Viva Report 2007 by Viva

The Viva Report 2007

The State of the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christian Work With Children

ÂŠ Viva Network Ltd 2007 Photographs ÂŠ Stephanie Mallen, unless otherwise stated. Photographs used do not necessarily depict those mentioned in text Editorial team Mark Kingston, Louisa Lapworth, Jes Redgard, Philip Stanmore Design Clear & Creative Communications The Viva Report is made possible by funding provided by the following organisations:

Foreword

If you were asked “What are Christians doing to help suffering children around the world?” What would you say? During my time as Archbishop of Canterbury I had the privilege of meeting many remarkable people doing remarkable things in Jesus’ name. I know that where there is suffering, there you will find Christian people providing practical hope and help. Yet I couldn’t say with certainty how substantial this Christian response is. This lack of knowledge has become a problem. As Christians, we have a mandate to do all we can to serve the poor and the oppressed, and yet we don’t know who is doing what and where. Is it any wonder then that this Christian response is often disconnected, uncoordinated, isolated and not properly supported?

It will enable Christians working with children to locate and connect with others in their locality who can help them. It will help organisations avoid duplicating effort and encourage them to start sharing knowledge, resources and people. It will also enable us to see where no one is doing anything and so enable Christian agencies to focus their resources and people to impact the areas and children who need them most. This is why I am so pleased to commend this first edition of the Viva Report to you. Please read it, contribute to it and give it your full support, because this project will soon empower you, and those you work with, to change the world for children at risk. Lord Carey of Clifton Archbishop of Canterbury 1991 – 2002

Photo courtesy of Lambeth Palace

The Viva Report aims to change this. Over the coming seven years it will build an accurate picture of the extent of Christian service for children at risk around the globe. I believe this knowledge will be revolutionary.

Contents

Children At Risk 6

/ Global Overview 8 / Knowledge Leads to Empowerment 10

Country Profiles / Kenya 12 / Uganda 14 / India 16 Russia 20 / Slovakia 22 / Bolivia 24 / Costa Rica 26

/ The Philippines 18

Definitions of Issues and Responses 28 / Glossary 29 / Data Sources 29 Viva Offices 30 / Viva Affiliated Networks 31 / Viva International Associates 32 How You Can Get Involved 33 / Response Form 33

Children At Risk One in every five people in the world today is a suffering child.1 The statistics paint a horrifying picture. Every year, around one million children are recruited into commercial sexual exploitation. Every month, 250,000 children are infected by HIV. Every day, almost 30,000 children die from preventable diseases. Every three seconds, a child dies because of poverty. Time and again, the Bible tells us that children, and childhood, are important to God. As Christians we are called to cherish, nurture and protect children so that they become all that God intends them to be. Why then are one in every five people - that’s one in every two children in the world - deemed as being ‘at risk’? And what is the Christian community doing about it? This raises a challenge. If the Christian community is going to make a lasting impact on the world’s children in the future, we need to know what is happening now.

Christian Care For Children An unknown quantity There is little doubt that the Christian community is at the forefront of the world’s response to the need of children at risk. The problem is that nobody knows the full extent - or effectiveness - of that response! Over the last ten years Viva has documented many tens of thousands of individuals and projects that are reaching out to these children and speaking up for them. We know there is much more work to be recorded. However, our analysis of the available data raises some interesting conclusions. It suggests that the Christian community’s response tends to be segmented, fragmented, uncoordinated and insular. As it stands, it cannot effectively tackle the sheer scale of children living at risk.

“Children are a heritage and a gift that comes from the Lord God”. Psalm 127: 3

1 All statistics in this paragraph taken from The State of The World's Children report 2005 - UNICEF

The Viva Report - The state of the world’s Christian work with children.

The problems of isolation Furthermore, Viva’s experience suggests that one in two children at risk projects fails within two years of start-up. Often these projects are being run by front-line caregivers who are responding to the needs that they find on their doorsteps. Too often, however, they find themselves alone and unsupported, lacking access to the peer relationships, training, resources and other basics they need to survive. As a result, their projects suffer from common problems including duplication of work, burnout, insufficient co-ordination and poor accountability. Frequently these issues could be resolved if the carers had access to information on who, in their locality, might be able to help support and complement the work they are doing.

The longing for connection A recent analysis by Fuller Seminary2 discovered that one of the key influencing factors for Christians considering working with children at risk was the ability to connect with a network of like-minded people. In other words, it is vital that they have an existing support structure and safety net.

The Viva Report The Viva Report seeks to document the scale and nature of Christian work for children at risk. The report is made possible by a data set that can be used for: • Analysis by academics and decision makers •A dvocacy in areas where too little is done or where there is a failure to work together despite extensive outreach • Access to front line service providers It is our hope that The Viva Report will help towards the continued building of a mobilised and connected Christian community working for children at risk. This publication is the first step towards gauging interest in The Viva Report. Viva aims to complete a global mapping of all work by the Christian community with children at risk by 2014. Yet such a significant goal is dependent on finding partners willing to work with us - Christian organisations and projects working with children at risk in different countries all contributing data on what they do and where they do it.

The need for documentation

Viva believes this research is vital to build a better, broader and more connected response to the scandal of hungry, homeless and hurting children. To achieve that, in If we believe that the Christian community is the single largest body Jesus’ name, would indeed be good news for children. reaching out to children at risk then why are so many projects and frontline caregivers isolated and unsupported? The answer is that, despite the amazing and often miraculous work being carried out in the name of Jesus, of education, child welfare and community health programmes.3 With seven nowhere is there a comprehensive source documenting that response. Those million Trinitarian4 congregations predicted by 20205 the potential for expansion who feel called to reach out to children at risk have no easy access to information is significant. This is good news for anybody concerned about the survival, providing introductions to the support and resources they so desperately need. protection and development of children. The Viva Report aims to change this.

