CORRESPONDENT November 2017
Tackling Global Inequality pg 7
A Hope Revolution Helping Hands: Self Help Groups are helping women in India to transform their communities and their lives. Story by John Watson Through the hills of Bhiwandi, a municipality just inland from Mumbai, runs a pipeline delivering water to Mumbai’s taps, showers, and swimming pools. It seems almost as alien in this poor community as running taps with clean water.
Tips on Development for churches pg 3
They get their water from a tanker that arrives every two weeks. People have died fighting over the precious liquid; so precious, a water mafia has arisen. The owners of the power loom factories take full advantage of the desperation and competition for jobs, paying meagre wages to men who stand for 12 hours a day. The fine dust created by the fabrics cause respiratory problems, which drastically shorten their lives. At home, the women sit, disempowered and oppressed, not only by poverty but by a culture that treats them like secondclass citizens. But there is hope. Through the litter-laden roads which echo with the deafening scream of the power loom factories, strolls Poonam Nair and her team.
Is Tearfund Political? pg 6
They walk with an air of confidence and freedom not common to most of the women in Bhiwandi. It is not the water or loom factories they are interested in, but the transformation of women and their families. They are staff members of Tearfund’s partner ‘Saahasee’, meaning ‘courageous’ in Hindi, and they’re the only NGO allowed in the closed-community long term. For the past 14 years, they’ve been creating Self Help Groups, where women come to pool their savings
and take loans from the group to start their own small business or to help their husband’s business. They also address issues affecting the community such as health, sanitation and women’s rights. “When women are educated, an entire nation can change,” Poonam says. In Self Help Groups, it is not the financial change that is most striking, but the transformation of the women as a result of the empowerment. Sayra Sheik is a case-in-point.
"When women are educated, an entire nation can change." “I didn’t know what it was to leave the house. I was scared to go to Saahasee’s office just around the corner. I don’t know what it was in the office, but I felt very good." She says they taught her to speak up for herself and she is much more confident now. As she speaks of the changes in her life, her face is alive. Her husband can’t help smiling too.
PICTURE Leah Oram
created to be fruitful and flourish. This Christmas, we are asking our supporters to renew hope in others, like women in Bhiwandi, so they can see themselves the way God sees them and flourish as He intended. In houses across Bhiwandi, a revolution of hope is spreading. In one of the narrow alleys lives Vandana Mestry, now a strong, confident women set on solving a key issue in her community. “Every day I go to the local politician’s house with up to 25 women to demand clean water. I have hope we will have water. One day, we will have water.”
You can renew hope in others like the women of Bhiwandi by giving to Tearfund’s Renew Hope Christmas appeal at tearfund. org.nz, or by filling out the form in the back of this issue.
If it wasn’t for the loan to start his taxi business, he would likely be dead from working in the loom factory, she says. They agree their marriage has deepened as a result of the Self Help Group. Tearfund’s Christmas appeal is called ‘Renew Hope’. It seeks to fund Self Help Groups and agricultural cooperatives within our Empower cause. This Christmas, we are asking people to reflect on how God sees them— loved, made in his image, and
Confident Smile: Sayra has found hope through Self Help Groups.
2 | CORRESPONDENT – November 2017
New Life: Filipino farmers have renewed hope after Typhoon Haiyan devastated their livelihoods.
PICTURE John Watson
Made in God's Image Editorial: By Keith Ramsay
him. However, we know that empowering people to overcome poverty can help them to live a fruitful and flourishing existence, as God intended. You can see the
With Christmas fast approaching, we look to the birth of Jesus and what that means for the world. For Tearfund, this relates to the world that we, with our partners and your support, are trying to impact— being the hands and feet of Christ. In the last issue, we talked about our Empower cause—working through agricultural cooperatives and Self Help Groups. On the front cover, we continue this theme on empowering communities.
“We know that empowering people can help them to live a fruitful and flourishing existence, as God intended.”
We are all created in the image of God and are loved by him, and he intended that we would be fruitful. But poverty and lack of opportunity can rob people of their God-given identity in
Biblical Snapshot on page three for more on this, and the story on the front page for a real-life example of how your support can help improve the dignity and quality of life for those challenged by poverty.
Inside out By Ian McInnes
I’m not sure if you got your hopes up this election in New Zealand and whether those hopes were realised, or dashed by the outcome. Perhaps you feel life will go on much the same regardless of the political wrangling. What struck me reading this Correspondent is that the lives of the poor can be deeply affected by political outcomes and decisions taken far above them. For example, those who sew our clothes are impacted by trade rules set at the World Trade Organization and earn
minimum wages invariably set by their country and accepted by the fashion houses that supply our shirts, skirts and jumpers. Similarly, how a country defines and legislates slavery and trafficking, impacts the protections and freedoms enjoyed by all its citizens and the amount of wriggle room for unscrupulous employers or human traffickers.
“Tearfund wants to build fences at the top of the cliff, not just supply an ambulance at the bottom...” Tearfund wants to build fences at the top of the cliff, not just supply an ambulance at the bottom, and to that end, our work
However, there is more to overcoming poverty than simply running community development projects. While this can make a real difference at a grassroots level, there are systematic injustices that must also be addressed. When we stand against systematic injustices, Tearfund can sometimes be accused of being “political”, especially when it comes to issues such as man-made climate change. We see climate change impacting the people we work with and undermining the work we do, as disasters strike with more intensity and increased frequency (see page four), so this is something we speak up about on behalf of those who are impacted
most. Jesus stood up for the most disadvantaged—did that make him “political”? You can learn more about systematic injustices and where Tearfund stands on socalled political issues on pages six and seven. Tearfund also has a host of events coming up (page 10) and you can read about the success of this year’s Poverty Cycle on page nine. If you are a child sponsor, please read the inspiring story (page 11) of how a compassionate neighbour got Jonesis involved in our Compassion sponsorship project and how that has turned him around. I hope you enjoy reading this issue of the Correspondent.
tackling structural injustice is just as important as our poverty alleviation programming. Just like in New Zealand, those we help abroad dream of realising their potential, of flourishing within their community. To do so requires that they can not only meet their basic needs, but they can remove the very real structural barriers that hold them back. If you're a church wanting to undertake missional development work abroad, you can read about why it’s a good idea to get advice from an agency like Tearfund and take a holistic approach to development before you jump in. We’re here to advise and we love to help people unearth the best way to reach their God-given potential, regardless of who wins at the ballot box.
