Progress (Spring 2017)

IHQ-ProgRes@salvationarmy.org

SPRING 2017 // ISSUE 17

A NEWS UPDATE FROM THE PROGRAMME RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AT IHQ

THE WHOLE

THE WHOLE WORLD MOBILISING

Programme Resources 1

Programme Resources Hats off to that!

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International Projects and Development Services Practical love

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International Projects and Development Services Building trust

5 International Emergency Services

Care and compassion 8 The Whole World Mobilising

Moving forward

Commissioner Charles Swansbury

INTERNATIONAL SECRETARY FOR PROGRAMME RESOURCES

Hats off to that!

T

he Whole World Mobilising is an initiative launched by International Headquarters in January of this year, both as a follow-on from The Whole World Praying and The Whole World Reading, and to galvanise Salvationists, volunteers and employees in getting out into the community and to become more active and visible in expressing our faith in action throughout 2017 and beyond.

Hats off to that! And, if you haven’t already done so, I would encourage you to explore the Mobilising website

(https://mobilising.salvationarmy.org/#!/) to see the range of activities and initiatives that have already been taking place around the world. May these stories bring their own encouragement and stimulation for more action and innovation!

Without wishing to take the wind out of the sails of the Mobilising initiative, it should not need to be stated that the Programme Resources Department has been facilitating the Army getting mobilised and out into communities CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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3 3CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 around the world for decades. Several hundred projects, representing many millions of dollars and touching the lives of millions, are administered every year by the team here at International Headquarters (IHQ). Much of this work is unsung and largely goes unnoticed. But the influence and benefit of these acts of practical love are immense: people given new opportunities; people released from poverty and injustice; people released from disease and discrimination; people released to embrace their full potential.

A tiny fraction of this good news is featured in this edition of Progress, and I give credit to those who serve in the department, those who assist us in the development departments of our supporting territories, and project officers and teams in the facilitating territories,

‘Whilst it is relatively easy to be busy and active, it’s more important for these activities to facilitate and build relationships’ commands and regions across the world.

This global effort and footprint is quite remarkable.

And how would this message be made known without a messenger? So, hats off also to our communications team, for making the website possible and enabling this global story to be available to everyone.

But there’s also a deeper challenge.

Whilst it is relatively easy to be busy

and active, it’s more important for these activities to facilitate and build relationships – not only between the Church and community, but ultimately between the individual and their heavenly Father. Jesus said, in Matthew 5:16, our intention should be that ‘they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven’ (King James Version).

Ours is a dual role and responsibility; to serve with credibility and seek to ensure that the ultimate acknowledgement be to God himself.

May God encourage and inspire our every effort to be mobilised with that intention.

International Projects and Development Services (IPDS) Elise Belcher

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR AFRICA ZONE

Practical Love Community projects

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hen asked to share a story from Africa highlighting corps mobilising in their communities, I was excited about sharing something of our work that is not always known in the more public settings of international Salvation Army ministry. With several to choose from, it was a hard decision!

Across Africa, we have been working with territories, considering what it means to build corps/community relationships; not just serving or running our own development projects, but allowing communities to participate in their own development, listening to community members, allowing them to make key decisions, utilising their strengths and resources and, consequently, seeing remarkable mobilising ministry.

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Here is one such story, in the words of Lieutenant D. Hamwenda of Naleza Corps (church), Zambia: ‘There were no computers at Naleza Government School, even though government legislation sets compulsory Information and Communications Technology (ICT) subjects for secondary schools. Examination classes were subject to practical ICT exams whether or not the school had computers, so pupils (there are 800) were to be ferried to urban schools with computers and electricity to write their ICT junior secondary examinations.

‘Realising that the pupils were due to write the exams, the community was called together through the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to discuss matters. Other parties involved included the local authority, school management and church leaders. As the corps officer, I was anonymously appointed to chair the meeting since the usual chairperson was not available. I used the Faith-based Facilitation process and the community was pleased to use this simple but systematic way of analysing the project. Brainstorming and ranking were used, allowing

‘Their computer literacy level has been raised and it will now be easier to upgrade equipment and develop facilities further’

Above: Children and staff in the grounds of the Naleza School, Zambia Right: Lieutenant Hamwenda (left) with members of school staff and new ICT equipment

community members to determine activities needing to be undertaken. A self-assessment tool was used to seek what resources could be utilised.

