PHILADELPHIA (February 20, 2008) - The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a Quaker humanitarian service organization, has nominated Western Sahara human rights activist Aminatou Haidar for the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize for her nonviolent leadership in the Sahrawi people’s struggle for self-determination. AFSC received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947 in recognition of Quakers’ humanitarian service during and after the two world wars and as a past laureate is entitled to nominate others for the prize.

Western Sahara is often known as “Africa’s last colony.” Despite international recognition of their right to self-determination, the Sahrawi people have lived under Moroccan occupation since 1976. Haidar has dedicated her life to achieving self-determination for its citizens. In 1987, during a peaceful demonstration in Morocco, Haidar was arrested and detained in secret for four years. During her detention, she was tortured, beaten, and endured physical abuse that caused irreversible health problems. Haidar never received an explanation for her arrest and detention. She has been jailed twice since then.

Haidar is a divorced mother of two and lives in the town of El Aaiun in Western Sahara. In between her two prison sentences, Haidar earned a degree in modern literature.

“We have few models of those who can turn from their own suffering to forgive their oppressors and work for a state of reconciliation and equality,” says AFSC’s General Secretary, Mary Ellen McNish. “Aminatou Haidar is a model of how ordinary working mothers and fathers can rise above their circumstances in their devotion to a cause greater than their own survival.”

Haidar has been nominated for and won various awards for her fight for social justice. In 2005, she was nominated for the Sakharov Prize and in 2006 won the Juan Maria Bandres Prize given by the Spanish Association for Refugees and Human Rights. Last year Haidar won the Silver Rose Award in Sweden for her achievements in work for social justice.

AFSC is a Quaker organization working for peace, justice, and human dignity. With national headquarters in Philadelphia and offices in 22 countries and 42 U.S. locations, AFSC conducts economic development, peace building, and human rights programs that touch tens of thousands of lives each year.

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The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace and humanitarian service. Its work is based on the belief in the worth of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice.

In order to protect the identity of the Friend who wrote this piece, we are not including his name or photo. He attended the World Gathering of Young Friends, and continues to send email updates about his situation to Friends worldwide.

The first post is a blog entry he wrote specifically for the Quakeryouth site and the second is an email that went out on a listserv after the elections on December 27th.

There are ways you can help. Please make sure to check out the information and resources at the end of his entry. And there is always prayer. In peace, Emily

Dec 8, 2007
LAND- THE BURNING ISSUE

Scenes of burning houses, displaced people; murder of the innocent and looting has become to be a daily routine for land clashes victims in Molo, Olenguruone and Mt. Elgon areas in Kenya. Escalating violence and ethno-political tensions in parts of Rift valley and Mt. Elgon district are palpable and a National security crisis. Politicians are manipulating historical land issues and ethnicity tension to whip up communities against each other in an attempt to raise more votes and tilt the December 27th poll outcome.


Since early this year Mt. Elgon has never experienced peace. Many have lost their lives and several thousands left homeless. Most schools closed down due to insecurity. Our Quaker churches closed down and members ran away for safety. A group of Quaker leaders under the patronage of FUM visited these areas and assisted the affected to get some of their basic needs. The situation keeps running out of hand especially every time we approach general elections. The big question is, “when will all this end?”

The government is doing very little to contain the situation.

Victims of these clashes it is sad to note that are people who live below the poverty level. Their income is less than a dollar in a day for someone living with a family of over ten dependants on him. These are squatters who do not have a place to abode.

We appeal on friends to pray for peace. Let our brothers and sisters in Kenya live in harmony. When the raiders attack they burn the victims’ houses so that they have no place to go back to. Kenyans have become refugees in their own country. Most are staying in church compounds, health centers with no basic needs.

In an email sent on January 2, 2008

Friends,
You cannot believe what is happening. Kenya is up in flames. The elections were carried out smoothly but the presidential votes were rigged in favour of president Kibaki who is a Kikuyu. The whole country has rebelled against the whole Kikuyu community whom majority are very innocent people. In my small rural area where we have about 100 kikuyu families, they were all evicted on 30th December immediately after the announcement of the poll results. Their homes were burned down, shops looted and we are back to zero. Yesterday over twenty people who had run to a church for safety were burnt right in church. On 30th i tried to call the attackers down and this made them to turn their anger on me. My house was stoned the whole night but thank God my family was not harmed. Everything is at a standstill. The rule of law is nonexistent as of now. People are doing things as they wish. Many are in hospitals with untold injuries. Over 150 have lost their lives. Over 2000 families are living in a police station which I am visiting today. Children are sleeping out in cold with no food and other basic needs. I am only able to access victims of the violence who are near my area. I cant reach the other far end because communication has been paralyzed. Friends this is the time we really need your prayers and support. Whatever little you can have please help us. We are praying for divine intervention so that the two warring groups agree.
I have to leave now to attend to my fellow kenyans. Pray for me also because if the community I am living in get a clue of my peace missions they will come right for my head.


