News in July
The Constellation
Donations to the Constellation can be deducted from your tax declaration
15 July, Europe
You now can deduct your donations to the Constellation from your tax declaration in 8 European countries: Belgium, Luxemburg, Switzerland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and the United Kingdom. This is a blessing for the Constellation and its numerous members and supporters in Europe. They will be able to organize fund raising events to support the Constellation while paying less tax.
More about the tax deduction of your donation
Learning event
“First of all we are all human”
27-30 June, Russia
« Digesting all my learning from a week in Samara, a beautiful Russian city at the Wolga, it appears to me, now clearer then ever, that SALT is a natural process. It reminds us to be ‘normal’, to be the human beings we are in all our interactions.» These are the words of Marlou on her blog after a week with the facilitators and communities in Samara, Russia. Facilitation teams in Samara, Kazan and within the UNAIDS Regional team are going through the Blended Learning programme and they are being mentored by Constellation coaches, Ian Campbell, Marlou de Rouw and Sirinate Piyajitpirat.
More about the learning event in Samara
Write shop in Ethiopia
4-8 July, Ethiopia
The Constellation and the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction organized a ‘Write shop’ from 4 to 8 of July to share and document the experiences of integrating the AIDS Competence Process (ACP) with the Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR).
More about the Write shop in Ethiopia
Passing on the SALT in... Trinidad and Tobago
4-7 July, Trinidad
Since the first day that Autry, Rafique and Michael Mc Garrell landed in Trinidad, the Constellation online community has been flooded with enthusiastic messages. Benedict shared during the final reflections: “Previously we had attended Meetings, Seminars, Workshops, Retreats, and what-have-you, just to plan and plan alone. There was no follow-up action and review is long. However, this workshop is a change. There is WoT, WoW, and in everything there is love, affection, living, breathing… We learnt removing the self, and then you recognize the passion.”
More about the learning event in Trinidad and Tobago
WASH Competence in the interior locations of Suriname
In July Boris and Autry, two Constellation coaches, went to Suriname for the second time. During eleven days, they mentored trainers and facilitators who stimulate local ownership on WASH Competence (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) in 16 villages. They visited villages accessible only by river, attended a lot of Krulu’s and learned a lot in terms of facilitation.
More about the process in Suriname
Constellation friends meeting at ICAAP
The Constellation is organizing two meetings at ICAAP. The first meeting will be for Constellation friends on 26 July at the Constellation booth (Nbr 18). The second meeting will be on 29 July at the Constellation booth, for a wider audience to share about the Community Life Competence Process.
More about the Constellation’s presence at the ICAAP
Member of the month
“From our garden you can see the Wolga, beautiful and clean.”
This is part of the dream of Alexei for himself and his family. This dream has not always been there...Alexei tells us his story: “ I grew up in an addicted family: alcohol and drugs were always there. It was a hard environment for a child to grow up. I was at the point of dying when something in me decided things had to change. It was a long way, but I became clean, with the help of God and the people around me. I am very proud of that. But, as a result of this life I got all health problems that come with it: I became infected with HIV, and I got Hepatitis. I learned to cope with this. I have adapted a healthy life style and that means a lot to me. I recently learned that I have diabetes as well. Well, I know now I can handle that too!
Alexei is a wonderful facilitator in Samara, Russia.
More about Alexei, our Member of the Month