1. Sankofa CANADIAN
CROSSROADS
INTERNATIONAL
w w w . c c i o r g . c a • V o l . 1 1 N O . 1 • S p r i n g 2 0 1 1
49 Bathurst St., Suite 201
Toronto, ON M5V 2P2 Canada
2 3 4ED Karen Takacs
honoured with
women’s rights
award
Aminata Fund
launched in support
of women and girls
in Africa
Fighting
forced
marriage
in Senegal continued on page 2 >
Contents
By Tara Scanlan,
La Paz, Bolivia
A FAIR TRADE:
New loan fund ensures decent work
for Bolivian coffee producers
This bustle of activity at COAINE is the result
of three years of work for both Crossroads and
local microfinance partner FONCRESOL.
Today, the staff are busy working the land,
preparing for the harvest season. The local
coffee company is amongst the first recipients
of a Fair Loan, a new kind of credit developed
specifically to serve Fair Trade producers and
exporters.
“Since receiving the Fair Loan credit, with
this financing, farmers are able to export cof-
fee,” said Jaime Andrade, who is responsible
for Fair Trade Projects at FONCRESOL.
The loan enables farmers and producers
to sell their coffee to the more lucrative export
markets. Without access to credit at this criti-
cal point in production, producers are pres-
sured to unload significant portions locally at a
much lower price. It also allows farmers to
cultivate larger quantities of coffee.
“The loan allows farmers to pay their
workers, to pay for the production and to pay
their debts before they export the coffee. If we
have to sell our coffee beforehand we make
less money, and we have less containers to
export,” said Mauricio Palli vice-president of
COAINE.
“Money is everything,” piped in a bright-
eyed local coffee farmer. For producers like this
man, the Fair Loan has delivered higher income
due to the combination of increased exports
and a fair price for his coffee beans. As a
result, he is able to increase the quality of life
for his family.
“The producers can send their kids to
school, giving them better possibilities for the
future,” added Andrade.
Atthe dizzying altitude of 4100
metres El Alto, Bolivia, is
one of the fastest growing cities
in Latin America. Down a dusty
cobbled street stands the office
of COAINE, a small coffee export-
er. The day I visit the office, it is
a flurry of activity as workers pro-
cess and prepare a container of
coffee bound for Europe.

2. 2
LIVINGLEADERSHIP|www.cciorg.caCanadianCrossroadsInternational
“They have greater access to heath services, clean water, and the
smaller, more rural, areas are able to increase their communication
services and facilitate transportation.”
Through their relationship with FONCRESOL, and with access to
credit like the Fair Loan which Crossroads has supported since its
inception, many Bolivians have increased economic and social
development in their communities.
“The role of Crossroads is a big one; they are part of the
project,” said Andrade. “Their support, economically and technically,
has made it possible for us to achieve what
we have. Without Crossroads, this project
wouldn’t have existed. Crossroads has done
a lot of work in leadership and communal banks, providing women
with training and access to credit, which has improved their lives
and their self esteem.”
During my visit to the coffee processing operation in El Alto,
I spoke with farmers about the connection they feel to coffee
drinkers. What did they have to say to us, to the people they grow
the coffee for, here in Canada?
“We would like Canadian coffee consumers to know that the production
process of coffee is still difficult in the country,” said President of COAINE, Don
Martín Tomas. “The producers are small. Production isn’t industrialized. There is no
technology in the processing, and production is not on a big scale. Coffee production
in Bolivia is primarily manual.
“We understand that the price of Fair Trade organic coffee is higher, but we
would like consumers to know that costs of
production are higher,” continued Tomas.
He explained that certification by the
Fair Trade Labelling Organization, and other
specific regulatory bodies from import coun-
tries, is costly.
For farmers, processors and the staff at
FONCRESOL, it is important that consumers
make the connection, that we understand our
role in the relationships that brings that delicious,
steaming cup of joe to our tables.
Fair Trade lays bare every link in the chain
from the producer who plants the seeds, to the
company that processes and packages the beans, to the roaster who toasts them,
to the barista who serves them and to the consumer who drinks it. It ensures that
every person in that chain plays a part in ensuring coffee production and export
provides a decent and dignified living.
My job here in Bolivia, as a Crossroader, is to help expand these connections, to
solidify the links in the coffee chain from Bolivian farmer to Canadian roaster.
So, the next time you sit down to enjoy a cup of coffee, think back to all the hands
it passed through to get to you. And I urge you not to be passive, but to pl ay your part
in ensuring a fair deal and a dignified living for every person along the chain.
