Helping Hurts

There’s a story about a New York Times reporter who interviewed Mother Teresa. He followed her for a day as background for a story. After a few hours, they had walked only two blocks, stopping repeatedly as she knelt to pray and hug the poor living on the streets. He finally blurted out, “How do you ever expect to be successful when the need here is so overwhelming?” After a few moments of silence, she responded, “It never occurred to me to be successful. I’m just trying to be obedient.”

By all accounts, Mother Teresa was an exceptional humanitarian worker. She was someone you would be proud to know. Since her death in 1997, she has been nominated for formal sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church. Few would doubt her deep faith, sincere motives, and far-reaching effectiveness. Yet, many were shocked when her private diaries revealed that she was tortured by a growing sense of unworthiness and nagging questions about whether God had abandoned her.

Rather than the result of a lack of faith, I suspect Mother Teresa may have been the victim of vicarious trauma resulting from decades of work with victims of poverty, famine, and disease. Perhaps she was eventually exhausted and overcome by the human suffering that surrounded her. She took on the emotional wounds of others, leading to her own mental and spiritual depletion.

I suspect she's not alone! Research and clinical experience demonstrate that this is a common experience for many who work in caring ministries. More than 25% of us have struggled with emotional problems caused or made worse by the work we do. The things you’ve done, seen, and heard have changed you deeply and permanently. You may be stronger and wiser than ever, but you may also feel sadder, less optimistic, or even numb. Helping hurts!

We all know this, Yes? That's why it is important to be aware and sensitive of one another - that's why team works so well. Sure, we need to build our own resilience - know why we do what we do, know our values, understand our beliefs and recognise our attitudes. We need to recognise how we will respond and react - allow ourselves to be, don't pretend to be superhuman and invincible. But perhaps most of all we need to support one another - and, when necessary, do that thing that comes hard to most of us - ask for help.

This work we do, can (has and will) take its toll, but as we look for ways to travel one another's journey, to share each other’s load, we build much more than individual resilience - we build a sustainable and transformative team – and we build and hold on to hope!

“There is a saying in Tibetan;

'Tragedy should be utilised as a source of strength.'

No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is,

if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster.”

(Dalai Lama XIV)

Ireli:

As I sat at the board room table of the Ireli Youth NGO in Baku's Old City (Icherisheher) I was reminded  of why it is so energising to work with young, passionate, creative people, (don't I sound old, and don't I know it!) and why it can simultaneously be a challenge. A colleague made the comment that it was like trying to herd the stray cats of Baku (of which there are many).

Ireli, a youth led and focused NGO has been in operation since 2006. During that time these 18-29 year olds have racked up an impressive number of donors and projects and they have created a very influential reputation in the country.

So when we were looking for a partner to create, build and deliver a public awareness campaign that would educate the people of Azerbaijan on the importance of the social inclusion of people, especially children, living with disabilities, we chose Ireli to help us.

The Chairman, 26 year old Rauf, sits opposite me telling me about the initiatives - he taps out the facebook pages, the twitter accounts, the web.tv and the NGO's URL on his iPad - as he explains to me how they will upload the public service TV spot onto their YouTube channel and it will automatically populate to all their Internet sites. He shows me the 55,000 "Likes" on one of the facebook pages and tells me that all their web sites combined will attract about 100,000 friends.

He then explains that today they will publicly launch the Disability Coalition's (another of our projects initiatives) web site [www.supportcoalition.az : coming soon in  English] and officially release the short video that will feature on TV spots over the next months in an effort to increase the visibility of disability inclusion. Combining with other initiatives to lobby government to enact policy on disability (inclusive education and health), this TV and social media campaign is one of the pillars of the initiative. And, of course as the special guest I will be speaking and launching the video...

These are an excited, and exciting group of people. With over 26,000 members in Azerbaijan they carry some weight, and when they support an initiative, apparently people take note. Within hours of the release the reports began to make the news. News.Az reported on the afternoon.

But the important thing is that the message about the social inclusion of people (especially children) living with disabilities is getting out there, and after the presentation one young woman, a student, approached our project coordinator and asked how she can get involved. That's what we need, people getting involved, and people caring!

Behind More Walls

Meet Nuray. She was born 7 years ago with Cerebral Palsy, but when her father didn't want to know her, Nuray's Mum went back to her Mother's house. Soon after she met another man, who told her to choose between him and Nuray - she chose him. So, today Nuray is cared for by her Grandma.

After climbing up the stairs of the grey concrete, post-Soviet apartment block we were welcomed into the tiny two room apartment, by grandma who had obviously spent some time preparing for our visit. Nuray was lying on the floor near her blocks, she was clean, her hair done and her clothes obviously just pressed.

As I walked into the room she hid her face in her arms, and as kids do, she peeked out every now and then to see if she was the centre of attention - which of course she was. It didn't take too long, playing the universally accepted ice breaker of "now you see me, now you don't" to get a smile out of her. She is a gorgeous little girl.

But (as I have mentioned already) she cannot go to school and her grandma has not received any government support for her. But, through a friend of a friend, Nuray and her grandma were referred to our Community Welfare team, and today we are here to confirm that Nuray has an assessment date. Her level of disability will be assessed and as a result she will go on the "Commission of Minors" list. That means that she and her grandma will receive a government pension and as of 2013 she will be registered on the Home School list.

As we left, Nuray was just getting to the "over this stage", the small tower of blocks she had built came tumbling down, and she lay down on the floor and hid her face in her arms. But just as I said goodbye in my accented, lousy Azeri, she smiled - one of those smiles that start with the mouth and end in the eyes - that's Christmas!

_____________

Just across the road from our office in Baku there is one of those nice walls I've mentioned before. I've walked alongside it numerous times on my way to the office. But the other day, I went behind it... I had no idea that right here in front of our office, in a section of concrete about 15m2, there are 8 homes. 10 families, 51 people live here.

Meters away, on the  the busy main road, on the sandstone clad side of the wall, international brand shops (like Guess, Tiffany, Gucci and Pierre Cardin) attract people in BMWs and a Bentley.

