International Women's Day Ahead!

International Women’s Day is fast approaching, and Oxfam Action Corps will hold events on the day itself, March 8^th, as well as throughout the month. These events will celebrate the work done by women worldwide, as well as recognize women leaders from our communities for their local actions that have a global impact.

Oxfam’s mission is to right the wrong of poverty and hunger; problems that are rooted in injustice. By championing the right of women and girls we can work towards ending that injustice and empowering populations of struggling people.

Did you know?

·         Women perform 66 percent of the world’s work, but earn only 10 percent of the income and own only 1 percent of the property.

·         If women farmers had the same access to resources that men do, the number of hungry people in the world could be reduced by up to 150 million.

This year, join Oxfam Action Corps by honoring a woman in your community who is leading the fight against poverty and hunger. By highlighting women who are acting locally and helping globally, you’re showing that these actions matter—and sending a powerful message about the role of women as a force for change. (In addition to participating in the events below, you can download this toolkit to create your own event)

What events can you attend?

In Albuquerque, NM: “We Are the Eighth Day” - An art presentation by five local women, and artistic expression from international sisters. With artist booths and locally grown food, this event celebrates women’s ability to express their resilience in the face of social and environmental challenges.

To RSVP to this event or learn more, click here.

In Boston, MA: A hunger banquet, featuring two incredible guests and honorees, Cassandria Campbell of Boston and Emiliana Aligaesha of Tanzania. This event celebrates women’s achievements here and worldwide in changing the way we grow, eat, and share food.

To RSVP to this event or learn more, click here.

In Burlington, VT: A hunger banquet, featuring Oxfam guest Mary Starkey, Program Support Coordinator for our Regional Programs Department. This event will also highlight the achievements of women here and worldwide in agriculture, with hopes of inspiring change in our food system.

To RSVP to this event or learn more, click here.

In Chicago, IL: Women in Decision Making Expo and Panel – this event will feature a panel of incredible women representing different fields and careers to discuss their role, particularly as women, in the changing sphere of decision making.  The Networking Expo will focus on women’s-based businesses and health issues.

To RSVP to this event or learn more, click here.

In Des Moines, IA: This video screening and discussion event aims to celebrate women that are moving culture forward. Featuring speakers to discuss their leadership roles in their work, attendees will then be lead in a lively discussion.

To RSVP to this event or learn more, click here.

In Indianapolis, IN: This event celebrates local Dr. Stephanie Kimball, climate change activist and Affiliate and Resource Director for Hoosier-Interfaith Power & Light. After screening some videos on climate change, Dr Kimball will speak on its impact on farmers and what we can do to help.

To RSVP to this event or learn more, click here.

In New York, NY: A hunger banquet is to come, in collaboration with Pace University. This event will highlight the injustices and inequities within our food system, while focusing on the impact women have and can continue to have in changing it.

For more information email the NYC Action Corps at newyorkcity@oxfamactioncorps.org

In Minneapolis, MN: An Oxfam Jam concert will have an element of honoring women, in collaboration with this event that celebrates Oxfam’s mission and vision.

For more information email the Minnesota Action Corps at minnesota@oxfamactioncorps.org

In Philadelphia, PA: A small dinner for local attendees, this celebration will honor women leaders in the area and facilitate a discussion about what's being done, and what can be done.
For more information email the Philadelphia Action Corps at philadelphia@oxfamactioncorps.org

In San Francisco, CA: “Oxfam America – Act Local, Think Global Awards 2014” – a celebration of accomplished women doing work on global issues such as food justice, climate, water, land, and corporate responsibility. This event will features speakers and discussions about and by its honorees.

To RSVP to this event or learn more, click here.

In Seattle, WA: Hosted at a local, sustainable restaurant, this event will feature four amazing speakers who work directly with the farming industry in the Seattle area. They will speak and be honored for their work to create equity and justice, and all will reflect on how local efforts impact people worldwide.

To RSVP to this event or learn more, click here.

Events in the remaining Oxfam Action Corps cities are not finalized, but to get in touch with the organizers please email them at these addresses:

Austin, TX: austin@oxfamactioncorps.org

Columbus, OH: columbus@oxfamactioncorps.org

Kansas City, MO: kansascity@oxfamactioncorps.org

Madison, WI: madison@oxfamactioncorps.org

Thank you and enjoy a wonderful International Women's Day!

Rockin' the Last Week of Recruitment!