What you can do (suggestions from a young adult Friend)

For more information about what is going on in Kenya, go to
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/default.stm

Email your thoughts, prayers, and support to FWCC Africa Section (based in Nairobi) fwcc-as@swiftkenya.com: the director of FUM Africa (based in Kisumu) John Muhanji.

Contact your elected representatives expressing your concern and asking what they are doing to bring about a peaceable solution via international attention. (US Senators have their info here: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.
European Parliament Members can be found here: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public.do

Use your mouse! Let them know the international community is paying attention:
http://www.eastandard.net/
http://www.theworldpress.com/press/worldpress/kenyapress/kenyatimes.htm
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgindex.asp
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/default.stm
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/world/africa/index.html


More information from Friends World Committee for Consultation (London)
Jan 4, 2008

Dear Friends,

You may be aware of the deteriorating situation in Kenya following last month's elections. At the FWCC World Office, we have been receiving emails from Friends in Kenya. This email is a summary of what we know so far.

First, some background from David Zarembka, Coordinator of the African Great Lakes Initiative/ Friends Peace Teams who lives in Western Province, Kenya. He writes:

"Since independence the Kikuyu [the tribe to which President Mwai Kibaki belongs; Raila Odinga, the opposition leader, is a Luo] have directly or indirectly controlled the Government and Kenyan business. Through this time, they continued and promoted the centralized system of Government given to them by the British. The 2007 election campaign revolved around "devolvement" meaning decentralizing. Naturally Kibaki and the Kikuyu opposed this since this meant giving up their power to the periphery.

"So it is payback time. It is amazing how only Kikuyu shops and homes were burned and everyone else left intact. Those at the bottom are taking it out on those whom they feel are on top. They have no contact with the Kikuyu tycoons and politicians and so they are taking the pent-up rage of forty-four years of independence out on the average Kikuyu in their community. The Kikuyu are then retaliating by killing the other ethnic groups that happen to live in their communities.

"With the large population increase in the past, there are many youth. Many of these have been educated to the secondary level or even above and then they are left with nothing to do, alienated from Kenyan society. They see no future so they can easily be turned to violence. This is the tinder and the spark was the announcement that Kibaki won what everyone in western Kenya considers was a rigged election."

David's most recent email, sent on the morning of 3 January, anticipated a violent clash at a rally being planned by the opposition in Nairobi.

"Today looks like the decisive day, and things don't look good. Kibaki has told the head of the African Union not to come to mediate because this is an internal Kenyan problem. In the doublespeak of the day, this means that Kibaki is not going to negotiate and will enforce his presidency with the police and military. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) plans a massive inauguration of Raila Odinga today in downtown Nairobi at Uhuru Park. One million people are expected to attend. The Government has banned the gathering. BBC reports that riot police have encircled the park standing a meter apart. In other words, this looks like its going to be a major confrontation. Kikuyu from hard-hit Eldoret have been evacuated under police escort to Nakuru and Nairobi."

Bainito Wamalwa, head of a young Friends organisation and employed by a Swedish NGO, described the current situation in Eldoret: "The Friends church in Eldoret has 62 families who are displaced by some of them having their houses burnt. They have no shelter, food and other basics. There is no way to enter or exit Eldoret now. The food prices have gone more than treble high. Things are not right here."

In the face of the catastrophe befalling Kenya, John Muhanji, the Director of the Friends United Meeting Africa Ministries Office, tried to focus on the future. He wrote:

"Happy New Year!! At least I can manage to say to you happy new year. It is true that those who are alive can say such words but in reality I would have said sad and bloody new year for Kenya 2008'. What a bad ending and beginning of the year. Friends when you see yourselves enjoying the peace you have now wherever you are praise God for everything. Because that can be taken from you in a twinkling of an eye as it happened here in Kenya. Peace is something that needs to be guarded with a lot of care from everybody in the world.

