All the World (October-December 2019)

Equality Dignity Justice DEVELOPMENT FOR AND BY THE PEOPLE

CATERPILLARS as fast food!

Training to build CAPACITY SNAPSHOTS – stories of hope

VOL 57 NO 4

Compassionate care in INDIA

OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2019

CONTENTS

OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2019

Visit ALL THE WORLD at: www.salvationarmy.org/alltheworld

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UPFRONT From the Editor

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INTRODUCTION Being community

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INDIA Finding love and acceptance

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HOME AND AWAY Thoughts from here and there

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MIDDLE EAST The fight against trafficking

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DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO Futuristic food for thought

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INDONESIA and NIGERIA Offering dignity and security

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BANGLADESH and SWITZERLAND Learning and sharing

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SRI LANKA Family by choice

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FACTFILE Projects infographics

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SNAPSHOTS News from around the world

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06 15

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Cover photo by Joan Gibson

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Hope for the best ‘IT’S the hope that kills you,’ said my friend. He was talking about the England cricket team, which had just begun its World Cup campaign with a resounding win. I – and other sports fans – know what he meant. The hope from one good performance could soon turn into disappointment and defeat. The first result was great – but who knew what was to come?

(As it turned out, my hope was not misplaced because England went on to win the tournament!)

Around the world, The Salvation Army is known for its charitable works, its churches, its institutions and for offering ‘Heart to God, Hand to Man’. In essence, The Salvation Army is a sharer of hope.

This hope is found in the faith that underpins everything The Salvation Army does. The Christian gospel is a message of hope; a story of God working with, in and through his people so they can be free – so they can have ‘life in all its fullness’, as Jesus promised his followers.

Hope is important to humans. Nelson Mandela said: ‘Our human compassion binds us the one to the other – not in pity or patronisingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.’

This issue of All the World follows the work of the International Development Services section, which oversees projects that offer practical and substantive assistance to some of the world’s poorest people. The overarching theme is Equality, Dignity, Justice – all approaches that are necessary for people to live life in ‘all its fullness’.

‘Our human compassion binds us the one to the other – as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future’

EDITOR Kevin Sims

GENERAL Brian Peddle

DESIGN AND ARTWORK Berni Georges

Published by Brian Peddle, General of The Salvation Army

EDITORIAL OFFICE The Salvation Army International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4EH, United Kingdom Tel: [44] (0)20 7332 0101 Email: IHQ-alltheworld@salvationarmy.org FOUNDER William Booth

Kevin Sims, Editor

UPFRONT

FROM THE EDITOR

The projects that are managed through International Development Services provide opportunities for communities to work together with The Salvation Army, providing solutions to problems that stop life being lived in all its fullness – illness, lack of clean water, poor education, unemployment, inequality ... the list goes on.

In all of these projects, some things can be easily quantified – the number of people assisted, money spent, wells dug, patients treated, for instance. What is more difficult to capture is the hope that has been provided or restored: hope that life will be less hard; hope that the next generation will have new and better opportunities.

I hope that the stories in this issue help to address this shortfall. In every article there is an element of hope being lifted, all while people are being treated with equality and dignity, and given the opportunity to find justice.

A 2017 scientific paper in the American Journal of Epidemiology offered evidence that optimistic people live longer and are more likely to survive significant illness.

The difference between optimism and hope can be debated, but it seems clear that, far from hope being the thing that ‘kills you’, as my friend suggested, it can actually give you not just life in all its fullness but a fuller, longer life!

Finally, as the apostle Paul wrote: ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him’ (Romans 15:13).

© The General of The Salvation Army 2019

Printed in the UK by Lamport Gilbert Printers Ltd The Salvation Army International Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales (no. 1000566) whose sole trustee is The Salvation Army International Trustee Company, a company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales (no. 02538134) at 101 Queen Victoria Street, London ECV4 4EH

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ADVERT

Words of Life welcomes new writer From the September-December 2019 issue of Words of Life, a new writer – Major Christine Clement – is

introduced. She tells her readers: ‘I look forward to

sharing this pilgrimage with you, believing that as we journey together we will deepen our knowledge of God and grow closer to him.’

With the arrival of the new writer, the September-

December issue also features a new page layout, with space for Bible references and notes.

Before being appointed as the writer of Words of Life, Major Clement served in corps (church) and training work in the UK and overseas, in UK headquarters roles (including as Editor-in-Chief and Editor of Salvationist) and at International Headquarters.

Words of Life, The Salvation Army’s daily reading series, is available on subscription SUBSCRIBE AT: sar.my/wolsubu (UK) sar.my/wolsubeu (Europe) sar.my/wolsubrow (rest of the world) sar.my/wolsubgift (gift subscription) or telephone +44 (0) 1933 445445 Also available as an e-book on Amazon and Kobo An attractive video promoting Words of Life can be viewed at: sar.my/wolpromo

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INTRODUCTION

COMMUNITY It’s the encounter that counts

by Major Heather Poxon

‘You never wanted to meet me, you always wanted to change me!’

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he work of International Development Services, based at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters (IHQ), is primarily about poverty alleviation through effective community engagement. However, what do we mean by community and how can this understanding help with poverty alleviation?

The question was asked, and it has haunted me since because in one sense I feel as though I am promoting something that I don’t actually live. For example, I commute to IHQ daily yet rarely, if ever, interact with my commuting ‘neighbours’.

We don’t know each other as we travel, engrossed in our own thoughts.

Who, then, are the people representing my personal community? The theologian Henri Nouwen taught that ‘community ... is primarily a quality of the heart’ and ‘we Above: Millie

will never know what community is if we never come together in one place’. I have to admit to not experiencing community as it was intended, if Nouwen’s definition is any yardstick.

