AID PROJECTS
Since Emmaus Fredriksdal is a newly started and relatively
small association it would be hard for us to really carry out our own
aid projects abroad. That is why we have chosen to canalize our support
through the various aiding projects of Emmaus Bjorka and Praktisk Solidaritet.
Apart from the economic aid we donate all the clothes that we collect
to Emmaus Bjorka. We also donate flee market items to Emmaus’s
shop in Bjorka to support the activities of Emmaus Bjorka. Thanks to
our donors and customers we were able in 2006 to send 9 metric tons
of sorted flee market objects to the shop of Emmaus Bjorka and 55 metric
tons of materials for their clothes collection. We have contributed
110.000 Swedish Kroner to the practical work of Emmaus Bjorka and 25.000
to a rehabilitation center for handicapped refugees in Lebanon. Emmaus
Fredriksdal also supports “Aluma”, the homeless people’s
newspaper in Malmo, as well as the African Groups’ fundraising
against HIV/Aids.
Current Emmaus Bjorka and Praktisk Solidaritet Relief projects abroad:
ANGOLA
Currently Emmaus Bjorka’s prime partner is
ADRA, the Angolan popular movement that works for rural development.
ADRA sells the clothes in their own shops for subvention prices in
order to raise funds for their projects within agriculture, health
care, and education. During the year 2005 Emmaus Bjorka provided
clothing for about 250,000 Angolans. Furthermore, Emmaus Bjorka is
sending so called upstart kits to Angola. The average birth rate
per Angolan woman is 5-7 children and the Angolan mortality among
mothers is among the highest in the world.
One of the most important steps towards good health among mothers
is increasing well trained nurses’ supervision of pregnancies
and especially deliveries. Upstart kits help make this possible.
A kit contains a cap, a blanket, a baby cloak, and a handkerchief
among other things. It is given to new mothers in many areas such
as the Angolan province of Huila, for example. The presents are used
as bait in health centers and delivery rooms. The “price” for
an upstart kit is at least 5 pregnancy checks and delivery in an
authorized delivery room. Ever since Emmaus Bjorka started sending
upstart kits to the province of Huila the total number of deliveries
in the clinics concerned is up nearly 50%.
NICARAGUA
Since 1991 Emmaus Bjorka has been supporting the people of Nicaragua by funding MCN, Movumento Communal Nicaraguense. MCN is a broad popular movement active in the entire country. The inhabitants will organize themselves in their village or town neighborhoods in order to solve problems in the local community, influence political decisions and protect civil rights. Children and youth, popular health, and consumers’ rights are at the focus of the activities. Praktisk Solidaritet collaborates with UBV and Vänskapsförbundet Sverige-Nicaragua in supporting Nicaragua.
PALESTINE
Emmaus Fredriksdal funds Emmaus Bjorka’s fundraising to support
the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Since the 70s Emmaus has participated
in projects in the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. A number
of projects have been carried out with the assistance of SIDA, among
which is an emergency room for the hospital in Ein el Helweh. The camp
of Ein el Helweh is located in the now bombed out southern Lebanon.
WEST SAHARA
Since 1978 Emmaus Bjorka/Praktisk Solidaritet (PS) has been sending
mostly clothing and shoes to Saharan refugee camps. For many years
Praktisk Solidaritet has been providing 90% of the clothing spent in
the camp. During 2005 Emmaus Bjorka shipped 60 metric tons of clothes
and shoes to these camps. POLISARIO, the West Saharan liberation movement,
handles the management of the donations in the refugee camps. During
2006 and 2007 a total of 700 metric tons of tuna is going to be distributed
among 158,000 refugees.
The refugees have been living in the middle of the inhospitable desert ever since
Morocco occupied their country over thirty years ago. They have no means of providing
for themselves. So until they can return to catch their own fish Swedish support
by delivering them tuna is very important. The tuna project is performed in collaboration
with SIDA.
Emmaus Bjorka has also contributed towards the improvement of the transportation
of water, gas, and other necessities. Several water tank trucks have been provided,
as well as a truck and some wagons and necessary spare parts.
