CARITASNEWS #159 | SUMMER 2019
ONE HUMAN FAMILY
Common dignity, common home
> JORDAN Love and healing
1800 024 413
> NORTHERN TERRITORY Cultural connection through art
www.caritas.org.au
> PHILIPPINES Planting seeds for the future
> OUR COMMUNITY Stronger together
The Catholic agency for international aid and development
From the CEO As a young girl in Primary School I learnt that I could make a difference in the world, touch the lives of complete strangers, through my Project Compassion box. It’s a powerful Gospel message to be found in a simple box- “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40) In this edition of Caritas News, which takes as its theme One Human Family, we explore how Caritas Australia with your support, is working with the most marginalised in Australia, Jordan and the Philippines. The theme One Human Family speaks to the story we are writing together – the story of creating a more just world, the type of world that God intended. Caritas Australia sends our love and support to those affected by the bushfires. Our heartfelt prayers are with all of the victims of bushfire tragedy at this time, including families of the people who have died as well as the many homes which have been destroyed.
In solidarity, Kirsty Robertson Chief Executive Officer Caritas Australia
CONTENTS
04 AUSTRALIA
Weaving together the elements of culture.
06 MIDDLE EAST
Building hope through education.
08 ASIA
Reaping a healthy yield in the Philippines.
10 OUR COMMUNITY
Hands and hearts together.
Caritas Australia recognises Annals Australia, which, in November 2019 published its last issue. Annals is edited by Father Paul Stenhouse and is a publication of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. For 130 years it has been at the forefront of Catholic life and culture in Australia.
CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING PRINCIPLES Dignity of the Human Person
Subsidiarity and Participation
Care for Our Common Home
Preferential Option for the Poor
The Common Good
Solidarity
Promotion of Peace
Economic Justice
Cover: Caritas works in the East and West of Aleppo, reaching 35,000 people with aid distributions, counselling and education, medical and rent support. The Caritas office and warehouse in Jabal Badro, a badly hit neighbourhood in East Aleppo, provides daily bread, access to water, blankets, clothes, and hygiene items. Photo: Patrick Nicholson/Caritas Writer/Editor: Daniel Nour Design: Three Blocks Left All photos Caritas Australia unless otherwise stated.
Thank You
Your support of Caritas Australia last financial year allowed us to raise $24.3 million dollars to help children, women and men most vulnerable to extreme poverty.
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Caritas Australia acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians, past, present and emerging, of the land on which all our offices are located. This edition may include images or words of indigenous people who may be deceased.
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.
Caritas Australia is a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID).
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) is the national regulator of charities. Caritas Australia is a proud member of CAN, a group of eleven Church-based overseas aid and development agencies committed to empowering people and providing avenues for them to overcome injustice and poverty.
IN THIS EDITION
ONE HUMAN FAMILY
Food, emergency supplies and psychosocial support have been provided for those affected by the Syrian civil war. Photo: Alexandra Wey, Caritas Switzerland
Reflecting on the parable of the Good Samaritan, Pope Francis has spoken of the way that we are all connected and share a common human dignity. The true “face of love,” said Pope Francis at a 2018 Sunday Angelus address, is “mercy towards a human life in need. This is how one becomes a true disciple of Jesus.” 10% of the world’s people are still living in extreme poverty, according to the United Nations (UN). At least two billion people worldwide live in areas affected by fragility, conflict and violence, where the combination of poverty, environmental degradation, and conflict leave them especially vulnerable, the UN reports.
The theme “One Human Family” challenges us to reflect on the human dignity of all and the prejudices which prevent us from seeing our global brothers and sisters as our equals on this earth. The Catholic Social Teaching principle of Preferential Option for the Poor compels us to treat the most vulnerable with particular concern; in Australia, Jordan and the Philippines, this edition of Caritas News will show you how your compassion is creating real change for the poorest and most marginalised.
