• A DAY WITH THE MUSAHARS OF ARARIA • ADVOCATING ORGANIC, ADVOCATING SUCCESS • GOING FAIR TRADE – A BETTER DAY FOR TEA FARMERS • RESPONSIBLE WELL-BEING
SETTING SUN AT THE ISRAEL-GAZA BORDER Oxfam International is calling on the United Nations to act immediately to end the conflict in Gaza and to ensure humanitarian access. Here, an Israeli military jeep at the Israel-Gaza border, 4 January 2009. Photo: Reuters/Yannis Behrakis (Israel). Courtesy of AlertNet.
As an avid hiker, I have spent almost every vacation travelling, usually in a
food, good drinking water, and children
the generosity of donors, the passion
Oxfam. They gave us their love. I was
are studying in safe and solid schools.
of volunteers, and the perseverance,
moved to tears.
remote area, even ‘a no man’s land’. I
I still travel during my vacations
bravery and optimism of the survivors.
enjoyed stunning landscapes, amazing
and experience marvelous scenery and
cultures, and the unforgettable warmth
sometimes, incredible poverty. People
The stor y of Shimenkan is still
20 days, and two survivors from Mao
from the purest smiles. I also saw
still strive for a better quality of life.
making the rounds. In Guizhou Province,
and Qingchuan. They decided to join
extreme poverty, which left me puzzled
There is still a long way to go.
They moved the world.
In Sichuan, I met two volunteers working with Oxfam for more than
Shimenkan is one of Oxfam’s very first
Oxfam Trailwalker 2008, and my team
as to what I should and could do. Then
The devastating earthquake in China
project sites – in 1992, when we started
walked with theirs. We cherished the
during a weekend hike, I met an Oxfam
on 12 May 2008 stirred up the passion
working there, people’s income was
care from the same support team and
Hong Kong donor named Tina Wu. Yes,
of millions of people across the country:
less than 100 Yuan a year. Nowadays,
completed the full 1OOkm. Of course,
I would try to work with Oxfam!
people were eager to do all they could
it is about 1,000, but life remains
their ‘Beyond 512’ team was faster.
I waited for over two years before
to help. I was one of them. Luckily, I
difficult: temperatures get bitterly cold
I remember the awards ceremony.
the right chance came along, joining
had joined the right organisation at the
and they suffered in the snowstorm
Oxfam Advisor Dr. Lo Wing-lok asked
the agency in October of 2007. Life
right time. I flew to Sichuan just after
of February 2008, China’s worst in 50
me whether I would be back next year.
turned over a new leaf. Again, I visited
the disaster and worked with colleagues
years. Yet, three months later, when
I hesitated and said, “I have no idea.”
distant places, often trekking to many
and volunteers day and night. As I write
the earthquake struck neighbouring
However, after a sound sleep and a big
very remote project sites, but this time,
this article, my Oxfam colleagues are
Sichuan, they wanted to help. The
celebration dinner, all of us promised
I happily experienced the great changes
still working hard for reconstruction
young and old spared what they could,
we would meet in 2009.
happening there. People are now
in the provinces of Sichuan, Gansu
and in the end, their donation reached
enjoying reliable electricity, enough
and Shaanxi. I have been so moved by
13,395 Yuan. They hand delivered it to
ZH
EN
BI XU N E G
Based in Beijing, Xue Zhenbing is an Events Officer with Oxfam Hong Kong.
Xue Zhenbing (right) at Beijunping Primary Shcool in Sichuan, China.
Photo by Zhou Wei/Oxfam Hong Kong
A DAY WITH THE MUSAHARS OF ARARIA By Nori DeDios It was my first trip to India and my first field assignment as a humanitarian worker with Oxfam
I thought I had a fairly good understanding of what it means to be poor.