Tara Scanlan is currently on placement as a Fair Trade Marketing Specialist with
FONCRESOL in Bolivia.
continued from page 1 >
George was speaking about her recent gift to Crossroads.
“In this case, I can help groups of women. Women who
have so little, yet are so capable of making change for
themselves.”
Crossroads is helping create decent work for
women by increasing access to capital through micro
loans and by supporting small collaborative ventures
such as shea butter cooperatives through which women
can earn a reliable income. Crossroads is also working to
reduce violence against women and girls and to provide
support to victims. Increasingly, women in communities
where Crossroads works are able to care for their families
and are taking greater leadership in their communities.
“Patsy’s gift will support vital work with women and
girls in Africa,” says Karen Takacs, Executive Director of
Canadian Crossroads International. “It is a remarkably
generous gesture. Patsy has devoted her life to working
with others to improve social conditions. We are hon-
oured that she has chosen Crossroads to continue this
work with women in Africa.”
George, 70, has made a lifetime of giving. As a
social worker and volunteer, she worked alongside immi-
grant communities, First Nations people and other disen-
franchised groups to assert their rights. She has won
numerous awards and distinctions for community service
including the Order of Canada. And in retirement, she
continues to provide leadership to many non profit orga-
nizations including serving as a member of Crossroads’
Board of Directors.
When asked what she thought the impact of her gift
would be, her response was swift. “What is the impact?
One hundred times what I could do myself… just by
bringing resources to these women. I feel at peace real-
izing that the amount of money I could give will make a
real difference in the lives of women in Africa right now.”
A gift to
empower
African
women
and girls today
Iwant to support women, to bring resources to women, so they may make change for
themselves. Canadian Crossroads International is a well run organization that it is
doing exactly what I want to reach my goals,” said Patsy George.
The donor: Patsy George
The gift:
$40,000
The cause: Canadian
Crossroads International
The reason: To help
women and girls in Africa
reach their potential
“The producers can send
their kids to school, giving
them better possibilities
for the future.”
-Jaime Andrade, FONCRESOL
“I have had the tremendous fortune of working directly with people in the global South,”
says Takacs. “In the face of unimaginable obstacles — extreme poverty, HIV and AIDS,
endemic violence, regular violation of their rights — friends and colleagues in Africa and
Bolivia persevere. My resolve and my passion for development work is inspired by the
dedication of the people we work with to creating a more just and equitable world.”
This May, Takacs will be honoured with a 2011 YWCA Women of Distinction award
in recognition of her lifelong commitment to improving the lives of women and girls, and
for her leadership in the field of international development,
“It is a tremendous honour to be recognized by the YWCA. This is an organization
that for 130 years, has been at the forefront of improving the lives of women and girls
in Toronto, and that continues to forge the path towards equality through their programs,
their advocacy and their participation in community life,” says Takacs.
“Over the past decade Crossroads has made tremendous strides and
I am extremely proud of the impact of our work. This honour is a testament
to the dedication and passion of Crossroads board, staff, volunteers and
partners. Much remains to be done, and I am very optimistic about the
change we can achieve together,” said Takacs.
Six other exceptional women will be honoured with Takacs for their role
in advancing the interests of women and girls in different sectors: Cristina Amon,
Science & Engineering; Elizabeth Goldberg, Law & Justice; Joan Lesmond, Health
Leadership; Sherry Cooper, Corporate Leadership; Sophia Gran-Ruaz; Young Woman
of Distinction; Vivian Del Valle, Community Support.
“We are very proud. Crossroads has evolved under Karen’s leadership, from a
group highly respected in the field of cultural-exchange to a results-based development
organization that has made advancing the rights of women and girls central to its work,”
says Darlene Bessey, chair of the board of directors and Takacs’ nominee for the award.
“Today Crossroads is achieving substantive results in reducing violence against women
and girls; increasing the participation of women in decision making; and increasing
women’s social and economic autonomy. And we could not have got there without
Karen’s leadership.”
The awards dinner for the 31st Annual YWCA Women of Distinction Awards,
presented by Sun Life Financial, will be held on Wednesday May 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the
Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Tables and tickets to attend the awards are available
online at www.womenofdistinction.ca. We hope to see you there!
A WOMAN OF
DISTINCTION
IN OUR MIDST:
ED Karen Takacs named 2011 YWCA
Woman of Distinction, Development
and Advocacy
"Crossroads has evolved under Karen's leadership,
from a group highly respected in the field of
cultural-exchange to a results-based development
organization that has put the rights of women
and girls at the forefront of its work."