✝ Prayer Points • Pray for our Empower work by renewing hope in others • Pray against systematic injustices that keep people poor
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Tips on Development for Churches By Claire Hart Do you go to church? Does your church do mission work or projects overseas? I grew up attending churches that were involved in a variety of different projects and partnerships overseas in developing countries. I’d always been curious about the combination of evangelism and development activities that were involved in the projects. I wondered what the strengths and weaknesses were of New Zealand churches involved in overseas projects, and wanted to know how churches could do this work well. When choosing a topic for my master’s thesis, the opportunity to find answers to some of these questions and musings was too tempting to pass up. So, I spent a year looking into six different case studies of New Zealand churches involved in development projects or partnerships overseas. Each church involved in my research was working overseas in a slightly different way. For example, one New Zealand church partnered directly with a sister church overseas; another church was supporting an organisation in a developing country started by one of its missionaries; and another had formed a three-way partnership between a New Zealand church, sister church overseas, and a New Zealand development organisation.
Biblical Snapshot By Frank Ritchie In our culture we spend a lot of time trying to answer the question,‘who am I?’ You can do tests relating to every aspect of your personality— character, ways of working, or your strengths and weaknesses. There are even funny ones like finding out which Star Wars character best represents you. Knowing who we are can be empowering and give us a sense of understanding about where we fit in the world. In trying to answer the question ‘who am I?’, we can also turn to Scripture for extremely good answers. Here are three:
1. We are created in the image of God (Gen 1:27)
2. We are intended for fruitfulness and flourishing (Gen 1:28)
3. We are loved by God (Rom 5:8)
Each of the different approaches had strengths and weaknesses, and by collating all the results, I’ve been able to put together four top tips for churches involved in this type of work.
Top tips
Get good advice: Interestingly, my research discovered that churches that involve development organisations in their partnerships or projects to provide advice and guidance were the most effective in meeting the needs of the communities they were aiming to help. This makes sense when you think about it. Development organisations are experts in this field and have best-practice approaches and skills to share with churches. In fact, Tearfund was established to be the development arm of the church, so it is part of our DNA.
Make it formal: Shared beliefs and values allow churches to forge strong bonds with other churches overseas to undertake work together. These bonds are a great asset in that they allow for longevity and a shared vision. But it’s important to remember that relationships aren’t infallible. Joint projects should be formalised through agreements that spell out the relationship, goals, roles, responsibilities and accountability mechanisms.
In these three things, we see the identity that sits at the core of our being, our relationship with our creator, and our relationship with the world around us. In Scripture, the story of the fall (Genesis 3) is about the breaking and damaging of our identity as demonstrated in these three truths. The point of the incarnation, life, death, resurrection, ascension and return of Christ is about the redeeming and complete realisation of these truths for the whole of creation. In Christ, we can experience them now to a certain degree. When we know and experience these truths, hope flourishes as well, invigorating how we live. At Tearfund, we recognise that poverty clouds all three of these truths, but we also know that partnering with people caught in poverty, in order to empower them to live a fruitful and flourishing existence, brings these realities to the fore. Those trapped in poverty embody the image of God and are intimately loved by God, but circumstances can rob the
Cross-culture: Planning your church's development approach will help avoid pitfalls. Otherwise, partnerships can end unexpectedly for various reasons and the project can sometimes struggle to continue.
Take a holistic approach: When churches undertake projects in developing countries, they don’t just offer help with addressing physical problems but they help to meet spiritual ones too. This is a real strength that churches bring to development work. It is important that projects meet physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Likewise, churches need to ensure that people are able to participate in their overseas work regardless of religion and personal beliefs. Meeting someone’s physical needs is a Christ-like act.
PICTURE Unsplash
Be a learner: New Zealand is worlds away from the types of places many churches undertake their projects. Our culture and ways of interpreting the world differ from other people's. If time isn’t taken to learn and understand this, actions may be misinterpreted or misconstrued, which can make working together and completing projects difficult and less effective in the long run. In order to work with people who are very different to us, we must take the time to learn and respect their culture and values. When we do this, we can begin to see that the answers to some of the issues or problems we want to solve actually lie within the local people.
Created to Flourish: A Self Help Group has turned Shobha Tiwari's life around. fruitfulness and flourishing of all people. In so doing, poverty can make it difficult for someone to grasp the other two truths, that we are loved by God and created in his image. By enabling people to work their way into fruitful and flourishing lives, all three truths get to shine and the hope that
PICTURE Leah Oram
enables people to move forward becomes self-perpetuating.
Partner with people trapped in poverty, empowering them to remove the clouds that mask these three truths in their lives, and in so doing, enable their hope to be renewed.
4 | CORRESPONDENT – November 2017
Loving in dangerous times From East Africa, where drought and conflict have combined to inflict misery on hundreds of thousands, to flooding in South Asia, which has impacted 41 million, we thank the many Tearfund supporters who have stood alongside these victims of disasters.
Here is how we have been responding through your generous donations.
Scorched Earth: Emergency water is helping Somali people through the drought.