Jamming out with the Oxfam Action Corps

This is your last week to apply for the one-of-a-kind Oxfam Action Corps leadership training in Washington DC.  That's right - the deadline is Valentine's Day, February 14!  And on that note, here's one reason why I love the Oxfam Action Corps: because they organize "Oxfam Jams."  This Friday our group in NYC held its first such concert - pictures below.

If you think you would love it too, apply by February 14 at www.oxfamactioncorps.org

To learn more about our annual training and leadership service program, view the recording of our live presentation and discussion held last week. Click here to view the Streaming version or the Downloadable version

Now is an exciting time to join our campaign, as we plan to take action on food and climate justice initiatives in the upcoming year. We will continue our Behind the Brands initiative calling on companies to take responsible measures to ensure farmers are treated fairly. For this and other information about what Oxfam America is up to, or just as a refresher, be sure to check out our Behind the Brands and revamped campaign pages.

For more inspiration and motivation on the local level, take a look at the recent Oxfam Jam concert held in New York City! 

More pictures can be found on their twitter page. Thanks to the hard work of our organizers and volunteers there, they were able to put on an awesome musical event that helped spread the word of our mission and also listen to some great tunes. Remind your friends and potential applicants that this is what you can look forward to by being a part of the Oxfam Action Corps. 

You know Oxfam, you love Oxfam, now lead Oxfam in your hometown

Leadership opportunity:  Organize in your community to end global hunger – join the Oxfam Action Corps! 

Oxfam America, an international relief and development organization, invites you to play a leading role in the Oxfam Action Corps, an exciting grassroots effort to stand up to poverty, hunger, and injustice around the world – starting right in your community.  The Oxfam Action Corps is a group of trained grassroots advocates in fifteen US cities who organize with other local volunteers in support of our GROW campaign for policies that will save lives, defend the rights of women and farmers, and protect communities worldwide from rising food prices and climate change.  It includes a free national advocacy and leadership training for select participants. You will gain leadership skills, have fun, and change the world!

Sign-up by February 14 to apply for Oxfam’s free four-day leadership training in Washington D.C. April 5-8, 2014.  

"This is leadership in practice. You can't just read a book on leadership. You have to put it into practice." - Jill Mizell, Researcher, New York

“Oxfam Action Corps has given me a ton of confidence… Gaining knowledge and being able to speak to people about the issues.”  - Amy L., Business Operations Analyst, Des Moines

"This has become one of the best parts of my life… I can't express enough how satisfying it is to be organizing with people who are just as committed and dependable and passionate. It is so great to have the support from the Oxfam America staff, and I've been really impressed by their accessibility, competency and friendliness." – Isaac E., Educator, New York City

View and share the short video below, highlighting the great work done by the Action Corps.

Sign up at www.oxfamactioncorps.org by February 14

Our Voices Have Been Heard: Coca-Cola Agrees to Zero Tolerance Policy for Land Grabs

Here is a great post from our Action Corps in the San Francisco Bay area, highlighting their work and success with the campaign!

Original post can be found at: http://sfbay-oxfamactioncorps.blogspot.com/

Our Voices Have Been Heard: 

Coca-Cola Agrees to Zero Tolerance Policy for Land Grabs

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, our hard work is paying off! All of our hours spent volunteering, campaigning, speaking out, and signing petitions is showing fruition. Over 225,000 people called for action to prevent land grabs and Coca-Cola has heard us. The food and beverage giant Coca-Cola has agreed to respect and protect the land rights of indigenous communities from which it sources its sugar. Specifically, Coca-Cola has agreed to:

1. A zero tolerance policy on land grabs
2. A “know and show” policy relating to being held accountable and aware of land rights and conflicts within its supply chain
3. To support responsible agriculture investment and to advocate for governments and others to tackle land grabbing;

Sugar production requires a vast amount of land and is currently at an all time high triggering land conflicts and abuse. Coca-Cola is the largest sugar producer in the world making this news all the more amazing. Coca-Cola is the first beverage and food company to take such a stand, but should not be the last. For more information on this breaking news visit politicsofpoverty.oxfamamerica.org

Our mission and work does not end here. PepsiCo and Associated British Foods are some of the largest sugar producers in the world and as such we are urging them to follow in Coca-Cola’s footsteps and make a change in relation to the allowance of land grabs within their supply chains. In order to do this we need your help.
  

What Can You Do to Stop This?

Start by signing Oxfam's current petition to urge Pepsi-co and Associated British Foods to follow Coca-Cola’s example and hold themselves accountable for the land and human rights atrocities occurring in their supply chains. These huge companies have the market power to pressure their suppliers into committing to zero tolerance land grab policies and you have the power to pressure these food and beverage giants into stepping up and standing against land grabs. Make sure your voice is heard.