-Darlene Bessey, chair of the Board of Directors
By Christine Campbell
“
When Crossroads Executive Director Karen Takacs is asked
what propels her, year after year, to fight poverty and sup-
port women’s and girls’ rights, the answer comes easily.

3. “We were asking ourselves how we could make a difference in the
world here in Canada and internationally,” said Lawrence in a recent
interview.
Then, somewhere along the road in the mountains of West
Virginia it struck Miranda. Aminata, the stalwart protagonist from
The Book of Negroes has moved hundreds of thousands of readers
across Canada and the world. Why not enlist her character to
inspire support for the ongoing struggles facing women and girls in
Africa today?
And so, Lawrence and Miranda decided to launch a special
fund at Crossroads bearing her name, The Aminata Fund.
“Just as it’s hard for most ordinary people today to imagine
in a visceral, real way what the daily life… of a slave in the 18th
century might have been like, it’s also very difficult for most of us
ordinary Canadians to understand and feel and visualize what daily
life might be like in some rural village in Southern Africa or in Mali or
Ghana,” said Lawrence. “Offering the novel, using the name of the
protagonist Aminata [is] … a stepping stone, so that people have a
point of entry.”
Crossroads’ rights-based approach to development – working
to empower women and girls to live free from violence, to participate
fully in public life and to have equal access to training and decent
work – moved Lawrence and Miranda to action.
“Crossroads was such a natural fit. Larry has spoken many
times about…the importance of the Crossroads experience not just
in terms of changing his life, but in influencing his fiction and
ultimately [The Book of Negroes] itself,” said Miranda. “[Crossroads]
is not simply dropping some funds and some expertise… It’s an
experience of working together towards some common goals.”
Lawrence served overseas three times with Crossroads (Niger,
1979; Cameroun, 1981; Mali, 1989).
“[Volunteering with Crossroads] changed my life forever,” he
said. “It opened up my vision of the world. It helped me get a sense
of the daily lives of ordinary people who were carrying on with such
dignity and strength, often in conditions of real poverty.”
Addressing the root causes of poverty and inequality requires
international cooperation. And every Canadian has a role to play.
“Many people feel totally bewildered about how they can make
a difference and how they can direct their own personal generosity,”
said Hill. “Raising the profile of Crossroads among Canadians helps
provide that bridge and lets people give more of themselves and of
their purses.”
Lawrence’s time as a Crossroader in Africa continues to inspire
his writing today. And now, he hopes that one of his most powerful
characters will inspire change.
“The fund celebrates the idea of a person who is strong and
capable and resilient even in the face of monstrous injustice,” said
Lawrence. “And of course there are today still so many women and
girls who are strong and capable and resilient, who carry on in the
face of monstrous inequity.”
To make a gift or to participate in the Aminata Fund, contact
Jill Bridgman:jill@cciorg.ca; 416-967-1611 ext. 270.
“Raising the profile of
Crossroads amongCanadians helps provide
that bridge and lets people
give more of themselves
and of their purses.”
- Lawrence Hill
When a new loan was launched by
Crossroads partners in Bolivia, coffee
farmers, processors and exporters got a fair deal.
Don Martín, a small scale coffee producer
in Bolivia is urging Canadians to play their part.
“We would like Canadian coffee consumers to
know that the production process of coffee is
still difficult in the country… We understand that
the price of fair trade organic coffee is higher,
but we would like consumers to know that costs
of production are higher.”
Fair trade values every person in the pro-
cess from planting to harvest, and compensates
them fairly. As Don Martín noted, his ability to
make a fair wage depends, in part, on us — on
our willingness to pay a fair price.
Don Martín knows it takes cooperation the
world over for people in his country to realize
their human rights and at Crossroads it is a les-
son we have taken to heart.
In this issue of Sankofa travel with us to
Bolivia to discover how a new Fair Loan is
enabling farmers and producers like Don Martin
to enjoy decent and dignified work. Join us in
Senegal to witness how local partners and
Crossroaders are supporting women to escape
from forced marriages, to claim their right to a
life free from violence, to self-determination and
to access to justice.
And there is more. Board member Patsy
George has received numerous honours for her
work with marginalized communities in Canada.
Now, thanks to a generous donation to
Crossroads she is supporting African women
and girls to make change in their lives.
