Life magazine 11 (HK version)

life Inside issue 11

Equipping local saints to care for children LIFE FOR CHILDREN AND THOSE WHO CARE FOR THEM A clean start for children in Costa Rica Growing trust among children in Cambodia A fresh understanding for Indian teachers

34175 HK Life magazine issue 11 STG3.indd 1

page 4

page 7

page 9

1

13/05/2019 10:52

EDITORIAL Isaiah 52:7 reads, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news and proclaim peace.”

Imagine having a clear calling to be the one to bring the good news and peace of Christ to the chaotic lives of vulnerable children in your community. Imagine God’s Spirit moving you to form this part of his Kingdom into a plan to bring about change for local children.

But it’s not so straightforward. With limited contacts, expertise, resources and lack of access to those in power, it’s near impossible for you to make the change alone.

This is the reality for thousands of faithful people around the world, eager to bring God’s Kingdom of good news and peace for children, but in desperate need of the right connections and training to see their calling fulfilled.

This edition of Life magazine features stories like this from people around the world who have heard God’s call and transformed the lives of local children, thanks to the support of Viva partner networks.

Read on pages 4-6 the life story of Bella Flor in Costa Rica, who, for the last 20 years, has been the catalyst for transformation in the lives of children in San José. Turn to page 8 to find out how Florence Namaganda sparked a culture shift for the rights of children with special needs in Kampala, Uganda.

In our Spring Appeal this year, we are highlighting the incredible work of these local saints – courageous individuals, who, despite their own challenging circumstances, continually go the extra mile to see children safe from harm and to create communities where they can flourish.

If you choose to support this work, you’ll be equipping local saints to care for children, as well as building a network of support around them to sustain them on their journey. You can give by using the form attached to page 9 or online at viva.org/localsaints.

Thank you so much for being part of the movement to see God’s restorative Kingdom come for children at risk of abuse and neglect around the world.

Best wishes

Rachael Ma Office and Fundraising Manager

We are an international Christian charity passionate about releasing children from poverty and abuse.

We grow locally-led networks who are committed to working together so that children are safe, well and able to fulfil their God-given potential.

2

Last year, Viva reached over 2 million children by partnering with 38 networks and working in 27 countries. Find out more at viva.org

34175 HK Life magazine issue 11 STG3.indd 2

13/05/2019 10:52

FUNDRAISING UPDATE Thank you for being Shining Lights!

During Christmas 2018, our Shining Lights Appeal focused on how Viva frees children from exploitation.

A fantastic HK$314,000 was donated by generous supporters and when doubled by our match donor, HK$628,000 is now boosting Viva’s work globally.

Please continue to pray for our response to this issue, in countries such as the Philippines, where our partner network PCMN is bringing to light the online sexual exploitation of children, which is a growing and disturbing problem there. It’s a privilege for Viva to be supporting PCMN as it empowers and trains dozens of youth advocates, and equips churches and schools to tackle the problem in their communities.

Christmas Parties in full swing More than 8,000 children attended a Viva Christmas Party in 2018 put on by our partner networks in 17 countries. The parties included fun, games, good food and songs. For a third of the children, it was their first contact with one of our networks and hopefully the beginning of extra support for them. The parties also deepen connections between churches and Christian ministries, which enables greater collaboration. Viva Christmas Parties are always supported by faithful individuals and churches in the UK, holding parties, Christmas collections and cake sales.

Could you support Viva Christmas Parties 2019? Find out more at www.viva.org/ christmasparties

The Ride Against Traffick We love big fundraising challenges – and they don’t come much bigger than cycling from Delhi to Kathmandu! An intrepid team of four adventurers in the UK joined two Indians, including Viva’s India Director Gary Kamaal doing the full distance of 1,000km between the two capital cities. Mim Friday, who leads Viva’s work in Africa, rode some of the distance, and they were all supported the whole way by Devesh Lal, Viva’s Network Consultant for India. Overall, the team have raised more than HK$100,000 for Viva’s work in preventing more girls from getting trapped into human trafficking. If this inspires you to take on a fundraising challenge too, get in touch with Rachael at r.ma@viva.org or on 852 3919 5867.

