Develop Magazine - Spring 2021

DEVELOP SPRING 2021 [ ISSUE 06 ]

LIQUID

GOLD Small-scale farmers discovering a priceless asset

I WILL SURVIVE

FROM COVID TO CLIMATE

Taking action against trafficking in Ukraine

A decade of action on climate change begins

International International Development Development UK UK

salvationarmy.org.uk/ID

I SS U E 0 6 ~ S P R I N G 2 0 2 1

CONTENTS 05

DECOLONISING DEVELOPMENT

06

CHALLENGE 750

07

09

13

18

EMBRACE UPDATE

LIQUID GOLD

FROM COVID TO CLIMATE

MAPPING INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

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25

29

I WILL SURVIVE

All photographs are used with the permission of the photographer

HOPEFUL PARTNERSHIPS

DEVELOPING A PODCAST

WELCOME TO DEVELOP A message from our UK Engagement Co-ordinator Hayley Still

With time built in for proof-reading, printing and postage, we often write the articles and editorial for Develop quite a few weeks before your eyes will grace its pages. In usual circumstances, this is not such a problem. Our articles are often reflective, and as a bi-annual magazine we don’t hold the burden of sharing breaking news. However, during a pandemic it is difficult to know how much the world will have changed between the time of writing and the moment this magazine lands on doorsteps.

Currently I am working from home due to the nationwide lockdown, but vaccines are being given, the number of cases is decreasing and a roadmap out of lockdown has been released. There is hope that restrictions will soon ease, and we can once again spend time with loved ones, gather in groups of any number and travel beyond local boundaries.

When it first emerged, there was talk of COVID-19 as the ‘great leveller’; that anyone could be infected no matter their gender, age, skin colour or wealth, that we were all in the same boat. But this isn’t true. Yes, anyone could contract the virus, but it is the most vulnerable in our society, and around the world, who are most susceptible and most likely to experience ramifications for years to come. We are also all differently equipped for dealing with it. The title of a Salvation Army conference last year encapsulated this perfectly: Same storm, different boat.

Though things continue to look differently from before – masks are now a prominent feature of many photos – project activities have been able to resume safely. Salvation Army project officers can continue to work with communities to address the underlying issues of poverty and injustice they are experiencing which have made COVID-19 much more challenging and deadly.

The articles in this issue speak of a more just, hopeful future. You can read about a food security project in Burkina Faso which uses locally available resources to make improved crop yields accessible to all. We share about the ‘I Will Survive’ project in Ukraine, where young people leaving government care have access to life-skills and emotional support.

There are also reflections on conversations taking place on a larger scale: from the need to decolonise the aid sector and what that might look like practically, to how 2021 may see a renewed focus on a global response to the climate crisis.

You can also find out more about supporting our food security projects through the 2021 HelpingHand Appeal, Feeding Hope, and our new fundraising opportunity: Challenge 750!

I hope this issue of Develop fills you with hope, but also encourages you in the pursuit of a world which is a more just, more safe and more equitable place for all people.

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Throughout this issue of Develop you will see icons alongside the articles referencing the UN Sustainable Development Goal that each article applies to.

Here is a refresher of what the goals are.

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NEWS

DECOLONISING DEVELOPMENT The meaning of decolonisation is highly contested. As The Salvation Army International Development UK (SAID UK), we understand and are approaching decolonisation as a journey to interrogating and transforming the institutional and structural legacies of colonialism.

Working within the international development/aid sector, this involves critically examining what we do, how we work, and how we engage with our partners in a sector that many see as a contemporary form of colonialism.

The idea behind decolonisation itself is not new.

Many organisations have used terms such as localisation, collaboration, shifting the power etc. But the reality is that structures and ways of working do not necessarily reflect these ideas. This quickly becomes clear when we ask questions like ‘Who has the “power”?’ ‘Who has the money?’ ‘Who has the “expert knowledge”?’

COVID-19 has proved to be the wake-up call to decolonise international development practice to a more sustainable and equitable model of working with partners and participants. Travel restrictions have transformed our partnerships, providing an opportunity to correct power imbalances, to re-establish relationships of trust and to support our international partners at gaining the skills that they consider they need.

