenyaw people) in Soblan Village, explored the possibility of creating their own school to teach and share traditional, educational wisdom (including forest guardian and stewardship) that is native to their land and culture. Through a collaboration with the Buddhist alternative school, Roong Arun, in Bangkok, the Karen have acquired the technical knowledge in how to establish official recognition by the government, and a Flow Fund Gift was used for purchasing equipment and providing teachers salaries.
Tibetan Children's Villages (490)
India / $20,000
A gift was shared to support the housing, health and education needs of 5 Tibetan refugee children for 10 years.
Gu Chu Sum Movement of Tibet (489)
India / $10,000
This school is for Tibetans who are former political prisoners and their families so that they can become educated and employed. The main subjects taught include Computing, Tibetan, English and General Knowledge. The Flow Fund gift will enable the purchase of 17 computers.
Transportation for Members of the Japaling Home (488)
India / $10,000
Dharamsala India is home to 156 elderly, destitute Tibetan refugees who have been in exile for over 45 years and have no family to care for them. A gift was shared to purchase a vehicle to be used for emergency and general transport of these people.
Tibetan Women's Association (487)
India / $10,000
A gift was shared with the Tibetan Women's Association to cover board, lodging and tuition for one Tibetan refugee nun to pursue Buddhist Philosophy study for 11 years at Dolmaling Nunnery and for an additional 2 refugee nuns to study for 9 years at Shungseb Nunnery.
Non-Violence Education (486)
Lebanon / $2,014
Four women received Flow Fund Gifts to organize activities for non-violence education. With these funds, they purchased an LCD projector and 18 films to share with film clubs in the 4 regions of Lebanon.
Non-Violent Education (485)
Lebanon / $2,000
Marie Nassif is active in social work and integrating non- violent culture in local schools, associations, and youth groups. Her curriculum includes: seminars for young adults (17 - 26 years old) on how to start nonviolent clubs in their cities; visits & discussions at the homes of motivated mothers who want to teach their children non-violence; training sessions with teachers; and non-violent film screenings and discussions at local schools.
Non-Violence & Non-Sectarian Training (484)
Lebanon / $2,850
Lebanon represents a mixture of religious beliefs, including Christian, Muslim and Druze people and they often do not mix with each other. Anita Bassil helped to found a youth group focusing on non-violence and non-sectarianism in the Kesrwan/Mount Lebanon region, whose population is 98% Christian. Some of the activities of this group include: building a clubhouse for youth from different areas of Kesrwan to gather together; introducing non-violence approaches to other organizations in the region; running a non-violent/non-sectarian summer camp; finding church activities for all youth to participate in, regardless of religious beliefs; non-violent/non-sectarian communication training for local youth groups, teachers and students; and a Peace Film Club for youth, which includes one non-violent film per week.
Hala Abou Ali & Non-Violent Activities (483)
Lebanon / $1,000
There has been tension between the Christian and Druze people of Lebanon, since the Lebanese Civil War (1975 - 1990). Hala Abou Ali is a young woman who has launched a set of non-violent activities in her village, bringing together these two seemingly disparate groups together. Her activities include: non-violent seminars for village representatives in the region; summer camps for Christian and Druze children; Peace Film Clubs for youth; nature exploration and how it can bring different groups of people together; and awareness meetings for young adults (19 to 28 years old). All these activities include conflict-resolution training, non-sectarian dialogue, and discussions of how different religions in a communal society can co-exist.
Josephine Tabchi & Non-Violence Education (482)
Lebanon / $1,500
Josephine Tabchi shares non-violent education activities with village children in the North of Lebanon. Her activities include: a weekly Peace Club for youth from different backgrounds (8 to 18 years old), with entertainment activities & trips which form a coherent group; trainings for teachers from the area schools, which include non-violent communication, and how to respect the "other"; and a Film Club (the first in the village) to discuss non-violent movies, documentaries, cartoons. All of these activities have a focus of non-sectarian gathering, healing racism, learning how to cooperate, ecology, self-trust, and trust in others.
T-Moo Theater for Youth Empowerment Project (481)
Thailand / $1,220
The goal of this project is to develop a replicable model for holistic youth development through socially-engaged artistic work in Thailand. The gift made it possible for 30 youths in Chiengrai, aged 15-20, to go through theater training and community research. The Thai Health Promotion Foundation has recognized the theater project as a good practice in youth development in encountering against widespread violence among teenage population in Thailand. The training was filmed and and subtitled in English.
Pun Pun Center for Self-Reliance (480)
http://www.punpunthailand.org/
Thailand / $2,440
The Pun Pun Center for Self-Reliance is a small, organic farm, seed-saving center, and sustainable-living and learning center. They cultivate their own food, build their own natural homes, and experiment with low-tech technologies. They are striving to bring back the tradition of seed-saving amongst farmers and growers by collecting, propagating, and exchanging indigenous and rare varieties, and therefore bringing back indigenous and rare species of all kinds of vegetables, fruits, and medicinal herbs. Each year, Pun Pun holds workshops on earth house building, permaculture and sustainable living for both Thai and international participants. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to help with these trainings.
Living Water System Model (479)
United States - Minnesota / $3,500
This community project's intention is to convince the city of Duluth, Minnesota USA to make the first sustainable bio-remediation project to protect Lake Superior from the run-off of the city. Sustainable systems are not yet acceptable by city governments except as tokens to the environmental movement. They are usually less expensive to build and far less expensive to maintain and therefore are viewed as anti-growth. Our gift attracted matching funding for the project.
United to End Racism, Durban, South Africa (478)
South Africa / $3,000
The Flow Fund seed gift enabled United to End Racism to raise another $25,000 for a team of 50 delegates to The Durban World Conference against Racism.
Keepers of the Waters in Beijing, China (477)
http://www.keepersofthewaters.org/
China / $4,000
Flow Funder: Betsy Damon
Year Funded: 2001
A gift was shared to develop "Keepers of the Waters in Beijing," a major art/science event. This gift also helped with the development of a web site for ecological artists in China.
Lu Hong Yen & Environmental Education Programs (476)
China / $6,000
Flow Funder: Betsy Damon
Sichuan University is the 4th largest University in China and has mandatory Environmental Education for all its undergraduates. Lu Hong Yen is a passionate and devoted environmental educator and activist, and this program links with the Keepers of the Waters organization, as well as other projects throughout China.
European Tibetan Nuns Project (475)
India / $1,500
A travel scholarship for a project based in Europe that supports Tibetan Buddhist nuns.
Extraordinary Conversations (474)
Canada / $5,000
Flow Funder: Angeles Arrien
This multi-cultural team teaches personal/collective leadership, conflict resolution, and reconciliation work for the purposes of learning about the collective wisdom.
Scholarship (473)
South Africa, United States - Colorado / $1,400
This gift provided a transportation and medical insurance scholarship for a youth from Cape Town, South Africa, to attend "Up With People" leadership program seminars in Broomfield, CO.
Parihaka Marae (472)
New Zealand / $5,000
To support local elders and teachers to instruct Maoritanga (tradition) and provide community rebuilding of ceremonial space at the Parihaka Marae, the spiritual and historical center of the Maori people of New Zealand.
Mollomarka Project (471)
Peru / $1,000
Flow Funder: Angeles Arrien
Year Funded: 1995
A Flow Fund Gift was shared to provide medical supplies for the village of Mollomarka, in the Andes mountains of Peru (a 6-hour drive northeast of Cusco, Peru).
Eyethu Imbali Project (469)
South Africa / $5,000
Flow Funder: Angeles Arrien
Year Funded: 1995
The Consultative Institute for Development Through Community History & Religion developed this community-based, oral history, research project. The project specializes in recording the songs, dances, stories, ceremonial rituals, historical memories and experiences of the people in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The project seeks to develop a consciousness about the importance of preserving the oral history of the South African black community, including the preservation of oral traditions among the Zulu, Xhosa, and Sewtu tribes.
Mediators Foundation (468)
http://www.mediatorsfoundation.org/
United States / $1,000
A gift was shared to support leadership and citizen participation through multi-cultural mediation work.
One People in Prayer (467)
United States / $1,160
This annual Prayer Vigil includes 30 hours of continuous prayer and unity, to create a healing Sacred Hoop of the four races, and provide a forum for elders to share their wisdom with the youth of all cultures. A gift was shared to help pay for plane fare for two indigenous elders to attend this annual Prayer Vigil, and participate in the "Honor Indigenous Elders" section of the vigil, in which members of the Oneida, Cherokee, Chippewa, and Sioux tribes come together to pray for three days for the present and all future generations, the health of Mother Nature, and unity as one people.
Youth Together (465)
United States - California / $5,000
Please click the image to view the video.
Youth Together is a multi-cultural, youth justice program developing young people to be "Rainbow Warriors" to prevent conflicts and violence in their schools by addressing the institutional factors that create or contribute to the conflicts. This school-based, social change and cross-cultural violence prevention project is developing the leadership of 75 youth from 5 high schools in Berkeley, Oakland, and Richmond, California USA. The goal is to foster cross-cultural understanding and relationship skills among youth, to reduce the prejudice and intolerance that lead to violence and other harm. A gift was shared to help Youth Together obtain a match grant for the publication and dissemination of curriculum materials, including research findings and curriculum recommendations for other schools around the country.
Wiraqocha Foundation: Ecumenical Community Services (464)
Peru, United States - California / $2,500
A gift was shared through the Wiraqocha Foundation's Ecumenical Community Services to assist three elder Andean Priests from the Q'ero Nation of Peru, including Don Maneul Q'espi, to come to the United States to share their prophecies and wisdom with the Native elders of North America.
Parihaka Marae Preschool (463)
New Zealand / $5,000
Flow Funder: Angeles Arrien
A gift was shared to support the formation of an education fund for the Parihaka Marae Preschool which provides scholarships for inter-cultural educational exchanges.
Eric Vormanns, African Healer (462)
Ghana / $3,000
Flow Funder: Angeles Arrien
A gift was shared to support the work of this African healer and Founder of the World Federation for Spiritual Healing. He has developed a model of health that incorporates ancient, modem and "etheric" methods of healing called "Vormanns Method."
Peacemaking: The Power of Nonviolence Conference (461)
United States - California, Timor-leste, Guatemala / $2,200
This conference is sponsored by the Tibet House in New York and the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). It includes a series of historic meetings between Nobel Laureates, His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet, Rigoberta Menchu of Guatemala, and Jose Ramos-Horta of East Timor. The conference was held in San Francisco, California.
International Network for Attitudinal Healing (460)
United States - Texas / $300
This network supports peace and the extension of unconditional positive regard in Austin, Texas.
Tibetan Nuns: Shugsep Education Project Funds (459)
India / $5,000
Gift to assist the educational program, including teachers' salaries and educational materials at Shugsep, a nunnery that supports Tibetan Buddhist nuns of the Nyingma sect. Dharamsala, India
Full Spectrum Project (458)
United States - New Mexico / $1,500
We chose this project to share a gift with, because of their dedication to restoring health to the Santa Fe National Forest. Our gift funded a forest ecosystem seed mix, which was planted in sites in need of restoration in the Santa Fe National Forest.
Scottish Environmental Research Project (457)
United States - California, United Kingdom / $1,500
This project was chosen to inspire young and dedicated Scottish Highlanders to research environmental problems and options for a sustainable Scotland. It includes an educational project that enables Scottish-American young adults to study the environmental challenges facing Scotland today.
Royal Flush Center for Arts & Music (456)
United States - California / $8,000
This project was chosen because of the young artists and musicians doing their work in San Francisco, who are highly dedicated, talented, and inspired to make arts and music available outside of traditional settings. In particular, I felt it was important to encourage this group of emerging artists to reach out and dedicate some of their time to be of service to the San Francisco youth that are at risk. Through the Royal Flush Center, art and music is made accessible to inspire young adults and teenagers who are looking for new directions. The center is trying to reach troubled homeless teenagers and young adults, offering them a gathering place for music and art as well as teaching on a one-to-one basis. "Lost" teens are especially being helped by being mentored by young adults that they admire due to their success as artists.
Scotland Ecosystem Rejuvenation Project (455)
United States, United Kingdom / $4,000
This project focuses on the restoration of Scotland's watersheds - in particular the Tweed River ecosystems. A gift was shared to continue their work to create greater harmony and balance through ancient and new physics.
Celtic Environmental & Cultural Outreach Project (454)
Ireland, United States / $18,000
A gift was shared to restore native woods in Ireland. This gift helped to facilitate research on best forestry practices as well as available government grants. In addition to the forestry project, educational programs were developed for a basic recycling program. A web presence in both Gaelic and English was also completed.
The Scotland Watershed Restoration Project (453)
United Kingdom / $27,000
Information has been mapped and compiled for Scotland's water quality, toxic wastes, soil fertility and contamination, existing plant and animal habitats, native plant communities, wildlife prior to total deforestation, and the impact of pollution on human health. Research was done to determine best lands to acquire for model reforestation projects in Scotland. Seed mix, tree communities for forest ecosystem restoration was completed.
Yoga Program for Those with Life Threatening Illnesses (452)
United States - California / $5,000
This gift enabled the formation of a Yoga program designed especially for people with life threatening illness. No public program of this nature exists in Marin or San Francisco Counties, California USA.
S.A.N.D (Support After Neonatal Death) (451)
United States - California / $4,000
S.A.N.D. is a bi-monthly support group for parents who have lost an infant through miscarriage, genetic abortion, stillbirth or death during or shortly after birth. The purpose of this unique bereavement group is to enable parents to grieve, preserve their marriages, and to continue to confidently parent their existing children (if any). This is the only group of its kind in San Francisco, California USA.
"Still Lives": Art Exhibit for The Zen Center AIDS Hospice (450)
United States - California / $500
Year Funded: 1992
This gift supported the "Still Lives" art exhibit at the Zen Center AIDS Hospice in California USA. This show raised a significant amount of money for the Hospice and its work.
Mysteries Program's Council Training for Teachers (449)
United States - California / $10,000
The Mysteries Program is a groundbreaking curriculum which acknowledges and supports spiritual development in the adolescent. It provides an opportunity to explore meaning and purpose in life, to encounter the mysterious in human experience, and to make a deep connection to wholeness in oneself and in others. Participants gain tools to combat the root causes of self-destructive behavior, low self-esteem, stress, isolation, marginalization, and poor decision-making skills. Students learn ways to recognize and nurture their spiritual needs, recover and preserve their creativity and take responsibility for themselves, others and the planet. The council process is derived from Native American tradition and contemporary psychological approaches. Storytelling, dreamwork, witnessing, conflict-resolution, ceremony, ritual, and myth are interwoven in the curriculum to develop in each adolescent a respect for their own uniqueness and for the uniqueness of every other human being. The Mysteries Program has been successfully taught at the Crossroads School in Santa Monica, California USA for several years and has made a documented and significant impact on the lives of the participating children. A videotape project was funded, as a tool for sharing this program with the world. Our gift leveraged another $20,000 in matching funds to complete the film and create a training module for teachers who wish to implement the program within their own school systems.
Spirit in Education Movement (SEM) (448)
Thailand, Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic / $2,000
A Flow Fund Gift was shared for training and travel costs for non-government leaders and community activists from Thailand, Laos, Burma and Cambodia (including two people from Thailand's Forum of the Poor) to attend Spirit in Education Movement (SEM) training programs.
Spirit in Education (SEM) Films (447)
Thailand, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar / $140
Flow Funder: Anonymous
Spirit in Education (SEM) is an alternative college founded in 1995. It offers a spiritually-based, ecologically-sound, holistic alternative to mainstream education. Its philosophy is rooted in Buddhist wisdom with deep concern for ecological sustainability and social justice. SEM teaches courses that promote the interaction between the alternative thinkers of the West and the best-minded of Asia. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to purchase copies of videos and slides of their work to distribute in Laos and Burma.
Women's Environment & Development Organization (WEDO) (446)
United States / $500
A gift was shared to support the work of the Women's Environment & Development Organization (WEDO).
Santi Pracha Dhamma Institute (SPDI) (445)
Thailand / $1,500
Translated into English, Santi Pracha Dhamma Institute stands for Peace, People (Participatory Democracy), and Justice. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to support the training of Thai forest monks in environmental activism and education techniques. In part, the gift was used for travel expenses for the forest monks to meet with other monks and share their teaching and collaborate on future actions.
