TZEDEK - A POTTED HISTORY

The roots really go back to Band Aid and Live Aid in 1984 and 1985. These events moved millions of people across the globe. The UK Jewish community was no exception and fund-raising appeals in the Jewish press brought an unexpectedly high response. People and groups started to think about a specifically Jewish agency to tackle global poverty. Inevitably it took some time but in the spring of 1990 a small group of activists, convened by Steve Miller, proposed a series of open seminars on global issues to be held under the name Tzedek. These seminars attracted new people and set the tone for the organisation - rooted in Jewish values and seriously engaging with the reality of development work with all its complexities. In the autumn of 1990 Tzedek was formally launched with a public event for children to coincide with the UN World Summit for Children.

The first projects were carefully assessed and supported in South India and Zimbabwe - both areas where we continue to have strong links. Other projects were supported in Sudan and Swaziland. We continued our educational focus with further public seminar series focusing on different aspects of development. Tzedek also played a leading part in the management of the Debt Crisis Network which became Jubilee 2000, and we were a partner in the 'Values and Visions' education project for primary schools. Early fund-raising activities included a Jewish take on Comic Relief - the Spielathon - linked with the Jewish festival of Purim, and sponsored events including a marathon 10 kilometre swim across Israel's Lake Kinneret.

Support for overseas projects continued, including reconstruction work in areas recovering from war - South Ethiopia, Kurdistan, Mozambique and Rwanda. In 1994/1995 Tzedek took a major leap forward. Our slim but over-stretched organisational structure could no longer cope with our expanding work - we expanded the Board of Trustees chaired by Clive Lawton, formalised sub-committees with responsibility for overseas projects and fund-raising, and employed a part-time development officer - Steve Derby

Most momentous was the creation, in 1995, of the first volunteer programme in Zimbabwe. Five volunteers -mostly graduates of Jewish youth movements - took part in the first scheme which was co-ordinated by a long term volunteer in Zimbabwe - Jonny Persey. Each year's returned volunteers brought a new vigour to Tzedek's work and in several cases, long term projects arose from their activities.

The following years saw continued expansion and development. The volunteers increased in numbers each year and, when political circumstances limited our activities in Zimbabwe, new programme and partnerships were established in West Bengal, Kenya and Ghana. New overseas projects developed in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Uganda and Ghana. Each new project brought new relationships, partnerships and friendships with colleagues in those countries. Fund-raising activities included an auction of cartoons, theatre, film, comedy and music events, summer garden parties, quizzes and much more.

Tzedek continues to develop. New projects are being supported (see current project pages) and in the past year new sub committees have been formed to give more time and effort towards the volunteer programme, and education activities. The annual Tzedek Shabbaton gives an opportunity for Tzedek's increasing numbers of activists to meet together, learn about each others work and re-dedicate themselves to another year of activity.