Alongside COVID-19, the resurgence of the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement has brought to the fore the issues of racism, oppression and colonisation across

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all institutions and levels of society including within international development/aid practice. It has highlighted that a ‘colonial mind-set pervades so much of the aid system: one that values the ideas, skills, resources and actions of people in the North more than the ideas, skills, resources and actions of people in the South’.

Considering this, the SAID UK team has committed to taking a learning journey on decolonisation together.

Quoting Nikki Sanchez, an indigenous scholar, for us this means ‘giving up social and economic power that disempowers, appropriates, and invisibilises others; dismantling racist and anti-black structures; dismantling the patriarchy; finding out how we benefit from the history of colonisation and activating strategies that allow us to use our privilege to dismantle that; and building and joining communities that work together to build more equitable and sustainable futures’.

Our first, but crucial, step in this long and tough journey has been to reflect individually and as a team on our position and privilege (race, gender, class, sexual orientation, mental wellness, physical ability). It is not about guilt, but about acknowledging and confronting societal and institutional oppression and discrimination that exists and how we benefit from said oppression. To quote Nikki Sanchez again, ‘This history is not your fault, but it is your responsibility.’

NEWS

CHALLENGE 750 In 2019, close to 750 million - or nearly one in ten people in the world - were exposed to severe levels of food insecurity.

The theme for Helping-Hand 2021 is Feeding Hope, focused on The Salvation Army’s work with communities to overcome food insecurity.

750 hours without…

Could you give up your favourite treat for just over a month? Invite friends and family to sponsor you to live without chocolate/coffee/sweets/TV for 750 hours.

In Burkina Faso (p9) and Zimbabwe (p25) this involves training small-scale farmers to use simple and sustainable farming techniques and locally available resources to make the best use of their land.

We need your support in order to fund and deliver projects like these.

750 miles in a month Team up as a community group or corps to run/walk/skip 750 miles in a month. Each person can take as many miles as they can manage and add their miles to the team total.

Reflecting the number of people who do not have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food, you are invited to take part in Challenge 750! Choose your challenge to support The Salvation Army’s food security projects – feeding hope to farmers from generation to generation.

750 x …

Could you do 750 sit-ups or star jumps in a certain timeframe? Or plant 750 seeds in your garden? Create your own ‘750’ challenge and raise money to support The Salvation Army’s work tackling food insecurity around the world.

750-minute dance-athon/bake-athon Get sponsored to dance the night away in a living room disco, or have a non-stop baking day! You could take part with others and share the experience over Zoom or live stream your challenge on social media.

Join the team Set up your own Just Giving page to keep track of your donations and link it to the Feeding Hope campaign (www.justgiving.com/campaign/ FeedingHopeHelpingHand2021).

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NEWS

EMBRACE UPDATE The Salvation Army UK Territory currently supports an anti-child trafficking project in Malawi. Located in Mchinji district, the project provides short-term residential support for child survivors of trafficking before they are reunited with their families and communities.

Due to government restrictions on the number of people allowed to gather indoors, The Salvation Army in Malawi had to limit the number of children being cared for at the centre. Those who were not able to be accommodated at Mchinji were referred to our project partners.

Child trafficking is prevalent in Malawi whereby children are often trafficked for labour and sexual exploitation, usually in neighbouring countries such as Zambia and Mozambique. Children are also trafficked domestically for cattle herding, farming and domestic servitude.

More recently, the Mchinji centre has been operating to its full capacity. Children referred to the centre are provided with necessities such as accommodation and meals; they are also given education or vocational training to continue their learning and development. The close-knit team are on hand to support the children’s psychosocial and spiritual needs as well as working with their families to educate them on the dangers of human trafficking.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, traffickers have continued their illegal business. The exploitation of children has been exacerbated with traffickers preying on vulnerable families who now have a reduced livelihood as a result of the pandemic.

Traffickers are also taking advantage of schools being closed since many are luring their victims through online platforms.

Both staff and children at the centre are encouraged to practise safety measures such as washing hands and social distancing to limit the possibility of catching COVID-19. The centre also has a dedicated member of staff who is responsible for tracking and recording any COVID-19 related issues.

Violet Ruria

LIQUID GOLD In one of The Salvation Army’s newest territories, we visit a project where liquid fertiliser is proving to be a priceless asset for small-scale farmers.

