Hope Notes - Fall 2012 by Food for the Hungry (Canada)

fall 2012

Stories of hope from around the world

Partnering for change a PeruVian CoMMunitY and a VanCouVer ChurCh CeleBrate fiVe Years of WalKinG toGether • PaGe 6

Helping without hurting uPCoMinG ConferenCe ChallenGes hoW the ChurCh does CharitY • PaGe 10

Back to school! eduCation uPdates froM around the World • PaGe 14

in this issue

fall 2012 FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY (FH) CANADA’S QUARTERLY PUBLICATION

6 Relationship reﬂections

FH CANADA is a registered non-profit organization dedicated to providing long-term relief to those bound by poverty through sustainable community development. As part of the global Food for the Hungry (FH) network, we currently work in ten countries around the world.

Through project development, child sponsorship, emergency relief and medical equipment distribution, FH Canada strives to meet the physical, spiritual, social and educational needs of each man, woman and child living in poverty.

Little girl, big goal

Helping without hurting

POVERTY REVOLUTION is a movement of engaged Canadians who are partnering with FH Canada to end poverty one community at a time.

As a Certified Member of the Canadian Council for Christian Charities, FH Canada meets the stringent standards set by the CCCC for accountability and organizational integrity. 7.9% ADMINISTRATION AND RUNNING COSTS 8.7% INVESTED TO GENERATE FUTURE INCOME 83.4% BuildinG sustainaBle CoMMunities CHARITABLE REGISTRATION NUMBER:

132152893RR0001

Back to school progress report

FH CANADA 1 - 31741 Peardonville Road, Abbotsford, BC V2T 1L2 T 604.853.4262 TF 1.800.667.0605 F 604.853.4332 info@fhcanada.org www.fhcanada.org facebook.com/poverty.revolution

President’s letter

The power of partnership Partnership is a word I use a lot — both at the FH Canada office and personally. Whether in a marriage (my wife and I just celebrated 42 years), a friendship, or a business relationship, a strong partnership makes all the difference. By definition, a partnership goes two ways. It’s give and take and requires commitment, even through the ups and downs (just ask my wife!). With true partnership, both parties will be forever changed.

“A strong partnership makes all the difference.”

This is partly why we refer to the developing communities we work with as “partner communities.” As we walk together on a seven to ten-year journey to self- sustainability, we rely on local leadership and their vision to direct the process. We work together, using shared knowledge of what has and hasn’t worked in the past, and deciding what new practices will be well received. And back home in Canada, when we help churches, businesses or social groups partner with a developing community (see an example on page 6) we emphasize a concept of mutual transformation, where both parties enter the relationship willing to learn and be changed by each other’s stories and by God’s work among them. In this issue we highlight how anyone — from a small-town seven-year-old to the reigning Miss World Guatemala — can partner with FH by using their voice and influence to make a very real difference. We’re also excited to announce a major conference — “Helping Without Hurting” — in partnership with the Chalmers Center that explores how to work with vulnerable people without undermining their dignity. It’s sure to inspire and challenge all participants. Finally, we’ve included a special sponsorship and education update that shows the impact of the long-term partnership of sponsors, teachers, parents and students. As a sponsor, it can sometimes be hard to see the impact of your monthly donations, but these stories are made possible though your support and encouragement. Be blessed,

Ben Hoogendoorn President/CEO

HOPE NOTES

FALL 2012

Women helping women Samosas, saris and savings On June 14 about thirty women donned sari scarves and enjoyed curry and chai tea for FH Canada’s first “Taste of Bangladesh” night. Guests learned about the Savings and Learning Groups that are teaching Bangladeshi women to read, stand up for their legal rights, and start businesses with their own money. We are excited that many women present at the Abbotsford, BC event decided to support the Savings and Learning Groups, and several will be hosting dinner parties themselves as advocates for FH’s work in Bangladesh. Would you like to support a Savings and Learning Group for women in Bangladesh or host a dinner party? Visit fhcanada.org/women or email info@fhcanada.org

FH on the world stage Miss World Guatemala, Monique Aparicio, is a passionate advocate for FH. During this year’s Miss World competition in Ordos, China, Monique used her platform to share how she is partnering with FH and Guatemalan mothers to fight earlychildhood malnutrition in her country.

vimeo.com/fhcanada/missworld 4

www.povertyrevolution.org

FH CANADA

Water everywhere! Thanks to your amazing generosity, we had a very successful water campaign over the summer. In total, $82,900 was raised for wells and clean water projects in Ethiopia, Burundi and Uganda. The impact of these projects is life-changing.

