wfn.org | Special Fund grants

[Miriam REIDY PROST <mr@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Press Release
For Immediate Use
28 November, 1997

Embargoed 1200hrs GMT Monday 8 December 1997

WCC GRANTS TO COMBAT RACISM ANNOUNCED:
CHURCHES CALLED TO GIVE MORE 

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is to give a total of US$112,000 to
twelve groups around the world to help combat racism.

The grants will come from the WCC's Special Fund to Combat Racism
which began in 1970.  Since then, around US$11.3 million has been given
to groups engaged in the struggle for racial justice.

In a letter accompanying details of this year's grants, the WCC's General
Secretary, Rev Dr Konrad Raiser, has called on member churches, many
of whom do not currently give anything to the Special Fund, to make a
contribution next year.  Dr Raiser says income to the Special Fund have
fallen sharply since the end of constitutional apartheid in South Africa. 
(At the height of the apartheid struggle, the Special Fund gave
US$500,000 - US$600,000 per year.)  He adds, "The new challenge for
us is to reaffirm the WCC's commitment to combating racism wherever in
the world it shows its face." 

Rev Bob Scott, WCC Executive Secretary for Racial Justice says, "This
year's list of grants illustrates the wide range of work being done to
combat racism; from that against Indigenous Peoples, to the struggle
against the homelessness of Caribbean women in New York, which has
racism as a root cause; to empowering Black and migrant women in
Europe, to helping the long term victims of World War II come to terms
with their suffering. What better illustration could there be of the extent
of racism all over the world? The WCC recognises it must continue to
give leadership in combatting racism".

"The Special Fund grants are never substantial; often they are no more
than solidarity grants. But they are intended as a signal to all people of
goodwill that these projects, and others like them, need and deserve our
financial support."

Details of this year's grants are:

Africa - South Africa
Resettlement & Development Network 	US$30,000
Helps resettle former refugees and exiles. Grant includes sum for South
African women's organizations to co-host world conference on
"Women's Empowerment: Self-help, technology and sustainable
development" Johannesburg, August 1998	

Caribbean - US Virgin Islands
Women's Coalition of St. Croix	US$5,000
Within a wide programme, group organises anti-racism training.  Grant
will be used to develop this work.

Central America - Guatemala
Consejo IndĄgena de Centro America (CICA)	US$14,000
[Indigenous Council of Central America]
Grant includes provision for an Indigenous Congress to be held end 1997

Europe - Britain
M25-3 Campaign	US$5,000
Raises awareness of what is believed to be injustice and racial
discrimination against three Black men convicted of a series of violent
attacks near the M25 motorway.  Churches Commission for Racial
Justice in the UK supported grant request.
National Assembly Against Racism	US$8,000
Established 1996.  Grant is for development work.

Europe - Netherlands
European Dialogue of Black and Migrant Women	US$5,000
Analyses potential and needs of Black and migrant women with regard
to the information technology revolution, particularly related to work,
communication and information opportunities.  Grant will be used to help
establish and maintain a Web site.

North America - USA
Interfaith Prisoners of Conscience Project (IPOC)	US$5,000
Supports work among those imprisoned for political beliefs even though
they were sentenced as "criminals".  Grant will be used to strengthen
IPOC regional chapters and other human rights groups, and arrange
visits to political prisoners.
Haitian Caribbean Foundation for Education &
Development	US$5,000
Works against homelessness in the Caribbean immigrant community of
New York City. Grant will be used to establish development programme,
and to support job training, career orientation and advocacy
programmes.
US/Japan Committee for Racial Justice	US$5,000
Next year (1998) is the 100th anniversary of the annexation and
colonization of six island nations by the US (Hawaii, Philippines, Guam,
Eastern Samoa, Puerto Rico and Cuba). Following an 1996 event in
Japan at which 17 people testified to their experiences of the horrors of
World War II on the islands, this grant will enable survivors of WWII to
network with each other for mutual support.	

South America - Peru
Asociaci˘n de Mujeres Andina del Per– (AMA)	US$5,000
[Association of Andean Women]
An ecumenical organisation working closely with the Methodist Church in
Peru.  Grant will enable expansion of clubs, seminars, working groups,
training and rural development
Movimiento Pro Derechos Humanos del Negro	US$15,000
[Movement for Black People's Human Rights]
Grant will support programmes on health, poverty, history of Black
women in the development of the country, and participatory democracy.

South America - Uruguay 
Mundo Afro	US$10,000	
Supports victims of racism who are imprisoned.  Grant will support legal
service for victims of racial discrimination and meetings dealing with civil
right and rights of citizenship.

For Further Information contact Bob Scott +41.22.791.62.11 or Marilia
Schller +41.22.791.62.10

**********
The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 330, in
more than 100 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian
traditions.  The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but
works cooperatively with the WCC.  The highest governing body is the
Assembly, which meets approximately every seven years.  The WCC
was formally inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.  Its staff is
headed by general secretary Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church
in Germany.

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