Oxfam International Make Poverty History Kate Fedder

The name “Oxfam” comes from the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, founded in Britain in 1942 Began as a group of concerned citizens including a priest, a professor, his wife and several others

Oxfam began in 1942 by campaigning for food to be sent through a naval blockade to starving women and children

The first overseas Oxfam was founded in Canada in 1963

Oxfam Great Britain is largest, with 5,955 employees and programs in over 70 countries in 8 regions

15 Years of Service as Oxfam International

14 member organizations make up the Oxfam International Confederation United States Canada Australia New Zealand Great Britain

Helping Around the World working in 99 countries around the world

Overcoming Poverty and Injustice work with 3,000 local partner organizations to provide long-term and immediate aid

Overcoming Poverty and Injustice Oxfam focuses efforts in five major areas 1) development 2) emergencies 3) campaigning 4) advocacy 5) policy research

Work on long-term programs

Provide immediate life-saving assistance

Raise public awareness

Pressure decision-makers Talk about MDG’s

Speak as authority after thorough research

Oxfam is committed to human rights everyone should have the right to: - a livelihood - basic services - be safe from harm - be heard - be treated as equal

Oxfam is ambitious helping with many issues

Let’s focus on three examples Debt relief Climate change Emergency response Active citizenship -Indigenous & Minority rights Agriculture -Natural resources Aid effectiveness -Peace & Security Climate change -Private sector Education -Trade Emergency response -Youth Outreach Gender justice Health HIV and AIDS

Aid and debt relief are essential to help poor countries escape poverty More and better aid increase international aid support poor countries’ plans out of poverty

Aid and debt relief are essential to help poor countries escape poverty Cancelling debt leaves money to spend on essentials Zambia cancel debt-2005-free health care

Climate change is driving the world’s poorest people towards the edge of survival Problems: -threatening wildlife -causing ice caps to melt -increasing number of weather-related natural disasters

Seems to always hit the poor first and hit them the hardest

Oxfam’s Approach Respond to serious droughts and floods Help poor communities adapt

One solution is to draw the attention of politicians global campaign global problem global solution need support for UN deal raising awareness UN climate meeting in Bali 2007

Emergency Response Pakistan floods 2010 West Africa Food Crisis Haiti Earthquake Afghanistan

Haiti’s health is in everyone’s hands Earthquake struck Haiti on January 12 leaving port-au-prince in ruins Recently the cholera outbreak has caused many more deaths…

Oxfam has reached approximately 500,000 people with aid Provided: -clean water -sanitation -shelter -seeds -running cash for work programs Oxfam has reached approximately 500,000 people with aid across their earthquake and cholera response Oxfam works with over 60 Haitian organizations Within 6 months after the earthquake… -clean drinking water and sanitation facilities to over 317,000 people -constructed over 1,400 latrines -cleared debris from drainage canals benefiting over 110,000 people -public health education for over 210,000 people -cash-for-work and cash grants benefiting over 125,000 people

Oxfam has reached approximately 500,000 people with aid “We are working as quickly as possible to stop the spread of cholera. We have a lot of resources in the country right now and luckily this is a very preventable and treatable disease.” -Oxfam - continues to strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and activities -central Haiti: 25 staff in Petite Riviere -water, sanitation and hygiene program is reaching 100,000 people -Artibonite: goal is to provide clean drinking water, toilets, and perhaps most importantly, educate people about good hygiene practices.

Where do things stand now in Haiti? Oxfam's priorities for long-term Haitian reconstruction: Haitian farmers and small business speed economic recovery civil society build back better debt cancellation Oxfam received $90 million from donors -$60 million spent during first 9 months 1)Support for Haitian farmers and small business 2)Ensure poor areas benefit from cash grants to speed economic recovery 3)Support for civil society and the haitian government 4)Build back better (earthquake proof buildings and alternative fuel sources to reduce deforestation) 5)Debt cancellation -last $30 million over 3 year period

Oxfam has its critics Conflict with Starbucks on Ethiopian coffee Starbucks accuse Oxfam of “misleading behavior” versus 2006 Oxfam accused Starbucks of asking the National Coffee Association (NCA) to block U.S. trademark application from Ethiopia for three of countries coffee beans. Claim this could result in denying Ethiopan coffee farmers. After 90,000 letters of concern. 2005 New Internationalist call Oxfam a “Big International Non-Governmental Organization”

Oxfam has its critics The Economist pointed out Oxfam’s “simplistic” stance 2005 New Internationalist – Oxfam addresses symptoms not causes Oxfam addresses symptoms not causes of poverty

How can you help?? Oxfam unwrapped

Unique charitable gifts that do good A dozen chicks $45 Goat $50 Alpaca meadow $75 Rebuild a primary school $1,500 Plant a vegetable garden $30 A grove of “miracle trees” $35 Books for kids $18 Mosquito Nets $25

Works Cited http://www.oxfam.org/en http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxfam#History_and_beginnings grandaspirations.org asianclubguide.com campbelltown.sa.gov.au wondercliparts.com covertress.blogspot.com enchantedlearning.com virginlondonmarathon.com oxfam.org.au gawker.com