Discussion Guide for
Journey of Transformation After viewing “Journey of Transformation,” use this guide to research community development and transformation, reflect on how the video impacted you, recall what you learned, respond in tangible ways, reach out with life-changing help, resolve to follow God’s Word, and rely on His goodness and power.
Research »
DE V E L O P M ENT T HEO RY HA S C HA NGED drastically in recent decades. Decisions
» »
around development were once made outside local communities, and programs were not always tailored to fit individual community needs. Today, there is greater emphasis on empowering those who are poor to be agents of change in their own development process. Communities need to plan, budget, implement, and own their own development, using outside aid as needed and accepted by the community.
DUE T O FA MINE A ND DR O UGHT in the mid-1980s, the Ansokia valley in Ethiopia became a refuge for over 60,000 starving people. (Source: UNICEF, The State of the World’s Children, 2007, Executive Summary.) A L M O S T O NE-FIFT H O F T HE WO R LD’S PO PULAT IO N (about 1.2 billion people) live in areas where water is physically scarce. (Source: World Health Organization, “10 Facts About Water Scarcity”)
PA G E 1 O F 5
»
C H IL DR E N SUFFER T HE MO ST from diminished access to food: immediate effects
»
“ GE NDE R EQ UA LIT Y WILL NO T O NLY EMPO WER WO MEN to overcome
on their health due to undernutrition and malnutrition; loss of education, if they are too malnourished to study or are pulled out of school to work; and the many protection issues that arise when they are not in school. (Source: World Vision)
poverty, but will also assist their children, families, communities and countries as well…. Progress is critical to achieving not only gender equality and women’s empowerment, but also sustainable development. To do so, women’s influence in the key decisions that shape their lives and those of children must be enhanced in three distinct arenas: the household, the workplace and the political sphere.” (Source: UNICEF, The State of the World’s Children, 2007, Executive Summary.)
Reflect DO Y O U T HINK IT IS T HE R ESPO NSIB ILIT Y of organizations like World Vision to
respond to crises such as war, famine, natural disaster, disease, or other dire circumstances that destabilize whole communities? Who else, if anyone, should be responsible to help?
W H Y IS IT IM P O RTA NT for World Vision to establish trust in communities before starting
projects? Why is it important to be sensitive to local traditions and visions for the future?
Recall US IN G E T HIO P IA’S A NSO K IA VA LLEY as an example, what circumstances exist in a
community when World Vision decides to begin working there? What urgent physical needs must be met before any other development work begins?
W H Y IS C L E A N WAT ER V ITA L for community development and transformation?
A S A GR O UP, DIS C USS HO W EDUC AT IO N, healthcare, employment opportunities and
small loans, clean water, and agriculture are all vitally important for a community to move from poverty toward self-reliance. How are these elements interdependent and how does this interdependence impact plans for community development? (You may find it useful to make a list and draw lines between different items to help visualize the complexity of development work.)
PA G E 2 O F 5
W O R L D V IS IO N USES A MO DEL called Area Development Programs (ADPs) to encourage
community ownership and local management of development. An ADP is a geographic clustering of communities, each with its own local committee made up of men and women who work with World Vision staff to plan, budget, and oversee community development. Why is it important for communities themselves to own the development process? (Consider longevity of development projects, cultural traditions, trust, etc.)
Respond P R AY F O R P E O P L E LIV ING in regions suffering from famine and drought.
HO W DID W O R L D V ISIO N’S GIFT S of various tree seedlings help improve the lives of people
in Ansokia? What would you be willing to do in order to ensure such gifts were available to help similar communities on the road to development?
HO W IS GO D C A L LING Y O U T O A C T IV ELY participate in improving your own
community?
Reach Out Consider making a difference in the following ways:
»
S P O N S O R A C HILD T HR O UGH WO R LD V ISIO N. For just about a dollar a day,
»
B E C O M E A N A DV O C AT E. Write to your members of Congress, get involved in media
»
DO NAT E IT EMS FR O M T HE WO R LD V ISIO N GIFT C ATA LO G to help
you’ll provide your sponsored child with access to critical basics, such as clean water, improved nutrition, healthcare, and education. Your gifts will help make a world of difference for one child and his or her community as they continue development efforts. For sponsorship information, visit www.worldvisionresources.com and click on the “sponsor a child” icon.
to promote awareness, and join organizations that focus on fighting poverty. Visit www.worldvisionresources.com and click on “programs and events” for more information.
communities with development projects that will benefit their children for generations to come. Gifts include items such as goats, fruit trees, mother and child health care, small business loans, school fees, and bicycles to help children get to school. Consider asking family and friends to donate items instead of buying gifts for you or each another. Visit www.worldvisionresources.com and click on “programs and events” for more information.
PA G E 3 O F 5
Resolve » »
“ C O M E T O ME, A LL Y O U WHO A R E WEA RY and burdened, and I will give you
rest.” —Matthew 11:28
F O R T HE L O R D Y O UR GO D IS GO D of gods and Lord of lords, the great God,
mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. —Deuteronomy 10:17-18
»
B UT GO D HA S C O MB INED T HE MEMB ER S O F T HE B O DY and has given
»
W H AT GO OD IS IT, MY B R O T HER S, if a man claims to have faith but has no
»
L E T US NO T B EC O ME WEA RY IN DO ING GO O D, for at the proper time we will
greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. —1 Corinthians 12:24-27
deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. —James 2:14-17
reap a harvest if we do not give up. —Galatians 6:9
Rely PRAY THAT:
»
C UR R E N T A ND FUT UR E DEV ELO PMENT EFFO RT S will end the cycle of
»
P R AY T HAT EV EN IN C O MMUNIT IES where the Christian faith cannot be shared
»
P R AY T HAT C O MMUNIT IES will be able to work together for their common good
poverty for communities such as Ansokia. Pray that government leaders, humanitarian organizations, and individuals will respond and use their gifts to ensure communities have the opportunity to experience fullness of life rather than poverty and injustice.
openly, God will be visible to people through the work of World Vision. Pray for the spiritual restoration of those in dire circumstances and that God will give them hope and a clear understanding of His love and purpose for their lives.
and find creative, effective ways to end the cycle of poverty.
PA G E 4 O F 5
About World Vision W O R L D V IS IO N is a Christian humanitarian organization
dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, World Vision serves alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people. We see a world where each child experiences “fullness of life” as described in John 10:10. And we know this can be achieved only by addressing the problems of poverty and injustice in a holistic way. That’s how World Vision is unique: We bring 60 years of experience in three key areas needed to help children and families thrive: emergency relief, long-term development, and advocacy. And we bring all of our skills across many areas of expertise to each community we work in, enabling us to care for children’s physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Partnering with World Vision provides tangible ways to honor God and put faith into action. By working, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families who are struggling to overcome poverty. To find out more about how you can help, visit www.worldvision.org.
About World Vision Resources E NDING GL O B A L PO V ERT Y and injustice begins with education:
understanding the magnitude and causes of poverty, its impact on human dignity, and our connection to those in need around the world. World Vision Resources is the publishing ministry of World Vision. World Vision Resources educates Christians about global poverty, inspires them to respond, and equips them with innovative resources to make a difference in the world.
For more information about our resources, contact: World Vision Resources Mail Stop 321 P.O. Box 9716 Federal Way, WA 98063-9716 Fax: 253-815-3340 wvresources@worldvision.org www.worldvisionresources.com
PA G E 5 O F 5