CANADA:

Eowynne and Cara led their first fantastic weekend of YFL training in
Georgina. The following week involved reflection and planning for the
upcoming sessions in January including submitting the curriculum to a local
high school for them to consider giving a course credit to YFL youth
trainers.

Cara Naiman           www.icacan.ca

JAPAN:

2008 Conference Preparation

We posted on the conference website, 2008.icajapan.org  the updated working group information and interim brochures in English, Japanese, and Spanish.  In a subsequent meeting with the task froce members at office of National Diet member the Honorable Mr. Matsuda, we concluded that the conference will remain in SEPTEMBER 2008, and prepared for the January 8 - 12, 2008 meeting of ICAJ, ICAI, and other interested countries. 

The info on the web will be revised again next week!Shizuyo began calling her Diet member friends to locate a beautiful and inexpensive hotel where we can all stay, together.

Our 4 staff in Japan attended Peace Links Gala Party, held a Christmas party with 20 community people, and located another site visit possibility.

Wayne Ellsworth           wayne@icajapan.org

PERU:

Location: 100 Valleys

The marketing is going great on the 3-week AVANZA PERU leadership development program for mining company communities, while the renovation of the Azpitia Training Center is continuing. 

The major funding for the 100 Valleys Project took a big step forward this week too.. 

On the night of the 21st the staff had a grand Christmas celebration with 28 people around the table for turkey and many treats, games, music and dancing afterwards -- a real delight!.

Ken Hamje           kenh@ica-peru.org

ICAI:

Lambert met with Misereor in Aachen, Germany this week and returned to Ghana, where he and his family will prepare to formally move to Montreal together in January.

I finalized office space recommendations in Montreal, interviewed Office Manager candidates, and reviewed accountant possibilities in preparation for transferring bookkeeping operations to Montreal, as well as getting a financial audit underway.

Working on charitable status application, continued website improvements, and communications and fundraising planning for next year.

Finalized logistics for travel to Japan to plan for the 2008 conference and Kenya to participate in the Global Forest Coalition meeting and World Social Forum in January.

Sarah Miller           sarah.miller@earthlink.net