Burkina Faso means ‘land of honest men’ and is a country with a rich cultural heritage. A landlocked country in West Africa, it is bordered

by Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana and the Ivory Coast and is endowed with massive significant reserves of gold.

about simple farming practices that sustainably increase crop yields as well as conserve their environment. Using a ‘learning-by-doing’ approach, the farmers share their indigenous farming knowledge, and modify and experiment with the agricultural techniques learnt.

Once they realise success, the farmers can continue improving year by year and go on to train others. In this way, their knowledge is shared widely, impacting many more farmers and this is passed from one generation of farmers to the next.

Like other countries in the Sahel region, Burkina Faso is prone to drought, floods and encroaching desertification. These climaterelated events negatively affect the country’s smallholder farmers who rely mostly on the rains to produce staple grains and raise livestock for their sustenance. With minimal and irregular rainfall patterns, the farmers can hardly produce enough to support their families.

In a country with one of the highest population growths in the world, the demand for food is immense. The pressure on farmers to produce adequate food is often challenged by the deteriorating health of their soils. Farmers in Burkina Faso, however, are investing in improving the health of their soil by adding compost and organic liquid fertiliser. The liquid fertiliser is made using green matter, some animal manure, ash, soil and water.

In this religiously diverse society, where Islam is the dominant religion, The Salvation Army has been working alongside rural farmers supporting them to adopt farming methods which are more resilient to the effects of the changing climate. The farmers learn together

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“ I am really hopeful for the future...

” The mixture is allowed to decompose over two weeks and is given a stir every day for 5-10 minutes producing a ‘sauce-like’ solution.

This is then applied to the plants instead of using mineral fertiliser, saving farmers lots of money. Using this very easy to produce liquid fertiliser, the farmers have continued to increase their production, producing enough food for their families.

Sande reflected on the progress she has made since she joined The Salvation Army’s agricultural project: ‘I am no longer the same. I can produce liquid fertiliser, make compost and use natural pesticides on my crops. I have shared my knowledge with my whole family and six other families in my village. My cabbage garden looks healthy.’

The farmers who have taken part in training with The Salvation Army reflected on the difference it has made to the way they work.

Sande is very confident and hopeful for the future. She anticipates continuing to expand her vegetable garden so that she can produce surplus to sell in her local market.

Sande Coulibary is a 57-year-old mother of four children. She depends on her vegetable garden – on which she grows onions, tomatoes, eggplants (aubergines) and cabbage – to feed her family. According to Sande, one of the challenges she faced was having enough money to purchase fertiliser to apply to her crops.

However, Sande along with others from her village have started using liquid fertiliser and making compost at their farms.

Karambiri Issouf is a 62-year-old father of nine children. He lives in Dande village in Burkina Faso and he grows rice, maize and other cereals.

Karambiri shared that since he started applying liquid fertiliser and compost in his field, he has experienced an increase in the production of his crops. He said, ‘Before I spent a lot of money purchasing chemical fertiliser,

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but since learning how to use liquid and compost fertiliser I now have money to spare which I use to pay for my children’s school fees.’

natural solution to use as pesticides against the infestation of termites in their gardens. According to Nikiema, this has saved him money which he would have used to purchase chemical pesticides.

He shared how productive his pawpaw garden has become and said, ‘I am hopeful that my pawpaw trees will continue producing more fruits which I can sell.’

Karambiri also said that he is now sharing his knowledge with 15 people in his community to help them experience the positive change that he has had. Reflecting on the future, he said, ‘I am really hopeful for the future since I can now produce enough for my family.’

Throughout the training, farmers learnt to make compost and fertiliser using materials available in their immediate environment. As the trainees go on to share their knowledge with others in their community, the use of local materials will mean this method of improving crop yields is accessible to all.

Nikiema Dieudonne is 48 years old. He has six children and lives in Koubri village in Burkina Faso. With the income from his farming, Nikiema can feed his family and pay school fees including university fees for his first-born child.

Nikiema reflected that he has often had to take a loan to buy seeds and fertilisers to grow his crops. ‘A bag of fertiliser costs about $35 (US),’ he said. ‘It is very expensive and if you do not have a good harvest you are in debt.’