Spirit in Education Movement (SEM) (444)
Thailand, India / $1,000
Year Funded: 1998
A Flow Fund Gift was shared with Pracha Hutanuwatr, director of the Spirit in Education Movement. These funds help Pracha to travel to the World Wilderness Congress in Bangalore, India to present a model of spiritually-based environmental education and action. He is one of the few Asian presenters at this event.
Travel Grant for Native American Activists (443)
Thailand, United States / $500
This grant (along with a grant from the Threshold Foundation) enabled three Native Americans: Victor Masayesva (Hopi), Kiefer Foote (Dakota Sioux), and Chris Tomson (Lakota Sioux) to participate in the three Interfaith Solidarity Walks into the indigenous villages of northern and western Thailand to meet with villagers and to discuss the pros and cons of development and "western-style progress."
Travel Grant for Community Leader (442)
Myanmar / $200
Flow Funder: Anonymous
A gift was shared with a leading Kachin woman for travel through northern Burma to meet with Baptist women's groups about alternative development projects.
Travel Grant Buddhist Activist (441)
Thailand / $1,000
Moo is a colleague and young activist we have known for the past three years: This grant enabled him to travel to Burma and meet with the Christian Kachin leaders we have trained in northern Burma for discussions on the development of an Interfaith Southeast Asian Regional Training Center on Alternative Development.
Rural Community Artists' Cooperative (440)
Lao People's Democratic Republic, India / $2,000
A Flow Fund Gift was shared to create an Artists' Cooperative in the village of Kerala. With the funds shared, this Cooperative was able to bring in a traditional weaving expert from Vientiene to teach them new weaving patterns and help them develop a distribution plan for their weaving business. Another group of tribal artisans used funds to produce a marketing brochure to advertise their beautiful, locally-handmade clay products for distribution to interior designers and architects in southern India.The economy of this once destitute village did a complete financial turnaround, though the work of this Artists' Cooperative.
Travel Grants Thailand (439)
Thailand / $1,000
We made three travel grants to enable 3 full-time activists to attend meetings, trainings and workshops in other parts of the country. 1) Tuentje Deetes (Director ofHADF to attend meeting of leadership of the Forum of the Poor in Bangkok; 2) Sean Kennedy, an American video cameraman to travel to villages in northern Thailand to teach them how to use video to preserve their culture and, 3) Sulak Sivaraksa to join the Yadana gas pipeline protest at its most intense period.
Hill Area Development Foundation (438)
Thailand / $1,500
We used the HADF as a conduit to distribute alternative development microgrants to several villages we were working with. The money will help send village leaders to meet with others in the region to develop a coordinated community forestry response to the government's plan to relocate them from their lands. The grant will also help start education programs to transmit traditional ceremonial knowledge to the young people of the Akha tribe who are being sent away to Thai schools.
The Kalyanamitra Council (437)
Thailand / $5,000
The Kalyanamitra Council consists of more than two dozen Thai non-governmental organizations (NGOs) committed to bringing justice to Thai-Burmese relations. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to support monks, students, villagers and other activists in their direct-action protest (the first of its kind in Thailand) against the Yadana gas pipeline coming through Burma into old growth forest areas of Thailand. PTT (Thailand's petroleum authority) and the Thai Prime Minister both are guilty of lack of disclosure about the environmental impact of this pipeline, and a lawsuit is forming. This is one of the most important environmental legal cases in Southeast Asia, which forces greater transparency in Thai governmental processes.
Anti-Nuclear Asia Coordinator (436)
Thailand / $1,000
A Flow Fund Gift was shared to hire a Thai Anti-Nuclear Asia Coordinator.
Safe Energy Handbook (435)
Thailand, United States / $500
Mayumi Oda's work on a Nuclear-Free Asia greatly inspired us and we wanted to build on it through our grant-making capacity. We began this by funding her beautifully designed and clearly written "Safe Energy Handbook," making sure it is translated, published and distributed among Buddhist activists, community organizers and village leaders in Thailand.
Gifts of Delight (434)
United States - Arizona / $1,000
A gift was shared with a Catholic health care volunteer who works with Hispanic elderly and sick women in the Tucson, Arizona USA region. While she herself does great hands-on healing and is a nurse, her desire is to use this gift to bring "gifts of delight," such as food and flowers, to the people she works with.
Brother Pasqual (433)
http://www.deserthouseofprayer.org/
United States - Arizona / $1,000
This gift was shared with a Catholic priest, Brother Pasqual, who has dedicated his life to running the Desert House of Prayer, a small retreat center outside of Tuscon, Arizona USA, which offers rest and revitalization for burned-out or ill Catholics, activists, priests and nuns. He also does extensive work with Hispanic youth in the Tuscon area, and we shared a $1,000 gift with him for that work. When he heard the philosophy behind the Flow Fund gift-giving, he would only accept the gift if he could follow the same rule we follow and give it away. He ended up sharing the money with people "in their time of need," which included a young woman dying of AIDS.
Totem People's Reindeer Project (432)
Mongolia / $200
This small grant was offered to the Totem People's Reindeer Project to help support their work with the Dukha reindeer people of northern Mongolia, who are struggling to stave off further destruction of their reindeer herd, and of the Dukha culture itself
Cultural Preservation, Ecology/Sustainability, Inter-Cultural
Ekta Parishad (431)
India / $1,200
Ekta Parishad (which means "Forum of Unity") is working on advancing women's rights and power within traditional Indian society, as well as working with indigenous people's rights by protecting tribal land rights and tenure in the face of development pressures.
Bio-Regional Mapping Training for Kachin Leaders (430)
Myanmar / $2,336
Flow Funder: Anonymous
Year Funded: 1998
The Kachin people are an indigenous group located primarily in Kachin State, in northern Burma. Since the civil war cease-fire, Chinese, Burmese, Indonesian and Thai business interests have descended on Kachin State to profit from lumbering, milling, and wildlife "harvesting." We spoke with a leader of the Kachin people who told us: "the destruction of the forested areas has also affected the wild animal habitats in the forest, making the animals very scarce. We need to protect the forests, the rivers and the animals from the exploitation of the business people. The people need to be educated. We need community forest reserves to protect the land and the animals and, to do this we need to survey and map those areas." Upon hearing this, we shared a Flow Fund Gift to sponsor a six-day, bio-regional mapping training. A group of Kachin leaders attended with the intention that they will in turn train others, creating a large group of Kachin bio-map-makers with the focus of creating a bio-regional atlas of the Kachin State. The atlas will include maps describing the condition of the forests, the extent of clear cuts, the condition of wildlife habitats, the presence of pollution sources and mines, along with other maps describing basic geographic features (like topography, geology, soils, hydrology, climate, forest types, and habitat). Other maps will include cultural features and history (including settlement patterns, the effects of British colonization, the effects of the civil war, and economic patterns, etc.).
Grassroots Leadership Training Program (429)
Thailand / $2,000
Year Funded: 1999
In the Fall of 1998, a "Seminar for Village Leaders" was held in the Karen village of Soblan, in northern Thailand. Over thirty leaders attended. The seminar was designed along the model of "bearing witness," in which questions were asked about the current situation facing the Karen and their responses were listened to. The Karen shared that villages are being forced to relocate to the lowlands by government agents. It became clear that the Karen had no training in non-violent resistance, and could be at considerable risk during these often violent re-locations. Seeing the need of non-violent resistance training through these conversations, the "Grassroots Leadership Training Program" was shared, with the help of a Flow Fund Gift. The program began in March, 1999, with an initial training held in Soblan. Participants in this training have proceeded to train younger leaders in other villages.
Interfaith Solidarity Walks (428)
Thailand, India, Lao People's Democratic Republic / $2,000
Year Funded: 1999
A Flow Fund Gift was shared for the travel expenses of four Asian activists to participate in the Interfaith Solidarity Walks: an Indian activist from the Gandhi Peace Foundation in Delhi, an Indian activist from Ekta Parishad (an organization representing tribal peoples in Madya Pradesh), and two Laotian activists from Lao Prabang and Vientiane. These four people were walking in support of the indigenous people of northern Thailand. As one activist remarked during the final debriefing circle: "This experience has changed my life. I understand now how people can make a difference and really help each other by bearing witness without judgment. I am very hopeful now. There are many problems in my country and I want to do this kind of work there."
The Alliance for Sustainable Forests & Communities (427)
Thailand / $3,000
Year Funded: 1999
A Flow Fund Gift was shared for the initiation of the first coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) - agencies and individuals - who are working on Thai tribal issues. This Alliance is dedicated to supporting the health of the forests of Thailand and the survival and well-being of forest-based communities. In the midst of ongoing conflicts between the government and local peoples, the Alliance: creates opportunities for dialogue and cooperation regarding government policies and land use by tribal communities, deepens understanding in Thailand and throughout the world of the sustainability of traditional forest communities, and works to eliminate discrimination against indigenous communities in Thailand. The gift was used to set up the Chiang Mai office, establish contact with relevant groups, organization of a "Festival of the Forest," training for tribal peoples displaced by a dam in Ubon Ratchathani, and initiating a process among Karen leaders (the largest indigenous group in Thailand) to write a Declaration of the Rights and Responsibilities of Forest Communities.
Travel Grant for Interfaith Pilgrimage of Peace (426)
http://www.brushmind.net/kaz.html
Syrian Arab Republic / $1,800
Flow Funder: Elizabeth Roberts & Elias Amidon
Year Funded: 2002
A Flow Fund Gift was shared to enable the Buddhist artist and peace activist Kazuaki Tanahashi to join an Interfaith Pilgrimage of Peace to Syria, May 4-18, 2002, and to provide translation services during the pilgrimage. The purpose of the pilgrimage is to bear witness to Muslim-Christian relations and to encourage deeper understanding and respect between these religious cultures.
Sufi Way International's Senior Leadership Trainings (425)
France, United States / $4,000
Year Funded: 2002
This gift was shared to help with the travel expenses of senior teachers of the Sufi Way International to attend two, 5-day seminars. The Sufi Way is a western "universalist" Sufi tradition. While not exclusively Islamic, it does has deep roots in that lineage, which makes it well-suited for developing spiritually-based actions dedicated to deepening understanding between Islam and the West. These training seminars focus on developing a wide range of approaches to spiritually-based activism. Our interest is to support the development of an "engaged Sufism" similar to the emergence of engaged Buddhism
Travel Grant for Catholic Activist (424)
Thailand, Philippines / $600
"Betty" is a creative and influential Catholic activist who is interested in working with indigenous tribal peoples in her region of the Philippines. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to provide travel costs for "Betty" to attend the Interfaith Solidarity Walk.
Scholarship to Attend Death & Dying Workshop (423)
United States - New Mexico, Thailand / $1,200
This gift was shared with Wisit, a Thai educator and Buddhist activist, so he could attend to attend one of Roshi Joan Halifax's death and dying programs at Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Wisit is doing pioneering work with the dying in a northern Thailand hospital, and this gift enabled him to develop a culturally-adapted model for working with death and dying in his own country.
English Training for Activists (422)
Thailand / $2,000
Moo and Lek have become able leaders in the Spirit in Education Movement (SEM) and the Grassroots Leadership Trainings (GLT), both non-governmental organization (NGO) projects. An obstacle to their international work however is their need to improve their English and a Flow Fund Gift was shared for educational and travel expenses to learn English.
Pema ljn Mingaborn's visit to USA (421)
India, United States - Colorado / $1,200
We shared this gift with Pema ljn Mingaborn, a Tibetan Nun from Dharamsala, India, to pay her airfare to Boulder, Colorado for a period of study at Naropa University. Naropa agreed to offer a full scholarship for her. Pema ljn Mingaborn is the head of her monastery and she wished to further her dharma education to bring back the teachings to her sister nuns. She speaks and writes English fluently.
Peace Teams (420)
Thailand, Indonesia / $5,000
Year Funded: 2002
A Flow Fund Gift was shared in support of a series of citizen-led peace initiatives to de-escalate conflict between the different ethnic/religious groups in the regions of Thailand and Indonesia, including the development of "Peace Teams" that deploy non-violent interventions in situations of conflict. Funds paid for office coordination and travel costs for peace workers to meet with their counterparts from the U.S. and Europe for a four-day planning session in Bangkok. The meeting had 25 representatives from peace groups.
The Monastery of Saint Moses the Abyssinian (419)
Syrian Arab Republic / $1,100
Flow Funder: Elizabeth Roberts & Elias Amidon
Year Funded: 2001
During the winter of 2001, we journeyed through North Africa and the Middle East, meeting with Sufis and other remarkable characters. In the desert cliffs of Syria, several hours northeast of Damascus, we found the ancient monastery of Mar Musa or Deir Mar Musa al-Habashi, literally The Monastery of Saint Moses the Abyssinian. It has been existence from the middle of the sixth century, and belonged to the Syrian Antiochian Rite. The present monastery church was built in the Islamic year 450 (1058 AD) and was active until the early 19th century when it was abandoned. In 1982 a young Italian Jesuit priest, Father Paulo, found the ruins and determined to revive the monastery. He has devoted the past twenty years to rebuilding it and dedicating it as a place for inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue and harmony. One aspect of Fr. Paulo's vision is to create a protected environmental area in the valley below the monastery. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to establish this area, which received governmental approval while we were there. The monastery also distributed 10% of the gift to the neediest of the poor in the area. When we heard of their generous tithing plan we added another $100 for this purpose.
AIDS Companion Project at the Village Zen Center (418)
United States - New York / $800
We met with the remarkable female Zen teacher, Sensei Enkyo O'Hara, founder of the Village Zen Center in Greenwich Village, New York. Enkyo told us about several of the projects emerging from the Center, including the newly-established "AIDS Companion Project" which inspired us to share this gift with her and the Zen Center. The AIDS Companion Project networks and provides companions for people with AIDS, who are often lonely and depressed. Services include providing assistance in running errands, cooking meals, or being medical/social service advocates.
Kohala Mountain Mindfulness Center (417)
United States - Hawaii / $300
A gift was shared to help support the establishment of a Buddhist retreat center in Hawaii USA, initiated by Therese & Arnie Kotler.
Ariya Vinaya (416)
Thailand / $500
A Flow Fund Gift was shared to support a series of international meetings, entitled "Ariya Vinaya," to help bring the monastic traditions of Southeast Asia into the 21st century.
Nun Ordination (415)
Thailand, Sri Lanka / $350
This grant helped support the travel of three Theravaden nuns from Thailand to Sri Lanka to study and take full bikkhuni ordination. There has been no full ordination of nuns in Thailand for 1200 years. As a result, nuns have a surprisingly low status in this patriarchal culture. There is a growing movement among women activists to improve the role of nuns and we are actively involved in this work.
International Buddhist Youth Organization (414)
Indonesia / $300
This was a grant to two young Buddhist men from Java, Indonesia, to provide start-up funds for the establishment of a new international association of socially-engaged Buddhist youth.
Research on After-Life Beliefs (413)
Nigeria / $1,600
At the University of Ibaden African Studies Program, information will be gathered on the Yoruba Medicine Men or healers and their view of the afterdeath. Information will also be gathered from the Ifa Divinations, a historic set of transmitted documents now being translated for the first time into English at the University of Ibaden. Funds were given to support the completion of the cross cultural study on the afterdeath beliefs with a) medicine men and b) as reported in the Ifa Divinations. Funds were also given for the xeroxing of a manuscript on medical healing traditions (xeroxing is prohibitively expensive) and individual monies were given to healers in the community with whom I met.
Research on After-Life Beliefs of Igbo (412)
Nigeria / $2,300
The Igbo, who consider themselves to be Jewish, are a third major group of Africans along with the Yourba and the Ijar. I met with two Kings, both of whom are steeped in tradition and who too will cooperate in the study. Here funds were given for the research, the community at large, certain individuals and the printing of a calender of the recently retrieved Igbo time concept ( there are four days to the Igbo calendar and children were named special names according to it.)
Research on After-Life Beliefs of Ijar (411)
Nigeria / $1,650
In Nembe research was arranged on the belief system of the Ijar (another major group like the Yoruba). Funds were given to individual members of the community with whom I met, the Chief, the head diviner, the head healer and funds were given as well for the continued development of the Nembe library.
