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INFO@VIVA.ORG

WWW.VIVA.ORG

| ISSUE 11

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mited by England at

WHAT’S INSIDE

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5 ways to make your church child-friendly

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

15 Viva Voices: could you speak out for children at risk?

16 Forget the Olympics meet this summer’s real heroes

Viva(issue11)02&03.pdf

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

Viva(issue11)02&03.pdf

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EDITORIAL

Joanna Mitchell Fundraising Manager

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WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, MY SPORTING ABILITY PROMPTED MY OTHERWISE SUPPORTIVE PARENTS TO JOKE ABOUT ENDOWING A CUP AT MY SCHOOL IN MY HONOUR - FOR ‘MEDIOCRITY ON THE SPORTING FIELD’.

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So it is with admiration and genuine curiosity that I’ve been watching both the intensive preparations for the Olympics, and also the feats of some Viva supporters to raise money and attention for our work with children. I can’t help but be impressed by someone who can run a mountainous 100k route in less than 15 hours (see Lloyd Belcher’s story on page 15.)

And yet, as a mother, the achievements that impress me even more are those of the unsung carers who work day in and day out looking after children in the projects in Viva’s networks. Their faithful, loving involvement in the lives of children who have often previously known only chaos,

trauma and rejection is life-changing.

The value of all they give and do cannot be overestimated. They’re the real heroes for me this summer, and they are recognised as such on page 16.

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.Your prayers and gifts make such a difference.

Turn to page 14 to see how you can run, swim, bake, dance or knit and put the ‘fun’ back into fundraising.

As you read this issue, you can also find tips from Kenya on how to make your church truly child-friendly (page 4), admire Rob

Lilwall’s mighty beard as he returns from his 5,000-mile walk home from Mongolia (page 14) and read how 14-year-old Vanne in Guatemala dealt with her dad’s violence by finding security in a heavenly Father (page 10).

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.

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Viva(issue11)04&05.pdf

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21/06/2012

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CHILDFRIENDLY CHURCH ON THE

To mark this passing of the baton we held a wonderful celebration event, looking back on what Viva has accomplished in its 16-year life and recognising Patrick and his wife Emily’s huge contribution to that work. On Saturday, 28 April, 270 adults and children gathered in St. Aldate’s Church in Oxford for an afternoon of laughter, memories, tea and scones! Several different speakers provided an overview of Viva’s history, from its beginnings in an English telephone box to its international presence now; and various staff and friends of Viva gave tributes to Patrick and Emily’s inspiring passion and vision, reflected not only in their formal work but also in their personal lives which have been dedicated to demonstrating God’s love for children.

But it wasn’t all looking back: we had a chance to pray for the McDonald family, asking God’s blessing on them as they begin an exciting but challenging new ministry. (You can read more about Patrick’s latest ventures to help children at risk at oxfordventures.co.uk) New CEO Andy was also interviewed, reminding us in this time of change that the heart of Viva is about a mission not a person, “I absolutely know that this is God’s work, has always been God’s work and will always be God’s work. It’s not about a personality or an individual” and sharing his passion for Viva’s commitment to unity, “It’s not just about networking for the sake of networking we have to work together for the Kingdom of God”.

IMAGINE A PLACE WHERE GOD’S CALL TO SEE CHILDREN VALUED AND CARED FOR GOES UNHEARD. IMAGINE THAT IN THIS PLACE CHILDREN ARE IGNORED, EXCLUDED AND TREATED AS INSIGNIFICANT. NOW IMAGINE THAT PLACE IS A CHURCH.

The day was summed up by Patrick as he thanked and encouraged Viva’s many faithful friends and supporters: “I want to say ‘thank you’ because we have, between us, found a shared calling in helping children at risk… and even though there is change, this shared calling continues, and that obedience continues, because the need remains.”

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Viva(issue11)04&05.pdf

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God’s heart for children, his heart for the vulnerable and the oppressed, leaps off the pages of the Bible. Yet cultural traditions, confused priorities, or sometimes simple ignorance of the need, mean that in many churches across the globe children are not loved or included.