3

34175 HK Life magazine issue 11 STG3.indd 3

13/05/2019 10:52

A CLEAN START

FOR CHILDREN IN

COSTA RICA In a Costa Rican community controlled by drug cartels, local church leader, Bella Flor, has spent the last two decades bringing holistic transformation to the lives of children and families, whilst also getting her hands dirty by cleaning up the local environment.

Bella Flor talks to us about her motivation, her challenges and how being part of Viva’s partner network impacts her work.

What is your role?

I am a pastor and director of the Comedor Infantil La Tabla Posible (‘Children’s Canteen’ in La Tabla community), which is located in San Rafael Abajo de Desamparados, San José. I have worked here for 22 years, and have seen many generations pass through the centre.

What inspired you to start working with children here?

At the church I attended, there was an evangelistic campaign into the La Tabla community. I began to understand the great needs that the children were confronting.

From that first day they would line up to be fed, regardless of whether we had food to distribute.

La Tabla is a community of high social risk, where children are often abandoned by their parents. Most of them are subject to violence from their relatives and we should not ignore

the fact that some are exposed to abusive relationships. In addition, the community is dominated by drug addiction, resulting in children working as ‘drug mules’ to earn money to relieve the hardship they find themselves in.

From that day on, each time I went into the neighbourhood, God began to underline to me the promise that he had given me: that he was going to make a transformation in this community.

Is there any particular story that was a motivation for you?

Several years ago I met a boy who was eight years old and looked quite unwell. Since I could not find his mother, I left a message with a person who knew her and decided to take him home to give

“ It has been wonderful to be the means by which God is bringing light to this community.”

4 34175 HK Life magazine issue 11 STG3.indd 4

13/05/2019 10:52

EQUIPPING LOCAL SAINTS TO CARE FOR CHILDREN The 38 networks that partner with Viva connect over 4,000 churches and organisations – but these numbers do not tell us the real story. There are many inspirational local saints who sacrificially give their lives to serve vulnerable children. Bella and others like her see violence and share the hurt of the community every day but, always without fail, bring the hope and light of God. However, one person or one project alone can only do so much; it takes an active network to have a greater impact on the whole community with a joint strategy to bring about consistent change over a number of years.

Bella says she has been called to “demonstrate the love of Jesus through her actions”

him medicine and food. The boy begged me to let him stay at our house because he felt happier with us. Three days went by and, as no one contacted me about the child, I set about finding out who the mother was. When I found her, I took the boy to her home and I watched his mother treat him very badly, pushing him into the house and hitting him – all because the boy told her that he wanted to stay in my house. At that moment, I understood that my work ought to be much more than simply serving a plate of food to a child, but demonstrating the love of Jesus through my actions towards them.

What pleases you most about the work?

It has been amazing to see the hand of God at work during these last 22 years, demonstrating his faithfulness, which has transformed the lifestyle of children, and also of the community.

My work is vital, because we opened a children’s canteen, not only supplying hot meals, but

Viva’s partner networks are not just connecting churches and organisations – they are connecting amazing people that make up the body of Christ. In a network, people are not alone; they can share in each other’s good times and hard times and, added together, they are an incredible force for good.

fulfilling the need for God’s Word to be opened up to children and teenagers. We also give school support; assisting with supplies or helping students keep up their attendance. We develop recreation spaces.

Our greatest achievement was the creation of a multipurpose court, as a space where young people gather, share and, above all, have fun together.

With regard to the physical environment of the community, we work to clean it up through an educational programme about the collection and separation of rubbish for recycling. I really love what God has set me to do, knowing that I have been able to help change the way of thinking and living of some 2,000 children and young people. It has been wonderful to be the means by which God is bringing light to this community. continued on next page 5

34175 HK Life magazine issue 11 STG3.indd 5

13/05/2019 10:52

“The mutual support and pastoral care of the network helps me enormously.

I know now that I no longer work alone.”

Bella has transformed La Tabla by initiating regular community clean-ups

How have you seen your community change?

Now the neighbourhood is more attractive, the river that surrounds it no longer floods when it rains. Before it used to rise up and overflow through the houses. I have been able to see how the women, who were little girls 20 years ago, now bring their own children to the canteen. They frequently tell me that they do not want their children to go through the same things as they lived through in their own childhood. God has been good.

