When we understand each other’s perspectives, our lives can be transformed and enriched.

PO Box 2555, Reading, RG1 4XW
Tel: 0118 939 4933
Email: oww@oneworldweek.org
Website: www.oneworldweek.org

You may have recently received a similar newsletter from One World Week. This is an amended version of the previous one.

Dear Organiser/Supporter,

The time is flying along and once again we are on the verge of OWW 2008 events. There have been many changes taking place for us, and we are sure that there are for you too. The aim of this newsletter is to catch up with what has been happening.

New Staff

We welcome two new staff members to OWW: Jenny Cameron, project manager and Sarah Kilou, researcher for our new “Ubuntu” project

Ubuntu

OWW’s main source of support and event organisers has traditionally been from within Church communities throughout the UK. However, global concerns of environmental justice and development permeate the conscience of all major world faiths. This has already attracted many non-Christians to OWW over the years. At OWW we believe that when people from diverse backgrounds come together and find they share in a common goal of global justice, lives are transformed and enriched. As such, OWW is currently embarking on a fresh, three year project: ‘Exploring Ubuntu – One World Week Across Faiths’. Working with Islamic Relief, Muslim Aid, members of the Inter Faith Network and other NGOs, our first aim is to encourage Muslims to become more involved in OWW activities, with the intention of reaching out to other faith communities in the future. Furthermore, we would like to encourage our existing volunteers to engage more in interfaith events on the theme of international development.

The word ‘Ubuntu’, which we have chosen for our project title, is an ancient Bantu (Zulu) word which acknowledges the oneness of humanity, and the need for ‘active togetherness’. ‘Ubuntu’ encapsulates the ethos of this project; that it is only through working across boundaries of culture and faith that we can build just and peaceful societies and a greener planet.

Please continue to check the website for updates on this project. Please do let us know if you would like to be specifically involved. You may already be doing relevant work; you may consider attracting newcomers to your committees and events.

OWW 2008 (19th ~ 26th October)

“Growing together” events around the country

~ check the website for regular updates and add your own!

Current plans include:

~ Interfaith Walk in Portsmouth
~ Food for the World event in Southsea
~ Interfaith Harvest Festival in Chelmsford
~ Ugandan Gala concert in Newcastle

OWW continues to be encouraged by the commitment of all organisers and supporters. Through YOU, our mission of collectively coming together to learn about global justice, and to spread that learning is actualised. YOU are making that difference and make OWW a success. We are grateful for all the hard work that YOU continue to put in and wish you every success with your 2008 events.

Evaluation Forms

We will be sending out evaluation forms after your events so please bear this in mind when events are taking place. In particular we hope you can collect data for our project about the diversity and numbers of people involved. (Anyone with tips to share on data collecting could please email them on ~ thanks!) It is becoming more and more important to receive evaluation forms as they inform and encourage what we are doing and also, crucially, are used by donors and funders who rightly require that we are accountable for their money.

Please can you help!

As you know, we have developed our
website in order to reach out to new audiences and provide resources more efficiently. In addition, we are relying on the website to publicise events, develop links and bring you up-to-date with what is happening.

Please do register for free on our website, www.oneworldweek.org. Our work can only continue if you do!

Benefits of online registration:

1. Up-dated information via e-news
2. Publicity for your events
3. Resources
4. Links to other organisations

Please note there is on-line help and phone-in support available if you require it. Always remember ~ we are here to inspire your OWW activities, feel free to phone (Mon – Fri, 9 am – 5 pm) and email with any queries.

DONATIONS

Thank you to everyone who already donates regularly. We continue to rely on these generous donations. A couple of easy ways you can help us continue OWW’s work:

• Include us in your collections during your events
• Send us a cheque when you download resources from the website
• Ask about setting up a direct debit
• Download a gift aid form from our website

Thank you for your support. We use your donations to continue OWW’s core work.

Please note our new email address:

oww@oneworldweek.org

One World Week provides the space for people from diverse backgrounds to come together to learn about global justice, to spread that learning and to use it to challenge inequality, discrimination and degradation, locally and globally.