"I am experiencing a situation where people we have lived with for many years are being chased a way and their houses being burned not by their neighbours but by people from nowhere in a mob."

John continued, "Tension is all over the country and especially in towns. In my village, Kivagala, I have occupied the young people in football games during this sad period. Many idle young people have not been involved in any activity of any nature but busy participating in the games that will reach its climax on Saturday January 5th. I am very much encouraged with the response… Yesterday after visiting Kisumu in the evening and seeing how tense the place was and the tension along the road, I arrived at home and found a different atmosphere where the playground in the school was filled with young people playing. The older generation was playing against the younger generation. It was such an interesting game… This may be an example to other parts of the country… I have also introduced an open air film show to the community to intensify peace in the community."

But for now, the violence continues, and in some areas it is escalating. Transportation is also severely disrupted, as the Matatus that are the primary form of transportation country-wide most use are mainly operated by Kikuyus, and they are too afraid to work. David Zarembka writes:

"The death toll since the election is supposed to be 284, but I suspect it is much higher… There is a report that 10,000 armed Kalejin youth from the Eldoret area (there were 2000 people who burned down the church) are marching on Burnt Forest, an area with many Kikuyu where there have been clashes in the past. If this kind of thing is true, then we may be in for a real bloodbath on the scale of the Rwandan genocide. It is possible that the violence has gotten out of control so that the political leaders, the police, and army may not be able to control it even if there is a political settlement."

From what we know as of this writing, US Friends living and working in Kenya Eden and James Grace and their children are safe in Kisumu and Jody Richmond is also in a safe place. We have heard nothing about the safety of Friends in Nakuru, Nairobi or other parts of Kenya. People are about to run out of time on their mobile/cell phone cards and internet access, so communication may be more of a problem shortly. The same is true of food for many people.

John Muhanji asks for financial support for prizes for his sports participants and we are sure there are other needs as well. Donations can be made via the FUM website www.fum.org or via the FWCC World Office www.fwccworld.org earmarked for this purpose.

In terms of the more general financial and other material support that Friends can offer, discussions are taking place both at AFSC and amongst Friends in Britain to determine the best and safest way to ensure that help reaches those who need it. We should be in a position to tell you more about this early next week.

Most of all, Friends in Kenya need our prayers along with prayers for peace and justice to prevail in their country. This is the season of the Prince of Peace and we must seek God's assistance and guidance amidst this turmoil.

With hope and faith,

Nancy Irving, General Secretary
Friends World Committee for Consultation

Harry Albright, Communications Director
Friends World Committee for Consultation

Another Friend in Kenya-Dave Zarembka

I have been asked to discuss the issue of how the violence here in Kenya
is affecting the Quakers in Kenya.

Friends United Meeting (then Five Years Meeting) sent missionaries to
Kenya in 1902. They trekked up country and settled in Kaimosi which is in
Western Province of Kenya. Western Province stretches from near Lake
Victoria about a hundred miles north to Mt Elgon, along the border with
Uganda. The British divided up the provinces by ethnic groups so Western
Province is the home of the Luhya who are the second to largest group in
Kenya after the Kikuyu. Almost everyone in Western Province is Luhya. Of
course, over time, many Luhya have immigrated to other parts of the
country. Partly do to the excellent education the Quaker missionaries
promoted during colonial rule, the Luhya tended to go into the educated
professions--teachers, managers, government civil servants, and similiar
occupations.

There are more Quakers in Kenya than any other country in the world. FWCC says 137,000. FUM-Africa office is trying to get a better count, but this is going to be difficult for such large numbers. I think that the total
is considerably higher. If there are 3,000,000 people in Western Province
and 100,000 of them are Quakers, then 3% of the population is Quaker.
While still a small percentage, it is probably one of the highest concentrations of Quakers in the world. Quaker churches and Quaker
schools can be seen everywhere.

At the time of independence all the Quakers were in one very centralized,
yearly meeting--East Africa Yearly Meeting. (they later divided up)

Now all the yearly meetings are members of Friends United Meeting. All except a silent worship group at Friends Church--Nairobi, Ngong Road are programmed Friends, with singing, vocal prayer, preaching, an offering, etc.

Starting in about 1999, the many yearly meetings began to re-develop normal relationships among themselves. Now the Friends Church of Kenya includes all the yearly meetings. During the time of conflict, the Quakers were not represented in the National Christian Council of Kenya because they could not agree on who would represent them. Now the Friends Church has a representative there.

