vivanews 11 (Hong Kong version)

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| ISSUE 01

vivanews

WHAT’S INSIDE

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A happy childhood or a life of slavery? Find out how Miriam’s story ends

08 Vanne overcomes family violence with the help of a new Father

12 Our ‘Walking Home From Mongolia’ trekkers return, having raised more than half a million dollars for Viva

14 Forget the Olympics meet this summer’s real heroes

EDITORIAL

Rob & Christine Lilwall, National Directors of Viva Hong Kong

I’VE JUST GOT BACK FROM A 5,000 KM WALK FROM THE GOBI DESERT IN MONGOLIA, THROUGH THE ENDLESS MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS OF CHINA, BACK TO MY HOME IN HONG KONG; RAISING MONEY FOR VIVA. This expedition was a sequel to a 50,000 km bicycle ride (also for Viva) that I did a few years ago. Such expeditions are tough, and sometimes people say to me that they could not endure the extreme temperatures, the danger and the exhaustion that my trips seem to bring. But actually I know those troubles to be small indeed compared to the frightening and harmful situations many children around the world are facing.

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All the children named in vivanews have had their names and photos changed in accordance with our Child Protection Policy

My blisters and heat rashes also seem small when compared to the exhausting work of those unsung carers who dedicate themselves, day in and day out, to looking after such children in the projects in Viva’s networks. Their faithful, loving

involvement in the lives of children who have often known only chaos, trauma and rejection, is life-changing. I have been privileged to meet many of these heroes over the last few years and you can read some of their stories on page 16.

about why they give to Viva (page 6), admire Lloyd Belcher’s stamina through the HK100 (page 13) and read how 14-year-old Vanne in Guatemala dealt with her dad’s violence by finding security in a heavenly Father (page 8).

If you’d like to show your solidarity with them, and be part of the group of committed people needed to transform a child’s life, there are many ways to do that.You don’t have to go cycling or walking for years at a time like I did! Your prayers and gifts make such a difference, and in fact page 12 is full of creative ideas to help you put the ‘fun’ back into fundraising.

So make a cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy. And thank you for all you do to make sure children can have safer, happier and brighter futures.

As you read this issue, you can also hear from other supporters like you

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WHAT IF?

ONE OF THE MOST TANTALISING AND PUNISHING QUESTIONS WE CAN ASK OURSELVES IS ‘WHAT IF?’ WHAT IF I HAD CAUGHT THAT TRAIN, SAID YES TO THAT JOB, TAKEN THAT CHANCE: WHAT WOULD MY LIFE BE LIKE NOW? 15-year-old Miriam has asked herself that question many times.

What if she hadn’t found a good place to live and go to school; if

That life or this life?

Miriam’s uncle realises that she needs to be in school.

Thankfully he has heard of the local Viva network and when he gets in touch they are able to find a school for her to attend…

Miriam’s uncle thinks that she should be in school, but he doesn’t know anywhere that will take her without the family having to pay large fees. Without school to fill the day, Miriam’s grandparents decide that she and her sister should help their father earn money, and after a few weeks they send Miriam and Nisha back to live with him.

Miriam’s last two years with her father have been filled with uncertainty. He still hasn’t found a stable job and his frustration is finding its way into the home. He shouts at Miriam and Nisha most when he is hungry, and since none of them ever get more than two small meals a day there is a lot of shouting.

AGE

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Jobs and money have become scarcer, and Miriam’s father’s frustration is turning more violent. The most innocent comment or gesture from either Miriam or Nisha can turn into a beating. Fearing for her sister’s safety, Miriam decides they would be better off fending for themselves on the streets.

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Miriam and Nisha are getting quite good at stealing food when no one is looking, but Miriam knows they can’t survive like this forever. One day a man approaches Miriam with an offer of ‘work’ and, in desperation, Miriam follows the man into a dark café to find out more. It is the last day of her freedom.

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Each night is just a numbing routine for Miriam. She spends most of her time in the same small room, with no furniture but a well-used bed. Different men come and go.

She has no idea where Nisha is now, although she barely even thinks about her family anymore; it’s too painful. At 14 years old she has lost any kind of hope for the future.

