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Media Advisory for Immediate Release

December 7, 2008

GETTING A NEW DIGITAL CAMERA THIS CHRISTMAS?

CONTINUE THE SPIRIT OF GIVING... AND IMPACT A COMMUNITY IN NEED WITH FIG TREE FOUNDATION

Allow your old cameras to tell the stories of struggle and triumph in some of the world's poorest communities. In collaboration with Vistek Ltd, the Fig Tree Foundation is collecting new and used digital cameras that will be used to capture the stories in communities in Eastern Africa. "We see this as a great opportunity to help Calgarian Aid and Development agencies create value and engage Calgarians at the same time. All in a simple and cost effective way” says Paul Gomes, Director of Fig Tree Foundation.

A camera can be a powerful weapon in the fight against poverty. Your used camera can:

- Create opportunities for advocacy and entrepreneurship
- Develop vocational training in the use of the cameras.
- Improve reporting on development projects currently underway, which helps organizations secure sustainable funding

The cameras collected will be used by three Calgary based organizations. The Africa Book Project in Kenya, Fontaine's Children Charity Foundation in Mozambique and True Vision Ghana. Then - donors can see what their gift has done, following the story online and viewing photo albums their cameras helped to create.

"As the initiative develops, we plan on posting the images taken in the field onto our website so that Calgarians can continue to follow its progress”

Cameras will be accepted at both Vistek Calgary locations.

For more information visit: www.figtreefoundation.org/vistek or contact:



Media Inquiries can be directed to:

Paul Gomes
Executive Director, Fig Tree Foundation
403-815-7828



BACKGROUND

The Fig Tree Foundation is a Calgary-based group dedicated to helping disadvantaged populations around the world by raising funds for registered international aid and development organizations who participate at the Fig Tree Roundtable.

Since 2005, the Fig Tree Foundation has brought these local aid and development agencies together via the Roundtable. Enabling organizations to work together in order to maximize impact abroad in a peer based, cooperative “best practices” environment.

There are currently 25+ members of the Fig Tree Foundation's Round Table - including Medical Mercy Canada Society, Aga Khan University and Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan.

The Fig Tree Foundation has recently begun working to raise the funds necessary to establish a 5 million dollar endowment that will act as the initial capital for a sustainable source of funding for worthwhile international aid and development projects