Politically the Luhya have been seen as the political "plum" that would allow someone else to run the country. If a politian could get the votes of the second to largest tribe, he would have a nice voting block. Consequently there have been many Luhya vice-presidents. Kibaki's vice president was a Luhya, Moody Awori, and you can see the resentment against Kibaki when Awori was unable to even hold is own seat in Busia--he was beaten badly by the ODM candidate. In Moi's last government, Musalia Mudavadi was vice-president for only a short time. In the 2002 election the Luhya were determined to oust the Moi government and Mudavadi like Awori in this election lost his seat. He soon recognized his mistake, joined the ODM campaign in 2005 against the proposed constitution, and returned to the good graces of the Luhya. He is now Raila Odinga's vice-presidental running mate. I cover these details because Musalia Mudavadi is a Friend. I am told that he sometimes attends church at Ngong Road in Nairobi. I have found him to be level-headed, a calmer speaker than most politicians, and carried the ODM campaign very well when Raila was in the United States raising funds.

As part of the larger population of the province, the Quakers have been
directly and indirectly affected by the violence. I mentioned a Luhya who was killed in Nakuru (I don't know if he was a Quaker or not). Another prominent Quaker's shop in Nairobi was looted and burned. If a Quaker
lived in a Kikuyu's house, they were burned out. If they rented a house
to a Kikuyu, it was also burnt. There are probably many more examples of
death, looted shops, and burned homes among the Kenya Quakers that I do
not know about. Of course indirectly everyone has been adversely affected. Prices have gone up, transport has been almost impossible, and anyone with a business has seen sales decrease. On top of this is the tension, the uncertainty of what will happen, the retreating into the home and with trusted neighbors only. Then there are the questions, "How can our society have fallen apart like this?" "Where have we gone wrong?"
"Is this going to happen again?"

In my daily reports I try to highlight those things that I hear that the Quaker community are doing--digging latrines at an IDP camp, caring for people in Eldoret Friends Church, our beginning attempts at reconciliation here in Lumakanda, attempts to dialogue with the looters in Kakamega. All these are small initiatives in hard times. As the conflict here in Kenya is no longer is "news," and you hear little about what happens, I hope that you can stay informed about our Quaker brothers and sisters in Western Kenya.

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is seeking motivated volunteers for the 2008 Mexico Summer Project that will run from June 26 to August 9, 2008. The Mexico Summer Project will provide a safe place where youth from the Americas, Europe and Mexico can work together with the Totonaca and Nahua indigenous people on community projects, share from their diverse cultures and experiences, and learn ways to address the political, social, ecological, and economic challenges of the present and the future. The Mexico Summer Project is run in collaboration with Servicio,Desarollo, y Paz, A.C. (SEDEPAC), a prominent Mexican non-governmental organization. In 1939, AFSC and Quakers in Mexico launched the program, which now in its 69th year, continues to provide positive life-changing experiences for diverse youth and local communities.

The Program

In 2008 participants will live together in indigenous communities in the mountainous northeastern region of Puebla, Mexico, commonly called the Sierra Norte de Puebla. In developing and implementing the 2008 Mexico Summer Project, SEDEPAC and AFSC will work closely with Unidad Indígena Totonaca Nahuatl (UNITONA) an indigenous development organization in the area.

After a week of orientation, including a 3-day home stay with a local host family (community immersion), participants are divided into five groups. Each group of about 10 to 14 spends the next seven weeks living as a family in an indigenous village where they engage with the local community in cultural and recreational exchanges, assigned work projects for sustainable development, and workshops on various topics important to the local community and the group members.

Qualifications

This is an intensive, challenging experience for mature individuals who are open-minded and eager to learn about the challenges of building sustainable communities in the midst of economic and ecological crisis. Participants must be 18-26 years old and able to communicate well in Spanish, the language of the project at all times. AFSC requires that participants undergo a pre-project physical exam. They must commit for the full seven weeks, June 26- August 9, 2008, and should be willing and prepared to live with a small group of peers in a remote, rural area of Mexico. AFSC seeks applicants who are interested in service, advocacy, and social justice—both in Latin America and their own communities.

Costs

Participants are responsible for a $1,350 project fee, which covers food, lodging, and transportation related to the project. Participants are also responsible for the cost of their travel to and from Mexico City. A non-refundable registration fee of $250 is due upon acceptance and the remainder in June 2008. Scholarships are available to applicants with demonstrated financial need, through the Dewitt Wallace Youth Travel Enrichment Fund of the New York Community Trust. Applicants should be sure to fill out a scholarship request form with the application if they would like to be considered for a scholarship.