Millie is severely disabled, mentally and physically. However, as we sat together on her bedroom floor and shared the tea she had made, I realised she didn’t want to be ‘fixed’, she simply wanted me, for that moment in time, to share her world and, in doing so, to understand what Henri Nouwen would refer to as the quality of her heart.

Richard, with a brain battered by countless epileptic fits – ordinarily awkward and repetitive – suddenly spotted a friend of his going past in a wheelchair. He ran to him (Richard never runs!) and showed such altruistic joy and affection, tenderly talking to his pal in a way that I had never seen him do before, with anyone. Soul reached soul. Heart quality resonated with heart quality.

Community was demonstrated.

Henri Nowen’s friend and fellow theologian Jean Vanier described a scene in which a care worker cradled a dying addict in a park. The addict’s last words shook her to the core: ‘You never wanted to meet me, you always wanted to change me!’ Is it easier to be service

providers than to really be community?

If indeed our work is about community and poverty alleviation, we may need to also confront the question of how we see poverty. Our present understanding is that fullness of life – promised by Jesus in John 10:10 – cannot be enjoyed when poverty continues to exist. However, the apostle Paul affirms a radically alternative point of view by maintaining that God’s ‘power is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Corinthians 12:9). This seriously challenges current thinking and reminds us that we are subjects of an upside-down kingdom. Likewise, in 1 Corinthians 1:27 we read of God’s preference for choosing the foolish things of this world to shame the wise, and the weak to shame the strong.

Maybe then, after all, if Paul is correct, we are forced to conclude that fullness of life can only be experienced where those unlikely conduits of grace – namely poverty, brokenness and vulnerability – facilitate the truest qualities of heart to be, first of all, experienced, and, secondly, expressed.

Major Heather Poxon is International Development Officer at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters

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HEALTHCARE

INDIA

Love and acceptance

by Major Joan Gibson

I

F you want to experience first-hand how love and acceptance can help towards reversing the injustices created by man, then visit The Salvation Army’s Evangeline Booth Leprosy Home in Bapatla, in the India Central Territory. Walk into the quiet compound and greet the residents, and experience their contentment as they fold their hands around yours to greet you and smile a smile that will be imprinted

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on your mind for life. You, like me, will wonder why society could be so cruel to them.

Leprosy has been infecting people since as far back as 4,000 bc. It is an airborne infection, so all that is needed is to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Although it is harder to catch than the flu, the outcome of contracting it is much more devastating, both physically and socially.

The treatment is actually very straightforward – just two antibiotics – but the damage inflicted on skin and nerves while awaiting treatment can leave individuals with lifelong deformities. One of the men in the home proudly showed me his scars from six different operations he has had over the years, and how he is now left with only one toe on each foot.

The wounds inflicted through social rejection by society, friends and family – the result of fear and lack of knowledge – are much deeper and more painful.

One man told me how his wife had placed him at the home after discovering

Above: a resident at The Salvation Army’s Evangeline Booth Leprosy Home; below left: staff outside the front door of the home

he had leprosy, at a point in time when his little girl was only four years old and his son was not yet born. The children are now grown-up but, although they visit occasionally, the visits are short and he has never really got to know them. One woman told me that she actually brought herself to the home in order to prevent her children being discriminated against and labelled – along with her – as a threat to society.

Despite the efforts of the Indian Government to reduce the stigma attached to leprosy, Major Sreenath, the officer-in-charge of the home, told me how the locals will not even come into the compound to take the beautiful, delicious mangoes from the tree for fear that this act would result in them contracting leprosy.

INDIA

Above and right: staff and residents work together to create a family atmosphere

On my last visit to the home, I watched as the officer-in-charge’s daughter, home from university, served afternoon tea to the residents. It was clear that they loved having her around and that through her small acts of kindness their dignity was being restored.

The residents all have their own rooms, but spend much of the day under the shade in the porch where they sing, pray and watch soaps on the very small and ancient television. As with most people, TV shows are often their main topic of conversation.

On my last visit they proudly showed me their newly renovated bathrooms and their ceiling fans, which – when the

‘Despite her blindness she has a constant smile on her face and, when you greet her, she just doesn’t want to let you go!’

temperature is 42 degrees Celsius and the wind makes it feels like 52 – are really appreciated.

This, along with renovations to the kitchen, was made possible through a small project. It is hoped that a future project will help towards improving the residents’ diet and providing them with a bigger and better TV! The residents are full of life and love.

You can’t do anything other than love Ama [Mrs] Mothi, for instance. Despite her blindness she has a constant smile on her face and, when you greet her, she just doesn’t want to let you go!

At present there are eight members in the home, whose length of stay ranges from 10 to 23 years. The most senior resident (in years of stay) is Mr Katapalli Kotaiah. Now 68 years old, he told me he tries to provide direction and advice to the newer residents, and he certainly comes across as being the father of this happy family – a family which was thrown together because of their rejection by society.

Ama Bapamma is 70 years old now and has been at the home for 15 years.

She told me how she accepted Christ on the day she arrived and how every day she prays for the four children she left behind at home, because she felt guilty for contracting leprosy. She praises God for the goodness shown by the officerin-charge and she does not ever want to leave the home.

She explained how the administrator had improved their diet, which I learnt later was at his own expense. She said that when she is unwell the officer phones her children and she is able to talk to them, but now – due to deafness – it is not as easy to hear them. She commented that a number of residents have died since she arrived, but then smiled and said: ‘It is all right as one day I will see them again in Heaven!’

Ama Dhanalaxmi cannot speak but appears to understand all that is going on around her. When we had a singalong she was clearly enjoying clapping while the others were singing. In fact, despite everyone telling me how weak their hands were, they all seemed to enjoy clapping!

