TEAR Correspondent - Feb 2013

TEARFUND.ORG.NZ

ISSUE / FEBRUARY 2013

FINANCIAL REVIEW PAGE 5

HOPE FOR THE LAND ENVIRONMENT + JUSTICE

PAGE 8

SHACKLED CHILD ABUSE IN INDIA PAGE 11

POVERTY IS MADE OF FLESH AND BLOOD BEING TRANSFORMED: Tata (far right) and his wife Nida, with six of their seven children

Story and picture by Alex Carter

T

here are moments in life when something moves from theory to reality. I had one of these moments in October while visiting GreenMinds, our partner in the Philippines.

I stayed in the village of the MatigsalugManobo tribe, who have been working with GreenMinds for about two years.

They are an isolated hill tribe, so the trek up the muddy paths was a challenge but when the rain started, it became nearly impossible. I ran ahead and eventually the village opened out before me. The children were waiting to greet me, and one-by-one they took my hand and placed it on their forehead – a sign of respect to their elders.

While I was there, I met the beautiful Lumbanod family and spent many hours with them while they went about their day. Life isn’t easy for a family of nine

living hand-to-mouth and their 17-yearold daughter Jenalyn, struggles to cope with a malformation in her mouth, which has disrupted her studies, and alienated her from her peers.

Despite the hardship, life has drastically improved since GreenMinds arrived. Teaching the village organic farming techniques has transformed the landscape from red, life-denying clay, into fertile, productive land. The change has been so profound that people come from other villages to learn from them!

Tata and Nida Lumbanod talked about how they felt when they first heard about GreenMinds’ arrival. Tata didn’t react much, but said, “Why (do they) want to come here, there’s nothing to be seen here.” Nida said, “It would be better if they really come, because many people say they will come but they never do.”

These are a people on the margins of society, devalued and forgotten. Our

partner is helping to restore, not only the people and the land, but also their hope.

On my last evening with the tribe, I was sitting with Mr Lumbanod, and he was crying. He was so moved that we had come to their village, and that someone was showing concern for his daughter, whom so many others had turned their backs on. Then he took my hand, and placed it on his forehead. In that moment, I saw and felt the face of poverty in a very real way. He was just like me. The realisation infiltrated my western soul, cutting through my blindness to the human face of poverty, and becoming a part of me.

Working with the poor has been the most transformative role I’ve ever had.

It’s given me the opportunity to really see people, know their names, hear their voices, and share their tears. TEAR Fund gives you the same opportunity to love the ‘least of these’ and come to

understand in a new way that poverty is not just a statistic—it’s a person, and together we can help them.

Please support TEAR Fund’s HOPE IS campaign as we work to restore hope in the lives of those who have lost it, and restore the land and livelihoods of the poor so that they can realise the dream of having enough to eat and send their children to school.

Donate to TEAR Fund’s Hope Is campaign by filling in the form on page 12, or visit tearfund.org.nz

PRAY • Pray for the lives of those on the fringes of society to be filled with hope that brings life.

• Pray for the continued restoration of the land as well as the people, according to God’s will.

PO Box 8315, Symonds St, Auckland 1150, New Zealand • enquiries@tearfund.org.nz • 0800 800 777 • tearfund.org.nz

2 | TEAR CORRESPONDENT

PRAYER FOR

HOPE IS CAMPAIGN

Hope Restored

HOPE IS: Having enough to feed your family and send your children to school. (Michael Mandanuay insprecting the peanut crop at Basak Village in Mindanao, Philippines)

By Keith Ramsay

O

ur Hope Is campaign is about restoring hope in people’s lives.

It is about taking what life is now, and helping them on the journey to what it should be; the world the way God intended it to be. We can play a part in this by supporting TEAR Fund programmes; taking the poor from where they are now and looking forward to a world in which they have enough food to eat and can afford to send their children to school. This is a humble and very common dream among the poor, and one that is achievable with your help. Easter is almost upon us and for mankind, Easter is about the cross where Jesus restored the hope of a right relationship between us and God; from a relationship that was broken to one that was the way he intended it to be. For the poor, their plight is one of broken relationship; the broken relationship between the people who have extra to give and those who have nothing to spare. By restoring

this relationship, the balance can be restored and the poor can move closer to life the way God intended it to be for all of us. God’s desire is for all of us to be fed, clothed and sheltered but he chooses to achieve this by using us to help to fulfil this. Hope Is invites you to be part of this restoration of hope for the poor, in the Philippines, Mongolia and Vanuatu.

Growing hope Our Hope Is campaign is helping the poor in the Philippines, Mongolia and Vanuatu to grow crops more effectively in order to grow their incomes.

Growing their incomes opens doors of opportunities for them and their children.

GreenMinds Philippines/Vanuatu TEAR Fund’s partner GreenMinds is working with marginalised indigenous communities in the Philippines to effectively grow crops through organic methods, and to create markets for their products. Organic growing techniques are seeing increased production of crops as depleted soils are being restored and

PICTURE / ALEX CARTER

there are no high-cost inputs such as chemical fertilisers to pay for. There are also opportunities to find niche markets which pay a higher price for quality organic produce.

Mongolia In Mongolia herders are being introduced to vegetable growing to supplement their lifestyle after livestock numbers were devastated by changing weather patterns. This is insulating them against these shocks, so they can feed their families and it gives them another stream of income.

Annual Report For those who have so generously given to TEAR Fund over the past financial year, you can see how the funds entrusted to us have been spent on page 5. We thank you for your faithfulness to the poor and needy in this world and for trusting us to put this money to work for the poor on your behalf. Your response to famine and disaster and your ongoing commitment to sponsoring children and many other aspects of our work have been heart-warming.

TEAR Fund announces new CEO I n December, TEAR Fund sadly said goodbye to Executive Director Steve Tollestrup after 17 years of service to the organisation, but we are pleased to announce Ian McInnes as the sixth person to head TEAR Fund NZ since it was founded in New Zealand in 1975.

Mr McInnes, (42), said, “I am deeply honoured to be chosen to lead TEAR Fund, a hugely respected and admired humanitarian organisation. I am passionate about extending our ministry to the poor, oppressed and disadvantaged and to encourage New Zealanders to engage with those in need.”

Most recently, McInnes was Acting International Policy and Programmes Director at World Vision New Zealand.

He has worked for TEAR Fund both here and overseas specialising in humanitarian response management,

disaster risk management and monitoring and evaluation in fragile countries. Ian’s career has seen him living and working in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Haiti, Pakistan and Samoa.

As an on-call disaster expert, Ian moves between managing international aid responses in the developing world, to overseeing and monitoring the appropriate use of funds in the developed world.

TEAR Fund Chairman of the Board, Gary Agnew said, “Ian is a visionary leader, committed Christian and is passionate about helping the poor.

The Board unanimously agreed that Ian’s unparalleled track record in aid and development work and leadership skills made him the right leader for TEAR Fund at this time of enormous opportunity”.