Her biggest goal is simply to survive each day.

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Viva didn’t have a network; if there had been no one to StandOut for her? Miriam’s life could have been very different…

ars old, n i n e ye t s ju s r he wa e r fa t h e When s died. H r e h t o ’s m and Miriam d wo r k , n i f o t d was strugg le hildren c e v i f So ng for handle. p r ov i d i ld u o c e ers an h er broth g more th n u o y r and her ith thei Miriam ed in w v o m r e Patna, t and sis ncle in u d n a s arent g randp ndia. ast of I in the e

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MS MIRIA STORY

Miriam is able to live at the school during the week, which means her grandparents have one less mouth to feed. She settles in surprisingly quickly, enjoying a warm bed of her own, interesting new friends and kind adults.

As Miriam becomes a teenager, her teachers find a place for her in the ‘Dare to be different’ programme run by Viva’s network in Patna. She learns lots of different life skills, including vital sex education which is rare in India, and is encouraged to reach her potential even though she lives in a country where it can be hard for girls to succeed. She also discovers how to deal with her changing body in a way that keeps her safe, and is assured that no one has the right to treat her in a way that makes her uncomfortable.

From other sessions of the programme Miriam has learned to value education and is focusing on her studies.When she lived with her parents and her grandparents, she was only able to concentrate on whether they would have food the next day. Now Miriam has the opportunity to think about finishing high school and maybe even going to university.

The lessons from ‘Dare to be different’ stay with Miriam.

She dreams of one day becoming a teacher, and the caring adults who have looked after her over the last few years have helped her believe that this could be a reality.

Miriam is determined to eventually do for other children as her teachers have done for her: teaching her to value herself as she is and showing her that she can have a better future.

Your willingness to StandOut has meant that Miriam never had to know a life of slavery and abuse. Do you know others who would StandOut alongside you for children like Miriam?

Connect with us at viva.org/StandOut or facebook.com/VivaStandOut for shareable stories, pin-able pictures and inspiring campaigns to get talking about.

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I ’ M C HA NGIN G C HI L D R EN ’ S L I V ES …WILL YOU J OIN ME? WHO I AM

Juliet A special-needs teacher who seriously dislikes olives and is married with three children.

JOHN&SANDRA A dynamic couple living in Hong Kong who love both their local church and the global Church

Jonny An 11-year-old at secondary school, who hates broccoli and knows all the words to U2’s ‘Elevation’.

A Managing Director at an investment bank in Hong Kong, who loves singing in her church choir, just like her four-year-old son

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Ester

What my support is making possible My support is helping local caregivers in Kenya to counsel and care for traumatised children. I know it takes great skill, understanding and patience to give them the loving care they so desperately need, and my gifts help caregivers to gain those qualities. I am helping to give a whole group of caregivers in Kisumu several months of practical training; a mentor to offer spiritual and emotional support; and a retreat so they can have rest.

WHO I AM HELPING

WHO car s?

WHY I GIVE TO VIVA

I’ve travelled to Africa and seen first-hand some of the things that children are struggling with, and when you’ve come face-to-face with a hungry child, a hurting child, it’s impossible not to want to help. Especially when I think of my own kids, and the love and security they have – I want other children to have the same.And by giving to Viva I know that I am supporting the very people who are best placed to offer kids that, day in and day out.

Our giving helps protect Nepalese children from being taken away from their families and put to work in dangerous situations.We are helping Viva as they work in communities near the border with India to help people watch out for vulnerable families and stop girls being trafficked before it happens. And we don't just support this work with money, but with our prayers, and we believe that God hears us and is working in children's lives across the world.

We are just people who have put our 'mite' into the responsible hands of Viva's staff and seen it become more meaningful and effective in God's kingdom than we could ever have believed. We love Viva’s vision and are so blessed to know that children who were once afraid have now lost their fear, and know themselves to be safe and loved.

My mum showed me the story of Sergio in Guatemala from Viva’s blog. It’s about how he didn’t have any parents to care for him and he was sad, but now he goes to school and is looked after. It’s pretty cool that I helped to make that happen. If I just used my pocket money here in England it would probably be for music or a game or something, but instead I can help children who are poor to have the things they need.