According to its Global Leprosy Strategy 2016-2020, the World Health Organisation is working towards a leprosy-free world – and a world free of discrimination and exclusion for all who have suffered from this dreaded disease.

In the meantime, if you want to see what that utopian future might look like, I suggest you visit the leprosy home in Bapatla, where the officers and their family – through their love, joy and acceptance – are giving back to the residents the dignity and respect which society has so unfairly taken away.

Major Joan Gibson is International Health Services Coordinator at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters

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HOME AND AWAY

A SERIES LOOKING AT THE THOUGHTS AND EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE SALVATION ARMY IN THEIR COUNTRY OF BIRTH AND OTHERS GIVING SERVICE ABROAD

MAJOR JEAN MUTOMBO

Major Jean Mutombo is from the Democratic Republic of Congo What is your role in The Salvation Army?

I am District Officer for Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and also the project officer.

HOME

How did you meet The Salvation Army?

My meeting with The Salvation Army was God’s plan.

Being born into a Roman Catholic family, it was impossible to become a member of another church in our house because my father held a great office within the Catholic Church. God allowed me to leave my parents for another province because of school and there I met The Salvation Army through my brother, with whom I stayed, who invited me to a Salvation Army meeting. That day, six people accepted Christ – and I was among them.

What is your favourite Bible verse?

Hebrews 10:38-39, which says: ‘“But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.’

How do you think working in DRC is different from working elsewhere?

I do not find a difference, because the objectives to be achieved are the same in DRC as elsewhere. What is important for me is to serve the Lord and be a blessing to others regardless of the environment or country, to accept to work where the Lord has decided and under his guidance.

What do you like most about DRC? There is national unity despite hundreds of tribes and languages. The people feel Congolese despite their diverse origins and cultures in this vast country.

What aspects of another country’s culture would you like to see present in DRC? I would like to bring in the patriotism seen in the United States of America and France; and the respect for common good and for others that is found in many Western countries.

Lord decides to send me, I will do only his will, because what is important is to work under his direction.

What skills do you use most in your work?

Spiritual skills: evangelisation, teaching and prayer. Intellectual skills: administrative and financial management, project-writing and -management, reporting and monitoring.

What skills do you have that you would like to be able to use more?

The two skills complement each other, but the basis is spiritual skills.

How would you like to be remembered?

My work and all my works are a memory for those who have known me wherever I have been.

Why should The Salvation Army be involved in development work?

Since development work concerns everyone, The Salvation Army cannot go backwards in this area. The Army, being rooted in the community and having to work within it, wants to raise the spiritual, physical, moral and even intellectual levels of suffering humanity in order to relieve its misery to some extent. In this way, it must actively participate in the work of human development.

What’s so special about The Salvation Army?

Its organisation, which is different from other churches. Its structure makes it united throughout the world. It is also special in its approach to providing for the needs of suffering humanity without any discrimination.

If you were elected General, what would be the first thing you would change?

The first thing is to seek to know the abilities of each officer and to use the gifts of each for the advancement of the work by using their talents in the service of the master.

I would seek to know why the work was not progressing in some territories and ask for advice or listen to people from those places. I would strengthen the capacities of officers assigned to different departments so that everyone understands their work.

If you could choose to work for The Salvation Army elsewhere, where would you choose and why?

What is important to me is to serve the Lord and be a blessing to others regardless of the country. Where the

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Major Mutombo (left) with international colleagues

&

away

RICHARD MAHIDA Originally from India, Richard Mahida works for The Salvation Army in the Eastern Europe Territory, which includes ministry in Georgia, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine

What is your role in The Salvation Army?

I am Territorial Projects Coordinator in the Eastern Europe Territory.

How did you meet The Salvation Army?

I was born and brought up in The Salvation Army, a third-generation Salvationist. Someday I would love to be a thirdgeneration officer.

Do you have a ‘claim to fame’?

I was the only non-European to participate in a debate and did a presentation on the nominated candidates of the Sakharov Peace Prize 2015 organised by University College Dublin, School of Politics and International Relations at the European Parliament Office in Dublin, Ireland.

Do you have a ‘hero of the faith’?

There are many heroes of faith around me. Sometimes it’s a preacher or a random person from the congregation whose testimony in a Sunday service moves or touches me. My teachers and colleagues, who always uplift me with their faith and encouragement. My parents – my mother is an amazing ‘SHE-ro’, who prays for me all the time.

What is your favourite Bible verse?

‘I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth’ (Psalm 121:1-2 New International Version). Whenever I feel stressed, nervous or anxious, I close my eyes and say those verses which always gives me strength. That’s my little secret!

&AWAY

What is your favourite Salvation Army song?

‘They shall Come from the East’ (1011, The Song Book of The Salvation Army).

How do you think that working in Eastern Europe differs from working elsewhere?

The Eastern Europe Territory has four languages and we work in six different currencies, which is very interesting.

What do you like most about Eastern Europe?

The countries of Eastern Europe have beautiful nature. I love the greenery and hope it doesn’t get affected by the growing industrialisation. People have open hearts and are always ready to help. Despite being a foreigner, I always feel comfortable. Once a random lady in the bus offered me a handful of grapes. That moment still makes me smile!

What do you most miss about India?

My family and friends.

What aspects of another country’s culture do you wish were present in Eastern Europe?

Being ‘One Army’, I find that we have many things in common, though there are cultural differences, but that’s what brings its unique richness. I am enjoying living and working in Eastern Europe and love the diversity. There is a blend of different languages and culture and we can all learn from each other.

Richard (left) during a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo

&AWAY

What would be your typical day?

My day begins with a short personal devotion and a cup of strong black coffee. I am always early to work so I can plan my daily activities – prioritising emails, etc – which is followed by diving straight into work. We have a very beautiful lake close to territorial headquarters (in Chisinau, Moldova) and I enjoy a morning walk around it.

