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December 31, 2004 <br>
<br>
Dear Friends and Colleagues:<br>
<br>
We have all been deeply affected by the scenes of massive death and
destruction in Southeast Asia. I have received dozens of letters in
the last few days from people around the world asking what can we do…as
facilitators, as professionals, as human beings. <br>
<br>
It is important to recognize that at this moment and for a while to come,
the imperious need for direct relief aid are prioritary. The window
of opportunity for an effective intervention in community and individual
psychosocial reconstruction will probably begin to appear within a few
weeks. Here are some ideas to think about and act upon in the meantime:
<ul>
<li>If your live in the affected zone or have friends or colleagues
living there, you can help them considerably by being sure they know
about the IAF-GFSC disaster intervention manuals (for adults, for
children and for facilitators and other professionals), as well as other
materials in several languages that are available on the GFSC Website
<<a href="http://globalfacilitators.com/" eudora="autourl">
http://globalfacilitators.com</a>> for downloading without cost.
<li>If you have professional contacts in the affected areas, you can put
them in touch with GFSC (send me their names or ask them to visit the
GFSC website). We have networks and contacts throughout the
affected region and many concerned professionals do not know about the
existence of others in their area. Our GFSC mission is to connect these
people in order to develop and support local networks of volunteer
facilitators that can help the communities potentialize their capacity to
address their challenges and create sustainable solutions.
<li>If you have a few hours a week to spare, you and your facilitator
colleagues can sign up as GFSC Field Volunteers and participate without
cost in our Mentored Pathways™ Program, in order to be prepared to help
in the moment that help is needed. For more information and an electronic
signup form, please go to our website:
<<a href="http://globalfacilitators.org/" eudora="autourl">
http://globalfacilitators.org</a>>.
<li>If you wish to donate money for the immediate relief efforts,
<b><u>please</u></b> be sure it goes to a reputable agency that will
wisely administer it. You can check out any relief or aid agency
at:
<<a href="http://charitywatch.org/" eudora="autourl">
http://charitywatch.org/</a>>. If you wish to support the GFSC
psychosocial reconstruction efforts, very shortly we are going to have an
urgent need for funds to develop and print materials and to transport
them and the volunteers who will train others to use them, to the
affected zone. Your donation is needed and will be greatly
appreciated and well used. All donations are tax deductible in the
United States and you can make your donation through our website:
<<a href="http://globalfacilitators.org/" eudora="autourl">
http://globalfacilitators.org</a><u>>. </u>
</ul> <br>
In these last hours of 2004, our prayers are with the millions upon
millions of people affected by this tragedy of a magnitude unknown in our
lifetime. Please help us generate effective actions to be
part of the solutions. In moments like this I remember the words
and the passionate voice of Dr. Saul Alinsky, the "dean" of
community organization in the United States, when he cajoled us during a
postgraduate seminar: "All that is really necessary for evil to
triumph in our communities is for men and women of good will to do
nothing".<br><br>
Warm regards and my best wishes for you and yours in 2005.<br><br>
Gil<br><br><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<dl><div align="center">
<dd><b>*******************************
<dd>Dr. Gilbert Brenson-Lazan
<dd>President - Global Facilitators Service Corps
<dd>Email:
<a href="mailto:GFSC-Chair@amauta.org">GFSC-Chair@amauta.org</a>
<dd>Website:
<a href="http://globalfacilitators.org/">http://globalfacilitators.org</a>
<dd>*******************************************<br><br>
</dl></b></div>
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