Irina (right) lives in one of the 'houses' smaller than my hotel room, with her Mum, a 19 year old sister, an 8 year old brother and a 2 year old sister. I take two steps through the door and I am at the door to the main room, in the back right corner there are four mattresses piled one on top of the other. In the left corner, hard up against the mattresses there is a cupboard. Just to my right, is a small table stacked with some cooking equipment and plates - five steps gets me from the front to the back of the room.

Surprisingly, as I look out the only wondow, I see a WiFi modem hanging on the wall. The 19 year old sister is in University, studying - the internet is an essential luxury.

Irina shows us around, shy she is not; but despite this 'minimalist style' of living, the family, and those around them welcome us with tea, and share their stories. They smile, they laugh, they share - and thanks to the Community Welfare workers this family are now on the social benefits list and getting some support.

Meanwhile, in Afghanistan

Since my visit to Afghanistan in February this year we have been working with an IDP community to establish a community based education program. The current school is an old clinic with 7 rooms, (each about 15m2). There is an enrolment of 3,000 lucky children, (there’s no room for the other 3,000) and an average class size of 90; the boys in the morning and the girls in the afternoon.

Many of the children from 8 years old up work on the streets in the city, or make adobe bricks to help their families survive. Most of the men and teenage boys go into the city looking for day work. But the parents would give up the extra, child generated, income for an education for their kids.

Simplistically: our goal is to bring community based schooling to the kids that are currently missing out. It's been a long process and I am hoping that by the end of this year, that thanks to the work of the Afghan team we will have an agreed project. But a significant stepping stone was achieved yesterday...

Nothing (worthwhile and sustainable) is possible in an Afghan community without the agreement of the local shura leader (community management). For the last few months the team have been talking, explaining, amending and drinking tea with the Maslakh shura leader, and yesterday finally we (literally) got the thumbs up. This is exciting news and means that next year we can begin work towards refurbishing, equipping and expanding the existing school, whilst at the same time working to introduce some home based schooling. Boys and girls will get to go to school!

Thalassemia Major

Sixteen years ago Gunel was born with the disease thalassemia major. Children born with the disease are normal at birth, but develop severe anemia during the first year of life, and have a life expectancy of 20-30 years. That is if they can get regular blood transfusions, and treatment.

When Gunel comes into the room, I know she's not well, but I didn't know any of this. She looks maybe 12, and is not much bigger than her 6 year old brother, Samir. It is obvious that she has not grown as normal, that she is jaundiced and has some facial deformities, but her mum tells me that she is also constantly fatigued - pretty much all the symptoms of thalassemia major.

For a child to be born with the 'major' form of the disease, both parents must be carriers of the defective gene. This knowledge, which came in hindsight, has resulted in the divorce of Gunel's parents; and mum blaming herself.

Because she's sick no school will accept her, and when she was referred to our team of Community Workers by a neighbour, her mum was having trouble accessing blood transfusions and treatment. There are no health benefits here; there is a public hospital system, but that doesn't mean it is free or affordable and as for blood - well, get in line and be prepared to pay.

Not to be beaten, the case worker turned to social media; she put Gunel's story on Facebook and asked her 'friends' to volunteer to give blood. So far, it has worked, each time Gunel needs a transfusion they are able to find a volunteer. But despite the treatment school is still out of the question, so Gunel attends the day centre managed by our partners (UAFA) and she loves it. She has attended dance and drama classes and recently participated in her first stage production. But most of all she loves art, and in particular bead work.

As we leave the neat, clean 2 room (50m2) house with no bathroom, Mum comes with us to talk in private with the case worker. Making sure Gunel and Samir are still inside, she tears up; she has recently discovered that thalassemia major children in this country do not usually live until they are 16.

Behind the Walls

Last year when I visited Baku, one of my most vivid observations was the beautiful walls. Today, I had the chance to venture behind the walls.

In the shadow (literally) of the Kempinski Hotel, Badambar, "Your 5 Star Luxury Hotel", there is a very poor IDP community. The families have been here for almost 20 years now, before the Hotel was built, and in that time they have received no government support for the development of their community. The roads up to and past the Hotel are sealed, but behind and beyond, it's 4 wheel drive territory.

I am here with a team of our project's Community Social Services workers; 3 women from among the national complement of 20-25 qualified social workers who are charged with case managing families and children that are referred by neighbours, doctors or schools - and primarily disabled children. We have come to meet two beautiful little kids, Emin and Asiman and their grandparents.

Asiman, now 9 years old, was born with epilepsy, but she had been attending school for two years before having her first fit at school. The school immediately "expelled" her - they did not know how, and were unwilling to deal with a child with epilepsy. At about the same time, Emin, now 7 years old, had his first fit.

Both children are now ineligible for school and because they are not officially diagnosed with epilepsy, they and their family do not receive medical or any other government support. But they knew no one to ask about the process, and they were frightened to go to the hospital. They knew of too many cases in their own community where people had presented for public (free) hospital or medical support only to leave empty handed when they were informed of "the cost". So they managed.

Today, thanks to the team's contacts and advocacy, Grandma was told that the children had an appointment next week with the hospital and that there would be no "costs". This means that the children will be officially listed on the Government system; they will be able to receive subsidised medications, their family will receive a government benefit and Emin and Asiman will be eligible to receive home schooling in 2013 onwards. (There is a way to go, with some other advocacy work happening, to enforce a policy for inclusive education.)

Emin and Asiman's case worker will follow them up once a week for the next three months and then if things are going alright, they will visit once a month for a further three months, and then once every three months, and after twelve months, if there is no more that we can do to assist, their case will be closed. (But once invested in the lives of kids, it is hard not to remain involved - and who can force that.)

Emin and Asiman are just two of an estimated 60,000 "disabled" children in the country who are "shut away at home". In the past an acceptable and government facilitated option was to institutionalise these children - but with a government policy of de-institutionalisation, today there is a desperate need for Gatekeeping initiatives like ours. The journey to close all institutions (with about 14,000 children still in institutional care) is a long way from over, and it needs a lot of support.

Thank you to the Aussies that are financially supporting this project - trust me, your donations are making a difference.

Pride & Joy; Nothing much Beats it!

At a village school in the Imereti region teenagers dreamt of having an indoor gymnasium. But with limited funds being prioritised for things like a new toilet block, the reality of this happening was nonexistent.