A vision for the future The Christian community has been, and continues to be, a leading child advocate in societies worldwide. Today the Christian community is a significant provider The Viva Report - Analysis, Advocacy, and Access.

2 Understanding Christian motivation for Work with Children at Risk – Fuller Theological Seminary School of Intercultural studies and Viva Network Ltd 3 Patrick McDonald CE Viva Network Ltd 4 Accepting the doctrine of the trinity. 5 The Church is Bigger Than You Think by Patrick Johnstone

Global Overview Africa

Asia

Australasia

Population Africa is the world’s second largest and second most populous continent. With over 900 million people (as of 2005) it accounts for about 14% of the world’s population. The last 40 years have seen a rapid increase in population. In some countries half or more of the population is under 25.

Population Asia is the world’s largest and most populous continent. With a population of almost 4 billion people, it contains more than 60% of the world’s population.

Population Australasia is the most sparsely inhabited of all continents with a population of just over 36 million.

Geography There are 53 countries including all the island groups. Africa straddles the equator and encompasses numerous climate areas. It is the only continent to stretch from the northern temperate to the southern temperate zones.

Geography Given its size and diversity, Asia is a culture and region incorporating a range of peoples, climates and terrain.

Geography Australasia includes the Australian landmass (including Tasmania), New Zealand and Melanesia, New Guinea and neighbouring islands north and east of Australia in the Pacific Ocean.

Economy Due largely to the effects of the slave trade, colonialism, the international trade regime, geopolitics, corrupt governments, despotism, and conflict, Africa is the world’s poorest inhabited continent. According to the United Nations’ Human Development Report in 2006, of the bottom 25 ranked nations 24 were in Africa.

Economy Asia has the third largest GDP of all continents. As of 2007 the largest national economy in Asia is China, followed by India and Japan. Economic growth in Asia from the mid 1940s to the 1990s was concentrated in a few countries in the Pacific Rim. (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and S Korea.)

Economy This region has a diverse mix of economies from the highly developed and globally competitive financial markets of Australia and New Zealand (boasting parity with much of Western Europe) to the much less developed island economies.

Documented Christian response 5746 contacts

4275 contacts

388 contacts

Documented data in this edition Kenya, Uganda

India, The Philippines

No report

We are actively researching the response in the following countries: Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Indonesia Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe 8

Australia, New Zealand

The Viva Report - The State of the World’s Christian Work With Children.

Europe

Latin America & The Caribbean

North America

Population Europe, with a population of 710 million (11% of the worlds population), is the third largest continent.

Population The combined population of this area is in the region of 570 million.

Population Estimated to have a population exceeding 520 million and ranked as 4th largest in the world (behind Asia, Africa and Europe).

Geography The second smallest continent, in terms of area, covering 2% the earth’s surface. Europe consists of 54 sovereign states and should not be confused with the European Union which consists of 27 member countries.

Geography Commonly, Latin America refers only to those territories in the Americas where Spanish or Portuguese prevail. Sometimes, particularly in the United States, the term “Latin America” is used to refer to all of the Americas south of the USA including also countries in the Caribbean.

Geography The third largest continent in area, it covers 4.8% of the world’s surface and includes USA, Canada and Quebec.

Economy As a continent, Europe has the largest economy on earth. The European Union is rated as one of the two largest economies in the world. Major economic sectors include agriculture, manufacturing and finance.

Economy Economic growth rates between 1980 and 2002 averaged only 2.2%. For the last 3 years economic growth has been over 4% but still falls short of that achieved in other developing regions. Inequality and poverty continue to be the region’s main challenges. According to the World bank nearly 25% of the population lives on less than US$ 2 a day.

Economy North America has an economy estimated to be over US$15.6 trillion (in terms of GDP) making it the second largest economy behind Europe. The USA has the single largest economy of any country in the world.

8881 contacts

3791 contacts

4712 contacts

Russia, Slovakia

Bolivia, Costa Rica

No report

United Kingdom, Eastern bloc countries

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela

Canada, USA

The Viva Report - Analysis, Advocacy, and Access.

Knowledge Leads to Empowerment What we want to know

Why we want to know

Quite literally, it is our target to fully document the statistics of every single Christian response to the issues and needs of children at risk. With your help we hope to achieve this by 2014.

Viva wants to help you start a revolution. Here’s how:

Who? Whether you are an individual, a small local project, a church congregation or a national/international organisation; if you do anything to help impact children at risk then we would love to hear about you and your ministry.

What? Whether you are a prayer supporter, an advocate, a financial donor or delivering care direct to the children, we need to know what you do.

Where? You do not need to live in a country, city, town or village with children at risk (although there are children at risk in every country) to reach out to those children. We want to know where the mobilised Christian response is located.

Why? Last but not least, we want to understand the precise motivations of why Christians become involved in working with and for children at risk. Only you can help us to complete the picture. See page 33 for ways you can help us.

Empowering Connections By enabling Christians working with children to locate and connect with others in their locality who can help them, loneliness and isolation will soon be a thing of the past.

Preventing Duplication Knowing who is doing what and where will help organisations avoid duplicating effort and encourage them to start sharing knowledge, resources and people.

Identifying Need Knowing who is doing what and where also enables us to see where no one is doing anything. Identifying areas of great need enables Christian agencies to focus their resources and people to impact the areas and children who need them most. In short, we want to empower and unleash Christians working with children to get connected so that more children at risk get better help.

