ADRAnews Winter 2012 by ADRA Australia

ADRAnews-0512

23/4/12

8:53 PM

Page 1

Winter 2012

to borrow and prepare food to bring back to her family. It was a walk of survival that would take all day, meaning she couldn’t invest in her own garden or seek out work. Her husband, unable to watch his family slip further into poverty turned to alcohol. He was either drunk or hung over – but numbing the pain only made the problems worse.

Ruth and her family have been hungry for two decades.

Of food and futures The afternoon sun sank towards the hazy Kenyan horizon as Ruth Zulu and her family bagged up yet another meagre harvest of maize. Lifting the sacks onto their backs they knew it wouldn’t be enough. Ruth thought through the scenario, ‘Maybe it will last us three months if we eat just two small meals a day.” Sitting outside her home, surrounded by dust and dry maize Ruth continued to explain how her family had survived through this prolonged drought. But my mind was stuck two sentences back. Still struggling to understand what she had just told me. “This is the last time we had a harvest,” she had said matter-of-factly. My mind raced to make sense of it all the last time Ruth and her family were able to harvest ANY food from their field

was 15 years ago. And yet, here they were, as hosts to me and my questions without any sense of desperation or regret in her words –just the fact that this was life.

My mind catches up with the Swahili flowing from Ruth to my translator. “I’ve been forced into this. I want to be self sufficient.” And with that I realize she’s articulated the simple, unselfish dream for a secure future that is echoed by thousands around her. But it is a dream that has been put on hold. Her children, now numbering eight, have also had to put their dreams on hold. While they could never afford uniforms, they at least had the opportunity to learn, but as the drought worsened they were forced to drop out of school to find and beg for food. “All our neighbours were struggling like us,” Ruth said. “We never got much begging, but we had to try.” And so there were times when they wouldn’t eat - they would often go three days between meals.

Since marrying in 1989 Ruth’s family has, as she put it, “never had enough.” Or, to put it in terms we understand, Ruth and her family have been hungry for more than two decades.

“We would just drink water and sleep,” Ruth said. Illness was common, and without the money to buy a mosquito net the children were often plagued with malaria.

Every day for 20 years Ruth would set out on a 20km trek to her sister’s home

Twenty-three years ago she was married with the dream of raising a healthy,

ADVENTIST DEVELOPMENT AND RELIEF AGENCY AUSTRALIA

Continued page 4

Ruth Zulu and her family would often go for three days without a meal.

ADRAnews-0512

23/4/12

8:53 PM

Page 2

Network

Message from the CEO

News The ADRA network has a presence in 126 countries around the world! Recent projects implemented by other ADRA offices include:

ADRA Cote d’Voire Five thousand refugees fleeing continued civil unrest in Cote d’Vioire now have access to psychological counselling services conducted by trained ADRA volunteers. ADRA has also supplied 420 permanent shelters, while providing training and materials for people to build their own homes.

ADRA Thailand Eight villages in the Mae Suai district in northern Thailand will have access to improved water supplies thanks to an ADRA project funded by the Japanese government. Hundreds of locals will now have access to clean drinking water, preventing water shortages and the spread of water borne diseases.

ADRA Montenegro Heavy snowstorms in the south-eastern European country of Montenegro have left thousands freezing, isolated and without basic necessities. ADRA Montenegro have begun distributing food packs containing pasta, rice, flour, vegetable oil, salt and sugar – enough food to last 14 days. They will also receive hygiene packs and firewood.

We were close to her house, but not her home, when she died. She was a refugee in Niger having fled from conflict in bordering Mali. But the dry sandy soil of Niger’s west is hardly arable, and when you add to it hundreds of desperate refugees food is short, if not nonexistent. And so she died. The cause? Food, or the lack of it to be exact. At that moment I felt hopeless. Amongst the heat and dust it seemed nothing could be done; the situation was just too helpless. Around the world close to one billion people are considered to be hungry – that is they live each and every day without enough to eat. But more than that, they lack the very basic opportunities that come with having a nutritious diet – time and energy for an education or to earn an income or support their families. Ruth Zulu’s story (see page 1) is just one example of this. ADRA implements projects across the globe, and right here at home, that ensure thousands of people have access to food year-round. And when disaster strikes we work to ensure people are given the necessities they need to survive. But we need your help. My experience in Niger reminded me more than ever that the situation is deadly. A gift of just $40 to our Food and Futures Appeal before June 30 can help us to support an additional 21,000 people around the world through sustainable food and agriculture projects. That’s 21,000 people who will not only have full stomachs, but have secure futures because of you. Please use the enclosed envelope to pass on your gift before June 30 and check out www.adra.org.au/foodandfuturesappeal to discover the impact you can have. Please also pray for us, our work and the people we are working for. Kind regards,