Eight seniors from the school got together and, as a result of the leadership training they had recently received, they did some research and wrote a proposal. They live in an agricultural region where they worked the farms with their parents, but they had noticed that the greenhouses were not standing up to the snows, and the wear and tear of bad weather.

From their research and discussions with local farmers they designed a new style of greenhouse. It would be made with a metal frame, because the wood rots and breaks; it would have a thicker plastic skin, because the traditional ‘cellophane’ tore too easily; and a half-round roof, because the A-frame roofs broke under the weight of collecting snow, whilst the round roof allowed the snow to fall away.

Farmers had not seen the style before and many criticised. But the proposal was accepted, the green-house built and after a bumper crop of tomatoes the students are laughing as they plant a winter crop of herbs.

They haven’t got their gym yet, and at the rate they can grow crops it will be a long way off, but you should see the pride in their eyes and the smiles on their faces as they tell me their story. One of the girls tells me that; “other school’s teenagers laughed at them, and told them they were fools, but now they don’t”.

As one of the boys shows me around and explains the differences and benefits of this construction he compares it to the green house his dad has, and announces that he is going to help other people in the community transfer to this better, more efficient, more productive model.

When you see that look of pride and joy in people’s eyes, then you know you’re onto a good thing.

Empowering Youth in Imereti

If you are going to eat khachapuri, then if it is the real deal it will be made with cheese from the Imereti region of Georgia. (It's a flatish bread stuffed with melting cheese.) But that's not what I was in Imereit for, although I had been treated to khachapuri within 12 hours of being in the country.

About three hours west of Tbilisi near the city of Kutaisi, (in the Imereti region) the schools were built years ago in the Soviet era, and the world has forgotten them. Veyr recently one of them received permission to build a toilet block, and despite the fact that it is a concrete box, it is the flashest building in town.

One of the most urgent needs in these communities, as identified by the people, is that the youth have nothing to do, and very few of them have any hope of improvement. These are farming communities, most have small family plots that only just scrape by. But the parents, like any parents, want their kids to have the opportunity to do something different - to be better than them.

For the past 7 months our team has been working with the kids in eight of these schools; officially to build their capacity - but actually what has happened is that they have become self aware, confident and socially responsible.

Together with the schools our team has built Youth Councils in the schools. About 10-15 teenagers have elected a Leader, a PR, Finance and Social Networking lead. Once this group was established they each elected, from the School staff, a Mentor that would work with them; mediate for, and advocate on their behalf.

All eight schools went away to summer camps were they learnt debating skills (and competed against each other), they completed a first aid certificate, and they learnt local level advocacy skills. At the end of the camp each of the Youth Councils were required to identify at least one project that they would undertake to improve their community.

All of the Councils chose to address the garbage problem in their school and community: today after advocating for change the school has large bins, the community has public bins and the councils have agreed to add these bins to the council collection and to pay the costs.

Three schools also chose to address the issue of disability exclusion in their schools. They recognised that the disabled kids in their communities were excluded from school and community life. Through their Mentor they asked for training on disability inclusion, and inclsive education. Then they went to work on the Ministry of Education, the School Director and the community. They held their own awareness campaign, and spread the message they had come to understand, that "we should not ignore the disabled kids because we think it is too hard, it isn't, they are brave and can do things we can't".

I had the opportunity to visit a new classroom that has been repaired and painted (pink) by the kids. A teacher has been employed and, the school I visited, had five disabled kids enrolled, (and a ramp built for access). There was a large tree painted on the wall, with branches that held the dreams of these kids. It's a small beginning - but a huge step for the young people.

With confidence they reported their involvement in the project and a few of them outlined their dreams for the future. Most of them will go to University: we will have a few teachers, a couple of lawyers, one or two journalists, a few IT experts and one or two agricultural scientists who want to research farming methods to improve crop yields in their community.

This project is transforming the lives of young people in Imereti and they in turn are reforming society. That's exciting to be (a very small) part of.

Kaya

'Kaya' shyly peeked around the corner of the door way, she had heard strange voices in the room and was here to check us out. Slowly, encouraged by Meya the Director of the facility, she made her way around the door and then ran for Meya's outstretched arms.

It was St George's Day in Georgia, and I was visiting a Street Children's Shelter on the edge of Tbilisi. Here, in a dilapidated two storey complex that in so many ways reminds me of all the horror images of Children's institutions in ex-Soviet countries, there are 35 children from 6 to 18 years old. The kids are all rugged up against the bitter cold wind (and it isn't full winter yet) that bites deep as there is no glass in most of the bottom floor windows. The paint, where there is pain is peeling off the walls. The concrete floor is full of divots from many years of neglect. But this is a State building, and the managing agency can do little, because another building, apparently as dilapidated as this, is being repaired for a move.

Before coming to this place the kids here were all 'street children': some were sex workers, many were professional beggars, others were thieves and pick-pockets - they all did what ever they had to either to satisfy masters or to survive. Some have been remanded to the centre by the courts, others have been found wandering by the Police and bought here for care.

'Kaya', is a ten year old girl who "is a little slow", but don't mistake her for being stupid. She speaks two languages. She and her older brother and Mother were beggars. They spent most of Kaya's ten years begging near the market in town. One day about a year ago her brother disappeared, they didn't know what happened to him and Mum had no way of finding out.

Then a few months ago, whilst wandering amongst the people begging, Kaya lost her Mum. She became distressed and hysterical and so the Police picked her up and bought her to Meya, to the Street Children's Shelter. Here, Meya has worked with her, and she has made friends - but most amazingly, here she also found her brother and then a few days later her Mum found them.

But there was no way Mum could care for them, and here they were safe, they were fed, they were loved. If only there were a place were people like Mum could go and get help, but there is no social care for people like her in Georgia. But Meya wasn't finished yet!

Meya, has a Masters in Social Welfare, and for may years has worked at a very influential level in Georgia. But a few months ago she gave it all up because she said, "it was time to put my walk where my talk is". Today she is Director of the Shelter (as well as a number of other roles she plays in the organisation): so she made contact with a friend that owns a farm just a little way off, and they got Mum a job caring for cows on the farm. She now earns a little bit of money, she has a place to live and stay safe - but most importantly she has a job - she has worth.