This project falls within our ‘Food Security’ theme and is an example of the kind of project that will be supported by money raised through this year’s Helping-Hand Appeal. For more information about this year’s appeal, read the article on page 25 of this magazine, and visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk/feedinghope

Nikiema and his community have recently learnt how to make liquid fertiliser and a

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Photo by Bill Oxford on Unsplash.

Hayley Still

FROM COVID TO CLIMATE 2020 was supposed to mark the beginning of a decade of action on climate change, but it was another global threat that stole the headlines. Will 2021 see ‘climate’ reclaim its position from ‘COVID’ as the primary global talking point?

Five years after a landmark agreement was made in Paris, the 2020 United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP) was due to be held in Glasgow. The Paris Agreement, made at the 2015 COP and legalised the following year, saw 196 countries commit to limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.

Pakistan, drought in Yunnan, China and a record-breaking hurricane season in the Atlantic.

These examples represent a small proportion of the extreme weather events that have claimed lives, decimated habitats and impacted livelihoods in 2020 alone.

One thing I have personally seen throughout the COVID pandemic is the search for hope in the midst of trial and devastation. Hope has been a beacon on which to focus when all around seems bleak. I have also seen numerous social media posts which seek to highlight the positives that have emerged: a refocus on strengthening personal relationships, technological innovation to help keep people connected, and generally improved hygiene practices. Another such positive is the impact that lockdown, with its related reduction of air travel and road traffic, has had on global carbon emissions: a record 7 per cent drop during

Whilst 2020 saw a widespread shift in focus to addressing the COVID pandemic, the climate crisis continued to rage on, and it was a recordbreaking year for climate catastrophes. The year began with bushfires in Australia which ultimately claimed the lives of 33 people plus billions of mammals, birds and reptiles, and created a 1,000km-wide smoke cloud which reached Antarctica. The remainder of 2020 saw a super-cyclone hit the Bay of Bengal, flooding in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya and Uganda, record levels of rainfall in southern China and

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More than 900 city and regional governments and 1,500 companies have made net-zero commitments in the past year (net zero means balancing any greenhouse gas emissions by absorbing an equivalent amount from the atmosphere). Though some are still to follow up their pledges with plans, this is progress.

2020. Lockdown was almost an experiment in seeing if the reduction of carbon-hungry human activities could make a tangible difference. The answer being, yes it does.

The rhetoric around climate action has long been clear that we can make a difference if we act now. And each year, the ‘now’ becomes ever more important. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has declared 2021 as ‘the year to reconcile humanity with nature’. We know that whilst personal lifestyle choices (vegetarianism, limiting air travel etc) are important, it is government and industries that can make the biggest difference. As Guterres says, ‘With smart policies and the right investments, we can chart a path that brings health to all, revives economies, builds resilience and rescues biodiversity.’

There is hope for the global fight against climate change as two major economies set out bold plans to address the problem. In one of his first actions as US President, Joe Biden re-joined the Paris climate agreement. This, along with dozens of directives on climate action, highlights the country’s renewed commitment to the fight following four years of scepticism and environmental roll-backs. Furthermore, China, the country which emits the most carbon,

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has set 2060 as its target to achieve net-zero status. In so doing, it joins 110 other countries who have made pledges, with most setting a deadline of 2050.

Just as the problem is extreme, so too must be the response. The pledges have come too slowly and so the response required has become more radical. These targets are achievable, but the work needs to begin now. Making a pledge is worthless unless policies and practices are also established and adhered to.

Fortunately, the tide is shifting away from dangerous long-held practices such as the extensive use of fossil fuels. One reason so many countries feel comfortable making net-zero pledges is that the cost of renewable energy is at an all-time low. When it comes to building new power stations, renewable energy is now often cheaper than a fossil-fuel alternative. As more countries embrace and invest in renewable energy, scale of production will see the cost fall further and this will inevitably also impact the business world.

With an end to the COVID pandemic in sight, there is reasonable hope that 2021 could be a turning point for tackling the climate crisis, and the United Kingdom has a front-row seat.

During 2021 the UK holds the presidency of both the G7 Summit and COP26. This will see world leaders descend upon the country twice for discussions and policy agreements aimed at global recovery from coronavirus in a way which also addresses the climate crisis. Indeed, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set out his goal for the June summit: to ‘[build back better] from the coronavirus pandemic and create a fairer, greener and more prosperous future.’

