The Rendezvous Society

Infobox_Company | company_name = The Rendezvous Society
company_
company_type = Charity
company_slogan = "Intercultural Understanding & Care for the Environment".
foundation = 1985, Cheltenham, England
location = Cheltenham, England
industry = Environmentalism
homepage = [http://www.global-footsteps.com www.global-footsteps.com]

The Rendezvous Society is a non-profit British charity organisation (UK Registered charity 293357). It aims to promote care for the environment and the development of inter-cultural ties through linking of schools and communities. The Rendezvous Society enables individuals and communities, both in the county of Gloucestershire and beyond, to learn about other people and cultures. For example through the friendship link with Kisumu (Kenya) or the twinning link with Sochi (Russia). Global Footsteps is the name of the charity's programme of activities. Each event is a footstep towards a fundamental goal.

History

The Rendezvous Society is an educational charity founded in Cheltenham, England in 1985. Its mission is to help local communities to engage with people of other cultures in the interests of creating mutual understanding between them with an overall aim of creating a fair, friendly and fruitful Earth for the generations that follow.

Aims

The Rendezvous Society's method is to encourage friendship links between diverse and distant cultures, linking individuals, civil society, local authorities, sports, colleges, schools and environmental associations, leading to dialogue and co-operation between them.

For example, links have been established between Gloucestershire (UK); Kisumu (Kenya); Sochi (Russia); Toruń (Poland); Gottingen (Germany); Trabzon (Turkey), Saint Ann, Jamaica; Vasteras (Sweden); Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, USA); and Râmnicu Vâlcea (Romania);by means of study tours, youth exchanges, school and college links and internet dialogue. An annual series of global gatherings has broughttogether youth from such diverse regions whereby they share experiences aimed at tackling the threats to their respective environments.

The charity's major roles are: Thinking Globally - through helping local and distant cultures make friends for the benefit of both communities; Acting Locally - Bringing together various stakeholders within Gloucestershire to help build a sustainable future.

Educational Centres

"Gloucestershire, England"

The Rendezvous Society provides an information and social centre based in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in England. This helps people of all ages to learn more about other cultures and about environmental issues. Its purpose is to help create an equitable and sustainable Earth. The centre also provides language classes and other aspects of cultural education.

Within the Cheltenham centre, there is also a shop which provides Fairtrade products from a variety of ethnical countries. These products are mainly sourced through Traidcraft.

"Kisumu, Kenya"

The Rendezvous Society also provides an information and educational centre in Kisumu, Kenya (the friendship link town of Cheltenham). "Kisumu Rendezvous" is also effectively known by the name of Kisumu Links Self Help Group. In December 2006, "Kisumu Rendezvous" revamped its image with a new committee and new name (Kisumu Rendezvous SUPAKEN).

Linked communities

The following are linked communities that are included in The Rendezvous Society network.

* Annecy, (France)
* Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, (USA)
* Gloucestershire, (United Kingdom)
* Göttingen, (Germany)
* Kisumu, (Kenya)
* Navsari, (India)
* Râmnicu Vâlcea, (Romania)
* Roanoke, Virginia, (USA)
* Saint Ann, Jamaica
* Sochi, (Russia)
* Strabane, (Northern Ireland)
* Toruń, (Poland)
* Trabzon, (Turkey)
* Trier, (Germany)
* Vasteras, (Sweden)
* Weihai, (China)

Issues

The Rendezvous Society today works on these issues:

* Education
* Environment
* Sustainable Development
* Twinning

ee also

*Global Footsteps
*Fair Trade

External links

* [http://www.global-footsteps.com www.global-footsteps.com]