“We had a severe shortage of clean water. Our kids were fetching water from dirty sources.” “Our community’s health was under the regular threat of water-borne diseases, especially our children who were going to the clinic twice a week. Praise the Lord that after we started using water from this developed spring, our health has improved. We are now taking great care of this spring, for it is our health and life.” Dereje Gudeta of Sasiga, Ethiopia.

HOPE NOTES

FALL 2012

Reflecting on five years of partnership Annual visits to Peru build friendships and testify to monumental change. There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of Rinconada del Sol, Greater Lima, Peru. That was probably the case for most members of University Chapel, a church on the Vancouver campus of the University of British Columbia. But five years ago they committed to enter a long-term partnership with a developing community, facilitated through FH Canada. Now when University Chapel talks about Rinconada del Sol—and vice versa—they’re talking about old friends.

For the past five years, a team from University Chapel has gone to visit and work alongside their partners in Peru. In 2012 the team had eight members, some returning a second, third or fifth time, and others leaving North America for the first time. Peter Mogan has made the trip all five years, and has seen the steady progress of the community. This is his latest post-trip reflection, and it speaks volumes about the partnership and the amazing accomplishments of the community as they progress towards total self-sustainability.

Peter Mogan

It has now been over a week since the goodbye ceremony for our team in Rinconada del Sol and I pause to reflect on what we saw and experienced. We have been sending teams to the community for five years so we have a basis for comparison. Overall, there is much to celebrate as this community has seen great progress and movement in a positive direction.

www.povertyrevolution.org

FH CANADA

PETER MOGAN

On the physical side there has been the building of significant infrastructure: roads, sewers, a clean water supply, street lights, a pre-school and an educational play centre. The construction of homes has also changed significantly – from simple shacks to some well-constructed brick homes. They are still small and modest, but a massive improvement. Also, the addition of decorative elements to homes and community spaces reflects care and hope.

PETER MOGAN

At a teen workshop where participants had shared about things in their community that needed to improve, I asked who had the greatest potential to bring about this needed change. What I had in mind was that the youth would have this potential as the emerging leaders. What I got back was a chorus of, “God has the potential.” It was humbling.

Socially and emotionally, we have witnessed an incredible transformation. The children are a great barometer of this change as they have moved from being disorganized and hard to manage to being willing to accept structure, having an optimistic view of their futures, and being committed to setting goals and pursuing them. Among the youth, leaders have developed who are respected and who promote positive values. There is a sense that the family violence prevention program is off to a good start as there is good responsiveness to the FH workshops and we see more male engagement with families.

PETER MOGAN

Based on my five visits since 2007, I believe this community is well on its way to successfully “graduate” from FH programming in 2014 as planned. These visits have affirmed the great value and efficacy of FH’s work. It is amazing how sustainable growth can be achieved with conservative financial resources when pursuing a biblically-informed model of development!

HOPE NOTES

FALL 2012

For more of Peter’s blog posts and photography from the trip, see www.facebook.com/fh.peru or www.fhcanada.org/peru. If your church, social group or business is interested in a partnership with a developing community, please contact groups@fhcanada.org.