Do we know you? Over ten years Viva has built up a database of over 40000 people, projects, and organisations working with and for children. But do we know about you? It’s easy to find out. Just contact Viva and ask if your details are recorded on our database Vivanet2 or fill in the response form on page 33. You can email us at: vn2@viva.org

The Viva Report - The State of the World’s Christian Work With Children.

How & why to get involved â&#x20AC;&#x201C; your knowledge counts The Viva Report is dependent on the cooperation of Christian bodies at all levels. Whether your work is at a local, regional or international level, your knowledge of the Christian response to children in your area is invaluable. The more information we have, the clearer our understanding of the operations of the Christian community in childcare. Here are some of the ways you can get involved.

Mapping If you serve children at risk, make sure your work is represented in the Viva Report. Get in touch and we will send you a simple form to fill in. You could also nominate a key person in your organisation to be our contact for further discussion on this project. With such a large task ahead of us, we value practical help too. For example, you could commission your field staff to help us gather local community data.

Thinking If you have any suggestions on other ways in which we could use this data, or have ideas on how we could best publicise our findings, please let us know.

Photo courtesy of a Andri Geeve

Analysing

The Viva Report - Analysis, Advocacy, and Access.

We will need help to analyse the huge amount of data this project continues to produce. If you have technical staff and/or academic staff who can help us analyse and report the data, we would be very interested to hear from you.

Funding To fully map the global Christian response to children at risk will also require significant funding. If you, your organisation or other contacts would be interested in finding out more, we would be pleased to talk to you.

Focus on: Kenya Statistics

“Look after orphans and widows in their distress.” James 1: 27

Total population (millions) Child population (millions) No. of Orphans (millions) No. of Christians (millions) No. of Viva affiliated networks No. of Organisations No. of Projects Churches with a mobilised response No. of known Christian responses Total No. Children impacted No. of network explorations

Situation Analysis

The major categories of risk • Orphans & child-headed households • Street children • Domestic abuse • Drugs & addiction

34.26 17.21 2.30 26.72 2 204 277 41 570 38000 1

50.03% of total population 13.36% of child population 78% of population Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva

GNI per capita:

$530

Annual rate of inflation:

11%

Adult literacy rate:

Male 78%; Female 70%

Secondary school attendance ratio:

Male 40; Female 40

Child (5-14) labour rate:

27%

EPI vaccines with government funding:

80%

HIV prevalence (adults):

6.1

Estimated number living with HIV:

1.3 million

Life expectancy:

Source of data on page 29

The Viva Report - The State of the World’s Christian Work With Children.

Agnes’ Story The Church in Kenya

Top 5 ways Christians respond

Reports record that 78% of the population expressed themselves as Christians. Current records show that only 41 church congregations work together in reaching out to marginalised children.

Healthcare

20%

Advocacy

11%

Christian Networks in Kenya

Faith Development

Children at Risk Prayer Fellowship (CARPF) is a network of over 70 organisations that aims to improve the lives of children by empowering those that care for them to be more effective. Through CARPF mutual support and the sharing of experiences, skills and resources is made possible.

Documented networked Christian response

Kisumu is in exploration stage and is currently mapping “who is doing what where” to assess the requirement and vision for a children at risk network. Wetu Watoto Network Associate (WWANA) a network of 30 members working towards enhancing the capacity and quality of homes and centres assisting children at risk in Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi For further information on these networks and our international associates active in Kenya please contact: Africa@viva.org

The Viva Report - Analysis, Advocacy, and Access.

Feeding & Nutrition

11%

Counselling

10% 9%

Year

Networks

Participants

No. of children

2007

38000

rug Fighters is a school based in the Kibera slum area of Nairobi. It is run by a Kenyan woman called Agnes who lives in a tiny one roomed dwelling next to the school and who has a heart for children at risk. Kibera is Africa’s largest slum, where one in three Nairobi residents live. Kibera has been described in the following terms “The smells leap at you wood fires, fried fish, excrement, rubbish - the rich stench of 800,000 people living in terrible conditions. Kibera slum is a six hundred acre forgotten city.” There is a violent drug culture in Kibera and the name ‘Drug Fighters’ has been given to the project because of Agnes’ passion to mitigate against the influence that drugs and alcoholism has on the lives of children in her vicinity. Agnes was denied an education because of alcoholism in her family. At first she felt very bitter about this, but God turned her heart around and gave her a passion to rescue and restore children affected by the same issues. Belonging to the network has helped Agnes in terms of encouragement and feeling less isolated in the work that she does. It was the Network Co-ordinator of CARPF who originally befriended and supported Agnes and encouraged her in her mission. Agnes says that she found the support, encouragement and prayer invaluable and it was good to meet with like-minded people in the network doing similar work for God in her area. Drug Fighters and Agnes have also benefited from the training sessions provided by the network. 13

Focus on: Uganda Statistics

“Remember those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Hebrews 13: 3

Total population (millions) Child population (millions) No. of Orphans (millions) No. of Christians (millions) No. of Viva affiliated networks No. of Christian Organisations No. of Christian Projects Churches with a mobilised response No. of known Christian responses Total No. Children impacted No. of network explorations

28.82 16.54 2.30 24.53 2 213 211 36 500 134800

57.40% of total population 13.91% of child population 85.1% of total population Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva

Situation Analysis

The major categories of risk • Orphaned & abandoned children • Domestic abuse • Street children

GNI per capita:

$280

Annual rate of inflation:

Adult literacy rate:

Male 77%; Female 58%

Secondary school attendance ratio:

Male 14; Female 12

Child (5-14) labour rate:

37%

EPI Vaccines with government funding:

HIV prevalence (adults):

6.7

Estimated number living with HIV:

1million

Life expectancy:

Source of data on page 29

The Viva Report - The State of the World’s Christian Work With Children.

Florenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Story The Church in Uganda

Top 5 ways Christians respond

According to the 2002 national census 85.1% of the population expressed themselves as Christians. Current records show that only 36 church congregations work together in reaching out to marginalised children.

Education

17%

Advocacy

10%

Counselling

Health Care

Christian Networks in Uganda

Community Development

Children at Risk Action Network (CRANE) links projects in Kampala who share the vision of creating a joint Christian response to influence and enhance effective and efficient care for children at risk. Together they carry out jointly planned activities in order to improve the quality and quantity of childcare by linking local Christian organizations that are working with children at risk. CRANE links together over 25 different organisations

Documented networked Christian response

Children at Risk National Collaboration of Christian Agencies (CaRNaC) aim to encourage collaborative action across Uganda to affect a coordinated Christian response to children at risk. CaRNaC links together over 30 different organisations. For further information on these networks and our international associates active in Uganda please contact: Africa@viva.org

The Viva Report - Analysis, Advocacy, and Access.

Year

Networks

Participants

No. of children

2007

108000

he Mukisa Foundation formed in February 2006 and joined CRANE network in February 2007. Mukisa works to support and empower families with children who have special needs. Florence Namaganda, from Mukisa Foundation, attended a Viva Quality Improvement System people care training session resulting in Mukisa making improvements to many working practices impacting children, families and carers. These improvements include: weekly case reviews of every child in the programme; staff meetings with volunteers; showing real appreciation in a practical way and expressing thanks; parents and staff being encouraged to take a greater responsibility and being trained in specific tasks. The whole attitude in the staff team has changed which has in turn positively affected relationships with the parents and children. CRANE has also helped with training in governance and Mukisa is now forming a governing body. A leading paediatrician has agreed to be on the board and additionally give one day per month, free of charge, to assess and statement the needs of the children. Networking has resulted in the donation of medicines, an exploration of ideas about working together, and the opportunity for children from Mukisa to attend a school for children with special needs. Links between Viva and a mission agency has meant that an early intervention special needs teacher will work with Mukisa on an early intervention education programme. 15

Focus on: India Statistics

“Lift up your hands for the lives of your children who are starving to death out on the streets” Lamentations 2: 19

1103.37 420.68 25.70 25.37 5 226 221 21 475 101443 4

38.12 % of total population 6.11 % of child population 2.3 % of total population Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva

Situation Analysis GNI per capita:

$720

Annual rate of inflation:

Adult literacy rate:

Male 73%; Female 48%

Secondary school attendance ratio:

Male 59; Female 47

Child (5-14) labour rate:

14%

EPI vaccines with government funding:

100%

• Street children

HIV prevalence (adults):

0.9

• Prejudice

Estimated number living with HIV:

5.7 million

Life expectancy:

The major categories of risk • Orphans & child-headed households

Source of data on page 29

The Viva Report - The State of the World’s Christian Work With Children.

Careers Advice in Vadodara The Church in India Research indicates that 2.31% of the population expressed themselves as Christians. Current records show that only 21 church congregations work together in reaching out to marginalised children.

Christian Networks in India Delhi Network raises awareness on children at risk issues in churches through posters, fliers and presentations. Gurgaon Network is at exploration stage and is focussed on concern for the survival of the Girl Child. The low sex ratio in their district (750 girls to 1000 boys) is mainly due to female infanticide and foeticide. Kolkata Network exists to help street children, advocate for child labourers & children who are trafficked, and the girl children who are forced into prostitution. Madurai Network aims to assist Christian NGOs to equip their staff with skills to effectively minister to children at risk.

Pune Network trained healthcare workers and teachers to remove the stigma in society for HIV infected and affected children and orphaned children. The network is exploring ways to address the issues of children of sex workers and street children. For further information on these networks and our international associates active in India please contact: asiacentre@viva.org

Top 5 ways Christians respond Advocacy

t the local network meeting in Vadodara, Mrs. Sheela Christie, Superintendent of the Methodist Technical Home met Mr Joseph Pius, Founder Director of Snehdeep, an NGO working towards developing entrepreneurship of the children of a slum area in Vadodara city. Sheela invited Mr. Joseph Pius to hold career counselling for students at the Methodist Technical Institute. Over 300 students attended the counselling and received advice and guidance on career opportunities.

55%

R & D

18%

Education

Faith Development

Residential Care

Documented networked Christian response Year

Networks

Participants

No. of children

2007

n/a

101443

Nagpur Network is at exploration stage investigating concern for 50,000 street children in Nagpur. The network is preparing a collaborative project for street children. The Viva Report - Analysis, Advocacy, and Access.

Focus on: The Philippines Statistics Total population (millions) Child population (millions) No. of Orphans (millions) No. of Christians (millions) No. of Viva Affiliated networks No. of Organisations No. of Projects Churches with a mobilised response No. of known Christian responses Total No. Children impacted No. of network explorations

“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.”

83.05 34.62 2.0 74.75 3 273 123 217 620 140120 2

41.69% of total population 5.78% of child population 90% of total population Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva

Situation Analysis GNI per capita:

$1300

Annual rate of inflation:

Adult literacy rate:

Male 93%; Female 93%

Secondary school attendance ratio:

Male 56; Female 57

Child (5-14) labour rate:

12%

EPI vaccines with government funding:

100%

• Domestic abuse

HIV prevalence (adults):

<0.15

• Orphans & child-headed households

Estimated number living with HIV:

12,000

Life expectancy:

Matthew 18: 5

The major categories of risk • Street children

• Prejudice

Source of data on page 29

The Viva Report - The State of the World’s Christian Work With Children.