Kaya and her brother will stay at the Shelter for now, here they get some help, (psychological, life skills, behavioural and educational) but Mum visits often. They are some of the lucky ones!

Home League Re-Imagined

12 years ago a handful of war widows got together to talk. They were tired of doing nothing, feeling helpless and dependant. They were frustrated that their children and grand-children had no future and saw little hope of this changing. They were over being victims! They didn't want to be the poster image of war widows anymore. Today, after  a lot of hard work, they have put the people that told them just to be quiet back in their boxes.

As I drove into the town of Olovo it became immediately obvious why this town, in a valley between two high mountains, like so many, had been the site of so many war casualties. The wooded mountains climbed high on either side of us, but they still hide dangerous memories. Only a few weeks ago a young father gathering berries in the forest was killed by a land mine. There are still small signs with a white 'skull and crossbone' on a red background along the road where there is known to have been mine fields. Militia and snipers hid in these mountains and picked off the population below.

Today Olovo is a majority Muslim village, but before the war, like most villages in Bosnia, it was a mixed religion and ethnic village. High on the mountain side stands an old Catholic Monastery, a proud building, prised by all the village. During the war the Muslim community protected the Catholic Monastry and would not let the Muslim militia destroy it. Today it still stands proud, a symbol of unity, with the Muslim mosque just below it - both stand out as you look up to the mountain.

It was cold, the fog still hung low in the valley when I arrived at the well refursbished two storey 'home' of the Olovo Womens' Association at about 10am. Quickly ushered into the warnth of th kitchen I passed by well stocked shelves with all kinds of pickled vegetables and fruit preserves and syrups.Over the past few years this (Home League) Women's Association has increased to 80 paid up members - and is open to any women. (The Imam is an honorary member!)

They have bought over 30 greenhouses where families grow vegetables and fruit, and becuase they have been helped, they give 10% of all produce, annually, to the association. In the kitch I now stood a volunteer army of women of all ages pickle, stew, preserve the produce. Labelled with their new branding, of which they are very proud, this produce is sold in the village and surrounds. The profits have establisehed and staffed the only kindergarten in town where up to forty 2-5 year olds are learning all the socialisation and early learning skills that kids everywhere enjoy.

Outings are arranged for the women to visit each others holy sites and centres. Workshops are held to teach how to cook and grow. Health clinics are held in the village. But the message they wanted to me to hear more than anything was: 'now we make our own money, we make money for our kids - we don't just wait for people to help us - we are in control - and we are dong good'.

An inspritational, and formiddable group of women. (At 10:30am I was served a lunch of all kinds of preserves and pickles  with roast chicken and potatoes - and I was hungry, even if I didn't htink I was!)

Bosnia & Herzegovina, Republika Srpska

This last week I have been holed up in the Hotel Sarajevo, about 15 minutes outside the Capital of the Federation of Bosnia i Herzegovina attending a workshop facilitated by World Vision International with the grand title of "Integrating Peacebuilding and Conflict Sensitivity", or I-PACS.

I-PACS is about conflict mitigation and designing programming in ways that ensure that Aid and Development are not exacerbating conflict sensitivities but rather part of a response that promotes peace, and maybe reconciliation. The fact is that aid can sometimes be used as a tool to control people, or unintentionally (or maybe intentionally) promote the agenda of one of the parties in conflict.

It has been interesting, talking about issues of Interfaith Relations, Conflict, War and Peace in a country that only about 20 years ago saw one of the worst genocides in recent history. An then this morning we woke to Police vehicles cordoning off the corner and the news that the authorities are investigating a suspected mass grave (from the war) that is 100 meters from my hotel and 10 meters off the main road into Sarajevo City.

But today I had the opportunity to escape the Hotel and travel north into the rural city of Kakanj where we could meet and talk with some of the 'real people'. I had the privilege of interviewing a Roman Catholic priest, (a Croat) who is working with his church to address some of the needs of his parish. He spoke of a member of his congregation that cares for some of the ignored and lonely elderly people of his community; of the marginalisation and exclusion of the Roma minority and his attempts to include and empower them.

I visited one of the largest schools in the area that has about 1,050 students enrolled. The school manages three shifts (7:30am, 11:00am and 1:30pm) in a small building complex so as to cater for all the children. Schooling is obligatory, but the costs of purchasing books and material is too high for some who have limited or no income. And then, once the children complete their schooling there are no opportunities for work.

Parents are unemployed and receive little or no state assistance, either for children's basic needs or for medical assistance and the system is corrupt, uncaring and untrustworthy.

So what do INGOs do to assist in a community like Kakanj? What is the best way to partner for sustainable transformation with a community that voices little hope that the systems can change in any way that will offer them assistance?

If you know the answer let me know, but in the meantime, we do what we can to analyse the context, and ensure as best we can that what we are doing, (facilitating child sponsorship, children's education, civil society building, economic development) is the best we can and that it is equally accessible to all people regardless of social, ethnic and religious affiliation.

May Hope Guide You, Always

As I sit in a hotel in Dubai, Sandra (my wife) is getting ready to fly out of Cairns for Manus Island and I remind myself how we got to be where we are and who we are?

I have written before about the influencers that have brought me to the place where I find myself and made me the person I am. But perhaps the one that deserves the most credit is Sandra. It was Boxing Day 2004 when she uttered the words "we have to do something": we have been doing something ever since.

But more important than doing something, is being someone. I am so proud of Sandra who for the next few weeks will be with people who are frightened and alone. Many of you that read this will recognise the woman that is a true friend, a crying buddy, a laughing mate. She will act the clown to make you laugh, she will supply the tissues and cry with you - but what ever it is she is doing, it is only a means to her goal of being present with you, making you feel special and giving you a glimpse of hope.

I am proud of Sandra who doesn't see the inconsistencies in the politics or the faults in the process but rather sees the people and reminds us that "it's not their fault, someone has to care".

May Hope guide you and empower you as you minister to the scared and the powerless in these next few weeks Sandra. 

Dolly: An Inspiration

Eight years ago I met Dolly and her husband. Five days after the tsunami that devastated the lives of hundreds of thousands of people they were standing in the middle of a pile of rubble that was their home and business. Over the following weeks we worked with them and the community to rebuild and restart the Hikkaduwa coir co-operation.