Little girl, big goal A seven-year-old gets courageous for a cause. When Alissa Schaly saw last year’s “Gifts for Change” FH catalogue, she picked out 22 gifts to purchase — everything from rabbits to desks to organic fertilizer training courses. When she presented her selection to her parents, it was a whopping $1,170 worth of items. Parents Albert and Bonita Schaly of Bowen Island, BC explained to Alissa that her list was a little too expensive for them to fund, but encouraged her to raise the money herself. She proceeded to collect all her own money, and asked her parents to put the money they would have spent on her Christmas gifts towards her goal. Then the seven year old asked her parents if they could announce the fundraising goal at their church. The caretaker at the church remembered that there was a jar of coins that had been in the closet for a few years, and thought it may as well go to Alissa. That started the coin drive, but it was only the beginning. Alissa shocked her parents by asking to share her ideas with her Sunday school class. Although quiet and soft-spoken, her passion for the gifts was starting to catch people’s attention. Soon the elders at her church had decided to put the quarterly offering toward Alissa’s goal. The pastor asked if she would give a short talk in front of the congregation to explain her goal. She agreed, and her parents helped her prepare what she wanted to say. To the surprise of the whole congregation, shy little Alissa took the stage that Sunday and gave a short but articulate speech. Inspired by her drive to fund the 22 gifts, the church responded in a big way, giving more than twice the amount of a normal benevolent offering.

Combined with the coin jars she had at her school and at several businesses around town, she realized she had raised $2,152.82 — enough to add the thousanddollar Stock-a-Stable item for a total of 23 gifts — the second-highest amount of gifts given from the catalogue in 2011!

www.povertyrevolution.org

FH CANADA

Last December, Alissa and her family came to Abbotsford, BC to personally deliver her cheque to FH Canada president Ben Hoogendoorn. This year, Alissa and her younger sister Michaela held a joint birthday party and collected donations for FH Canada, and they have plans in the works to fund more gift catalogue items this Christmas.

vimeo.com/fhcanada/alissa

Fruit & Veggie Seeds

Seeds and starters purchased include beans, corn, peas, plantain, peanuts and yucca.

2 Tree Seedlings

Medical Supplies

The wheelchairs, beds and crutches have been shipped to hospitals in Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.

New tree seedlings fill nurseries in Cachiman, Haiti and represent a new future for farmers and their children.

www.fhcanada.org/gifts HOPE NOTES

FALL 2012

Helping without hurting Conference challenges participants to get smart in their giving and involvement, both locally and abroad. Have you ever made a donation based on guilt? Or given because you “should”? Or have you ever felt powerless to ease the world’s problems, and done nothing at all? It’s uncomfortable to evaluate the motivations behind our charitable actions, but it’s vitally important. FH Canada Training Manager Melissa Giles has travelled

across the country, facilitating Poverty Revolution Boot Camps to help supporters grow in their understanding of poverty and its solution. Now she’s bringing one of the most respected experts on the topic to Edmonton, Alberta for a one-day seminar called “Helping Without Hurting” on December 1.

Based on the seminal book, When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor…and Yourself by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett, the conference will spend the morning going through the key concepts of the book—everything from asset-based development to “doing short-term missions without doing long-term harm.”

www.povertyrevolution.org

FH CANADA

The afternoon will shift from theory to action with a breakout session on practical ways to respond, both locally and globally. Authors Brian and Steve are both with the Chalmers Center for Economic Development, a research and training organization that helps local churches transform the lives of low-income people without creating dependency. Brian will be the main speaker at the Edmonton event. Brian has headlined the “Helping Without Hurting” conference several times before, but this is his first time sharing with a Western Canadian

training curriculum for the rapidlygrowing Savings and Learning Groups. Steve Corbett worked with FH for 12 years prior to coauthoring the book, and so both the conference and the book include examples from FH’s work. Melissa believes the conference will be extremely relevant to church members, pastors, mission leaders, short-term team members, university students, staff at other non-profits, local groups that work with the poor, community organizers and anyone concerned with social justice and living out the biblical mandate to care for the poor.