FATHER OF THE PROMISED HOPE, We live in a world where hope can so easily be destroyed. May our hearts always be strengthened and filled with faith in the promises you have made – promises that you will eventually restore and reconcile all things back to yourself. Where the ravages of injustice seem to have won and everything seems hopeless, strengthen your servants around the world to be beacons of your hope. In the face of injustice may their work in places like the Philippines and Mongolia sow seeds of renewal and restoration as they sow the physical seeds of sustainable agriculture and point towards a new way of living for their people.

JESUS, WHO BROUGHT HOPE IN THE VERY ESSENCE OF YOUR LIFE, DEATH AND RESURRECTION, Through you the Kingdom drew near and the physical evidence of a new hope broke forth. As we look back at the historical events of your life, may they and the continued revelation of you encourage us now and compel us towards the future.

As we support the work of TEAR Fund’s partners in the Philippines, Mongolia and Vanuatu we thank you for the hope that informs them and pray that they would know you near and present in their lives and their work. May the people they serve know something more of your reality because of what they do.

SPIRIT, WHO FILLS US WITH HOPE AMIDST OUR DESPAIR, May our hearts be filled with your encouragement and may we be people open to all the possibilities that are there to actively engage the story of reconciliation and redemption that you carry through the world. You make the world pregnant with a hope of what is to come. Make us a people faithful to that hope even when despair seems ready to win. As we seek to ask what hope is, may you be the creative energy that fills us with answers.

To you we pray as humble servants enslaved to your hope.

Ian McInnes.

AMEN.

PO Box 8315, Symonds St, Auckland 1150, New Zealand • enquiries@tearfund.org.nz • 0800 800 777 • tearfund.org.nz

3

LETTERS: HAVE YOUR SAY!

T

he Letters to the Editor section is where our readers can have their say. We love to hear from you through this channel. The Correspondent with its in-depth look into the complex issues which create poverty, is bound to invite questions and comments. Some articles may at times even create disagreement. You can even comment on our cartoons drawn by the talented, Daniel Alexander. We want a robust Letters to the Editor section in the Correspondent, which will include your thoughts and our response. We are all on a journey together, learning and growing, and we do not want to shy away from sharpening one another.

Our prayer is simply that as we do so, even in our disagreements, we would remain united in our desire to live out the values of God’s Kingdom in ministry to the poor, oppressed and disadvantaged.

Technical details: All letters

should be less than 250 words and have full-contact details. Letters may be edited or abridged. All correspondence can be sent to PO Box 8315, Symonds St, Auckland 1150, addressed to the Editor of the Correspondent or emailed directly to us at: enquiries@tearfund.org.nz

RIDDLE ME THIS

By Melissa Gallagher

A hen, a pop-up opshop, a Santa parade and a little volunteer – what on earth could these things have in common?

T

his riddle speaks of the creative ways in which passionate TEAR Fund supporters have gone the extra mile to fundraise for the Gift for Life Christmas appeal. Let me introduce you to a few everyday Kiwis who went the extra mile to fight against poverty in their own way.

Christchurch’s youngest anti-poverty campaigner, Callum Robertson, was inspired to fundraise for TEAR Fund’s Gift for Life cards when his mum read him the story, One Hen. The Addington School student saved his pocket money and raised money door-knocking, so that poverty-stricken families might benefit from the much-needed Gift for Life items.

He went on to speak in front of his school and meet with school leaders to organise

a mufti-day which raised a further $201, allowing them to buy two calves from the Gift for Life catalogue.

Then there’s Hastings resident Claudine Cooper. Her love for the poor drove her to open a ‘pop up’ op-shop store. Claudine and her family spent a long time collecting items to fill the store with second-hand treasures. Their hard work paid off when they were able to buy $2,000 worth of Gift for Life items with the proceeds.

Next up we heard about Bucklands Beach Intermediate, where teachers challenged their students to learn about a charity of their choice. Students Laura Liu and Nairika B, invited Sue Braithwaite-Smith, a Relationship Manager at TEAR Fund, to speak at their assembly. After finding out a bit about what goes on behind the scenes, namely where the funds come from and where they go, the girls raised $110 from selling lollies at their local Santa Parade.

Following that, we had eight-yearold supporter Nathan Feyter, so taken with the Gift for Life concept, that he volunteered for an afternoon in our office to package and post them. Buying the items himself was not going to cut it – he

LITTLE HELPER: Nathan Feyter helps send out Gift for Life orders. wanted in on the action!

Finally, our faithful advocate Ruth Bell sold more than $700 worth of Gift for Life items. Her passion was clearly contagious judging by the overwhelming response she received in the space of only two weeks!

BOOK REVIEW: God in a Brothel

By Gavin McCulloch

G

od in a Brothel is the story of New Zealand undercover investigator Daniel Walker, his journey and his experiences infiltrating the multibillion dollar global sex industry all over the world.

Daniel describes his amazing experiences with heart-stopping detail,

while protecting the identity of those involved. At times, you feel like you’re reading a Robert Ludlum Bourne novel, and yet the heart-breaking reality of the journey brings the realisation that these are real stories involving real victims.

The truth of Daniel’s experiences is that this is not a work of fiction; God in a Brothel is one man’s account of his time in the world of sex trafficking and his gut-

wrenching fight to free victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.

God in a Brothel is an essential text if you wish to understand the global sex trafficking industry, but should be read with caution. It’s an easy-to-read book, but it’s definitely not easy reading. In the words of William Wilberforce: “You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know.”

PICTURE / HELEN MANSON

Getting involved in a greater cause is not out of your reach. Whether it’s by giving your loved ones a different type of present for Christmas, Easter or Mother’s Day or by finding creative ways to get the word out, we believe that you can do your bit!

God in a Brothel author, Daniel Walker, is touring with TEAR Fund.

Hear his amazing story in March - April. See pg 10 for details.

PO Box 8315, Symonds St, Auckland 1150, New Zealand • enquiries@tearfund.org.nz • 0800 800 777 • tearfund.org.nz

4 | TEAR CORRESPONDENT

FUTURE HOPE: The income from potatoes will help Erdenebat return to traditional herding.

PICTURE / SUPPLIED

HERDSMEN HOPE TO RETURN TO TRADITION

By Keith Ramsay

M

ongolian winters are unforgiving. The bitter cold kills all plant life and has been responsible for the loss of over 80% of the country’s livestock, the major source of livelihood for the traditional herders. Changing weather patterns have often seen harsh winters followed by severe drought. TEAR Fund has been working with its partner Family Agricultural Resources Mongolia

(FARM) to bring hope to those herders who had lost almost everything, by teaching them to grow vegetables in the warmer months.

They work as a cooperative and sell the surplus vegetables at the market, use what they need and store vegetables in underground cellars to help feed their families during the harsh winters. However, the aim is not to turn them into vegetable farmers, destroying their traditional way of life. It is to make their lifestyles more

sustainable as they face the challenges of changing weather patterns. TEAR Fund’s desire is to restore hope for the future that once they have enough money, they can rebuild their herds and return to their traditional lifestyle, but when things get tough, they have another source of income to sustain them.

