This page details some of the many projects that the Meeting is currently supporting.
Projects of the Meeting
Projects in Partnership with the Villagers of Chatamilu, Kenya
Scholarship Fund: In 2006 Vancouver Monthly Meeting set up a scholarship fund while the Chatamilu Primary School was still under construction. The school is now completed and the Meeting currently supports a number of bright and needy graduates of the Primary School so they are able to attend Secondary Schools. Three high school students graduated in December 2011. Two are now enrolled in university and one in a two-year teachers’ college program.
Chatamilu Widows and Orphans Livestock Project: This project gives bred heifers and chickens to the women of Chatamilu Village who have banded together to support each other and care for 50 orphans in the community. When the heifers calve, each calf is given to another family. Over time a dairy herd and flocks of chickens will provide income for the families and dairy products and eggs for the children. This project has become self-sustaining. As of November 2012, 31 of the 35 women in the group have heifers or cows. The next four heifer calves to be born will be passed on to the remaining women who don’t yet have animals in their care.
Proposed Chatamilu vocational/technical School: We are looking for a group to take on a phase of this five year project. The Chatamilu Community is ready to go ahead with this project as soon as a group is found that will take on the fund raising.
Please see our Chatimilu School Project site for more information on these projects.
Palestinian Center for Rapprochement (PCR), Beit Sahour (near Bethlehem)
PCR trains young people in public service and nonviolence and offers skills to enhance students’ academic performance and social behaviour, as well as IMEMC (the Inter-national Middle East Media Center). Founded in 2004, IMEMC is a trusted media source for many foreign missions in Palestine and Israel and for the international volunteers in Palestine. Vancouver MM, along with Prairie and Ottawa MMs, has been supporting IMEMC through CFSC for several years. Although PCR staff may now use these funds for whichever of their projects they see fit, IMEMC remains the PCR project most in need of our help (see also www.imemc.org). Contact
Refugee Committee
Our Refugee Committee is under the care of the Vancouver Quaker Meeting. Vancouver Friends are supporting a large number of Afghan families in Surrey. Our goal is to help these families settle into Canadian life with as much ease as possible. We plan to continue supporting the families we are currently serving. We will pause taking on new families until the current work is significantly reduced.
Vancouver Monthly Meeting supports this work with an annual financial donation, and many individuals contribute as well. Without the continuing financial support, this effort would not be possible. We welcome all financial donations.