Furthermore, with ‘tackling climate change and preserving the planet’s biodiversity’ one of

Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash.

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the G7 summit’s stated policy priorities, this event could be a catalyst for further action at COP26, due to be held in Glasgow five months later. Increased public interest in seeing the UK as a global leader on climate action will hopefully be an incentive to not squander these timely opportunities.

Christiana Figueres, who oversaw the Paris agreement, says, ‘Faced with today’s facts, we can be indifferent, do nothing and hope the problem goes away. We can despair and plunge into paralysis, or we can become stubborn optimists with a fierce conviction that no matter how difficult, we must, and we can rise to the challenge.’

2021 can be a turning point. It can be a year in which we begin a global recovery, not only from the COVID pandemic but also from the most destructive era of the climate crisis.

However, it is crucial that the recovery is just; that not only the whole of humanity, but also the whole of creation, is considered as we move forward.

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“

...the work needs to begin now

”

21 Photo by Melissa Bradley on Unsplash.

PROJECTS MAP

MAPPING INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

MALI

EASTERN EUROPE

GERMANY, LITHUANIA & POLAND

Promoting Access to Food, Water and Agroforestry

Life Skills for Vulnerable Young People Technical Support Only

Anti-Trafficking Response

SOUTH AMERICA EAST

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

United Towards a Change and Learning Through Play

Natural Spring Rehabilitation

BURKINA FASO

P09

Building the Resilience of Small Scale Farmers

GHANA & TOGO HIV/Aids Care and Support and Vocational Training Food Distribution During COVID-19

MEXICO Hurricane Hanna Response

NIGERIA Community Prevention and Recovery Gbopa WASH Akinemi and Araromi WASH

ANGOLA Avocado Tree Production

GLOBAL Zonal Anti Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Response Community of Practice

KEY Anti-Trafficking Clean Water Emergency Response

AFRICA ZONE

Food Security Gender Justice Income Generation

Africa Anti Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Response Community of Practice

Covid-19 Response Response to Floods

Bateke Bee-Keeping Training Caterpillar Production for Nutrition and Biodiversity

UKRAINE

P21

Life Skills for Young People

PAKISTAN

RUSSIA

INDIA EASTERN

Provision of Food and Hygeine Items

Anti Human Trafficking Awareness Raising

Community Health Action Network

BANGLADESH Response to Landslides Support to Sexually Exploited Women and Community Transformation

HONG KONG & MACAU Drinking Water Supply

PHILIPPINES Community Awareness and Recovery

INDONESIA Monitoring and Evaluation Following Indonesia Earthquake Response

AUSTRALIA Youth, Education and Workplace Grants (Bushfires)

KENYA WEST Anti-Trafficking Response Working with Affected Communities

KENYA EAST MALAWI

ZIMBABWE & BOTSWANA

P25

Improved Farming for Sustainable Food Production

Mchinji Centre for Trafficked Children

Kilome Sand Dam

P07 TANZANIA

WASH, Food Security and Resilience Nduumoni Sand Dam

Mbagala Anti-Trafficking Programme Karonga WASH Distribution of Relief Food

Nairobi Investors Programme Livestock Banking and Savings and Loans

Working with Affected Communities

Tribeni Gurung

I WILL SURVIVE For young people leaving government care with limited skills and resources, the world can be a daunting and threatening place.

The Salvation Army in Ukraine is providing practical skills and emotional support so young people are less vulnerable to traffickers and have the confidence to provide for themselves.

The effects of the Soviet era are still being felt in Ukraine, especially as it is one factor that has unwittingly contributed to modern slavery and human trafficking activities within the country. In 1991 Ukraine gained its independence from the Soviet Union, and yet in some areas of society there were negative consequences such as increasing unemployment rates, poverty and the collapse of social programmes. In desperation for survival, people turn to opportunities offered by fake employers and human traffickers, thereby making them vulnerable to the trade.

orphaned. There are over 100,000 children living in orphanages as many have been abandoned by their parents for various reasons including financial instability, poor health and the struggle to adjust to post-Soviet society.

