2008 September's Action of the Month
Tents of Hope for Darfur
Status: Completed
Tents of Hope for Darfur was a national gathering that happened on November 7th-9th, 2008. It was promoted by the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) and was our Action of the Month for Septermber, 2008. Tents of Hope was a great success. You can read about the event here. You can also read about some of the congregations that participated. If your congregation would like to tell its story, email us at peacemaking @ uua.org.
Tents of Hope for Darfur
All across the nation communities are standing in solidarity with the Darfuri people by building Tents of Hope. The Tents of Hope project gives communities the opportunity to respond to the crisis in Darfur, Sudan by creating tents that are both unique works of art and ongoing focal points within communities. Through the tents, communities are learning about, assisting and establishing relationships with the people of Sudan. You can purchase, construct and/or share a tent. The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) is providing informational and advocacy resources to accompany the Tents of Hope project which are available for download. They include tips on how to start this project and educational materials to share with your community. You can also order campaign materials for your event at no charge.
Tents in Washington, DC
In November 2008, tents were delivierd to Washington, DC, for a gathering of tents on the National Mall. The national gathering lasted from November 7-9th and included workshops, vigils, and worship. Afterwards, many of the tents were shipped to Darfuri refugee camps to be used as shelters for homes, schools, and community centers.
You can read about the event at the Advocacy and Witness Blog.
Advocacy Postcards
If erecting a Tent for Hope is not a good fit for your congregation, the UUSC is offering a simple action that everyone can do - advocacy postcards! The postcards urge the U.S. Congress to provide oversight to ensure that the UN peacekeepers in Darfur are trained to respond to the dangers of rape and violence that Darfuri women face. The postcards are uniquely shaped like tents, and you can order them online. The postcards will come with an action packet explaining all you need to know to get your cards into the hands of key policy-makers.
Download the one-page congregational mailing describing the Tents of Hope action (PDF). Consider posting it in your congregation.
Send an Email in Support of Darfur
Take a moment to send a message to key policy makers. Recipients and content of the message will reflect the latest developments.
UUA Tents of Hope Photo Album
The UUA created a Flickr photo album for Tents of Hope. Please feel free to add your photos of your tent and/or the Washington DC event to UU Tents of Hope.
This work is made possible by the generosity of individual donors and congregations. Please consider making a donation today.
Last updated on Thursday, August 25, 2011.
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