‘The community planned to mobilise resources to procure two desktop computers, solar panels and batteries, install the equipment and then train teachers to lead the ICT class sessions.

‘The school management committee oversaw the project, supported by the PTA and myself. The community initially provided cash and contributions in the form of chickens and goats that were sold, the monies collected being used to procure computers and other accessories.

‘Pupils, especially those in examination classes, have acquired computer skills that were previously unavailable for such a community. Their computer literacy level has been raised and it will now be easier to upgrade equipment and develop facilities further. The school has converted one classroom into a computer lab and the ratio of computers to pupils is now 1:100.’

It is exciting that Naleza community has worked together, mobilised by the corps officer, to pool resources to meet the need they faced. Whilst the school still faces challenges and needs more computers, it is encouraging that such community-owned and directed progress has been made.

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International Emergency Services (IES)

Benjamin Gilbert

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR SPEA AND SOUTH ASIA ZONES

Major Alison Thompson

Building TRUST

COORDINATOR INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY SERVICES

Community projects

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ne thing I have learnt from my involvement with Salvation Army projects in SPEA and South Asia is that community work is messy, with few definitive lines – and that’s okay!

Overlapping factors influence attitudes, the environment, cultures and our own perceptions. Therefore, when we are faced with the challenge of mobilising corps in their communities the first thing we need to recognise is that we are dealing with complexities.

Solutions to some issues may be straightforward, but recognising complexities and identifying subtle influencing factors important to

communities cannot be done on a one-off visit. This takes time, energy, sensitivity and commitment. It is this that puts local corps globally in a unique position, because there are opportunities for developing long-term relationships and building trust with individuals. It is these relationships, motivated by love and respect, which must underpin community programmes.

For example: I met a Salvation Army officer working in a remote part of central India. He and his family had moved into a village consisting of families settled there on a government land allocation scheme.

Out of approximately 60 families, his and one other were the only Christian

residents. Although he was from the area, knowing language and culture, his faith aroused suspicion and everyone was cautious of him.

Although a functional government primary school was built for the community, children lacked the support needed to complete their basic education.

Often, parents worked long hours elsewhere and extended family members lived far away. Over a period of three years(!) this officer built up enough trust and respect to start and self-fund an after-school support homework club for a small group of children. Parents recognised the benefits to their children’s school results and contributed their time and assistance. It grew quickly to 80 children daily, spreading to other corps.

It is a programme that is now established territory-wide.

‘It is these relationships, motivated by love and respect, which must underpin community programmes’The Programme Resources Consultancy Group

The Salvation Army’s beautiful Jeløy Resource Centre, Norway, Iceland and The Færoes Territory was the setting for the November 2016 meeting of the Programme Resources Consultancy Group (PRCG). Under the leadership of International Secretary for Programme Resources Commissioner Charles 4

Swansbury, this global group met to discuss a number of key issues relating to the international Salvation Army’s ministry through community development programmes, emergency services and mission support, including accountability, child protection, impact measurement, school assessment support, social justice, finance,

partners in mission and variations of capacity building. With representatives from all five Salvation Army zones, departments from IHQ and relevant offices, this annual forum offered input and advice from a comprehensive source of knowledge and experience.

Care and compassion Mobilising through Emergency Response

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he work of The Salvation Army’s International Emergency Services (IES) will always include engagement with communities – the nature of responding to disaster situations means that we are involved often before, during and after the emergency. Indeed, when we support our colleagues in territories around the world who find themselves in crisis, they are often already fully involved, utilising their own strengths and resources to reach out with ‘heart to God and hand to man’.

On a recent visit to Nepal, visiting some of our earthquake response locations from 2015, it was evident that Salvation Army members, both local and those deployed from other nations, had worked in cooperation with community members and partner agencies to achieve practical assistance, support and encouragement to those affected by major disaster.