I give to Viva every month because my mum works for Viva and she makes me… no I’m kidding. I give out of my pocket money because it helps people like me who are quite young to have a good life. I’m happy and I’d like other children to feel happy too. It’s not fair for other children to live on the streets or have no parents. Viva makes sure children don’t have to sleep on the streets and gives them good people to love them.

My regular donations to Viva give Cambodian children stability and hope, by helping some amazing local people in Phnom Penh.They care for children daily while getting specialised training in areas like child protection and financial responsibility, making sure their valuable work is viable in the long run. It’s such a joy and privilege to know that I'm helping people who have such compassion for children at risk, who over time are also becoming skilled caregivers who can keep children safe and give them a better future.

What draws me to Viva is that they help children by making sure that those working with them are efficient and effective. And because caregivers supported by Viva are each working with about 30 children, that means that hundreds of lives will be touched and transformed. Nothing means more to me than this.

WHO car s?

Join us at viva.org/whatyoucando

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GUNS, BOOZE, X-RATED VIOLENCE: ALL THE INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR A HARD-HITTING DRAMA.

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OR

FOR 14-YEAR-OLD VANNE IZQUIERDO’S LIFE… 09

It didn’t start off like a film. In fact Vanne and her sister Luisa were born into a very ordinary home in Chimaltenango, Guatemala.

Money was scarce and their father Mario, a long-distance truck driver, wasn’t around much. But their mother, Rochelle, always made sure there was food on the table and love in the house.

Then Mario lost his job and everything changed. Suddenly he was in the house for weeks at a time, with nothing to do but sit around smoking and drinking. Then he decided to make ten-year-old Vanne and six-year-old Luisa part of his daily routine. He started raping them.

“He brought out a gun.”

Vanne tries to put words to what it feels like to have your father hold a gun to your head, but she can’t.

After a minute she simply says, “We just held hands. Luisa and me. At least we had each other.” This went on for three years, until eventually something broke in Vanne: “I cannot say what it was that day. Now I think

“He would wait for mama to leave the house, then come to our room. He would pretend it was part of a game.”

“He would wait for mama to leave the house,” Vanne remembers, “then come to our room. He would pretend it was part of a game.” But it wasn’t long before Mario got tired of playing games, and came up with another way to make the girls cooperate with him. He brought out a gun.

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maybe it was God giving me strength, even though I did not know it at the time. I just could not see my sister suffer anymore.”

Vanne ran to find her mother at work. Rochelle could barely take in the horror of her daughter’s words, but thankfully she did believe her and bravely took her straight to the police.

“I think maybe it was God giving me strength, even though I did not know it at the time.”

Vanne still can’t fully recall what happened next. She knows that the police came with her and Rochelle to the house, and she also vividly remembers a flash of red: the little scarlet dress Luisa was wearing that day. Her memory gets clearer when she thinks about the kind and caring presence of Mami Carol at Mi Especial Tesoro (‘My special treasure’), a girls’ home in the Guatemala network.

“Mami Carol told us that we would be staying there for a while, and that we were safe now.They would care for us.”

She explained to the girls that Rochelle’s shock at what had happened meant that she needed some time to work through things.

She had been given the number of Viva’s network and they had called

Luisa, now 10 years old, concentrates on her homework in the kitchen at Mi Especial Tesoro

“I know God is my papa and he will never hurt me. I am safe with him.”

Mi Especial Tesoro, who agreed to care for Vanne and Luisa while their mother received counselling and searched for a job and home in a new neighbourhood.

Vanne and Luisa also needed specialised support and counsel as they tried to come to terms with what they had been through.

Thankfully this is exactly what Mi Especial Tesoro provides. Living with eight other girls who have experienced similar traumas, they do school work, art and crafts and help out with basic chores around the home alongside their daily counselling sessions.

Mami Carol takes the girls to church and has been showing them what it means to be special to God, giving them a new understanding of a Father.Vanne smiles as she says, “I know God is my papa and he will never hurt me. I am safe with him. I know that God wants me to forgive that man [Mario], but I cannot do that yet. It is too hard. But I am

thankful that still God loves me and will look after me, and I pray that one day I can forgive.”

