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In an effort to address the current humanitarian crisis in Timor-Leste, the FPCD,
in her “sister foundation” capacity is raising funds so that FPCD Executive Director,
Claudia Abate, may present a donation during her visit to that country. The Executive
Director has been contacting friends of the Foundation to assist in this effort
and has affirmed that 100% of all funds raised prior to her departure will be given
directly to those in need. Friends of the Foundation are invited back to the Foundation
website to see photos and news of the Executive Director’s visit. Click here for
further information about Fundacão Xanana Gusmão. See the Executive Director’s letter
below.
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Dear Friend,
I would like to inform you that in my capacity as Founder and Executive Director
of the Foundation for Post Conflict Development (FPCD) I will be traveling to Timor-Leste
in August to assess their post crisis situation. Due to the recent civil strife
in the country, a massive humanitarian emergency has arisen, creating internal refugees
living in tents in the capital city of Dili.
Further to my above mentioned capacity, I am also the Project Coordinator for the
Monaco Red Cross's Maternity Clinic in Same District, Timor-Leste, which thankfully,
has not been harmed during the recent violent uprisings. I will be visiting the
Clinic to check on the status of construction in preparation for the opening later
this year.
In Timor-Leste, I will be meeting with various members of civil society, the Ministry
of Health and most importantly meeting with President Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister
Jose Ramos Horta and new Foreign Minister, Jose Luis Guterres.
President Gusmão has invited the FPCD to be affiliated as "sister foundation" to
his - Fundacao Xanana Gusmão - a copy of our signed Memorandum of Understanding
is available on the FPCD website www.postconflictdev.org We have a lot of work to
do together, which I welcome. During our meetings in Lisbon, Portugal earlier this
year, President Gusmão told me that on Saturday mornings, funds permitting, he takes
off his hat as Head of State and puts on his Foundation hat and welcomes people
from all over the country to his office. He listens to the concerns of the people
and gives money for schools, microcredit, agriculture, food, supplies, or any other
vital necessity. The country's population lives on less than 1 American dollar a
day. When I visit Timor, the FPCD will be making a donation to our sister foundation
and we have called upon all our friends and associates to help make this donation
as generous as possible.
To support the effort of our sister foundation, I am at this time asking for contributions
for the benefit a larger joint purpose in which our foundations are involved. It
has been an uphill journey full of challenges but the FPCD has come a long way,
now being fully recognized by as a not-for-profit and public charity (501 c 3) since
April 2005. Although the FPCD does need funding for administration and logistics,
at this point we are guaranteeing that 100% of any funds raised prior to my departure
to Timor-Leste, will be given through the Fundacão Xanana Gusmão to those who need
it most and who are suffering at this very moment in East Timor.
The FPCD website will be fully refurbished before my departure (19 August) and will
use state of the art internet blog technology and news updates.
Your tax-deductible donation can be done privately, on-line through the FPCD website
or through a check made out to and sent by post to:
The Foundation for Post Conflict Development.
1 River Place, Suite 2714
New York, NY 10036
Should you be unable to give us financial support at this time, the FPCD would be
grateful if you could forward this message to friends of Timor-Leste. Please do
not hesitate to contact me should you require additional information.
Respectfully yours,
Claudia Abate
Founder and Executive Director
cabate@postconflictdev.org
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