Archive for the ‘Campaigns’ Category
Posted on April 28, 2009 - by Frank
His Name is Pramanik
Compassion International, the organisation TEAR Fund NZ partners with in Child Sponsorship, runs a programme that unites them with bloggers. From time to time they take groups of bloggers on trips to see the work done in the developing world first hand and those bloggers write while on the trips, giving their readers a close proximity to what is happening and what sponsorship is achieving.
One of those bloggers is a wonderful lady whose blog I follow and whom I also follow on Twitter – Anne Jackson.
Posted on April 14, 2009 - by Frank
Compassion – Our Partner
Our child sponsorship programme around the world is run by our partner organisation Compassion International. Today, I thought I would offer you a video that explains Compassion International a little.
If you would like to sponsor a child through TEAR Fund NZ and our partner, Compassion, call us on 0800 800 777 or click here.
Posted on April 3, 2009 - by Frank
The SSC Review of NZAID
The Don’t Corrupt Aid campaign has raised awareness of possible changes to New Zealand’s government aid agency, NZ Aid.
The concern was/is predominantly two-fold. The first is that the government was seeking to fold NZ Aid back into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, thus removing its semi-autonomous status. It has been argued that this would reduce the effectiveness of our aid dollars. The second concern was around the shifting of the aim of NZ Aid away from Poverty Eradication to Economic Development.
Posted on March 30, 2009 - by Frank
Survivor Poverty
In February a group in the Waikato took part in an experience called Survivor Poverty. The aim was to gain some empathy for those TEAR Fund works alongside. They raised over $1100 for TEAR Fund to use to assist those who need it most. The following was written by Nikki ten Hove, one of the Survivors. Nikki offers her reflections on the experience.
Survivor poverty is like a slap in the face. Do it. It will change your life.
Instead of spending our long weekend doing as most and going away to indulge ourselves, we chose instead to go without. We slept in rudimentary shelters we made from cardboard boxes, tarpaulin, twine and a few wooden crates. We were permitted only a single, itchy blanket for warmth. No pillows. Only one set of clothes. No showers. A long-drop for a toilet. We had a 400m walk for clean water. To earn our food we had to make a ridiculous amount of paper boxes from which we ate a very non-appeal goop they sold to us as ‘rice and dahl’. Despite the heat and lack of energy due to not being able to sleep and limited food we were made to work during the day both to earn money and as part of the Survivor challenges. I stood for 4hours on a stump with the promised reward of a roast chicken dinner for my group were I to outlast the other representatives.. who turned out to be quite the determined ones.
We’ve all seen the poor people on the television, the ones with flies on their faces- and I feel that only through something like survivor poverty can you actually come to understand why they don’t have the energy to shoo the flies away.
You may see how hungry they are, but have you felt anything close to how hungry they are?
You may see how exhausted they are, but have you ever seen the morning come after a restless night and realise you need to make 50 more paper boxes before you can afford breakfast?
You may see the loss of hope in their faces, but have you worked to offer them hope?
Poverty is outside your comfort zone. Literally. Experiencing what I did has hard and all I wanted was for it to be over- then I realised- for over 3 million people, it won’t be over.
Psalms like Psalm 23 take a whole new meaning
“He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23: 2-3)
I enrolled for survivor poverty mostly because it sounded like fun, what I got was an experience that I would most definitely recommend. Sympathy comes easy enough when it comes to the poor, but it’s empathy we need. And that makes the difference.
And now something from me about why Survivor Poverty was done and what was achieved.
Almost a year ago I saw some information about Slum Survivor, an event run by TEAR Australia. When I saw it I thought, “Sweet, I’ve always wanted to do something like one of those Survivor shows on TV.” I looked through the info and like some bits and not other bits. This could be made harder. How real is poverty when you are just in a small shelter in your church carpark right next to technology and luxury? I wanted to do something more, and thus began the planning of Survivor Poverty.
Survivor Poverty involved living in small shelters made of rubbish and branches and whatever we could find. It involved eating only two meals a day of just rice and dhal, and drinking only water, gathered from one tap about 400m walk from the slum site in an old shed. To eat, people had to work to earn Rupees. This work generally involved the boring task of making hundreds of paper boxes. There were challenges including gathering water for over an hour, endurance, literacy and treasure hunting. It was as close to poverty as any of these survivors had ever been.
People were tired, hungry, sick and at times wondering why they had paid to come to this thing. What these 25 people had only seen on tv or movies they now had a real taste of. I think it was really beneficial to everyone who went and the fact that we were able to raise over $1100 for TEAR fund to distribute to those who need it most was great.
This was the first Survivor Poverty and we weren’t really too sure how it would go.
I’m already thinking about what we’ll be doing for the next one.