Vanne and Luisa also visit Viva’s office in the city for regular ‘creciente confianza’ sessions – literally ‘growing confidence’. Our staff are working with a group of children to grow their assurance of their identity in God, freeing them from past hurts and helping them

to become all that their heavenly Father intends.

The girls are now looking forward to the day when they can live with their mother again: “I am not angry at mama. I know she was scared,” Vanne says, with wisdom and grace beyond her years. “Soon me and Luisa will go and be with her and we will not speak of before.We will look ahead and be happy.”

Now, thanks to the dedication of the network and the generosity of supporters like you, it’s no longer X-rated violence that makes Vanne’s life fit for a film: it’s the dramatic and life-changing rescue.

Visit viva.org/donate today to help more children like Vanne and Luisa know the life-changing power of a local network.

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O N Y O U R M A R K S , get set...

Get physical

YOUR FACE HERE

From the Angkor Wat Half Marathon in Cambodia to the HK100, there are opportunities all over Asia to pull a hamstring or two for a child at risk. Grab some friends and enter a team in one of the challenges, strike out alone to fulfil a personal sporting goal, or organise a community walk, cycle, run or swim where everyone can get involved.

FUNDRAISE!

Use your imagination Not so keen on the great outdoors? You could give your creativity a workout, dreaming up fresh ways to raise money for children at risk without breaking a sweat. Hold a clothes swap with an entrance fee, have a cookie bake sale after church, or have a marathon of the best episodes of TV sitcom 'Friends' and get your real-life friends to give money every time you hear canned laughter!

Give up

Earlier this sum mer 4 fr African iends cy countrie cled thr s on 2 w make su ough 3 h eels wit re that m h 1 goal: ore of A respecte to frica’s c d, prote hildren Elise, Sam and Adam (minus Mike) cted and HK$82,0 are loved. T test their stamina with a 00 to he hey rais lp Viva’s children ed training ride in Oxfordshire advocac in Ugan y work w da, Ken you che ith ya and T ck out fa anzania cebook.c can see , and if om/ride some gr forresp eat shots to ride th ect of the s rough w cenery th you hile the ey got y did th at!

You could go without birthday presents this year, eat only rice and beans for a week, shave your head, or see how long you can last without chocolate. Knowing that children’s lives will be changed by your efforts could be just the motivation you need to start that diet you’ve been planning for the last three years!

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The sponsored walk Journey’s End meant that Rob & Leon had company for the final leg of their trek

Wherever you share your passion for changing children's lives – at church, home group, dinner with friends, the school gates – we'd love to help you do it with even more confidence.

Viva Voices 22 September 27 October 24 November

Eight hours in and Lloyd is still smiling!

Whether you bake, swim, diet, dance, or prefer to sit in your armchair knitting a record-breakingly long scarf, visit viva.org/fun to start putting the ‘fun’ back into fundraising.

WILL YOU BE A VOICE FOR VIVA?

MARATHON MAN Earlier this year, Lloyd Belcher ran 100 kilometres (on a route which took him up one of Hong Kong’s highest peaks) in less than 15 hours! And why did he put himself through that? “As a keen runner, I have dreamed about a 100km ultra marathon for quite a while. But I wanted to use this opportunity to go beyond something that was simply a personal experience and also make sure I had an impact on the lives of others. So every penny of the HK$26,000 raised by my run has gone through Viva to help children at risk.”

You can read more about Lloyd’s motivation, and his mammoth blisters, at blog.viva.org

Join us at Pacific Coffee at The Vine Centre in Wan Chai between 3-4pm on any of these Saturdays to find out more about how you can get involved and be a voice for Viva in your everyday life.

Connect with us and enjoy conversations with like-minded Viva supporters, accompanied by lots of coffee and cake!

