The women of Vía Campesina Africa meet to discuss their daily lives
To raise a collective force from rural African women, this was the goal of the first meeting of the Vía Campesina Africa which took place from the 28th to the 30th last November in Congo-Brazzaville. The meeting was part of a unanimous statement: “the daily lives of rural African women, the chief producers of food, are currently too unrewarding.” The Vía Campesina has chosen to convene a council of African women so that they could share their daily experiences and their local initiatives, and find collective solutions to the problems they are confronted with.

The civil society rises against free trade
“Africa is not for sale”, “No to a hasty EPA”, “Without regional integration, no possible agreement to partnership with Europe”. On the 16th July in Yaoundé nearly 2000 Africans raised their voices during a meeting on the economic partnership agreement (EPA). This agreement aims at developing free trade between the European Union and the ACP countries (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific), all together 15 African countries. The negotiation should have ended last December but the executives in charged were not able to come to an agreement, so this continues and the African civil society intends to be heard in this debate.

Education for the street children
Training and reintegration aid for the street children of Kinshasa: this has been the undertaking of the Congolese non-governmental organization Hope for All (EPT). In Kishasa, like in many towns in sub-Saharan Africa, thousands of children live in the streets. They are orphans, have fallen out with their family, or have been driven away by their parents, accused of being “witches”. Since its creation in 2000, in line with the examples of a few other exceptional associations, EPT gives hope for a future for these forgotten children, who are excluded from society. The association first initiated training in woodwork, agriculture, fishing, dressmaking and various new technologies. Then in 2007, EPT started the “mobile school for the street children of Kinshasa” project. The aim is to put in place a transportable supervision scheme, present regularly in different communes allowing the street children access to an education in literacy programmes, basic maths, hygiene and sexually transmitted disease awareness, as well as recreational activities.

Niger women restored their whole place in the development of their country by handicrafts
In december 2007 in the small village of Wadata, Niger, took place the 5 th edition of the Handicrafts exhibition for the emancipation of women (Safem). Organized first time in 2000, initiated by a few active and bold Nigerian women, the exhibition situates women both as actors in the production process, and as an economical lever indispensable to the local development of Niger.

Civil society mobilizes jurists against judicial impunity
National and international justice in the struggle against judicial impunity in the DRC. That was the theme of the training seminary that was held on 21st to 23rd June 2007 in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Organized by the Congolese association Culture for peace and justice (CPJ), it benefited from major support from the international Criminal Court the International Criminal Bar. This event brought hope to the Congolese justice system, marking the first step away from impunity in the DRC.

Homeless footballers share their experiences at Sundance
Sundance Film Festival, United States, January 2008: the fourth Homeless World Cup bringing together hundreds of players from 48 nations and 5 continents, have a place of honour. The Résonances team had covered their adventure in sportsmanship and solidarity a year ago. Susan Koch had also filmed this experience and directed the documentary film Kicking It, which was selected for the festival. Résonances took advantage of this new opportunity to give these enthusiastic athletes a chance to share their experiences.

Makhtar advocates for unemployed youth
Makhtar Diop, in his fifties, has worked with the Kora-PRD for more then ten years. This Senegalese association organizes training courses, equipment sharing programs, and facilitates access to credit. It also supports the organization of Senegalese artisans. We met Makhtar in Paris last October, when he came to cooperate with Frères des Hommes on both current and planned projects.