“Mercy towards a human life in need. This is how one becomes a true disciple of Jesus.” – Pope Francis
50% of the
1.4 billion
people living in countries impacted by crises and fragility are under the age of 20. – Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
#159 SUMMER 2019 | 3
AUSTRALIA
WEAVING THE THREADS OF COMMUNITY Through your support, in the heart of West Arnhem Land, Jawoyn women weave pandanus leaves into dramatic fibre artworks for the communityowned, Djilpin Arts, in the remote Northern Territory community of Wugularr (Beswick).
Aboriginal Corporation, Red Dust Healing, NT Jesuit Social Services and staff from Caritas Australia and Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand.
In Indigenous Australian communities, weaving is an ancient community bonding experience, as well as an important means of artistic expression in its own right.
Both Western Sydney and Wugularr elders say the Caritas gathering strengthened their resolve to provide support for the younger generation and that they were inspired by the exchange of ideas.
Djilpin Arts was set up in 2002 by the celebrated actor and musician, the late Balang T. E. Lewis in the remote Northern Territory community of Wugularr (Beswick). Supported by Caritas Australia, it provides employment, skills training and an income for Wugularr – growing from a small multimedia project to a contemporary arts and culture centre which is an example of artistic excellence.
By practising Fibre Art, indigenous women are producing culturallysignificant art that is also in demand in a contemporary art context. At the same time, they are teaching their craft to their children and grandchildren, maintaining culture for future generations.
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Baabayn’s work in Western Sydney involves initiatives such as a Homework Club for young people, a Mums and Bubs group, as well as providing links to services and bringing families together for special events.
The practice of weaving is more than just a pastime, it is an integral way to re-discover and foster a connection to culture for Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. Photo: Cassandra Hill, Caritas Australia.
Loretta George, the sister of the late Djilpin Arts’ founder, is keen to carry on his legacy. “The younger ones are losing their culture, their skin group, their language,” Loretta says, “but we need them to come back and help and listen to the older people.” This Indigenous artwork also has broad national appeal, engaging with other organisations working to offer Indigenous Australian cultural programs. In Beswick in the Northern Territory, a Caritas Australia First Australian partners gathering brought together Djilpin Arts, Baabayn
“It’s up to us elders to encourage the young ones to go and find something, not just to sit back and do nothing for them, you know. I really want young people to step out to be what they want to be,” Loretta says.
> LEARN For more information on Djilpin Arts visit www.djilpinarts.org.au
Interview and story by Cassandra Hill, Caritas Australia
CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING PRINCIPLES
For the participants in the communityowned Djilpin Arts program, a connection to culture is empowering them with a means of instructing the next generation in traditional cultural practices. Photos: Cassandra Hill, Caritas Australia
"We want to teach them their language, how to survive in the bush and do all of those things with a basket, weaving.� – Loretta George, Wugularr elder
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MIDDLE EAST
RECOVERY IN JORDAN ON NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF SYRIAN CONFLICT Many Syrian children have known nothing but war. For these people, life has been one long struggle: their dreams are punctuated by the sound of bombings, their childhood play fraught with the threat of violence. Intense shelling has brought fresh waves of violence along the Iraq-Syria border, and newly volatile conditions for Syrian- Kurds still living there. The Caritas’ network provides the immediate relief needed in times of conflict, including emergency water and food supplies in the worst hit cities of the region, including Aleppo and Damascus. Yet for children in Syria itself, as well as those who have escaped to surrounding countries such as Lebanon and Jordan, one of the worst consequence of war is the loss of an education. Many of the young refugees to Jordan and Lebanon have had their educations stalled or interrupted and some lose entire years of schooling. That’s where Caritas Australiasupported remedial schooling programs come in to assist recovery efforts. Thanks to your generosity, Majda and her three youngest children Rawaa, Raba and Abdullah, 6 | CaritasNews
are Syrian refugees making new lives for themselves in Jordan. Majda’s family, made up of ten children, without the help of a breadwinner, qualified immediately for the support of the Caritas Jordan Education program. “Somehow (we make ends meet) with funds from UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency) and Caritas, but rent is very expensive, so we always pray to God,” says Majda. Sisters 13-year-old Rawaa and 14-year old Ruba, compete fiercely for top marks. Remedial lessons in science and maths have helped the girls catch up with their schooling, especially Ruba who
There are 5.6 million Syrian refugees and 6.1 million internally displaced people
missed an entire year because of the war. Though the future is uncertain for Majda and her young children, faith is promise enough – “God knows…we have our life here (in Jordan) – and do not know what comes in the future”, Majda says.