ADRA Somalia ADRA Somalia is harnessing the combined power of women and greenhouses to add nutritional food to the diets of people living in Somaliland. The greenhouses provide nutrient-rich vegetables and fruit like spinach, kale, okra, tomatoes, pawpaw and limes. The women involved in the project now have enough to feed their families while also earning an income from surplus crops.

ADRA Timor Leste (East Timor) In a country where only 60 per cent of the population have access to clean water, ADRA has installed five water pump stations in the Uma Tolu community giving 600 households access to clean, safe water preventing the spread of water borne diseases.

Jonathan Duffy Chief Executive Officer ADRA Australia

We’ve launched our new website and blog. Check out www.adra.org.au for even more news, resources and opportunities to get involved!

PO Box 129 (146 Fox Valley Road) Wahroonga NSW 2076 Australia

T: 02 9489 5488 E: adra.info@adra.org.au www.adra.org.au 1800 24 ADRA

www.facebook.com/ADRAAustralia Editor Braden Blyde | Senior Management Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Duffy / Chief Financial Officer Melville Simonsz / Director of Emergency Management Chris Olafson / Director of International Program Chris Jensen | Board of Directors Chester Stanley (chair) / Jonathan Duffy (secretary) / Eveline Linker / Julie Praestiin / Ken Vogel / Kingsley Wood / Liliana Munoz / Michael Peach / Peter Truscott / Wilf Rath.

ADRAnews-0512

23/4/12

8:53 PM

Page 3

Progress Overseas - International Program Vanuatu teachers complete first phase of training Fifty unqualified primary teachers from across Vanuatu have completed phase one of ADRA’s teacher training program. Working in partnership with Fulton College, ADRA is training teachers in the areas of classroom management, lesson planning, curriculum studies, using technology in the classroom, basic English language skills and the philosophy behind Christian education. “The more than 2000 students under their care will be able to learn more at school because of their teachers’ increased knowledge,” said Wes Jerethy, the Vanuatu Church Partnership Program Manager. “A better education will give the students a

better foundation for the future.” This unique project drew teachers from schools in the Seventh-day Adventist school system as well as the Presbyterian, Church of Melanesia, Church of Christ and Assemblies of God school organisations. The trained teachers gained formal recognition from Fulton College and have now been empowered to return to their local communities with improved skills and knowledge to pass onto their students. Because of your support, teachers in Vanuatu are now empowered to better serve their students, schools and communities! Thank you!

New noodles for Cambodia A recently announced partnership between ADRA and Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing will see a new range of highly nutrious noodles being produced and distributed by rural Cambodian villages. “In Cambodia 40 per cent of children under the age of five are developmentally stunted, and 14 per cent are severely stunted, as a result of malnutrition during pregnancy or through their early years,” said Denison Grellmann, International Program Manager for ADRA Australia. “Cambodia has serious health issues – issues we’re hoping to combat through these fortified noodles.”

through receiving the nutritious noodles or by being part of a life-changing small business. “We will be partnering with Sanitarium and their nutritionists to create a noodle which can be easily manufactured by women’s business groups – giving them nutritional food, but also empowering them to run their own small businesses,” said Mr Grellmann. ADRA will also look to producing and selling a fortified instant rice porridge, a common staple known as bor-bor. “I am so pleased to see such an innovative project being implemented – I know it will bring lifesaving change to so many families and communities in Cambodia,” said Mr Grellmann. Without your support, we wouldn’t be able to implement such innovative, but essential ways of empowering communities in Asia. Thank you!

More than 16,000 people will benefit from this unique project

Emergency Management ADRA responds to Fiji floods For the second time this year, the residents of Fiji’s Western Division have been affected by severe flooding. Widespread, heavy rainfall and cyclonic activity, has seen homes, roads and livelihoods destroyed. Thousands were evacuated. The flood waters rose so quickly that many fled their homes with only the clothes on their back. Daven Doss’ story is just one story of the savageness and destruction of the floods. Daven watched as the nearby river rose, quickly it broke its banks, spilled out onto Daven’s fields and swarmed towards his house. He had no choice but to gather his family and flee to higher ground. When he returned to his house and farm, his heart broke – his entire crop of rice

and paw paw had been destroyed. His entire income of $20,000 lost to the flood waters. In response ADRA immediately provided emergency food and hygiene packs to families. These food relief packages consisted of enough rice, tuna, split peas and other food essentials to last two weeks, ensuring families would have ample supplies to feed and take care of their families. In total ADRA’s response has impacted more than 7500 people. Thank you! It’s because of your loyal giving throughout the year, that we are able to respond immediately in times of disaster.