During the harsh winter of 2010, Erdenebat lost all of his livestock, which was his family’s primary source of food and income. Erdenebat has a

wife and three children to support.

“Life was very difficult because we had so little income. I never want to depend on others, so I simply have tried my best to feed my family.” For three years, Erdenebat has been a member of the agricultural cooperative programme.

“When I just started in this project, I didn’t have any experience or knowledge about growing vegetables.

This was a great opportunity that I would not get again. The project is very helpful for our food security during the cold and long winter and spring time.”

Erdenebat says in the beginning it didn’t matter to him that FARM NGO was a Christian organisation as long he could participate in their activities without any problems. “One day, a guy who introduced himself as Christian gave me a Bible. When I opened it, there was nothing in it that was of interest to me,” he says.

“I am a smoker, and one day I ran out of cigarette paper, so I thought I would use the pages from the Bible.

When our project leader Turkhuu saw me doing this, he shared about God and since that day, I have gradually begun to understand more about Jesus Christ and reading the Bible. In our village there is no Church, but I believe we will soon have one in our village.”

Like many others in the project, Erdenebat is grateful for the help he has received from TEAR Fund supporters. To restore hope to the herdsmen of Mongolia, please donate by filling in the form on page 12.

PRAY • Pray that traditional herdsmen in Mongolia would recognise the strength of growing vegetables as a way to generate sustainable incomes.

• Pray for the generosity of Kiwis so that we can continue to strengthen the work of FARM in Mongolia.

KIWI HELPS MONGOLIANS GROW

By Keith Ramsay

C

hristchurch’s Marlon Stufkens visited TEAR Fund’s project which is teaching Mongolian herders to adapt after unusually harsh winters wiped out the majority of 8000 herders livestock. Marlon, a horticulturalist and entomologist, went to the project to offer technical assistance to the herders and participants who may never have grown anything in their lives.

This programme is not designed to change their traditional herding lifestyle but about giving them a life-line in order to return to being herders again through diversification. It is about improving their lifestyle, diet and incomes as well.

Eating vegetables, let alone growing them, was not part of the Mongolian herders’ culture. In fact, the Lonely Planet Guide says “Mongolia is hell for vegetarians. It also says “the vast majority of Mongolians eat little more than greasy boiled mutton, lots of fat, milk products (salty milky tea, dried milk curds, fermented mares milk) and flour.

Their diet consists of mutton, with the prized parts being the internal organs and the fattiest portions. However, with the influx of tourism in the country and other factors, markets are emerging for vegetables. Part of Marlon’s mission was not only to teach the families how to effectively grow vegetable crops but to teach them how to prepare, cook and get them used to the taste of the different vegetables. For instance, he says, they grew radishes which they hated, but that was because they did not pick them when they were small, red and sweet.

They let them grow until they were large and had a bitter taste. Marlon, alongside TEAR Fund’s partner FARM, held a cooking course for the families involved in the project to teach them how to prepare a variety of vegetables so they can incorporate more vegetables into their diet.

HOPE FOR SUCCESS Marlon says the biggest sustainable factor in this project is that communities are working together for a common purpose. Marlon was involved in a similar scheme with another organisation

where individuals were taught how to grow vegetables but most failed because there was nobody there to motivate them after the project was over. With this project, families sign a contract to work their plots of land in the cooperative and if they don’t work the land, the plot is given HELPING HANDS: Marlon checks the PICTURE / SUPPLIED to another family. health of the crops in Mongolia.

Families have to disadvantage of having an extremely prepare the ground, plant the seed, store short growing season of up to 60 days food for the winter, and sell some of their at temperatures ranging from minus produce which they can use to buy more 50ºC to plus 40ºC. Sometimes they livestock to build up their herds or cover harvest too early to get the best price or any other expenses. They are all given by leaving plants in the ground too long the necessary hand tools to work the and the cold can come very fast and ruin land. However, they must save potatoes them. They have to store their crops in to plant for the following season. underground root cellars to stop them As most of them have not grown from freezing. This allows them a food anything before, Marlon says it has been source over winter and protects their a big job to educate them on when a crop seed crops. is ready to pick. They have the added

PO Box 8315, Symonds St, Auckland 1150, New Zealand • enquiries@tearfund.org.nz • 0800 800 777 • tearfund.org.nz

5 Income & Expenditure

2012

2011

10,706,305

10,060,835

Income Private Donations - Designated NZAID - Development Grants

1,059,064

509,208

Private Donations - Undesignated

219,947

421,156

Other Income - Interest and Events

279,196

293,118

12,264,512

11,284,317

9,290,952

8,806,422

TOTAL INCOME Expenditure Program Expenditure Education and Advocacy

349,070

178,265

9,640,022

8,984,687

Marketing and Promotion

1,125,633

1,303,195

Administration

1,658,237

1,495,131

2,783,870

2,798,326

(159,380)

(498,696)

General Reserves

590,206

709,686

Designated Funds

3,382,920

3,422,821

TOTAL

3,973,126

4,132,507

Current Assets

5,865,830

6,051,534

Less: Current Liabilities

2,169,601

2,110,882

Net Current Assets

3,696,229

3,940,652

276,897

191,855

3,973,126

4,132,507

Surplus (Deficit) of Income less Expenditure STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION Funds

FINANCIAL REVIEW Jon Horne (TEAR Fund-Executive)

G

oogle “2012” and you’ll probably get some weird references to the end of the world. While the world certainly didn’t end, certainty is not a word anyone uses freely when talking about the world economically or physically. TEAR Fund responded to a number of international disasters this year; the largest of these being the continuing food shortages as a result of extreme weather conditions in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. Thanks to your fantastic response, we raised more than $1.2 million dollars on behalf of our field partners, helping to demonstrate the love and compassion of Christ to those in such desperate need. Overall, our income for the 2012 year increased by $980k or

Child Sponsorship

Com Dev

Bangladesh

200,000

Cambodia

96,666

Child Sponsorship Ethiopia India

9%, with disaster response grants from the government contributing to this increase by $550k. While government funding this year still remains less than that of three years ago ($2.65m) we continue to improve the amount secured through both development and disasterrelief grants. As TEAR Fund’s income increases, we see improvement in our programme expenditure percentage this year being 78%, administration 13% and marketing and engagement 9%. We would like to thank our supporters who continue to walk this journey with us, endeavouring to make a real difference, and transforming lives. Finally, we give thanks that even in this uncertain world we can always be assured of the love of Christ for all in this world, including the poor, oppressed and disadvantaged.