Box of Hope: A Syrian refugee receives a food parcel.
Drops of Life: Women fill water cans at a Ugandan refugee settlement.
PICTURE Christena Dowsett
PICTURE Helen Manson
Deluge: India was among several South Asian countries affected by severe flooding.
PICTURE Helen Manson
PICTURE EFICOR
What's Inside?: Syrian kids excited to open their food parcel.
PICTURE Helen Manson
Tank You: Water tankers sustain refugees in Uganda.
PICTURE Helen Manson
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Closet Action: Ask retailers how ethical their brands are.
PICTURE Unsplash
Brands respond to pressure By Claire Hart In April, Tearfund and our partner Baptist World Aid launched the inaugural Ethical Fashion Guide Aotearoa New Zealand. The guide gives over 200 brands available in New Zealand a grade from A-F based on ethical practices in their supply chains. Since then, over 7000 New Zealanders have ordered or downloaded the guide and they are now able to shop ethically, using their purchasing power to reduce worker exploitation in the fashion industry. It’s easy to feel like the problem of
worker exploitation is too big or too far away for us to change. But you can make a difference! Part of my job as Ethical Fashion Project Manager is to meet with brands in New Zealand and work with them to improve ethical practices in their supply chains.
“Your actions as a consumer can have a direct influence on the decisions that brands make about ethical practices.”
Whanganui church embraces disaster Over winter, St James Whanganui responded to a sense of calling to overseas outreach by crafting, hosting and welcoming the community into a term-long study series exploring the crisis in South Sudan. The burden to learn more and for that learning to lead into action was fully supported by the church whānau. The congregation transformed their worship space into a learning and outreach base. The walls were hung with a timeline, “Good News,” about mission partnerships, and beautiful, thought-provoking interactive prayer stations.
The study series began with learning about the history and facts and led into an exploration of the theology of response and giving. There was creativity, tears and laughter. The movement of the Spirit led the team into planning and hosting a gala for all ages.
Over $4000 was raised for Tearfund’s East Africa Appeal. People were challenged and deepened in their faith.
Representatives from the brands I meet with say to me, “We get phone calls, emails and letters from our customers asking whether we are ethical. We know they care and because of that, we want to improve our supply chain.” Your actions as a consumer can have a direct influence on the decisions that brands make about ethical practices. Make sure your actions count towards good change! Tearfund has begun the research process for the 2018 Ethical Fashion Report. In the next report, we are including more New Zealand brands. We are also introducing
St James’ Minister, Mo Morgan, acknowledged the community’s response to the church’s work as a catalyst: “Even though we are carrying a deficit this year, we knew it was right to start the year by giving. We just provided the space for the fundraising to happen and the community responded with donations.” Well over $4000 was raised for Tearfund’s East Africa Appeal. People were challenged and deepened in their faith. The work has led to the church beginning a “Catalyst Group”. This is a small team beginning a new journey of prayer and study; committed to making a positive contribution to the world. The group will take advocacy actions and make changes both
a new section into our research— environmental management. This poses a whole new challenge for the brands and for us, but we’re excited to see progress increase in this area.
Learn: You can read the full Ethical Fashion Report 2017 on our website: www.tearfund.org.nz/ ethicalfashion
Act: Write a letter or email to your favourite brand congratulating them on their good grade or asking them to improve.
within members’ lives and in the direction of the church—praying that the ripples will spread outwards to address structures and systems of injustice. Tearfund's Jamie Allen says, “I feel deeply privileged to share in St James’ journey and to be involved in supporting the formation and growth of a Catalyst Group with such outward-looking Christians. I encourage other church leaders and members to explore the possibilities of beginning a Catalyst Group and invite Tearfund to journey alongside them in this. It is a great way to share resources and combine our capacity to a greater sum of the parts.”
Find out more about catalyst groups at tearfund.org.nz/learn
6 | CORRESPONDENT – November 2017 people we serve and to encourage them to advocate for better policies. A key question Tearfund asks to help us decide whether to speak or act on such issues is this: “Is this issue directly impacting vulnerable people and communities that Tearfund seeks to help?” If the answer is “Yes”, then we might advocate on the issue, either with the affected communities or on their behalf—whether or not it is deemed political.
Is Tearfund Political? By Murray Sheard During the recent election, Tearfund joined 14 NGOs to ask all political parties to commit to reducing carbon emissions in support of our partners who are threatened by climate change. Whenever we engage in contentious issues of justice, we get questions from our supporters, who have deeply held views on either side.
The ‘Political’ Context of Tearfund’s Work Tearfund works to end oppression, relieve poverty, and advocate for justice for the most vulnerable across the world. The bulk of this work is undertaken in some of the world’s poorest communities. When you engage in that work, there comes a time when you have to ask: why are these people so vulnerable? Why do the same communities in the same countries stay poor? When you ask that, you find the answers are complex. But you also quickly come across what we call ‘systemic’ issues. These are international and local policies, practices, laws and systems, i.e. politics, that give those who are
least powerful a raw deal, through no fault of their own. Tearfund does not engage in political activism within its partner countries. Some of the people our partners help find that they want to oppose those who have used power against them to keep them poor. For example, some might find that they can together oppose rent increases and the threatening tactics of landlords, so they might demonstrate together to achieve this. Others, through their farming collaborations, find that they cut out the middlemen but those people may be rich enough to bribe powerful figures in local politics to try to stop this. So our partners might try ‘political’ ways to fight back.