Research on After-Life Beliefs of Yoruba (410)
Nigeria / $1,450
At The University of Ile-Ife African Studies Department, I visited with healer and a diviner and arranged for the University to conduct similar research on afterdeath beliefs. In this case the Hunter Tribe of Yoruba, a highly regarded sub-group who have their own "heaven" will be engaged as well as a group of Diviners.Director of The Center, will supervise the research. Funds were given for use in the community and to support the research.
Research of the After-Death Beliefs of the Fon People (409)
Benin / $2,950
Flow Funder: Sukie Miller
A gift was shared for research on the after-death beliefs of the Fon people, conducted by The Institute for Research of The Republic of Benin. The Fon people are willing to share their understandings of the after-death. Funds will support the creation of audio recordings of oral histories.
Point of View Project (408)
India / $9,865
Flow Funder: Penny Bauer
Dharavi, India is Asia's largest slum. Many of the one million people who live there have never traveled outside of it. Based in Bombay, India, non-profit organization Point of View has been working with a group of young people from Dharavi, giving them simple "point and shoot" still cameras and photography classes, so they can document their lives and then show their work in a traveling exhibition. The resulting photographs are also used on postcards, T-shirts, and in a publication. All proceeds from the sales of these items flow into a scholarship fund.
Legal Literacy in India (407)
India / $10,000
The Justice Sunanda Bhandare Foundation was established in 1994 to facilitate a more gender-equitable society in India. In the course of its work, it has embraced women as their main constituents, in addition to the physically challenged and the vast majority of Indian people who live in villages. In India, 49%) of women and 30% of the total population is illiterate. While the National Literacy Mission has embarked on a massive literacy project throughout the country, this Foundation is concerned with spreading awareness of the legal rights, particularly those of women. Its legal literacy mission is designed to make more people aware of their legal rights as well as gender biases in laws, so that eventually public opinion will support the removal of these anomalies. The courts in India are becoming more pro-active, particularly when addressing women's rights in the areas of maintenance, divorce, inheritance and adoption. The' Foundation's experience shows, however, that very often the women themselves seem unaware of these rights.
Women for a Plutonium-Free World (406)
United States - California / $500
Radio producer, Penny Rosenwasser and writer/activist Margaret Pavel produced a series of four, one-hour radio programs on Berkeley, California's KPFA 94.1 FM radio station called "Women for a Plutonium-Free World," in which they interviewed: activist, Priscilla Settee; Navaho leader, Esther Yazzie; Dr. Mildred McClain; ecology activist, Claire Greensfelder; and journalist, Fusako de Angelis. Copies of the interview were distributed to the communities of the interviewees and with other public radio stations.
Rokkasho Video Project (405)
http://www.inochi.us/pff/index.html
Japan / $2,000
Year Funded: 1995
Kei Shimada is a Japanese documentary photographer who lives in Rokkasho, Japan and volunteers with Plutonium Free Future, which works to shut down Rokkasho Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities (NFCFs). Kei wants to produce and distribute a slide-tape package entitled, "Rokkasho," to inform the public about Japan's plutonium program. The slides feature the local community's struggle to stop the operation of Monju, a fast breeder reactor, with a special focus on farmers, fisherpeople and a women's peace camp.
Mildred McClain & The Citizens for Environmental Justice (404)
United States - South Carolina / $3,500
The Savannah River Site in South Carolina USA is a complex of nuclear reactors and weapons factories with proven adverse effects on the local African-American community. Mildred McClain founded the Citizens for Environmental Justice to fight environmental racism and teach her black community and others about environmental justice.
The Work of Angela Gennino (403)
United States - California, Japan / $3,500
Angela Gennino is a Northern California investigative journalist reporting on the growing Japanese/Asian nuclear industries' uranium mining and their indigenous communities' campaigns to stop it. She shared her uranium mining report at the uranium mining on their lands.
Kiyoshi Miyata's "Hopi Prophecy" Video Distribution (402)
United States, Canada / $200
A gift was shared to make copies of the award-winning video "Hopi Prophecy" for distribution among indigenous communities. Video copies were made and send to: Henrietta Mann of Haskell Indian Nations University; Priscilla Settee, a Kuli uranium mining activist in Winnipeg, Canada; and many others.
Pacific Campaign for Disarmament & Security (PCDS) (401)
Japan / $250
This group, formed by Hiro Umebayashi, organized nuclear-free zones in Japan. A Flow Fund gift was shared to support the publication of a newsletter for this group. It has since changed its name to the Pacific Peace Working Group (PPWG), which is a small, international working group of individuals with a commitment to peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region. Its purpose is to continue to address the historical issues of concern of the Pacific Campaign for Disarmament & Security (PCDS) in an occasional, informal and decentralized manner.
Kekula Bray-Crawford (400)
United States - Hawaii, French Polynesia / $100
A gift was shared with Kekula Bray-Crawford to help her efforts to connect the human/indigenous rights struggles of indigenous Hawai'ians in Ho'okele, Hawai'i USA with the Maohi people of French-occupied Polynesia. This gift helped her to copy critical historical documents for her legal and treaty research.
Northern California Stop Cassini Coalition (399)
http://homepage.mac.com/deyestone/cassini.html
United States - California / $500
Year Funded: 1997
This emergency coalition was formed to stop the Cassini Launch, a space research probe carrying 72 pounds of plutonium in October 1997.
Celebrate Life & Say No to Nuclear Waste in California (398)
United States - California / $500
A gift was shared to support the Indigenous Anti-Nuclear Summit's "Celebrate Life & Say No to Nuclear Waste in California" production at the Cowell Theater in Fort Mason, San Francisco, California USA.
Anna Rondon & The Southwest Indigenous Uranium Forum (397)
United States - New Mexico, United States - Arizona / $500
Year Funded: 1997
Indigenous activists are gathering to brainstorm strategies to confront the fact that uranium mining is starting again in Arizona and New Mexico USA. A gift was shared with Anna Rondon to create the Southwest Indigenous Uranium Forum July 1997.
Mrs. Vaihere Bordes & Hotu Tiare Maohi (396)
French Polynesia / $1,000
Flow Funder: Mayumi Oda
Hiti Tau is a network of locally-based community organizations throughout the islands of French-Occupied Polynesia. Through this organization, I found out about Mrs. Vaihere Bordes, an energetic Maohi woman, who has organized a women's cooperative called Hotu Tiare Maohi to produce traditional coconut oil also known as "monoi." This Flow Fund gift helped to find ways to distribute the monoi products and thus increase the financial self-sufficiency of all the Maohi women involved in the project.
Scholarship for Corbin Harney & Peixinho (Matteo) Ferreira (395)
United States, French Polynesia, Brazil / $2,000
A gift was shared with Shoshone elder Corbin Harney and his Brazilian assistant Peixinho (Matteo) Ferreira to travel to Tahiti for the Abolition 2000 conference. Corbin served as the Head of the North American Delegation, and participated in the spiritual leadership and religious ceremony portion of the conference.
Dorothy Purley, Water Information Network (394)
http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/apurley.htm
United States - New Mexico / $1,000
Dorothy Purley is a Native American activist from the Paguate Village in the Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico USA. She has been affected by the the uranium mining of her land, but she still manages to travel the globe, despite her poor health, and speak about radiation poisoning of indigenous Americans.
Tulip Bulbs Cultivation Project for The Cow Barn (393)
Japan / $3,000
Flow Funder: Mayumi Oda
A gift was shared to fund the Tulip Bulbs Cultivation Project, which will help bring cash to the the Cow Barn Project (a barn converted to an activist center that serves as an office, meeting place and overnight hostel for visiting ecologists). Founder Keiko Kikukawa caravans through Japan selling the bulbs and telling the story of her village Rokkasho becoming the biggest nuclear dump site in Japan.
No Nukes Asia Forum (391)
Japan, United States / $1,000
Flow Funder: Mayumi Oda
A gift was shared to help produce this International Conference held in Kobe, Japan, which focused on the issue of nuclear export from Japan and USA to other Asian countries and the dangers earthquakes can cause in these regions.
Yoshinori Tsukishita & The Earth Family Project (390)
Japan / $1,000
Flow Funder: Mayumi Oda
Born in Hiroshima, Japan, Yoshinori Tsukishita was five-years-old when the atom bomb was dropped. He now works as a calligrapher and poet, promoting world peace. He created the Earth Family Project to organize art exhibitions around Japan.
Satomi Ohba, Plutonium Action, Hiroshima (389)
Japan / $4,000
Satomi has been the major activist from Hiroshima against civilian use of plutonium. She works passionately with activists from other Asian countries.
Sokhoeun & The Naga Women's Party (388)
Cambodia, United States - California / $2,500
Flow Funder: Mayumi Oda
Sokhoeun fled Cambodia as a young woman and came to the USA. Since then, she has supported hundreds of Cambodian refugees, artists, and cultural figures. Sokhoeun studied International Studies & Buddhism at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) and travels frequently to Cambodia to help women in business and grassroots organizing. Encouraged by many Buddhist teachers, including Maha Goshnanda, she developed the Naga Women's Party.
Safe Energy Handbook Translated into Chinese (387)
China / $900
Flow Funder: Mayumi Oda
The Safe Energy Handbook was translated into Chinese with the help of Anni Chung.
Gabriel Tetiarahi & Hiti Tau (386)
French Polynesia / $1,550
Flow Funder: Mayumi Oda
Year Funded: 1997
Gabriel Tetiarahi is the founder of the non-governmental network Hiti Tau in Tahiti, which hosted the International Conference of Abolition in January 1997. A gift was shared with Hiti Tau to publish and distribute a Health Study of Nuclear Workers in French Polynesia in October 1997.
Pamella Meidel's "The Atomic Mirror" Performance Piece (385)
United States, Belarus, Ukraine / $6,100
Pamella Meidel is a writer and peace activist. A gift was shared to create her performance piece, "The Atomic Mirror: Reflecting Our Nuclear History in 1995." Over the years, she has traveled the world, sharing this performance. She is now reworking it for the new millennium, re-titling it "Mother. What Ails Thee?/Imagining Chernobyl," and she is hoping to bring it to Belarus and Ukraine in Spring 1998.
A Computer for Fusako DeAngelis (384)
United States, Japan / $2,000
Fusako DeAngelis is a Japanese writer and anti-nuclear activist who has been writing articles for Japanese newspapers and magazines and translating important materials into Japanese. Her old word processor had been giving her problems, so a gift was shared to get a new one. She translated "Who Owns the Sun?" by Daniel M. Berman & John T. O'Connor in to Japanese, and created a Japanese web presence for the Rainforest Action Network.
Memories Come to Us in the Rain and the Wind (383)
Australia / $400
Flow Funder: Mayumi Oda
A gift was shared so that 100 copies of this book could be distributed by The Wilderness Society. The Mirrar people in Gundjemiin Northern Australia, headed by senior traditional elder, Yvonne Marguruda are fighting the opening of the proposed Jabiluka Uranium Mine in the World Heritage Kakadu National Park and this book was created to share histories and photographs of Navajo Uranium Miners and their families.
Phil Harrison & Compensation of Navajo Uranium Miners (382)
http://www.wise-uranium.org/ureca.html
United States / $4,500
Phil Harrison has been working to get appropriate compensation for former uranium workers and their families from the U.S. government. A gift was shared to help him in his work. Phil Harrison produced a booklet called, "Memories Come to Us in the Rain and the Wind," which is a collection of oral histories and photographs of Navajo uranium miners and their families.
Okinawa Peace & Ecology Network (OPEN) (381)
Japan / $2,500
Year Funded: 1999
Directed by Tatsuaki Oshiro, OPEN sends volunteers around the world to share Okinawa, Japan's regional issues with other parts of the world. OPEN hosted the Peace & Ecology International Symposium in May 1998 in Ginowan, Okinawa, Japan and they work closely with the Okinawan government to promote a Japanese solar future. They also hosted the Abolition 2000 International Conference, which focused on the Asia and Pacific's nuclear issues and their energy strategy. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to provide seed money for this symposium.
No Nukes Scholarshop for Pakistanis (380)
Pakistan, Japan, Thailand / $2,000
Flow Funder: Mayumi Oda
Year Funded: 2002
The No Nukes Asia Forum International Conference was held in Chengmai, Thailand and focused on the nuclear testing and security issues of Asia, including the exportation of nuclear warheads from Japan and the United States to other Asian countries. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to bring several Pakistani delegates to the conference, as well as creating a website for the conference.
Satomi Ohba & The Safe Energy Hand Book (379)
Japan / $2,000
Flow Funder: Mayumi Oda
Satomi Ohba is an activist from Hiroshima Japan, working against civilian use of plutonium. A gift was shared with her to publish 1,000 copies of the Japanese version of the Safe Energy Hand Book for a climate conference held in Kyoto Japan.
Lokenath Divine Life Mission (378)
India / $500
Lokenath Divine Life Mission Mission projects include the establishment of women's empowerment groups, women's healthcare, child education, creative development, adult education, eye surgery & care, homeopathy, farmers clubs/conservation awareness. The Mission is committed to raising the socio-economic level of the impoverished people of the slums and villages in and around Calcutta, and addresses fundamental problems at the grass root level. They conduct school classes "on the streets" and health care in a medical mobile where care is needed most.
Global Summit on Peace Through Tourism (377)
Jordan / $1,000
Flow Funder: Justine & Michael Toms
Year Funded: 2000
A gift was shared for the travel expenses of Pat Lawrence, independent radio producer of "Travel Radio Productions" to attend the Global Summit on Peace Through Tourism in Amman, Jordan, in November, 2000, and to conduct interviews with presenters and produce programming for public radio.
Universal Foundation for Better Living/Panorama of Truth Youth Program (376)
United States - Florida / $100
A gift was shared to support the Panorama of Truth Youth Program in creating educational materials to be presented a conference in Miami Beach, Florida USA, based on the principles of Maria Nemeth and her "Energy of Money" workshops.
Mendocino County Releaf (375)
United States - California / $2,500
A gift was shared to support a "pocket park" in Ukiah, California USA, dedicated to the Russian River Watershed and the children of the Ukiah Valley. This park will have an actual recycling "running stream" and rock waterfall celebrating the life-giving nature of the Russian River and the diversity of its culture.
SPACE: Near and Arnolds' School of Performing Arts & Cultural Education (374)
http://www.spaceperformingarts.org
United States - California / $10,000
A gift was shared with this children's performing arts program committed to exploring social and cultural issues affecting children, youth and their families, and fostering cross-cultural interactions among Mendocino County's diverse communities. They create and stage professionally-directed theater and dance productions with youth and conduct experiential arts education programs that enhance self-confidence, self-esteem, self-discipline and social skills. Their programs engage the talents and contributions of local/regional theater, traditional/folk artists, teachers, dance/music artists, youth, parents, educators, and business people, encouraging diversity, cooperation and tolerance. SPACE is raising funds to retrofit and develop a new children's theater in downtown Ukiah, California.
Radio for Peace International (373)
Costa Rica, United States / $1,500
Since 1988, Radio For Peace International, located in Costa Rica, has provided shortwave radio broadcasts of informational programming on a wide range of topics vitally important to peace and justice. A gift was shared to support their "Stop Hate on Radio" campaign, to bring greater awareness and help to stop dangerous, hateful rhetoric on the radio waves. The gift also provided support for radio producer James Nathan to attend the U.N. Conference Against Racism in September, 2001.
Norbulingka Institute of Dharamsala, India (372)
India / $1,000
Established to begin to fill the gap of the interrupted and precious tradition of the Tibetan peoples culture in both its literary and artistic forms. The Institute promotes the traditional arts and literary studies of Tibet.
Mendocino Land Trust/Big River Estuary Conservation Project (371)
United States - California / $2,000
As woodlands and coastal access in California continue to vanish under economic pressure for more and more development, the Mendocino Land Trust is working to permanently conserve Mendocino County's critical natural resources, working farmlands, forests, and public coastal access. A gift was shared to support the Big River Estuary Conservation Project, which includes 24 miles of the longest, undammed estuary in the state of California and hundreds of miles of contiguous trails. These 18,000 acres of protected wilderness also includes a virgin Redwood forest and the only 50-acre wetlands marsh known to exist within a virgin forest in North America.