Disaster Relief

Peace & Reconciliation

4,538

Grand Total 204,538 96,666

5,235,717

5,235,717 50,707

50,707

637,850

637,850

Indonesia

37,492

37,492

Kurdistan

48,123

48,123

Laos

40,161

40,161

Malawi

26,164

26,164

Mongolia

74,604

74,604

117,671

117,671

Nepal New Zealand Niger Pacific Islands

84,495 8,455

512,775

76,762

Pakistan Philippines

84,495 504,320

76,762 2,255

2,255

184,838

184,838

Rwanda

88,000

88,000

Somaliland

150,000

150,000

South Africa

61,166

61,166

Sri Lanka

760,855

Sudan Uganda GRAND TOTAL

200,000

22,916

783,771

26,002

226,002

184,510 5,235,717 2,840,519

184,510 711,113

136,918

8,924,267

Represented by:

Fixed Assets Total Net Assets DONATION INCOME BY CATEGORY Private Donations Designated

87%

NZAID - Development Grants

9%

Private Donations Undesignated

2%

Other Income - Interest and Events

2%

9%

2% 2%

87%

WHAT WAS THE MONEY SPENT ON? 2012

13.3%

2011

Programme Expenditure including Education and Advocacy

77.6% 76.3%

Marketing and Promotion

9.1%

Administration

13.3% 12.7%

11.1%

9.1%

77.6%

Chairman’s Report Gary Agnew - TEAR Fund Chairman

W

ith the close of 2012, we say farewell to Steve Tollestrup after 17 years.

During Steve’s tenure, TEAR Fund has developed into a significant NGO and a strong advocate for the poor and marginalised, with extensive national and international relationships and networks. We acknowledge and thank Steve for his dedication, vision, conviction of purpose and for all he invested into TEAR Fund.

The Board has appointed a new Executive Director, Ian McInnes. Ian is internationally recognised for his years of aid and development experience in a variety of countries and agencies, and we look forward to a new chapter in the life of TEAR Fund under Ian’s leadership.

Recently, the Board had the privilege of visiting TEAR Fund projects in Sri Lanka. The projects target communities recovering from the atrocious Sri

Lankan civil war. The visit had a significant impact on us, both in seeing the despair and suffering created by the war and in seeing the success of the projects in rebuilding communities and helping to bring about reconciliation.

We returned to New Zealand with renewed confidence of the tremendous difference TEAR Fund is making.

The Board is aware that the success of the work of TEAR Fund is due to the dedicated support of our donors, churches, advocates, volunteers, and our international partners. We wholeheartedly thank you for your contribution and the impact that you continue to make.

We would also like to thank the team at TEAR Fund. I thank God for his calling, direction and blessing on the organisation and the impact it is having in the world. I look forward to the year ahead with anticipation of new things to come and new ways in which we can help and serve the poor and oppressed.

PO Box 8315, Symonds St, Auckland 1150, New Zealand • enquiries@tearfund.org.nz • 0800 800 777 • tearfund.org.nz

6 | TEAR CORRESPONDENT

THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT FOR VANUATU

By Keith Ramsay

A

TEAR Fund partner in the Philippines has lent its expertise to TEAR Fund’s partner in Vanuatu in what can truly be called a beneficial Asia-Pacific partnership.

GreenMinds Inc has been mentoring small producers, mostly from among vulnerable Indigenous People (IP) communities in Northern Mindanao of the Philippines, on organic growing techniques to increase their yields, produce quality crops, lower input costs and reduce the impact on the environment. TEAR Fund saw the value of this approach for participants in its Vanuatu project, and requested GreenMinds to offer its technical expertise to Nasi Tuan, a local NGO in Vanuatu working among indigenous communities on Tanna Island.

Lack of clean water and crop growing skills were among the barriers village locals faced in accessing markets outside of their villages in order to raise family

incomes. A lack of income means a lack of opportunity for village children. It means poor nutrition, no schooling and risks to health. Through Nasi Tuan, water tanks were installed for easy access to clean drinking water and water for their crops.

Water scarcity also meant that coffee growers could not wash their beans well, and that meant a poorer price for their coffee. As coffee is the main cash crop, Nasi Tuan has focused its efforts on training key farmers on appropriate coffee husbandry techniques. These include processing to ensure high-quality beans are produced to command a better price. In the Philippines, GreenMinds has taught small growers organic-based techniques that can still guarantee plentiful harvests and a top price for their produce. For instance, one group now sells their organically produced nuts to top hotel chains in the Philippines for a premium price.

Coffee growers form farmers’ associations to sell in bulk to outside markets. They don’t rely only on coffee,

ACCELERATED GROWTH: Demonstration plots are showing villagers better ways to grow traditional crops such as taro. but sell other products such as chickens, pigs, goats and vegetables. This means that community needs can eventually be funded by these associations.

Nasi Tuan has invested in solar food dryers to process chips, dry fruits and vegetables for the tourist market. The equipment is used to dry foods in case of disasters, so they will be able to feed themselves. In addition, a taro growing trial using organic composting and pesticide control is showing superior

PICTURE / SUPPLIED

growth to taro grown in traditional ways.

With increased production, growers can supply bigger markets as well as adequately feed themselves.

PRAY • For the strengthening of collaboration across TEAR Fund partners • Pray for the continued growth of our partner in Vanuatu, Nasi Tuan.

Improving mproving lives and livelihoods For Andrew Finlay, a short-term mission trip in 2004 has grown into the creation of a grassroots NGO working among some of the poorest people on Tanna Island in Vanuatu.

By Keith Ramsay

T

he Auckland-based graphic artist had a vision to see the island inhabitants improve their lives and livelihoods; to grow beyond subsistence farmers so that they can afford basic necessities and send their children to school. Andrew says, sending their children to school is a big dream for parents on Tanna. While the local primary school is free there are still costs for things such as school stationery. With an average income of just $40 a month, schooling beyond primary level becomes very expensive.

Andrew was instrumental in helping set up Nasi Tuan, an NGO run by local people and supported by TEAR Fund.

Andrew was determined that the local people should own the organisation and the projects, and the office of Nasi Tuan is not in Port Vila; it is located in a village in the interior of the island and is run by local staff. Andrew and his wife Maxine lived among the villagers for 18 months and shared the struggles of daily life and experienced two hurricanes that struck the island while they were there.

He says life there is very much hand-tomouth but there are many improvements that can be made with a bit of education and a little capital.

Andrew sees his role as helping the organisation make the right funding connections in New Zealand. He acts as a consultant and makes sure there is good accountability and that the

projects achieve their purpose on time and within the budget. He says one of the biggest challenges of working in Vanuatu is the lack of conveniences like good infrastructure which means that even simple things take longer to achieve.

The connection with TEAR Fund has seen the growth accelerated. When the couple went to live on Tanna the budget was modest for what they wanted the organisation to achieve. With the support of TEAR Fund and churches in New Zealand, what would have taken 10 years to achieve can now be done in two-three years, he says. The additional training and mentoring from another of TEAR Fund’s partners in the Philippines, GreenMinds inc, has also made a big impact, says Andrew. “GreenMinds was a good fit for Nasi Tuan because they are working with indigenous subsistence farmers in tropical climates to improve their livelihoods. The trouble with many horticultural consultants from New Zealand is that they are not familiar with the climate or low-input subsistence horticultural farming techniques. They are more used to largescale horticulture.” The primary aims of all the projects are to lift incomes through increased production and growing higher quality produce for the burgeoning tourist market. Small farmer co-operatives are being established to share knowledge and supply these growing markets. Nasi Tuan is also looking at adding value to the produce where possible. For instance, villagers

are experimenting with drying fruit. As fruit comes at once, some of it simply rots on the ground. This coming season they will use solar-powered dryers to dry excess fruit to sell in Port Vila or maybe beyond, says Andrew. Dried manioc could also be a potential source of food during disasters.