If you were elected General, what would be the first thing you would change?

Have a shift from a charity mindset to a more of community development approach in ministry as well as in social work.

This has already been initiated but I would like to have more emphasis on it.

If you could choose to work for The Salvation Army anywhere else, where would you choose and why?

I have a background in international development, so I would be happy to work wherever I can. I believe that wherever God will put me, it will be with a plan and purpose.

What skills do you use most in your work?

Communication, friendliness, an ability to learn something new every day, a desire to inspire and encourage people around me.

What skills do you have that you would like the opportunity to use more?

One of my passions is working with children and young adults, where I can use my experience and training with developing resources and projects to help them in their growth. I look forward to continuing my work in this area.

How would you like to be remembered?

I would want people to remember that I made the choice to be kind, to forgive and to love and to learn, to be present and grow in relationship with God and others.

Why should The Salvation Army be involved in development work?

Because it is God’s will. Both in Matthew 25:35-40 and James 2:14-17 God commands us to care for those who suffer.

What’s so special about The Salvation Army?

It’s a long list! No matter which part of the world I am in, I have always found the presence of The Salvation Army to be like a ‘family’ – a family where you can easily relate, be loved and feel at home.

&AWAY

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ANTI-TRAFFICKING

MIDDLE EAST

Supporting the survivors

by Anisa Gasper

Library photo, posed by a model

T

he crime of human trafficking and modern slavery stand in direct contravention to the notions of equality, dignity and justice to which this issue of All the World is dedicated. The forced labour and movement of hundreds of thousands of people across the world remains one of the gravest concerns of our times, as victims are trafficked across borders and over continents with impunity.

To this end, The Salvation Army has been providing social care and outreach to distressed victims of human trafficking in the Middle East, who often originate from African countries. The Salvation Army began work in Kuwait in 2008 and has since expanded its ministry to Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

Over the past three years, more than 280 women have been repatriated successfully and provided with assistance to facilitate their successful reintegration into their home societies. Yet many challenges remain, as a safe return home is often merely the start of a long process of readjustment and rehabilitation.

Women who have been exploited as household workers or who were lured overseas under false pretences often find themselves in an unfamiliar country with no support networks to rely on. In such a climate of alienation, abuse can run rampant.

The Salvation Army recognises this risk and, for the past few years, has been providing shelters for women to seek refuge as they work on their applications

to return home. It coordinates with local partners to alert the relevant authorities and facilitate the women’s return through official channels.

At these shelters, the women take part in social activities, engaging in music programmes and a variety of seasonal and cultural events. There are also special activities for children. It is important to ensure a sense of normality and community in the shelter, with the women’s dignity safeguarded.

It is also important to remember that, once the women return home, the fight is not yet over, as many returnees struggle with social ostracisation and are unable to reintegrate fully into society – while simultaneously dealing with the trauma of their experiences abroad.

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The Salvation Army offers livelihood skills training and helps women address the intense trauma they have faced by providing group learning sessions focused on emotional healing. It remains key to ensure that the women are embedded in their local societies and have an income to sustain themselves, while at the same time being able to recognise negative actors and false offers which could be used to lure them abroad again.

Likewise, the classes offer a chance to continue to build on the sense of community established at the shelters.

While the next step is undoubtedly to press for criminal justice and the prosecution of offenders, it remains vital to support human trafficking survivors every step of the way in their journey towards freedom and healing.

Anisa Gasper is a Community Development Coordinator at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

NUTRITION

Photos by Augustin Konda

Caterpillars – a feast for the future!

by Paz Redondo

W

HO would have thought that caterpillars would become essential in fighting malnutrition?

Many ancient people, including Egyptians, Romans and Greeks, feasted on insects. Nowadays – probably to the surprise of much of the developed world – many cultures have insect dishes at the centre of their cuisine. Using insects in this way is called ‘entomophagy’.

This approach should not really be surprising as insects are an incredible protein-filled food source. Worldwide there are around 2,000 varieties of edible

insects – so expect to find more insects in snack bars, pasta sauces and spreads! The reality is that, with population increasing dramatically in the coming years, insects will necessarily become an essential part of our diet no matter where we are in the world.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, insects have been consumed for decades and are at times a pricey delicacy. In Kinshasa alone, more than 70 per cent of the population eats insects.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), 13.1 million people are facing severe

Above: caterpillars are a great source of nutrition

food insecurity in DRC. Deforestation is also a large problem in great parts of the country as slash-and-burn techniques are practised for agricultural purposes, reducing the biodiversity, contributing to soil erosion and climate change.

Supporting local insect breeding and harvesting practices may be one of the best ways to regenerate the environmental ecosystem, contributing to sustainable livelihoods and combatting malnutrition.

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Below: a caterpillar with eggs; right: harvesting a caterpillar; far right: children being taught how to farm caterpillars as a food source; bottom: community meetings give people the opportunity to share their experiences

The Salvation Army has been working since 2011 with Songanzila IFD, a rural development association specialising in reforestation, beekeeping and caterpillar breeding. The first project started in 2016 in the Province of Kongo-Central, about 180 kilometres from Kinshasa. The project grew enormously in six villages in only a year. Members of the community learned about reforestation, and were shown techniques in caterpillar-breeding and harvesting.

The success of the first phase of the project led The Salvation Army to expand its reach and work in a greater number of villages in 2017, taking the knowledge to primary schools and supporting more than 10,000 people with sustainable food support and income.

It should be made clear at this point that not all caterpillars are edible. In fact, in some parts of the world caterpillars are incredibly poisonous or toxic, so this approach should not be put into action without careful research!

