From: Starhawk <[email protected]>
-- Dear friends, I don’t normally forward on appeals for funds (I send
you enough of those for my own projects!) But this is a special
case. I know that many of you have been following my posts, over the
years, from Israel and Palestine. Maybe you, like me, have been
wondering what more you could do to have some positive impact on the
dire situation there. Here’s an opportunity. The Marda Permaculture
Farm has been training Palestinians in ecological farming and self
reliance for more the past three years. They work in concert with a
number of green Israeli organizations, and they are one of the few
rays of hope for Palestinians who are facing both the political
squeeze and the economic disaster that is likely to get worse under
Israel’s new, even further right-wing regime.
But unless they have some help, they may need to close their doors.
Murad Al Kufash, the lead trainer and organizer, has run out of
funds. His needs are modest by Western standards—but vital. He has a
new baby to support, and must receive at least a modest stipend to
keep the program going and expand it. I know a lot of us are hurting
from the economic meltdown, but if you have a bit to spare, and
especially if you’d be willing to make a monthly or yearly pledge, it
would make all the difference.
Donations are tax deductible.
Please make the check out to:
The Marda Permaculture Training Farm/Global Village Institute
Send to:
Marda Permaculture Training Farm
Global Village Institute
PO Box 90
Summertown, TN 38483
Any questions? If you’d like a full budget and grant proposal,
contact Tami Brunk. [email protected]
Below is her letter: (Note that Murad has extended his deadline.)
Dear friends,
Murad has asked that I share with you the current critical status of
the Marda Permaculture Farm. Together, we have made great progress in
developing the Farm in the most challenging of circumstances. However,
since Murad's return to Marda about nearly 3 years ago, he has
steadily chipped away at savings from his years working in the US.
Last year, he turned down work in the West Bank to run the workshop.
Since that time he has been unsuccessful in finding work in the West
Bank or Israel.
Murad has to care for his family--his wife Gada, his 9 month old
daughter, and a new baby girl expected in August, Basic costs of
living in Marda are high and rising. Now Murad has to make a
heartbreaking choice. He has the opportunity to travel overseas where
he may be able to find work.
This would mean putting the Marda Permaculture Farm on an indefinite
hold, probably for several years as he again saves up money to send
home. Remaining donated funds to the Marda Farm would be invested in
infrastructure for the farm, and its care would be turned over to
Murad's brother in his absence.
This comes at a time where the Marda Permaculture Farm has the
potential to truly move to the next level. Finally, as of this past
November, we are an official NGO in the West Bank. We have written a
comprehensive grant proposal that has gone to several large
international funders--with very positive feedback so far--but will
not hear back for several months.
Drylands Permaculture experts Geoff and Nadia Lawton have said they
would act as instructors for a full 2-week Permaculture Design Course
to take place next spring. Also, a man from a nearby village recently
contacted Murad, asking him to come and help him design a "branch"
site for the Marda Permaculture Farm. The UK Permaculture Association
raised L950 for the project--which will be used to help build the
orchard and other infrastructure for the Farm.
Murad is devastated to leave his family, his home, and his beloved
project--but he sees no other choice. In order to provide sufficient
security of funds to enable him to stay, we would need to raise funds
to support him for a year--so that he could devote his time to the
farm, and support his family while there. This would also provide time
for larger funding to come through.
This total amount of funding would need to be $15,000. Leah Giblin, a
young friend of Murad's from Chicago, raised $2,000 for Murad at a
benefit this past Friday. That leaves $13,000 to go. We also need to
find a dedicated volunteer to assist in writing more grants. Please
contact me if you are interested in this position, and I will give you
a more comprehensive position description. I have several grants that
could be written.
Murad needs to decide by early April. Please contact me if you would
like to pledge a donation to keep the Marda Farm alive. By April 1, we
will tally the total pledged funds, and Murad will make his decision.
Please also contact me if you would like a copy of our proposal, so
that you can borrow talking points for potential funders.
For more information, and to better communicate the project, follow
these article and blog links:
Official website and blog on details of project and site for easy
online donation
http://www.thefarm.org/charities/i4at/marda/ <http://www.thefarm.org/charities/i4at/marda/
>
MARDA: It's Fight for Survival
Article rich with photos that describes the history and current
situation for Marda residents under the occupation, profiles Murad.
http://israel-palestine.janineroberts.com/marda.html <http://israel-palestine.janineroberts.com/marda.html
>
UK Permaculture Association Profile of Marda Permaculture Farm (we are
a member)
http://www.permaculture.org.uk/mm.asp?mmfile=marda <http://www.permaculture.org.uk/mm.asp?mmfile=marda
>
Report on last spring's miraculous Permaculture Workshop
http://www.permaculture.org.uk/mm.asp?mmfile=marda_may08 <http://www.permaculture.org.uk/mm.asp?mmfile=marda_may08
>
Thank you so much,
Tami Brunk and Murad Al Khufash
(PS—if the links don’t work, try pasting them in or going through
Google. I seem to be cursed by the techno-demons whenever I try to
forward links.)
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