I came to love working with Dolly. She knew what she wanted and mostly got what she worked for. She worked hard to reclaim the business that had been destroyed and to represent her community. Her husband was a baker and her manual laborer. Together (with Chris Mulryn and others) we were able to get the men and women of the co-op back in business.

I have had the privilege of visiting Dolly three times since then and each time I have seen the development of their business and their property. So, it was wonderful to drive down a brand new concrete lane way to Dolly's place, to see Dolly open the gate and her face light up as she recognized who was driving the vehicle. It was especially good to be able to introduce Sandy and Alexis to the lady they had heard so much about.

But it was sad to hear that only a month ago Dolly's husband had died. Only 60 years old, he had battled cancer for the last 6 years during which they had worked hard to fulfill his dream of completing the building of a bakers oven. Today it remains incomplete, a sad reminder of her husband's legacy.

As we visited a number of the people I worked with and they spoke of the difference that has been made in their lives, I was reminded of the privilege I have had. I get to be part of a lasting work that transforms the lives of people and reforms their societies. I get to make a difference in a way that I would never have imagined.

Some of you reading this made that difference possible: either because of the money you gave me to spend on your behalf, or because you took a chance on deploying me, or because you released me to go. So please know, eight years after a moment of utter terror, there are people here in Sri Lanka whose lives have been transformed by your involvement with them.

Dare to Disagree

"A fantastic model of collaboration: thinking partners who aren't echo chambers.”

(Margaret Heffernan)

Like most people I don't like conflict, but I acknowledge that it is often as a result of conflict or disagreement that I have learnt the most. And it is often from people who have been willing to disagree with me, as leader, that the community has benefited the most.

I suspect that there are a lot of leaders (I know some) that prefer, and in fact demand, that their team be 'echo chambers' or 'yes men'. But Margaret Heffernan presents a very clear call for disagreement and shows how intentionally cultivating this dynamic in a team is a benefit to any organisation.

It's about 13 minutes, but its worth watching: Margaret Heffernan: Dare to Disagree.

We need leaders like this!

Acts of Terror

'The nightmare scenario is that biological weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists',

White House press secretary.

[Comment in relation to Syrian government announcement that they have biological weapons: my paraphrase]

It would seem to me that we have come to define a terrorist as any one that uses methods that invoke terror to enforce an agenda that does not agree with mine.

Any group that disagrees with the USA, and uses techniques of terror, is labeled a terrorist and perhaps a member of the axis of evil. Any person that articulates a position different to a Western 'elected power broker' and uses force to protect themselves, or their own, is a terrorist!

(I do not support techniques of terror), but it would seem to me that we have come too easily to accept that the 'use of fear to intimidate people', (the definition of terror) is a technique only used by 'others'. Surely the Australian, USA, British (etc) government would never use 'fear' to control people!

After all that has occured in Syria, isn't it a bit rich to be concerned that the weapons might fall into hands of terrorists. I suggest that, given that they are already in the hands of a government that has proved its willingness to use acts of fear to intimidate, that the weapons are already in the hands of terrorists.

Please, let's not pretend that this theory applies only to Middle eastern (Islamic) governments. Haven't we all seen evidence of 'western governments' using words and threats to frighten their own people. Not all terrorism is overtly military action, some people and governments are very good at invoking fear and terror through scenario painting.

Terrorism has become a very one sided description of what our enemies do. But let's not be naive in believing that governments do not engage in acts of terror against their own citizens, let alone against other nations. Even the most 'altruistic' military/police support efforts could, by definition, be called terror actions. (Could 'peace keeping' - well meaning heavily armed militia patrolling streets - actually be an act of terror?)

It seems to me that either we need to be more even handed with the word and label all acts that invoke fear, including those by governments, as terrorism, or we need to drop it. But the word terrorist has taken on a 'convenient' emotive connotation that words such as insurgent, guerrilla or militant have not. The word terrorist has been hijacked by governments to scapegoat those who challenge their legitimacy.

A Marathon for Peace in Rwanda

A stadium once filled with those fearing for their lives in the Rwandan genocide, now symbolises a place of hope for 13-year-old Virginie Uwijuru.

Eighteen years ago, Tutsis sought refuge in the Amahoro stadium, protected by the United Nations. Now, at the same stadium, there is no Hutu. There is no Tutsi. Citizens – irrespective of their tribes or historical differences – are coming together to run in the Kigali International Peace Marathon.

Thirteen-year-old Virginie walks into Rwanda’s national stadium having never competed in a race this big. It brings together 5,000 runners from East Africa. She is one of 46 registered children from WV Rwanda running a five kilometre youth course.

“This is a way to train children to be peace-makers. It’s also a way of motivating children to work harder since those who were chosen had good behaviour and performance in school,” says George Gitau, national director – WV Rwanda.

Virginie lines up at the starting line with other children ages 11 to 15. And then she starts moving.

At two kilometres, all are doing well. Virginie next struggles to catch up with kids a few metres ahead at three kilometres. She’s still in the front group and leads as the only runner from a rural area.

Now she has left hundreds of children at kilometre four, running along with a group of older boys. “This is amazing! The girl in a World Vision t-shirt is promising to be number one among the girls,” reports Amazing Grace Radio. At this point, no one knows Virginie’s name.

Her photo appears on a large screen, the crowd cheers and Virginie rounds the last corner closing in on the finish.

The crowd’s cheers and staff running beside her help her run faster. Five boys cross the finish line first. Virginie: the girl who has never been in Kigali and the girl who has never ran in a professional race is the first girl to cross the finish line!

“I did not know how long was five kilometres. I started at a high speed. Later, I realised we were getting far from the stadium and I felt discouraged. Other children a few metres ahead of me encouraged me to move on,” she explains.

Virginie receives awards from officials and WV Rwanda prizes. “I will give the money to my mother as soon as I get home. She will be happy and proud of me.”

[Martin Tindiwensi, – WV Rwanda]

Turning a Blind Eye to Modern-day Slavery

World Vision Don't Trade Lives

Every year, hundreds of thousands of women, men and children are deceived or coerced into situations of exploitation. Modern-day slavery, also known as trafficking, is found in just about every country.