Majda and her daughters Rawaa and Ruba and her son Abdullah fled to Zarqa, Jordan during the Syrian civil war. Photo: Suzy McIntyre.
At least 13 million people inside Syria require humanitarian aid, including about 6 million children
Half the country’s hospitals, clinics and primary health care are not functional – United Nations
(as of March 2018)
“At 7:30, with the breaking of the daily fast, guests would first be served water and dates, then soup, then chicken and rice, followed by a small sweet.” – Suzy McIntyre, Humanitarian Emergencies Coordinator, Caritas Australia on a Caritas supported community Iftar feast
Along with your generous support, this Caritas Australia program is also supported by the Australian government, through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) and private funding.
Destruction in the Syrian city of Aleppo has displaced millions. Photo: Alexandra Wey, Caritas Switzerland
CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING PRINCIPLES
The Caritas Jordan Education program is now operating in
36 schools across Jordan.
To date
2,355 students have been supported to expand their educational opportunities.
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ASIA
REAPING A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST For rural Filipinos, whose income depends, to a large extent, on the rhythm and flow of the seasons, life on the land can be volatile and tough. Agriculture is important in the Philippines, a society where a huge proportion of the population depend on the land for an income. Yet it’s harder and harder for rural Filipinos to earn an income from farming, with harsh conditions making it difficult for saplings to take root and for crops and fruits to grow. The value of the agricultural sector in the Philippines as a proportion of the country’s overall economy has dropped by 10% in fifty years. Education and training programs are a key way to empower struggling communities, especially by varying and diversifying seeds, using slow-drip water technology, and improving the understanding of beneficial insects, soil management and
planting techniques. Through shared farming projects, the benefits of working the land can be multiplied to satisfy the needs of several families across a village. In 2015, Caritas Australia commenced Phase 3 of its Integrated Community Development Project, with its local partner, Socio Pastoral Action Center Foundation Inc (SPACFI). The project provided vegetables and seeds for gardening. One group of program participants earned over $4,004.38 AUD from the sale of their vegetables, which they used to purchase a boar, and to start a small piggery business. Within four years, all of the members of the group were able to raise and share piglets. They were able to have their own pigs and get money out of raising them individually. This is just one of many success stories emerging from Caritas Australia’s partnership with the SPACFI in the Philippines. Your support is enabling the continuation of projects like this for the improvement of entire communities.
Along with your generous support, this Caritas Australia program is also supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
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CHALLENGES IN THE PHILIPPINES In the Philippines,
21.6%
of the population lives below the national poverty line.
In the Philippines, the proportion of employed population below
1.90
$
purchasing power parity a day is 7.8%.
For every
1,000 babies
born in the Philippines, 28 die before their fifth birthday. - Asian Development Bank
“We build confidence because we are more than a step higher from where we started.” – Program participant
CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING PRINCIPLES
VOICE FROM THE FIELD Participants in the Integrated Community Development Project have been working together for the benefit of the community.
WE ALL NEED A NEIGHBOUR Caritas Neighbours is our community of regular givers, all passionate about ending poverty. Reliable, regular donations have a powerful impact on the way we work, enabling us to better plan, build and review the programs that help to ease human suffering around the world.
“Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me.” – Matthew 25:40, 45, NIV
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OUR COMMUNITY
GIVE IT UP FOR LENT WHAT IS ONE THING YOU COULD GIVE UP FOR 40 DAYS TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE? Giving something up is a great way to commit to selfimprovement, develop good habits and get your friends together to make a collective difference. Saying no to junk food, single-use plastic or bingewatching TV could be a great start for you. Or perhaps you have a personal challenge you’d like to set yourself. Through Project Compassion, your efforts will make a difference around the world, helping the world’s most vulnerable communities. After you sign up, you can challenge your friends on Social Media. Asking them to sponsor you will increase the good you do through your Lenten fasting or challenge. A little bit of competition never hurt anyone! Go to lent.caritas.org.au/giveitup for more details.
A BALD MOVE South Australian university student Lachlan Brannan has made a bold choice to shave his head for climate justice. Having already raised over $1,500, tripling his initial goal, Lachlan is making a donation to Caritas Australia. “I’ve chosen to fundraise for Caritas because it is a charity I whole-heartedly believe in and have been able to see makes real change to people’s lives,” he said.
Lachlan’s hair may be shaved off, but it’s not too late to support his fantastic cause. Visit www.fundraise.caritas. org.au/lachlanbrannan. Thank you Lachlan for giving so generously in support of the work of Caritas Australia Interview and story by Alice McGowan, Caritas Australia
“I was thrilled to see the impacts Caritas’ work makes to the lives of others (in Timor Leste). Although, despite my initial excitement, I was disheartened to see the toll that climate crisis was taking on this community through drought and rising sea levels”. 10 | CaritasNews
Before
A member of the Caritas Diocesan Committee, Lachlan was able to witness Caritas’ work firsthand after a visit to Timor Leste in 2018.
After
PUTTING HER TALENTS TO GREAT USE Caritas Australia is only able to perform its important work in schools and communities through the support of dedicated volunteers. One way that Caritas does this is through its justice resources, which are tools for teachers to enhance their teaching and learning across all areas and promote not only the work of Caritas but also raise awareness of important global issues such as poverty, climate justice, food security and fair trade. Jamie Jing is Caritas Australia’s talented volunteer graphic
designer. 24-year-old Jamie, who is originally from China, completed International Politics for her bachelor degree in China and is also completing a Master of Design at UNSW. “The work that took me the longest time and I am most proud of is the curriculum maps for schools. They used to have them all in one excel file and wanted me to redesign them to make them more user friendly and visually engaging,” Jamie says. Thank you, Jamie, for your deep personal commitment to the work of Caritas Australia!
SOW SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE BY PLACING CARITAS IN YOUR WILL For grandmother Pam, putting Caritas in her Will is one of the main ways that she can ‘pass on’ the good fortune that she has experienced in her own life.
“I always tell my grandchildren how important it is to ‘keep this good thing going,’ as it were, by giving generously to the poor and marginalised at every chance I get.” Thank you Pam for making Caritas part of your legacy! You can do the same by visiting caritas.org.au/legacyoflove #159 SUMMER 2019 | 11
SOMETIMES ALL WE NEED IS TO KNOW THAT OUR NEIGHBOURS ARE THERE FOR US. As a Caritas Neighbour, you are there when you are needed most, equipping communities with the opportunity to live a life of dignity, free from poverty.
YES,
I WILL BECOME A CARITAS NEIGHBOUR AND GIVE MONTHLY
I would like to provide ongoing monthly support as part of the Caritas Neighbours program. Below are some examples of how your regular donation can help:
$18 per month could buy water filters to provide families and students in Cambodia with access to clean water. $27 per month could give women access to training in new techniques and organic farming practices. $51 per month could provide seeds for families in the Democratic Republic of Congo to start sustainable farming activities. $100 per month could train midwives and provide the equipment needed to assist women and babies in Bangladesh.
ALTERNATIVELY I would like to make a one-off donation to help children, women and men most vulnerable to extreme poverty.
$45
$125
$215
My choice of: $
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