Julia Butterfly Hill & The Circle of Life Foundation (370)
United States - California / $2,000
A gift was shared to provide a foundation to work with people across the world in developing a sustainable culture of life on Earth rooted in love and respect for the interconnectedness of all life.
Refugee from Sierra Leone (369)
United States, Sierra Leone / $100
A gift was shared to help buy a computer for a refugee from Sierra Leone to continue his work after he and his wife had to flee for their lives.
Tibetan Refugees (368)
India / $1,000
gift to H.H. the Dalai Lama to support the Tibetan Refugee project. His Holiness has continued to support as best he can these determined souls who have crossed the great mountains at the roof of the world to gain freedom of their religion.
Native American Heritage (367)
United States - California / $2,500
A gift was shared with David Lincoln, an indigenous Yokaia Porno, raised in the traditional ways of the Native Americans in the Mendocino County area. He is an artist who works in "quiet" ways throughout the county with small groups of young people, instilling self-esteem and respect for their heritage and rich culture through music, storytelling, dance, and drum making.
Looking Grand, Feeling Great (366)
http://www.darcaleenicholson.com
United States - California / $2,500
A gift was shared with Darca Lee Nicholson, a healer and bodywork practitioner, to complete her natural health book, "Looking Grand, Feeling Great: Simple Practices for Beauty and Health."
Reprinting of Safe Energy Handbook in Russian and Ukrainian (365)
Russian Federation, Ukraine / $1,000
There is great demand for these local language publications (500 copies each)
Georgian Center for Energy Effectiveness (364)
Georgia / $2,500
Flow Funder: Enid Schreibman
A gift was shared with the Georgian Center for Energy Effectiveness to help with energy conservation and safe energy work in Georgia. This gift helped fund a seminar, produced in part, by the Environmental Program at the Center for Citizen Initiatives. Through this work, Georgia will be accepted into the former Soviet non-governmental energy network and will provide both intensive learning and the opportunity for partnering with American organizations that can lend information and technical expertise.
Georgian Environmental Minister Energy Seminar (363)
Georgia / $500
Flow Funder: Enid Schreibman
The Environmental Minister of Georgia is both the only woman and the youngest minister in the Georgian cabinet. She came into office through the Green Party and now must reconcile the most liberal and the most conservative environmental factions. She has said that before she can produce an international energy conference, she must get her factions speaking to each other. A gift was shared to bring together these government officials and grassroots activists in a collaborative seminar on energy.
Ecological School Garden in Georgia (362)
Georgia / $200
Flow Funder: Enid Schreibman
A gift was shared with a teacher in a remote village of Georgia which borders on a former enemy territory. This gift provided supplies and tools to start a school garden. She is a dedicated and visionary teacher who is working to decrease the psychological devastation in her village caused by the recent war.
Georgian Representation at Conflict-Resolution Conference (361)
Georgia / $600
Flow Funder: Enid Schreibman
While Georgia has been at war, they have been isolated from all professional communities. A gift was shared to help two Georgian representatives attend a national conflict-resolution conference held by the Association of Humanistic Psychology. Conflict-resolution is particularly important in a war-ravaged country.
Deep Ecology Training Manuals (360)
Ukraine, Russian Federation / $700
This is the only group I know who is writing training manuals in Russian for young people in deep ecology. They conducted a multi-level three month training for trainers. The money enabled them to carry out their well thought out program after their request for funds were cut beyond capacity to achieve their goals. The manual has been completed and we are now in the process of translating it into English to see if their ideas are applicable here.
Wind Power Videotape Translation to Russian (359)
Russian Federation / $329
In connection with the 10th anniversary of Chernobyl, the environmental organization Green World in three Ukrainian cities, worked with the Center for Citizen Initiatives and Plutonium Free Future to sponsor seminars on Alternatives to Nuclear Energy. Speakers and participants included local officials from regional and local government, utility executives, and engineers, faculty and students. I was a speaker on energy conservation. Translation and transport for the translator were provided from my funds. In order to provide visuals a visiting Russian woman scientist voluntarily translated and narrated the American Wind Power video and gave a personal introduction. All labor was donated for the production. I sponsored the actual printing and duplication for distribution to seven Ukrainian and Russian cities. I just learned that portions were already being used in Ukrainian cities after it's use at the seminars.
Translation of Rokassho Video for Ukrainian television (358)
Ukraine, Japan / $117
This is a Japanese produced video in English of grassroots activists protesting plutonium that was shipped around the world to their plutonium reprocessing plant. I showed it to a group of activists in Kiev who were so enthusiastic about seeing non-violent forms of protest that they wanted to put it on their weekly environmental TV program.
Green Dossier, Deep Ecology Handbook translated into Russian (357)
Russian Federation / $554
The teachers needed material in Russian experiential ecological teaching methods. Green Dossier agreed to translate and publish a handbook from the Despair and Empowerment exercises. They chose the 25 most relevant exercises with the author Joanna Macy and produced a handbook which was welcomed by the teaching community.
Ecological information booklet (356)
Russian Federation / $500
Lama Tientsin, Ahalar Ulan Ude 2000 copies of ecological information booklet for local Buryats This respected monk travels between Ulan Ude, Chernigov, and St. Petersburg. He says that the Buryats are destroying their own nature just from lack of education and misinformation. He has included in his booklet inspirational and factual material for the local Buryat population
Ecological Information Booklets Ahalar, Chernigov, Ukraine (355)
Ukraine / $350
This is a Buddhist oriented non -profit environmental organization about three hours from Kiev. Its leaders were fascinated by the American Deep Ecology material and started using it for trainings. Hours were spent on their own translations. When I conducted a deep ecology seminar for them, they wanted to put the material in terms understandable and relevant for their members.
Clean and Healthy Food Production Project (354)
Russian Federation / $500
Dana -a Nikolaev women's organization Unlimited Possibilities Award to Natasha Pokrass a 'Can-Do' lady. When we did a check-in at the women's circle to see what the life focus was for each participant. Most said "family" but not Natasha. Although she has a family, her goal was to help make positive changes in the health of her community.. "She's not happy unless she's too busy" said a friend at the circle. She has already found a donation of bread baking machines and is sponsoring a seminar to encourage and support others to produce healthy clean (as opposed to irradiated) food.
Unlimited Possibilities Award to Ludmilla Zhirina (353)
Russian Federation / $645
There are some people who you know are working every day to make a difference and will use whatever money you give them thoughtfully with the idea of making an impact. Ludmilla is one of those people. She comes from a small city near the Ukrainian border that was the most heavily radiated as a result of the Chernobyl accident. She was inspired by our alternative energy seminars and the information she heard at the 10th Anniversary of Chernobyl conference. When I offered her the grant of $500 with no strings attached, she immediately produced a simple booklet on energy production in her area to present at a series of seminars which she did for teachers who are working in schools and environmental centers throughout her region. She reports that her booklet is very popular and that there is a demand for expanding the energy seminars. Booklets will be used by the teachers with their students throughout her area and she wants further help in expanding the energy seminars. Previously, I provided her with a $145 grant for supplies and translation for an experiential ecology seminar
Advocacy, Ecology/Sustainability, Education, Media, Nuclear, Women
Socio-Ecological Union - Sosnovy Bor, (352)
Russian Federation / $700
This is a small nuclear city outside of St. Petersburg). Oleg Bodrov lives in a closed nuclear city. He is a whistle blower who used to work in a secret nuclear R&D center He educates the public on the nuclear threat and also volunteers leading ecological expeditions for children identifying pollution sources and cleaning their local river. Through the work of the Center for Citizen Initiative's Nuclear Watchdog Project, he became interested in alternative energy and energy conservation and started the first non profit energy center in St. Petersburg in May 1996. He organized an ecological seminar for environmental activists and teachers for which I provided $100. My grant enabled the seminar to take place after another organization co-opted his funds and he had given up He was invited to attend the Deep Ecology summer training in Seattle but he didn't have the airfare. I provided $600 and showed him how he could use $500 from another grant. I sought to increase his US contacts and to enable him to learn the latest ecological thinking. I know that he will make good use of the training because his courage, motivation and spirit are so strong.
Advocacy, Ecology/Sustainability, Education, Health, Nuclear
Can Do Fund, Uzbekistan (351)
Uzbekistan / $2,000
I was able to potentially affect twenty four schools where Peace Corps volunteers are teaching English. Based on the contest idea of another Flow Fund Circle member, I appointed the volunteers as philanthropists who could make up the rules,based on their first hand experience, as to how the money would be distributed, whether by contest or grants to help their local communities.
Russian Center for Assistance on Environmental Initiatives, Saratov (350)
Russian Federation / $600
Olga Pitsunova is working almost single handedly to educate the public about the nuclear hazards in her region. She says many activists have stopped working due to economic hardships and at this point she has trouble even paying the rent. She uses the phone of a neighbor for her work. This money will provide an office for a year so that she can have a legal address in order to apply for grants and to get on with her activist initiatives.
Baltic Sea Information Center, Sosnovybourg, St.Petersburg (349)
Russian Federation / $850
This closed area where the government is continuing to build nuclear power plants is supported by other Baltic Sea neighbors like Finland that buy their power from this plant. Oleg Bodrov, whose life has been threatened for his dedicated work continues to publish articles in a monthly bulletin to educate the Baltic Sea activists. He needed a duplicating machine since he can no longer gain access to the machine at the plant.
Advocacy, Ecology/Sustainability, Health, Media, Nuclear, Water
Youth Ecological Trainees (348)
Georgia / $500
Flow Funder: Enid Schreibman
A gift was shared with 50 Georgian youth to receive training and employment at various ecological organizations for one year.
Teen Ecological Center, Kiev (347)
Ukraine / $1,200
I funded a center for Anthill, a group of teenagers active in the environment. The physical legal space and address enables them to apply for additional grants. The space will also be used for networking meetings of NGO's in Kiev.
Three Ukrainian Anti-Nuclear Activists attend conference in Russia (346)
Ukraine, Russian Federation / $225
Three Ukrainian Anti-Nuclear Activists attend conference in Russia The Ukrainian nuclear activists are not well connected to the Russian nuclear activists. I made it possible for three Ukranians to attend an alternative energy conference in Moscow and the result will be a traveling renewable energy conference at the five nuclear power stations in the Ukraine. Communication with the Socio-Ecological Union will enable them to be aware of information, trainings, and joint actions relevant to their work.
Advocacy, Ecology/Sustainability, Inter-Cultural, Nuclear, Peace
Ukrainian Uranium Mining Group (345)
Ukraine / $100
In Kirovograd, Ukraine there are three uranium mines near the population center. The local green group is trying to seal the mine which is not working and to draw public attention to the problems associated with Uranium mining.
Living with Radiation In the Ukraine (344)
Ukraine / $2,000
There is still a figurative cloud of radiation hanging over their cities. Families don't know what genetic damage has been done and whether their children will still develop thyroid cancer. There is a fifteen year peak so the cancer rate is steadily increasing. It has been ten years since Chernobyl. Families are still living in areas with above normal radiation. A group called Salvation has developed radiation testing centers operated by children in the most heavily contaminated areas. I have funded the publication of one pamphlet, perhaps more based on the first production, about living with radiation. They will research foods which help to clean out body toxins, how to grow clean food and how to deal with the psychological effects of living with radiation and will publish and distribute their findings.
Council for Safe Energy Booklet (343)
United States - California / $2,000
A gift was shared with a group of Berkeley women who call themselves the Council for Safe Energy to support their creation of a 14-page, illustrated booklet geared towards the health and safety of children. The published booklet was shared at the Beijing Women's Forum in August 1995, and at the Alternative Energy Workshop in Moscow, Russia in November 1995.
Mattole Salmon Group (MSG) (342)
United States - California / $100
A gift was shared with this community-based, salmon enhancement program.
Development of water filter to protect against infection (341)
Russian Federation / $500
Development of water filter to protect against infection Potable water is well known to be a problem in St. Petersburg. One promising solution is home water filters. I funded the testing and certification of a filter to protect people against microbe infection, bacteria viruses including Hepatitis A. Yuri, a thirty five year old scientist is diligently trying to perfect the filter seal. As you know scientists are having an extremely difficult time due to the economic situation. I may also have found a contact for his filter production.
Krasnoyarsk Ecological Movement (340)
Russian Federation / $2,000
Krasnoyarsk Ecological Movement Conference in the spring 1996 on threats posed by RT-2, a nuclear fuel reprocessing site under construction. If completed it would be the largest in the world. The operation would pose an enormous threat to the city of Krasnoyarsk(population one million) and to the environment. Start-up funds to enable Victor Mikheev, a hard hitting journalist who devotes time and energy to public dangers posed by RT-2, to organize this conference for next Spring.
Advocacy, Ecology/Sustainability, Health, Media, Nuclear, Water
Krasnoyarsk Radio-nucleides Conference publication-English translation. (339)
Russian Federation / $350
Krasnoyarsk Radio-nucleides Conference publication-English translation. Many independent scientists presented unique data at the conference in Sept.1994. It is important to copyright and sell this data in English as well as Russian as a way to help the organization be self funding. A previous publication, although copywritten but not translated, was duplicated and labeled confidential by the US government, available to US citizens without any compensation to the authors.
Grassroots Clean Water Action (338)
Russian Federation, United States - California / $2,150
Porosino Ecological School in Tomsk, Russia, is unique in their focus on environmental issues. A gift was shared to help write a grant to link this school with Le-Conte, a farm school in Berkeley, California USA, where children do water testing, educate the community about the causes of water pollution, and learn to collect data.
Translation of Anti-Nuclear Videos (337)
Russian Federation, Japan / $60
Flow Funder: Enid Schreibman
A Flow Fund Gift was shared to translate two Japanese nuclear activist videos into Russian. The Russians who were shown the videos were thrilled to have something to watch and share that was produced from a citizen's perspective, rather than a government perspective.
Ecological Initiative Tomsk, Russia (336)
Russian Federation / $150
Ecological Initiative Tomsk, Russia Tomsk in Siberia is the area of the former gulags. It is also the area of a secret nuclear weapons manufacturing city. Independent scientists have found radioactive pollution in the river, Chernoble syndrome in the children who live across the river from the nuclear plant, and discovered lies on the part of the government concerning dangers of explosions from the plant and leakage from the storage of plutonium. (last May there was an explosion releasing radioactive material into the atmosphere) I have funded a professional dictaphone for a Tomsk journalist who has a weekly radio show on the environment. I got a matching grant from Sacred Earth Network. Tomsk Ecological Initiative wanted informational materials produced from the point of view of activists concerning nuclear waste, versus the government viewpoint.
Advocacy, Ecology/Sustainability, Health, Media, Nuclear, Water
Beijing Conference fees (335)
Russian Federation, Uzbekistan / $600
Beijing Conference fees I am trying to raise the money for both of the women heading two projects, to represent areas of extreme ecological devastation at the Beijing Women's Conference in September. One participant has already raised her own airfare.
Perzent Karalkalpakistan, Uzbekistan (334)
Uzbekistan / $2,500
Many large international agencies have done research in the Aral Sea area, but few actually have operational programs. Mothers' breast milk is toxic, the drinking water is polluted, and there is the highest rate of infant mortality in the FSU. I first funded a pamphlet written in the Karalkalpak language for teenagers who marry and have children at 16-19 years of age, concerning sanitation, drinking water, and health. After consulting with Oral Atanyazova in Nukus, I've decided to additionally fund a monthly women's bulletin based loosely on the book "Our Bodies, Ourselves" Oral is an independent woman Gynecologist and now Ph.d, of Karalkalpak origin, who is deeply committed to the health of her people and is bursting with good ideas. She is a real hope for change and I am working to get UNICEF involved with her visionary future for the women of her region.
