Moses and his daughters Anak (R) and Aguil (L) along with sons
Dut (R) and Akeen (L) stop for a photo on Minto Street during the
construction of their new home in July, 2008. The eBuilder
Issue 4, 2008

Habitat Family Bio: Moses A.


We will all face various challenges during our lives―whether they be the death of a spouse to financial hardship to relocating our household. But what would happen if you had to face all of them in a short period of time as well as being singly responsible for five children? Many among us wouldn’t have the personal strength to dig deep and overcome the obstacles. Some would throw their hands up in despair and let the challenges defeat them and their family, but Moses A. chose another path―perseverance and triumph.

Moses, a widower, along with his four children and a younger brother, arrived in Canada from Sudan in 2004 and set about rebuilding their life in Winnipeg. Employed as a teacher in the Sudan, Moses knew he wanted to continue working in education and quickly found work as a teacher’s aide, but even with fulltime employment, his salary came nowhere near the income needed to sustain a family of six in one of Winnipeg’s suburban neighbourhoods. Moses found a central Winnipeg apartment with three bedrooms and moved his family in.

Moses quickly learned that the neighbourhood was full of negative influences and was constantly on alert for gangs and drug dealers looking to recruit his children and brother. To help keep his kids out of trouble, Moses signed them up for programs with the Boys and Girls Club of Winnipeg as well as becoming heavily involved with Winnipeg’s Sudanese Parent Council.

In addition to the neighbourhood challenges Moses faces, the apartment itself isn’t adequate for his young family. With only one bathroom, there is often a line-up during the morning and quiet space for studying doesn’t exist. The family’s aged computer is located in a storage closet.

After being accepted into partnership with Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg, Moses tackled his sweat equity requirement with gusto and eagerly contributed 100 hours of hands-on time to the construction of his new Minto Street home. Moses and his family will take possession of their new 1200-square-foot side-by-side in late January, 2009. The new home has four bedrooms and two bathrooms and with a semi-finished basement, space for homework won’t be an issue.

When life’s next challenge comes your way, stop a moment and think about Moses and the challenges he’s persevered through and how wonderfully he has triumphed over them! Guaranteed you will find some inspiration from his success.

MSF Refugee Camp Exhibit coming to Winnipeg

... Volunteers needed!
CONTEXT



In the fall of 2008, Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) plans to bring the Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City exhibit to Western Canada on a four-city tour. The goal of the exhibit is to raise awareness about the plight of the world’s 42 million refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) uprooted by war and conflict.



The Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City exhibit is an outdoor reconstruction of an actual refugee camp, where experienced MSF staff (doctors, nurses, logisticians) guide visitors through a 40 to 60 minute interactive tour explaining the crucial elements for survival in a refugee or IDP crisis. During the tour, each visitor will learn some of the challenges a refugee or IDP faces in trying to access food, shelter, water and medical care.

The Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City was first launched in France in 1995, and has toured in over 15 countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. In 2007, the exhibit attracted close to 20,000 visitors in the United States during its five-city tour. MSF expects to attract over 15,000 viewers throughout the four-city tour of Western Canada this fall. For more information please visit: www.refugeecamp.org



The exhibit will be open to the public on the following dates:



· Winnipeg - September 11-14, 2008 – The Forks



· Volunteers needed September 10 – 15th inclusive



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ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER POSITIONS:

MSF seeks approximately ten highly motivated On-Site Volunteers per day (including 1 day for camp set-up & breakdown pre & post event) for each stop in its tour of Western Canada. This is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the world's leading independent medical humanitarian organization; to network with MSF field staff and to make a difference in terms of raising awareness regarding the challenges faced by the 42 million refugees and IDPs worldwide. Reporting to the Volunteer Coordinator, the On-Site Volunteers will assist the Volunteer Guides and other event staff with general logistics before, during and after the event in order to ensure that visitors’ needs are suitably accommodated and that the objectives of the event are successfully met.

DUTIES AND REPONSIBILITIES

• Assist with the logistics of setting up and breaking down the event

• Assist in organizing and directing arriving groups in order to establish an orderly queue

• Provide local knowledge and run errands for event staff
• Draw people into the event by handing out event-related materials (ie. postcards)

• Assist in outreach by helping to promote the event in to schools, community-based organizations, businesses and other groups

• Assist with other tasks as required



QUALIFICATIONS/ JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Experience or familiarity with or interest in the work of Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

• Familiarity with the local vicinity; knowledge of available local resources and services

• Excellent interpersonal and oral communication skills, organizational skills
• Ability to lift and carry tables, chairs, equipment, etc.
• Knowledge of and interest in refugee issues and the humanitarian aid sector
• Fluency in English essential, and French an asset.

INFORMATION AND APPLICATION – Winnipeg Event ONLY:

Interested candidates for should submit a (brief) email including dates & times available to Dr. Kim Wiebe at kim_wiebe@yahoo.com

Only electronic applications will be accepted. The deadline for applications is September 5/08. Please note that any time you have to offer will be greatly appreciated – you don’t have to be available for the whole event.



For those who are unable to volunteer, please plan on visiting the exhibit.

Please share this information with others!

Thank you.

Central Park Revival C.P.R. - A Community Event August 30, 2008
The past few years have brought new life and hope to Winnipeg¢s Central Park, an area that had previously been deemed unkept and unsafe. Today, the area is filled with young families and together they have helped to turn a new leaf for this quaint Winnipeg Park. Still, there is a negative stigma associated with the park. We are planning the 2nd Central Park Revival Community celebration, following a very successful event held last summer. The Central Park neighbourhood would like to welcome people from all over Winnipeg to come out and take part in the positive changes that have been and will continue to be seen by both the community and beyond.

Successful community events require a lot of planning and hard work. Volunteers, sponsors and performers are needed to make these events sensational. We are currently looking for donations such as food and/or drinks, prizes and a helping hand or anything else that you feel will make this year¢s Central Park Revival event a success! Any and all forms or donations will be greatly appreciated.


Event Date:

C.P.R. (Central Park Revival)

Central Park - 400 Edmonton Street

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Time: 2pm- 8pm
If you and your organization can donate some food or drink items for this event or if you are able to volunteer your time to help out at this event please contact one of the following C.P.R. Event Committee members:
Othello: 291 1808
Janet: 771 6013
Judy: 925-1685
Britney: 228 0120
Thank you,
S. Othello Wesee
Coordinator: (Central Market / Central Park Resident Assoc).