“These things are ‘political’ in the sense that they are about power.” They are expressions of people who have had very little, finding that they can take more control of their lives. But they are not ‘partisan’ or
Tackling your tricky Gift for Life questions By Laura Brookes Every year, you ask us a bunch of honest, raw and downright hilarious questions about Gift for Life. The Gift for Life catalogue is filled with unique and meaningful gifts that can be purchased for someone in poorer countries. When you’re dealing with goats, high school scholarships, and a little bit of everything in between, we understand the confusion. But since we’re all clear as mud on this, I thought I’d take a moment to answer some of your frequently asked questions and shed some light on the subject. Ready?
Q: Do you send a goat from New Zealand to the family? Nope. Wrangling a flock of over-
excited goats into a shipping container, sending them across the ocean, feeding them throughout the journey and ticking off health and safety requirements would be a logistical nightmare… let alone the freight bill. Here’s how it’s done: We proudly partner with local community organisations around the world. When you buy a Gift for Life, you’re actually making a donation. Your donation goes to one of our overseas partners, allowing them to help the poorest in their community, which includes giving families and individuals the gift you’ve selected. Not only that, but through the work of our partners, they receive so much more. For example, a family
For instance, we might advocate for New Zealand to meet the OECD target of allocating 0.7% of GNI to aid and development (which no New Zealand government has ever met).
PICTURE Christena Dowsett
‘party political’ in that they aren’t trying to support one political party or attempting to support the political ‘left’ or the political ‘right’. An example of this is food. Amartya Sen, one of the greatest economists of the 20th century, writing from India, said: “There is no such thing as an apolitical food problem”. There is enough food to feed everyone in the world, but a combination of economic and political factors prevent this happening. We believe our partners and ourselves are right to oppose this. Some issues that are either deemed political or can be hijacked for political ends are at their, simple matters of the poor overcoming a very real hurdle to achieving a dignified life, free of overbearing and exploitative policies that threaten their wellbeing.
Advocacy in New Zealand In New Zealand, we try to take the same approach. We consider it part of our mission to educate our supporters and others in New Zealand about international development issues that affect the
that gets a goat will also get livestock training. Your Gift for Life donation helps to fund the project.
Q: Is the animal cared for properly? To all the animal lovers out there, rest assured. We’ve got your back on this. Some have wrongly assumed that animals in the catalogue are mistreated or condemned to a life of cruelty. In fact, the feedback from our partners is that animals are a vital part of a family’s livelihood and held in high regard as treasured gifts. Animals are often the main source of family income, so it becomes a priority to ensure that the animal is well cared for. In some programmes, vet services are part of the project.
Q: Can I have a photo of the recipient with the gift? Unfortunately, no. The reality is that if we were to track each individual
Another is producing the Ethical Fashion Guide and advocating for a Modern Slavery Act to protect exploited workers and those vulnerable to trafficking. We might support campaigns to increase the official refugee quota or encourage churches (rather than just individuals) to support them. Climate change will threaten the livelihoods of villages in Bangladesh, where we have sponsored children, and in the Pacific Islands, where we help communities become resilient to cyclones. Our support for them may also, at key times, include adding our voice to theirs on climate change policies. We believe that it’s not enough to just feed the hungry if the global forces that are making them hungry are not challenged as well. We want to be a ‘fence at the top of the cliff’, not only an ‘ambulance at the bottom’. So we advocate with similar NGOs to keep the pressure on politicians, but we will never turn this into a partypolitical issue. We would do this no matter which party is in power.
Please keep in touch with us about any concerns you have. We love to hear what our supporters think.
gift and individual recipient for a photo, our operational costs would skyrocket. When you buy a Gift for Life, we want to make the biggest impact possible. By evaluating the effectiveness of the project your gift relates to, you can be assured your gift is making a difference. With every Gift for Life purchase, you’re helping to make a tangible difference that not only impacts the individual or family but has flow-on effects for the entire community.
Why not consider investing a little into a place of real need this Christmas by giving a Gift for Life? Visit giftforlife.org.nz to give a lifechanging gift.
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Feature
Fair Play: Workers in poorer countries are paying the true cost for our cheap goods.
Goal for Reducing Global Inequality
Keith Ramsay explores how the growing global wage gap could be reduced through Sustainable Development Goal 10. While Tearfund helps people at a grassroots level to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods, there are still many barriers working against people in low-income countries. One of these is the growing wage gap between those in richer countries compared to those in poorer ones. For this reason, Sustainable Development Goal 10, with its focus on reducing income inequality within and among countries, is essential. According to the World Bank, over the past 50 years, the per capita income gap between low and high-income countries has roughly tripled.
Call for improved wages Goal 10 includes several significant reforms to reduce this, such as regulating global financial markets, improving social protections, and reducing fees on migrant remittances. But perhaps the most significant is the call for improved wages. Wages in low-income countries can be put under pressure by national and international corporations. This produces vast differences in the standard of living within a country. Many academics believe this wage gap is a major driver of inequality between low and high-income countries, through international trade. Egyptian economist Samir Amin first formulated the theory of “unequal exchange” in the 1970s. He looked at the labour that goes into producing goods for trade and saw that workers in low-income countries were paid much less than those in high-income countries, even when adjusted for units of
output per hour. This means that when a richer country buys goods from poorer ones, they pay far less than those goods would otherwise be worth—a hidden transfer of value from low to high-income countries. That is why we can buy such cheap goods that have been made with materials from one country, shipped to be assembled in another country, and transported to the retailer who adds a markup. We are not paying the full cost because it is being subsidised through the exploitation of the less powerful. In simple terms, the rich country buys cheap and sells high. Conversely, when the low-income country buys goods from the richer ones, they pay for the richer country’s high wages.