ADRAnews-0512

23/4/12

8:54 PM

Page 4

Feature Continued from page 1

Thanks to ADRA’s food distribution Ruth and her family are no longer hungry and can rebuild their futures.

But why…? Why is hunger so serious? Secure food. Secure future. Ruth’s long history of hunger (see page 1) is almost too shocking to believe. In addition to providing insight into the reality of those without a secure source of food, her story also highlights the deep and significant impact of food on our everyday lives. Miss breakfast and lunch on a busy work day and you’ll perhaps feel you’ve gained but a glimpse. But it is temporary, and hardly life-threatening.

happy family into a future better than her own. But by November last year this dream had withered with the fields around her. It was at this point that ADRA staff, with funding from ADRA Australia’s East Africa Drought Appeal made contact with Ruth – her community had nominated her family as one most in need. Now, she receives a monthly ration with enough maize, beans, oil and salt for her family to eat three meals a day.

‘I was so surprised, I couldn’t believe it... I thought it was a miracle.’ Her youngest, just four years old also receives a highly nutritious corn-soy blend to stave off malnutrition. “I was so surprised. I couldn’t believe it,” said Ruth as she reflected on the day she received the first rations. “I thought it was a miracle.” Every day, 21,000 children die from hunger and hunger related causes. Around the world nearly one billion people live each day without enough food. But as the Ruth’s story demonstrates, the situation is far more serious than simply being hungry – a lack of food limits access to education and income, and forces dreams to be put on hold. That is why we have launched our Food and Futures Appeal. We need your help to raise the $840,000 needed to help an additional 21,000 people suffering from hunger around the world. Your gift by June 30 will help others like the Ruth throughout the Pacific, Asia, Africa and people here at home. Please use the enclosed envelope to make your gift before June 30. Just $40 by can help save a life. Braden Blyde is ADRA Australia’s Communication Coordinator.

Population growth, changing diets, changes in climate, degredation of land, limited availability of water, increasing food prices and the global demand for biofuels, feedstock and other unstustainable agricultural activities are all contributing factors to the rise of global food insecurity. Sadly, those who contribute most to these issues are not those who feel their effects. And when placed in pressure situations – having no food to feed your family for example – people often resort to coping strategies that have longterm consequence – for example the selling of assets such as livestock that could provide food and income in the future. It’s a deadly cycle that almost a billion people around the world find themselves in. A lack of food, which for obvious reasons is usually combined with social and economic poverty, has drastic effects on education opportunities, and income and food generating productivity, along with physical and mental health. This is why hunger is so serious – because when education, income and general well-being is in decline, so are the chances of achieving dreams and fulfilling hopeful futures. Ruth’s story is a powerful example of how improving access to food can change someone’s entire life. Unfortunately Ruth’s struggle has not ended – the drought has not broken. But when it does, ADRA will be working to restore farms that will continue to produce sustainable, nutritious food into the future. It’s this kind of change that ADRA is about – sustainable, effective and empowering development. Because it’s never just about the food.

ADRAnews-0512

23/4/12

8:54 PM

Page 5

Progress At Home – National Program ADRA selected for Federal Government partnership Job seekers in Logan, Queensland, will now be assisted by the local ADRA Community Centre through the Federal Government’s ‘Community Action Stream Support’ program.

Logan Centre Manager, “as this is the only pilot of its type in Australia.” “If a person would like work experience in computers and IT, they can work in our community centre and gain valuable experience and knowledge with our teachers and computer equipment,” said Pam.

partnerships will be run by jobs providers across Australia.

“Or, if someone would like retail experience, they can work at our ADRA Op Shop – there are a number of different ways people can receive on-thejob training in a variety of different fields of work.”

ADRA Logan also provides literacy classes, computer classes, food relief packages and counselling. Attached to the community centre is an ADRA Op Shop which provides low-cost, quality goods to shoppers keen for a bargain.