Enter the child-friendly church programme. Across Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania,Viva is helping church leaders and congregations to better understand the needs of children and involve them in their churches. As a result they are seeing incredible growth, as increasing numbers of children come along to church and bring their families with them. Here, members of our network in Kisumu, Kenya, share some of what they’ve learned…

5 Children lead the worship at church in Kisumu C

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to make your church more child-friendly

Give children a voice Children know their own needs better than anyone, and can often communicate them much more powerfully than an adult could.

So we must create opportunities for them to speak out their ideas, share their worries and suggest solutions. Last year 700 of Kisumu’s children were involved in leading a procession for Viva’s World Weekend of Prayer. They marched through the city declaring to hundreds of people that “it is God’s desire for children to be loved and protected” and already we have heard reports of changed families as that simple but powerful message hits home.

Recognise children’s talents Taking an interest in the things that children enjoy doing, and are good at, shows them they are valued. We also need to give them a chance to use and grow those gifts. Churches in the network have encouraged children to express their worship through art and dance, to sing and play instruments in church services and even to write their own songs. We have seen the children’s confidence grow, and as a result they are more excited about playing an active part in church life.

Empower children to lead Our church families should be great places for children to learn how to help and guide others. We must support them in leading both their peers and

Want more ideas for your church?

Info on prayer resources, child-friendly events and Viva church speakers can be found at viva.org/involveyourchurch

adults. Many churches in the network are now inviting children to take more of a leadership role in their weekly services; saying the prayers, reading from the Bible and helping to lead the sung worship. As one church found, “It is increasing their potential as ambassadors for Christ, in the church and in their communities, meaning that they are inspiring more of their friends to come to church.”

Dedicate a whole day to children It is key to provide teaching, prayer and worship that is relevant and meaningful for a child’s stage of life. We should not only offer church activities that include children but also activities that are designed for them. In the last year seventeen churches in Kisumu have held a ‘children’s day’ involving craft, drama, music, teaching and games. These days have encouraged and educated the children, shown them that they are important to the wider church and also been a great way of reaching new children in the local communities.

Invest in children’s workers Looking after children’s workers is just as important as looking after children themselves.Young people’s voices can only be heard, and their talents recognised and used, if there are well-equipped and supported people to make those things happen. Churches in the network have joined together to offer retreat days for their children’s workers, so they can receive fresh teaching, share their challenges, exchange ideas and be emotionally and spiritually refreshed for their work. The churches have seen that their children are much more involved in church life when there are adults with the time, energy and ability to 05 engage with them.

Viva(issue11)06&07.pdf

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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? C

15-year-old Miriam has asked herself that question many times.

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

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Viva didn’t have a network; if there had been no one to StandOut

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for her? Miriam’s life could have been very different…

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old, e ye a r s n i n t s ju ather he was d. Her f When s e i d r e ’s moth Miriam rk, and f i n d wo o t d le en was strugg e childr v i f r o f ng ndle. So p r ov i d i ould ha c s e h n a brother more th o u n ge r y r e h and their Miriam in with d e v o m Patna, ter and sis ncle in u d n a arents g randp ndia. ast of I e e h t in

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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.

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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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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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Viva(issue11)08&09.pdf

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I ’ M C HA N G I N G C HI L D R EN ’ S L I V WHO I AM

Juliet A special-needs teacher who seriously dislikes olives and lives in Oxford with her husband and three children.

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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.

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A retired couple who love to get stuck in to their local church and community in Nottingham.

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

A Marketing Director at a financial company in Cheltenham, who loves to cook and create his own recipes with at least three in 10 not being a disaster.

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Our giving helps protect Nepalese children from being taken away from their families and put to work in dangerous situations.We’re 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 our money, but with our prayers, and we believe that God hears us and is working in children’s lives across the world.

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.

The amount I donate each month is helping to give Cambodian children stability and hope. My money is used to help some amazing local people in Phnom Penh, who are supporting these kids every day, get specialised training in things like child protection and how to make their project financially secure for the long term. What a joy to know I’m helping hard-working and compassionate people do their job to the best of their ability, so that more children in Cambodia have caregivers who really can keep them safe and give them a better future.

