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Selfhelp Community Services Volunteer Program

Submitted by selfhelp on Wed, 2007-09-05 15:46.

See It: The Community being helped

Selfhelp Community Services Inc. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to maintaining the independence and dignity of seniors and at-risk populations through a spectrum of housing, home health care, and social services and will lead in applying new methods and technologies to address changing needs of its community. Selfhelp will continue to serve as the “last surviving relative” to its historic constituency, victims of Nazi persecution.

Volunteer Opportunities-

Selfhelp Community Services Inc, is looking for dedicated volunteers for our various programs serving holocaust survivors and victims of Nazi Persecution. We are looking to bring volunteers on board for socialization with the clients. We run large coffee house type of events with entertainment for large groups. We also hold events in our community linkage program. The Community Linkage Program holds these events at various locations throughout NYC. Events are typically held during the week around lunchtime. Volunteers will be asked to socialize with our clients as well as help out with the event doing things such as pouring coffee and help with the serving of food. We have sites in every borough except Staten Island.

Selfhelp’s Community Linkage Program

Selfhelp Community Services Inc. Sponsors Holocaust Survivor Programs in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. We currently have six sites where we hold live entertainment, discussion groups, lectures, movies and special events. We also provide access to social workers and other resources that might be beneficial to this population. The program is funded by the NYC Dept. for the Aging through a special grant by the City Council of New York.

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Vital Stats

Started On:OngoingEnded On:Ongoing
People Involved:There are 45,000 Holocaust Survivors in New York CityPeople Impacted:10- 40 people at each site.
Money Raised:  

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Related Cause: Community Centers

Tags: seniors Elderly online community holocaust Survivors

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The Whole World is Watching; but what else should we do?

Submitted by HeatherHalleman on Tue, 2007-07-10 21:04.

See It: The Community being helped

Thesis: Genocides in Modern Times.
Nazi Holocaust

  1. History: Nazi Holocaust
  2. Reactions: What did the U.S./western society do to stop this?
  3. Reactions: What did the U.S./western society do during this?
  4. Long Term Effects: The Middle East today
  5. Long Term Effects: Did we learn anything?

Guatemalan Civil War
  1. Reactions: What did the U.S./western society do to stop this?
  2. Reactions: What did the U.S./western society do during this?
  3. Long Term Effects: The drug wars
  4. Long Term Effects: U.S./western policy in S. America

Khmer Rouge
  1. History: Khmer Rouge
  2. Reactions: What did the U.S./western society do to stop this?
  3. Reactions: What did the U.S./western society do during this?
  4. Long Term Effects: Asia
  5. Long Term Effects: Did this effect the fall of communism?

Rwanda Genocide
  1. Reactions: What did the U.S./western society do to stop this?
  2. Reactions: What did the U.S./western society do during this?
  3. Long Term Effects: African Society
  4. Long Term Effects: Did this influence Darfur? If so, how?

Darfur Conflict
  1. Reactions: What did the U.S./western society do to stop this?
  2. Reactions: What did the U.S./western society do during this?

What leads to a holocaust?
What can we do to prevent a holocaust?
Summary

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Build it: Steps taken to create the project/org and the kind of impact made

Vital Stats

Started On:Ended On:
People Involved:People Impacted:
Money Raised:  

Do Something! Get Involved

Related Cause: Education

Category: Education & Environment

Tags: Darfur Genocide guatemala holocaust nazi Khmer Rouge

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  • Post nominated for a brick on Thu, 2007-07-12 19:19

 

What is genocide?

You may have an idea of what genocide is, but do you know the exact definition?

The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG) defines Genocide as “any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious groups, as such:

  • killing members of the group;
  • Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
  • Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life;
  • Calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
  • Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group, and;
  • Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.”

In 1948, the CPPCG stated that genocide is a crime under international law, and is “condemned by the civilized world.”

 

Is what’s going on in Darfur genocide?

It’s under debate. The UN has said that the crisis in Darfur is a horrible crime against humanity, but they claim that there is not enough to declare in genocide. Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that there was in fact genocide in Darfur, but no one else in the UN has called it that. However, like Secretary Powell, a long list of people HAVE stated that they believe there is genocide going on in Darfur, including:

  • U.S. Senator John Kerry
  • U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman
  • U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist
  • Genocide Intervention Network
  • U.S. Senator Barack Obama
  • Physicians for Human Rights
  • U.S. Committee for Refugees
  • Justice Africa
  • Genocide Watch

The United Nations and Africa Nation stated that the Janjaweed are responsible for the mass murders of civilians in Darfur, but not genocide.

 

How do countries respond to genocide?

Countries that have signed the CPPCG are required to take action against acts of genocide, as well as try to prevent it in peace and wartime. However, some countries that have signed this convention signed under the condition that they could not be charged with acts of genocide without their consent. This immunity was used by the U.S. when Yugoslavia accused the U.S. of genocide in the 1999 Kosovo War.

The problem with acting against genocide is that it is hard to determine when situations are actually acts of genocide. Sudan is a perfect example. Even though hundreds of thousands have already been killed and millions have been displaced, it is not officially considered genocide, so countries aren’t really required to take action under the CPPCG. Even though it’s not considered genocide, UN officials and world leaders all agree that what is going on in Sudan is just as bad as genocide, and know that something must be done.

 

Do countries have their own rules about genocide?

Several countries have their own laws about how to deal with genocide. In Canada, the War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity Act makes it illegal to commit genocide, either in or outside of Canada. However, there were accusations of genocide in Canada between 1895 and 1984 that were never addressed.

The United States recognized genocide if it was committed in the U.S. or by a U.S. citizen, and if found guilty, a person can be faced with the death penalty or life in prison. The also may be banned from entering the U.S., or can be deported.

 

 

 

 

Sources:

Save Darfur - www.savedarfur.org

Wikipedia - www.wikipedia.org

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