It is present in the Australian sex industry in the form of foreign women held in debt bondage; in the Russian construction sector, where thousands of workers from former Soviet states are abused; on fishing boats throughout Asia and the Pacific, where Burmese and Cambodian men are not paid the wages they were led to expect; in the brothels of Bali and the private homes of Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, to which Indonesian girls have gone with promises of a better life; in South Africa and India, where private hospitals harvest the organs of deceived desperates for commercial transplant operations; on the cocoa farms of Ivory Coast, made profitable through the almost-zero cost labour of child workers from Mali; and even in the houses and apartments of wealthy Americans, where Guatemalan maids sleep on the floor and are not paid or allowed outside.

The scale of this trade in human misery is difficult to calculate. Latest estimates from the United Nations suggest at least 21 million people are trapped in forced and exploitative labour, and that this shadow economy is accruing profits of more than $30 billion a year. More than half of this is generated in wealthy industrialised countries such as Australia.

It is easy to be horrified about slavery while absolving ourselves of direct responsibility. But that is both wrong and dangerous. Human exploitation has built our world and continues to drive global economic growth. Cheap labour, cheap sex and cheap goods are woven into the fabric of our individual lives.

Many countries derive great benefit from low-cost foreign workers who, deliberately unprotected by law, can be criminalised or shoved aside when circumstances require. Some countries that maintain a strong policy position against prostitution are nevertheless comfortable with a marginalised and closeted sex industry comprised principally of exploited foreigners.



Decrease your "Slavery Footprint"
http://www.ethical.org.au/

On a more personal level, few of us stop to think why the goods and services we consume with such abandon are so incredibly cheap. The presence of forced labour in the supply chains of major manufacturers has been repeatedly documented. It is sobering to wonder just how big our individual "slavery footprint'' might be.

There are now strong international laws in place that require every country to protect victims, prosecute offenders and work to prevent future exploitation. While progress is slow, many countries are now making a genuine effort. Australia has begun to take on an important leadership role. The Australian government funds the world's largest and most ambitious criminal justice initiative against trafficking. That project, which has been running in south-east Asia for the past nine years, has been widely acclaimed for its impact on laws, policies and practices within and outside the region.

Australia is also beginning to pay attention at home, with new laws on slavery and trafficking and much greater efforts to identify exploited foreign workers in agriculture, hospitality and construction, as well as in the sex industry.

One lesson we have learnt at considerable cost is that a complex problem such as modern slavery does not respond well to quick fixes. For example, it is both foolish and patronising to treat the people caught up in this trade as naive and helpless victims. Unfortunately, for many of the world's workers, exploitation is a reality that must be factored into the path towards a better life.

Most don't want to be sent home penniless and disgraced. They just want a decent job. This crucial fact needs to be kept in mind when working out how to extract trafficked persons from exploitation and support their recovery.

Strident calls for foreign governments to crack down on traffickers can be equally misguided. As Australia has learnt through its work in south-east Asia, pressuring underdeveloped criminal justice systems to improve their prosecution rates can contribute to unfair trials and other serious miscarriages of justice.

It is much more useful to help build national capacity to investigate and prosecute trafficking; strengthen labour laws; address corruption; and ensure justice for victims. It's time to take slavery seriously. The exploitation of human beings for profit is everyone's business. We might not be able to end it, but now we know what's going on, feeling bad is just not good enough.

[Dr Anne Gallagher. AO]

Afghanistan Premier League Football

Afghanistan's first premier football league will begin nationwide in August, the country's football officials said Monday. Hailed by the officials as a new chapter for Afghanistan, the competition is expected to increase football fans throughout the war-torn country and help towards stronger bonds of unity.

"Afghan football is entering a new chapter, and will increase the quality of football players in the country," head of Afghanistan's Football Federation Keramuddin Karim told at a press conference in Kabul. "I am sure it will help in strengthening the national unity between the Afghan youth," he added.

The competition, named "Green Ground", will see football clubs across the country travel and compete against each other. "Football is a game which unites people from different nations, we want to unite Afghanistan through this league," head of Tolo TV Massoud Sanjar said. The competition will also help screen out the best players to make a stronger national team, they said.

Afghanistan: Key Messages

1. Afghans are facing an uncertain future, despite improvements in education, health care and political participation over the past decade. The departure of foreign troops will reduce economic activity, state revenues and foreign aid, putting the development gains of the last decade at risk and exacerbating humanitarian needs in one of the poorest countries in the world. I welcome the commitment to support civilians made by the international community at the Tokyo conference on 8 July, and call on all concerned to translate words into deeds to ensure that the basic needs of Afghans are met.

2. Afghanistan is in its fourth decade of conflict. More than a third of Afghans have personal experience of fleeing their homes because of insecurity and violence. Nearly half a million Afghans are internally displaced, some living in utter destitution in urban slums where dozens of children died of cold last winter. I welcome the Government’s commitment to developing a policy on displacement and call for immediate action to find lasting solutions for the plight of displaced people.

3. Five million Afghans are refugees and migrants outside their country’s borders, mainly in Iran and Pakistan. In light of increasing calls by host country Governments for the speedy return of Afghans, I urge everyone involved in this process to manage it through voluntary repatriation in a safe, dignified and coordinated way. I encourage donors to support the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees agreed by host countries, Afghanistan and UNHCR in May.

4. Afghanistan is highly prone to natural disasters including earthquakes and landslides. So far this year, more than 200,000 Afghans have been affected by some 300 natural disasters. Humanitarian agencies need to build the capacity of the Afghan Government and the local authorities who are the first line of response, to prevent and prepare for these events and to minimize loss of life.

5. The Consolidated Appeal for Afghanistan for 2012 calls for US$448 million to implement 165 projects across the country. Half way through the year, it is only 30 per cent funded. I count on all to help mobilize resources for those in acute need.

(Emergency Relief Coordinator: UNOCHA – 12 July 2012)

Snakes and Schools

The turboprop touched down very smoothly at 9:00pm on Tuesday, the crew welcomed us to Sukkur and announced it was 32C and as the rear door opened the hot air consumed the canned cool air – if I’d known that was the last cool air I would inhale for a while I would have breathed more deeply.