Viva(issue11)08&09.pdf

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’S L I V E S … W ILL YO U J O I N ME? 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.

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We are just two 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 have supported Viva for a number of years now 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.

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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.

WHO car s?

Looking at my giving from a very practical business point of view, it’s a matter of leverage – Viva helps children by making sure that those working with them are efficient and effective, and the caregivers that Viva supports are each working with about 30 children.This means that throughout their working life they will touch hundreds of young lives, and thanks to Viva they are able to reach all these children with care that is both professional and heartfelt. So investing in Viva means that my gifts go further and ultimately help greater numbers of children.

Join us at viva.org/whatyoucando

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Viva(issue11)10&11.pdf

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Viva(issue11)10&11.pdf

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

OR

FOR 14-YEAR-OLD VANNE IZQUIERDO’S LIFE… 11

Viva(issue11)12&13.pdf

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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.

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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

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“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

Viva(issue11)12&13.pdf

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

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

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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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Viva(issue11)14&15.pdf

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

Get physical

YOUR FACE HERE

From the Great North Run in Newcastle-upon-Tyne to the British 10K in London, there are opportunities up and down the UK 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.

FUND

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, turn your church hall into a food market, rent out your garden for neighbourhood kids to come camping, or have a marathon of the best episodes of 'Friends' and get your real-life friends to give money every time you hear canned laughter.

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Give up

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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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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.

5,000km their epic y reached n a g e b e finall n, who McCarro months ago, hav ozen rivers, nd Leon fr a ix s d ll n a n a a w ny s il Rob L a more th waterfall umed far too ma oss Chin ienced gushing s r n c o a c o r lk ’, e a s w xper in sub-z ty beard hey’ve e nd migh . But ventures home. T ly ‘long a most of their ad hold the camera ib d e r c in d to n e w b o lm m r fi g ith nd o nu oodles a lmost to for Viva’s work w ing and instant n s with fingers a 00 lleng ,0 a 0 h 4 ‘c e £ r ir n tu e a th tempera d more th nd blogs about lso raise hotos a p they’ve a e e S ! g/whfm in Asia t viva.or children urney’ a jo g in h ic enr Rob & Leon interviewed in Hong Kong shortly after arriving home

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Viva(issue11)14&15.pdf

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Elise, Sam and Adam (minus Mike) test their stamina with a training ride in Oxfordshire

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As you r ead this ,4 through 3 Africa friends are cycli n countr ng with 1 g ies on 2 oal: to m wheels ake sur Africa’s e that mo children re of ar and love d. So far e respected, pr otected they’ve the push raised £ fo 2,986 a they ped r more pounds nd c al. Chec k out fa ontinues even learn m as cebook.c ore abou om/ tw team to get on th hat is motivatin ride to g this eir bike s for Viv a.

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WILL YOU BE A VOICE FOR VIVA? 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.

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Viva Voices

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Saturday 14 July 10.30am-2.30pm

00km epic 5,0 reached ve finally ers, n riv nd froze ny r too ma fa d e m u o r e ub-z ures in s era. But cam e th ld o h with a’s work and llenging a h ‘c ir e h

Eight hours in and Lloyd is still smiling!

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MARATHON MAN Earlier this year, 34-year-old Lloyd Belcher ran 100 kilometres (on a route which took him up Hong Kong’s highest peak) 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 £2,161.04 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 in Oxford for a fun-filled few hours guaranteed to increase your knowledge and ability to share Viva in different settings. Then enjoy conversation with like-minded Viva supporters as we finish off the day with punting!

Top tips for public speaking Easy-to-use resources Inspiring children’s stories See viva.org/voice for more details or to register.

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Viva(issue11)16&17.pdf

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THE REAL HEROES

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AS THE UK GEARS UP TO HOST THE OLYMPICS, OUR NEWSPAPERS AND TV SCREENS ARE 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.”

