THE CRISIS IN DARFUR | MORE ACTION NEEDED

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More action needed on Darfur

Please consider how you can raise awareness and funds about the crisis in Darfur. Below are a few ideas to think about:

Dolls for Darfur www.dollsfordarfur.org
Temple Emanu-El's volunteers run Dolls for Darfur. The project provides congregations, camps, and other interested groups with postcards and tiny dolls that represent individuals who have lost their lives in Darfur, as well as detailed instructions and materials for lobbying elected officials and curriculum ideas for educating our youth. While the program aims to raise awareness, any net profit is donated to the Save Darfur Coalition or International Rescue Committee.
Solar Cookers
Once Darfurian refugees arrive at camps, the danger from the Janjaweed unfortunately continues. Women and children must venture out of the camps to collect firewood, where they jeopardize being raped by Janjaweed surrounding the camps; if the men go instead, they risk being killed. However, organizations are currently providing the women of the Iridimi refugee camp in Chad with solar cookers, which reduces the need to collect firewood and helps generate income by assembling the cookers in a workshop and training others. Thirty dollars provides one family with two cookers, two pots, and training for the women.

Jewish World Watch, an inter-denominational group of about 45 synagogues in Southern California, including several URJ congregations, focuses on advocacy, fundraising, and education regarding Darfur. Since its inception, JWW has raised about $1 million and has helped build 50 water wells and two medical clinics in camps for Darfurian refugees. Currently, JWW is also funding a project providing solar cookers and training.

For more information, please visit www.jewishworldwatch.org or www.solarcookers.org.

Crisis in Darfur Contact Information

Jean Kazez
(E) jkazez@smu.edu