The government of Ukraine can provide state support to orphan children, but at the age of 16 they are no longer eligible and must live independently. Without money, limited education and no effective support, it is near impossible for children to live a healthy and independent lifestyle, since many have been dependent on state support from a very early age and have not had much exposure or guidance of the ‘real world’. In sheer desperation for survival, graduate orphans are at risk of easily being coerced and duped into accepting ‘too good to be true’ opportunities that are usually offered by human traffickers and criminal gangs.

Ukraine is a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking. In general, victims are coerced into sexual exploitation, forced labour and forced begging, and many are trafficked abroad to countries such as Russia, Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe, as well as China and the Middle East. Children are particularly vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation, and this is especially the case for children who have been

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Recognising this gap, The Salvation Army in Ukraine is supporting orphan children through the ‘I Will Survive’ project. Based at Kropyvnytskyi Corps, the project provides young people with opportunities to learn life-skills and educate them on risks and dangers in society. Such skills, which are not always available to learn in orphanages, include cooking, money management and IT as well as support for securing study, jobs and accommodation. Project participants are also taught about several topics including modern slavery and human trafficking, safe migration, sexual health, and anger and behaviour management.

It is hoped that by teaching life-skills and educating young people in this way it will support them to build their lives and improve their life chances, thus preventing and protecting them from human trafficking and exploitation. Now in its third year, the project continues to have a positive impact on young people’s lives.

When Bohdan* joined the project, he was quiet and struggled to communicate with the project staff and his mentor. Outside of the project, he would socialise with gangs and take drugs and alcohol. After a few visits to the project, Bohdan began to open up about his problems. He would meet his mentor regularly and he particularly enjoyed when his mentor would motivate, inspire and share stories. Bohdan also learned new skills in cooking and time management. Through his conversations and by attending the life-skills workshops, Bohdan was able to develop healthy and meaningful relationships around him. He was also able to understand that there was more to

Each person is assigned a mentor – a volunteer on the project – who encourages and motivates their mentee through conversations and the simple act of listening. At times these volunteers teach their mentees unique skills such as playing the guitar and table tennis.

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restrictions were eased, project activities resumed, although with only ten participants attending the project at any given time. The project continues to operate under government guidelines.

life. Bohdan became a lot more hopeful about his future, something he had never thought about before. With support from the project staff Bohdan was able to find a job and accommodation. He regularly keeps in touch with his mentor and also attends Kropyvnytskyi Corps in which he is now a soldier of The Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army in Ukraine aims to continue building on its experiences of working with young people and to fill the gap of supporting them to prevent and protect them from modern slavery and human trafficking. Since the problem is persistent both nationally and across the Eastern Europe region, the project will work with its partners recognising that a co-ordinated, robust response is needed to eliminate the problem.

Despite such successes, the project faced some setbacks in the first few months of 2020.

Like the rest of the world, Ukraine is suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. When rules of social distancing and restriction of movement were introduced in Ukraine, the ‘I Will Survive’ project had to temporarily close and the participants could only stay within their hostel premises. Although the project activities were put on hold, project staff and volunteers maintained their contact with the beneficiaries through social media platforms and messaging services. Meals were also prepared by the staff and volunteers and provided to some of the young people at their hostel. Soon after

This project represents one element of The Salvation Army’s global response to human trafficking. If you would like to support this work, complete and return the donation form at the back of this magazine, or visit donate.salvationarmy.org.uk/anti-trafficking *Name changed to protect identity

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Hayley Still

HOPEFUL PARTNERSHIPS In Zimbabwe, The Salvation Army works with local partners to provide training in simple and sustainable farming techniques.

As farmers go on to share this knowledge with their neighbours, hope flourishes across communities and generations.

It is with hope that seeds are planted. Science and experience tell us that the seed will grow, but as each seed lands in the soil, the hope of a plentiful harvest is also sown.

For farmers in Zimbabwe, a good crop means they can feed their families, have surplus to sell for income and therefore pay for education, healthcare and other costs. Yet as the changing climate makes weather unpredictable, some tried and trusted methods of growing crops have begun failing small-scale farmers.

The Zimbabwe and Botswana Territory has 442 corps (churches) and 563 outposts, and more than 150,000 members. Just as is the case across the world, each Salvation Army corps is part of its community. Members of the congregation are often part of the community development projects run by the corps. Equally, participants in the projects often begin attending their local corps having experienced first-hand the positive impact that the corps outreach work has had.