Hong Kong. I was headed for Araria, a district in
Later in the day, we go to Indra Pur where
Bihar, one of the poorest states in the country. I
people show us how the floods ravaged their
would meet colleagues from the NGO, Integrated
village. They say the flood waters were four to
Development Foundation, which was at the
six feet high and the current so strong it swept
height of carrying out its relief work: Araria was
away all the things in their homes. A woman
one of the areas most severely affected by the
carrying her child in her arms points out the
floods in August 2008. Hundreds of villages were
damaged part of her house, as if making sure
submerged, and some 2.7 million people across
that we take notice of how she has had to suffer
India and Nepal were displaced.
living in a house with a large hole on one side. At
About 500 people are waiting in the grounds
each brief stop at a different home, the Musahars
of the Ursuline convent in Panchyat Majhua, where
tell me stories of how hungry their children have
one of the health camps set up by Integrated
become, how difficult it is to find work, how that
Development Foundation (IDF) is in full swing.
after the floods, there is nothing or little left to
Community volunteers are busy managing the
survive on. I see that the curious children walking
crowd, listing down and counter-checking claim
alongside us are wearing only shorts, their bellies
cards, while doctors provide free check-ups.
protruding out of a skinny body frame, a typical
For many of the beneficiaries, it would be their first time to be seen by a medical doctor. “In the
sign of malnutrition. “They’re probably infested with worms,” Babul tells me.
past, they could not afford to consult one, so they
These images and conversations can easily
would go to ‘quack doctors’ instead,” Prasad Babul,
trap us in the traditional humanitarian view of
IDF’s Chairperson, tells me. Most of them would
disaster ‘victims’ being helpless and needy. The
also be taking medication for the first time in their
Musahars of Araria are marginalised and socially
lives. Their illnesses commonly listed on the health
stigmatised people, and their vulnerability can be
camp’s log book include influenza, diarrhoea
further aggravated by a disaster, and by the way
and dysentery.
people – including humanitarian agencies – treat
A doctor with patients (top), villagers entering a health camp (bottom left) and a home damaged by the floods (right). Photos courtesy of Integrated Development Foundation.
‘They’ are the Musahars, the lowest in the Hindu
them. While it is common humanitarian practice
after the floods. There were other organisations
consultations and house-to-house visits, survivors
caste system. The Musahars are landless, have no
that ‘victims’ be consulted on what they need in
that came to the villages, but they left after getting
had helped identify the poorest Musahar people
regular jobs, and very much exploited. “The floods
order to survive, beneficiaries also value the way
some information. They never returned.” Some
in the neighborhood and helped clarify who might
took whatever few belongings they had and so
in which humanitarian agencies provide services.
of the Musahars even suspect that there were
benefit most from what assistance.
now they have nothing. Absolutely nothing,” one
My brief interaction with the Musahars shows me
organisations and individuals who only used their
Through my one day with the Musahars, I could
of the Ursuline nuns says to me. The Musahars
that if we regard them with respect and dignity,
situation to get funding but never really intended
appreciate that they have a natural capacity to give,
did not dare evacuate to the government-run
they will see more value in the assistance supported
to help them.
even though they may have ‘absolutely nothing’
camps, for they knew that nobody there would
by IDF, Oxfam Hong Kong and the Disaster Relief
attend to their needs. Worst, they could even be
Fund of the Hong Kong SAR Government.
One Musahar woman gave up the chance to
and are ‘victims’ of the worst floods in fifty years.
have an improved water facility next to her home,
They are also survivors, caring survivors. Oxfam Hong Kong has supported the work of Integrated Development Foundation for several years and has been supporting anti-poverty programmes across India since the late 1970s. Since 2004, about 30,000 people in 35 villages across Bihar have been assisted through various community development and disaster preparedness projects. Nori DeDios joined Oxfam Hong Kong in 2008 and traveled to India in November of that year.
thrown out of the camps to prevent them from
“It gives us lots of hope that you visited and
knowing that IDF only had very few resources to
‘contaminating’ the other castes. Instead, they
talked to us,” says a Musahar woman, referring to
address all the needs of the village. She said to
went to the embankments or along the streets
IDF and its participatory approach in humanitarian
IDF colleagues, “I live near a water pump, so you
near their villages. This is what it means to be
response. She continues, “IDF was the only
can install the new pumps in areas where they are
an ‘untouchable’, I say to myself. Until that time,
organisation that visited us and stayed during and
needed.” IDF also told me that during previous
GOING FAIR TRADE – A BETTER DAY FOR TEA FARMERS Text and photos by Charlotte Wan
Top: Giang a Nu, happy with his tea, boxed as a Betterday product Bottom: H’mong farmers are excited to use scissors for the first time on their tea trees.