Greater insight into children at risk issues Easy-to-use resources Inspiring children's stories Email hk@viva.org for more details

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THE REAL HEROES

THE 2012 OLYMPICS HAVE SEEN OUR TV SCREENS FULL OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE VARIOUS ATHLETES TAKING PART. But here at Viva we’ve been thinking about people whose successes are not so well known. People whose triumphs are helping a child to feel loved, keeping them safe from hurt and fear, offering them a hope-filled future. These dedicated, compassionate caregivers are unlikely ever to receive medals for their tough, tiring work. So here we give three the recognition they deserve. They are our heroes of the summer.

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z Ofelia Lope rite is 51, her favou is Bible passage she is Psalm 61 and terrified of mice

Ofelia runs a large project in the poor suburb of Santa Ana, and is a long-standing member of the El Salvador network. Providing education and meals, and working closely with whole families, she has been helping children like Jose Carlos (above at age 11) for 25 years.

As a young boy Jose Carlos’ ambition was to be a thief. Determined to give him a better future, Ofelia spent years helping with his school work, organising a mentor for him and loving, guiding and challenging him every day. Jose Carlos is now 20. Far from being a career criminal, he is in his second year of medical studies.

Ofelia tells us she owes these kinds of successes to God: “The Lord called me to this work many years ago and still it is my passion. He has given me much grace over the time to help these children. And I am also so thankful to Viva for everything they have given my project.The training and support from them is just this amazing thing. Before Viva we were wanting to help children like Jose Carlos; after Viva we were able to.”

yo Michael Mbe is 35, he loves and playing hockey is ink his favourite dr Coca-Cola

Sina Japuir rite is 28, her favou and she colour is pink the thinks she has world’s best job

Michael is a social worker involved in the Kampala network in Uganda. He loves to build strong relationships with the children he works with; earning their trust and helping them share their stories. Mary (above) and Philip are among those who have benefited from Michael’s ability to listen.

Sina works for a church that is a part of the network in Butwal, Nepal, heading up an outreach programme for children who have suffered physical or sexual abuse. She has counselled and cared for many children in her three years at the church, but none so personally as 12-year-old Rajan.

Mary and Philip had been unwell and unhappy for several months, but only Michael’s gentle encouragement eventually prompted them to confide why: their recently-divorced parents had left them to live with a neighbour who ignored them and didn’t give them enough food. Hearing this, Michael went to their father and convinced him of the importance of his children’s welfare, and supported him as he took Mary and Philip back into his care.

Sina and Rajan met at the local hospital - he had a badly infected leg wound and she was visiting a child from church. As their friendship grew, he shared his fear of having to return to life on the streets after his leg healed. Sina’s response was twofold: she prayed about it for one week, and then she took him into her own home. For the last six months Sina and her husband have been showing Rajan what it’s like to be part of a family.

What made Michael take this action? “In this job working with the mum and the dad is hard. But Viva has made it possible for me to do this by teaching me how to help a child in the context of their family. Now I can listen to the children and have a good relationship with them, but also take action with their family and make a change in their circumstances.”

WHO car s?

Sina explains her motivation: “Helping children has always been important to me, but Viva’s training made it more than that. I learnt that love and stability in the present helps a child to face what has happened in their past, and something clicked in my mind. I just had to make sure that Rajan knew that love. Viva has turned a job into a calling for my whole life. God bless you!”

Ofelia, Michael and Sina are already answering this question.

Will you join them? Find out how at viva.org/whocares

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Children are suffering. We all know that.Thousands of people are working to help them. We all know that too.

Yet the problems persist. Children are still suffering. In cities all over the world there are projects doing great work, but a lack of money, people and time means there is a limit to what they can achieve alone.

We need to work together.

Imagine what would happen if the people caring for children joined forces. If childcare workers, local churches, governments and international charities came together to tackle the issues faced by children.

Whole cities would be transformed.

Together we would have the power to bring about real change for children, not just chipping away at the surface of the problems but fighting them right at the root.

At Viva we are doing just that.

Through 35 city-wide networks we are increasing the unity, quality and impact of work for children at risk, our joint action changing the lives of over 810,000 children around the world.

Viva, General PO Box 9053, Central, Hong Kong t: +852 9860 9766

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

e: hk@viva.org

w: www.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 21/F, Sunshine Plaza, 353 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong.