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COMING EVENTS

:

The Paradox of Altruism

How do we help Africa in her climate of AIDS and orphans?

A weekend workshop with

Bonnie Dalziel and Heather Ferris

November 2nd to 4th, 2007

ANGO RETREAT Salt Spring Island     

 So Africa is calling you to come and be with her and her people at this time of HIV/AIDS? In our weekend together we will investigate the culture of HIV/AIDS in the African context and examine how we interact with it. The workshop will be experiential with opportunities for sharing, challenging our notions of how to help, and raising our consciousness and understanding of altruism, particularly in the African context.

SOLID brings you a fascinating and stimulating workshop, which compliments the highly successful Community to Community Conferences held in 2004 and 2006. This two-day workshop is for people already working in Africa, people wanting to go there to help, and those who want to be involved, but who prefer to stay in Canada and support from afar. Bonnie and Heather will be using their many years of experience in development work in Canada and Africa to bring a deeper understanding of the African situation, her people and our role in supporting them. Bonnie will describe her experiences and learning working in West, then East Africa; Heather in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The workshop will include self-awareness exercises, exploring the African context through stories, slides, information, activities and skill building; supporting the ways we can stand alongside people who are suffering yet incredibly resilient. Included will be practical examples of existing projects that support those in need, including informal fund raising ideas and inspirational motivation.

  Heather Ferris:

· Counselor and trainer born and raised in South Africa

· Extensive experience in Zimbabwe and South Africa working in both urban and rural settings

· Has provided training to women to encourage leadership and entrepreneurialship in the face of the AIDS pandemic

· Instrumental in the evolution of the Love and Care Project - day-care and pre-school program in Masiphumelele near Cape Town, caring for 90 AIDS affected children under 6 years since 2003

· Provided training and guidance in the development of a rural knitting school in Rusape, Zimbabwe amongst other projects

· Co-founder of WHEAT Canada (Women’s Hope Education and Training) in 2003 and in partnership with VIDEA in Victoria provides tax receipts and connects donors to projects in Southern Africa

· In 2005 she co-founded Khululeka, an organization in Cape Town that provides grief and loss training to caregivers particularly regarding the needs of children

· In 2007 she worked with rural women in the Eastern Cape leaving 5 trainers continuing to work with foster parents and grandmothers in Libode 

· Author of the book, “Someone I Love Died” (2007), a resource freely available to children and caregivers, now published in four languages.

Heather describes herself as a simple woman simply doing what she feels called to do, because as Australian Aboriginal woman, Lily Walker says, “...her liberation is bound to the liberation of the people she thought she could serve.” 

 

Bonnie Dalziel:

· Raised in a one room log cabin near Telegraph Creek, Bonnie’s family provided her with a rare opportunity to learn about the workings of our Kaska and Tahltan neighbors and their holistic approach for sustaining their community and environment.

· Raised her own six children in Nova Scotia

· Selected by the Yukon chapter of Canadian Crossroads, to go to Sierra Leone where she served as a community development volunteer at the Betty Carew Women’s Training Centre

· 12 years of volunteer placements in Mozambique, and India, and 12 years working unsponsored- with groups in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Tanzania

· Extensive experience in the area of community/economic development with a stress on marketing, human rights and women’s issues

· Has facilitated hundreds of initiatives in African development, with the Canadian Voice of Women in Afghanistan, and for the Social Development Fund, Government of Yemen

Bonnie writes, “As my life evolves I am keenly aware that it is essential to share my experiences of the successes and failures that I have encountered abroad, thus- “The Paradox of Altruism”, one woman’s perspective on the effects of benevolence.”  

 

                              Program: The Paradox of Altruism  

                      

Friday Nov 2nd             Opening Session

 

7-9pm

Registration & Networking session                                           

Table displays for African projects

Social meet and greet

Cheese and Crackers

Saturday Nov 3rd        
9am  Muffins and Coffee
9:30am-12pm Conference sessions
12-1pm  Lunch (provided)
1-4pm  Conference sessions
6-7pm   Catered Dinner (Delectable Veggie Chili, Warm              Bread, Salad and Fruit Crisp Optional – $15 Ango Retreat)
Sunday Nov 4th Closing Plenary
9am Muffins and Coffee
9:30am-12pm Conference Sessions
12-1pm  Close and lunch (provided)

 

with special event Sat Nov 3rd

We Continue Forward

Maggie Ziegler and Phil Vernon

"An inspiring journey to the heart of Kenya"

"A beautiful and moving performance"

"A great event, filled with heart and soul"

Saturday, November 3rd, 7:00pm

Lion’s Hall

103 Bonnet Avenue

Salt Spring Island

A Benefit for HIV/AIDS Education in Kenya –

Suggested minimum donation $15

"A spirited and inspiring evening that has stayed with me. It made the global community feel real, communicating a grass-roots sense of connection and possibility. Thank you so much."

Maggie and Phil are returning with their heart-warming, informative and insightful Kenyan tour presentation. Their prose,

poetry, music and images are woven together to create a fascinating show transporting you to the diverse realities of Kenya.

==============================================================

Costs: $140 includes all workshops, breakfast and lunch each day and the welcoming reception Friday evening

Accommodation:  $110 total for two nights (at Ango Retreat and other local B&Bs)

Payment for accommodation must be RECEIVED by Oct. 20th

Register for the Paradox of Altruism