Samar Island The Church in The Philippines

Top 5 ways Christians respond

Records report that around 90% of the population expressed themselves as Christians. Current records show that 217 church congregations work together in reaching out to marginalised children.

Advocacy

Christian Networks in The Philippines The Philippines Children’s Ministries Network (PCMN) is a Christian network working together for Filipino children that they may reflect God’s image and reach their full potential. PCMN link together over 37 organisations seeking to impact children and their carers.

ommunity awareness on the issue of child trafficking is heightened through the community education sessions conducted by the different churches who are members of the Eastern Samar Children’s Rights Advocacy Network (ESCRAN), Western Samar Children’s Ministries Network (WSCMN) and the Northern Samar Children Ministries Network (NSCMN). To date, they have reached 18,715 individuals. They are also involved in reporting child trafficking incidents and in aftercare service of victims. Pastors have found more meaning in their ministry and relevance in the community.

59%

R & D

36%

Residential Care

Counselling

Education

Documented networked Christian response Year

Networks

Participants

No. of children

2007

200

63400

Photo courtesy of a Viva network

For further information on these networks and our international associates active in The Philippines please contact: asiacentre@viva.org.

The Viva Report - Analysis, Advocacy, and Access.

Focus on: Russia Statistics

Matthew 25: 40

Photo courtesy of a Viva network

“The least you do for one of these my brothers you do unto me.”

Total population (millions) Child population (millions) No. of Orphans (millions) No. of Christians (millions) No. of Viva affiliated networks No. of Organisations No. of Projects Churches with a mobilised response No. of known Christian Responses Total No. Children impacted No. of network explorations

143.20 28.83 n/a n/a 1 101 117 n/a 277 493884

20.13% % % Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva

Situation Analysis GNI per capita:

$4460

Annual rate of inflation:

13.6%

Adult literacy rate:

Male 100%, Female 99%

Secondary school attendance ratio:

Male 93; Female 93

Child (5-14) labour rate:

n/a

EPI Vaccines with government funding:

100%

• Street Children

HIV prevalence (adults):

1.1

• Drugs & addiction

Estimated number living with HIV:

940,000

Life expectancy:

The major categories of risk • Orphans & child-headed households

• HIV/Aids

Source of data on page 29

The Viva Report - The State of the World’s Christian Work With Children.

New Hope International Top 5 ways Christians respond

Documented statistics on the Christian population are difficult to obtain. Current records show that there are no documented examples of church congregations working together in reaching out to marginalised children.

Advocacy

Christian Networks in Russia CoMission for Children at Risk (CoMission) exists to equip, resource and network Christian leaders, organizations, churches and individuals to minister more effectively to orphans and street children in Russia and Eastern Europe. The CoMission serves hundreds of organisations through information sharing online as well as through seminars and conferences. Risk Network is the Russian National Network for Children at Risk with over one hundred organizations participating. Risk Network focuses on equipping and networking national believers to effectively reach orphans in their spheres of influence. For further information on these networks and our international associates active in Russia please contact: networks@viva.org

The Viva Report - Analysis, Advocacy, and Access.

Faith Development

11%

Family Support Outreach

33%

11%

Funding

11%

Documented networked Christian response Year

Networks

Participants

No. of children

2007

n/a

12680

rior to attending The CoMission for Children at Risk National Summit, Hank Paulson of New Hope International had an excellent ministry to churches in Ukraine, equipping them to reach out to children, youth and families. Yet church leaders would often ask him, “When will New Hope do something for our orphanages?” Then the leader of another Christian organisation approached Hank to see if there was some way of partnering with local churches to help orphans be prepared to transition into society. But how? The CoMission National Summit in Atlanta was the turning point. Many things were learned and a new relationship began with Buckner International Orphan Care in Dallas. Buckner offered to train New Hope Ukrainian staff to run a Christian Foster Care programme. Now Ukrainian orphans’ physical, emotional and spiritual lives are being changed as they are given evangelical Christian homes. The vision of CoMission is to facilitate these types of collaborative efforts among Christ-centred organisations. With over 150 organisations in the network, other partnerships are forming and people are being equipped to minister more effectively. Working together, God’s people are changing the lives of orphans and street children for eternity. 21

Photo courtesy of a Viva network

The Church in Russia

Focus on: Slovakia Statistics

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” Photo courtesy of a Viva network

Proverbs 31: 8

Situation Analysis

5.40 1.14 n/a 4.42 1 23 15 18 69 6211

21.14% of total population 81.934% of total population Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva

Note: more than 6000 children whose home is an institution.

GNI per capita:

$7950

Annual rate of inflation:

Adult literacy rate:

Male n/a; Female n/a

Secondary school attendance ratio:

Male 94; Female 95

Child (5-14) labour rate:

n/a

EPI vaccines with government funding:

• Street Children

HIV prevalence (adults):

<0.1

• Domestic Abuse

Estimated number living with HIV:

<500

Life Expectancy:

The major categories of risk • Institutionalisation

Source of data on page 29

The Viva Report - The State of the World’s Christian Work With Children.

The Church in Slovakia

Top 5 ways Christians respond

Research indicates that 70% of the population expressed themselves as Christians. Current records show that only 18 church congregations work together in reaching out to marginalised children.