“When a richer country buys goods from poorer ones, they pay far less than those goods would otherwise be worth—a hidden transfer of value from low to high-income countries.” Amin worked out the scale of unequal exchange by comparing the trade earnings of poorer countries, with what they would be earning if their labourers were paid equal wages for equal productivity. He calculated that low-income countries in the 1960s were transferring around US$22bn to richer countries each year, or the equivalent of about
US$160bn in today’s dollars. This was about twice the amount of aid and foreign investment they were receiving during the same period. In 2012, economists Zak Cope and Timothy Kerswell updated Amin’s calculations and found that transfers due to unequal exchange had risen to a staggering $1.46tn per year. All of this conspires to keep wages in the low-income countries artificially low. Wages are an effect of power. According to Amin: “Underdevelopment is not a lack of development. It is the reverse side of the development of the rich countries. The rich countries depend on the active exploitation of other countries, which renders the latter ‘underdeveloped’.”
Power imbalance in trade Low-income countries are also under-represented on the world trade stage at the World Bank, the IMF and the WTO, where trade rules are decided. The mantra that ‘free trade is best’ is being touted by countries which grew rich on the back of economic protectionism and by exploiting countries they colonised, rather than through free trade. Now, these economic powers are saying to low-income countries that free trade is the way to improve their economies while they exploit their cheap labour and gain access to their markets. Ha-Joon Chang’s book, Kicking away the Ladder, explains how rich countries became rich on economic protectionism and how they are now kicking away that ladder from poor countries after they have climbed up. It is not that trade is inherently bad, but we must look at ways to make it fairer for the less powerful. Goal 10 also seeks to redress these power imbalances in trade and
PICTURE Unsplash
advocates for policies that will protect workers and promote the fair export of goods by low-income countries. One way is through global minimum wage rules. That doesn’t mean imposing western minimum wages on low-income countries, but establishing a global set of rules for setting country or regional minimum wages. For instance, economist Thomas Palley recommends a floor set at 50% of each country’s median wage, so it would be tailored to local economic conditions. Rather than being fixed as it is usually, the minimum wage would automatically rise with the median wage, creating a true floor that moves with the economy. If the median wage rises with productivity growth, the minimum wage will also rise with productivity growth.
Consumer Power What remains to be seen is if there is the political will to make Goal 10, with its proposed reforms, a reality. With many multinationals still relying on exploiting labour, it will need to be coupled with a movement at many levels to make this happen. However, at one level, consumers can influence multinationals. Tearfund has seen this with the launch of the first Ethical Fashion Guide for New Zealand. Many clothing chains are now moving towards more ethical supply chains as consumers call for greater transparency, resulting in better wages and conditions for workers throughout the supply system. Your consumer choice is powerful. If enough consumers become more critically conscious, we can all play a part in reducing global inequality on this level.
Learn The global Inequality machine: Jason Hickel http://bit.ly/JasonHickel
Samir Amin http://bit.ly/SamirAmin
8 | CORRESPONDENT – November 2017
Advocate!
Can New Zealand follow UK and Australia to investigate a Modern Slavery Act?
We want to keep giving you good stuff! These FREE booklets are very popular. No Longer Slaves
It’s back and it’s better! We have updated our group study guide on the evil of human trafficking and slavery. It covers the facts of modern slavery, the history of abolition, and what Tearfund’s partner organisations who work on the frontline are doing. It’s all wrapped in Biblical principles and concludes with what we can all do about it. We’ve also produced a version for a secular audience, including schools, called Agents of Freedom. Perfect for your friends who don’t share your faith but share your interest in combatting modern slavery.
Empower
This brand new booklet explores how we can feed the 9 billion people predicted to inhabit Planet Earth by 2050. It also introduces our major empowerment programmes; helping smallholder farmers and the revolutionary Self Help Groups. These groups are so effective in bringing so many people, not only income, but dignity and power over their own lives
Restoring Hope
Ever wondered how a disaster relief operation works? How about prevention of conflict and the humanitarian response to existing conflict? This booklet is the lowdown on humanitarian responses and it will also challenge you to live in ways that minimise your contribution to the causes of these.
Call us on 0800 800 777 or email advocacy@tearfund.org.nz to find out more.
Time to Act: Pressuring governments to legislate against modern slavery can help to reduce forced labour in supply chains.
PICTURE Nikki Denholm
A Modern Slavery Act for New Zealand Murray Sheard asks, is it time New Zealand had a Modern Slavery Act? Tearfund’s anti-trafficking and exploitation work and our Ethical Fashion Guide, has prompted us to join a movement to pass modern slavery legislation in New Zealand. In 2015, the UK parliament passed the Modern Slavery Act (MSA). This includes slavery offences, punishments and the appointment of an Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner. The important provision on transparency in supply chains requires all commercial organisations which undertake business in the UK to the tune of GBP 36 million annually, to produce a slavery and human trafficking statement for each financial year. Sponsored by UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, along with Lord Bates in parliament, the Act encourages transparency in supply chains and it creates a competitive environment to drive up standards. Companies who fail to comply are vulnerable to public and shareholder pressure
on their lack of action. UK MP James Brokenshire was quoted as saying that the Act would: "Send the strongest possible message to criminals that if you are involved in this disgusting trade in human beings, you will be arrested, you will be prosecuted and you will be locked up."
“The Act will send the strongest possible message to criminals that if you are involved in this disgusting trade...you will be locked up.” An independent review in 2016 found that sections of the Act that addressed prosecuting offenders and protecting victims have led to an increase in the number of prosecutions and in the number of potential victims supported.
Initially, the Act did not include Part 6 (transparency in supply chains), but eventually public and NGO pressure saw it legislated. The UK government states that the Act sets a platform for "consumers, investors and NGOs to engage and apply pressure where they believe a business has not taken sufficient steps". Comparable legislation was introduced in California in 2012, and the Australian Government is at an advanced stage of investigating a similar Act. Tearfund believes that, with increased awareness of global trafficking and slavery, the popularity of the Ethical Fashion Report, and the revelation that work conditions akin to slavery are occurring illegally here, that it is time for New Zealand to look into similar legislation. Let us know if you want to get in on the Act!
