Letter to Our Supporters 01/10/2009
INTERACT WORLDWIDE:
MERGER WITH PLAN INTERNATIONAL UK
Dear Supporters of Interact Worldwide
I am writing in my capacity as a former Chair and President Emeritus of Interact Worldwide to let you know that as from 1 October 2009 Interact Worldwide will secure its future and take a vital step forward by merging with the international charity Plan.
This merger marks a new and exciting chapter in the histories of both organisations. The roots of Interact Worldwide go back to 1963, when the UK Family Planning Association set up the International Family Planning Campaign to raise funds for the International Planned Parenthood Federation, the worldwide network of family planning organisations. In the intervening 46 years it has grown, developed its own significant programme and advocacy activities, changed its name to Population Concern, gone independent (1991) and changed its name again. Its focus has widened to the broader reproductive and sexual health principles enshrined in the 1994 Cairo Programme of Action. Latterly this has, for example, included some ground-breaking work preventing the spread of HIV among young people in Tanzania, as well as continuing its emphasis on increasing contraceptive use and reducing the birthrate with its programmes in rural Pakistan. The Interact website www.interactworldwide.org has information on the current programme.
Plan International has roots which go back even further - to 1937 - when individual philanthropists worked to bring to safety those children orphaned by the Spanish Civil War and World War II. From these beginnings Plan, too, has widened the scope of its work to reflect the changing needs of children and young people and now works with 3,500,000 families in 48 of the world’s poorest countries. You can find out more on www.plan-uk.org.
Joining forces with Plan means that Interact Worldwide can increase the scope of its work, improving access to sexual and reproductive health and rights in many more communities in the developing world. Interact Worldwide will also be helping Plan, too, by adding to the depth of its expertise in the field of sexual and reproductive health.
Interact’s identity will not be lost. The Interact name and separate Interact Board will remain. Our commitment to the universal right of all people to sexual and reproductive health will continue and strengthen as we join Plan. Donations to Interact’s work will be ringfenced and can continue to be made by cheque, standing order or direct debit. There is no need to alter your method of payment. Our address and contact details will remain the same until further notice.
Thank you very much for your generous financial support of Interact Worldwide. It is greatly appreciated. I do hope that you will feel able to continue this support in future: this is critical to the long-term success and development of the work of Interact. This merger is an opportunity to invest in the talents and experience of both organisations to meet the challenges ahead.
If you have any questions we have some frequently asked questions on our website at www.interactworldwide.org/interact-planfaq.asp or do please contact Tom Treasure at Interact Worldwide on 020 7241 8506 or Plan’s supporter relations team on 020 7482 9777.
Yours sincerely
Dilys Cossey OBE
President Emeritus, Interact Worldwide