Viva(issue11)16&17.pdf

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

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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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Face painting fun for the younger attendees

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OUR CEO ON THE GO IS GOING… GOING… GONE. AS MANY OF YOU WILL BE AWARE, VIVA’S FOUNDER PATRICK MCDONALD HAS RECENTLY STEPPED DOWN FROM HIS POSITION AS VIVA’S CEO AND ANDY DIPPER, FORMERLY LEADING RELEASE INTERNATIONAL, HAS NOW BEEN APPOINTED AS THE NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF VIVA. To mark this passing of the baton we held a wonderful celebration event, looking back on what Viva has accomplished in its 16-year life and recognising Patrick and his wife Emily’s huge contribution to that work. On Saturday 28 April, 270 adults and children gathered in St. Aldate’s Church in Oxford for an afternoon of laughter, memories, tea and scones! Several different speakers provided an overview of Viva’s history, from its beginnings in an English telephone box to its international presence now.Various staff and friends of Viva also gave tributes to Patrick and Emily’s inspiring passion and vision, reflected not only in their formal work but also in their personal lives which have been dedicated to demonstrating God’s love for children. But it wasn’t all looking back: we had a chance to pray for the McDonald family,

Andy Dipper shares his passion for Viva’s work

asking God’s blessing on them as they begin an exciting but challenging new ministry. (You can read about Patrick’s latest ventures to help children at risk at oxfordventures.co.uk). New CEO Andy was also interviewed, reminding us in this time of change that the heart of Viva is about a mission not a person, “I absolutely know that this is God’s work, has always been God’s work and will always be God’s work. It’s not about a personality or an individual” and sharing his passion for Viva’s commitment to unity, “It’s not just about networking for the sake of networking - we have to work together for the Kingdom of God”.

The day was summed up by Patrick as he thanked and encouraged Viva’s many faithful friends and supporters: “I want to say ‘thank you’ because we have, between us, found a shared calling in helping children at risk… and even though there is change, this shared calling continues, and that obedience continues, because the need remains.”

Patrick and Emily McDonald watch messages of thanks from Viva staff

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LISTEN EAT to the beautiful voices of the children from our Kampala network as they call on the adults around them to “love your children and revive Uganda.” ‘This is our cry’ (agreed by everyone in the Viva office to be one of the catchiest songs ever!) was written, recorded and produced by the children themselves, and has already been heard by over 3 million people across Uganda. Proceeds from the downloads will be used by the network to help provide media equipment to allow the children to continue sharing their ideas, needs and dreams with the rest of the world.

Download it now at viva.org/purchasewithapurpose

your way through an Oxford Brainfoods pot without an ounce of guilt – each one contains a tasty mix of nuts, berries and seeds (with a little bit of chocolate too!) that will satisfy hunger pangs and give your body a nutrient boost.Viva receives a percentage of the profits from every pot you buy and, when you’re finished, you can even use the handy container to store anything from jewellery to loose change. It really is a smarter way to snack.

READ the inspiring stories of 13 women and girls around the world who have fought bravely against oppression, abuse and poverty. But before you mentally file it as one more informative novel, bear in mind that ‘Half the Sky’ also offers a pretty tough challenge to its readers: “The economic advantages of empowering women are so vast as to persuade whole nations to move in that direction… the question is how long that transformation will take and how many girls will be kidnapped into brothels before it is complete – and whether each of us will be part of that historical movement, or a bystander.”

Get your copy now at viva.org/purchasewithapurpose

Nibble now at oxfordbrainfoods.co.uk

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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.

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We need to work together.

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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.

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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 22 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 104,000 children around the world.

Viva, Unit 8, The Gallery, 54 Marston Street, Oxford, OX4 1LF t: 01865 811660 Mixed Sources Product group from well-managed forests, controlled sources and recycled wood or fibre. www.fsc.org Cert No. SA-COC-09174

e: info@viva.org

w: www.viva.org

Viva is an operating name of Viva Network. Viva Network is a company limited by guarantee no. 3162776, registered charity no.1053389, and registered in England at Unit 8, The Gallery, 54 Marston Street, Oxford, OX4 1LF, UK