✝ Pray that NZ politicians would introduce a Modern Slavery Act. Pray that retailers would see value in putting people before profits.
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New record for Poverty Cycle event By Katy Tait After last year’s midnight escapade of port-a-loos flying down the runway at Ardmore Airport, we were praying for sunshine and a still morning because we were hosting the largest Poverty Cycle yet. A record 305 participants turned up this August to cycle in Tearfund’s Poverty Cycle and raised $160,000 to bring freedom to women and children trapped in slavery. We were very thankful when the sun rose to a picture-perfect morning. It was so still and fresh, with mist covering the green meadows around Clevedon. The 52km cycle is a beautiful ride; passing paddocks with animals grazing, locals starting to fill Clevedon village, and having volunteers cheer you on as you made your way around the course and up Twilight Hill. It was a little piece of the Tour de France here in New Zealand. This year our schools really got involved, with 18 teams coming from Saint Kentigern College, Kings College, Baradene College and Dio. They pitted themselves against participants in the church, corporate and individual challenge.
The Poverty Cycle village was filled with spectators, a Ray White children’s event was in full swing, and there were barbecues and coffee. A new sports massage service to stretch out tired hamstrings was provided by our new partner, Sports Lab. The village was energised and amplified by the bustling stationary bike tent. Four hours of spin, 88 riders, and two Tearfund staff instructors generated sweat and heat. At one point it got so hot, the side of the marquee had to be rolled up! It was the best year yet, so make sure you don’t miss out next year. The good news is that if you are not in Auckland, you can participate in a 'Virtual Poverty Cycle' by organising your own challenge. This year we saw schools and businesses get on board—a popular option is choosing to virtually travel a known trafficking route. One such event saw Smales Farm Fitness centre participants virtually travel the equivalent distance of the human trafficking route from Vientiane, Laos to Khon Kean, Thailand (382km). They did this by counting the equivalent kilometres of the route using rowing machines, treadmills and spin bikes.
Celeb-rate: Petra Bagust, Amanda Billing and Ido Drent celebrate at the Poverty Cycle in August. If you want to join Tearfund’s cycle community riding for freedom, you don’t have to wait until August. Our next event under the Poverty Cycle umbrella is the Queenstown Classic. It covers three days and 300kms around beautiful Queenstown and Wanaka. Get in touch with Katy Tait (katy@ tearfund.org.nz) if you are
PICTURE Alex Carter
interested. So far, cycling this year has raised $375,000 for Tearfund’s anti-trafficking and exploitation work. Enormous thanks goes to our partners: Ricoh, Fuzed, Mount Eden Cycles & Hot Cycles, Ray White, Club Physical, 2XU and Sports Lab.
Find out more at povertycycle.org.nz
Justice Speech Competition
By Murray Sheard
As a shy kid at school, I hated the speech competition. To avoid embarrassment, I reluctantly did a lot of work before each one and because of that, I did alright in the end. But that didn’t stop me hating having to stand in front of my class. I practised in front of a mirror, but it would have been good to film it so I could see how to improve. So when Tearfund was approached by the Kings Trust with the idea of jointly producing “Just Talk”, a justice-themed high school speech competition, it was a no-brainer. With free entry, Year 9 and 10 students can write, film and submit a three to seven minute speech on any justice issue. First prize includes $1000 for the student, $1000 for the charity of their choice, and $1000 for their school. Other prizes are for specific justice issues. We hope to influence students to consider justice issues, at the age when their values are being shaped
and they are asking about their future vocation. David Allis of the Kings Trust develops apps and websites and has a heart for inspiring young people to live lives of justice. He says, “Teachers and schools can register to receive updates about this competition. We think this is a great resource for teachers to sign-up their whole class”. There is potential for teachers to use it to demonstrate learning in geography, social studies, or performing arts classes. Winners will be announced by the end of January. Speeches can be filmed using a smart-phone, webcam or digital camera. The website has loads of places to look for resources on justice issues.
Entries close December 1st. Find out more and submit your speech at: justtalk.org.nz.
Speak Up: Entries open for justicefocused school speech competition.
PICTURE Unsplash
10 | CORRESPONDENT – November 2017
Events
Visit tearfund.org.nz/events
Summer is here, and it’s time to get out of the house. To help, we have motivational speakers and talented artists who have a heart for justice, which they bring to life in music, words and art. Across New Zealand November 3–19
Naomi Striemer Critically acclaimed, chart-topping singer-songwriter, speaker and best-selling author, Naomi Striemer, is back in New Zealand on her “Giving it to God” tour. She will share her inspiring story from fame to faith! Naomi walked away from her pop career to see what Jesus had in store for her, and God has been using her ever since.
Auckland Saturday, November 25, 10am–4pm
Crave Café Ethical Christmas Market
It’s crazy to be speaking about Christmas already but it is only a few weeks to go. If you are stuck for some Christmas pressies, why don’t you check out the Crave Café Ethical Christmas Market in Morningside? We will be there with a host of businesses with delightful gifts, and the best thing is, they are all ethical!
Across New Zealand February 2–9
Richmond Wandera Richmond Wandera was born and raised in Naguru slum in Uganda. When his father was tragically murdered, Richmond lost hope of a life worth living. Alongside his mother, he was left to care for his six siblings and spent countless hours each day searching for food for his family. Richmond is now a sought-after preacher and speaker and has shared his remarkable story across the world. His story is one of hope and faith. His “I am not Forgotten” tour is not to be missed.
Auckland March 8–10
Lillibet Bothma Art Expo Lillibet is South African and has been painting from a young age. She has a distinctive, unique and quirky style. Her art expo promises to be a unique must-see event. All funds from sales will go towards Tearfund’s anti-human trafficking and exploitation work.