Applications

Application forms are available online at www.afsc.org/mexicosummer.htm. Please call or send an email to request that the forms be mailed to you. All applications must be submitted to AFSC byMarch 21, 2008. In April, up to 30 participants and five facilitators from the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico will be notified that they have been accepted. Applicants from other countries should contact SEDEPAC. Additional qualified applicants will be placed on a waiting list and contacted if space becomes available.

Summer 2008

Program Locations: Bosnia, Guatemala, Rwanda & Venezuela

Application Deadline: January 25, 2008

Global Youth Connect, an international human rights organization, is pleased to announce that we are accepting applications from young leaders (ages 18-30) for our Summer 2008 international human rights delegations.  Program locations include:  Bosnia, Guatemala, Rwanda and Venezuela.  

Human rights delegations are a unique, first-hand opportunity to cross cultural boundaries and learn about the daily reality of human rights as experienced in a complex and increasingly globalized world.  Each delegation weaves together three core sets of activities: site visits to local organizations, hands-on fieldwork projects, and a human rights training workshop with local youth activists.

Bosnia   (June 29 - July 18, 2008)
Program Tuition:  $2,750

This delegation will explore the roots of the conflict and the dynamics of justice, reconciliation and peacebuilding as experienced in Bosnia.  Participants will gain experience in conflict resolution and transformation and deepen their understanding of the post-conflict challenges faced by Bosnians today, especially youth.  Participants will have an opportunity to meet with Bosnian NGOs working on issues of human rights, community development, youth empowerment, and conflict resolution.  The program will also include a workshop with Bosnian youth and the opportunity to work hands-on with local organizations to assist them in their daily activities.

Guatemala  (June 15 - July 13, 2008)
Program Tuition:  $2,750
 
This delegation will explore the roots of violence and social injustice in Guatemala, with a particular focus on the country's indigenous population.  We will seek to better understand the legacy of Guatemala's 36-year armed conflict and the impact of violence, both past and present, on the Guatemalan people, as well as reflect on how policies and practices in the U.S.have affected the lives of ordinary Guatemalans.  Delegation activities will center on supporting the efforts of grassroots human rights activists working to promote and defend the political, social, economic and cultural rights of all Guatemalans.  Spanish proficiency is required.

Rwanda  (June 14 - July 13, 2008)
Program Tuition: $2,450

This delegation will explore the roots of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, how this legacy of violence has impacted the country and its people, particularly Rwandan youth, and also how the country is attempting to rebuild today. We will examine issues of truth, justice and reconciliation in the context of post-conflict Rwanda and what is needed to strengthen local institutions and programs dedicated to promoting a culture of respect for human rights.  Participants will connect with young Rwandans and get involved in a variety of collaborative projects aimed at promoting human rights as well as meet with leading human rights defenders, government representatives, international institutions, youth and others from local communities to learn more about the political, economic and social challenges faced by Rwandans today.  

Venezuela  (July 26 - August 17, 2008)
Program Tuition: $2,250

The delegation will explore the rise of social change movements and human rights activism in present-day Venezuela, both on the grassroots level and as represented by national government programs. Through hands-on participation in partnership with grassroots organizations, participants will investigate present-day human rights concerns along with the response of government and civil society.  A major theme of the program will be to examine the relationship of grassroots human rights organizations with a national government expressly concerned with promoting respect for human rights, democratic reform, and the redistribution of wealth. Delegation activities will focus in particular on the efforts of young human rights activists to promote
and sustain a just, equitable, democratic, and peaceful society.  Spanish proficiency is required.

Application Deadline:      January 25, 2008

How to Apply:      We invite interested young leaders to apply.  We are looking for participants who are between the ages of 18-30 and who possess U.S. citizenship or residency as well as international students studying full-time at a U.S. college or university.  Most importantly, applicants should wish to expand their knowledge and understanding of human rights and social justice.  Participants will become part of a growing global movement of youth acting together for compassion, human rights and responsibility.

For detailed information on program activities, costs, fundraising/financial aid, and application information, please visit our website:

www.globalyouthconnect.org/participate

Best wishes,

Jennifer Kloes
Executive Director
Global Youth Connect
www.globalyouthconnect.org
Acting together for compassion, human rights and responsibility