CARITASNEWS #150 | SUMMER 2017
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE Leading the way
> SUBSIDIARITY IN AUSTRALIA First Australians leading the way
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> PACIFIC CLIMATE CHAMPIONS ...speak out in the Caritas Australia State of the Environment Report for Oceania
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FROM THE CEO It is hard to believe that Christmas is yet again upon us, but 2018 has been a year of considerable achievement in pursuing the mission of Caritas Australia. This year has been marked by significant national discussions about how Australian society and our constitution can be made more just for First Australians. In 2016/17 Caritas Australia renewed our commitment to the principle of Subsidiarity through the Joint Statement on Subsidiarity, developed with NATSICC (National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council) and our First Australian Program Partner Organisations. This important element of Catholic Social Teaching insists that those most affected by policy decisions have a hand in creating them. In this same spirit and based on representations to Caritas Australia by a range of Cardinals, Bishops and Caritas agency leaders across the Asia-Pacific region since 2014, we have been actively engaged in advocating on environmental and climate change issues within Australia. This work was highlighted through the fourth Caritas State of the Environment Report for Oceania which is a practical affirmation of Pope Francis’s call in 2015 for us to take care of our common home, featuring voices from the Pacific. As well as the welfare of our common home, the plight of asylum seekers fleeing persecution has also been an important part of Caritas Australia’s work this year. Along with other Catholic agencies involved in the work of the Catholic Alliance for the Protection of Asylum Seekers (CAPSA), we encouraged political leaders to demonstrate compassion and care for those fleeing persecution and took up Pope Francis’ international ‘Share the Journey’ campaign. Wishing you and your family every blessing and a happy and peaceful Christmas period,
Paul O’Callaghan, CEO FOR THE LATEST NEWS, EVENTS AND UPDATES HEAD TO:
Caritas Australia, 24-32 O’Riordan St, Alexandria NSW 2015
1800 024 413 (toll free)
9am – 5pm AEST Monday – Friday caritas@caritas.org.au
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“But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord." Luke 2:10-11
CONTENTS 04 AUSTRALIA 06 PACIFIC 07 AFRICA 08 SOUTH-EAST ASIA: PHILIPPINES 09 ASIA: NEPAL 10 CARITAS COMMUNITY Cover: Patient Patrick Tjungarryi and Purple House manager Sarah Brown. Photo: Sarah Brown/Purple House Editor: Daniel Nour Design: Three Blocks Left All photos Caritas Australia unless otherwise stated.
www.caritas.org.au twitter.com/CaritasAust facebook.com/CaritasAU youtube.com/CaritasAustralia
Caritas Australia acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians, past and present, of the land on which all our offices are located. This edition may include images or words of deceased people.
Caritas Australia is a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID).
Caritas Australia is fully accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Please note: some of the programs featured in this issue of CaritasNews are funded by Caritas Australia and the Australian Government.
TIME TO BE HEARD Indigenous Peoples all over the world, the traditional owners and custodians of their lands, are often the subjects of arbitrary decision-making by non-Indigenous Governments on their behalf. These decisions usually have long-term and damaging effects. Subsidiarity, the principle which underpins Caritas Australia’s work with First Australians and Indigenous peoples across the world, insists that the best people to make decisions are those who will be most affected by the outcomes. The principle directs Governments and non-Indigenous organisations to play a supportive role in these decision making processes through proper resourcing, with meaningful consultation with the first peoples of the land. Earlier this year hundreds of First Australian leaders and representatives from across the country gathered near Uluru and crafted the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’. The Statement outlines a vision and a pathway for truth and reconciliation. This vision includes a renewed national representative body for First Australians, to be enshrined in the constitution, and a supervising body called the ‘Makarrata’ Commission to oversee treaty making between Governments and First Australians through a truth-telling process.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY • 10 DECEMBER: INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY We acknowledge there is much to be done to achieve full recognition of human rights in many parts of our world. • 12 DECEMBER: GLOBAL GIFTS To ensure your printed cards arrive before Christmas Day, please order before 12 December at www.caritas.org.au/ globalgifts or 1800 024 413. • 7 DECEMBER - 9 DECEMBER: AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC YOUTH FESTIVAL (ACYF) 17,000 young people have already registered for ACYF, where Caritas Australia, with other Catholic agencies, will showcase its social justice work to youth from all over Australia, through presentations, interactive spaces and performances.