Giang A Nu, a tea farmer in northern Vietnam,
Before getting involved with Betterday, it had
concept of Fair Trade, helped farmers form a tea
kneads his tea leaves and excitedly examines the
also been difficult for Giang A Nu’s family to get
production group, assisted with the application
words printed on the tea package, “Betterday
by. Corn and tea brought in little income, and
for Fair Trade certification, and is supporting with
Whole Leaf Black Tea, Lau Chau, Vietnam”. No
rice, the most profitable crop, could only be sold
technical training and bio-fertilisers.
wonder he is smiling: his tea has not only become
for 4,000 dong per kilo at the market. The total
These days, in 2009, the farmers have a good
one of the best selling items at the Betterday shop
value of the family’s annual crops, most of which
agreement with their new buyer, Betterday. The
in Hanoi, but by selling his freshly picked leaves
they consumed themselves, was about 24 million
fairer price, currently at 5,000 dong per kilo, is
directly to Betterday, a Vietnamese Fair Trade
dong (about US$1,400). With only 1.5 hectares of
higher than the general market price, and it is
company, he can ensure his family a better and
land, the family had had little surplus to sell at the
stable. This brings a sense of security, so farmers
stable income.
market, seven kilometres away.
can now plan for the future.
Giang A Nu, 27, of Hmong ethnic minority, is
Ta Leng’s climate and soil are particularly
For instance, the farmers recently formed
like many other rural residents. He became a full-
suitable for growing tea. In the past, however,
the Lai Chau Sustainable Tea Production Group,
time farmer at the age of 14, married young, and
with no market information and with only
and Fair Trade certification is expected before
already has two children, aged seven and five.
irregular buying from intermediaries, the farmers
Spring 2009. At that time, the purchase price from
He is a responsible member of the community
found it difficult to earn a good income from it.
Betterday will be adjusted, and the group will also
and serves as a member of the Ta Leng Commune
“Last year, a lot of Chinese merchants came and
be entitled to receive Fair Trade social premiums.
People’s Committee.
bought our tea with a high price, at 7,000 dong
Giang A Nu says, “I believe… I can have a
Famous for its beautiful mountains, Ta Leng
per kilo, but it only lasted for two months…. We
more stable income in the future… Fair Trade can
also has a good climate and good soil. Yet, Ta
were hopeful, however, they did not show up
guarantee me a better income, a platform to share
Leng is one of the poorest areas in Vietnam, where
again,” said Giang A Nu. Such sporadic buying
and improve technology. The social premium can
over 40 per cent of families – mostly H’mong and
made for instability.
improve our lives!”
Dao – live on a daily income of less than 7,000
The situation changed in 2008, when staff from
dong per person (US$0.40), far below the United
Betterday visited Ta Leng. They were surprised
Nations poverty line, which is one dollar per person
by the poverty of the farmers despite the high
per day.
quality of their tea. Betterday introduced the
For more on Betterday, please visit: www.betterday.com.vn. Betterday was also featured in the September edition of O.N.E, http://www.oxfam.org.hk/one//200809/index.html. Charlotte Wan, formerly a campaigner with Oxfam Hong Kong, is now based in Hanoi as an intern with Betterday.
ADVOCATING ORGANIC, ADVOCATING SUCCESS
Gil Asesor, a farmer in North Cotabato who made the switch from chemical to biodynamic agriculture. He and his family now have enough food to eat all through the year, and enough income to keep all the children in school and to repair the house. Photo courtesy of Rice Watch and Action Network.
