O.N.E - February 2009

• 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)