Unfortunately, the Statement has been met with closed hearts by the Australian Government. Caritas Australia has prepared a short visual reflection to express our solidarity with First Australians. This can be viewed at caritas.org.au/guidedreflection.
SHARE THE JOURNEY
This edition of Caritas News highlights the importance of subsidiarity by showcasing stories from our Indigenous partners around the world and their great successes in areas of health, education and development.
In our world today 65 million people have been forced to leave their homes because of conflict or persecution and 22.5 million of these are refugees. The Caritas Share the Journey campaign seeks to produce a culture of encounter by encouraging all of us to talk with a refugee or migrant - to hear their story and #sharethejourney.
We thank you for your support to realise the just participation of all members of society.
Find out more at www.caritas.org.au/ sharejourney
ROHINGYA REFUGEE CRISIS Find out more about Caritas Australia’s response and its work with the Rohingya on page 11 or by visiting caritas.org.au/Rohingya
Patrick Tjungurrayi is one of the participants of the Purple House program in Alice Springs.
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AUSTRALIA: CENTRAL DESERT
FIRST AUSTRALIANS LEAD THE WAY Kiwirrkurra
Pop 135 In 2003 Western Desert Nganampa Walytja 700km Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation (WDNWPT), also known as the Purple House, was established by Walpiri and Pintupi people from the Western Australia Western Desert region to support people with chronic diseases to stay on country. Since 2003 the Purple House has grown to support remote dialysis in 15 communities as well as a ‘home away from home’ Aboriginal owned clinic in Alice Springs.
The wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is closely related to their connection to community, culture and their traditional lands. For people suffering from long-term conditions like Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), travelling to faraway town centres for frequent dialysis treatment creates disconnection, stress and isolation. The meaning of the WDNWPT is ‘Making all our families well,’ and here’s some of what Sarah Brown, Purple House CEO, had to say about how this is being achieved.
Kintore Pop 475 530km
Tjukurla Pop 35 880km
Warakurna Pop 140 854km
Blackstone Pop 133 800km
“This is a story of Aboriginal Australians having a problem and working on their own solutions with howling success!” - Sarah Brown, Purple House CEO
“The original idea was to have dialysis out on Kintore and give people time in country but now it’s more about providing culturally appropriate supportwe’re consumer led and we’re challenging big institutions to look at the ways they provide services for people who are going to spend their lives on dialysis by modelling a different way that has proven clinical outcomes and contributes significantly to people’s wellbeing, by contributing to their survival rates. We are allowing individuals to be at home and make their own wise decisions about their communities and also giving their family members and their wider communities some hope for the future. Dialysis should not be about being whisked away and told you can never be allowed to go home! This is a story of Aboriginal Australians having a problem and working on their own solutions with howling success!”
In 2016 the Purple House won the prestigious Indigenous Governance Award from Reconciliation Australia 4 | CaritasNews
Since 2012 Caritas Australia has partnered with Purple House through the ‘Wellbeing Project’, a social enterprise based in Alice Springs where patients work with staff to create bush balms. These products are provided to patients free of charge and the profits from the business arm are invested back into wellbeing activities. Since 2014/15 the income generated by the Wellbeing Project has increased by roughly 160% with funds used to support dialysis patients receiving remote care.
Central Australian Communities WDNWPT - Alice Springs
Nyirrpi Pop 320 460km Mt Liebig Pop 240 325km
Papunya Pop 340 240km Alice Springs
Haasts Bluff Pop 175 250km Hermannsburg Pop 650 130km
Northern Territory
South Australia
David Dixon, dialysis patient and employee, prepares kangaroo tails for lunch at the Purple House. Photo: Peta Cobourn
LORRAINE’S HEALING
Lorraine lives in Kintore and receives dialysis in Kintore and Alice Springs. She was previously featured in Project Compassion 2014. People who are on dialysis are much loved community members who have a lot of knowledge about their culture and their country. Lorraine was highlighted as a case study some years ago and she’s still around. Having dialysis out on bush meant that she could be there for her parents funerals and was able to participate in ‘sorry business,’ (traditional Indigenous mourning rites). - Sarah Brown Daniel Brumby playing guitar outside the Purple House with dialysis patient Lorraine, Topsy Farmer & Toby Farmer.
