Solidaritätsdienst-international / International Solidarity Aid

The registered association of Solidaritätsdienst-international (SODI) [International Solidarity Aid] was founded in 1990 and commits itself to a socially just, solidly united and peaceful world in which the basic necessities of life are maintained. The association is politically impartial and ideologically open-minded.

SODI links its cooperation with foreign partners for the realization of self-help projects on four continents to briefing and educational work as well as to sociopolitical commitment in civil rights networks in Germany and on an international level, amongst others in the anti-landmines campaign, with ATTAC and in the campaign Erlassjahr.de (devoted to debt relief). SODI belongs to the Board of Coordination of the Campaign for Debt Relief and Compensation in Southern Africa.

The association, legal successor to the Solidarity Committee of the GDR, concentrates its work in Africa on the southern part of the country and continues traditional support of the fight against colonialism, racism and apartheid.

At present, SODI implements projects in partnership with self-help groups, church institutions, children’s organizations and local initiatives to combat poverty in Mozambique (construction of schools and education for women), South Africa (support of children’s groups and schools, focusing on raising ecological consciousness), Angola (aid for landmine victims and the disabled) and Namibia.

In the slum of Orwetoveni, the social trouble spot in the city of Otjiwarongo in central Namibia, a SODI project started at the beginning of 2002 which will run for several years with a total volume of € 962,700, supported by the EU. This project is for 160 residential houses to be built with clay bricks as well as for the erection of local facilities. SODI provides information on its work in its quarterly report and – more up to date – on its website at www.sodi.de.