Then share the following messages:

Via Twitter

Tell @PepsiCo & #ABF to take action against land grabs! #BehindTheBrands

Via Facebook

Post the following message to PepsiCo's Facebook page

Stop land grabs! Tell PepsiCo and ABF—some of the biggest buyers of sugar in the world—to make sure their sugar doesn’t lead to land grabs that force poor farmers and their families off their land. #BehindTheBrands!

Is there life after the Oxfam Action Corps?  Guest blogger Rebecca Light, a former organizer with the Oxfam Action Corps in Boston, writes about 'Inua," a new initiative in Tanzania (not affiliated with Oxfam).

I’m writing this blog post from the shores of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by coconut and banana trees, in 95 degree temperatures. It’s surreal for me to know that the holidays have quickly come and gone. It is a bizarre setting for a New England girl, who has never experienced a winter without snow! But here I am, in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, about to spend the next year working on a women’s education/socially conscious clothing project. Let me tell you how I got here.

I was a co-organizer for the Boston Oxfam Action Corps from 2012 to early 2013, and like many of you, participated in the training in Washington D.C. I listened intently to the speakers and engaged in discussions regarding extreme hunger and poverty, women’s issues, lack of educational opportunities and other social injustices around the world. I was excited to learn how we can bring about changes to help alleviate these issues. I enjoyed co-leading the monthly meetings and organizing events in Boston to raise awareness and inform policymakers of needed changes. I learned much about the experiences of people in developing countries and the ways in which Oxfam America is involved with on-the-ground initiatives. Learning how Oxfam supports the endeavors of local people to improve their communities and advocate for larger policy changes especially resonated with me. This, along with my profession as a social worker supporting marginalized women who are homeless in the Boston area, continued to solidify my passion for social justice and international development.

When the opportunity presented itself in the spring of 2013 to volunteer in Tanzania, I jumped on an airplane. What began as a three-month endeavor became a seven-month stay followed by the decision to move to Tanzania for another year to begin a development project. During my time in Tanzania, I have witnessed first hand many of the injustices and oppressive systems and policies we spent time discussing and working to change through the Action Corps. I am inspired to work within this community to empower women to enact needed change. I began working with another American woman, Sylvie Ofstie, who has a background in fashion, design and education and a local Tanzanian woman, Pili Mtonga, an accomplished tailor, designer, artist and educator. Together, we developed a women’s empowerment project called Inua, which means “lift up” in Swahili.

Inua’s goal is to lift up the community of Bagamoyo, Tanzania. As you know, it’s been demonstrated that if women are given tools and education, the impact is widespread and long lasting. Inua’s vision is to empower young women by teaching them the skills of tailoring, design, and other crafts, which can be used to generate income. The program also offers English and computer courses, which can open doors for further job and education opportunities. Pili and I developed a curriculum for a year-long workshop for young women who are unable to complete their education due to lack of income and other factors. Without access to education, young women often do not obtain job skills or a way to earn a sustainable income and often end up married and pregnant at a young age, thus continuing the cycle of extreme poverty. The workshop began in September and the first group of students will attend through August 2014.

In order to create a self-sustaining model, in collaboration with Pili and her tailors we have created a socially conscious clothing line called naSuma. Pili and Sylvie design unique, beautiful clothing and other items made from traditional, vibrant African fabrics. Not only does this provide a fair, sustainable source of income for the tailors, but it will also be the source of funding for Inua. We sell these items on our Designs From Bagamoyo FB page, our Etsy Shop, in Pili’s shop in Bagamoyo, and we have connected with several boutiques in the US and Europe to sell the Spring/Summer 2014 collection.

To reach our goal of complete sustainability, we’ve created a fundraising campaign on Indiegogo. The funds we generate via the campaign will allow us to expand naSuma and operate and develop Inua in the upcoming year. We have just 13 days left to reach our goal of $15,000.

I know that within the community of Oxfam Action Corps, we all share a passion for social justice and opportunity for individuals to use skills and resources to self-empower. Please join us by contributing to the fundraising campaign (and get some great perks for doing it)! Please also share the link with your networks. We need as wide a reach as possible, so together we can make the greatest impact; one that is both self-sustaining and empowering for women and the community in Bagamoyo.

Peace and joy,

~Rebecca

Click the link below for our indiegogo campaign page:

http://igg.me/p/577236/x/5262845

Typhoon Haiyan: Relief and Rehabilitation

This week, we are sharing a post from Oxfam Action Corps NYC volunteer Nikko Viquiera. Read on for his personal take on the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan and the steps towards recovery.