“We lived through two hurricanes while staying here, and emergency food supplies took several weeks to get to the villages, and when they arrived, the quantities were insufficient.”

PICTURE / SUPPLIED Produce such as flour made from dried manioc could AT HOME: Andrew Finlay is one who walks the walk. provide a stopgap measure Following a combination of training until emergency supplies arrive. through Nasi Tuan and GreenMinds, Coffee growing on Tanna is the main local farmers have been introduced to cash crop but the potential of the crops a season-long regime of pruning aimed have not been fully realised and supply at eventually doubling the production can be difficult, says Andrew. “As land of trees. There are also other crop and availability is an issue, we want to see chicken raising initiatives. Nasi Tuan farmers get the highest price and the best has a revolving credit fund which can be production out of their trees. If grown used to buy chicken feed to grow chickens and processed to a high standard, coffee quicker. “Villagers can get up to $10 for grown on Tanna has a good niche market a fat rooster, and they can include more among tourists as a boutique product chicken in their diets”, says Andrew. and exports of green bean are a growing Demonstration plots are teaching source of income.” villagers how they can improve quality Access to water to process coffee after and production, building on traditional harvest has been a barrier to getting high methods of growing. Everything grown is quality coffee, which has meant poorer organic and protecting the environment prices, but since Nasi Tuan has been is integral to each project. operating, they have installed 16 rainfed tanks to provide water to villages and more are planned. Another issue has been poor husbandry of coffee plants.

Generally, villagers only pay attention • Nuan Nipikin - Sustainable Communities to the trees nearing harvest. That was http://youtu.be/TMCFRyapp84 when they pruned and mulched the trees.

LEARN

PO Box 8315, Symonds St, Auckland 1150, New Zealand • enquiries@tearfund.org.nz • 0800 800 777 • tearfund.org.nz

7

CHOOSE LIFE MAKING A DIFFERENCE Story and picture by Beth Harper

I

n October 2012, I had the pleasure of visiting one of the projects of our Choose Life Summer campaign. This was a Compassion, Child Survival Programme in Sebeta Ethiopia, assisting vulnerable mothers and their infants.

Sebeta is a town with a population of 50,000 and is south of Addis Abiba. The project is run out of the local church like all Child Survival Projects (CSP). There are no visible signs announcing TEAR Fund or Compassion’s support of this project.

This surprised some locals we met, who marvelled at TEAR Fund’s imperceptible foot print.

At the project, we met the 37 mothers and their adorable infants, some now toddling on unsteady legs.

It was an incredible pleasure to be able to recognise one of the mums who featured in the Choose Life literature;

Tesfanesh Wolde.

At the project, the mothers receive encouraging fellowship with other mums who face similar struggles, and gain immeasurable strength.

They also receive vital life-saving knowledge equipping them to care for themselves and their children, such as; hygiene, nutrition and medical care.

In the CSP, there are three sets of twins and one set of triplets! Many of these mums are raising their babies in absolute poverty, some having eked out a living from begging. This was the case for Tesfanesh Wolde, the blind mother of four. When we visited her home, we were overwhelmed at the struggles she faces and her courage. She lives in a two-room mud home with her husband, who is also blind; they have four sighted children! She asked us to pray for her because her husband is drinking and becomes violent, especially with her nine-year-old son.

Mekbles has twins who are two years old. She shares that, “life is extremely challenging but it is bearable because I am learning so much about healthy food and how to keep clean.”

Mekbles is part of an i ncomegeneration project which is teaching her about saving and starting a small business. “I am so grateful to the church and Compassion for all I am learning”, says Mekbles.

My travelling partner in Ethiopia, Sarah, has applied to sponsor Tesfanesh’s eldest son so that he could also attend the church school linked to the project. God reaches the poor as always, but he uses us in the process.

Sarah Deane with Tesfanesh’s eldest son Alazar.

PUDDING YOUR BEST FOOD FORWARD Story and picture by Keith Ramsay

W

ith the proliferation of reality cooking and baking shows on TV over the past year, TEAR Fund staff decided to have a bit of fun and stage its own Bake-Off competition.

Staff prepared a wide variety of baked delights from dark chocolate brownie to Baileys Irish Cream bread and butter pudding. The judges had the enviable

Baileys Bread and Butter Pudding Grease a baking dish with butter. Butter 5-6 pieces of bread, cut off crusts and cut each slice into 4 triangles. Lay in formation in the dish. Sprinkle with a good amount of golden sultanas.

Mix: 2 cups cream 1 cup of Baileys (or similar) ½ cup milk 1/3 cup of castor sugar ½ pod of vanilla seeds or vanilla essence (don’t use the imitation, use the real stuff)

task of tasting and rating the delights presented to them. It was a close competition, but when the score cards were in, the bread and butter pudding won the judges over. Traditionally a stodgy pudding, it was the fluffy, light texture of this pudding with its hint of Baileys that had the judges oohing and ahhing. Below is Sue BraithwaiteSmith’s award-winning recipe.

Bring this slowly to the boil stirring constantly Whisk 4 large eggs in a large bowl When the cream mixture is just about to boil, slowly pour over the whisked eggs, whisking all the time. Pour this mixture onto the bread and sultanas. Grate about ½ a teaspoon of nutmeg over the mixture, then sprinkle with castor sugar (this crisps the top) Fan bake on 140 degrees in a bain-marie (put the baking dish into an oven dish, then pour boiling water half-way up the sides) then bake for 45 minutes or until cooked.

Enjoy!

PO Box 8315, Symonds St, Auckland 1150, New Zealand • enquiries@tearfund.org.nz • 0800 800 777 • tearfund.org.nz

8 | TEAR CORRESPONDENT our behaviour to reflect what we want our presence in those relationships to embody. It is the most life-affirming choice to reclaim every moment every day, every choice as a step toward healing. See the sidebar for ideas.

Contact the NZ Christian conservation network A Rocha. www.arocha.org.nz

PRAY • Holy God, continually remind us that your creation is a gift and enable us to treat it as such.

• Pray for the resilience and creativity of those affected by environmental changes due to global abuse of the planet.

• Pray for increased responsibility amongst those who have the power to change our use of the environment so more sustainable ways of living can emerge globally.

LIVING WITHIN THE LIMITS

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

ECO-JUSTICE: Our environmentally damaging actions can have an impact of those in low-income nations.

