I grew up in the United States. I attended kindergarten and public schools and then continued my education at university. My graduating class in high school in 1977 was over 500 students, without a single student of color. Through no fault of my own, I grew up in a pre-baked “white bread” American dream education system that eventually led me...

by Valerie Garforth, FAUSA

On October 19, 1987, a violent storm swept through southeast England and Belgium, felling hundreds of venerable trees and leaving a path of destruction in its wake. In the Forêt de Soignes, the urban forest outside Brussels, tall beech trees lay scattered like skittles. It was a shocking demonstration of the force of nature. During the...

TREE PLANTING GUIDE

1. Choose your site - Bear in mind the mature height that your tree will reach.  Do you want your tree to provide shade, to be part of a windbreak,Birch tree in the back yard to mask road noise and pollution, to create privacy, to provide shelter and food for small animals and birds, or do you want...

The oldest “verified” person in the world is a woman named Chiyo Muyako, who lives in Japan. She was born in 1901, which makes her 117 years old. Is she lonely? Probably not, because Japan’s supercentenarian list includes at least 17 other women from ages 112 to 116 years. How did that happen?

The United Nations cites population aging as...

After a very busy summer, I am finally getting into the swing of a new FAWCO year! I hope all of you are rested and rejuvenated after your summer break and I/we look forward to working together for the good of the environment this year. We want to help you help the environment!

Let me start with a bit of information on the...

PILLOW PROJECT HELPS CHILDREN STAY IN FAMILIES 

The 2018 Effecting Change for Women & Children Development Grant in the Human Rights category, funded by FAUSA, was awarded to The Pillow Project to Stop Child Trafficking, a project of the Stahili Foundation, based in Murang'a County, Kenya.  The project was nominated by AWC The Hague, which has been supporting the organization for four years. Stahili means...

Target Project Site Visit Attendees Meet with Men in the GBV Prevention Group

In April, 22 FAWCO/FAUSA members visited the Collateral Repair Project Community Center to witness firsthand the way CRP is using the funds from the FAWCO Target Project, Hope Beyond Displacement.  One of my favorite aspects of HBD has always been the gender-based violence (GBV) awareness portion.

FAWCO Clubs Participate in We Came By Choice

In June, the Target Program and the Human Rights Team's new FAWCO Refugee Task Force paired to promote the We Came By Choice initiative honoring those in our communities who have made the difficult choice to flee their homes. Many thanks to the clubs that participated.

Heidelberg IWC wrapped up their series...

16 Days Campaign Takes on New Form

The theme for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, November 25-December 10, was recently released: “End Gender-Based Violence in the World of Work.” With the recent #MeToo Movement, the conflict over allegations against US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, and the increased focus on sexual harassment and sexual assault in...

Located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea between Israel and Syria, Lebanon is one of the smallest countries in the Middle East by area. It gained independence from France in 1943. Despite its compact size, Lebanon has played an important role in regional politics, security and commerce throughout its history. It has a history rich in cultural heritage...