wfn.org | WCC Special Fund to Combat Racism - Grants

["WCC Media Office (Sheila MESA)" <smm@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Press Release
For Immediate Use
9 December 1999

WCC SPECIAL FUND TO COMBAT RACISM - 21 PROJECTS RECEIVE GRANTS

To mark Human Rights Day on Friday, 10 December, the World Council of Churches (WCC) has published its annual list of grants from the WCC Special Fund to Combat Racism. Twenty-one groups will share a total of US$128,000 for their work with racially oppressed people, for education programmes on racism and for self-help initiatives. The grants fall into three categories: general work on racism, women under racism, and Indigenous Peoples.

The Special Fund was created in 1970 and since then has distributed about US$ 12 million in grants throughout the world. Its funds are contributions from WCC member churches and individuals in many countries.

Grants 1999

RACISM

CARIBBEAN

Meeting Centre for Reflection and Solidarity (ONE RESPE), Santiago, Dominican Republic,  US$ 15,000:

For research on prejudice among children in poor Black communities in Haiti.

EUROPE

Centre for Black and White Christian Partnership, Birmingham, UK,  US$ 3.000:

For student bursaries to promote training of leaders as catalysts for change in education, ecumenical work and information sharing.

National Assembly Against Racism, London, UK,  US$ 3,000:

For continuing campaign work, especially education work on "Debt and Racism: Legacy of Colonialism", as a contribution of Black experience to Millennium celebrations.

Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, London, UK,  US$ 3,000:

For policy, advice and case work in support of those affected by the Immigration and Asylum Bill.

Anti-racism Initiative e. V., Berlin, Germany,  US$ 3,000 :

For furthering information work on paragraphs 92A and B of the Law on Foreigners, which criminalises taxi drivers who bring passengers without visas across the border into Germany.

Romani C.R.I.S.S - Roma Centre for Social Intervention and Studies, Bucharest, Romania,  US$ 5,000:

For updating and publishing the centre's information on violence and discrimination against Roma communities as well as for continuing its legal support for victims of discrimination.

NORTH AMERICA
December 12th Movement International Secretariat, New York, USA,  US$ 5,000:

For this coalition of racially oppressed groups in the USA to prepare participation in the United Nations World Conference on Racism in 2001.

Center for Constitutional Rights, New York, USA,  US$ 3,000:

For the Center - an organisation founded by lawyers and using litigation and education work to support popular movements - to pursue a 'Police Accountability Initiative', focussing on police brutality against people of colour.
 
The Southeast Regional Economic Justice Network (REJN), Durham, North Carolina, USA,  US$ 3,000:

For the network to continue its work among people of colour in the south of the USA, Mexico, the Caribbean, Canada and Central America, with particular emphasis on responses to globalisation.

Black Workers for Justice (BWFJ), Rocky Mount, North Carolina, USA,  US$ 3,000:
 
For support in BWJ's struggle for improvements in the quality of life of working people, and for justice and fairness in the workplace and community.
 
WOMEN UNDER RACISM

EUROPE 

Afro-German/Black Women (ADEFRA), Munich, Germany,  US$ 3,000:

For the publication of a practical book, in German, English and Turkish, for use in schools and other education settings, to stimulate awareness and empowerment among young Black people.
 
LATIN AMERICA

Women's Coordination and Council of the ECUANARI, Quito, Ecuador,  US$ 20,000:

For its school for training women leaders and particularly for the project "Centre of Art, Science and Culture of Indigenous Women".
 
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

AFRICA

African Indigenous and Minority Peoples Organization, Kigali, Rwanda,  US$ 5,000:

For projects designed to assist in the social integration of the Batwa, including setting them up in viable farming situations. 

ASIA

Dalit Development Society, Kadampanad, India,  US$10,000:

For this Dalit support group to expand its leadership training among women and its work among high school students.

Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), Bagio City, Philippines,  US$ 5,000:

For CPA's project "Alliance Education Campaign on Indigenous Peoples' Rights" and particularly for the production of popular materials explaining the Indigenous Peoples Act.

LATIN AMERICA

Protestant Missionary Working Group (GTME), Cuiabá, Brazil,  US$ 8,000:

For assistance in running a house, serving both as a lodging place and a centre for legal counselling, for Indigenous People who move to Cuiabá.

Union of Neighbour of Indigenous and Peasants Communities ( UNIGOBIGI), Otavalo, Ecuador,  US$ 5,000:

For this organisation for leadership training among pastors and Indigenous People to extend its education work among young people and promote theological education sensitive to Indigenous Peoples' needs.

Autonomous Multi-Ethnic Region, Chiapas, Mexico,  US$ 5,000:

For this organisation, which helps to empower the Chiapas people who have been victims of intimidation and persecution, to organise workshops focusing on specific needs.

AMIPASTOR, Ayacucho, Peru,  US$ 5,000:

For capacity-building workshops on cultural identity, collective rights, defence of human rights and promotion of ecumenical encounters among the Indigenous Quichua.

Confederation of Nationalities of the Amazon Region of Peru (CONAP), Lima, Peru,  US$ 11,000:

For a series of community meetings among 200 Indigenous leaders to discuss the Indigenous Law of Peru, which aims to end abuse of Indigenous Peoples and regulate the presence of transnational corporations on Indigenous land.

NORTH AMERICA

Committee of 500 years of Dignity and Resistance, Cleveland, USA,  US$ 5,000:

For this coalition of Indigenous and non-Indigenous activists committed to protecting and enhancing sovereignty rights and human rights for Indigenous Peoples, to strengthen its Campaign Against Racist propaganda.

A full list, with extensive descriptions of each grant, is available from the Media Relations Office, tel: +41.22.791.6166, fax: +41.22.798.13.46, e-mail: bob@wcc-coe.org 
Website:  http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/news/press/99/43apre.html

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The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of 337 churches, 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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