09/28/2015 - V2V - Vintners helping Villages in Africa

Slow Living is always looking to help people who are helping others and this is one of the most exciting we have come across.  Global Partners, in their own right, have helping villages all over Africa in a number of ways.  Now they have partnered with vintners to launch Vineyards to Villages, where proceeds of wines go to bringing clean water to villages in need.  We welcome Executive Director and Co-Founder, Daniel Casinova and one of the contributing wineries, John Viszlay.  Hear their fantastic story!

 

Global Partners’

Global Partners was founded in 1978 as a membership organization called World Runners International Foundation. Its main objective was to focus attention on and generate support for ending hunger and starvation in the world. Over fifteen years, World Runners raised $6.5 million for organizations working to end hunger and poverty. Its success was built on a network of personal relationships, established by members from every state in the U.S. and over 50 countries. In 1989, World Runners became Global Partners and began to work directly with East African community leaders in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda to identify and implement projects in the areas of health, education, and water.

 

Global Partners value the insight of community leaders about what is really needed and what will work from an African point of view. Hence, they prefer to fund projects that have long-term effects for social change. The problems of Africa are so great that billions of dollars will not completely solve them – but, paradoxically, hundreds of dollars, correctly applied, can make a big difference.

 

Besides on-the-ground management, their staff goes to Africa regularly to inspect current projects and interview new groups. Many donors have accompanied us on these trips to see, first-hand, the progress of their projects and meet the people who are benefiting from their support.

 

About V2V

 

Access to clean water and its management in East Africa are essential for the development of healthy living and economic self-reliance.

 

At many schools in the Kabando Constituency (KC) of western Kenya, access to clean water is a daily concern. Long treks for water and the impact of water-borne disease often keep children from school and parents from work in these rural villages.

 

Global Partners’ water projects bring clean water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene education to primary and secondary schools that currently have no access to clean water. In addition, community kiosks are built to pipe water from the school into the community, so children’s households also have access.

 

Water and its management are also key to the delicate art of producing fine wine. Vineyards to Villages (V2V) is an expanding group of vintners, growers and suppliers committed to breaking the cycle of poverty in East Africa through the power of partnership. The Sonoma County wine industry works with Global Partners to improve health and wellbeing one village at a time through greater access to clean water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene education.

 

Dave Stare, founder of Dry Creek Vineyard and Global Partners’ Board President, created V2V for the purpose of partnering with the wine industry to bring clean water to African communities. In recognition of the need for clean, accessible water in remote parts of Africa, tour participants and other donors hope to eventually sponsor some of the most expansive privately funded water projects in Africa.

 

Participating wineries include Christopher Creek Winery, De La Montanya Winery, Deux Amis Winery, Dom Whitney Wines, Fritz Winery, Hawley Winery, Merriam Winery, Williamson Wines, Wilson Winery, and Viszlay Vineyards. Dominic Foppoli, owner of Christopher Creek Winery, was instrumental in the development of the tour and says it is a unique opportunity for local small businesses to work together to make a difference.

 

The winery owners chose to fund water systems for schools in a very poor, dry area of Kenya. The project, called KKC WASH, will provide clean, accessible water and hygiene education for children at up to 20 schools in the Kasipul Kabando Constituency (KKC). These wineries designated a “V2V Wine” in each of their tasting rooms, and half of the sales price of V2V wines will go directly to their first school, Apondo Primary School near Oyugis, Kenya.

 

For more information on V2V and Global Partners, visit www.gpfd.org or contact Amy Holter at aholter@gpfd.org or (707) 588-0550.

 

 

 

 

Daniel Casinova

Executive Director

 

Daniel with Massai Warriors

 

Daniel has more than 15 years experience working with non-profit community based organizations with extensive expertise in board and community relations, fundraising, resource development, program and clinical services management and planning, executive coaching and grant writing.

 

He has a very unusual background. He has extensively traveled throughout the world and in very interesting ways. If you ever meet him ask him about sinking a traditional Bangladeshi Sampan in the Indian Ocean. Daniel has a love for languages, he speaks 4 languages and is  currently learning to speak Maasai. He is passionate about the movement of displaced peoples around the globe and a lifetime advocate for social justice. He comes from a philanthropic family and when speaking of his background and how he came to not-for-profit work often says, “he is in the family business”.

 

 

 

  

John Viszlay

Viszlay Vineyards

 

John, left, and Dominic Fipoli of
Christopher Creek Winery

Viszlay Wines is a family owned, boutique winery located in the Russian River Valley, making small lot, estate wines from a 10 acre vineyard. The winery is home to twelve varietals, including the only Prosecco grapes in Sonoma County. They practice sustainable farming methods and embrace the traditional wine making styles that produce soft, elegant and balanced wines.

 

Situated on a gentle slope, the vineyard was planted in 1997 and drains to a rippling creek leading to the Russian River. The soil has several distinct veins of sandy loam, red dirt and a small stretch of limestone. These, along with a slightly higher elevation than the valley, create a unique micro-climate for growing terrific fruit - two Chardonnay varietals, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Alicante Bouschet and Prosecco!

 

As owner and winemaker, John lives on-site and does all the wine making along with the day to day operations at the winery. His son and partner, Tony, oversees finance and marketing for the company. Together they focus on building the brand and bringing a smile to the faces of those who drink their wine.