Merry Christmas from SIFAT!Shop with SIFAT for the Holidays!As you start shopping this holiday season, please remember SIFAT! We have several ways you can help SIFAT during this holiday season of giving while checking names off of your holiday list. Visit the SIFAT Village Store online
Find unique gifts for your friends in family at the SIFAT Village Store. From books by SIFAT co-founders Ken and Sarah Corson and SIFAT t-shirts to Christmas angels and jewelry, the SIFAT Village Store lets your purchase impact others throughout the world. Proceeds from each purchase benefit SIFAT and those with whom we serve. Our online selection is limited, but if there are items you have seen in the store, email villagestore@sifat.org. If you are local and would like to come shop, call Marie or Peggy at 256.396.2015 to schedule a time.
 The SIFAT Village Store promotes family businesses and cooperatives. Proceeds from sales directly benefit SIFAT! Raise money for SIFAT when you shop online.
Did you know thousands of retailers will donate a percentage of your purchase to SIFAT? Use one of the services below and choose SIFAT as your charity. You will be redirected to your favorite store’s site to shop as usual. When you check out, the retailer sends a percentage to SIFAT, but you are not charged extra! Often special coupons codes are also available for your use on GoodSearch and iGive.
 Because of SIFAT supporters, Dr. Rebeca not only graduated high school, but furthered her education to become a dentist! She has joined Dr. Ruth Noemi to serve the Bolivian people in Quesimpuco and the surrounding communities as they implement a public health initiative. Nontraditional Christmas Presents
In lieu of a traditional Christmas present, why not give your friends and family gifts that impact others throughout the world?
 During 2016, SIFAT has held training both here in the Alabama and internationally to train community leaders how to meet their basic humans needs and look for available assets that can benefit those with whom they are working.
Training: Environmental Monitoring Training in JuneSIFAT is excited about an upcoming training opportunity to be held June 28-30, 2016, on our campus. The following press release is from the 4-H Alabama Water Watch Program, with whom we are partners for this conference. The 4-H Alabama Water Watch Program is partnering with five environmental centers around the state, including SIFAT, to provide teachers and volunteer educators with the opportunity to learn to use the Exploring Our Living Streams: Stream Biomonitoring and Water Chemistry Monitoring Curriculum. During this two-day workshop, participants will learn to use the EOLS curriculum, which is correlated to the Alabama Course of Study and is endorsed by the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative. Participants will also be certified as water monitors and will learn how they can certify youth as 4-H AWW Water Monitors. Participants who complete this training will receive Continuing Education Units from Auburn University. Food and lodging is provided. This opportunity is funded in part by a grant from the EPA Office of Environmental Education. *There is a $25 application fee due with registration. Workshop Locations and Dates:
Click here to download a flyer. For more info and to register, click here or call he AWW Office at 334.844.4785. Ecuador: Safe in Quito after Saturday’s EarthquakeAs you have probably heard, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the northern coast of Ecuador Saturday afternoon. The epicenter was more than 100 miles from Quito. Thankfully, we have talked to Dr. Roberto, our director in Ecuador, and he assures us that our project sites in Quito are safe. They felt the earthquake, but because tremors are not uncommon, they did not realize the severity of this earthquake until much later.He said there was some minor damage in the southern part of Quito, but nothing as devastating as we have seen in the news from the areas on the coast. We are still planning to take all of our medical and construction teams this summer, but we are asking them to be flexible, in case there are opportunities to serve in areas affected by the earthquake. Thank you for all of the emails, calls and prayers for our staff and project sites in Quito. We will continue to update you as we learn of specific ways we can help and as we receive news from our graduates that live closer to the devastated areas. Continue to pray for Ecuador and those who lost homes, friends and family in this disaster! Village Store Christmas SaleWe are excited to offer items from the Village Store for Christmas this year. We are starting to build our online storefront, so check back often as we add new items. Currently, you can find books written by our co-founders Ken and Sarah Corson; merchandise to show your support of SIFAT – t-shirts, water bottles, stickers and sunglasses; wooden, tagua and masapan angels from Ecuador; and wooden plates and cutting boards from Bolivia. Click here to start shopping!  International Team Coordinator Peggy Walker and Promotions and Marketing Coordinator Marie Lanier buy merchandise for the SIFAT Village Store from store owners, micro-enterprise groups and artisan markets. Each piece in the store has been hand selected and the artisan paid a fair wage. |
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