One of the most volatile issues in Pakistan at the moment that is causing protests and riots is the power load shedding. With inadequate power for the ever increasing demand, it has been ‘normal’ during summer, for the power grid to be shut down for an average of 2-3 hours per day. But this year some places are being shut down for between 10-15 hours – Sukkur is one of them. It’s okay for those that can afford generators and the fuel to run them, but for the majority of people – on a 40C+ day – it is becoming intolerable, and they are letting the government know about it – so the government has set up a committee to discuss it!

I have spent the past two days travelling around Sukkur looking at single and two room schools that are part of the Education program: My Teacher, My Role Model. Designed to make learning a “joyous experience” the program seeks to up skill teachers, eradicate corporal punishment, advocate for the implementation of education policy and in some cases (where necessary) refurbish schools to make them places where both students and teachers want to be.

One of the main issues for these rural schools, particularly for girls, is the lack of washroom facilities, in the past parents have kept their children home. But in these two days I have heard stories of parents and teachers who, having learned of the policies, are going to education officials and insisting on the facilities that are mandated by policy to be provided, and government officials are responding. It’s a longer story, and a little more complicated: but the result, after only 5 months, is that in most of the schools where these initiatives have been implemented student attendance has increased on average 20% and teachers are enthusiastic.

Arriving at the Central Primary school this morning I was greeted by the Assistant District Officer (Education) and two snake charmers. This school, like the rest I visited, is (mostly) a happy place despite the fact that due to power load shedding most schools are without any electricity: in a concrete classroom, on a 40C+ day – it is hot, stinking hot! But the achievements are clearly evident, here like everywhere else, kids want to learn, and parents want them to. Little girls speak of their hope to be doctors, teachers and judges; little boys announce that they will be soldiers, presidents and policemen.

Driving around Sukkur makes me wonder if I have landed in some bizarre movie. It’s like being in a giant sandpit with mud and brick, grey/brown buildings. Camel and donkey carts vie for right of way with ornately (gaudily) decorated and dangerously overloaded trucks and motorbikes, on roads where dodgem seems appropriate to describe the rules. In contrast to the sand and beige an overload of colours worn by women splashes around the peripherals.

Just outside the city acres of land are lined with date palms loaded with fruit, but then with the blink of the eye they’re gone and the landscape is replaced by sand dunes topped by an ancient fort, an ornate mosque, or a quarry.

“This is real Pakistan” says my host, “the real people live here, they are poor, they are forgotten and they are hungry – not just for food, but for education, because they know the only way to change Pakistan is to educate their children.”

Saving Face

Every year in Pakistan, many people – the majority of them women – are known to be victimized by brutal acid attacks, while numerous other cases go unreported. With little or no access to reconstructive surgery, survivors are physically and emotionally scarred. Many reported assailants, often a husband or someone else known by the victim, receive minimal if any punishment from the state.

Recently honored with a Best Documentary Short Oscar®, SAVING FACE chronicles the lives of acid-attack survivors Zakia and Rukhsana as they attempt to bring their assailants to justice and move on with their lives. The women are supported by NGOs, sympathetic policymakers, and skilled doctors, such as the Acid Survivors Foundation- Pakistan, plastic surgeon Dr. Mohammad Jawad, who returns to his home country to assist them, attorney Ms. Sarkar Abbass who fights Zakia’s case, and female politician Marvi Memon who advocates for new legislation.
 
Directed by Oscar® winning and Emmy®-nominated American filmmaker Daniel Junge and Oscar® and Emmy®-winning Pakistani director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, SAVING FACE is an intimate look inside Pakistani society, illuminating each woman’s personal journey while showing how reformers are tackling this horrific problem.

I Feel Proud and Happy

Iqra Bibi, 23, lives in a small house in the village of Bandi Maira, in the mountains below the town of Nathiagali, a relatively prosperous and beautiful tourist region. In contrast to Nathiagali, Bandi Maira, lacks many of the comforts of life such as health care, roads and access to income opportunities; Iqra, and other women, usually stay at home and often face discrimination in these patriarchal communities.

Like other poor families living in Bandi Maira, Iqra is responsible for taking care of her seven younger siblings, and her father, a retired civil servant, who earns Rs. 7,000 (AUD $70.00) a month from his government pension. Living with such a little amount every month makes it really hard for Iqra to meet their basic needs.

“I always wanted to do something for my old father and my family living in poverty,” said Iqra. But despite the desire, Iqra could not get permission from her father or brothers to work; a girl earning for the family would bring shame on them, they preferred poverty to shame.

But Iqra didn’t lose hope. She started doing some voluntary beautician work in the village, offering to do make up for the village girls for different ceremonies, like wedding parties. But due to pressure from her family, she was not allowed to take payment – she continued her work free of charge. This work gave her at least one benefit: she became connected with the village girls and women.

Iqra had another advantage though too, she had twelve years of formal education. And despite the discrimination she was confident and refused to give in. “I often thought of ways to utilize my own abilities to do some job and earn money to live a respectable life in my village,” Iqra said.

In October 2011, she received an offer to join a new project [Women Entrepreneurship Development] for the women and girls of the village who want to undergo some training and start earning. However, when Iqra asked, her family stood against her wishes; but Iqra went to work on her family and eventually convinced them that there is no shame if a girl works.

With her father’s and brother’s permission, she started attending candle making classes in the village. “Being a girl it was very difficult to work here in my village where acceptance level is very low that a women can also work and support her family but my thinking was different,” said Iqra.

“I decided to learn candle making and wished to start my own business. Although at village level, it looked quite difficult to me how I will start a good business from a training only, however after going through business cycle training I was able to understand how I can improve my skills, start production and sell my products”, said Iqra.

With help, Iqra started visiting Abbottabad city markets and negotiating with shop keepers, presenting her beautiful candles in the first two months after completing her training and receiving startup material, Iqra earned almost Rs. 15,000 (AUD $150.00). With this good start, Iqra has now contacted her cousin in Rawalpindi city and plans to visit and meet some market owners and establish business linkages and get orders for decorated candles. Expanding her business would be a great hope for Iqra to become a successful entrepreneur. Now, with the confidence of her family and her relatives, Iqra is really motivated.