PICTURE / iSTOCK

‘What a wildly wonderful world, God! All the creatures look expectantly to you to give them their meals on time. You come, and they gather around; you open your hand and they eat from it...The glory of God — let it last forever! Let God enjoy his creation!’ (Psalm 104:27–28, 31 The Message)

By Murray Sheard

T

here is an ancient and wise ecology at work in the world that the psalmist knew. Yet we have a problem! Growing indicators point to a global crisis if we follow business as usual. About 30% of the world’s surviving forests are seriously fragmented and we lose over 120,000sq km a year. Wetlands have been reduced by 50% over the last century. One recent consequence to emerge is the increase of CO2 in the oceans, leading to a build-up of carbonic acid. This forms a threat to plankton – the foundation of the entire marine web of life. I saw a bumper sticker recently that said it all: “At least the war on the environment is going well”.

Choices and Consequences These problems have global and local consequences. In Mongolia, TEAR Fund’s partner, Family Agricultural Resources Mongolia (F.A.R.M) reports that finding a sustainable income, strengthening the community and a deep connection with land are important priorities for the people. Now, drought and climate change threaten the sustainability of their income. In the Philippines, partners implementing our Sustainable Ecological and Economic Development (S.E.E.D) project find the attachment to land is no less. They naturally use organic farming methods, but face an added threat of political interference in their land title.

Ecological questions are increasingly being seen as issues of justice since those who play little part in causing the problem and exercise little decision-making at the global level, bear the heaviest burdens through

irresponsibility of wealthier nations.

Fred Pearce, writing in the Guardian says, “My prize for the most shameless two fingers to the global community goes to New Zealand.” UN statistics show our emissions of greenhouse gases are up by 22%.

We forget that we do not pay the costs of our actions – poorer people overseas and future generations do.

It is a fundamental injustice. Yet the consequences will rebound on us too: no issue of politics, economics or public policy will be unaffected by the crisis of resources, population, climate change and extinction. Sustainability is now about the terms and conditions of our survival.

What is the challenge for us to stand

enhancing the possibility of sustainable livelihoods for the world’s poor?

First, we witness the goodness of creation. After every stage, God looked at what had been made and saw that it was good. All this is said before humanity comes on the scene. The world is good and in God’s eyes it has value independently of its value to us.

Second, we are creatures – part of creation. This suggests a proper humility and wonder. We are dependent on God’s provision of the turning of the world, the movement of the tides, the drawing of the moon. The Christian tradition is theo-centric. It holds that God — not ourselves — is in control and is the source of all value.

Third, we are created in God’s

We forget that we do not pay the costs of our actions – poorer people overseas and future generations do. in solidarity with these people and not to contribute to global environmental problems and the pressure they put on local development?

The Environment: A Spiritual Issue Eco-justice questions are also spiritual and moral questions. Regardless of how far earth’s illness may have progressed, we need to ask: Do we live in ways that serve each other and all of life on God’s good earth? Christian practice has been roundly attacked for playing a role in environmental destruction and some of this criticism is justified.

Even now, many do not see that to cause such destruction to the creation is a theological betrayal.

But how does our faith point us toward living in harmony with the earth and

likeness. If you want to see ecology at the heart of Christian doctrine, look no further than the Trinity – an interplay of mutual relationships of loving exchange.

As God is relational, we are made in relationships to others and the earth.

There is nothing like nature to remind us that we are located within a network of relations and interconnections in which we are very far from the whole story.

In the light of this, what is our response to the environmental crises that are threatening the efforts at survival and peace among our brothers and sisters in other lands? God’s invitation is to examine our lives and live in ways that are conscious of those relationships, and our effect on them. It is to see the reality of interconnectedness and align

OUR RESPONSE In solidarity with those struggling with changes to their land overseas, what does it mean for us to become a socially just, environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling human presence on the planet God has gifted to us?

RE-AWAKEN TO A LOVE OF THE WORLD. Our throw-away consciousness is a symptom of how we have lost connection to the sacred. One of the central ways to love God is to love creation. We protect and we fight for what we love.

LIVE WITHIN LIMITS. Without recognising dependence on ecology, any economic system will be an unmitigated disaster in the long run.

When you throw something away, think: Where is “away”.

MAKE EVERYDAY DECISIONS. That align with eco-justice. Consider the flights you take, the source of the food you eat, and which brands you buy will ensure small scale producers overseas get a fair deal.

SEE THINGS WHOLE. Notice how people and societies affect each other and natural systems – and how they must do so sustainably if they are to survive and thrive.

HERE IS THE CHALLENGE. If you had to walk among these lands and saw the effect of changing climate, could you continue to live in the environmentally destructive ways that cause it?

ENGAGE YOUR CHURCH. When the church was slow on the uptake, environmentalists emphasized legal, juridical and technological approaches to the environment. But every successful social movement has to have a spiritual heart if it is to have mass appeal.

LEAD REPENTANCE. Personal and collective repentance leading to a radical change of heart and lifestyle was crucial to so many of the encounters people had with Jesus.

Churches and their leaders have an amazing opportunity to lead a national and international repentance for ignoring the consequences of the way we have walked over the land.

PO Box 8315, Symonds St, Auckland 1150, New Zealand • enquiries@tearfund.org.nz • 0800 800 777 • tearfund.org.nz

9

PARACHUTE PANDEMONIUM

PICTURES / HELEN MANSON

By Melissa Gallagher

S

uperheroes wanted! Parachute Festival last month saw myriads of brave young souls reporting for duty at the TEAR Fund tent.

Hundreds of passers-by were inspired to become modern-day superheroes as they engaged with the display.

Once tattooed with the TEAR Fund symbol, they were led to TEAR Fund’s headquarters where they were given their special mission. Then they were thrust into a world full of heroes and villains. The ‘goodies’ comprised of four everyday Kiwis who are gaining significant ground in the fight against

poverty. Walking through their stories gave people the opportunity to consider how an ordinary young lady, a family, a business and a church could all make a difference. The villains; hunger, disease, illiteracy and hopelessness, were depicted as your typical antagonistic cartoon characters, armed with big weapons and malevolent smiles. Those who decided to sponsor a child had to rescue them through a physical web of poverty. Those who responded to the challenge and sponsored a child were photographed holding a photo of their chosen child and celebrated on our wall of heroes.

The story of 17-year-old Hannah

Ireland, one of our favourite heroes, presented an especially stirring challenge. This young South Auckland resident supports her six sponsor children by working part-time at Countdown. She started sponsoring her first child at the age of 11 and has just kept going.

TEAR Fund’s brand-new $20 monthly pledge programme, justCAUSE, was also launched in the midst of all the action. This exciting initiative empowers those who want to change the world to take the first step along that journey.

Now passionate young men and women can be a part of what’s going on in the field by becoming regular givers to

community development and disaster relief projects.

PRAY • Give thanks for the children that were sponsored at Parachute.

• Pray for those at the festival who began the journey of thinking about how their lives could be used to impact the world and serve God’s story of justice. Pray that they would see a way to do that.

• Pray for continued growth of our ‘justCAUSE’ programme launched at the festival.

BIBLICAL SNAPSHOT PSALM 10:17

By Frank Ritchie

P

salm 10 gives us a heartwrenching, very honest and brutal examination of injustice and the desire for God to act. It links with Psalm 9 as an acrostic poem; together they work their way through the Hebrew alphabet. Many view them together as one Psalm and while this is most probably the case, Psalm 10 also sits well on its own.