By Hazel Arandez-Tanchuling Despite the perseverance of many NGOs,
Don Bosco Diocesan Youth Center, his 1.25 hectare
mainstreaming sustainable agriculture remains a
farm has become a kind of informal learning centre
challenge in the Philippines. The government has
for other biodynamic farmers to come and visit –
no national programme and contends that NGOs
they want to learn how to replicate his success.
RESPONSIBLE
WELL-BEING Another lunar year. Across Asia, we have gathered together and wished each other wellbeing. In Hong Kong, we presented
have too little experience in sustainable agriculture
Even though the farm is rain-fed, with
and that such projects have been too small in
biodynamic and diversified farming, a limited
scope to merit national promotion. Although the
supply of water is not necessarily a hindrance to a
not afford even staggered payments. But when
government recently agreed to provide minimal
farm’s productive capacity. Farms like his typically
they converted to biodynamic farming, they were
The Oxfam Hong Kong lai-see will include
amounts of money in little red lai-see envelopes as part of this wish.
support to organic agriculture, they call on NGOs
have only one cropping season a year due to
able to repay their debt after only one cropping
our earnest wish for people to realise
to present documentation, even proof, on its
limited water, but he has managed to plant and
season.
responsible wellbeing. Work on poverty and
viability and effectiveness before they consider
harvest enough rice for home consumption even
doing more.
during the dry season.
Asesor stresses that livestock is a vital component
injustice should lead to a life of wellbeing
of a farm; it has helped his family survive the
– where people enjoy the fruits of their
Rice Watch and Action Network took up the
Asesor and his family are able to cover all of
second cropping season. The animals provide a
labour, are able to make life choices, enjoy
challenge to record the successes of practitioners
their daily expenses from the farm, through crops
source of income during the dry season, with the
self-esteem, and live in solidarity with their
across the country, starting with the experiences
or livestock. By choosing to work with nature, not
Muslim communities being good customers.
neighbours or communities. The aspiration
of its own member organisations using a range
to control it, the family has all the food and money
With intelligence, generosity and a sense of
towards responsible wellbeing is something
of sustainable farming approaches: Bio-dynamic
they need. They never go hungry, and have finally
reverence, Asesor has developed his own farm
universal. Development work – good change –
farming, Low External Input Rice Production
had the chance to repair the house, buy some
implements that reflect ingenuity and great love
should therefore start with an understanding
(LEIRP), Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture
furniture, and all the children have been able
for farming, he shares his knowledge on herbal
of and build on people’s understanding of
(LEISA), Masipag Rice Technology (MRT), System
to go school – the older ones are now university
medicine and indigenous plants with others, and
responsible wellbeing. And as indicated by
of Rice Intensification (SRI) and pure organic
students. The youngest daughter has learned the
he believes that spirits in the natural world watch
views from several partners below, it is a good
farming. The case studies presented in Table 1
value of the farm and sells some fruit to classmates
over his farming.
place to start…
and 2 do in fact demonstrate that higher yields
and teachers whenever she needs extra money for
Asesor’s experience with sustainable agriculture is just one of many. The case studies collected by
For us, it means to be alive. We want
Life was totally different when the Asesor
Rice Watch and Action Network clearly present
our children to go to school, be healthy and
One case study is Gil Asesor, a biodynamic
family farmed with chemical pesticides and
‘proof’ of higher yields and higher income. The
well and then to marry and have healthy
farmer in M’lang, North Cotabato. Assisted by the
fertilisers. They had run up a huge debt and could
better yields are largely because of improved
families. We are tired of losing them year
soil fertility and fewer pest infestations, and the
after year. We just want to live.
can be achieved and maintained, and incomes stay higher, too.
a school activity.
Table 1
higher profits are largely due to reduced costs of
Costs and Returns of Rice Production Practices (In Philippine Pesos) Cost of Production per hectare
Rice Production Practice
Yield
production, since few or no chemicals are used.