Advocacy, Ecology/Sustainability, Health, Nuclear, Water, Women
Movement for Nuclear Safety-Chelyabinsk (Urals) (333)
Russian Federation / $2,000
A grass roots environmental organization attempting to address the ecological disaster of government dumping radioactive waste into their river in the 50's One river town is so dangerous that standing on the banks produces lethal doses of radiation in just one hour. Further down river, cows graze and children play. MNS is concerned about ecological problems resulting from the nuclear weapons industry. They are afraid that polluted waters from lakes outside of town will eventually contaminate the city's drinking water and do not trust the government studies. I gave them money to use the already collected data to find out which direction the contamination was moving and whether it was moving toward the city's drinking water The second phase of the project is to produce maps and a publication to publicize the potential disaster. Only by providing written scientific data will the government and policy making community believe their findings. Note of explanation! The Soviets are a very literate population and rely heavily on written data. As a general rule their educated population is willing to absorb dense scientific treatises, which Americans would shun as too detailed. This is an example of funding a project through the eyes of a Russian. The MNS staff has completed the research and are in the process of compiling the maps. These will be used as proof of the seriousness of the potential pollution of the drinking water of Chelyabinsk, a city of 300,000 population, and the opportunity for the government to prevent this disaster. My contact, Natalia, is a dynamic outspoken former city councilwoman who started the nuclear watchdog operation and has a million ideas for important projects. Her organization is respected both by government and by the local populace.
The Gathering Place (332)
United States - New Mexico / $1,000
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
Diane Osburnsen has tirelessly and graciously opened her home to provide a place where native people from all backgrounds can gather, feel comfortable and find support with intertribal exchange among native peoples, supporting their personal goals and dreams.
Edie Harshome's Work with Bosnian Women (331)
Bosnia and Herzegovina / $1,000
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
Year Funded: 1996
A gift was shared with Edie Harshome for travel expenses to meet with grassroots women's groups at Desa, a women's center in Dubrovnik, Sarajevo Bosnia. Her work with refugee women helps them reorganize their lives and regain a means of livelihood after the Bosnian War.
Rosebud Sioux Reservation Gardens for Health Project (330)
United States - South Dakota / $2,000
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
A gift was shared to purchase much needed equipment and plants for a spring garden program.
Cottage Industry for Village Women (329)
India / $2,000
Training women to weave, make cotton cloth etc. and to start small businesses.
Ballet of the Banshees: Resurrection (328)
United States / $1,000
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
A gift was shared to take this performance and healing circle on the road, to share with cancer and AIDS patients.
Seneca Wisdom Book Project (327)
United States - New York / $1,000
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
A gift was shared with Twylah Nitsch, an elder of the Seneca nation, to create a book project recording Seneca lore and tradition.
Peace Dream Animated Film (326)
http://www.marthagorzycki.com/
United States / $1,000
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
This animated film for peace was created by Martha Gorzycki. The images shown in the film convey the interconnectedness, cycles, and movements of life forms in nature. The film is a dream-like journey which completes a cycle of its own with all images hand-drawn and painted. The film is inspired by creation stories from native cultures and the artist's own dreams.
The Buffalo Monument (325)
United States - Utah / $1,000
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
The Buffalo Monument is a large scale, multimedia installation, which is a temple of healing. It is located close to a live buffalo herd. The project includes creative dialogue, architectural design, sculpture, sacred/ritual art, beadwork, sound/music, and holographic technology. Founder Laura May: "The Buffalo Monument was inspired by a vision and has grown out of a desire to speak to the sense of despair I have felt personally and in the collective, over the loss of deep connection with the earth as home. It is designed to inspire and challenge those who visit the site to renew hope, responsibility, and creatively generate actions which can bring healing to our earth/home/environment. The buffalo became a powerful symbol for me, and in continuing to choose the extinction of other species, we ultimately choose our own extinction."
Sri Sarada Society (324)
United States - New York / $1,000
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
A gift was shared with the Sri Sarada Society in Albany, New York, where women are given a platform to teach and express their spiritual insights.
Center For Handicapped Children The Institute of Child Health Trust (323)
India / $2,000
This will be the first center of its kind in India that is within the precinct of a fully-fledged children's hospital thereby having advantage of treatment facility in all branches of pediatric medicine
Art, Survival & Village Heritage Center (322)
Israel / $2,000
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
This "living village" teaches both the ancient and present heritage of the village and the diversified indigenous arts of the Bedouin, Druze, Muslim, Israeli and Christian cultures.
The House of Hope (321)
Israel / $2,000
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
The House of Hope, in Shefar'Am, Northern Israel, was founded in 1978 by Elias Jabbour, a Palestinian Israeli with a vision for peacemaking. For 30 years Jabbour and the House of Hope have used traditional Arab methods of conflict resolution to promote peace between Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jews. I asked its young students: "What is the solution that can bring us to harmony?" and they answered: "If we can see through the eyes of people from a different background and love them, we can find peace."
Siberian Womens Circle (320)
Russian Federation / $2,000
Siberian Womens Circle At the time of the World Wheel in Siberia, a women's group was formed out of the inspiration of our time together. These women meet regularly and not only support each other but address the needs of their environment at this very difficult time for Russia.
Tibetan Buddhist Nuns Living in Shoto Terdrom, Tibet (319)
China / $1,000
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
I fell in love with the Tibetan Buddhist Nuns living in Shoto Terdrom, Tibet. Their cave hermitage is located at 16,000 feet in one of Tibet's most sacred sites. I carved my "Rainbow Bodhisattva" in one of their local caves. They are extremely poor but courageous and joyous women and I was greatly inspired to share this gift with them.
Peguche Earth Mandala (318)
Ecuador / $9,000
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
Year Funded: 1999
I was happy to be able to start my second Earth Mandala in the community of Peguche in the Andes of Ecuador. They wholeheartedly responded to my vision of the Earth Mandala. Each day, during the six weeks of work on this stone sculpture, members of the community worked along with me, offering their dreams as guidance. The community also enhanced the sacred site with several sparkling natural pools and an outdoor stone amphitheater. The entire environment surrounding the sculpture, Achilli Pachacamac reflects Peguche's commitment to the creation of an Indigenous Andean Cultural Center, a result of the collaborative efforts between myself and the community. The inauguration of the sculpture and park took place at the annual Festival of the Sun & Harvest celebration, Inti Raimi, on June 22, 1999. The sculpture and its natural environment, with shaded green pasture land, dramatic views of snow-dusted volcanoes, flowing streams and pools offer a unique example of the organic relationship between art and nature.
Castle Valley Collaborative (317)
United States - Utah / $1,000
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
The Castle Valley Collaborative is a Utah Residents Group that is trying to preserve the natural environment: "We are dedicated to the process of listening to the land and each other, exploring what we want our future to be, working together to minimize the pressures of growth, and ensuring the health and majesty of this pocket of peace we call home."
Mandala House for Bauls of West Bengal (316)
India / $20,000
Mandala House for Bauls of West Bengal This is the village where I built, with the help of the village, the Mandaela Hous for the eighth site of the World Wheel. The Bauls, the minstrel folk musicians, and the whole village are using it for teaching, puja's, and a place where the wandering Bauls can sleep and eat. Once a year at the birthday of the Mandala House (the completion of the house), Bauls come from all over Bengal to sing and dance in a festival where they feed as many as 1,000 people. food to feed 1,000 people at annual Festival in the Mandala House.
Blue Spruce Standing Deer (Pba-Quen-Nee-e) (315)
United States - Utah, United States - New Mexico / $450
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
Blue Spruce Standing Deer (Pba-Quen-Nee-e) is a Tiwa Indian artist and musician born and raised at the Taos Pueblo in Northern New Mexico. A gift was shared so he could share two workshops at the Earth Mandala Center in Castle Valley, Utah.
The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (314)
United States - New York / $100
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors series is a unique work of contemporary sacred art created by artist Alex Grey. This installation of 21 framed images, consisting of 19 paintings and two etched mirrors, examines the anatomy of body, mind and spirit in rich detail. Each painting presents a life-sized figure facing viewers and inviting them to mirror the images, creating a sense of seeing into oneself.
White Eagle (313)
United States - California / $100
A gift was shared to support this African American spiritual leader in West Los Angeles, California USA.
Andean Music Group (312)
Ecuador, Peru, Colombia / $1,370
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
A gift was shared to bring more Andean music to the world.
Andean Healing Ceremony: Taki Samy (311)
United States - Utah, Ecuador / $1,000
Flow Funder: Vijali Hamilton
A gift was shared with Shairy Quimbo, an indigenous healer and philosopher from the Andes Mountains of Ecuador, to hold a Taki Samy, which is a ceremony that invokes cosmic power for healing, harmonizing energetic music with dance movements and indigenous exercises. In his healing ceremonies, Shairy Quimbo uses the four sacred elements (air, fire, water and earth), combined with instruments, sounds, shamanic breath and crystals. He uses instruments made of condor bones/feathers, ocarinas (pre-Columbian ceramic instruments), and the conk shell, which brings forth the Divine Voice of God, putting order into our lives.
"Silent Reflection" Retreat with Illinois Zen Community (310)
United States - Illinois, China / $1,000
A gift was shared with the Zen Teacher Robert Althouse of the Zen Community of Oak Park, Illinois USA for preparing the "Silent Reflection" retreat, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Nanjing massacre. The massacre was caused by invading Japanese troops in Nanjing (Nanking), the then capital of China, in 1937.
Juan Jose Granadus Mora's Un Mundo de Paz (309)
Costa Rica / $1,000
Flow Funder: Kazuaki Tanahashi
A gift was shared with Juan Jose Granadus Mora to supplement his continuous unpaid work of broadcasting "Un Mundo de Paz" which started broadcasting from his family-run TV station Telepaz and now is transmitted on a larger-scale through Channel 17 in Costa Rica.
Feminist International Radio Endeavour (FIRE) (308)
http://www.fire.or.cr/indexeng.htm
Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras / $1,000
Flow Funder: Kazuaki Tanahashi
Please click the image to view the video.
Based in Colon, Costa Rica, Feminist International Radio Endeavour (FIRE) has done path-breaking work on organizing women for peace and environmental work. This gift helped them with their work with women in Central American countries, focusing on dialogue and action for disarmament and demilitarization.
Peace Film Projects in Costa Rica (307)
United States - California, Costa Rica / $2,000
Please click the image to view the video.
Catherine Margerin, a French filmmaker living in California, received the Best Short Animation Film Award at the San Francisco Film Festival in 2005 for her film "Hope." This gift was shared to help her bring her film to to various locations in Costa Rica.
Doreen Rao & The World Peace Choir (306)
United States, Costa Rica, Canada / $1,000
Doreen Rao, Faculty Professor of Music at the University of Toronto, is a world-class music conductor. She is bringing a number of youth choirs from different parts of the world to initiate the first World Peace Choir performance in 2008 at the National Theater, in San Jose, Costa Rica. A gift was shared to assist her travel to Costa Rica and contact musicians and organizers.
Jizo for Peace Project (305)
United States - Oregon, Japan / $4,000
Chozen Bays Roshi, a co-abbess of the Great Vow Zen Monastery in Oregon, was born on the day of the atomic bombing in Nagasaki. She decided to bring images of Jizo Bodhisattva, guardian of the dead and unprotected, to Hiroshima and Nagasaki for the 60th anniversary of the bombings in 2005. A gift was shared to support her Jizo for Peace Project, which creates 270,000 painted and sculpted images of the Jizo Bodhisattva to be exhibited and offered in both cities.
Waging Peace Through Singing (304)
Japan, Costa Rica / $5,000
As professor of, University of the Oregon, Eugene, School of Music, the composer Robert Kyr founded the Waging Peace Through Singing Project, in which over four hundred composers have participated. This grant is for his research in expanding the project in Japan and Costa Rica. Future funding will enable Robert Kyr to continue his research and composition work in Japan and Costa Rica.
Center for East-West Dialogue (303)
Japan / $2,000
The Center for East-West Dialogue was founded by Haru Murakawa, a Japanese psychologist and peace worker residing in California. It is an organization, with American and Japanese scholars and activists, to facilitate dialogue between Japan and U.S.A in the fields of education, psychology, ecology, and spirituality. This grant became a crucial element in supporting Haru Murakawa for the renewal of his U.S. work visa in 2004.
Research Center of Nanjing Massacre (302)
China / $1,000
The Research Center of Nanjing Massacre consists of prominent Chinese historians specializing in the studies of the massacre which took place in 1937 in Nanjing (Nan-king), the then capital of China, by the invading Japanese troops. This grant is for their ongoing research project, including ways to help survivors and their families and collaborations with Japanese researchers. Future funding will enable the center to expand its research and collaborative work.
Costa Rica Peace Film Research Project (301)
Costa Rica / $1,000
Awarded to Vania Alvarado Rivero and Gabriela Hernandez This grant to the Costa Rican producer and director of the award-winning film "Swin" is for completing their work to list existing Costa Rican peace films and videos and evaluate them, for those who intend to study demilitarization.
Edie Hartshorne's Consultion of Peace Organizations (300)
Costa Rica, United States - California / $3,000
Flow Funder: Kazuaki Tanahashi
Musician & Art Therapist, Edie Hartshorne is a fluent speaker of Spanish and widely-experienced peace worker in Central America. She has helped peace organizations and workers in Costa Rica to clarify their visions and establish effective programs for peace and education.
Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress (299)
Costa Rica / $1,000
After receiving a Nobel Peace Award in 1986 as president of Costa Rica, Oskar Arias established the foundation in Costa Rica. This grant is for furthering their peace education program.
Verona Fonte of the Iris Arts & Education Group (298)
http://www.irisarts.org/index.html
Costa Rica, United States - California, Guatemala / $2,000
Flow Funder: Kazuaki Tanahashi
A gift was shared with the filmmaker Verona Fonte of the Iris Arts & Education Group, in California for preparatory work, including grant applications to create a training program for students and teachers in Central America the learn the skills to create films for peace and environmental work.
International School for Peace Without Walls (297)
Costa Rica / $6,000
Flow Funder: Kazuaki Tanahashi
Based in San Ramon, Costa Rica and conceived by Carmen Alvarado, a Costa Rican artist, art teacher, and peace activist, this school was conceived to provide students and teachers a chance to obtain skills and knowledge for peace work through workshops with teachers brought from abroad, as well as those in Costa Rica. A gift was shared to establish this new school with some initiatory workshops.
Rodrigo Carazo Odio Book Project (296)
United States, Costa Rica / $9,000
Rodrigo Carazo Odio was President of Costa Rica from 1978 to 1982. He is founder of the United Nations University for Peace in Costa Rica and is one of the most prominent speakers on the vision and practice of peace in Costa Rica, a nation that has not had an army for over 60 years. A gift was shared to support the writing of Rodrigo Carazo's first full-book publication written in English.
Sangha Savika (295)
Thailand / $2,500
Buddhism came to Thailand over 2,000 years ago and it is its major religion, however, women are considered inferior and women's ordination is even illegal. Women who seek ordination have to go to Sri Lanka to be ordained, but they are not accepted by the Buddhist institution. Sangha Savika is a group of lay women who support the spiritual practice of Buddhist women. Sangha Savika used our Flow Fund Gift to help build a place for Buddhist spiritual practice for women and female monks. Female monks who have no place to stay can also live here. Funds were also used to run four seminars and retreats which aim to support women's ordination, as well as travel to visit with other female monks around the country, and help individual female monks, who still have no place to stay, find a community to live and practice with.
Whistle Home & Oasis Project (294)
Thailand / $2,500
Chansuda Suwanchandee was a single mother of three young children and she had HIV. She founded and ran the Oasis Project. It was her dream to provide shelter, food, and health care for homeless people with HIV in Bangkok, Thailand. The Whistle Hom provides child care for mothers with HIV. Children receive food, diapers, and nourishment. Since mothers with HIV cannot breast feed their children, the home also provides instant milk powder for free. Some children live permanently at Whistle Home because their mothers have passed away.
Karen Refugee Center (293)
Thailand / $2,500
Sister Mary Robert Perillat runs a refugee center in Chom Bung, Thailand, close to the Burmese border. There are many Karen people without any legal documents in this area. Subject to ill-treatment and threats, the Karen people cannot travel because they might get caught by the police and sent back to Burma, so their children cannot go to school and their sick and dying cannot go to hospitals. A Flow Fund Gift was shared with the Sister's center, to provide education for children, shelters for families, food and transportation for the sick, and supplementary nourishment for children who are under-nourished. Every month a volunteer doctor visits the local villagers, and sees over 80 people. Part of this Gift is being used to pay for gas and a driver for the doctor.