“It’s very exciting,” said Pam Wood, the

This 18-month program will see more than 100 job-seekers placed in the ADRA Community Centre. A total of 20 pilot

We pray for God’s blessing on the Community Centre, its staff, volunteers and clients!

JEM girls give back

due to mental illness, homelessness, domestic violence and neglect.

“These women came to us broken and in need of support. Now they have been empowered enough to go and assist and support other women in isolated communities.”

But recently these three young women volunteered their time to serve communities on a remote island off the Northern Territory coast. Working with Youth Services, they ran women empowerment days, assisted in parenting classes and planting gardens and helped run kids’ activities.

The ADRA Centre, in partnership with jobsearch agency Sarina Russo, will provide hands-on job training opportunities and work experience for people who are jobless but seeking to re-enter the workforce.

Rebecca Auriant, Director of ADRA Services in Victoria, speaks about three girls who are currently part of the ADRA supported Justice.Empowerment.Mission (JEM) girls refuge outside of Melbourne. Everyday JEM cares for and provides safe accommodation for women in distress

Emergency Management Tremendous effort by ADRA volunteers during NSW floods Sustained, heavy rain over the Riverina region of southwest New South Wales forced the evacuation of residents in Cooma, Goulburn, Queanbeyan, Bega, Cowra and surrounding towns during March. Towns further north in the Hawkesbury/

think

about it

“It’s amazing,” said Rebecca. “This goes to show the powerful journey these women take, and the life-changing work ADRA and JEM are undertaking.”

Thanks to your support these girls have been empowered to give back!

Nepean area were also affected. Teams of ADRA volunteers were called on by the state government to provide emergency accommodation for those who lost everything or were forced to leave their homes in the face of the extreme flooding. “Our volunteers have worked beyond themselves – they have done an incredible job of meeting people’s needs,” said Kevin Munro, ADRA Australia’s New South Wales Disaster Welfare Coordinator. “Because of their efforts more than 1500 people were given a safe, comfortable place to sleep and rest while the crisis unfolded.”

The average price for a cup of coffee from an Australian cafe is $3.31 – that’s more than two days wage for more than 1.4 billion people around the world.

More than 60 ADRA volunteers worked almost

an entire month caring for families and individuals who needed assistance as the flood waters continued to swamp areas down-stream. “They have showed wonderful commitment to continue their response for almost an entire month – such an impressive sustained effort,” said Kevin. A big thanks goes out to all our volunteers for your efforts, and we continue to pray for those recovering from the floods.

ADRAnews-0512

23/4/12

8:54 PM

Page 6

You Did It!

Thanks for Getting Involved What a great ride! Thirty keen, and not-so keen cyclists, took to the tarmac in January as part of the 25000 Spins Great Ocean Road Challenge. More than half the group were proud ADRA supporters and raised more than $82,000 for ADRA’s drought relief projects in East Africa. “The scenery is absolutely spectacular,” said Rodney Olsen. “Sure there are tough times, but every time we push up a hill we know that its helping a child who desperately needs a hand up.” The 300km ride from Geelong to Warrnambool is not only picturesque, but a unique personal challenge with riders training hard in the months leading up to the ride. Watch a video recap of the this year’s ride at www.vimeo.com/ADRAAustralia Thanks to all the riders for their inspiring efforts. Visit www.25000spins.com to register for the two exciting rides next year!

One ‘Awesome’ YouTube Clip Here’s an example of how just a few minutes, a video camera and some inspiration can make a real difference. YouTube user Ben Gibiec (aka PushkaCom) uploaded a video during last year’s social media driven fundraising initiative ‘Project for Awesome’ that got our attention. The video spread the word about ADRA and encouraged people to support the cause – but more than that, for every Like, 1+, share and view, Ben promised to donate one cent. And he did – a total of $14.68. “I wanted to help shift the focus of YouTube and the internet away from cute cats to love and charity, at least for one day,” Ben said. “Being a charity that often flies under the radar of mainstream media, ADRA is a great charity to promote. You can watch the video at: http://youtu.be/hx5cpKfsTho Thank you Ben – your passion and ingenious fundraising is ‘awesome’!

The 5-day challenge Could you survive on $3 a day? That is the question Brad Melville and his family of five set out to answer during December 2011. “We wanted to bring the challenging situation in the Horn of Africa a little closer to home,” he said. “And with the money we saved in shopping, we purchased a goat, some chickens, emergency food and a few other gifts from ADRA’s gift catalogue.” “We’re lucky, when the five days were up we were able to eat fruit and other yummies again – not so for many.”

think

about it

For the price of one missile, a school full of hungry children could eat lunch every day for five years!