Gross Income
Net Income
Chemical farming
A farmer in Zota Zota, Zambia; her village has high rates of HIV-AIDS
Farmers who practice sustainable agriculture no longer need to borrow so much money to purchase so many pesticides and fertilisers, and
Wellbeing is an ideal s tate of
Luzon
19,194
4.5
49,500
30,306
they receive a better return from organically grown
development, this ideal state is a situation
Visayas
26,990
3.5
39,000
8,010
crops, which command a higher market price than
when the flood comes and goes without
mainstream chemically grown ones.
creating any devastation, with enough
Sustainable agricultural practice
Food is healthier with minimal or no chemical
stock of food grain, fodder… youth do not
7,166
1.43
15,730
8,564
residue, and women farmers – who tend to be the
migrate… efficient health and education
LEIRP
20,343
4.4
48,400
28,057
cooks in the home – say the rice tastes better. SRI
and the farmers can live a better life
LEISA
12,670
4.5
49,500
24,160
Biodynamic farming
technology is particularly beneficial to women, who also tend to be the ones to work with young
Masipag Rice Technology (MRT)
17,004
3.25
32,660
15,656
SRI (hybrid)
24,378
11.6
93,800
69,422
exposed to harmful chemicals, as SRI rice farming
SRI (inbred)
25,150
12.5
100,000
74,850
does not submerge the saplings in water.
Source: Making our Own Choices for Sustainable Farming: Documentation of Selected Rice Farming Methods, Rice Watch and Action Network
Production Practice
Biodynamic farming
LEISA/LEIRP
Pure Organic Farming
MRT
SRI
The regeneration of soil is a benefit for all. Different methods reduce chemical fertilisers Biodynamic farming is particularly effective with
General and Specific Practices Used per Major Rice Technology Innovations and Methods
• Multi-storey • Diverse cropping recycling (animal manure, rice straw, green manure)
• Mulching • Recycling • Crop rotation • Intercropping
• Recycling
• Recycling
• Mulching • Recycling
Organic Fertilisers Used
maintaining levels of nitrogen and acidity in the Alternative Pesticides used
• BD spray solutions • BD spray solutions • Decomposed rice straw, leaves and grass • Korean natural • Green manure farming • Animal manure solutions • Korean natural farming solutions (fermented fruit juice, fermented plant juice, indigenous micro-organisms) • Decomposed rice straw • Green manure • Carbonised rice hull • Chicken manure • Organic fertilisers
• Botanicals
• Decomposed rice straw • Green manure • Carbonised rice hull • Chicken manure
• Botanicals
• Decomposed rice straw • Crop residues • Green manure • Animal manure • Vermicast
• Botanicals
• Decomposed rice straw • Green manure • Animal manure
Farmers in Dumri, a flood-prone village in Muzaffarpur, India
rice shoots in the paddies; now they are no longer
at varying amounts, with LEISA using the least.
Table 2
soil. With Masipag, soil is softer, and earthworms
When I grow up, and I [want to] be able to treat my mother well, rent an apartment for her, and let her enjoy some good food... but I don’t want to be too rich. Rich people are always watched by others. Not rich, not poor, that would be OK with me. Ma Xuelan, 11, Lanzhou, China
are reapp earing in the rice field s . O ther technologies build up humus well and regulate acidity and alkalinity (pH). Whichever method, sustainable farming promotes diversification of crop and livestock, as it reduces risk. It also promotes biodiversity, which maintains ecological balance and stability, as mono-culture leads to the most unstable ecosystem and is prone to pest outbreaks. And unlike chemical farming, which virtually obliterates indigenous ways of life and traditional farming, sustainable agriculture supports these long-serving practices which tend to ensure farmers’ control over their resources,
To our parents, wellbeing was having a house of their own; now, having a house is something we take for granted – we want education for our children. Wellbeing is not simply a matter of wealth, the need for personal relationships is valued very high. It is good to have wealth; but it is not good to be wealthy while there are others in the community who are very poor. Three farmers in Vietnam
such as seeds. Rice Watch and Action Network has taken up the work to present the evidence that organic agriculture is feasible, sustainable and profitable. Now it is the government’s turn to do their work to reduce the poverty of its people. • Botanicals
Source: Making our Own Choices for Sustainable Farming: Documentation of Selected Rice Farming Methods, Rice Watch and Action Network
Rice Watch and Action Network, www.r1phils.org, is a group of organisations working on sustainable trade, agriculture and development in the Philippines, and Oxfam Hong Kong has been supporting the network for a few years. This article is a short excerpt of their documentation on rice farming methods. Hazel Arandez-Tanchuling is the Secretariat Coordinator for the network.
