PRESS RELEASE
November 14, 2012
The invasion of Gaza in December 2008 was another tragedy in the long and terrible saga of a people whose story has been suppressed and distorted. The people of Gaza are destitute in their own homeland, the women and children often suffering even worse privations than the men.
Since its inception on 5 January 2009, Viva Palestina Malaysia (VPM) has been unrelenting in its fight for justice and self-determination for Palestine. To date, VPM has raised USD1.27 million to fund a wide variety of medical, educational, housing, micro-financing and women’s projects in Gaza.
On the occasion of the Seattle Marathon 2012 which will take place on November 25th, VPM will pledge USD 20,000 to fund more micro-financing projects for women. And Ramzy Baroud, a renowned Palestinian-American journalist, author, editor and former Al-Jazeera producer has offered to undertake the most difficult part of the fund raiser; the running!
The empowerment and employment of women has been a priority since our visits to Gaza in October 2010, August 2011 and more recently in June 2012. A total of USD 70,000 has so far been disbursed to our partner, the Family & Society Development Association in Gaza. This has helped to create jobs for women – many of them widowed and breadwinners – in such cottage industries as sewing & embroidery, beauty & hairdressing and bakery.
We have also funded various women’s educational initiatives including student tutorials, public librarianship and computer literacy. More recently USD20,000 worth of soft loans was disbursed in micro-financing initiatives for Gazan women and for households headed by women.
Our heartfelt appreciation to Ramzy for his undertaking and our eternal gratitude to all who have embraced the Palestinian cause. We sincerely hope that all our individual and corporate sponsors, well wishers and sympathisers will continue to support us and donate generously to the VPM-Ramzy Baroud Seattle Marathon 2012 fund raiser.
Details on how to donate can be found on our website www.vivapalestina-my.org Viva Palestina!
Dato’ Dr Musa Mohd Nordin Chairman VPM
Viva Palestina Malaysia
E311, Jalan SS6/2, Kelana Parkview, Kelana Jaya, 47301, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
M: +60111 5766 527 Tel/Fax: +603 7880 1900
W: www.vivapalestina-my.org E: vpmalaysia@gmail.com
Note:
In the aftermath of Israel’s barbaric attack of Gaza in December 2008, fifty NGOs cutting across racial, religious and political lines formed the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs against the Persecution of Palestinians which was later renamed Viva Palestina Malaysia (VPM).
Viva Palestina Malaysia was officially launched by former Malaysian Prime Minister YA Bhg Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on January 22nd, 2011.
Our vision is to ‘to effectuate a just, equitable, prompt and sustainable resolution to the conflict in Palestine’.
http://www.vivapalestina-my.org
For further information please contact:
Viva Palestina Malaysia
Noraini Hashim norainihashim@gmail.com / +6012 277 1710
Hamidah Marican hamidah.marican@gmail.com / +6012 217 0918
Zabrina A.Bakar siszabrina@gmail.com / +6019 265 8268
Ahmed Barakat barakatov@hotmail.com / + 60111 5766 527