Some of the most common and yummiest edible varieties of caterpillars include hairy species such as the Cirina Forda, a black and yellow caterpillar

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‘Sharing the knowledge about how to keep these insects procreating happily has been a key element of this project’ that can become a large brown moth after metamorphosis. Two other Asian caterpillar species have been central to the project, with Samia Ricini and Gonimbrasia Zambesina being successfully introduced. Working with local leaders, the project was able to include 10 varieties of edible caterpillars.

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So, how are caterpillars domesticated and collected?

Caterpillars are frequently collected and brought back to trees near homes where they can be domesticated. Those who farm caterpillars need a great understanding of local plants and the caterpillar life cycle, so sharing the knowledge about how to keep these insects procreating happily has been a key element of this project.

Each caterpillar species feeds on specific plants. The most common foods for caterpillars include local species such as the kibidi or essia trees or nonlocal species such as the acacia. Small savannah trees and shrubs are also part of their demanding diet.

In the past, communities used to make bushfires to encourage caterpillars to migrate to the ground, making them accessible to anybody. Caterpillars can be eaten by birds, and killed by other insects or parasites. Interestingly, beehives have

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Above: some of the caterpillars will be left to grow into moths

been demonstrated to be a key ally in the protection of caterpillars – with the added benefits of honey production and plant pollination.

‘People now know the life cycle of the caterpillars and how to harvest them,’ explains one Salvation Army worker.

‘People are starting to replant nkunku forests and caterpillar food trees.’

Everybody in the household is involved in harvesting caterpillars. By including schools in the project, children have been promoting this ancestral farming practice in their communities, improving the nutritional value and quality of many of their meals.

Caterpillars can be eaten in many different ways. Hairy species are frequently cooked on charcoal or put on a fire to roast so any impurity gets eliminated by the fire, leaving a sweet, smoky taste.

They can be also eaten raw or prepared in very sophisticated ways, with some of the most common recipes include the addition of lemon, salt and pepper or a peanut butter-based sauce. Caterpillars can also be dried and stored for up to three months, or mixed with other ingredients to create baby food.

What, then, is the impact of the project?

There is no doubt as to the benefits of caterpillars in a household from the point of view of nutrition, but also from an economic perspective. When produced and harvested in excess, caterpillars can be sold, giving the household a consistent source of income to afford other commodities such as sugar, oil, salt, soap and even to cover school fees.

These exchanges also strengthen local markets and the trickle-down effects have a positive impact in many other aspects of the local economy.

Children and women are key groups to benefit from this project. Women have been participating in the project actively and are part of decision-making committees. The hope is that, with their newly-acquired knowledge, women can be empowered economically, which will also contribute to their own development.

‘I hope to rear Nsani gata (Samia ricini) caterpillars which I saw at Kilueka,’ one participant said. ‘Perhaps my girls will like that work.’

From an environmental point of view, reforestation is also a central part of the project. Communities understand the value of protecting the forest and can

source other foods from it too. Planting trees and bushes can contribute to restoring the ‘lungs of the world’ such as the great forests of DRC. As one of the project participants said: ‘We will have caterpillars and other foods from the forest as our parents used to have.’

As a community development coordinator I think this is a fascinating project that reflects our values by supporting communities to restore what had been destroyed, building relationships and encouraging communities to put into practice some of their valuable ancestral practices to address some of the most difficult problems they face today.

In a country like DRC, which is considered to be in a protracted humanitarian crisis, it is certainly encouraging to see hope restored in the lives of many people. I trust that we can take this learning to other parts of DRC and the world. The possibilities for innovation and impact are infinite!

Paz Redondo is a Community Development Coordinator at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters

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MISSION SUPPORT

INDONESIA AND NIGERIA

E

very evening as I leave my Mission Support desk at International Headquarters in London, I head home to my warm and comfortable house, safe in the knowledge that I can sleep well, protected from harm and the elements. (The recent rain in London has made me very thankful for this!)

When I get home, I have access to hot and cold water, safe and freely flowing for me to drink, cook and shower whenever I wish. I am a privileged person. This is easy for me to forget when, for so many people around the world, this is not the case.

The Salvation Army’s Mission Support scheme provides funding for projects that strengthen the organisational capacity, support the infrastructure and advance the spiritual mission of The Salvation Army.

Mission Support funds are raised as part of the annual self-denial appeal which takes place in every Salvation Army church around the world. It is through access to Mission Support funding that territories around the world seek to address some of these issues, to make a difference for some of their officers (ministers) and also in the communities in which they live and work.

In Indonesia, The Salvation Army recognises that the country is a place of great contrast. There are communities and cities that are very developed and progressive, but a large portion of the country is also very remote.

Many officers, often young, serve in these remote areas where housing is likely to be made from bush material, offering little protection or security for the people who live there. The Salvation Army’s Indonesia Territory has made it one of its aims to begin to address this.

The goal is to construct basic officer quarters which will have four solid walls (cement block or bricks), a roof, louvred glass windows, wooden doors and a ceramic tile or concrete slab floor.

As the basis for this, they have designed a

Dignity and security

by Pamela Hunter basic architectural plan and – through Mission Support funds – are able to provide the officer with the materials to have this house constructed alongside his or her corps (Salvation Army church).

The picture shows the first building which was completed in August last year and is an indication of the great work that will be carried out around the territory to improve the lives of officers serving there.

In Nigeria, The Salvation Army is at work in many communities where people, including corps officers, have no access to safe, clean water. These are

Top right: opening a new borehole in Nigeria; right: a new, safe home for an officer in Indonesia

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places where sickness is prevalent due to water-borne diseases.

The Salvation Army’s Nigeria Territory has made it a priority over the past few years to identify areas where it can make a difference by addressing this issue.

So far, the territory has used a portion of its Mission Support funding to drill boreholes in 30 communities, providing safe water that is accessible to everyone in the community, making a positive impact on the health and well-being of local people. The picture shows the official opening of the borehole in one of these communities.

