Action for World Solidarity (organization)
Encyclopedia
The Action for World Solidarity organization is a German political development
non-government organization sponsoring projects in India
, Africa
and Brazil
. Founded in 1957, it is one of the oldest political development organizations in Germany.
and signed by important public figures in Germany, such as Heinrich Albertz
, Willy Brandt
, Heinz Galinski
, Kurt Scharf
and Otto Suhr
. It called for people in postwar Germany to give up one meal a week and donate the money saved to feed the hungry in poor countries.
In contrast to other organizations, since its inception, the AWS has sent no "development workers" or "experts", rather it sponsors projects that are implemented and supported by locals. The goal of the AWS is to support disadvantaged groups financially and encourage them so they can foster their own long-term, independent change in their countries. The AWS seeks to promote human rights
, empower women and protect the environment in the southern hemisphere.
The AWS has sponsored over 60 projects in Brazil, India and Africa, financed primarily by donations.
Regional development
Regional development is the provision of aid and other assistance to regions which are less economically developed. Regional development may be domestic or international in nature...
non-government organization sponsoring projects in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Founded in 1957, it is one of the oldest political development organizations in Germany.
Background
The Action for World Solidarity (AWS) has its roots in the 1957 Aufruf für die Hungernden ("Appeal for the Hungry"), initiated by Lothar KreyssigLothar Kreyssig
Lothar Kreyssig was a German judge during the Nazi era. He was the only German judge who attempted to stop the Action T4 euthanasia program, an intervention that cost him his job. After the Second World War, he was again offered a judgeship, but declined...
and signed by important public figures in Germany, such as Heinrich Albertz
Heinrich Albertz
Heinrich Albertz was a German clergyman, theologian and politician. He was born in Breslau, today , to a pastor as the younger half brother of Resistance fighter Martin Albertz...
, Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm , was a German politician, Mayor of West Berlin 1957–1966, Chancellor of West Germany 1969–1974, and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany 1964–1987....
, Heinz Galinski
Heinz Galinski
Heinz Galinski was president of the Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland also known as Central Council of Jews in Germany from 1988 until his death in 1992....
, Kurt Scharf
Kurt Scharf
Kurt Scharf was a German clergyman and bishop of the Evangelical Church in Berlin-Brandenburg.- Life :Kurt Scharf was born in Landsberg an der Warthe in the Prussian Province of Brandenburg...
and Otto Suhr
Otto Suhr
Otto Suhr was a German political figure as a member of the SPD. He served as the mayor of West Berlin between 1955 and 1957....
. It called for people in postwar Germany to give up one meal a week and donate the money saved to feed the hungry in poor countries.
In contrast to other organizations, since its inception, the AWS has sent no "development workers" or "experts", rather it sponsors projects that are implemented and supported by locals. The goal of the AWS is to support disadvantaged groups financially and encourage them so they can foster their own long-term, independent change in their countries. The AWS seeks to promote human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, empower women and protect the environment in the southern hemisphere.
The AWS has sponsored over 60 projects in Brazil, India and Africa, financed primarily by donations.
External links
- Action for World Solidarity Organization Official website. Retrieved March 15, 2010
- Action for World Solidarity Organization list of publications Katalog der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek (Catalogue of the German National Library). Retrieved March 15, 2010