Originally posted at http://www.oxfamactioncorpsnyc.org/2013/12/typhoon-haiyan-relief-and-rehabilitation.html

When news of a super typhoon about to hit central Philippines started coming out last month, many Filipinos, including me, shrugged it off and went on with our regular schedule, knowing that country gets an average of 22 typhoons annually. A day after the typhoon came; news outlets reported less than a hundred dead people. People thought it could have been worse and were glad that it wasn’t as big of a tragedy as other major typhoons have been in the past.

Days later, nothing could have prepared us for the breadth and depth of the devastation caused by typhoon Haiyan. To date, over 5,000 people and counting are dead and 10 million other Filipinos have been affected in one way or another.

As a former Program Officer for Jesuit Volunteers Philippines (JVP), I used to visit volunteers in Samar, one of the hardest hit regions by the typhoon. JVP sends volunteers to marginalized communities around the country to serve as educators, youth formators and community organizers. One such community is Lawaan in Eastern Samar. It was a small, quiet town by the sea, where many fish and farmed for a living. I would visit the parish school where volunteers where assigned as educators for high school students. The community would always be very welcoming, serving me the best food and accommodation they had to offer when they did not have much.

One afternoon, I remember some of the students in the Parish school invited me to ring the 6:00 pm bell. We climbed the bell tower beside the Church, just as the sun was beginning to set. As I rang the bells that echoed through the town, the sun began to set on the people going home after a day’s work, on the children playing in the streets and the coconut trees that stood as tall as the bell tower.

Today, most of the town has been destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan. The once mighty coconut trees have fallen, along with many houses, the school and the church. A more recent picture shows that only the bell tower remains standing amidst a sea of debris and destruction.

And so it is for many other towns ravaged by the typhoon in Eastern Samar, Palawan and Cebu. Dead bodies are everywhere, waiting for surviving relatives to recognize and claim them. Just this week, 120 bodies were discovered under the San Juanico Bridge, the longest one in the country. Reports describe residents walking around aimlessly like zombies. They are dazed and confused, with no work to do and no house to go home to. As such, many have flown to cities such as Manila in search of jobs, anything to get away from the rubble of their previous lives, only to find themselves homeless and jobless in a city that can be as unkind and apathetic as a typhoon.

Yet in the darkness of the devastation shines the generosity of people. More developed countries such as the US, Japan, Australia and the United Kingdom have pledged millions of dollars in relief. Relief agencies such as Oxfam, Red Cross and Catholic Relief Services were quick to respond and have been present in the region since Day 1.Oxfam Pilipinas, in particular, through the generous donations of people all over the world, has been working to provide clean water and sanitation to victims of the typhoon. Individuals and small groups have organized themselves and made efforts to raise funds for the victims of the typhoon. In Manila, people have offered to take turns feeding and keeping those, who left their homes in search of livelihood, stranded in the airports company.

But as news of the typhoon and its deadly effects begin to fade in the news, the more difficult task of rebuilding and rehabilitation is just starting. How does one rebuild thousands of houses, roads and structures from the ground up, all at the same time? How do we bring back livelihood to towns where even trees no longer stand? How do we begin to bring back hope to those who are still counting their dead and their losses? How do we begin anew?

A month has passed since the typhoon killed thousands of people and left survivors hungry, homeless and jobless. And yet many groups and individuals continue to work in the Haiyan areas, this time with a focus on rehabilitation. Oxfam, for example, has distributed rice seeds to rural areas to help farmers earn income again.

Many have pointed to the resilience of the Filipino people to withstand any tragedy as the main key to rehabilitation. But as Christmas nears, and the tenuous task of rehabilitation unfolds before us, we realize that resilience is not enough. We also need critical minds, calm spirits and skilled, tireless hands that move together like waves in strength and unison.

Action Corps keeps the pressure on Pepsi during Week of Action!

Since Coca-Cola committed to make sure the sugar in its products doesn’t lead to land grabs, it’s time for PepsiCo to follow Coca-Cola’s lead!
In an effort to drive PepsiCo's commitment, during the week of November 18th Oxfam's supporters across the U.S. drove to Pepsi bottling plants and corporate offices to deliver petitions, take stunt photos and tell Pepsi staff that over 250,000 people stand with farmers.

Oxfam Action Corps San Francisco

Our San Francisco volunteers outside of a Pepsi site

Action Corps Albuquerque, right before delivering some petition signatures!

Action Corps volunteers in Kansas City, MO

Action Corps & CHANGE made deliveries in over 20 states! See more pictures and see if your state is represented in the full  report of the deliveries here!