Dhamma Sati Law Office (292)
Thailand / $2,500
The Dhamma Sati Law Office mediates between the hill tribe people, and governmental agencies. Without any legal documents, the hill tribe people are often ill-treated and threatened. A Flow Fund Gift was shared with the Dhamma Sati Law Office to support general legal aid and training for its volunteers.
International Conference on Traditional Technologies (291)
India / $750
Gift to facilitate conference
Water Supply- Sanitation (290)
India / $500
Restoration of traditional water tanks.
Cultural Preservation, Ecology/Sustainability, Health, Water
Folklife Library (289)
India / $750
Gift to Folklife Library to begin collection
International Conference on Sustainable Economy, Wardha (288)
India / $750
Grant for conference at the place where Gandhi rooted himself in activities for Indian independence.
Choreography, women and ecology - Cultural Center Chandralekha (287)
India / $2,500
Chandralekha, India's most controversial choreographer broke new ground in the 1980s when she merged traditional Easter and modern Western forms.
Center for Medical Healing with traditional Plants and Herbals (286)
India / $750
A start-up grant
Shri AMM Murugappa Chettiar Research Centre (MCRC) (285)
India / $2,500
Flow Funder: Lee Swenson & Vijaya Nagarajan
This organization specializes in the application of science and technology to rural development, working on eco-friendly devices and technologies for rural application to combat pollution. The three major areas concentrated on by resident scientists are resource utilization, recovery and management. Many of the devices and technology packages created by MCRC are eco-friendly and dovetail with local needs.
Children's nutrition project (284)
India / $750
Children's nutrition project Algae Protein Supplement - C.V.Seshadiri Feeding schoolchildren
Village tree planting (283)
India / $750
Thanjavur village tree planting.
Refugee in Holland (282)
Netherlands / $3,750
Gift/loan for impoverished African refugee in Holland
Travel costs for Musicians without Borders for Bethlehem Conference (281)
http://www.musicianswithoutborders.nl
Palestinian, Territory Occupied / $1,300
Travel costs for 7 women singers from the vocal ensemble LeLe Mam to attend the Bethlehem Conference on Nonviolence. Musicians without Borders is an international network of musicians who use music to create the conditions for peaceful multi-ethic communities. There were more than 400 participants (200 Palestinians, 200 Internationals and 25 Israelis) Israeli civilians are forbidden to enter the Palestinian territories and risk a prison sentence for doing so.
NEAG for Non-Violence Conference in Bethlehem (280)
Palestinian, Territory Occupied / $5,040
Travel costs for 3 people from NEAG (Netherlands Expertise Center for Alternatives to Violence) to attend Nonviolence Conference in Bethlehem,
Support for a Palestinian family whose son is studying in Egypt (279)
Palestinian, Territory Occupied / $126
Help for the education of impoverished Palestinian student of dentistry in Egypt.
Netherlands Expertise Center - Alternatives to Violence Conference (278)
Palestinian, Territory Occupied, Netherlands / $5,670
NEAG (Netherlands Expertise Center for Alternatives to Violence) organized a conference in Bethlehem to strengthen the Palestinian Nonviolent Movement and to send a message to the Palestinian leadership and political factions that it is the only way to achieve a solution to the conflict in the interest of all the parties involved.
Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) (277)
Israel / $5,500
Flow Funder: Lilian Peters
Year Funded: 2003
Please click the image to view the video.
This committee is a non-violent, direct-action organization established in 1997 to resist Israeli demolition of Palestinian houses in the Occupied Territories "on the ground." They rebuild Palestinian homes, provide legal assistance and produce information about the effects of the occupation. On July 9, 1998, The Israeli military government in the Occupied Territories demolished the home of Salim and Arabia Shawamreh and their seven children. The reason given, as it is for thousands of other Palestinian families, is that the West bank is zoned as agricultural land and therefore Palestinians who own land there cannot receive building permits. Salim had purchased the land in the early 1990s and had duly registered it with the Civil Administration. He applied four times for a building permit, paying each time a fee of $5000, and was each time rejected. Finally he built his house without a permit. After four years, his house was demolished with hundreds of military overseeing the operation. Since then Salim, ICAHD and dozens of volunteers have rebuilt the home, till it was demolished again. After it was demolished for the fourth time in March 2003, the family decided to find an other place to live, rebuilding the demolished house as a Palestinian-Israeli Peace Center. A gift was shared to help Salim and Arabia Shawamreh buy the apartment where they live.
Stichting TALLIQ: Justice for Palestinian Children (276)
http://www.talliq.nl/E_Index_Contact2.htm
Netherlands, Palestinian, Territory Occupied, Israel / $630
Flow Funder: Lilian Peters
Year Funded: 2004
A gift was shared with Marijke Kruyt to create this non-profit foundation in the Netherlands, dedicated to the rights of Palestinian children in detention in Israel.
Domari Society of Gypsies in Jerusalem (275)
Israel, Palestinian, Territory Occupied / $4,500
Flow Funder: Lilian Peters
Founded in 2002 by Ms. Amoun Sleemhe, the Domari Society of Gypsies in Jerusalem is the only organization in Palestine dedicated to the empowerment of the Domari (Gypsy) people. By providing literacy classes and after-school educational programs, the Domari Society aims to keep children in school as long as possible and improve their chances for the future. Ms. Sleemhe is running the center from her home, assisted by visiting volunteers. A gift was shared with the Domari Society for literacy classes and educational programs.
Noriko Takahashi (274)
Japan / $1,000
To support her work in community efforts to improve US-Japanese relations
Scholarship for Jenish Kadrakounou (273)
Kyrgyzstan / $2,000
Flow Funder: David Hoffman
Jenish Kadrakounou works in international peacekeeping, and a Flow Fund Gift was shared to help provide him a scholarship to study English and further his work.
Independent Newspaper in Tajikistan (272)
Tajikistan / $1,000
A gift was shared with Karen Stepanyan to support the formation of an independent newspaper in Tajikistan.
Nikolai Kulrbiakin (271)
Russian Federation / $1,000
Given to a famous photographer who could not support himself through his art.
Tilos Radio (270)
Hungary / $2,000
Flow Funder: David Hoffman
Year Funded: 1993
Tilos (which means "forbidden" in Hungarian) Radio was the first community radio station in Hungary, first broadcasting as a "pirate" station in 1991. Founder Laszlo Nerosi and the other programmers are all volunteers and there is no commercial support. It has a strong social and freedom-of-expression commitment, and plays a key role in the cultural and lifestyle scene of Budapest Hungary. A gift was shared with this station to help keep in on the air and broadcasting.
"Space Bridges" for Peace (269)
United States - District of Columbia, Israel, Palestinian, Territory Occupied / $13,000
This gift helped support a series of international video conferences focused on peace building initiatives, or "Space Bridges" between Washington D.C., Tunis, Tunisia and Israel for a peace ceremony held in 1994. For decades the members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) had been barred from appearing on Israeli TV. For the first time, the Israeli people were able see what actual PLO members looked like. One PLO member made a connection via satellite TV with his mother, whom he had been prevented from seeing for over 25 years. Millions of Palestinians and Israelis got to share such moments.
Al-Amal Hope Flowers School (268)
http://www.hopeflowersschool.org/
Palestinian, Territory Occupied / $10,000
This school offers a special education to over 250 children, aged 4 to 13 years old. It is located in Al Khader, a western suburb of the historic city of Bethlehem in the West Bank of Palestine. It was founded in 1984 by Hussein Issa, who had grown up in a refugee camp in Bethlehem after his family had lost everything in the 1948 war and the creation of the state of Israel. Hussein's dream was to give children what he himself had lacked and needed as he grew up. With his social work and education background, he understood the benefits that pre-school education could provide to young children. With no money whatsoever, he opened a kindergarten in 1984, which he called the Al-Amal Child Care Centre, teaching children how to contribute to creating a peaceful and democratic future. This new school teaches peace and democracy education, showing children how to handle confronting and difficult situations, how to stand up and make their contribution in public, how to find and develop creative solutions, how to work with others to resolve inter-personal and social issues and the communication skills necessary for build bridges between opposing points of view. Psychological counseling is also offered for the children and their families. Graduates emerge into adulthood with tools to make the best out of life and to do the best for all people.
Trees for Food & Future (267)
Burkina Faso / $2,000
Flow Funder: Sobonfu Some
This project was born to better preserve the water in the villages of Indini and Zinkone, Burkina Faso by digging wells. As well as the creation of these wells, a total of 1,600 native trees were planted and the villagers and school children are required to water and care for the trees. We hope this project will grow each year.
Susan Hough & The Mid-Atlantic Center for Healing (266)
http://www.healingintuition.com/
United States - Virginia / $1,500
Flow Funder: Sobonfu Some
Susan Hough is a mentor/counselor for young people in her city of Leesburg, Virgina USA. She holds meetings and guides young people toward their higher purpose. Through the Mid-Atlantic Center for Healing, she holds meetings for young people to discuss racial and other issues in their life. Susan not only gives the young people a place to go to, she also helps transform their lives.
Project Help Them Help Themselves (265)
United States / $2,000
Flow Funder: Sobonfu Some
A gift was shared with this AIDS/HIV Project.
Repair of School Benches (264)
Burkina Faso / $200
Flow Funder: Sobonfu Some
A gift was shared for the repair of benches in the village classrooms of Zinkone and Gnikpiere, Burkina Faso.
Association of University Students' Theater Education (263)
Burkina Faso / $200
Flow Funder: Sobonfu Some
A gift was shared with this drama project for students at the university, whose purpose is to take different social issues and illustrate them in a play to educate the public.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center (262)
United States - California / $500
Flow Funder: Sobonfu Some
A gift was shared with this Buddhist teaching center in California USA
Vivian Ky (261)
United States / $1,000
Flow Funder: Sobonfu Some
A gift was shared with Vivian Ky, who is doing peace work and healing work with victims of the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. She also works with people with AIDS and finding doctors for under privileged people.
Kenya Jordana James (260)
United States - New York / $500
Flow Funder: Sobonfu Some
A gift was shared with Kenya Jordana James, who has been an innovator almost from the time of her birth in 1989. Growing up in New York City with her community-building mother and great grandfather, Kenya's entire life has been defined and enhanced by the village that has raised her. Tired of reading magazines that didn't speak directly to her peers, Kenya decided to create her own. Using the savings from both her jewelry business and her baking business, KenyaJordana Cakes, Kenya launched Blackgirl Magazine. She also hosts Sessions, a lively discussion between artists and the teen community, providing the opportunity for artists and community to come together to exchange ideas and information.
Keeping Cultural Tradition Alive (259)
Burkina Faso, Mali / $500
Flow Funder: Sobonfu Some
The Senufo tribe in the village of Toussiana (crossing the borders of both Burkina Faso & Mali in West Africa) have a particular gift with weaving and a Flow Fund Gift was shared to help them revive their ancient weaving techniques and share it with new generations.
Consortium for Young Women (258)
United States - California / $4,000
Flow Funder: Sobonfu Some
A gift was shared with this organization that works with young girls to provide them with different ways of relating to the world and different way of better taking care of themselves.
Youth Camp for Democracy & Deep Ecology (257)
Nepal / $4,500
Flow Funder: Yoji Kamata
The purpose of this project is to foster the leaders of the future generations, believing that everybody has infinite possibilities and potentials. It is based in Pokhara, Nepal and involves youth aged 15 to 20 years old from various ethnic and economical backgrounds. Children-Nepal, a Nepalese non-governmental organization, will manage the project.
Education for All: Indigenous People's Education (256)
Philippines / $4,000
Flow Funder: Yoji Kamata
Education for All: Indigenous People's Education is a six-month, research/advocacy project geared towards strengthening current indigenous knowledge in the formal education system. It's work includes leading education reforms that recognize indigenous people's education, through coordinating efforts among advocates.
Revitalization of Traditional Tibetan Medicine (255)
Nepal / $3,000
Traditional medicine is very important to the people of the remotest Himalayan areas, not only for the health of the people but also for the vitality of the community. It is necessary to revitalize the traditional medical system as a whole, and this project aims to do this through the institutionalization of the traditional medicine educational system.
Anti-Parasite Treatments for Livestock (254)
Mongolia / $4,000
Flow Funder: Yoji Kamata
When no anti-parasite treatment is applied to livestock, parasites severely damage animal hides and skins. Since leather-processing companies cannot procure good quality leather, they are currently obliged to import materials from abroad. If anti-parasite treatment is conducted effectively by herders' organizations while linking it to purchase agreements with hide/skin processing companies, herders' hides and skins can fetch higher prices, which will contribute to diversification of herders' income sources. Production of high quality hides and skins contributes to a growth of domestic leather industry in Mongolia. By re-establishing veterinary services in affected areas, the quality of hides and skins of herders' livestock increases, leading to diversification of income sources. The target group for this project is the Ireedui Herders' Group (which includes 33 households) in Bayandalai Soum, in the Umnugovi Province. The implementation will be carried out by the Center for Future Nomadic Society (CFNS) in cooperation with the Veterinary Research Institute of the Mongolian Agricultural University, as well as the local government of Bayandalai Soum and the local veterinary organization. CFNS is a Mongolian non-governmental organization that has experience in various projects to support herders, such as organizing herders, meat marketing, traditional well construction, and more.
Mangyan Indigenous Education Program (253)
Philippines / $4,500
Flow Funder: Yoji Kamata
"Mangyan" is the generic name for the eight indigenous groups found in Mindoro island, in the Philippines - each with its own tribal name, language, and customs. The total population may be around 100,000, but no official statistics are available because of the difficulties of counting remote and reclusive tribal groups, many of which have no contact with the outside world. The Mangyan Indigenous Education Program is divided into three main components: Development of Indigenous Curriculum; Development/Production of Instructional Materials; and Actual Implementation of Learning Process. This project is a collaboration between The Mangyan Mission and the Mangyan Heritage Center. The Mangyan Mission, a non-government organization, has been assisting the Mangyans for over 50 years through its integrated programs, and they have started the implementation of a learning process in two pilot schools. The Mangyan Heritage Center is a library, research and education center, which has been gathering and compiling Mangyan stories and poems. It has also documented Mangyan rituals, beliefs and traditions. These materials are being developed to be part of the instructional materials. The educational system that will be developed will be advocated to the Department of Education for recognition and implementation in all Mangyan schools in the province. This project is also working on developing and publishing books and other forms of instructional materials containing Mangyan stories, poems, rituals, beliefs and traditions. All the materials documented will be validated in Mangyan communities to ensure accurateness. Mangyans from each tribe are collaborating on the project, so that they themselves will be involved in the production of instructional materials. Five selected Mangyans with artistic abilities in drawing will undergo a training to harness their skills.
Children/Teens, Cultural Preservation, Education, Spirituality
Noppanun Anuratana's Green Politics Studies (252)
Thailand / $1,000
Noppanun Anuratana has been working with alternative media for many years, producing programs that raise public awareness about the environment. A Flow Fund Gift was shared with Noppanun, for his continuing Green Politics studies. With this gift, he is doing research, and compiling and translating what he finds into Thai. He also attempting to synthesize postmodern green ideas with Buddhism.
The Whispering Seed (251)
http://www.whisperingseed.org/
Thailand / $800
The Whispering Seed is a village-based community living & learning center and home for orphaned and abused children focusing on cross-cultural exchanges and sustainable living practices. They provide support, care and learning opportunities for refugee children, displaced people and other ethnic minorities groups living in the Thai/Burmese border region, including those who have been affected by HIV/AIDS. Through their work, they share new models for sustainable living and learning while also supporting traditional wisdom and local knowledge systems. Children's voices are honored and respected and diversity is celebrated. They respect, value and honor the inherent natural learning processes within every human being and strive to create a healthy, supportive, natural environment where that uniqueness can unfold in its own natural rhythm. The Community Living & Learning Center provides trainings, workshops, seminars and resources for villagers in the local area and to the larger international community in: holistic child-rearing, democratic models of learning, cross-cultural youth empowerment trainings, natural healing techniques, preserving traditional crafts (dance, music, spinning and weaving), documentary film making and sustainable models of living, including Permaculture, natural house building and organic farming.