What would you say is your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge during all this time has been to gain the trust of the community to allow me to enter without having to ask permission. There are guards at all community entrances and people can be killed if they enter uninvited. There were many threats to my life when I first started in the community, but I have now built people’s trust. This has been one of the greatest steps of progress, because many

people in the community are naturally distrustful and close up when help is offered.

How does being part of Red Viva Costa Rica help you?

Through their resources and programmes they provide me with the tools that greatly improves my work. Equally, the mutual support and the pastoral care helps me enormously.

I know now that I do no longer work alone.

Would you recommend others join the network?

It’s very important to work as a team; to assess whether what you have done is good or bad. It is a great help in ministerial development.

In what others ways might the network help you in future?

It would be fantastic to have a department where professionals in psychology and skills development are integrated, and where we could effectively support children who are in need of assistance in those areas.

Bella Flor was talking with William Mora, Network Co-ordinator of Red Viva Costa Rica

Bella’s organisation, Comedor Infantil La Tabla Posible, is one of 48 churches and Christian ministries who are members of Viva’s partner network in San José, Costa Rica – and together they are committed to keeping children safe from violence and domestic abuse, and strengthening families.

6 34175 HK Life magazine issue 11 STG3.indd 6

13/05/2019 10:52

EQUIPPING LOCAL SAINTS TO CARE FOR CHILDREN

GROWING

TRUST A volunteer mentor with a group of children in Siem Riep

From an initial fear of the task ahead of them, Peace Team Cambodia’s volunteer mentors have grown into their roles, and are helping to turn children’s broken hearts into hopeful ones, as Khun Sokhem explains.

When we started our anti-trafficking programme in 2017, there were many challenges facing our volunteers. They were afraid that no-one would listen to them and concerned that they were unable to deal well with children who suffer so much. We asked them very straightforward questions: “are you willing to act on your calling from God and, if you don’t go to help those children and people, who will?”

The mentors have been able to teach the 100 children about how to protect themselves from trafficking, to stay safe from landmines and to get practical support for home and school life.

Mentors are loving and encouraging these children, and helping to turn broken hearts into hopeful hearts. A strong trust has grown between children and from child to mentor.

Through our training, the volunteers came to realise that they wouldn’t face trouble from anyone for sharing ways of protecting children from abuse and trafficking.They learned that co-operation with government at all levels is important, and that they should explain everything clearly with community leaders, parents and children.

The next phase of this project will see these children trained to be advocates.The mentors will teach children about leadership and identity, and empower them to speak up on behalf of other children to advocate against abuse.

In the child mentorship project, there are ten mentors from different churches and ten children for each mentor. The children all came with difficult circumstances – some have no food to eat, some are from broken families, some have no school uniform and materials, some are regularly beaten by adults.

As the children shared their heartbreaking stories and situations with mentors, it was a very emotional time – but as the mentors wept with the children, this created a bond which inspired them to want to help even more.

34175 HK Life magazine issue 11 STG3.indd 7

Through their experiences so far, most of our volunteers feel very encouraged, empowered and want to continue their mission to help their community and children. They are thankful for the support of the government and of our network for allowing them to teach and help their local community, schools and churches.

Khun Sokhem is Executive Director of our partner network, Peace Team Cambodia

7

13/05/2019 10:52

NO LONGER HIDDEN Last year’s disability awareness-raising march in Kampala

Fear and community stigma have created a culture of neglect and misinformation surrounding children with disabilities in Uganda, causing many children to be concealed by their parents.

Eighteen years ago, while training to be a physiotherapist, Florence Namaganda would see parents brave enough to take the step of bringing their children to a hospital – but only under the cover of darkness. They would sit in hospitals at midday, having already been seen by a specialist, waiting for evening before daring to leave the hospital and risk their child being seen. When she started making home visits, she saw children kept well out of sight in a back room so as not be caught out by neighbours making unexpected visits.

It was at this point, during her studies that Florence realised that God was calling her to be the catalyst for changing the futures of these hidden children. A daunting task ahead of her, but trusting in God, she began the journey towards an entirely new way of treating children with special needs in Kampala.

Starting simply, Florence would teach those she met on home visits about the facts: that their children were not a curse or punishment, but would flourish with the right education and attention. These parents then educated their neighbours and overcame stigma together.