And so too are acclaimed writer and three-
time Crossroader Lawrence Hill and his wife,
Miranda Hill. Lawrence and Miranda have
chosen Crossroads as their charity of choice,
launching The Aminata Fund, a new initiative to
support girls and women in Africa named for the
inspiring lead character in his award winning
novel, The Book of Negroes.
Finally we celebrate the life of Crossroads
founder Dr. Alan Lane and his unwavering ded-
ication to our work. His legacy lives on through
hundreds of Crossroaders who volunteer each
year to work for change.
Message
from the Chair
Darlene Bessey
Solidarity in action:
How we can all contribute
to change
3
www.cciorg.ca|
!
GIFTSFORCHANGE
Monthly Donor Profile:
Tricia Schers
Without the exchange of any words, a child
who didn’t share my language communi-
cated a message that caused a life-changing shift in
me. She was HIV positive and all she wanted from
me was to be hugged.
When I returned home from my time in Suriname
as a Crossroads volunteer, I felt compelled to do more for
marginalized people, especially women and children. It is because
of my experience with Canadian Crossroads International that
I became a monthly donor.
Having worked in non-profits for most
of my career, I know the incredible value of
having monthly donor support. But the main
reason I give is that Crossroads made it
possible for me to see the world through a
different lens. Crossroads gave me an
opportunity to enrich the lives of others and
at the same time enrich my own.
When I think of how many Crossroaders there are, I become
very optimistic about the incredible opportunities we could be
creating as a group if we all became monthly donors.
MONTHLY GIVING
Making every dollar count
We cannot overstate the importance of our loyal Monthly
Donors! Knowing we can rely on this income enables
us to plan more effectively, increasing the impact of
our work. Monthly giving is the most cost effective and
environmentally responsible way to donate, and you can
cancel or change the amount you give any time. A gift of
$20 a month, less than $1 per day, could help a woman
gain financial independence. Over time it adds up to a
significant and vital contribution.
Tricia Schers
Miranda and Lawrence Hill
Lawrence and Miranda
Hill launch
The Aminata Fund for
girls and women
By Candice O’Grady
Crossroads_CCI www.facebook.com/canadiancrossroads
Stay current with
our latest news on:
Itstarted on a road trip. Lawrence Hill, the acclaimed author of the award-winning novel The Book
of Negroes, and his wife Miranda Hill were reflecting on their good fortune. Five wonderful
children, a best-selling book (Lawrence), a successful independent communications company and the
launch of the inspired non-profit Project Bookmark Canada, which brings Canadian literature to life in
public spaces (Miranda).

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Crossroads is supported by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Ministère des Relations interna-
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around the world. Sankofa is published twice yearly for Canadian Crossroads International alumni and friends. Please
send us your comments, letters and ideas. • Executive Director: Karen Takacs • Director, External Relations: Christine
Campbell • Coordination and writing: Candice O’Grady • Linguistic services and writing: Nicolas Gersdorff
• Contributors: Tara Scanlan, Simon Godin-Bilodeau • Photos: Tara Scanlan (cover, 2), courtesy of Patsy George (2),
courtesy of Tricia Schers (3), Simon Godin-Bilodeau (4), Rick Lane (4) • Art Direction: Wioletta Wesolowski, Visual
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Agency (CIDA).
Because she doesn’t love her cousin and wants to stay
in school, Alice refused to comply with the forced
marriage and approached the Association pour la
promotion de la femme sénégalaise (APROFES) for
advice and support.
Alice’s story is not an isolated case; forced
marriages are commonplace throughout Senegal. In a
national survey, 14 per cent of female respondents
stated that they had been forced to marry. The practice
occurs at all levels of society, although it is more
prevalent in rural communities. UNICEF estimates that
36 per cent of Senegalese women are married by the
age of 18.
Often low-income households try to marry off their
girls in order to ease the family’s financial burden or to
take advantage of a dowry. A girl can be promised in
marriage even before she is born. In Senegal it is esti-
mated that nine per cent of girls ages 7 to 14 leave
school to enter the conjugal home and that number rises
to 13 per cent in rural areas. From then on, they are
isolated from their families and subject to the whims of
in-laws.
To force these girls to conform to their new lives,
they might be beaten, raped or kept as virtual prisoners
by their husbands. Having little to no control over sexual
matters, they are at greater risk of contracting diseases
such as HIV and AIDS. Young girls are not physically
ready for childbirth or even to have sexual relations. The
consequences can be very serious, even fatal: infections,
tearing, haemorrhaging and possible sterility.