Shelters and latrines, temporary learning centres, and then houses had been built to enable communities to begin to function again. Essential supplies and household items bring much-needed assistance while people begin to recover from the trauma of losing loved ones, homes, schools, livestock and livelihoods. In urban areas and remote mountain villages the name of The Salvation Army has been seen, perhaps for the first time, and the love of God has been demonstrated with practical and pastoral support through his people.

When Hurricane Matthew tore across many of the Caribbean islands leaving devastation in its wake, local Salvation Army officers and members responded with assistance from IES and supporting offices in order to bring some comfort and relief to those affected. A small international team also arrived to assist the local response efforts, as well as to assess and plan for the longer-term recovery. Essential supplies of food and water, plus hygiene materials and school support items were among the

initial relief provided. The mobilising of existing local Salvation Army Community Action Teams enabled assistance to be given in those areas that were most affected.

This included awareness raising, training and provision of materials in a cholera prevention programme.

Part of the ongoing refugee response programme in Europe includes a day centre in Athens which provides practical assistance to those who were transiting through Greece or latterly were in the process of seeking help to remain in the country. As well as practical help with food, clothing and baby supplies, translators

‘The nature of responding to disaster situations means that we are involved often before, during and after the emergency’

are available to assist with understanding relevant essential information and obtaining documentation. The local Salvation Army has been responding with care and compassion to these needs in a positive and creative way. In a storage warehouse, temporary employment opportunities have been created for migrants to sort and prepare items for distribution at the day centre and local camps. A father and son, now living in one of the camps, who have been beneficiaries of the day centre programme, now attend on a daily basis in order to volunteer to support others who are in need of assistance.

Throughout these examples and many other similar responses during times of emergency, The Salvation Army reaches out into the community offering compassionate practical support, seeking to build upon local relationships in the hope of enabling a more resilient and better prepared population for future disaster situations.

Hurricane Matthew Response Salvation Army community health workers – part of a cholera prevention programme

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3 3 Nepal Earthquake Response Right: IES team members participate in a community meeting to discuss house construction Below: The construction of 55 new homes – in partnership with community members and other agencies – is well underway

Greece Refugee Programme Right: Sorting clothes for distribution at the day centre and local refugee camps provides temporary work opportunities for migrants Below: A father and son at the day centre in Athens where they volunteer to pack items for distribution to people in need

Above: Brad Watson from IES in conversation with a local family Left: An IES team visits Khwopa camp, where temporary shelters have been constructed Below left: Damaris Frick (IES) and Betsy Baldwin (SAWSO) bring food supplies to a temporary camp Below right: tents bring temporary shelter and dignity to families who have lost their homes

Malawi Right: Elise Belcher from IHQ meets people from a drought-hit community to plan the creation of a more resilient community 6

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Ester Nelson

PROJECT MANAGER THE WHOLE WORLD MOBILISING

Let’s go forward!

The Whole World Mobilising campaign is moving forward and is truly getting people outside their corps! People are marching with flags through towns and countrysides, stirring up open-air meetings and reaching out to neighbours in creative ways. All of this while creating a dialogue where people are questioning the movement of their own corps.

We’ve received many inspirational messages, photos and videos from countries where The Salvation Army works, but there are still thousands more who have not participated. It’s the prayer of all involved in Mobilising that the disengaged will soon find the tools we’ve created to be invaluable in their daily walk with Christ.

The app is free and is built for light data use, so everyone can use it. To download, search for ‘The Whole World Mobilising’ on the App Store or Google Play or visit sar.my/twwmandroid or sar.my/twwmios.

Download The Whole World Mobilising app today and join in! Let’s go forward!

EDITOR Colonel Lisbeth Welander EDITORIAL ASSISTANCE Paul Mortlock DESIGN AND ARTWORK Berni Georges PROGRAMME RESOURCES The Salvation Army International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4EH, United Kingdom Tel: [44] (0)20 7332 0101; email: IHQ-ProgRes@salvationarmy.org FOUNDER William Booth GENERAL André Cox COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY Major Brad Halse

To subscribe to an electronic copy of Progress please email: IHQ-ProgRes@salvationarmy.org PUBLISHED BY THE GENERAL OF THE SALVATION ARMY © THE GENERAL OF THE SALVATION ARMY 2017