Photo by Roman Synkevych on Unsplash.

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But The Salvation Army does not work alone in delivering such projects. Recognising the importance of external expertise and the value of partnership, The Salvation Army in Zimbabwe has long-running relationships with two local organisations: Foundation for Farming and Farming God’s Way. Since forming, these partnerships have strengthened food security projects and supported thousands of farmers with training and the provision of basic farming equipment.

Through this project, community members take part in training in simple and sustainable farming techniques. Methods include planting seeds in straight lines, and mulching which helps to retain soil moisture and in turn increases the fertility of the soil.

As crop yields increase and confidence grows, families from one generation to another can thrive and whole communities can know that the future they hope for is secure.

One of the people who was involved in the project is Anerudo Anesu.

Anerudo is a young man who manages his family farm to support his mother and younger siblings. Anerudo has been responsible for the farm for a few years now, but despite his attempts, the farm was struggling.

When a neighbouring farmer mentioned what she had learnt during a local agricultural training programme, and how well her farm had been doing since, Anerudo was eager to join.

Anerudo took over the farm from his mother as she was getting older, and he started to question whether he was farming in an appropriate way. Learning the new techniques at the training gave him the confidence to make necessary changes to his farm. After the first season, the increased amount of maize he was able to produce meant he could sell the surplus at the markets. This put him in a position to

buy chickens and goats to breed and sell for further income.

Anerudo also has a passion for helping others and has since taught the new techniques to his friends and neighbouring farmers to help them and their farms thrive too.

Partnership is central to this food security project – from The Salvation Army working with other local organisations to the peer-training that means this project can have an even greater reach. Partnership is also central to the HelpingHand Appeal. The Salvation Army International Development UK (SAID UK) has worked in collaboration with the Family Ministries Unit (FMU) on the appeal since 2001. Over the years, corps and family ministry groups, from Home Leagues to parent-and-toddler groups, have raised more than £2.5 million to support international projects.

During 2021, corps and groups across the UK and Ireland will raise money for this year’s HelpingHand Appeal, and you can join them. Order a FREE fundraising pack by calling 020 7367 4777 or download all the resources from www.salvationarmy.org.uk/feedinghope.

You could also get involved by taking part in ‘Challenge 750’ – find out more on page 6.

Photo by Joran Quinten on Unsplash.

Photo by Jukka Aalho on Unsplash.

Ben Gilbert

DEVELOPING A PODCAST RSS feeds, Patreon, webhooks… these are all words that would be familiar to most podcast creators. But for me, launching the Develop podcast last year was like learning a new language.

Starting a podcast had been on my heart for some time. I wanted to explore some of the more complex issues that we as a team and the wider international development sector experience.

that people go on, and often doesn’t include the difficult conversations and experiences that this also involves. The reality of dealing with extreme poverty is that these situations are a complicated process of overlapping factors, often with no definitive end point. I see this podcast as a way of more fully exploring those tough issues and questions. So one of the main reasons for creating this podcast was to take people ‘behind the scenes’ of development projects and understand some of the process involved in working with communities to address poverty and injustice.

As I think back to the first recording, it seems quite surreal. Following a day of meetings and seminars, I sat with colleagues in a conference centre courtyard in Tanzania. With my phone recorder in hand, we chatted about clean water, how projects work and the implications for communities involved. As I prompted with questions and facilitated the conversation, I had no idea what I was letting myself in for, or how much I would enjoy the whole process!

What’s more, I have discovered that, as far as podcasts go, there aren’t many options for listening to international development related material, especially from a Christian perspective (let me know if you find any good ones!).

Discussing this with friends and colleagues, I was encouraged that there was interest in a podcast, specifically from a faith-based organisation, which went beyond the stories of transformation that we

I have often come away from such conferences having had rich, challenging and encouraging conversations with colleagues, but a little frustrated that I wasn’t able to share them with others. It’s sometimes easy to focus on the ‘success’ stories and at times that can oversimplify the journey

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often celebrate in our social media and written publications. Now, after successfully completing the first season of the Develop podcast, I’ve found these open conversations have been a fascinating way to unpack the contexts in which we work.