Psalm 10 begins with the honest question of a troubled person – “Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” The despair is palpable and the writer lays that despair squarely at the feet of God where hopelessness seems to reign.

The next section of the Psalm, up to verse 11, describes the unjust life of a wicked man, causing oppression and

injustice towards others – the weak.

The wicked man could be one person, another nation or a system – anyway one chooses to look at it, what’s clear is that some were prospering by acting unjustly, while others were being crushed because of unjust acts. There seems to be no hope.

Verse 12-15 gives a heartfelt cry to God for justice – in contrast to the opening question it recognises Him as close to the cause of the afflicted, listening to them and helping them. Verse 16-18, ending the prayer, is a declaration of who God is in the face of the injustice committed against the weak, the afflicted and the hopeless.

Verse 17, whichever translation one uses, shows that the helpless can have hope in the face of injustice. It is a hope that comes from God for he hears them even when the odds seem stacked against

them and as if those who perpetrate injustice are getting away with it and prospering. It is God who will have the final word and it is through God that we can have hope in the true justice to be found in him.

As we look towards the hope of the complete justice God has promised we have the ability to provide hope now. God has built his body on earth to bring hope.

We bring hope through word and action – through the story of good news and through the actions that demonstrate it.

Through our partners, TEAR Fund is doing just that – helping to bring hope in the face of what may seem hopeless.

Where poverty and injustice are rife, we are saying hope is available in very real ways. In Vanuatu, Mongolia and the Philippines, with your support of our Hope Is campaign we’re helping to bring visible hope.

PO Box 8315, Symonds St, Auckland 1150, New Zealand • enquiries@tearfund.org.nz • 0800 800 777 • tearfund.org.nz

10 | TEAR CORRESPONDENT What gives you hope?

Hope is powerful. 1 Peter 1:3 says that “in great mercy God gives us new birth into a living hope…”

Hope is essential. That’s why we do the work we do: “So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth” (Job 5:16).

Without hope there can be no courage.

But a seed of hope can give birth to love.

Get interactive! Join us and thousands of others. Cut out the

HOPE IS

box below, personally finish the sentence “Hope is ….”, hold it up and get your friend to snap you.

THEN… Post the picture on our Facebook page – and on yours! Post

it on Twitter with the tag #hopeis For TEAR Fund’s partners in The Philippines, Mongolia, Vanuatu, hope looks like building a sustainable income, strengthening the community and

keeping their deep connection with the land. They do it tough. But hope helps us bounce back, transcend the difficulties of today and envision tomorrow.

Hope perches in the soul. It sings a tune without words. Join us so the song goes on.

We look forward to seeing how creative TEAR FUND Correspondent readers really are!

So… What gives you hope?

HOPE IS AN EXCITING ARRAY OF EVENTS COMING YOUR WAY! March-April 2013 Daniel

Walker, author of “God in a Brothel”:

Daniel spent four years working undercover in more than a dozen countries documenting cases of human trafficking. His efforts have resulted in the rescue of hundreds of women and children as well as the successful prosecution of many traffickers. Join Daniel as he uncovers the plight of modern-day human trafficking and what we can do to combat this evil.

Event in: Auckland

April 3 – 21 Beautiful

Survivor Tour featuring Juliagrace & Lillian Nakabiri:

Juliagrace and former child sponsor Lillian Nakabiri from Uganda. The tour serves as a powerful reminder of God’s love and faithfulness to us and reaffirms what can happen when we demonstrate the kind of compassion God has demonstrated to each of us.

Touring: Auckland, Waikato, Bay Of Plenty, Rotorua and Taupo

May 12 – 24 Peter Shirley Julia Grace

PICTURE / SUPPLIED

The Beautiful Survivor tour features award winning Christian artist

Peter is a consummate musician and a singer songwriter with many albums to his credit. Peter is well-known and loved in New Zealand, especially for his

violin playing. He has toured here many times to the delight of his audiences and is also passionate about evangelism and world mission. He spent 15 years in high school and university evangelism and has been an artist advocate for Compassion’s ministry since 1992. Peter travels each year to South East Asia and the sub-continent, with Compassion.

Through concert and church events, he has linked over 1,500 needy children to sponsors in Australiasia and beyond.

Touring: Auckland and the South Island For details on all events see our website: tearfund.org.nz

PO Box 8315, Symonds St, Auckland 1150, New Zealand • enquiries@tearfund.org.nz • 0800 800 777 • tearfund.org.nz

11

SHACKLED

FREE: Sponsorship has freed Tapan to reach his potential.

Story and picture by Provashish Dutta

T

here is a deep-rooted belief that there is no child abuse in India.

However, traditional practices accepted across the country, knowingly or un-knowingly amount to child abuse.

India is home to almost 19% of the world’s children. The growing complexities of life and the dramatic changes brought about by socio-economic transitions in India have played a major role in increasing the vulnerability of children to various forms of abuse.

With its multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious population, the problems of socially marginalized and economically struggling groups are immense; the most vulnerable are always the children. Though India has taken strides to address issues such as child education, health and development; child protection is one area that has still remained largely unaddressed.

There are many forms of child abuse, and they vary according to cultural and geographical settings. A common problem is child labour.

India, with its rising population, has a high rate of child labour and exploitation.

Children are trapped in domestic work, hospitality work and child prostitution.

Tapan is a shy 13-year-old. He is from the Kol tribal community, in the Naxalbari Tea Garden Estate of North Bengal in East India. Tapan, like so many others, was a victim of child exploitation. Tapan leans against the bamboo pillar as he ponders the difficult times he has endured when forced by his father to sell vegetables in the village market. Before joining TEAR Fund’s Compassion child sponsorship project, while others went to school, Tapan had to graze cattle in the fields and sell vegetables in the market.

“I used to feel very depressed. I thought there is no future for me and wondered if

the small amount he earned on alcohol.

Tapan’s mother worked in the tea gardens as a leaf-picker but that was not quite enough to feed a family of four. “My mother devoted herself to doing all she could for the family but there were many days we went to bed without a grain to eat. “I felt like running away from home.” But Tapan smiles as he says, “I found new meaning to my life after joining the child sponsorship project.”

At first, his father would still force him to work in the market instead of attending the project. But gradually, through special intervention from the

I did not want to sink deep into the desperation that poverty held in store for us—the sheer frustration and bitter anguish that my father so well typified.” my father would ever have a change of heart, and let me go to school instead of having to sell vegetables.” Tapan begged his father to send him to school because he wanted to study and support himself.

“I did not want to sink deep into the desperation that poverty held in store for us—the sheer frustration and bitter anguish that my father so well typified.”

There wasn’t enough in the house to provide for all, and to add to their desperation, Tapan’s father would blow

project staff, Tapan’s father agreed to stop sending Tapan to sell vegetables.

Tapan’s father has had a gradual change of heart, watching how the project staff would care for Tapan.