Emergency Relief

Christian Networks in Slovakia

Family Support

Viva Network Slovakia connects Christians and Christian organisations working with children at risk. Viva Network Slovakia works toward meeting the needs of children at risk in Slovakia by connecting and enriching the answer of Christians to these challenges. For further information on these networks or our international associates active in Slovakia please contact: networks@viva.org

Education

Counselling

Child Participation

9% 7%

Documented networked Christian response Year

Networks

Participants

No. of children

2007

6211

Oto and Mariaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Story

to and Maria are a Christian couple living in eastern Slovakia. When their three children grew up and left home, their house felt empty - they decided to become foster parents for children in need of a home. After a lengthy process, five Roma children were placed in their family. They are now parents to Martinka, David, Lacko, Patrik and Ondrej, who are aged between 8 and 12. When the children came to them, they were fearful, thin and had frequent bad dreams. At home, they had experienced a lot of violence and had lived in poverty. The trauma of their background still affects them: Lacko involuntarily covers his head with his hands when people try to touch him. The children now experience a stable, happy home, and they are adjusting to their new life. They enjoy helping in the garden and the kitchen, and they all attend school. The family is supported by their local network. By attending a conference organised by Viva Network Slovakia, they meet other foster parents and share vital training on caring for the children, as well as lots of spiritual encouragement. The networkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Foster Family Club also provides help from a psychologist and specialist teacher.

The Viva Report - Analysis, Advocacy, and Access.

Focus on: Bolivia

“Then our sons will be like well nurtured plants and our daughters as bright as fields of wildflowers.”

Photo courtesy of a Alfredo Mora

Statistics Total population (millions) Child population (millions) No. of Orphans (millions) No. of Christians (millions) No. of Viva affiliated networks No. of Organisations No. of Projects Churches with a mobilised response No. of known Christian responses Total No. Children impacted No. of network explorations

9.18 4.09 0.31 n/a 7 21 34 5 67 89000

44.54% of total population 7.58% of child population

Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva

Situation Analysis GNI per capita:

$1010

Annual rate of inflation:

Adult literacy rate:

Male 93%; Female 81%

Secondary school attendance ratio:

Male 74; Female 73

Child (5-14) labour rate:

22%

EPI vaccines with government funding:

40%

• Domestic abuse

HIV prevalence (adults):

0.1

• Orphans & child-headed households

Estimated number living with HIV:

7,000

Life expectancy:

Psalm 144: 12

The major categories of risk • Street children

Source of data on page 29

The Viva Report - The State of the World’s Christian Work With Children.

The REDIF Project Records report that a great majority of the population express themselves as Christians. Current records show that 74 church congregations work together in reaching out to marginalised children.

Christian Networks in Bolivia Red Viva Cochabamba is recognised among local authorities working with children and they have signed agreements to work together. The Cochabamba network runs workshops focusing on improving the quality of care for children. Red Viva La Paz has 20 churches that are participating in training workshops aimed at improving the quality of care available to children. Red Viva Potosí has 15 affiliated churches, is part of the city’s Evangelical Association and has been recognised by local childcare authorities. The Potosí network focuses on children who have migrated from the country to the city and who are living in the suburbs. Red Viva Oruro has 10 affiliated projects, and is recognised by local authorities and the Evangelical Association. They are part of committees working for children in Oruro.

The Viva Report - Analysis, Advocacy, and Access.

ay 2007 saw the public inauguration of the REDIF project in Potosí. This public celebration brought together various local authorities, representatives of local churches and the Bolivian representative of the Salvation Army, My Gerb Dahlin Oberg

Red Viva Santa Cruz co-ordinates action for children, especially street children, through 23 affiliated projects. Red Viva Sucre is working in conjunction with local authorities to promote work on behalf of children. Representing 22 affiliated churches and projects, the network is part of the round table on issues relating to migrating children.

My Gerb Dahlin Oberg was asked to say a few words to those who had gathered at the inauguration ceremony. In front of everyone, she expressed her gratitude to Viva Bolivia for all the work they had done for children in the country, congratulating the network on the impact it is having at a national level and expressing in particular her gratitude for the support it gives to the Salvation Army. She said: “Viva in Bolivia is supporting different churches and projects in the country and its presence in Bolivia has opened doors to strengthen projects. This is the case with the Salvation Army in Potosí. Being a part of the network has opened doors to enable us to work directly with children in a difficult part of the city.”

Red Viva Challapata is currently in exploration stage. For information on these networks and our international associates active in Bolivia please contact: info@redviva.org

Top 5 ways Christians respond Advocacy

20%

Education

18%

Family Support

14%

Feeding & Nutrition

12%

Child participation

10%

Documented networked Christian response Year

Networks

Participants

No. of children

2007

103

89000

Photo courtesy of a Andri Geeve

The Church in Bolivia

Focus on: Costa Rica

“Train a child in the way he should go.”

Photo courtesy of a a Viva network

4.402 1.50 0.044 3.98 3 40 40 n/a 40 13860 2

34.58% of total population 2.94% of child population 92.8% of total population Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva Resources mapped by Viva

Situation analysis GNI per capita:

$4590

Annual rate of inflation:

14%

Adult literacy rate:

Male 95%, Female 95%

Secondary school attendance ratio:

Male 67, Female 73

Child (5-14) labour rate:

7.57%

EPI vaccines with government funding:

100%

• Street children

HIV prevalence (adults):

0.3

• Orphans & child-headed households

Estimate number living with HIV:

7,400

Life expectancy:

Proverbs 22: 6

The major categories of risk • Domestic abuse

Source of data on page 29

The Viva Report - The State of the World’s Christian Work With Children.

A Life Impacted

family was living in a very hard situation as a result of the father losing his job. The family had a history of domestic violence, the mother suffering from abuse from her husband and historically from her parents. This was not a happy home.