“

I’ve enjoyed the conversations with all the guests on the podcast, and I have learnt so much.

Below are some highlights from the first season which have struck me:

I have become the teacher in my village and have helped all my neighbours learn how to use these methods

• Giving away free clean water can undermine the ownership of it, and therefore the sustainability of the programme. Recognising and respecting the dignity of the people involved in the programme is as important as them receiving access to water. (Ep 1. Should Clean Water be Free? with Richard Bradbury and Ngolia Kimunzu) • Finding the right balance between business (for profit) and the social aspect of a social enterprise is incredibly difficult. Both need to compromise to make it work, as unrealistic expectations can undermine the whole thing.

(Ep 2. Should Charities Do Business Instead of Aid? with Bo Chris Brekke)

”

• When the pandemic struck in early 2020 The Salvation Army didn’t flee from it. It responded through local teams across the world, because it is just that, a local organisation in every country it is present in. (Ep 3. Are We Perfectly Positioned to Respond to the Pandemic? with Elise Belcher)

the pandemic, and over half of these responses were resourced locally, without request of external funds. (Ep 5. How is The Salvation Army Responding to COVID-19 Around the World? with Damaris Frick)

• Principles in how we work in communities are just as important in a UK context as they are in any ‘developing’ country context we work in.

(Ep 4. Can a Resilience Approach Transform How We Work in Communities? with Captain Ben Cotterill)

• Countries going into national lockdown pose greater risks to those vulnerable to online exploitation as the increase in demand for online pornography, including child pornography, increases massively. (Ep 6. How COVID-19 Affects Human Trafficking with Tribeni Gurung and Anne Gregora)

• The Salvation Army was responding to COVID-19 in over 120 countries during the peak of

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Photo by Oscar Ivan Esquivel Arteaga on Unsplash.

In the coming season I am planning more topics and conversations with people who are working on the frontline of international development. Whether you’re a keen podcast listener or not, I would highly recommend tuning into the Develop podcast. If you are anything like me, you will be surprised at how much there is going on under the surface.

• A project officer’s role in The Salvation Army enables the international Army to function as a global entity – without capable project officers we will quickly become a group of national organisations. (Ep 7. The Work of a Project Officer in The Salvation Army with Ricardo Gomez) • Football training and hygiene may not seem like the most likely pairing, but when sessions in sanitation are embedded into regular football coaching, the results can be astounding. (Ep 8.

Football for Water with Ellen Van Den Hil)

You can find the Develop podcast by searching ‘The Salvation Army Develop’ on any podcast platform.

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Would you be interested in raising funds for our international community development projects?

Angela Carlucci

FUNDRAISE FOR THE SALVATION ARMY Fundraising events are a fantastic and fun way for people of all ages and abilities to help raise valuable funds for the work of The Salvation Army.

Whether you want to achieve a lifelong ambition or simply do something to help others, taking part in a fundraising event really will make a difference to the work that we do.

There are hundreds of ways to support the work of The Salvation Army, from pounding the 26.2 miles of pavement in the Virtual London Marathon to taking on one or two of our virtual challenges such as a Nostalgic Nosh Dinner Party, The Salvation Army Sleepout, The Sally Army Book Club, The Salvation Army Shear-off or The Big Salvation Quiz!

We also organise more sedate activities. From a sponsored silence held by a school, a tea party held by a group of friends, a donation to our work instead of birthday gifts, to maybe taking on a hair shave to raise funds – we have an event for you.

And every mile you cover and every penny you raise

will help The Salvation Army be there for those that need us most.

Whatever you decide to do, we will be here to support you throughout your fundraising journey.

From our fundraising pack that is filled with top tips and materials, to our administration support, we’ll be here to motivate and guide you and make sure you have the best experience possible, maybe creating some lifetime memories.

By becoming part of #TeamSallyArmy you will be helping the most vulnerable people in society and providing hope to those who need it.

Would you like to learn about our events? If you want to get involved or have any questions; Email: challenge@salvationarmy.org.uk Phone: 020 7367 4819 Twitter: twitter.com/teamsallyarmy Facebook: facebook.com/ TheSalvationArmyFundraisingEvents

30 www.salvationarmy.org.uk/other-ways-fundraise/virtual-fundraising

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