Alternative Politics for Asia Translation (250)
Myanmar / $1,700
Flow Funder: Anonymous
Our Flow Fund Gift helped translate the Alternative Politics for Asia (APA) books into Burmese. The APA books contain interviews about Asian political/spiritual ideas of important and outstanding Asian leaders. Edited by Pracha Hutanuwatr and Ramu Manivann, the book highlights indigenous spiritual and cultural identity of Burma. The interviews dig deeply into the wisdom of various spiritual traditions including Islam, Buddhism, Hindu, Jainism, Ghandism, Christianity and indigenous wisdom, applying this knowledge to contemporary issues facing Asian society. The aim of the book is to find alternative, culturally and spiritually appropriate bases upon which to build a sustainable Asia. Burma has been largely closed to outside influence for more than 40 years. The positive side of this is that much of the spiritual and cultural richness is intact. The numerous ecological and economic crises that have occurred in nearby Asian countries are a warning to look back on their own wisdom and Asian ways.
Strategic Planning for Nothern Ethinic Leaders (249)
Thailand / $3,700
Most northern ethnic leaders are from forest-dwelling communities whose lifestyle has been ecological and very close to nature. For two decades these communities have been threatened by relocation by the local government. The leaders have been working hard to negotiate with the authorities as well as raise awareness among their people and solicit support from the Thai public. The leaders need more skills in social analysis and strategic planning. An intensive training has been organized for 30 participants selected from the activists and leaders in North Peasant Ethnic Groups. The proposed training includes environmental conservation, democracy, the role of civil society and strategy in social movement and leadership skills. A Gift was shared to set up an Information Center in order to improve contact with professional academics and produce some development media.
Self-Development Program for Activist Leader (248)
Myanmar / $1,000
Flow Funder: Anonymous
A Flow Fund Gift was shared to provide a scholarship for an outstanding activist in Burma who has been working as Program Director of the Metta Development Foundation, since its conception. The Metta Development Foundation is the first local non-governmental organization (NGO) in Burma, and it concentrates on empowering grassroots community development work for self-reliance. This organization provides people at the grassroots level throughout Burma with valuable and effective programs to empower communities and individuals and improve the capacity for community development. Programs include: Women's Development; Early Childhood Care & Development; Community-Managed Healthcare; Rural Reconstruction; Farmer Field School for Sustainable Agriculture, and more. With this gift, this activist leader plans to visit an alternative community in the United Kingdom in order to enhance her knowledge about alternative development. She will explore the ideas of alternative community management and other issues so that she can apply this appropriately to her work in Burma. She will also have the opportunity to visit some international NGOs.
Youth Network for a Sustainable Watershed (247)
Thailand / $2,400
Huai Kha Kang National Park is full of biological diversity with thousands of species of flora and fauna. The people who have settled around the forest and depend on forest products (the Sagagrang Watershed) are concerned about the danger of depletion of forest and are respectful of forest values. They have decided to organize a conservation project entitled "Youth Network for Sustainable Management of the Watershed." The main objectives of this project are to support and develop the youth network, community organizations, and other watershed networks by setting up a learning process that is open for every sector in the community. They will participate in analyzing and planning the process of resource conservation. They also wish to enhance community organization through a "Learning by Doing Strategy." Villagers will also be educated regarding sustainability and traditional methods to conserve their natural resources. The youth have been encouraged to participate in the entire conservation process as they are the new generation who are going to be affected by the natural condition later on.
The Phakchmar Evening School for Poor Villagers (246)
Cambodia / $2,000
Flow Funder: Pracha Hutanuwatr
This project was created to provide free education for the poor people in Phakchmar village in the Batthambong province of Cambodia. Mr. Yeam Chamnab and his volunteer teachers offer free evening school at a local primary school. The school hopes to offer vocational classes like motorbike repair, as well as extend classes to the populace of the local prison.
Community Forestry at Tab Lan National Park (245)
Thailand / $2,400
The villagers in Khonburi and Suengsang, Thailand, have decided to preserve and revive the national resources in Tab Lan National Park by applying local wisdom after the failure of the governmental conservation plan. As the government continues to mis-manage the forest resources without the villagers' participation, local people are asking to be more involved in conservation strategy. A project entitled "Community Forestry at Tab Lan National Park" is set up to increase and conserve the forests found there.
Salvadores de Semillas (244)
Argentina / $1,064
A gift was shared to expand this Argentinian network. With this funding, they were able to: buy sieves to speed up the cleaning of the seeds; buy paper bags for isolation of flowers (for pure seed production); build isolation cages to work with more species and varieties; build a small-scale seed cleaning machine; and improve storage conditions. They were also able to encourage and improve their volunteer work and make a local manual to promote their work and teach new techniques.
Red de Guardianes de Semillas (243)
Ecuador / $1,773
Flow Funder: Jude & Michel Fanton
Year Funded: 2003
A gift was shared to expand the existing Seed Savers Network in Ecuador.
Seed Banking & Training (242)
Solomon Islands / $709
Flow Funder: Jude & Michel Fanton
Year Funded: 2005
Tikopia is one of the most isolated and smallest areas on earth to live. It is 1.8 square miles with no airport, and it takes ten days to sail there from the nearest island. Only three boats visit the island in a year's time. While the island is a paradise, it is quite crowded with 1,200 Tikopians who have been growing their families for 3,000 years. We met Antony Rotu, an elder Tikopian, who had plans to reconstruct Tikopia, which included educating his fellow Tikopians on the superiority of traditional food and the dangers of the Western diet. We connected Antony with an administrating organization, The Planting Material Network, based in Honiara, which does trainings on the importance of traditional food throughout the Solomon Islands. With their broad expertise in conservation of food plants they advised the Tikopians to preserve local varieties of food crops such as bananas, taro root and other staple crops, and taught them how to inventory their food plants.
Seed Savers' Seed Care Packages (241)
Zambia, Solomon Islands, India / $1,773
Flow Funder: Jude & Michel Fanton
The Seed Savers' Network receives a steady stream of requests for advice and information from many worthwhile individuals and organizations that do not have access to literature in general and especially on seed production. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to send out 75 boxes containing the Seed Savers' Handbook, other resource books, moisture-proof seed envelopes, prompts for recording information, and posters on how to save seeds. These seed care packages find their way all over the world.
Training for the Planting Material Network (PMN) (240)
Solomon Islands, Australia / $709
Flow Funder: Jude & Michel Fanton
Year Funded: 2005
The Planting Material Network (PMN) is a project funded by the Kastom Garden Association in the Solomon Islands, which acts as a clearing house for agriculturally-useful seeds, which are sourced from local farmers and are grown and multiplied. Long-time staff member, Nancy Oelo, was chosen to attend a seed-saving training and conference in Australia in October 2005. A Flow Fund Gift helped pay for her travel expenses.
Seed-Saving Kits & Trainings (239)
http://www.seedsavers.net/our-global-reach
Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu / $1,064
Flow Funder: Jude & Michel Fanton
The Solomon Islands Planting Material Network (PMN) is an indigenous non-governmental organization (NGO) established in 1995. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to help prepare a number of Seed-Saving Kits for small, isolated, local farmer organizations. The Kit contains a teaching manual, instructive posters, seed sieves, jars, buckets to keep the seeds dry and fertile, and moisture-proof seed envelopes. The Kit and the training that PMN regularly provides, helps farmers begin to inventory and multiply their local varieties of vegetables. In places where humidity and temperature are very high, seed does not last long. If farmers are to pass on vegetable seeds to one another, they need to store them until the seeds are needed. PMN has also been advising and training the Melanesian Farmer First Network in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.
Farmers' Meeting & Spice Farm Visit (238)
Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands / $2,128
Flow Funder: Jude & Michel Fanton
The Melanesian Farmer First Network, in the words of its Network Coordinator, Tony Jansen, is: "a network of grassroot organizations focused on improving sustainable agriculture and community health for the rural people of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu." Pacific Islanders are mostly geographically-isolated, so for spice farmers to meet other spice farmers and see each farmers' growing style and utilization of their spices (like cardamon, pepper and vanilla) is extremely helpful. Spices are just becoming known in most Melanesian countries, as they have previously been imported at high prices from Asia via wholesalers in Australia. With the tour of the spice farms, we hope to encourage more production and utilization of fresh spices in Melanesian countries.
Dr. Saviana Parodi (237)
Argentina, Italy / $709
Flow Funder: Jude & Michel Fanton
Year Funded: 2005
Dr. Saviana Parodi travels with a seed-saving purpose. She was a Seed Savers Exchange intern in 2001 and is now an Orchardist in Umbria, Italy. Saviana travels each European winter when there is little work to do on her farm, to help out sustainable projects in South America, and this gift helped with her travel expenses.
Parbhani Seed Savers, (236)
India / $496
The project promotes growing of native vegetable varieties in home gardens by women in efforts to improve the nutritional security of women and children. Apart from conservation of traditional vegetable varieties, the project helps revive the tradition of backyard home gardens and also make a significant contribution to the food and nutritional security of poor families.
Training community seed bank worker, Green Foundation, India (235)
India / $709
This grant was for the training of a community seed bank worker to attend the International Seed Saving course, the Local Seed Network Coordinators' Course and the annual conference He is in charge of fourteen seed banks in the community.
Production of Seed-Saving Publication in Spanish (234)
Cuba / $2,482
Flow Funder: Jude & Michel Fanton
This book is a very important teaching tool for the how-to and why of seed conservation and translating and distributing it in Spanish will reach areas where there is little to no information available.
Julia Desbrosses & Seed Networks (233)
Brazil, India, New Zealand / $1,419
Year Funded: 2005
A gift was shared with Julia Desbrosses, a biochemistry graduate, who went on to work and volunteer as a Seed Saving Trainer in Brazil, New Zealand and India. She has returned to Brazil to run intensive Seed Saving Training and aid the establishment and expansion of a Seed Network there. Here is what she says about her work: "I established Seeds for Life in the Maquine area which is subtropical with steep mountains and both flat and narrow valleys. I have personally collected traditional seeds of food plants in the valleys both from farmers and even from plants growing wild. So fertile is the soil that maize can be found growing wild. I have grown out the seeds with community groups in our large seed garden. Seeds for Life has liaised with local peasant groups and activists against globalization and has so far involved dozens people from many walks of life. We use participatory methods when giving training. Local knowledge about food growing, and the traditional varieties that are at its core, is very rich in this area but there are temptations to forgo a garden plot in favor of working on plantations. We have provided training to several hundred farmers in why they should look after their traditional varieties, swapped techniques and enthusiasm for producing one's own food and seeds and recorded traditional ways of exchanging seeds. With our continuing promotion, meetings, discussions and practical work, we have inspired many people to recommence saving seeds of traditional varieties".
Book for Teachers on Seed-to-Seed Food Gardens (232)
Australia / $1,419
Year Funded: 2006
A gift was shared with artist, Geoff Williams to illustrate and a graphic designer, Glenn Dare to layout this book, which is aimed at teachers and school communities to teach them about seeds, and how they are central to a food garden. Rather than buying seedlings, children are encouraged to grow from seed-to-seed. Through the book, they learn the skills needed to sow and save seeds, which helps them to develop an understanding and appreciation for the entire life-cycle of the plant and the source of our food. Seed-to-seed gardening teaches self-sufficiency and reaffirms the abundance that is available from seeds. Growing from seed also gives children the opportunity to interact with the seasons and to experience the excitement of sprouting and harvesting seeds. Besides eating well from the garden, the process of planning and creating the garden provides an opportunity for the whole school community to work together to foster a sense of care and involvement with one another and the source of their food. In the seed-to-seed food garden, children are encouraged to be resourceful by using what is around them to create low-input and low-maintenance gardens. This approach provides the opportunity to think creatively and teaches the importance of treading lightly on the earth.
Seed Savers di Civilta Contadina (231)
Italy / $1,418
The purpose of this grant is to establish a historic orchard in Cesena. Alberto Olivucci describes the project: "This first historical orchard will be created near our headquarters in Cesena on just 1500 square metres. This year we are going to start by planting a few dozen fruit trees with more trees each year. After this centre we intend to continue by creating similar orchards in different sites. This one in Cesena will be the prototype. These are our several objectives: 1. Educational: to be visited by schools and have pomological exhibits. 2. Productive: produce will be sold to a buying group; it is important that the orchard is financially viable and demonstrates that old fruit varieties and biodiversity are marketable and not a question of nostalgia or archaeology but the future of small agricultural enterprises. 3.Tasting days: when the orchards are productive it will be the occasion to run tasting days for Civilta Contadina's associates. 4. Adoption: our associates will be able to adopt a tree for a price giving them the right to the fruits, to tasting them and to receiving propagating material for reproduction".
Agriculture, Cultural Preservation, Ecology/Sustainability, Education
Community Food's Food Footprint Calculator (230)
Australia / $2,128
A gift was shared with Community Foods to develop a "Food Footprint Calculator." This project is an extension of the Community Foods website, which provides access to information on local farmers, farmers' markets, community gardens, seed-saver groups, and other consumers. Community Foods developed a public user interface that allows people to measure their environmental impacts based on the input of their food-buying habits. This project brings together current research and data associated with energy costs, environmental service multipliers, and local impact models to deliver a tool of specific relevance to local food systems. The calculator is localized to two regions: Byron Bay NSW and Alice Springs, Northern Territory Australia.
Nganga and Village Health Project (229)
Zimbabwe / $2,000
The Nganga Project, a non-profit organization, recognizes that collaboration with traditional healers is essential in confronting AIDS in Africa, and so is working in alliance with the native ways of traditional African people to address AIDS, hunger and other community issues. The project seeks to establish alliances between practitioners of different healing modalities – traditional, Western, Chinese, Native American, etc. Starvation continues to be a major cause of death in Zimbabwe. In addition, Zimbabwe suffers from the highest infection rate of AIDS in the world: 25% of the population is HIV positive. Traditional rites of initiation for young men and women have been largely lost in the past two generations, which the elders see as directly connected to widespread alienation among youth and the exacerbation of the local AIDS crisis. The Nganga Project is collaborating to revive the old rites and make them relevant for those coming of age in contemporary Zimbabwe. The Village Health Project seeks to help alleviate the suffering of those with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe by starting a free Chinese Medicine clinic there.
Hate-Free Zone in Seattle, Washington USA (228)
United States - Washington, United States - New York / $2,000
This gift provides food, clothing, and shelter for immigrants and their US-born spouses and children being separated and displaced in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Maher Center (227)
India / $2,500
Flow Funder: Rachel Bagby
The Maher Center is the first refuge for battered women in the city of Pune, India. This caste-free, interfaith, ecologically-operated center has become instrumental in opening satellite centers of caste-free, transformational communities across India.
Kembatta Women's Self-Help Center (KMG) (226)
Ethiopia / $3,000
Bogaletch Gebre embodies Ghandi's call for us to be the change we want to see in the world. She was the first girl in her village/district to be educated beyond the fourth grade. After studying microbiology, physiology, epidemiology and public health in Israel and the US, she taught health sciences in Ethiopia and the US before returning home to establish KMG. While lead by women, KMG works holistically, via three interrelated programs that help women and their families to help themselves improve community: Reproductive health education, including the elimination of female genital excision (FGE); HIV/AIDS prevention; Vocational training and advancement of women's entrepreneurial skills; and Restoring depleted watersheds and damaged ecosystems.
Advocacy, Children/Teens, Ecology/Sustainability, Economic Development, Women
Seeking Educational Equity & Diversity (SEED) Project (225)
United States - New Jersey, United States - Massachusetts / $2,000
Flow Funder: Rachel Bagby
A gift was shared with the Seeking Educational Equity & Diversity (SEED) project, which sustains an international community of educators devoted to developing more inclusive curriculum for the Kindergarten through High School population in New Jersey USA. Teams of educators attend a week-long training and return home to co-conduct ongoing study groups with teachers and administrators, complete with support materials. All participants work on two questions in their seminars: What would curriculum look like if the diverse lives of women and girls were seen as co-central with the diverse lives of men and boys? and How can curriculum and teaching methods provide, in the metaphors of Emily Style, both windows into others' experiences, and mirrors of each student's own reality and validity?