The Church in Costa Rica

Top 5 ways Christians respond

Records report that around 92% of the population expressed themselves as Christians.

Feeding & Nutrition

17%

Family Support

16%

Christian Networks in Costa Rica

Addvocacy

Community Development

Asociación Red de Comedores de Costa Rica

Recreation

One day the child asked, “Can I go to the feeding centre at the church?” The family were not Christians and had never been to the church before. The child began to visit at weekends receiving both lunch and the gospel message through attending Sunday school. Eventually the mother also began to attend church with her child. Eventually the mother became a volunteer worker at the feeding centre and says that “the church has increased her self-esteem, and she now feels productive and secure”.

Red de Guápiles Red Mi Vocación Red Nueva Generación Red Viva Zurquí

Year

Networks

Participants

No. of children

2007

63400

This Feeding centre is being supported by Red de Comedores de Costa Rica and the Viva Regional Centre. Names have been removed to ensure privacy protection.

Photo courtesy of a a Viva network

For further information or these networks and our international associates active in Costa Rica please contact: info@redviva.org

Documented networked Christian response

The Viva Report - Analysis, Advocacy, and Access.

Definitions of Issues and Responses Issues

Direct Responses

Commercial Exploitation – Exploitation of children for economic gain, such as through bonded labour, prostitution or trafficking. Displacement – Children who have been displaced within their own country or to another country as a result of natural or human disaster or political policy. Domestic Abuse – The physical, sexual or emotional abuse of children by family members or family friends. Drugs & Addiction – The unhealthy use of alcohol and drugs (both medical and recreational) including general and addition-based usage. HIV/AIDS – Those suffering the consequences of AIDS or HIV infection, or caring for AIDS sufferers. Institutionalisation – The housing or placement of children within environments where their needs are not adequately addressed. The housing or placement of children in environments where carers do not have sufficient time or inclination to help the children in their care. Orphans & Child-headed Households – Children who have lost or been estranged from their parents. Children who now carry parental responsibilities. Prejudice – Children who suffer from forced cultural practices (e.g. forced marriage, female circumcision etc). Children who experience persecution because of their experiences and/or beliefs. Street Children – Children who live on the streets, work on the streets or retreat to the streets to escape unhappy homes. Unborn Children at Risk – The unborn foetus. War – Children who have been recruited as child soldiers, or who are suffering trauma as a result of war experiences.

Child Participation – Encouraging children to participate in developing solutions to the problem that they face, and in promoting their cause to others. Community Development – Investing in the infrastructure that a whole community depends upon, such as fresh water, sanitation and roads. Counselling – Helping children to deal with their experiences of violence, rejection, illness, and bereavement. Helping children to locate their parents or reconcile with estranged parents. Education – Providing children with the skills they need to look after themselves, earn a living and understand the world they live in. Emergency Relief – Providing materials and services most needed by children who have recently been the victims of a disaster (natural or manmade). Faith Development – Encouraging children to develop a spiritual understanding of their life and their world. Family Support – Helping parents to plan their families, to give birth to healthy children, to look after children and to look after their own marriage/ relationship. Helping single parents. Feeding & Nutrition – Providing food for the hungry and addressing nutrition deficiencies. Healthcare & Rehabilitation – Attending to the physical and mental health of children through preventative healthcare (e.g. vaccinations), basic healthcare (e.g. dentistry) and specialist services (e.g. speech therapy, surgery, rehabilitation). Legal Aid – Providing children and their guardians with appropriate legal knowledge and legal support to help them protect their rights. Outreach – Proactive activities to share the Christian message, or establish new church communities.

The Viva Report - The State of the World’s Christian Work With Children.

Glossary Recreation – Providing activities which help children to get physical exercise, which allow them to experience a change of environment, and/or which teach them how to work within a team. Residential Care – Providing alternative home environments for children who are unable to enjoy their original home environment (ranging from day care to long term residential care).

Indirect Responses Advocacy – Speaking with, for or on behalf of others so as to influence decision makers in the corridors of power. Funding – Facilitating the flow of money between those willing to give and those who need to receive (ranging from child sponsorship to grant funding). Human Resources & Training – Bringing out the best in staff and volunteers through good recruitment, induction, training, placement and appraisal. Logistics – Helping to collect, transport and distribute resources. Management & Administration – Improving the effectiveness of others through efficient administration and good leadership. Networking – Helping to make strategic connections between people and/ or organisations for mutual benefit. Publishing and Broadcasting – Providing people with access to written, audio and visual materials. Research & Development – Helping others to understand their work better through observation, analysis and presentation. Technical Services – Providing technical solutions. Wealth Creation – Capitalising on available resources to generate employment and/or income to fuel development activity. The Viva Report - Analysis, Advocacy, and Access.

AIDS – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Children at Risk – any child that lacks access to any of their rights as defined by “The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child”. EPI – Extended Program on Immunisation. Exploration (Network) – a period of active investigation into the necessity and potential vision for a networking initiative to develop in a specific locality. HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Governance – the action and manner of governing. NGO – Non-Governmental Organisation. Network – a multi-agency collaboration with common objectives. Trinitarian congregations – congregations believing in the doctrine of the Trinity. UNICEF – United Nations Children Fund.

Statistical Sources for Country Profiles Total population and child population – United Nations Population Division. No. of Orphans – United Nations Children’s Fund. GNI per capita and annual inflation rate – World Bank. Adult literacy and secondary school attendance ratios – UNESCO. Child labour rate – Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, UNICEF. EPI Vaccines funding, HIV Prevalence and Estimate number living with HIV – World Health Organisation. All other statistics are taken from the Viva Report Global Mapping Project.