“One could argue that the interest in the North American church in serving the poor is at the highest level it’s been in the entire postWorld-War-II era,” he says. “But good intentions are not enough.” By breaking down the principles of relief and development, Brian and Steve equip people to respond in appropriate, life-giving ways that empower the poor instead of undermining their dignity. They are first to admit they’ve done a lot wrong over the years, so they speak from a place of grace as they

“Good intentions are not enough” DR. BRIAN FIKKERT audience. FH staff member Cheryl Hanks attended the conference in Washington State and says that she would recommend it for anyone wanting to dig deeper into poverty, missions, and international development issues. “Brian had a lot of personal experience from his life which made it very interesting to follow,” she says. “He was also extremely funny.” The partnership between FH and Chalmers Center is a natural fit, explains Melissa. Both organizations share the philosophy of “walking with” instead of “doing for” when working with vulnerable communities. Both are committed to education at home to help more people become part of the solution to issues of poverty. The Chalmers Centre book When Helping Hurts is required reading for FH Canada staff, and internationally they share

HOPE NOTES

FALL 2012

Based on her Boot Camp experiences, she says that most people she meets are generous and have a desire to help. She’s encouraged that people have a willingness to learn how they can be more effective in their helping, and she notices a movement to view poverty more holistically— recognizing that the physical can’t be divorced from the spiritual. Yet despite this promise, she still sees a huge need to train the church especially in effective local and international work. “To date, our help has been more harmful than good.” Her sentiments echo Brian’s. He too is optimistic about the church’s desire to care for the poor and suffering, but wants to help people develop a healthier, more thoughtout response to the complexities of poverty and injustice.

Helping Without Hurting With Dr. Brian Fikkert When: December 1, 2012 8am-4pm Where: Sherwood Park Alliance Church, Edmonton, Alberta Cost: $45 (includes lunch and all training materials)

www.fhcanada.org/HWH

caution against handouts, donor-driven aid and the temptation to treat poverty as merely material. But it’s not a conference about guilt or shame about mistakes of the past. It’s meant to inspire, educate and enable individuals, churches, volunteers, and nonprofits to make smart choices as they engage with issues of poverty—not only for their own good, but for the good of those they aim to help. Can’t make it to the conference in Edmonton? Find out if there’s a Poverty Revolution Boot Camp coming to a town near you. www.fhcanada.org/bootcamp

“It’s a must-read for people supporting or engaging in international relief and development work.” MELISSA GILES, FH TRAINING MANAGER

Forever changed in just a few years

Atlantic Community Church (ACC) from Sussex, NB partnered with the village of Villa Hortencia II in Nebaj, Guatemala in 2008. Since then, their enthusiasm has only grown as their relationship deepens. This past June, 27 people in two teams visited Nebaj, for a total of five team trips in four years of partnership. They have partnered together to build new school blocks, a sports court, a stocked and equipped health clinic, and have supported agricultural training and health training for mothers and their children. “The relationship between Villa Hortencia and ACC has changed us both,” says Ray Butler of ACC. “I believe we have all become better people because of our family across the globe!”

Partnerships with FH communities are multi-faceted: poverty awareness “boot camps,” child sponsorship, projects and skills training, fundraisers, and even trips to the partnered community.

www.povertyrevolution.org

FH CANADA

Where are they now? We return to a graduated community to hear how the FH partnership changed a student’s future and an entire village. In 1995, Ali Sora was dealing with the death of his father. This left Ali’s mother to singlehandedly support him and his eight siblings, despite a drought that had just decimated their livestock. Although Ali was one of the most promising elementary students, there was no money to send him on to high school when the term began. It just so happened that this was right at the time that FH Canada was starting to work with Ali’s community of Mado Adi,

Kenya. They were just beginning sponsorships and scholarships as part of the development partnership. The community unanimously implored FH to award Ali a scholarship for his secondary studies. Once the details were worked out, Ali jumped right into the second term of the school year, quickly coming up to speed. More than ten years after graduation, Ali still lives relatively close to Mado Adi. He works as a clerical officer with the government’s Ministry of Internal Security and Provincial Administration, and he has two sons and a daughter. “It’s because of FH’s support that I am who I am today,” he says. It was that extra support during a really rough time that marked a turnaround for Ali and his family. One of Ali’s brothers is also working for the government, and together they are supporting their sister who is completing an advanced diploma program. Ali says he knows many former sponsored kids and scholarship recipients from Mado Adi who are now employed as teachers, police officers, health professionals and government workers. Like him, they’re also investing in their families — both the ones they grew up with and the ones they’re proudly beginning.