8

After receiving an unexpected donation, in 2006, Florence was able to launch ‘Mukisa’, a centre where children with special needs and their parents could be guided to learn about disability

34175 HK Life magazine issue 11 STG3.indd 8

together in a safe environment. The first day saw six children and parents come, the next day 12, and today 4,000 children and their parents have attended the Mukisa centre.

Florence founded the ‘Special Children’s Trust’, which has grown into a respected charity at the forefront of advocacy for children with disabilities in Kampala. It now includes the Mukisa centre, an inclusive school, a forum of over 60 other organisations and is a key member of CRANE, Viva’s partner network in Uganda.

Being a part of CRANE has given Florence and her organisation the training, accountability and credibility to influence change at a high level in Kampala. The Trust organises awarenessraising marches in the city and works alongside the government to identify gaps in services for children with special needs. They are also pushing the implementation of a National Needs Identification Tool so that teachers across Uganda can be equipped to best meet the needs of children in their care.

Thanks to Florence’s faithfulness and a swell of collective support, children in Kampala with disabilities are finally becoming visible, and able to see their ambitions for the future, become reality.

13/05/2019 10:52

EQUIPPING LOCAL SAINTS TO CARE FOR CHILDREN

I would like to give a one-off donation (Please enclose a cheque payable to ‘Viva’) HK$ My details Name Address

Email I am a HK taxpayer and I would like a tax exemption receipt for my enclosed donation Signature

RUNNING FOR A REASON

Date

I would like to give HK$ to Viva’s work across Asia

Last month, 12 runners completed their runs in the 渣打香港馬拉松 standard chartered HK marathon in Hong Kong – drumming up more than HK$100,000 for Viva’s work with vulnerable children.

/

per month

Viva Network (Hong Kong) Ltd

We’re really grateful for those who took part and those who supported with sponsorship and in other ways too.

“I ran for Viva as a member of their firstever team to raise funds about eight years ago. I love running – started in my mid-50s and never looked back. I realised that I could combine two passions – running and raising funds for a great cause. So running for Viva was born out of pursuing a love for both.”

/

Bank no 004 Branch no 848 Name(s) of account holder(s)

“Running is an energising physical activity.

Yet, running for a good cause like Viva lifts it up to another level. Every child has the potential to excel and I believe in the work of Viva to raise awareness about children’s rights globally. With my privilege, I am always happy to join Viva in releasing children from poverty and abuse worldwide.”

Account no 139408838

Bank number Branch number Account number I/We hereby authorize my/our above named Bank to effect transfers from my/ our account to that of the above named beneficiary in accordance with such instructions as my/our Bank may receive from the beneficiary and/or its banker and/or its banker’s correspondent from time to time provided always that the amount of any one such transfer shall not exceed the limit indicated above.

Signature(s)

Date

Nigel Raymont

/

Please return this form to Viva, Room TA07, 6/F, Woon Lee Commercial Building, 7-9 Austin Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui

Jacky Chung 9

34175 HK Life magazine issue 11 STG3.indd 9

/

Telephone: +852 3919 5867

www.viva.org 13/05/2019 10:52

© The Dignity Campaign

PROMOTING DIGNITY Girls in Cape Town take part in an activity about their identity in God

When a teenage girl living in a socially and economically difficult area of Cape Town becomes a young mother, she is thrust into bringing up and caring for a precious new life – and yet is often ill equipped to do so.

However, if a young girl is well equipped for becoming a woman, she is less likely to be at risk as motherhood arrives. It all starts with regaining her own dignity and knowing that she is of value.

Connect, Viva’s partner network in Cape Town, is helping hundreds of people to find their identity, belonging and purpose in God by promoting the Dignity Campaign, established by one of its members in the city. ‘Dignity’ comprises a range of training and awarenessraising programmes.

WILL YOU HELP US

Last year it reached 295 girls and 30 boys, plus 30 facilitators trained to teach and mentor these young people. Additionally, 60 Child Ambassadors from Connect’s ten child protection groups took part in a Dignity Day, with awareness events reaching a further 2,500 people. An empowerment programme is teaching 13-19 year-old girls about subjects such as relationships, sexuality and choices.