“Bush medicine is so important for Aboriginal people. People really need it for itching or when they feel sore and tired and feeling sick; it makes us feel better... My favourite is kangaroo tail and damper, and we can’t cook that at our hostel.”
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ACT Visit the Wellbeing Project website to view bush balms and products www.westerndesertdialysis.com/ wellbeing/shop/
- Josephine, Dialysis Patient and Project Participant #150 SUMMER 2017 | 5
PACIFIC: STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT
PEOPLE OF THE PACIFIC SPEAKING OUT Erietera (Eri) is 28 and lives in the small island nation of Kiribati, with his wife and three children. Kiribati is sinking and may not be there for Eri’s children, but he is determined to prevent this from happening. “We won’t accept that climate change is destroying our country and we will find ways to adapt, and push the big companies causing climate change to stop,” Eri says. Through the 2017 Caritas Australia State of the Environment Report for Oceania, Eri is raising his voice, with many other people from Oceania, to highlight the impacts of climate change on our common home.
coastal erosion; coastal flooding and sea level rise; the impacts of climate change on food and water;
Father of three, Erietera Aram, pictured on the sands of Bondi Beach, visited Australia this November to ask its government to take stronger action on climate change. Photo: Nicole Clements/Caritas Australia.
extreme weather; offshore mining and drilling; and climate finance.
Caritas Australia calls on the Australian Government to follow the unprecedented international commitments of the Paris climate agreement of 2016 with the following concrete actions:
• Appropriate Policy Solutions • Investment in Renewables • Contribution to Global Climate Finance • A comprehensive, whole of government approach
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LEARN About our Community Climate petition, where we tackled climate change head on through the largest multi-electorate climate petition in Australia’s history.
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Erietera Aram (centre), Caritas Australia State of the Environment Report Ambassador and citizen of Kiribati, along with other Pacific delegates, at The United Nations Conference on Climate Change, (COP 23) in Bonn, Germany in November 2017.
“I want to let the world, and Australia know, that we exist on this planet as well. It’s our responsibility as global citizens to take care of our planet and to ensure that we all have a safe, secure and promising future. The earth is our common home, for us and for our children and we are all connected.” - Erietera Aram from Kiribati, Caritas Australia State of the Environment Report Ambassador.
AFRICA: TANZANIA
MAASAI CULTURE IN THE MODERN ERA On the border of Kenya and Tanzania live the Maasai tribes people. As one of the traditional hunting and pastoralist cultures of Eastern Africa they are known for their striking dress and unique customs. Today, however, the Maasai are grappling with socioeconomic challenges and the difficulty of integrating traditional customs into modern life. Lositete, a village in northern Tanzania, is one area where severe drought has affected the livelihoods of villagers.
Through a Caritas Australia Water Supply Project, students have enough water to concentrate at school without disruption, and adults are able to concentrate on other income generating activities. Program Coordinator Scott Martin spoke of the significant improvements that the program has brought to locals. “The Head Teacher at Lositete primary school noted that before there was water, teachers did not want to stay in the village. Since the project, however, the government has assisted the school to build three staff houses and staff retention has greatly improved,” Scott said. “The improved school conditions and expansion of classrooms has also resulted in a 56% increase in students from 695 students in 2013, to 1082 students in 2017 as well as a marked improvement in school performance.” “The school has even won two district awards, including for ‘Most Improved Primary School’ in 2013.” Through collaborative infrastructure building projects like these, Caritas Australia is proud to support a brighter future for the Maasai of northern Tanzania.
In the rural communities of Tanzania, the responsibility of collecting water falls primarily on women and children, who are forced to travel long distances merely to find enough of it to survive. But since the implementation of this project, improved infrastructure has brought significant change to the people of Lositete including the Maasai. Ethiopia
Kenya Uganda
The Maasai tribes people live on the border of Kenya and Tanzania.
MAASAI
Tanzania
Indian Ocean The young Maasai of Tanzania in traditional dress. Photo: Scott Martin/Caritas Australia
Caritas Australia has been working to construct toilets in Maasai communities and these improve personal hygiene as well as public health.