Join us for Advent This Advent, Tearfund is offering you the chance to deepen the way you welcome the coming of Christ. When you sign up, you’ll receive a Sunday email for the four weeks of December, with the main reflection and study material around the wonderful “Song of Mary" in Luke 1, where Mary welcomes her child and rejoices at God’s action to raise up the poor. Then, on Wednesdays, you will get something creative to stop and reflect on. The Advent material can be used individually, but to maximise its impact, you could study it in your small group. It’s great for
churches—so why don’t you get your congregation on board? Printed booklets are available and are particularly handy for group studies, so order some soon. In the passage of scripture, Mary marvels that “God has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things…” (Luke 1:52-53). We marvel at this too. That’s why Tearfund works to improve livelihoods through communitybased initiatives, in our Empower work. We’ll include some stories of renewed hope from the overseas communities Tearfund works with.
Teacher Resource: Tearfund has a curriculum resource on human trafficking.
PICTURE Nikki Denholm
NCEA Antitrafficking Resource for Schools School students can now access the voice and knowledge of our partners on the coal face via an NCEA achievement standard for geography. This resource has been developed to fill a need identified by teachers who ask for school resources from Tearfund. “The Fight Against Human Trafficking” resource includes assessment, marking criteria, lesson plans, activities, exemplar answers, case studies and tons of other resources. It's a onestop shop for teachers on human trafficking and exploitation. The resource not only educates and raises awareness about human trafficking, exploitation and related issues within the school curriculum, it also helps influence young people at a key age to set better norms around the consumption of products of forced labour. The assessment standard resource asks students to analyse aspects of human trafficking and exploitation as a contemporary geographic issue, including the spatial dimension and social, political, and economic factors that relate to exploitation. It looks at the effects human trafficking has on people and places. In keeping with the aims of the geography curriculum, it also considers how the values and perceptions of people involved in the practice have led to the actions they took.
Students produce a report or presentation to demonstrate their findings and propose actions and steps to address human trafficking, explaining why those actions would be effective. Human trafficking is a multibillion dollar industry, which preys on and exploits vulnerable people. Young children, migrant workers, and indigenous people are particularly at risk of being trafficked. Domestic work, the commercial sex industry, agriculture, and manufacturing, are key sectors of concern.
“It looks at the effects human trafficking has on people and places.” Because many of the goods we consume daily may have been produced by exploited people, the resource includes activities on the power and promise of ethical consumption, using the Ethical Fashion Guide Aotearoa New Zealand, produced by Tearfund and Baptist World Aid. While developed for Geography level III (AS91431 v2 (3.6)) the resource can be adapted for other courses and levels, and in fact, is already being adapted for religious education by an Auckland teacher.
For more information, get in touch with us. 0800 800 777 or advocacy@tearfund.org.nz
11 food for him and his family and school shoes. Bible class was one of the things Jonesis enjoyed the most there. April 12, 2012, was a significant day for Jonesis. It was the day he understood that he needed to change. Jonesis hadn't found, attention, support and love from his family, but he found that and more at the project and his church. Jonesis started to learn to play the piano and now he plays at church. He is very passionate about music and enjoys rehearsing at church every moment he can.
Rescued by a Loving Neighbour Streetwise: Jonesis no longer at risk thanks to sponsorship programme. Story and photo By Yrahisa Solano Jonesis was a 'naughty and unruly boy', until one day when Jonesis’ neighbour saw something special in him and enrolled him in one of Tearfund’s Compassion child sponsorship programme in San Cristobal, in the Dominican Republic. From this point, his life started to change. Jonesis’ friends found him on his way to school almost every day. They used to persuade him to go to the river with them. Jonesis spent a lot of time on the streets and was not doing well at school. Nobody believed that a good man would come out of this boy. It was common for people who visited that river to consume and sell drugs. Jonesis’ mother separated from her husband and abandoned Jonesis when he was four years old, along with his older siblings, Jarol and Yerka. He was left with his grandmother, Andreina. Even though Andreina was an old lady, she used to care for Jonesis. Until her death, she cooked for him and helped him any way she could if he needed her. “She was my mother—my everything,” says Jonesis in tears. “I didn’t feel good at home; I didn’t know where to go, so I walked,” says Jonesis. Jonesis’
neighbour, Cristina Montas, had known him since his birth. She remembered: “Jonesis used to be barefooted and dirty. I felt sorry for him, sorry for the way he was used to living. I felt he was in danger because he was growing up on the streets.”
“I understood that he was vulnerable and he needed someone to protect him, watch over him...” Cristina says, “I understood that he was vulnerable and he needed someone to protect him, watch over him and guide him to Jesus, and I decided to assume that role.” Cristina had heard about the work of Compassion in her community in the Dominican Republic. Drugs, delinquency and teenage pregnancy were common here, and Cristina knew about the beautiful things the church was doing through the Child Sponsorship Programme for children like Jonesis. Something inside Cristina’s heart started to grow towards Jonesis, and she immediately started the registration process for him at the Child Development Centre. It was a long process for Jonesis, who
Will power to fight injustice and poverty By Jenny Caston Many supporters leave a gift to Tearfund in their will. This is easy to do and enables their lifetime passions to live on, bringing hope and transformation to future generations—whether that’s lifting people out of poverty or protecting people from exploitation. Kate Turner shares why she’s decided to make a gift in her will:
“I support Tearfund as I believe that the financial funding raised through donations and bequests are well stewarded and administered wisely—that is very important to me. I decided to leave a future gift to Tearfund, as I believe their work is making a difference in fighting injustice and alleviating poverty around the world. They are putting faith into practical action and
didn’t have a birth certificate. He got this certificate with the help of the Compassion project when he was eight years old. Since that day in 2006, Jonesis began receiving love and teaching at the project. “He started to become a better person. Now he is clean and wears shoes.” The centre tutor was also a key person in Jonesis’ life. As soon as she found out about Jonesis’ living condition and how bad he was doing at school, she started to help him with his homework and studies. She also provided
Nowadays, Jonesis is a playful, joyful and responsible teenager. Some days a month he works washing cars to earn some money that he uses to buy dinner. He helps at his house with the chores— washing the dishes, mopping the floor and doing laundry. He works hard at school because he wants to go to university to study someday. Jonesis is not only grateful for the church and the project, but he also is grateful for his sponsors. Jonesis has changed dramatically for good. After being raised on the streets, surrounded by bad influences, and without a family to look out for him, Jonesis is considered a miracle in his community. The church project staff and a compassionate neighbour were used by God to impact the life of this child forever.
