During the year 2020, we issued a call for financial solidarity to enable our partners to continue their actions in favor of underprivileged populations - whether in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan or the Philippines [1]. Very quickly, the Covid pandemic has become a determining factor both directly (campaigns for education, organization and protection against the epidemic) and indirectly (difficulties of displacement...). Faced with this new emergency, we have regularly received donations, which has enabled us to continue and strengthen our support.

We have now more or less exhausted our possibilities of financial aid for 2020. We will report on the status of the donations at the beginning of 2021.

We would like to thank all those who have supported our work over the months. We do not want to “demand” any extra effort from them! We are simply launching, as we do every year, a specific appeal to replenish our permanent solidarity fund for next year. It is addressed in priority to new donors.

As previously mentioned, the peoples of Southeast Asia and South Asia suffer multiple hardships: authoritarian or dictatorial regimes, social consequences of the global neoliberal order, regional consequences of the China-U.S. conflict, population displacements linked to local military conflicts, multiplied effects of global warming (rising sea levels, worsening of typhoons and floods...), instability of the Pacific ring of fire (earthquakes, tsunamis...).

To this, let us add this year three dimensions. The pandemic, already mentioned. The “social fatigue” of populations who, over the course of a year, suffer repeated humanitarian disasters: the same working-class neighborhoods, the same villages are devastated a few weeks apart by hurricanes, an earthquake, armed violence.... The fatigue also of the militant networks that maintain their solidarity activities against all odds in very trying security and material conditions - how can they deepen the links and reflection under a state of curfew when the Internet connection is of low speed, unstable or non-existent, when power cuts are frequent?

The function of militant networks is irreplaceable. In the face of the accumulation and repetition of disasters, an atomized population cannot cope and must hope for so-called well-meaning charities; the social fabric is torn apart. If the collective bond is maintained, it can develop mutual help and regain some capacity to make their own decisions . Our local partners do what they can to contribute to this mutual help. They present alternatives that strengthen communities (such as peasant agriculture that can reduce climate risks) or propose procedures to resolve recurring armed conflicts. The Thai example, in addition, shows that a “breach” can be opened in a situation that seemed to be locked.

To replenish ESSF’s permanent solidarity fund, we need your help, whether in the form of occasional donations or periodic transfers.

We warmly thank all those who have contributed to the solidarity initiatives - and all those who will do so in the future ...

Pierre Rousset and Adam Novak
ESSF, November 18, 2020

Let us recall that our association operates without any form of remuneration, on an entirely militant basis. Thus, 100% of the donations received are transferred to their recipients. The fees related to these transfers are mainly bank charges and reduced to a minimum (less than 5%).

Our campaigns can be punctual, but also permanent as in the case of Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines. We do not “export” our own projects. We help movements to respond to humanitarian, social and democratic emergencies based on their involvement in the field and their own perception of priorities. These include the coalition of MiHands associations, based in Mindanao in the southern Philippines, the “Free Women” movement in Indonesia, the BKF-BKS peasant associations in Bangladesh and a network of grassroots organizations in Pakistan.

To send donations

Cheques
cheques to ESSF in euros only, payable in France, to be sent to:
ESSF
2, rue Richard-Lenoir
93100 Montreuil
France

Bank Account:
Crédit lyonnais
Agence de la Croix-de-Chavaux (00525)
10 boulevard Chanzy
93100 Montreuil
France
ESSF, account number 445757C

International bank account details :
IBAN : FR85 3000 2005 2500 0044 5757 C12
BIC / SWIFT : CRLYFRPP
Account holder : ESSF

Through PayPal
You can send money through Paypal: see the PayPal button on ESSF English home page: http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?page=sommaire&lang=en

Through HelloAsso
You can also send money through the association HelloAsso: see its button on ESSF English home page: http://www.europe-solidaire.org/spip.php?page=sommaire&lang=en
Or go directly to:
https://www.helloasso.com/associations/europe-solidaire-sans-frontieres/formulaires/1/widget

We keep you regularly informed via our website of the situation and use of the solidarity fund.