We llb e in g i s s o m e t hin g b e yo n d economic and social change and it is linked to attitudinal and behavioral aspects and it can be seen as change in the quality of life. Sahamati, a NGO in Nepal
OXFAM ACTION A global petition against climate change: http://www.oxfam.org/en/campaigns/climatechange
OXFAM in the NEWS www.oxfam.org.hk/valentine Big Soil's original sketch for the Oxfam gift box.
This Valentine’s Day, we are determined
Paraguay, Philippines and Thailand), people
a popular actor in Hong Kong whom people
to make people’s hearts and minds fairer,
who are fairly treated (no exploitation) and
called ‘small turtle’ (sai gwai) and Kenneth
with a handmade flower card, handmade
properly paid.
was called the same, as he happens to look
candles and incense, three bars of Fair
An illustrator and creative director
similar. When it came time to choose a
Trade chocolate, all sweetly wrapped for
known as Big Soil, aged 38, joined our
professional pen name, he first thought of
the people we love.
campaign and used a big, cuddly polar
‘big turtle’ (dai gwai), but it was a friend
In Januar y, Ox fam
We invited a leading illustrator to design
bear for the main visual because he thinks
who suggested ‘big soil’: one ‘soil’ (土)
Hong Kong presented the
the gift box, so everything will look as good
“the animal brings a feeling of warmth,
above another (or 圭) has the same gwai/
ex hibition , C A N VA S FO R
as it tastes, smells and feels.
peace and tolerance.” The white bear is a
turtle sound, yet ‘soil’ is more aligned with
C H A N G E a t M u s e u m s of
character loved by many of his fans.
Kenneth’s love for nature.
Contemporary Art in Hong
At Oxfam, we see our ‘Be My Fair Valentine’ gift box as an easy way for
Big Soil’s art appears in books, magazines,
Big Soil doesn’t usually mark Valentine’s
Kong. I t wa s the s e cond
everyone to support the campaign for Fair
daily newspapers, and to support other
Day and sees it mostly as a day for women.
stop for the campaign art
Trade and against poverty: Fair Trade gives
campaigns such as ‘Save Victoria Harbour’
“I will probably have to work that day
from 14 countries around
farmers and workers a fair deal and allows
against excessive reclamation in Hong
anyway,” the very sought-after illustrator
the world – the exhibition
them to improve their lives and get out of
Kong. He also teaches at the Hong Kong
sighs.
was first displayed in Poland
poverty. The gift box is filled with fairness,
Polytechnic University, where he is more
something we all want and deserve: all
commonly known as Kenneth Chan.
of the gift items are made by people in
Cantonese is a playful language, and
seven developing countries (Bolivia, the
there is a playful story behind Kenneth’s
Dominican Republic, Ghana, Ivory Coast,
nickname. About ten years ago, there was
So will millions of farmers around the
in December, at the United
world.
Nations Conference on climate
For more about Oxfam Hong Kong’s Fair Trade campaign, go to www.maketradefair.org.hk. For more about Big Soil, go to www.bigsoil.com.
change. Audrey Eu, chair of the Panel on Environmental Affairs of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, officiated
How I see myself as a TRAILWALKER
the opening reception, and By Holly Chan
repre sentative s from the Bangladesh, Britain, Canada and the Philippines consulates attended the exhibition, as well as the British Council. One of the pieces of art, a diptych titled Hot City Dry Field, was put together by the Hong Kong artist Lau Gukzik. She was inspired by meeting twelve-year-old Zhang Zhirong, a student living in Gansu, one of the poorest and driest areas of China, and
Holly and one of her teammates, colleague Sha Lei.