Crossroads has been working with APROFES
since 2007, supporting women and girls who have
experienced domestic violence and bolstering their
efforts to reduce violence through public education.
APROFES provides a range of support services for
victims including a counselling centre, emergency
financial assistance and access to medical and legal
services.
My placement is focused on forced marriages and
supporting APROFES’ efforts to end the practice.
Currently, I am conducting participatory research with
victims and documenting their cases. In partnership with
women and girls who have experienced forced mar-
riages and the staff of APROFES, we are working togeth-
er to develop new awareness-raising strategies and
support programs.
In fact, free consent to marriage is already an
explicit right stipulated in Senegal’s constitution and
forced marriages are a crime punishable by two to
five years in prison. However, enforcement of the
law remains a challenge. APROFES, together with
Crossroads, has committed itself to interventions,
education, and advocacy to fight forced marriages.
Already, Crossroads has supported the creation of
a rotating fund that will help women victims of violence
earn an income and increase their autonomy.
Crossroaders have created a domestic violence data-
base providing APROFES with vital evidence on the
extent of violence against women. In addition, volunteers
have supported APROFES to organize discussion
groups for victims of violence and, after the organization
observed this practice during a partnership visit to
Quebec, the implementation of training for staff in
counselling and intervention.
All of these initiatives are part of a women’s rights
approach that seeks to empower women to increase
their self-determination and to live a life free from vio-
lence. When the study on forced marriages is complete,
it will provide APROFES and the women and girls it
serves with more crucial information — for lobbying
governments to enforce existing laws, for bringing cases
to court, and to increase public knowledge about funda-
mental human rights.
Simon Godin-Bilodeau has been on placement
with APROFES for more than a year. He is currently
conducting participatory research with victims of forced
marriages.
Lane, an accomplished surgeon and devoted family man, made the unconventional
choice to travel to Africa on a mission with Dr. Robinson.
“It’s hard for someone in the modern day to realize what the adventure was like 50
years ago,” explained Lane’s son Rick. “Picking up stakes from a professional life and
heading off [to Africa] for a summer-length period was basically unheard of.”
Being in Africa transformed Lane. He and a handful of others founded Crossroads
based on the simple premise that One World is possible. They believed change could
be achieved by bringing people together, from different countries and races, to work on
a common cause.
“In partnership
with women
and girls
who have
experienced
forced
marriages...
we are working
together to
develop new
awareness
-raising
strategies.”
Making the case for change
Documenting and fighting forced marriages in Senegal
Lane’s commitment to Africa and to Crossroads lasted a lifetime. He passed away
on February 11, 2011 and a celebration of his life was held on February 15 in Hamilton.
Crossroads staff, board and community extend our deepest sympathies to his family
and friends.
Crossroads co-founder Don Simpson remembers Lane as a clear thinker with an
incredibly disciplined mind and a wicked sense of humour, who loved to grapple with
complex problems — of which there was no shortage in the organization’s early years.
“[Lane] was the powerful example of the quiet servant leader… He didn’t need to
talk to make his presence known,” said Simpson. “He had a great capacity for identify-
ing the strengths in people, and becoming a mentor and supporter… He was straight,
main-line, middle class Canadian, and he had a mind that could explore the most
unconventional, courageous ideas and support them.”
Lane’s children were profoundly influenced by his involvement in development
work. Three of his children went overseas with Crossroads, Rick (Lesotho, 1971), Rob
(Japan, 1972) and James, godson to Dr. Robinson (Singapore, 1984).
“It was through my father’s involvement that I got involved with Crossroads,” said
Rick Lane. “My overseas experience with Crossroads was probably the most important
component of my own personal development in my life, certainly in that era of my life…
And I can only assume that would be the case for many of the hundreds of others who
have had the same kind of experience.”
Our profound thanks to Alan Lane for his lifetime of dedication. Dr. Lane’s family
is continuing his legacy of support by asking that donations in his memory be made to
Crossroads.
When “Alice” was just 16 years old, her father decided to marry her to
her 25-year-old cousin, who lived in Dakar. Alice was notified just a
few hours before the marriage was to take place in the mosque. Now that
she’s 18, Alice must leave her father’s home and move in with her husband.
By Simon Godin-Bilodeau, Kaolack, Senegal
CELEBRATING
THE LIFE OF
ALAN LANE
By Candice O’Grady
The night Alan Lane first heard the enigmatic American civil rights activist Reverend
James Robinson speak, the course of his life, the lives of his children and the
future of international development work in Canada were fundamentally changed.