The People's Grocery (224)
http://www.peoplesgrocery.org/
United States - California / $1,000
This seed grant supports a budding cooperative and collectively-run, youth, grocery store and entrepreneurial training institute in West Oakland, providing affordable organic food, jobs, job training, economic development, urban gardens, and social/environmental justice education to the West Oakland community.
Travel Grants & Scholarships for Sustainable Farmers (223)
United States - Virginia, United States - Tennessee / $500
Travel grants and scholarships were provided to farmers to attend a professional development workshop called "Looking at Genetic Engineering Through the Lens of Sustainability," at the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group Conference in Chattanooga TN, and the Virginia Association of Biological Farmers (VABF) annual conference.
Sistership Grant for Alternatives for Girls (222)
http://www.alternativesforgirls.org/
United States - Michigan / $400
This Sistership Grant was by far my most creative and gratifying one. While preparing to be a presenter at the Woman & Power Conference, a still, small voice told me to have travelers checks in hand to demonstrate the power of generosity. I asked for girls age 18 and younger to come tell me their dreams for themselves, the world and the future. Seven girls came up as a collective, and I learned how their work with the organization Alternatives for Girls was helping them to change their lives around. They talked about their hopes for friends who were still struggling with drugs and difficult relationships and some shyly shared about contributions they hoped to make to the world. I gave them each $25-$50 to support their individual dreams and $100 to contribute to their community. Their assignment was to decide amongst themselves how to wisely distribute the funds and to let me know how they did it. They divvied the gift up equally to purchase lunch and toys because you need both fun and food in life.
Sistership Grant for Colleen Kelley (221)
http://www.colleen-kelley.com/
United States - New Mexico / $2,000
A Sistership Grant was shared with artist Colleen Kelley to support her continued development as a visual artist, her work in schools, and her efforts to build a community of artists devoted to restorative living.
Sistership Grant for Kristin Rothballer (220)
United States - Texas / $300
This Sistership Grant helped Kristin travel to Texas to support and document Diane Wilson's hunger strike in protest of Dow/Union Carbide's pollution of the gulf and the possibility that they may be released from responsibility for the Bhopal disaster in 1984. At the time of this grant, Kristin was the Youth & Community Outreach Manager for Bioneers/CHI and has been engaged in education, environmental and social justice issues for the past many years. She is passionate about inspiring people to follow their own path of discovery to earth activism.
Youth Sistership Grant for Dana Pauly (219)
United States - Virginia / $1,000
A gift was shared to create the Youth Sistership Grant which supports the work of Dana Pauly in agroecology. Dana was a leader in creating "Grown in Nelson," a farm-based group in Nelson County, Virginia that strengthens local agriculture by increasing new markets for local farmers. Her contributions to agroecology farming practices include learning how to make biodynamic preps and helping a small CSA farmer (Screech Owl Farms) to expand operations to full-time.
Community Building Construction (218)
India / $6,677
Flow Funder: Richard Douthwaite
A gift was shared to help construct a multi-purpose community center used for meetings, and a regular out-patient clinic providing primary health care. The structure was planned by the community and youth volunteers helped in its construction. A well was also constructed.
The Food for Work Programme (FfWP) (217)
South Africa / $0
The Food for Work Programme (FfWP), a community exchange system (CES) developed by Russell & Laura Bishop, facilitates people working in their communities and be paid in food vouchers. These vouchers are redeemable for nourishing basic foodstuffs at food depots. Participants are encouraged to view the vouchers as money and to use them as the basis for a local money system.
Sustainable Ireland (216)
Ireland / $5,260
Flow Funder: Richard Douthwaite
This web presence promotes a new "cultural wisdom," which recognizes that social, economic and environmental health and justice are inextricably linked. A gift was shared to continue production of the Sustainable Ireland site, which shares information and news on events, publications, courses and job announcements for organizations all over Ireland.
Nadia Johanisova, Czech Author (215)
United Kingdom, Czech Republic / $3,156
Flow Funder: Richard Douthwaite
Year Funded: 2005
A gift was shared with Nadia Johanisova, a Czech writer, so she could publish "Living in the Cracks: A Look at Social Enterprises in Britain and the Czech Republic." According to the author her book is "about bottom-up initiatives such as box schemes, community-supported agriculture, land and community trusts, credit unions, local transport schemes, ethical banks, community businesses, co-operative shops, etc. in Britain and the Czech Republic. I tried to find out things about how to keep the local shop viable, how to get affordable housing for the locals, how to keep the public transport going and how to keep farms paying their way. Interviewing the people in my book was a voyage of discovery for me and hopefully will be for the reader as well."
Daughters of Copper Woman & Green Economics (214)
Czech Republic, United States / $4,000
Flow Funder: Richard Douthwaite
Year Funded: 2003
A gift was shared with The Stehlik Family Publishing House to publish and promote "Daughters of Copper Woman" and "Green Economics: An Introduction to Theory, Policy & Practice." "Daughters of Copper Woman," has become an underground classic, selling over 200,000 copies. The Stehlik Family published a new edition that is more complete, with Anne Cameron's timeless retelling of Northwest Coast Native myths that create a sublime image of the social and spiritual power of woman. "Green Economics" by Molly Scott Cato explains the axioms of green economics including views on taxation, welfare, money, economic development and work.
Animated Short Focusing on Oil Depletion (213)
United Kingdom / $4,208
Flow Funder: Richard Douthwaite
Tim Helveg-Larsen wanted to make an animated short about oil depletion. A Flow Fund Gift helped with his living expenses for the two months it will take to make it as well as enable him to buy the computer software he needed for the project.
Kerry Earth Education Project (KEEP) (212)
Ireland / $4,208
Flow Funder: Richard Douthwaite
Several gifts were shared to support several projects, including: Creating an Educational Farm Map, which includes a medicinal herb walk and native tree walk; Creating farm trail improvements and wheelchair access; Creation of display and information signs for the project; and Production of educational materials and resources to "convey to teachers what is available to them and how to incorporate them into their teaching."
Seed Saving in the Czech Republic (211)
Czech Republic / $3,156
Flow Funder: Richard Douthwaite
Year Funded: 2003
A gift was shared to spread the world about Seed Saving in the Czech Republic. This includes publication and distribution of pamphlets, and running meetings with growers across the countryside. At these meetings, seeds and seedlings are exchanged, and growing expertise is shared with all. This gift also helped purchase a digital camera to enable better documentation of the plants grown, as well as the printing of posters touting "old varieties are beautiful."
Red de Semillas (Seed Savers) (210)
http://www.seedsavers.net/our-global-reach
Mexico / $1,440
Flow Funder: Tamara Sabitova
Red Semillas (The Seed Network) is a newly formed network of organic seed shareholders in the municipality of Huatusco, in the state of Vera Cruz in Mexico. The current network members live in six different communities: Tepecingo, Tlachopa, Ixotla, Rancho Limon, Coxolo and Las Canadas. The Network was created to produce vegetable seed varieties suited to this particular bio-climatic region, as the available seeds on the market are often unsuitable for the wet, cold tropical climate of the region. Commercial seeds are also expensive to buy, so this network suits the needs of small organic producers. Reproducing appropriate vegetable varieties is an important step for the long-term welfare of the network members, as well as keeping the production organic. The hope is that these seed shareholders will become independent of the global seed market, and their self-sufficiency will increase through seed production and seed exchange. The initial aim of the seed network is to reproduce 50 different vegetable varieties. The varieties of the same species are shared between the producers to avoid cross-pollination, and the seeds are exchanged freely between members. The primary goal is to produce for home-consumption and exchange and the left over seeds will be sold to other producers. The seeds are produced in small home gardens in the six communities mentioned above, by families that grow food for home-consumption. The network is the first of its kind in this region, and will also be the first to produce organic seeds suited to this climate. Its members include men and women, as well as one teenager. A Flow Fund Gift helped purchase essential equipment to produce, select, weigh, store and package seeds.
La Escuelita (The Small School) (209)
Mexico / $5,000
Flow Funder: Tamara Sabitova
La Escuelita (The Small School) is located in Las Canadas, a cloud forest reserve in the mountains of Huatusco, in the state of Vera Cruz in Mexico. The Small School was started to ensure cultural knowledge gained in Las Canadas is passed on to the coming generations, which the present school system does not offer. Generally, rural schools in Mexico teach children very little about their local environment and cultural context. In fact, schools in this area are simply preparing children to leave their communities and forget their culture. In the Small School, the opposite happens. The children here are taught about their own culture and environment, as well as values that encourage and help them to stay and work towards sustainable development and a better life in their own communities. This school is free of charge and teaches children aged 4 to 11 years old, many of whom come from poorer families. The Small School has a community teaching garden and they offer environmental workshops for children cannot attend the school for various reasons. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to help create a bigger teaching garden, including vegetables, corn, beans and fruit trees, where the children can experiment and learn about the natural process and cycle of life, and how to grow their own food organically. Equally important, the garden helps children learn about healthy food habits based on a local diet. The garden produce is used in cooking classes, so the children learn to prepare their own food, which adds a great deal to their existing and rather limited diet, which is based mainly on corn and beans. Environmental workshops are offered to children from other schools as well, where they learn about organic farming, the local ecosystem, conservation of natural resources, and the contamination of garbage. Our Flow Fund Gift purchased materials, tools, and fruit trees for the school garden, as well as providing a small salary for the teacher in charge of the garden and the cooking classes. Our gift also paid for the ingredients needed for the cooking classes that could not be produced in the school garden, as well as educational materials, transport, food and facilitation.
Master's Program for Young, Indigenous Farmers (208)
Mexico / $5,000
Flow Funder: Tamara Sabitova
This Master's Program is directed towards young, indigenous people from poor farming backgrounds, teaching them the skills required to stay in their own communities, rather than migrating to the cities. The students learn to plan and put into motion alternative sustainable development appropriate for their region and culture. At present, it is a five-year program focused on local development, including: sustainable agriculture and development; micro-business and finance; ecology; human rights; and health. Each student spends one week out of every five at the school. During the remaining four, the students do community work related to their study. The tuition is completely free of charge, and they also receive a small monthly stipend which allows them to stay in the program, since they have no other source of income during their studies. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to pay for this stipend, without which many of the students would have to leave.
Canasta de Semillas Workshop (207)
Mexico / $2,703
Flow Funder: Tamara Sabitova
Canasta de Semillas is now organizing its first course on the production of organic vegetable seeds. The three-day workshop is directed towards small producers from all over Mexico, and will be free of charge. The workshop participants enter a moral agreement to disseminate the knowledge they learn to other seed producers in their area. The course will be led by an expert in seed production and saving, as well as an expert in bio-intensive production, which is an organic production model that produces a large amount of food in a small area without outside inputs. A Flow Fund Gift helped 20 seed producers take part in the workshop, as well as covering the course fee, food, lodging and transport.
Community Center for Alternative Technologies (206)
Mexico / $1,622
Flow Funder: Tamara Sabitova
This community center for alternative technologies is a learning and demonstration center for communities, organizations and citizens from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca, Mexico. It is a space to see and learn about sustainable gardening, recycling water, solar power, and eco-building. It was built out of adobe, which helps to revive the traditional building technique of the region, and it includes a library, meeting room, office and cafe. The hope is that the cafe can provide sufficient income for the center to become independent of outside funding in the future. A Flow Fund Gift helped purchase solar panels, install a water tank to store rainwater, and the purchase of watering equipment for the garden.
Alvaro Obregon (205)
Mexico / $4,235
Flow Funder: Tamara Sabitova
Alvaro Obregon is a poor rural community in the mountains near Ixhuatlan in the state of Vera Cruz in Mexico. The population's diet is limited to maize, beans and chili, which they produce themselves. The village has no running water, nor drainage and each family has to collect water several times a day from a spring 1.5 km down the mountain. The problems facing the people in Alvaro Obregon include migration of the young men, malnutrition (especially of the children) and numerous and frequent health problems like diarrhea, parasites, stomach pains, fever, and bronchitis. The ailments are mainly related to their poor diet, inadequate toilet facilities, cold and drafty houses, lack of medical attention, and a smoky indoor environment from cooking over open fires, which affect the women in particular. A Flow Fund Gift was shared to help this community of people.
Volunteer Medical/Dental Clinic in Favellas (204)
Brazil / $4,245
A gift was shared to support the opening of the Buddhist Dharma Gardens Meditation Center's Medical/Dental clinic, located in the middle of several Favellas (slums/ghettos). They needed re-enforced doors and windows as well as upgrade work on their used, donated equipment.
Soup Party Raffle for Scouts (203)
Brazil / $1,300
A gift was shared to help put on the annual Soup Party Raffle which parents throw for their children's Scout group. This particular Scout group is made up of mostly children of local maids and they rely a lot on this annual fundraiser.
Preservation of Cultural Traditions for Young Girls (202)
Brazil / $1,155
A gift was shared to support a women's dance program, in which women are taught, through dance, movement and story telling, the Afro-Brazilian traditions, so that they may become tradition-bearers in the future. Located on an island off the coast of Bahia, Brazil, this gift enabled the group to extend itself to include girls of all different ages.
Capoeira for Street Youth (201)
Brazil / $1,925
A gift was shared to support a program on an island off the coast of Bahia, Brazil that works with the male youth of the community. This program takes the boys off the street and rather than having a future of begging, they learn the Afro-Brazilian martial art Capoeira. This experience raises their self esteem and cultural-consciousness as native Afro-Brazilians.
Dia Nacional da Consciencia Negro (200)
Brazil / $1,155
Flow Funder: Edmundo Barbosa
A gift was shared with a group of women dancers on an island off the coast of Bahia, Brazil who preserve their Afro-Brazilian traditions through dance and movement. Funded last year as well, this year's funding supported them in their ongoing work of bringing Afro-Brazilian traditions to other islands, as well as the creation of the 1st Annual Dia Nacional da Consciencia Negro (A National Day of Black Consciousness).
Swimming Therapy (199)
Brazil / $700
Flow Funder: Edmundo Barbosa
A gift was shared for treatment for a poor child to improve his self-esteem, as well as his lungs, which are suffering from a respiratory disease. This treatment has helped with the child's improvement and has made it possible for his mother to go back to work full-time and support the family.
Funeral Expenses (198)
Brazil / $2,125
A gift was shared to facilitate the return by plane of the body of a woman who made a three-day bus trip from her home to the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil to find treatment for her cancer. She did not survive the journey and her three children could not afford to bring her body back for a proper ritual burial. This gift helped make that return journey possible.
Entertaining Child Cancer Patients (197)
Brazil / $1,925
Flow Funder: Edmundo Barbosa
A gift was shared with a group of high school teenagers who create performances in the main Hospital for Pediatric Cancer in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. These costumed performances take place in the hospital corridors, waiting rooms and wards, bringing joy, hope and entertainment to alleviate the loneliness and pain of out-of-state, poor children patients.
Hand Garbage Carts for Street People (196)
Brazil / $3,470
Flow Funder: Edmundo Barbosa
A gift was shared to purchase 20 hand garbage carts for street people. These people are responsible for a large amount of the recycling in Sao Paulo, Brazil and their work is their only source of income. They go in the streets and out of the mixed garbage that people throw out, they select the recyclables and sell what they have collected by weight to recycling centers.
Santa Cruz Health Clinic in La Laguna (195)
Guatemala / $3,000
Enabled the Santa Cruz Health Clinic in La Laguna, Guatemala, to set up a health education and outreach program that led to the formation of the clinic an, to receive over $ 100,000 in donated medical equipment needed to become a fully equipped clinic. The money was spent on shipping costs for extensive donated supplies, including examining and treatment tables, therapy and dental chairs, mobility-enhancing equipment (canes, walkers), beds, oxygen tanks, IV poles, a whole plethora of basic medications and First Aid materials, needles and gloves, and other miscellaneous smaller items.
Bread for the Journey, Santa Fe (194)
http://www.breadforthejourney.org/
United States - New Mexico / $4,000
This gift enabled the Sante Fe, New Mexico USA chapter of Bread for the Journey to start a Scholarship Fund for outstanding young people who are involved in community volunteer projects. The recipients of this fund are mostly high school students who invest their energy and talents filling a variety of community-based programs. Bread for the Journey of Santa Fe is working in collaboration with existing Santa Fe community service providers, such as the Santa Fe Community Foundation to find new young volun