WHO’s 8^th annual 
Solidarity Fair – a great success

Maria Dweggah, WHO

WHO’s Eighth Annual Solidarity Fair was an enormous success. It was held on Wednesday 11 December 2002 in the main lobby of WHO. Almost CHF 7’000 were raised in the span of a few hours. Of this, CHF 3’500 have gone to an elementary school in a small village in the Czech Republic. The much needed money will go toward the purchase of a heating system that was destroyed in last year’s floods. Another CHF 1’000 will go to the Association Européenne contre les Leucodys-trophies. CHF 2’000 will go to Adaikalam, an association in Vellore, India which provides support to families with HIV/AIDS. The money will buy two stock-net weaving machines. The sale of the stock-nets will allow a number of families to become self sustaining.

The WHO Staff Association Solidarity Fund was created in 1995, initially to help staff members in financial emergencies following a reduction in force exercise that took place in the same year. To date the Fund has disbursed over CHF 70’000 to staff, some of it in the form grants, the rest in interest-free loans. Over the years, funds have also been used to support a number of charities.

There are so many people to thank for this year’s success – first and foremost the men from building management who set up the equipment in preparation of the Fair and the guards who watched over us; the regular volunteers and a number of new ones who worked at the various stands. Special thanks to Marisa who faithfully provided the home-made sangría; to Roger from the Association of Former Staff who served it; to Isabelle who donated proceeds from her beautiful handcrafted articles, to Bertrand who provided the karaoke entertainment; to all who prepared cooked and served the delicious specialities from Columbia, West , East and North Africa.

A big thank you to Gilles Desplanches, for donating the chocolate “marmite” for the raffle which raised over CHF 1700. Special mention to Monique who took the initiative to contact him. To all those who bought raffle tickets. Special thanks and congratulations to Elongo Amisi (see photo) from our IT team who won the marmite. A super big thank you to all who came in support of this event.