Thank you, Brad and family, for the sacrifices you made to help changes lives around the world!

ADRAnews-0512

23/4/12

8:54 PM

Page 7

Juniors cycle for Cambodian kids In March, 40 junior Sabbath school members and their parents from Wallsend SDA church cycled 20km to raise funds for children in Cambodia. They raised more than $2,000 which will be used to purchase more bicycles for rural Cambodian students who, if living more than 10kms from the school find it difficult to, and often do not, attend. “Our theme for the quarter has been poverty and justice,” said Junior Sabbath School leader Russell Halliday. “This was one of our awareness projects. One kid raised more than $500 himself!” Russell consulted with Nathan Hawkins, Director of ADRA Services for the North New South Wales conference, and the ADRA Australia website for the project that would be most achievable and get the kids involved. If you’d like to know how your church or Sabbath school can raise funds for ADRA, speak to the Director of ADRA Services at your local Conference office or email adra.info@adra.org.au

Grant a Wish Challenge With the launch of our new gift catalogue this year, we issued a challenge – the Grant a Wish Challenge. Did you know that you can keep granting wishes all year round without spending another dollar? Simply log onto www.adra.org.au/grantawishchallenge, and by asking your family and friends to match your gift you can multiply your impact many times over. It’s easy, it takes just five minutes to maximise your impact! Didn’t receive your copy of the 2012 Grant a Wish catalogue or would like to know more about the Grant a Wish Challenge? Email adra.info@adra.org.au or call 1800 24 ADRA.

Micah’s Challenge Injustice seems to reign in so many corners of God’s world, and abuses of power seem to corrupt even the best attempts to make things right. Things were not too different in the days of ancient Israel where the powerful and the privileged ran roughshod over the weak and vulnerable. Not surprising then, there are some 2000 verses in the Bible focusing on powerrelationships and resultant injustices. Time and time-again we are called to speak “up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31: 8-9, NIV) This is what the Micah Challenge is about: a coalition of Australian Christian aid agencies and churches committed to speaking to government about the injustices of global poverty and the need to halve it by 2015. Micah Challenge takes its brief from Micah 6:8: “What does the Lord require of you? But to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (NIV).

Run Melbourne – VIC – July 15, 2012 (www.runmelbourne.com.au)

City2Surf – NSW – Aug 12, 2012 (www.city2surf.com.au)

ADRA Australia is a coalition partner of the Micah Challenge and invites you to become an advocate for the world’s poor. Sign the Micah Challenge, get involved in Give Poverty the Flush, participate in the annual Voices for Justice in Canberra (Sept 15-18, 2012) when with like-minded Christians you can speak up for the world’s poor to our federal parliamentarians.

North Queensland Cycle Adventure – QLD – Sep 9-11, 2012 (registrations now open – www.25000spins.com)

For more information go to www.micahchallenge.org.au

Great Ocean Road Ride – VIC – Feb 17-19, 2013 (registrations now open – www.25000spins.com)

City to Bay – SA – Sep 16, 2012 (www.city-bay.org.au)

Events to Join Have you got a passion for making the world a better place? Why not join one of these upcoming events and raise funds for ADRA’s work around the world.

ADRAnews-0512

23/4/12

8:54 PM

Page 8

Hi Young Aussies!

ADRA kids

You’re sitting in class, all of a sudden, borborygmus. That’s your stomach rumbling. Borborygmus. There it goes again. Finally the class ends. You run out and grab some lunch. Ruth Zulu, a mother from Kenya, knows what it feels like to have her stomach grumble endlessly. Ruth and her family went hungry for more than 20 years. That’s a lot of rumbling stomachs.

ADRAroo wants to help more people living with hunger. Colour in the map to discover the places most effected by hunger around the world.

For the Armchair Traveller… Trees of Life Trees are pretty miraculous things – they provide food, shelter and firewood, help counter the effects of changing climates and erosion, and add a potential source of income for families. With ADRA’s encouragement these drought tolerant trees are being planted by beneficiaries in Kenya to help provide for their family during and after the drought.

Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia Ltd 146 Fox Valley Road (PO Box 129) Wahroonga NSW 2076 1800 24 ADRA | adra.info@adra.org.au | www.adra.org.au