|
In This Issue
This month The ZOË Chronicles is a special edition with a Christmas and holiday focus that takes us to village celebrations with our friends and colleagues in India and Haiti. We hope you enjoy it and wish you and your family a joyful holiday season and healthy and fulfilling 2010!
|
|
A Multi-Dimensional Christmas
In the spirit of time warps, multiple dimensions and fractured narratives, it seems we could be celebrating Christmas in three places at the same time. Not literally of course! However, how fun would it be to think about Mercy in India, the Wiljean's in Haiti, their teams and families, and us right here at home on December 25th. What will we all be doing?
The origins and history of Christmas and the other seasonal celebrations at this time of year are all amazingly humble. Origins include the birth of Jesus Christ in a stable with 3 wise men presenting gifts; Romans celebrating the winter solstice and prosperity with gifts of evergreen branches and cakes; fourth century St. Nicholas and the ensuing gifts of sweets, food and oranges; and of course, the celebration of Hanukkah by lighting the candles of the Menorah to celebrate the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
Regardless of one's faith or world view, the history and origin of what we celebrate in this month have little to do with great piles of presents under a Christmas tree. In all cases, celebrations honoured relationships with each other and/or with god(s), and consisted of simple meals, gatherings, gratefulness, and hope for the future. With that perspective, on to our three Christmas's!
This December 25th, Mercy and the team will be playing games, laughing and eating chicken biryani. In Haiti, as is the tradition, each family will prepare their signature soup, and take it to a friend's house to eat together. It is like a giant progressive dinner from house to house eating signature soup after signature soup. Madame Wiljean's is a great potato soup, very yummy!
Sounds similar, doesn't it? How many houses will you eat at this Christmas? Does your mother-in-law have a signature stuffing? Do you play goofy games with your family and laugh till your sides hurt?
There are differences of course; here we don't have a stable with cows and chickens in our backyards. We won't sleep on flat mats on dirt floors. We will have different kinds of presents to give. We do have more material things to be grateful for.
That said, and not to minimize in any way our fortune and the great need in the villages, we are all just a bunch of people gathered together for some purpose.
The history of this season is very humble and rooted in relationships and community. This is the same for us all no matter which of the three Christmas locations we will be celebrating at.
So this Christmas, if you have the time, join me in thinking about the giant progressive dinner happening in Haiti and the games over chicken biryani in Dharmapuri.
And raise your glass to celebrate in a virtual global Christmas toast for all that we have to be grateful for in 2009 and to look forward to in 2010!
|
|
Nandri! Merci! Gracias!
Thank You!
ZOË Alliance and our business colleagues in Dharmapuri, India, Bois de Lance, Haiti, and Lake Amatitlàn, Guatemala, would like to thank you for your support in 2009.
Your choice to purchase our gifts, to partner with us, and your willingness to share this journey has helped to create employment, feed families, and fuel the hopes and dreams of people in rural villages around the world. This is an incredible gift that has positively impacted the lives of over 56 people and their families in three villages.
On their behalf we thank you and wish you a wonderful holiday season with family and friends and a healthy, fulfilling 2010!
|
Angie Draskovic
Founder & President
ZOË Alliance Inc.
|
|
Mercy Abraham-Imondi
Managing Trustee
Mahalir Aran Trust
|
Raul Ramires
Project Lead
CH Global
|
|
Wiljean & Jeanine Compere
Leaders
Open Door Haiti
|
Janet Rogers
Chief Executive
VIA Design
|
|
Brian Stout
US Director
Open Door Haiti
|
Amie Sider
Director
CH Global/Nationwares
| |
|
Take the ZOË Challenge
Spread the Word - Empower People for Life
The ZOË Challenge is our chance to make a huge difference with small decisions.
Here is the challenge - go to the challenge page on our website and:
- Commit to buying a fair trade product this year (from any reputable vendor)
- Ask 3 friends to do the same
That's it! If we all did this, our collective purchases would funnel millions of dollars into the creation of jobs with dignity in developing nations.
|
|
About ZOË Alliance
ZOË Alliance Inc. is a social enterprise that harnesses what we spend to help developing nations break the cycle of poverty.
ZOË Alliance helps people and companies transform impoverished villages with their regular purchases. We stretch each dollar spent on a personal or corporate gift three ways: to purchase a gift that tells the story of hope; to create jobs with dignity in villages; and to donate funds toward a school or village project.
We also help companies link their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives to the bottom line by making it easy to source high quality, profitable products from producer groups in villages around the globe
|
|
Contact Us
ZOE Alliance Inc
15-75 Bayly Street West
Suite 279
Ajax, ON Canada
L1S 7K7
Tel: (647) 477-4377
|