These two initiatives give just a small insight into some important work The Salvation Army is doing around the world with the support of Mission Support funding, not always involving a large amount of money but making a great impact in the day-to-day lives of our corps officers and their communities.

Pam Hunter is Mission Support Coordinator at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters

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BANGLADESH AND SWITZERLAND

CAPACITY BUILDING

Striving for self-reliance

by Major Joan Münch

P

ROSTITUTION happens every day in every country on earth.

Therefore, it isn’t surprising that the kind of empowerment offered through Salvation Army projects for people engaged in prostitution is similar whether in Asia or in Europe.

Visiting the Salvation Army’s ministry in a red-light district in Jessore, Bangladesh,

I was struck by the similarity between what I witnessed in such a remote place (for me) and what I had seen in the redlight district in Bern, the capital city of Switzerland. There were even similarities between the responses The Salvation Army offered.

People living in prostitution, even if they believe they are entering it ‘with their eyes wide open’, quickly get harmed because of the lack of safety they constantly face, as well as frequent situations of abuse.

Our good intentions of wanting to help sometimes get blocked by the complexity of the situation of the person. ‘If I no longer do this, then my children cannot go to school,’ says the Ghanaian woman living in prostitution in Bern while her children are back in Ghana with relatives, dependent on her income.

Above: the red-light district in Jessore; below left: the brothels in Bern

Reflecting on this situation, as well as on multiple other similar situations where we find ourselves face-to-face with vulnerable people and feeling utterly helpless, we want to learn more about what it means to be in ministry today, where the world is linked in ways we couldn’t have imagined in other times.

We all need to learn, which is where The Salvation Army’s Learning Pathways programme comes in. It was developed as part of the recognition that people linked with development work need to build their capacity in whatever location they find themselves. We can learn from

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BANGLADESH AND SWITZERLAND

‘We need to notice what it is that we learn from a given situation in both good and bad, so that both we and our ministry can be strengthened through it’

each other, so the person working in Bern can gain knowledge and understanding from the person in Jessore – and vice versa.

Acknowledging also that action is what Salvationists are generally good at – we are very good at responding in habitual ways to different types of situations where needs seem to be obvious – Learning Pathways is designed for personal development as well as acquiring a set of technical skills. Those technical skills are linked with project management for community engagement.

Reflection and learning happen in Learning Pathways alongside ministry and in ministry. It is our community engagement that we reflect on: What happened when we did ‘this’, for instance, and does it match what it is that we are seeking to accomplish?

It is an action learning protocol rather than a predetermined learning protocol.

It is up to the individual participant to set goals for individual learning. These goals can be linked both with ministry and with personal life situations.

Accountability groups and learning partners are an important element of the learning journey.

The Learning Pathways initiative understands community engagement as part of leadership development and vice versa. We learn something about ourselves when we do things – because of what we believe – with and for other people. We also learn something about ourselves when other people do things with and for us and we learn something about God – who he is and what he does.

We need to notice what it is that we learn from a given situation in both good and bad, so that both we and our ministry can be strengthened through it.

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Who is it that needs increased capacity? Well, all of us really! However, a strategic use of the opportunity for capacity development through Learning Pathways ensuring that women and men alike access training which will enhance the ability of Salvationists to find the answers together, as well as levelling out differences between us.

What is it that we believe about people’s capacity for change? How do we live out our faith? What is it that we hope to see happen? When Jesus changed his disciple Simon’s name to Peter, he also gave him powers to change things.

‘I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,’ he told him. ‘Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven’ (Matthew 16:19). This only happened after Simon had declared Jesus as the Messiah, acknowledging him as Lord.

Simon Peter clearly had a special calling over his life, but so do we who have responded and are engaged in

ministry. Through faith we have access to a world of change. We read in Acts 16:25-26: ‘About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.’ Through worship the prisoners’ chains came loose. They were freed!

The element of faith is not just an abstract. Our faith in and knowledge of who God is and what he wants for each of his children is where we will find the inspiration and courage to deal with situations where we feel utterly helpless and powerless. Facing up to those personal feelings, we allow ourselves to walk alongside a person in need, offering a prayer and believing for a miracle according to the person’s desire for change.

Then why is it important to acknowledge the link and similarities

‘Today – more than ever before – the world is linked and people are linked. People are people no matter the context in which we meet them’

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BANGLADESH AND SWITZERLAND

From far left: the Learning Pathways programme gives opportunities for people to learn together and from each other; left: Major Joan Münch (right) putting the training into practice in a community visit, Bangladesh; above a Learning Pathways session in Sri Lanka

between what we see happening both here and there? Between Jessore and Bern? Because today – more than ever before – the world is linked and people are linked. People are people no matter the context in which we meet them. If we fail to acknowledge that link, then we miss out on important parts of the full picture of a difficult situation at hand.

For isn’t the question really: What does empowerment look like for the Ghanaian lady in Bern, her family back home, the women in Jessore? What about the clients supporting exploitation and a degrading way of life? What is the ministry answer for the Salvationist, striving to be a facilitator of community change rather than a manager of programme or projects?

Is it easy to provide the answers? No! The Ghanaian lady in Bern is selfreliant. She is managing to get the money needed for her family back home, but she is suffering. She said to me: ‘I am the sacrificed one,’ meaning that she is providing for her family by allowing other people to repeatedly hurt her, so she has to renounce everything else she could have been hoping to achieve in her own life.

The client supporting exploitation in both Bern and Jessore – as well as everywhere else in the world – probably thinks he is spending his money as he wishes and that there is no harm in that.

While doing that, he hurts his wife and family as well as the prostituted person

and he fails to acknowledge before God what he is part of. His whole emotional life is a mess.