EQUIP LOCAL

SAINTS

TO CARE FOR CHILDREN? 34175 HK Life magazine issue 11 STG3.indd 10

There is a such need for a campaign like this to spread further into townships such as Khayelitsha, where 15 facilitators have been trained to implement the campaign with 300 mothers of

pre-school children. Here, the unemployment rate among women is 64 per cent, significantly higher than the rate of 21.5 per cent among women in the Western Cape. Almost a quarter of women in the township reported having their first child before the age of 20, and experience low education levels and high levels of abuse in the township.

The SOZO Foundation, a Connect member, reported that mothers felt very encouraged to have a programme like ‘Dignity’ in the community because they didn’t have the opportunities to learn topics that were seen as taboo. One mum in particular said that, “It was a privilege to be given a safe space to discuss selfesteem and confidence with my daughter because I don’t want her to struggle like I did when I was a teenager.”

Pray for the Dignity Campaign as it continues with the girls’ work and also develops a parallel programme, DARE, for boys and young men.

Pray too that the network would encourage more churches to take part in it.

Training courses by Viva are consistently used by Connect for its members, including the capacity-building tool, QIS, and the Child Ambassador advocacy programme.

10 13/05/2019 10:52

EQUIPPING LOCAL SAINTS TO CARE FOR CHILDREN

CREATIVE BLESSINGS

A simple gesture can make the world of difference!

Children at a school in Marawi City in the Philippines who were displaced by conflict hold beautifully decorated notebooks produced by children in Hong Kong.

The Filipino children have received the notebooks as gifts from Fe Foronda, National Director of PCMN – Viva’s partner network in the Philippines – who visited the school, met the children in March and was delighted to see how they were being used as cherished gifts.

One hundred notebooks were decorated by children at The Vine Church in Hong Kong during its Vacation Bible School. Children were given blank notebooks, markers, glitter

and stickers and asked to decorate them and write a note to a child from Basak Elementary School in Marawi City.

In the Philippines, PCMN continues to work to counsel traumatised children and families, empower Child Ambassadors and advocate for the strengthening of families.

A big thank you to The Vine Church for supporting this project.

11

34175 HK Life magazine issue 11 STG3.indd 11

13/05/2019 10:52

EQUIPPING LOCAL SAINTS TO CARE FOR CHILDREN

KEEPING YOUR CHILDREN SAFE “Viva has instilled in us a heart to pursue excellence in child protection and care. They have encouraged us to be proactive and to start somewhere.�

Andrea Wong, Operations and Kids Pastor at Sky City Church

When parents look for a school or extracurricular classes for their children, it is natural for the focus to be on the academic performance, or the professional qualification of the teachers, tutors, and coaches. After all, they are there to educate our children and enhance their performance.

We seldom, however, have concerns over whether the organisation has child safeguarding measures in place.

Child safeguarding should be as important as knowledge and skills. Without a safe environment and adequate protection measures in place, children are not able to develop to their full potential. Nowadays, children spend long hours after school attending tutorial classes

averaging almost 5 hours a week. In addition, many attend extracurricular sports or music classes. It is crucial to know that children are well protected in these places.

Viva Hong Kong is working with a variety of organisations such as schools, churches, sports clubs, and private clubs to create and reinforce child safeguarding policies. Since 2017, we have trained 15 organisations who, between them, reach and impact the lives of tens of thousands of children in the city.

We would love you to join us in safeguarding the children of Hong Kong.

Contact Kanice Ho, Child Protection Advisor at k.ho@viva.org for more details about the training programme we provide.

Viva, Room TA07, 6/F, Woon Lee Commercial Building, 7-9 Austin Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong t: +852 3919 5867

FACEBOOK.COM/VIVATOGETHERHK Mixed Sources Product group from well-managed forests, controlled sources and recycled wood or fibre. www.fsc.org Cert No. SA-COC-09174

Front cover: CRANE

34175 HK Life magazine issue 11 STG3.indd 12

HK@VIVA.ORG

VIVA.ORG

Viva is an operating name of Viva Network (Hong Kong) Limited. Viva Network (Hong Kong) Limited is a company limited by guarantee and registered charity with company no.1657942, and registered in Hong Kong SAR at 22/F Siu On Building, 243-245 Des Vouex Road West, Hong Kong Any children referred to have had their names and photos changed in accordance with our Child Protection Policy.

13/05/2019 10:52