Viva Offices Viva North America 7004-120th Avenue NE Kirkland, WA 98033 USA

Viva India

+425 828 9002

c/o EFI, 805/92 Deepali Nehru Place New Delhi Union Territory 110 019 India

dengburg@viva.org www.usa.viva.org

Viva International Centre Unit 8, The Gallery 54 Marston Street Oxford, OX4 1LF United Kingdom

+91 112 671 7231 asiacentre@viva.org www.asia.viva.org

+44 (0) 1865 811660 enquiries@viva.org www.viva.org Viva de America Latina y el Caribe 544-2050 San Pedro San Jose Costa Rica

Viva Africa

+506 524 1380

PO Box 14003 Kampala Uganda

info@redviva.org

+256 41 270056

www.redviva.org

africa@viva.org www.africa.viva.org

Viva Asia 23-2, Jalan 8/146 Bandar Tasik Selatan 50700 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia +60 3 9057 0070 asiacentre@viva.org www.asia.viva.org

The Viva Report - The state of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christian work with children.

Viva Associated Networks Africa

africa@viva.org

Burundi Bujumbura - Safina Network Ethiopia Addis Ababa Kenya Mombasa - WWNA (Wetu Watoto Network Associate) Nairobi - CaRPF (Children at Risk Prayer Fellowship) Malawi NOVOC (Network of Organizations working with Vulnerable and Orphaned Children) Rwanda Kigali - NCOR (Network of Christian Organisations in Rwanda) South Africa Cape Town - Connect Network Uganda Kampala - CRANE (Children at Risk Action Network) CaR-NaC (Children at Risk National Collaboration of Christian Agencies in Uganda) Zimbabwe Harare - Viva Network Zimbabwe Asia

asiacentre@viva.org

Cambodia Phnom Penh – EFCCC (Evangelical Fellowship of Cambodia Children’s Commission), Chab Dai (Joining Hands) Coalition India Viva Network India

The Viva Report - Analysis, Advocacy, and Access.

Indonesia Malaysia Nepal Philippines

J PAB (Jaringan Penduli Anak Bangsar) CARNet (Children at Risk Network) CARNet (Children at Risk Network) PCMN (Philippine Children’s Ministries Network)

Europe Denmark Russia Slovakia UK

networks@viva.org Leve Bornene CoMission, Risk Network Viva Network Slovakia Children Matter

Latin America Argentina

info@redviva.org

Red Viva del Cono Sur, Union Biblica Argentina, Red Viva Barranqueras, Cordoba, Corrientes, Red Viva Mendoza, Red Viva de Posadas, Rosario, Red Viva Tartagal, Tucuman, Villa Maria – Villa Nueva

Bolivia Red Viva Bolivia, Red Viva Oruro Brazil Red Viva Rio de Janeiro Chile Santiago Costa Rica Asociacion Red de Comedores de Costa Rica, Red de Guápiles, Canton de Pococí, Red Mi Vocación, Red Nueva Generación, Red Viva Zurquí Ecuador Red Viva de Ecuador El Salvador Red Viva El Salvador Honduras Red Viva de Honduras Paraguay Red Viva Asuncion, Encarnacion Peru Red Viva Peru Venezuela Red Nacional Cristiana de Servicios al Nino Venezolano

Viva International Associates Action International Ministries Advocacy and Relief for Children Agape Children’s Ministry AMG International ARDC Association of Evangelicals in Africa (Relief & Development) Arms of Jesus Children’s Mission Inc Arms of Love International Baptist World Aid Australia Beautiful Gate Ministries International Bethany Children’s Trust Cape Town City Mission Child Rescue International Children With Hope Children’s Bible Ministries International Children’s Hope Chest Christian Solidarity Worldwide Compassion International Crusaders International Cure International Danish European Mission Dorcas Aid International Erikshjalpen Food for the Hungry International Global Care God Loves Albania Ministries 32

Hands at Work in Africa (UK) Hope for the Nations Humedica EV International Bible Society International Justice Mission (IJM) Iris Ministries Inc Justice for Children International Kids Alive International Kids in Families Kindernothilfe Kings Kids International Latin America Mission Latin Link International Lydia Home Association Medical Ambassadors International Mercy Works Mission of Mercy Mission Possible Mission to Children Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Oakseed Ministries International Oasis International Orphanos Foundation Our Little Roses Foreign Mission Society Pathfinders International Peter Denkya Russian Ministries

Petra College for Children’s Ministry Pioneers Prison Fellowship International Radstock Ministries The Salvation Army Scripture Gift Mission Scripture Union International Signpost International Skandinaviska Barnmissionen St Francis Academy Stichting Chris Stromme Foundation Tearfund Toybox Charity World Emergency Relief World in Need (WIN) International World Orphans World Relief World Vision International Youth With a Mission (YWAM)

Viva International Associates’ Impact Number of countries covered

126

Number of children impacted

5.1 million

The Viva Report - The State of the World’s Christian Work With Children.

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About Viva Viva makes a difference for children at risk by enabling the many Christians who serve them to work better together. Launched in the mid 1990s, today Viva has regional centres in Africa, Asia, Latin America and North America. Viva helps 78 international organisations and over 7000 local projects to work in partnership through 40 collaborations in 126 countries. Together, we are impacting more than 6 million children.

Unit 8, The Gallery, 54 Marston Street, Oxford OX4 1LF, UK +44 (0) 1865 811660 prayerdiary@viva.org www.viva.org 36

The Viva Report - The State of the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christian Work With Children.