Posted on March 27, 2009 - by Frank
Sri Lanka: Thousands of civilians under attack as fighting intensifies
Tens of thousands of people, trapped in ’safe zones’ in the north eastern Wanni region are at increased risk from the escalation in attacks by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, Amnesty International said today.
via ReliefWeb » Document » Sri Lanka: Thousands of civilians under attack as fighting intensifies.
TEAR Fund’s Easter Focus this year is the situation in Sri Lanka.
Our partner in the area is the only aid agency with direct access to the wounded as they are evacuated from the conflict zone. They are ensuring they receive food, bedding, sanitary kits, clothes and other basic essentials. Beyond just helping these wounded, they have long-term programs for helping people earn a living as well as reconcilliation between communities, like neighboring Tamil and Singhalese communities. The program has been able to get these communities to start trading between them and seeing that they really aren’t so different after all.
It is the reconciliation program that TEAR Fund is involved in and that you can support.
Through TEAR Fund, help support the victims of this tragedy in Sri Lanka. To give your support, call 0800 800 777
Posted on March 25, 2009 - by Frank
Earth Hour 2009 (Videos)
I’m very aware of the arguments in Christian circles about the validity of human-made climate change and I’ve helped fuel those debates on occassion from both sides of the argument. Today I’m putting my hand up to support a cause – Earth Hour.
I’ve heard the critics of Earth Hour argue that it achieves little, but if it gives us an opportunity to stop and think about our lifestyles and how the way we live affects the world around us, both in terms of how we affect other humans with how we live and how we affect the environment, then it has my thumbs up.
Posted on March 6, 2009 - by Frank
Don’t Corrupt Aid! Please Mr McCully, Leave NZ Aid Alone
A new website kicked off yesterday afternoon as part of a public campaign that we are involved in www.dontcorruptaid.org.nz
If you have been following this blog you will now be aware of the plans the Foreign Minister has to fold NZ Aid back into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The majority of development experts agree that this is a bad idea. We want to send him a message that the New Zealand public wants NZ Aid left well alone.
To take action just visit www.dontcorruptaid.org.nz To share your thoughts publicly, visit www.dontcorruptaid.blogspot.com If you want to demonstrate your support, save the image below and use it as your Facebook profile image, Twitter image, or any place you use images to show yourself to the world. Tell the government to leave NZ Aid alone.
Posted on March 5, 2009 - by Drew
Thursday 5th March. Lent 2009
Driving to work recently I was stuck behind a utility truck. Below the panel of lights on the back of the vehicle was a sign “Pass with Care”. Only a few moments later I passed a rubbish truck and again observed on the bumper the sign “Pass with Care”.
Of course the meaning‘s obvious – pass this vehicle carefully – exercise due caution as you pull out and go past. But being something of a language nerd I couldn’t help think of the other definitions of the word care.
Posted on February 26, 2009 - by Frank
Advocate Team Back in NZ
Recently our advocates team who were on an Insight Tour in the Philippines got back. This was written by Jane Laurie (TEAR Fund Regional Co-Ordinator).
Dear Friends
The TEAR Fund Advocate Team returned to NZ on Sunday. All of us, through the haze of being jet lagged, are still processing what we have seen and experienced.
You have read in previous blogs of our time in Manila. Fom Manila we travelled to Cabanatuan City for 4 days with TEAR Fund’s partner ASKI. We visited a number of TEAR fund related projects, in the Auroa Province, which is about 3 hours drive through the mountains from Cabanatuan. We saw first hand the difference these projects are making in the lives of the communities involved – how they are empowering the people within the community.
To travel by ‘hand tractor’ across the renovated Pacugao Bridge was a highlight. Orginally there was only a one person width swing bridge, in a great need of repair,which made getting people and goods across the river very difficult. To get a coffin (and body) across the river was no easy task. Now that has all changed with the new bridge.
At each of the projects we met with the locals, we witnessed and took part in their cultural dances and singing; we were made to feel so welcome.
In one of the Barangays (villages) the team experienced a little more closely community life when we had a one night home stay. Imagine living in a village where western visitors are extremely rare, and then having 7 Westerners stay over night. For one dear lady it was a little overwhelming and she felt too shy to have the orginally planned two overnight guests. In no time at all another local took up the challange to have the guests stay.
ASKI staff are so dedicated to the Lord and to the work they are doing – they really get to know the individuals within the communities they are working in. The people who recieve benifit of the programmes are not clients – they are partners. ASKI dont create hand outs – there is always a counterpart towards the cost of a project from the community, whether it be in cash or manpower. We were impressed.
Our final night in Cabanatuan City was one where some of the team were again out of their comfort zone – me in particular. The Filipinos love to dance and sing and so after a lovely meal with the ASKI staff we joined them in Karaoke. As a team we all sang together then as individuals we had the opportunity to ‘go it alone’ I took the plunge and was soooo embarrassed-Nothing like singing, out of tune, in front of at least 50 people – it does ones pride good!!! Actually it was such a fun night.