Tapan’s father is a changed man today as he expresses his desire for Tapan to be educated enough to avoid him being crushed in the same vicious cycle of poverty that he got into. Tapan’s father sobs as he says, “I wanted to treat my children differently to the way my father

OUR PURPOSE:

PUBLICATION DETAILS:

CONTACT

The purpose of TEAR Fund is to glorify God by

Editor: Keith Ramsay.

Contributors: Alex Carter, Murray Sheard, Melissa Gallagher, Frank Ritchie, Jon Horne, Gary Agnew, Provashish Dutta, Beth Harper.

Graphic Designer: Alex Carter.

Cartoonist: Daniel Alexander.

Printing: Guardian Print.

0800 800 777 tearfund.org.nz enquiries@tearfund.org.nz

extending His Kingdom in ministry to the poor, oppressed and disadvantaged, and to encourage God’s people in NZ to live out the values and principles of His Kingdom by sharing with those in need. TEAR Correspondent is published three times a year.

Mixed Sources Product group from well-managed forests, and other controlled sources www.fsc.org Cert no. SCS-COC-2324 © 1996 Forest Stewardship Council

treated me, but I was so wrong…I could not be a good father neither could I be a good husband.”

Tapan cannot hold back the expression of satisfaction that he feels deep within.

“I am happy that my father has changed and that I can go to school. I don’t have to pay for the fees and I am full, without any lack.” Tapan has befriended a few students that he can share his deepest sorrows and moments of joy.

Tapan’s gratitude towards his sponsor makes him proudly claim that he could not have achieved a bit of what he is today, without their prayerful and faithful support. In all her letters his sponsor mentions her desire for Tapan to become a good person and to lead a prosperous life, keeping God at the centre of his heart. Tapan remarks, “I want to make full use of this opportunity that has been so faithfully extended towards me.”

Tapan’s mother feels happy because she feels that Tapan’s life has been guaranteed by the goodness of his sponsor, as she so generously supports him. The beautiful innocent smile that lights up Tapan’s face today has been regained after the pain of labour inflicted upon him by his father.

YES! Name:

I WANT TO SPONSOR A CHILD!

Title

First

Last

Address:

Phone:(H)

ADJARA

ANGEL

ASEEM

Mobile:

14 year old girl, Burkina Faso

8 year old girl, Indonesia

9 year old boy, East India

Email:

Adjara lives with her aunt. She is responsible for carrying water, washing clothes and helping in the kitchen.

At home, Angel helps by carrying water, making beds and cleaning. Angel enjoys playing with dolls and bicycling.

Aseem lives with his sister and parents.

His father sometimes works as a labourer and his mother maintains the home.

DOB 17 July 1998

DOB 10 March 2004

WILL YOU BE A HERO?

DOB 12 August 2003

(W)

Tick here and you will recieve our monthly e-news, keeping you up to date with all the exicitng things we’re up to.

Each of these children needs a hero. Someone like you to rescue them from the bully of poverty. You can change the life of one of these beautiful children for just $45 a month. Call 0800 800 777 today.

I WANT TO SPONSOR A CHILD FOR $45 PER MONTH. If you have ticked an image on the left, please leave these preference boxes blank.

My preference is: Girl No Preference Boy From:

South America

Africa

Asia

No Preference Central America Please add Sponsorship Plus for $10 extra per month:

BABI

DANICA

DANIEL

10-year-old boy. Ethiopia

9-year-old girl, Philippines

9- year-old boy, Dominican Republic

Babi lives with his mum who is disabled. He helps by carrying water and cleaning. He enjoys playing soccer and hide-and-seek.

Danica loves singing, reading and art.

She has 4 siblings. She’s involved in church activities and Bible School.

Daniel’s from a family of 7. At home, he runs errands and helps clean. He loves playing with cards and running.

DOB 30 July 2002

DOB 16 June 2003

DOB 26 October 2003

‘justCAUSE’ PLEDGE PROGRAMME I would like to become a TEAR Fund justCAUSE supporter by making regular monthly donations of: $20

$30

$40

$50

Other

Monthly Payments: Please send me a direct debit form Please use the credit card details below

DAVE

DONATIEN

ELIA

5-year-old boy, Philippines

7-year-old boy, Bukina Faso

13-year-old boy Tanzania

In his home, Dave helps by running errands and cleaning. He enjoys playing with cards, singing and art.

Donatien lives with his parents and has 8 siblings. He loves to play soccer.

Elia lives at home with his mother, who sometimes works as a farmer. He loves walking, soccer and art.

DOB 19 December 2006

DOB 12 December 2004

DOB 7 July 1999

I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE HOPE TO THOSE MOST VULNERABLE IN THE PHILIPPINES, MONGOLIA, AND VANUATU: I’d like to make a one off donation of: $15

$35

$50

$100

$350

Other

PAYMENT OPTIONS: Cheque (make payable to TEAR Fund) Visa / Mastercard (please complete below) Card Number:

ISIDORE

JA

JERSON

4 -year-old boy Togo

11-year-old girl Thailand

13-year-old boy, Nicaragua

Isidore lives with his brother, two sisters and his parents. He loves running, playing soccer and playing group games.

Ja lives with her father and her mother.

She helps at home by gathering wood, washing clothes and making beds.

Jerson comes from a family of six. He is responsible for carrying water, gathering wood and buying or selling in the market.

DOB 5 April 2008

DOB 20 May 2001

DOB 14 August 1999

Expiry date:

/

Cardholder name: Signature: To save posting your credit card details, use our secure online payment facility tearfund.org.nz

PLEASE SEND ME: Information on remembering TEAR Fund in my will

2222

Information on becoming a volunteer Advocate Information on Trust Banks

JUAN

KATY

NAYELI

10-year-old boy, Ecuador

12-year-old girl, Honduras

10 -year-old girl, Peru

Juan enjoys soccer, playing with cars and singing. He attends church and Vacation Bible School regularly and primary school.

Katy enjoys playing house, art and playing with dolls. She’s in primary school and lives with her mother and father.

Nayeli lives with her mother. Volleyball, art and hide-and-seek are Nayeli’s favourite activities.

DOB 18 October 2002

DOB 17 November 2000

DOB 1 December 2002

Please take me off your mailing list

Please send to: TEAR Fund, Freepost 140677, PO Box 8315, Symonds St. Auckland 1150

Ephesians 31:8 “Speak up for the people who have no voice, for the rights of all the downand-outers. Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute!”

8-9

NEEMA

YAGNA

7-year-old girl

5-year-old girl, India

6-year-old girl, Colombia

Playing house, dolls and group games are Neema’s favourite activities. She helps at home by washing clothes and cleaning.

Yagna lives with her parents and her sister at home. Her favourite activities include playing house and with dolls.

Singing, playing with dolls and hide-andseek are Zachrick’s favourite activities.

She attends kindergarten and Bible class.

DOB 22 July 2005

DOB 29 December 2006

ZACHRICK DOB 31 January 2006

Call 0800 800 777 NOW to sponsor one of these children

Call 0800 800 777 or Visit tearfund.org.nz