All of us need to think hard about these issues. Capacity building happens when we do just that – when we take the time to reflect in faith and then to apply our reflection and faith to the ways we choose to deal with the moments of utter helplessness we face in our relationships with other people.

Major Joan Münch is Capacity Development and Resource Consultant for The Salvation Army’s International Development Services

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church.

Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name without discrimination.

WHAT IS THE SALVATION ARMY?

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AGED CARE

SRI LANKA

Dignity at every age

T

HE Salvation Army’s Elders Home in Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka, is a unique place. On any given day, the impromptu family of elderly residents living there can be glimpsed spending time together, working in the garden and sharing stories. Theirs is a special family, and the community that has formed within the home is not one that should be taken for granted.

The residents come from different socio-economic backgrounds and are neither blood relatives nor necessarily from the area. Yet what they have

by Anisa Gasper in common is the life they share at Rajagiriya; a life of dignity in old age.

The right to have a life of dignity, free from fear and want, is central to the notion of human development and capabilities, as articulated by Indian economist Dr Amartya Sen. He upholds human wellbeing as a priority in development and as a good worth investing in.

At this home run by The Salvation Army, elderly residents spend their days together engaged in a variety of activities and have formed their own community. The idea of development centred on human dignity is evident here in the lives of the residents, many of whom have been at the

Above: Maryama has been living at the Elder’s Home in Rajagiriya for 10 years; left: the tranquil courtyard

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home for many years and do not have any family or friends to provide alternative support networks. The Salvation Army’s commitment and support to people throughout all stages of life is perhaps most evident at places like Rajagiriya.

The need for such ongoing support becomes evident when listening to the testimonies of residents, who cite the shocks of unexpected unemployment or illness as catalysts for a chain of unfortunate events. For Maryama*, who has been living at Rajagiriya since 2009, it was her husband’s sudden death from heart surgery complications that required her to place her two young children in care homes and move abroad to work as a domestic help.

By the time she had saved enough to return home, one of her daughters had been sent for adoption and her close family had passed away. She was subsequently confined to a wheelchair after a fall. Maryama now speaks of her life being ‘free from worry’ as all her immediate needs are met: physical, emotional and spiritual.

She loves to sew, enjoys gardening, and – despite physical restrictions – she likes to help around the home where she

SRI LANKA

Above left: the chapel is at the heart of the home’s activities; above right: spending time to speak with residents is an important part of the role; below right: the shared bedrooms are neat and well maintained

can, remaining as active as possible. She emphasises: ‘I am safe here.’

Suresh* similarly highlights his enjoyment of responsibilities around the home. Following the collapse of his business due to changes in export law, both of his homes were repossessed and he was left with significant debt.

Not long after, his wife passed away from leukaemia. Not wanting to ‘disturb or depend on [his] sons and their families’ he sought God’s guidance and was eventually led to The Salvation Army.

What he describes as his ‘choice to remain independent’ has seen him sharing a dormitory for the past seven years with 17 other men from various walks of life, with whom he shares his love for Christian music. Suresh was delighted when he was entrusted with a hall key that allows him to open the chapel doors at Rajagiriya for worship

‘Happiness is not about the programme, it is the smile shared between family members’

every week. He reflects: ‘Happiness is not about the programme, it is the smile shared between family members.’

Another resident at the home is retired Salvation Army officer Sonia*, who shares how the residents and staff ‘have become like family’ during her 18 months at the home. This ‘family of different people and life experiences’ has formed a community around their shared activities and everyday routine in a way many did not expect.

After serving her community and the wider world for 40 years, Sonia cared for her sick mother prior to her death.

In her retirement, she is grateful for the company of her fellow residents at Rajagiriya, with whom she now follows cricket and listens to music.

Staff member Sheila* also indicates that she thinks of the residents here as her ‘father and mother’ and discloses: ‘It is a blessing to be able to serve them.’

She has been cleaning at the home for three years and, although she has come to realise that the role requires more hours than initially expected – since she provides support for the other staff in their various roles – she does not mind staying with the family ‘until the job is done’.

When we speak of development in the language of social needs and human capabilities, it is important to take unconventional examples like Rajagiriya as a model. In countries where there is little government assistance for the elderly outside of the traditional model of familybased care, international development projects can play a significant role in meeting this gap in care in cases where such networks are not in place.

For Maryama, Suresh and Sonia, this has made the difference between a life of worry and the reimagined community they have created at Rajagiriya. *Not the real names of residents or staff members Anisa Gasper is a Community Development Coordinator at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters

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LE

Community

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

FAC

TFI

Information researched by Vincent Johnsson

The Salvation Army currently supports community projects to a value of US$113,498,086 South Pacific and East Asia 7% South Asia 19% Europe

Africa 40%

3%

Americas and the Caribbean 31%

ACTIVE PROJECTS

Africa

KEY:

PROTECTION EDUCATION

South Asia

South Pacific and East Asia

HEALTH LIVELIHOOD OTHER

Europe

Every Community Project addresses one or more of the following human needs identified by the community 20 | ALL THE WORLD |

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LIVELIHOOD

Agriculture Income Generation Employment Savings/Micro-Enterprise

Americas and the Caribbean

PROTECTION

Anti-Human Trafficking Disaster Risk Reduction Gender-Based Violence Conflict Resolution

This artwork is available to download from sar.my/atwprojectsinfo19

and Mission

Building – $6,762,847

Vehicle – $1,342,689 6% Training – $5,305,890

32%

25%

5% 6%

5%

1%

19%

Officer Housing – $1,141,494

1%

MISSION SUPPORT

In 2018 The Salvation Army enabled hundreds of Mission Support projects across the globe, representing a total of US$21,105,022

Conference – $171,643 Operational Costs – $1,364,257 IT – $112,305 Spiritual Mission – $3,900,507

EDUCATION

Schools Training Rights Empowerment Informal Education Programmes

Equipment/Furniture – $1,003,390

HEALTH

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene HIV/Aids Care Medical Clinics OC TOBE R– DE C E M BE R 2019 | ALL THE WORLD |

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COUNTRY OR THEME

SNAPSHOTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD Photos by Fazir Columbus

PAKISTAN

Sharing beauty In Pakistan, if you are a Christian your options of employment are limited. Most Christians are employed as ‘sweepers’ and have little opportunity for much more than that.