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LEARN
Learn more about climate challenges in neighbouring Kenya at bit.ly/overcoming-drought-in-Kenya
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SOUTH-EAST ASIA: PHILIPPINES
FILIPINO COMMUNITIES RAISING THEIR VOICES The Manide are an Indigenous minority who live in Camarines Norte, a province located in the Bicol Region of Luzon, Philippines. Though many young Manide now speak Tagalog, the main language of the Philippines, Manide elders speak their own, unique language. Through a holistic development project which secures income, improves education and improves the access of Manide people to goods and services, Caritas Australia is empowering this unique Filipino community to create a better future for themselves.
Philippines Philippine Sea South China Sea
CAMARINES NORTE
Mindanao Sea
RICKY’S PERSONAL JOURNEY Ricky is a 23-year old Manide man, a husband and the father of young son. Ricky came across the Socio Pastoral Action Center Foundation of Daet (SPACFI) when he worked there as a teacher’s aide.
THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION
Through the project Ricky has gained confidence and improved his sense of cultural pride and identity and this is having a ripple effect on his entire community and setting a positive example for other Manide youth.
In Manide culture, strong connections to family are fundamental, and so the traditional boundaries which define mainstream society, between school, work and home life, aren’t always relevant.
“I can now speak to many people; I can express myself. I am not bothered anymore when I hear negative comments about Indigenous People (like us),” Ricky says.
“Students are on and off in their school attendance, but most importantly, students continue their studies with their parent’s guidance,” Ricky says.
“Instead I have the courage to explain our issues to them, so that they will understand better.”
Ricky’s work ethic and familiarity with Manide culture, have seen him rise to the position of President of a local Indigenous Peoples’ Organisation. Now he supports community members to share their ideas and views during village level meetings and workshops. He visits and meets with local government officials and with other Indigenous Manide tribes to improve the quality of life for all.
“I have the courage to explain our issues to government officials, so that they will understand better.” - Ricky
> DONATE In his work with SPACFI, Ricky delivers alternative learning, like literacy class, to young and old Manide Filipinos.
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Support Caritas Australia’s longterm community development support work in the Philippines now via caritas.org.au/donate
ASIA: NEPAL
SKILLS AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES In Nepal, a country prone to the impacts of climate change, sudden variations in temperature can wreak havoc on the wellbeing of rural farming communities. It’s the Indigenous peoples (Adivasi) of Nepal, who suffer most from these changes. Sudhari Choudhary, is an Adivasi woman with two young boys. Drought has robbed her family of farming produce, but through innovative agricultural techniques, Caritas Australia is working with Nepalese people like her to secure more sustainable futures.
Adivasi are the tribal groups of mainland South Asia. They make up 8.6% of India’s population, or 104 million people, according to the 2011 census, as well as a large percentage of Nepalese. “I am expanding my vegetable farming to 1000 square meters of additional land and from here alone I will sell NPR 50,000 (AUD $604) worth of vegetables.” “From these earnings, I am able to send my children to a good school nearby and meet my family’s other basic needs.” Your support is changing the lives of women like Sudhari.
Mrs. Sudhari Choudhary: Now farming is economically and environmentally sustainable.
Pest infestation is a significant challenge to vegetable farmers in Nepal, it can result in a 30% loss in produce and commonly used chemical pesticides often make farmers sick.
“I now know how unaware we were about important methods and practices in farming ,even though we have been farming for a long time.” - Sudhari Choudhary
That’s where Integrated Pest Management (IPR) methods implemented by Caritas Australia’s local partner, Caritas Nepal have supported local farmers to increase their yield and to reduce their dependence on dangerous chemicals. “I now know how unaware we were about important methods and practices in farming even though we have been farmers a for long time,” Sudhari says. “I can now make organic fertilizer from waste materials, select the most suitable vegetable seed varieties for farming, and identify which insects are harmful and which insects are actually useful to control pests”. Though at first the produce from her farm was not able to provide for the basic needs of her family of five, Sudhari now has more than enough for her survival as well as money to pay for her children’s education.