So there you have it, some highlights from the Advocate tour from my perspective.
What have some of the advocates had to say about the tour? . . . .
“This trip was beyond what I expected. A real ‘insight’ into a world outside my comfort zone.”
“Heart changing!!!! Absolutely heart changing for me. God has done an amazing work in me!”
“I have seen the reality of the benefit to the people through the various programmes TEAR Fund is supporting. It is lifechanging for those receiving the benefits”
The highlights of the tour for one advocate. . . Home visits with CCT, visiting the Kaibigan feeding programme and meeting other advocates.
If you are a TEAR Fund Advocate and are interested in joining an advocates tour in the future please contact Beth at TEAR Fund.
Thanks for your interest in this tour and your prayers.
Blessings from Mama (Nanay) Jane whose brain is still a bit fogged from jetlag!!!!!!
If you would like to support TEAR Fund’s work in the Philippines then contact us on 0800 800 777
Posted on February 26, 2009 - by Frank
TEAR Fund’s Events in 2009!
Check this video promo for TEAR Fund’s upcoming events in 2009!
Check out the events & tours section on the TEAR Fund website for more details and more events.
Posted on February 24, 2009 - by Frank
Humanitarian Crisis Facing Families Evicted from Cambodian Slum
The following was written by a humanitarian organisation in Cambodia. It outlines the eviction of families from a slum (Dey Krahorm) in late January and the ongoing abuse of their rights. I am looking into it further and examining our options to lobby for the rights of these people. Expect to hear more.
In the early hours of Saturday, 24 January 2009- assisted by a large contingent of armed police and military police- hundreds of workers contracted by the 7 NG Group razed the Dey Krahorm community. The demolition gangs completely destroyed the remaining houses and market stalls located in the community, in many cases bulldozing the personal belongings and documents of the residents into the ground, before the families were able to rescue them.
Posted on February 18, 2009 - by Frank
Start a Revolution – Trade Your iPod!
The following was written by Carl Worthington, a TEAR Fund supporter who has kicked off a radical campaign to raise money to see a well built in Orissa, India, through our partner there.
Welcome to a revolution, this year I have decided to do something bigger than myself and try to make a radical impact on the poor in Orissa, India.
It all started when I was introduced to the idea of building basic wells in Vanuatu through YWAM, a team of like minded individuals and the local community. Unfortunately this never eventuated, but the passion and drive for building wells still anchored itself within me.
Posted on February 15, 2009 - by Frank
Open the Eyes of Our Heart
Right now we have an Insight Tour in the Philippines. Occassionaly the team will be updating us on how the trip is going. This was written by Jane Laurie (TEAR Fund Regional Co-Ordinator).
Hello Friends
Well, what can I say. . . . it has been a rather emotional day for the team. We witnessed levels of extreme poverty and met families who despite living in these conditions are so inspiring and being full of faith in God.
It was exciting for me to meet up with a sponsored child that i met back in 2005 – he is sponsored by a school in Gore – and to see the change in him and his mum did my heart good. There were many examples today of just how much child sponsorship is making positive changes in peoples lives.
Posted on February 13, 2009 - by Frank
Hello From Manila – Day One
Right now we have an Insight Tour in the Philippines. Occassionaly the team will be updating us on how the trip is going. This was written by Jane Laurie (TEAR Fund Regional Co-Ordinator).
Day One
How do I begin to explain our day – it was certainly action packed.We have seen some amazing projects with CCT (Center for Community Transformation) and met with such dedicated staff. This morning we visited a couple of Micro enterprise fellowship groups and all of us came away so inspired. Then this afternoon we visited Kaibigan – the street dwellers programme and it was such an honour to spend time with 200 Kaibigan at their feeding programme.
Posted on February 13, 2009 - by Frank
A Sponsor Child Visited – The Philippines
Clarissa & Stephen Wickens recount the visit to their sponsored children – 15 -16 December 2008
We had decided more than a year ago that we would spend Christmas 2008 and New Year in the Philippines with Clarissa’s family. Since we were going anyway it seemed like a too good an opportunity to miss to visit our sponsored child, Ronald, and by the time we were ready to make plans for the trip we had a second sponsored child in the Philippines – Lea, who had been given to us when a girl we had sponsored in Africa had graduated from her programme.
Posted on February 12, 2009 - by Frank
Update on Israel’s Election
A couple of days ago, I mentioned that Israel’s election was drawing near. With the election now concluded, how has it played out?
Kadima (Israel’s centrist party) narrowly got the most votes with the right wing Likud party just behind. The win doesn’t mean much for Kadima though as the whole thing is about coalitions and it looks like the right wing block got more seats in the Knesset (parliament).
Now both Tzipi Livni (Kadima leader) and Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud leader) will frantically try and exert their ability to form a coalition as it is now up to the President (Shimon Peres) to determine which has first right to form a government.
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