Across the road from a Salvation Army corps (church) in Lahore, there is a beauty salon run

by Samina, a Muslim woman who is helping to create job opportunities for members of the local Christian community. Major Heather Poxon was in Pakistan to see The Salvation Army’s work, so went to visit Hafeeza Akram and learn her story.

Hafeeza and her husband had wanted children but she wasn’t able to become pregnant. Heather explains: ‘After four years without success, she approached a Christian pastor and asked him to pray for them. He went away and prayed and returned to Samina to say that God had heard her prayer, and that she would have twin boys. He was right – and I even met one of the boys!’

Today, Hafeeza has a good relationship with the corps, which sends Christian girls to her for free training as beauticians. With these skills, the girls will have more opportunity to earn a decent income and support their families.

‘She also takes care of her workers,’ says Heather, ‘offering free facials and other services to them and their families – and also to visitors, as I discovered!’

UK

Jumping for joy Following on from his parachute jump in 2018 (as featured in the January–March 2019 issue of All the World), 94-year-old former Salvation Army leader Commissioner Harry Read took to the skies again to jump into Normandy on 6 June as part of activities to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings that led to the end of the Second World War. His jump received huge press coverage across the world.

The commissioner used the jump to raise funds and awareness for The Salvation Army’s anti-trafficking ministry in the UK. Writing on his JustGiving page (www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/harry-read), he said: ‘Some of you will know that in World War 2 I was a wireless operator serving in a parachute brigade and, as a young 20-year old, I parachuted into France 22 | ALL THE WORLD |

‘With these skills, the girls will have more opportunity to earn a decent income and support their families’

very early (00.50 hours) on the morning of D-Day ... After visiting Normandy for the D-Day ceremony last year I had the idea that I wanted to parachute into the celebrations this year to mark the 75th anniversary.’

He added: ‘You might well be asking where God comes in on this and I take the question seriously. This started out as a very modest desire for a low-level parachute jump which has, seemingly, been elevated to a high-profile event with the Red Devils team. However, every aspect of this proposal has been bathed in prayer and, when my normal common-sense has asked its questions, I still have the quiet,

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over-ruling assurance that our heavenly Father is approving to the degree of being in charge.

I don’t know where, or how, this will glorify him but he is telling me to trust him, and I will.’

A few weeks later, Commissioner Read received a surprise in front of a delighted congregation that gathered for the UK Territory with the Republic of Ireland’s officer commissioning meetings. He was called to the platform where General Brian Peddle admitted the commissioner to the Order of the Founder – The Salvation Army’s highest honour.

Commissioner Read, who – like the audience – clearly knew nothing about the award in

‘As a young 20-year old, I parachuted into France very early (00.50 hours) on the morning of D-Day’

SNAPSHOTS

advance, made his way to the platform where he saluted the General and acknowledged the congregation, which had risen to its feet in enthusiastic applause and remained standing throughout the presentation.

The General read the citation, which stated that Commissioner Read was admitted to the Order of the Founder ‘in recognition of a life of outstanding Christian witness in word, verse and deed spanning 75 years, with a recent and relevant witness through social media captivating a global audience with the authentic message of reconciliation, hope and peace’.

‘I count it a great privilege and honour to be made a member of the Order of the Founder,’ responded the commissioner. ‘I’ve enjoyed life so much. I’ve lived a full life ... and I’m grateful for all the love and support that has come my way over recent years.’

The Order of the Founder was instituted

by General Bramwell Booth in 1917 to mark ‘outstanding service rendered by officers and soldiers such as would in spirit or achievement have been specially commended by the Founder’.

MEXICO

Go, Soccer Army!

The border town of Mexicali in Mexico may be one of the country’s most prosperous cities, but it has its fair share of problems – poverty, violence, drugs, organised crime – that are associated with communities along the MexicoUSA border. To help alleviate the impact of some of these issues, in July 2019 The Salvation Army opened a new Sports and Recreational Centre (funded by The Salvation Army in The Netherlands) to provide opportunities for the young people of Mexicali and its surrounding communities – a similar approach to the new facility opened by David Beckham in Los Angeles, USA, only a few weeks earlier (as featured in the July–September issue of All the World).

The new centre was opened by Commissioners Ana Rosa and Oscar Sanchez, leaders of The Salvation Army’s Mexico Territory. Also in attendance were government representatives and many of the young people who have participated in Salvation Army programmes in the Baja California area and will benefit from the facility.

Mrs Nancy Lizeth Hernandez, whose daughter Lizeth takes part in several Salvation Army programmes, explained what the clubs and soccer school have done in her daughter’s

life, and also the impact this has made in her own life.

Mariana Vazquez Ávila is a member of the ‘Soccer Army’ soccer school and team, which plays in local leagues, as well as a homework club. She shared how these programmes have improved her life. She is more active, she said, and has lost considerable weight.

The day ended with a game of soccer on the new pitch – kicked off by the territorial commander, who had been presented with his own ‘Soccer Army’ team jersey.

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Jesus said: ‘I came to give life – life in all its fullness’ (John 10:10 New Century Version)

International Development Services salvationarmy.org/ihq/development This artwork is available to download from sar.my/atwdevelopment19