Oh, and all the delicious food and kindness offered by our three supporting
Holly (fourth from right) and colleagues at the Finish Point.
a province at great risk of climate change. Several media have reported the event, including a.m. post, C for Culture, Metro Radio and MingPao Weekly.
MOKUNG
teams, as well as all the warm text messages,
Oxfam Hong Kong publishes this
phone calls and written messages from my
bi-monthly magazine in Traditional
colleagues! All of this was on my mind,
Chinese. Mokung, which means both
all the time. They are some of the best
“no poverty” and “infinity”, highlights
The year 1981 marks the very first
I never underestimated the challenges of
moments of my life, reminding me what
a different aspect of development in
Trailwalker held in Hong Kong. It also marks
such a huge event. My colleagues have so
friends are for.
each issue. The Editor is Tung Tsz-kwan.
the year I was born.
much work in hosting the event every year!
No, Oxfam Trailwalker is not just a
The February 2009 edition focuses on
It means something to grow up liking
The 2008 slogan was ‘100km trailwalking,
physical event. More than that, the 100km
the Poverty News Poll conducted with
to hike: I was passionate to join Trailwalker
100% against poverty’, and to this, I cannot
trail requires us to persevere in the face of
Mingpao newspaper.
even before I joined Oxfam Hong Kong as
agree more. Only people with 100%
an adverse environment (it was quite hot
a staff member, in 2007.
endurance will commit themselves to the
and then rather cold during the 48-hour
long and winding road against poverty.
event), and to keep faith in each other to
Oxfam Trailwalker 2008 was memorable not only because it was my most arduous
It is this all-but-smooth trail that
overcome any difficulties (even though two
hike to date, but more importantly because
reaffirms my belief in unity and solidarity.
of us dropped out, we could not all quit).
of the ups and downs in the process. It made
Although we did not complete the 100km
Ultimately, we were always together!
me reflect on the meaning of my work and
trail as a full team, I so much valued the
my life.
encouragement from my two teammates
From helping out in the preparation
who had to quit because they fell sick along
(setting up check-points, helping with
the way. Even from the sidelines, they kept
volunteer training, etc), to actually trekking
our team spirit alive – this was crucial for
the 100 kilometres from 7 to 9 November,
those final kilometres.
Isn’t this exactly what we need in the long fight for a world free of poverty? Holly Chan assists Oxfam Hong Kong’s projects in Archipelagic Southeast Asia and wrote this article during a field trip to Timor-Leste. She finished the 100km of Oxfam Trailwalker 2008 in 40 hours and 2 minutes. For more about the event, please visit www. oxfamtrailwalker.org.hk.
To subscribe: www.oxfam.org.hk/public/bookstore/?lang=big5 Mokung is online at www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/category?cid=1017&lang=big5
ONE O.N.E – Ox fam New s Emagazine – is uploaded monthly at www.oxfam.org.hk/one. To receive a copy in your inbox, please subscribe – it is free. To subscribe: www.oxfam.org.hk/one/subscribe.html
Every day, Oxfam Hong Kong works alongside hundreds of groups around the world, from small NGOs to international bodies, from government departments of developing countries to community groups based in Hong Kong. Here are 6 ‘partner organisations’ that we are supporting for the first time.
CHINA (MAINLAND) GANSU
N e w PartnerOrganisations
GUIZHOU SICHUAN
SHENZHEN
• Lanzhou University • Congjiang County Committee Office of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference • Poverty Alleviation Office of Anxian County • Poverty Alleviation Office of Lixian County • Poverty Alleviation Office of Lizhou County • Hand-in-hand Consulting Center (for migrant workers)
www.oxfam.org.hk Hong Kong
17th Floor, 28 Marble Road, Northpoint, Hong Kong O. N .E is also on-line: www.oxfam.org.hk/one Editor: Madeleine Marie Slavick (emagazine@oxfam.org.hk)