ALI AT HIS OFFICE

HOPE NOTES

FALL 2012

1995 Mado Adi, Kenya partners with FH

rship Leade pment lo e v e d

alist ments Pastor od improve o h li live

ccess g care a Health giene trainin and hy

nt d Importa e-silte dam d

, and offices ooms, arters built r s s la C rs’ qu teache

and ction station te Reforenmental pro enviro

and eation Job cr stability family

2005 Community “graduates” as fully self-sustainable 13

Back to school t r o P e r s s e r oG Pr

Access to education is not always a given in the developing world, but part of the long-term goal in each FH partner community is accessible education. Child sponsors, parents, teachers and the children themselves all play a part in making these promising changes.

The Attendance Award KAMONYI, RWANDA

er of the At the beginning of the partnership only a quart reasons many were There ol. scho ded kids regularly atten parents sick, be often d woul kids : for such low enrolment gh enou n’t were there fees, ol couldn’t afford the scho ed the need arly regul ts paren and s, teachers or classroom s are issue these one, by One y. mone kids to work for extra but see, to hard was ess progr first, being addressed. At ren now we’re excited to report that 90 per cent of child d! recor e danc atten have a 100 per cent

Parents Who Pave the Way

ANLONG VENG, CAMBODIA

Vuthy would often miss school bec ause she was sick or because she needed to work to help the family’s income. When Vuthy got spo nsored, her mom learned new health and san itation practices, and Vuthy stopped falling constantly ill. Then her mom joined a Savings and Learning Group and was able to start a busines s to provide for their family. Today, Vuthy’s mom is an FH volunteer, helping other families make the same changes she did. Thanks to her hard work, Vuthy—and other children—are bac k in school!

Big Drop in Drop-Outs METRO MANILA, PHILIPPINES In a major turnaround, the drop-out rate has decreased by 50 per cent for primary and secondary schools. This is thanks to FH’s emphasis on the value of education when speaking with parents, and through the tutoring program set up with university students from the city. With the extra academic help and encouragement, students are improving their reading comprehension and are inspired to continue their studies!

www.povertyrevolution.org

FH CANADA

Excellence in Infrastructure MBALE, UGANDA At a recent PTA meeting, parents decided to help with the construction of three new classrooms at one primary school and a block of latrines at another. They agreed to provide semi-skilled labour, fetch water, and make or buy bricks for the entire school building project. In another village, parents petitioned the government to send more teachers for their schools, and then they went to work constructing teachers’ houses for the three new out-of-town teachers.

Extraordinary Extracurriculars KAYANZA, BURU N DI

It says a lot abou t the progress of an education system when extracurric ulars get introduced. That’s the case in some villages in Kayanz a, where severa l clubs are now thriving. St udents are enjoyi ng Youth Parliament, Qui z and Puzzle Clu b, Choir, Soccer, and Dru mming.

HOPE NOTES

FALL 2012

Improving Access for All MYMENSINGH, BANGLADESH Gender inequality is a major issue in this area, and women and their children are not given an equal opportunity at education. FH is teaching mothers about their value as women and is helping them earn an income, and now many families send both their sons and daughters to school!

Another group that is discriminated against are the Horijon, part of the “untouchables” in the Hindu caste system. Teachers didn’t realize that Horijon children were just as capable of learning as the other students, and so never encouraged them or invested in them. FH began encouraging these children and families to reach their God-given potential, and they began to excel. Teachers were both thrilled and shocked to see them do so well at their exams — placing in the top-ten percentile of their classes!

IT’S COMING! Photo compliments of Jack Heller www.guineafowlbird.com

Here’s a sneak beak at this holiday season’s Gift Guide. Watch for me and other new items this Christmas!

GUINEA FOWL $35/PAIR They may not be the most attractive feathered friends, but these robust pheasant-like birds provide eggs, meat, and offspring that generate food and income for families, and they can endure harsher conditions than many other birds. Guinea Fowl may not be easy on the eyes, but they are a great fit for a family’s needs.

www.fhcanada.org/gifts

1012939 1 - 31741 Peardonville Road Abbotsford, BC V2T 1L2 1.800.667.0605 info@fhcanada.org fhcanada.org povertyrevolution.org

Poverty Revolution facebook.com/Poverty.Revolution