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LEARN Learn more about Caritas Australia’s Earthquake Recovery response at www.caritas.org.au/ nepalearthquake
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CARITAS COMMUNITY
STRONGER TOGETHER In our Caritas family, generous people from all walks of life are thinking creatively about how to spread the flame of love and goodwill throughout the country. SHARING THEIR GIFT Sydney couple Sabna and Rajeev Krishnan’s newborn daughter was helping the world’s poorest and most vulnerable when she was still in the womb. In lieu of giving gifts, Saba asked the guests at her baby shower to donate to Caritas’ Women for the World initiative. “We believe change should begin at home and in our own small ways we have tried doing what we can,” Sabna says. Mother Sabna, who also has a young son, is keenly aware of the challenges of being a woman in many societies all over the world today. “It is appalling how women are challenged on a daily basis for basic human rights,” she says. “We believe and encourage raising awareness, helping our son to be empathetic and compassionate.” Thank you Sabna and Rajeev for your generosity!
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Sabna and Rajeev Krishnan are sustaining their personal commitment to the poor in their growing family.
DONATE Donate to or learn more about Women for the World at www.womenfortheworld.org.au
*At time of publication, Sabna safely gave birth to a happy and healthy baby girl
FRESH IDEAS, LONG-TERM SUPPORT Vince Fernon has supported Caritas for some 20 years, and in that time he has spear-headed a number of initiatives, including the ‘5:1 scheme’ that saw the Australian Government match Vince and his network’s donations to Caritas at a rate of 5:1. His commitment to Caritas was affirmed through a life-changing trip to Cambodia. “My wife Michelle and I and a couple of other Caritas staff and supporters went to Cambodia in 2015. It gave us the opportunity to go around, to go to management meetings, to see what you do and how you do it,” Vince said. “We noticed how good the governance of the projects were and how Caritas was giving money onto a partner who is interested in human dignity.” “If you run a small business you should put the poor of the world on your payroll. Each week you should have one person who is not an Australian receiving that money- that is the principle.”
"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” - Luke 12:48
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Michelle and Vince Fernon, pictured here visiting Caritas Australia’s work in Cambodia, have shown a deep and lasting personal commitment to the work of Caritas.
CARITAS COMMUNITY
CARITAS COMMUNITY AND THE ROHINGYA EMERGENCY 18 year old Fatema stands in Balukhali Rohingya refugee camp, Bangladesh, where she's been living for the last two weeks. Fatema made the dangerous journey across the Naf river into Bangladesh with her young son (Shohel) after her house was burnt down and her husband was killed by the Burmese Military. "Our biggest challenge in the camp is food and money," Fatema says. "Sometimes we go to bed hungry. We get some dry rice but we have no vegetables and no cooking utensils. We couldn't bring pots and pans from Myanmar and we have no food cards. There's a shortage of NGO's here and they haven't come many times." Caritas is providing urgent humanitarian relief to thousands of Rohingya refugees like Fatema who have crossed the Myanmar border to refugee camps in Bangladesh.
Fatema is one of the many Burmese refugees who have sought refuge in Bangladesh. Photo: Aurélie Marrier d’Unienville
Through your donations, Caritas has been able to distribute essential food items such as dal, salt, sugar and cooking oil, as well as basic cooking utensils. We have now reached 29,317 families in desperate need and it’s your ongoing support that enables our effective and immediate response to emergencies like this.
Donate via www.caritas.org.au/donate/monthly-giving
TRI-UMPH FESTIVAL Catholic school students in the Geelong area have united to raise $70 000 for Caritas’ women’s protection programs in Timor-Leste. The fourth triennial United to Make Poverty History (Tri-UMPH) event was organised by students from Clonard, Sacred Heart, Saint Ignatius and St Joseph’s Colleges. “We hope to provide the necessary pathways that contribute to a prosperous and peaceful future for the Timorese people,” said Director of students and student leadership, Megan Evans. Visit http://bit.ly/Caritas-Tri-UMPH to find out more about Tri-UMPH. Students from four Victorian high schools organised an outdoor concert to support Caritas Australia’s work in Timor-Leste. Photo: Simon Cahir, St Joseph’s College
Follow Caritas twitter.com/CaritasAust facebook.com/CaritasAU youtube.com/CaritasAustralia
to keep up to date about any caritas events happening near you! #150 #150 SUMMER SUMMER 2017 2017 || 11 11
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