Caring Community: Cristina helped Jonesis get into the Compassion sponsorship programme.
achieving results that transform lives and local communities. I know anything that I leave them will be well used to help those in the greatest need.”
“I believe their work is making a difference in fighting injustice and alleviating poverty around the world.” A future gift, no matter the size, will make a lasting impact beyond your lifetime, and make a significant difference in the lives and communities of those
Tearfund serves. An example of this is the generous gift left to Tearfund recently. This went towards Tearfund’s Sri Lanka Dairy project. This project was an obvious choice for the dairy farming family who made the gift.
Please see our website for further information on how to leave a gift in your will www.tearfund.org.nz/Donate/ Wills-and-Bequests
or contact: Jenny Caston, Engagement Manager – Gifts and Bequests bequests@tearfund.org.nz 09 621 1054.
12 | CORRESPONDENT – November 2017
Donate
Sponsor a child today!
I’d like to support: Renew Hope (Empower projects) Disasters
A powerful hurricane swept through the Dominican Republic recently impacting vulnerable communities and creating more need. Will you help make a lasting difference by sponsoring one of these children today? Through sponsorship, you could also help transform the lives of at-risk children like Jonesis in our story on page 11.
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To sponsor a child in this edition, call us on 0800 800 777.
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Location: South America Central America
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Ronny
Age 11, from Dominican Republic
Walin
Fenix
Age 6, from Dominican Republic
DOB 14/06/06
DOB 28/01/11
Age 10, from Dominican Republic
Ronny lives in Dominican Republic with his mother and father. He is 11. Ronny speaks Spanish. When you decide to sponsor Ronny, you are starting a life-changing journey with him.
Walin lives in Dominican Republic with his mother. He is 6. Walin speaks Spanish. When you decide to sponsor Walin, you are starting a life-changing journey with him.
Fenix lives in Dominican Republic with his mother and father. He is 10. Fenix speaks Spanish. When you decide to sponsor Fenix, you are starting a life-changing journey with him.
DOB 25/09/07
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Your details Fill in this section if you are making a donation or if you’d like to sponsor a child. We’d love to start journeying with you!
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Alexander
Age 7, from Dominican Republic
Jesus
Jose
Age 8, from Dominican Republic
DOB 12/07/10
DOB 15/06/09
Age 9, from Dominican Republic
Alexander lives in Dominican Republic with his father. He is 7. Alexander speaks Spanish. When you decide to sponsor Alexander, you are starting a life-changing journey with him.
Jesus lives in Dominican Republic with his mother and father. He is 8. Jesus speaks Spanish. When you decide to sponsor Jesus, you are starting a life-changing journey with him.
Jose lives in Dominican Republic with his mother. He is 9. Jose speaks Spanish. When you decide to sponsor Jose, you are starting a life-changing journey with him.
DOB 10/07/08
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Jhozuariu
Robinson
Shalom
Age 5, from Dominican Republic
Age 12, from Dominican Republic
Age 3, from Indonesia
Jhozuariu lives in Dominican Republic with his mother. He is 5. Jhozuariu speaks Spanish. When you decide to sponsor Jhozuariu, you are starting a life-changing journey with him.
Robinson lives in Dominican Republic with his mother and father. He is 12. Robinson speaks Spanish. When you decide to sponsor Robinson, you are starting a life-changing journey with him.
Shalom lives in Indonesia with her mother and father. She is 3. Shalom speaks Indonesian. When you decide to sponsor Shalom, you are starting a lifechanging journey with her.
Elisabeth
Happiness
DOB 25/07/12
DOB 17/08/05
DOB 17/02/14
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Age 13, from Burkina Faso
Age 5, Tanzania
DOB 31/12/03
DOB 20/09/12
DOB 30/10/06
Elisabeth lives in Burkina Faso with her guardian. She is 13. Elisabeth speaks French. When you decide to sponsor Elisabeth, you are starting a life-changing journey with her.
Happiness lives in Tanzania with her mother and father. She is 5. Happiness speaks Swahili. When you decide to sponsor Happiness, you are starting a life-changing journey with her.
Cassandra lives in Haiti with her mother. She is 10. Cassandra speaks Creole. When you decide to sponsor Cassandra, you are starting a life-changing journey with her.
OUR PURPOSE
PUBLICATION DETAILS
Motivated by Jesus, we encourage Kiwis to act for justice and relieve poverty among the world’s most vulnerable people.
Editor: Keith Ramsay. Contributors: Ian McInnes, Claire Hart, Laura Brookes,
0800 800 777 | tearfund.org.nz enquiries@tearfund.org.nz
Cassandra
Age 10, from Haiti
Murray Sheard, Frank Ritchie, Jamie Allen, Katy Tait, Yrahisa Solano and Jenny Caston. Art Direction and Design: Alex Carter. Printing: PMP Print.