“The most important thing is that I am now living a respectable life. My little brothers and my father do not tease me and I am happy that I can support my family, which was otherwise very difficult for my old father,” said Iqra. “I am confident that my future is bright. I earn as my father and my brothers earn and it is not only helping our family financially but also giving my family a sense that girls can also work,” she further added.

Iqra has also started training eight other local girls from her village. “When all girls of my village give me respect and call me their Teacher, I feel very proud and happy. First I was kind of an unknown person in my village, but not now, as villagers now started realizing that this is a respectable work which a girl can do in the village,” she said.

(Abridged from a report by Nadia Qasim)

A Day in the Life of a Brick Kiln

In Pakistan bricks are made in a manner that was invented 200 years ago (Bull's Trench Kiln). Soil is scraped from good quality agricultural land, water and straw are mixed in, children and men work from first to last light forming it into wooden moulds and turning it out to dry in the hot sun. The dried brick is baked in environmentally unfriendly, smoke belching kilns.

Over 17,000 of these kilns are registered with the appropriate government departments, but there are many more that are unregistered, avoiding the restrictions, the payments, and any hope of (non-existent) regulation. Some of the kilns are "Owner Operated",others are and on leased land. The majority are owned by rich privates and some by government officials. Each kiln can last about 4-5 years before they have stripped the resources of the area, and are no longer viable.

A typical kiln will have about 60 workers, 20-25 families living and working on the property. The owner/operator will provide a very basic house, made from bricks, which is home for between 100-150 people (including children and elderly dependants). The vast majority of these workers are 'bonded' labour - they and their whole family is in debt to the owner/operator and will work until the debt is paid. But most of these people, illiterate and marginalised, have any idea what their current level of debt is.

Each kiln can produce between 200,000 and 600,000 bricks per month, and they pay PKR 507.00 (AUD 5.00) per 1,000 bricks produced, and one kiln owner just outside Islamabad is selling 1,000 bricks for "just PKR 7,500.00" (AUD 75). The average wage paid to a worker is PKR 305.00 (AUD 3.00) per week - but then the manager will deduct PKR 20.00 for each 'imperfect' brick and PKR 20.00 for loan repayment.

Children, from the earliest ages, join their parents in the brick manufacturing business: as youngsters they will gather soil and make and provide mud; some as they get older will become "fire men", keeping the fire burning; and others will load, unload and carry bricks. All this under the watchful eye of the guards who both keep people in and out!

People know that the use of children in the production of bricks (and any industry) is illegal. But how do you convince people not to buy bricks produced by child labour (there is no other option at this time, that any one knows of) - they're cheap, PKR 4-7. If we could produce an Ethical Brick in a Child labour free kiln - the cost would most likely be more. How do you convince people that it matters? How do you get people to say no to child labour? How do you change the circumstances for parents who have no choice but accept that for the family to survive their child must work?

That's what today was about! It will involve advocacy - researching the current context, educating people as to the reality - and then convincing buyers to say no to kilns that use bonded and child labour. It is going to involve lobbying Churches, Mosques, Diplomatic Embassies, Government, NGOs, large National Agents and getting them to commit to an "Ethical Production Policy".

So why not help? Do you know someone in Pakistan? Ask them about their child labour policy. Ask them to start making a noise about this issue. Write to your government's embassy in Pakistan - ask them if they are buying resources from producers who use child labour. Ask the shop owners if the leather jacket you want is from Pakistan - chances are if it is the leather was prepared by a child.

If you wouldn't want your 6 year old working in horrific conditions then do something! Even if it's just educating yourself.

I Think I am 9

8:00am this morning, as I headed out to Rawalpindi, the sun was already beating down from a clear blue sky, the temperature was just topping 33C on its way to a top of 41C for the day.

Some of the children I was going to meet at Drop-In Centre (DIC) 2, had already been at work for three hours when I set out. By the time we arrived at the Centre at 9:00am they had finished work for the morning, washed up and arrived at the DIC. The kids will spend 2 hours in the DIC and then some will go back to work.

The DIC is a two storey building in the back narrow, grey concrete streets of Rawalpindi just around the corner from the main produce market, (where many of the children work with their parents). The walls are decorated with the children's artwork: a 2 times table made out of scrap paper cups, the Urdu alphabet outlined by beans - "we are a 'green' school" says one of the teachers, "we use scrap from the streets and market for the children to learn".

Despite the heat outside it is not too bad with the fans going inside. The children are remarkably clean for street working kids, their skin clear. The DIC health officer and teachers hammer home the importance of washing their hands and faces - it seems to be having an effect. But despite the message of treating water for drinking most children tell us that it doesn't happen at home - 'because mum and dad can't afford the wood or gas to boil water'.

I had the chance to spend some time with four remarkable children: three boys: two 11 year olds and one disarmingly cute and front toothless who told me he was "somewhere between 5 and 7", and his sister who told me, "I am smaller than him, but older; I think I am 9". (Over 50% of children in Pakistan are stunted, source FAO.)

Some of the things we found out, the questions that were asked, and answers given include:

1. The two 11 year olds help their family by picking rags. They start work early, while its cool, finish to come to the DIC, and will go back later in the evening.
2. Mother-melter and Toothless helps his dad in the vegie market by bagging produce.
3. Mother-melter with huge eyes sells Mum/Home made snacks from a small table on the street near home, (her little sister joins her)
4. What do you like about the DIC? "The teachers and staff are nice, friendly - and we love learning."
5. These children are all from large families: between 7-9 siblings. They wish that they're brothers and sisters could learn to read and write too.
6. If you could do anything you wanted to when you are older, what would you do? I'll be a Doctor. I want to be a teacher. I want to drive a car. I want to be a Policeman.
7. If you could have anything you wanted today, what would you ask for? "For my Mum and Dad to have work, so that I don't have to pick rags and I can go to school." "For my Dad's stall to be closer to home, because the Market is too hot".

The hope of this DIC is that over the next 3 years about 600 children will pass through the centre where they will receive a basic education before being accepted into mainstream, full time schooling. Their parents will receive some training to improve their income and learn about child rights. The community will work together to protect their children and decrease the need for their children to work.

These children grow up quickly, there is not a lot of time or energy for fun and games - but every now and then harsh reality can be pushed aside and kids are kids. Here in the DIC they laugh, they sing, they dance, they draw - and they poke faces at strange people.