Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC)

The other region I am privileged to work in is, Latin America and the Caribbean. Here's a short intro to what we call LAC:

Our cause: Protected children promoting a more just and secure society.

Latin America and the Caribbean is the most urbanized region in the developing world, as three quarters of its population residing in cities and surrounding areas (World Bank, 2004).

UNICEF's "State of the World's Children 2005" reported that 44% of the population of Latin America and the Caribbean live below the poverty line, this rises to 56% among those under 19. About 27 million Brazilian children, who live below the poverty line, are in families with incomes below $100 per month.

The fight against poverty requires actions and solutions that should be implemented in all areas of society. Poverty can be reduced through policies that promote responsible government, support for micro, small-scale agriculture, income equality and access to credit, education and training. It should ensure equal opportunities for boys, girls, youth, women, the neediest communities and indigenous peoples.

World Vision seeks to improve the quality of life for children, families and communities through development and community organization in the region. Improvement of roads and housing, construction of plazas and parks recreation and drinking water facilities, drainage and irrigation, electricity facilities are achieved with the active involvement of the communities served.

World Vision's work in this region is divided into three clusters:

• Central America: Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Cost Rica
• South America: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Brazil
• Caribbean: Haiti and Dominican Republic

At present, World Vision is working across a diverse and dynamic region to improve the lives of nearly 14.5 million of the most vulnerable children in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Middle East and Eastern Europe Regional Office (MEERO)

I have the privilege of championing the work of World Vision Australia in two regions: Latin America & Caribbean (LAC) and Middle East and Eastern Europe (MEER). Here's a short introduction to what we call MEER:

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The countries where World Vision works across the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Southern Asia region are of huge geopolitical significance.

This is a region where the children, families and communities face staggering challenges every day—challenges that all too inevitably force some children to grow up too fast while not allowing others to grow up at all.

While there are differences in the struggles faced by the children and their families depending, in part, by what country they call home, there similarities as well. Across the region, World Vision is working to provide millions of children: with access to a quality and affordable education and health services as well as knowledge of their rights and a means to protect themselves from those who would exploit them. At the same time, World Vision strives to come alongside parents and community members equipping them to be able to provide for their children’s physical, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional needs regardless of ethnicity, gender or religious beliefs both now and in the future.

World Vision’s work in this region is divided into four clusters of countries:

• The Balkans: Serbia and Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Romania 
• The Caucasus: Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan
• The Middle East: Jerusalem and West Bank, Lebanon and Jordan
• Southern Asia: Afghanistan and Pakistan

At present, World Vision is working in more than 1,500 communities across the region striving to improve the lives of nearly 10 million children and youth.

Sri Lanka, mama enewa (මම එනේව)

I’m moving on - but not far! 

Soon, I will be taking on a new challenge for World Vision Australia as the Program Advisor for South Asia.

This means that after 22 months I will be shifting my focus eastward from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Eastern Europe to Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. As Program Advisor I will take a strategic overview of the region whilst mentoring, coaching and supporting program managers responsible for four of the countries - but, Sri Lanka is my special responsibility.

For those that know me, this is an exciting opportunity! Having grown up in Sri Lanka and worked there off and on over the last 15 years the opportunity to focus my attention on managing World Vision Australia’s engagement with World Vision Lanka is a great privilege. (Someone is going to pay me to visit my Sri Lankan family - oh and work too I guess!)

World Vision Lanka is "restoring the right to dream” throughout the island. Working in 20 districts and 1,120 villages, the 500 plus (fulltime) staff work to transform the lives of approximately 240,000 children and 150,000 families.

Amongst these “dreamers” is Niroma, who is now in her final year of medical training at the Anuradhapura Base Hospital. She says: “I always wanted to be a doctor when I grew up, but I knew it was difficult for my parents to support all three of us to get through school. But my parents always said that education is the only way to get out of poverty. So I wanted to study hard... [and] with World Vision coming to my village things changed.” Niroma was supported to be in school, she learnt English, she was helped with school supplies, and “my first stethoscope is a gift from World Vision.” (Statistics and story from: WV Lanka Annual Report)

So, after some exciting opportunities and learning lots from the people I have had the privilege of meeting in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Eastern Europe, (thank you to you all) I move on to learn more about my second home, and get involved in the lives of a new group of people in Nepal, Bangladesh, India and the Philippines.

RESIGNING MY COMMISSION

A middle aged man stares back down the passage of his life. On each side of the brightly lit corridor colourful doorways lead to intriguingly unique rooms; there are not many pastel colours, there are a few shadows and a couple of the inevitable draughty spots and in one or two places the floorboards protest as weight is applied – but there is an irresistible sense of brightness, excitement, fulfilment and completeness.

This week he gently, tentatively closes a very familiar door, this one a trinity of bright splashes: red, yellow and blue. The door will not be sealed shut and it will not become a museum, but for now he cannot hide in what has become a comfort zone. But, this is just another room in the passage - albeit the biggest and the most comfortable, it is the room that has defined and empowered him for almost 25 years. Other doors are marked by the memories and experiences that have sometimes guided, sometimes pushed him to the threshold where now he stands.

One of the first and most significant doors, marked by a stylised lion on a field of red, orange and green, leads to the place where he learnt what it means to be “other”. His parents, through their faithfulness, their passion for God and love for others taught him what it means to have God on his side, to be available – and perhaps most importantly to be willing to lay down his life for others. His parents showed him what it means to be a Salvation Army officer, and the people of Sri Lanka showed him what true faithfulness looks like – trust in the face of profound uncertainty and even disaster.

A few doors further up there is the door marked by the yellow star on a red and blue background, with the words “I know the plans I have for you” emblazoned across the lintel it seems to have been there even before some of the earlier doors were hung, it’s as if it was always going to be. This Salvation Army Officer room has shaped the man for the majority of his life, and off it numerous anterooms contain experiences and memories that have defined and empowered his ministry. Here he learnt that he was ‘called by God to proclaim the gospel, to love and serve God, to live to win souls and make their salvation the first purpose of my life, to care for the poor, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, love the unlovable, and befriend those who have no friends’. And in this room, he was equipped, through studies and experience, to be a humanitarian and development expert. His ministry became defined by his engagement with the hopeless, the poor, the hungry, the naked, the unlovable and the friendless.

The biggest of the anterooms, marked by a burst of the brightest colours, has been the most influential. Here, the memories of marriage and fatherhood fail to be contained by the door; they spill out into every part of the house, like oose these experiences seep under doors, they break through the windows of other rooms – these are simultaneously the informants that have made the man what he is, and the fuel that has carried him on. His wife taught him about acceptance and love, she taught him that he is good enough, but that he also has the potential to be more – she encouraged him to be the person God created him to be. His daughter gave him a reason to care what the future looks like, and she helped him stay real, connected and passionate.

It is because of these and other doors that the man stands at the threshold of a bright orange door. As he reluctantly closes the “Officer” door he does so with confidence that this is what God requires of him. Foremost in his thoughts is Jesus’ story of the Talents (Matthew 25:13-31) and the reminder that God requires people to use their gifts and experiences, to not do so is to be disobedient, to be a lousy steward - “To those whom much is given, much is required” (1 Corinthians 4:2).

So, the new door has opened and I am getting used to a new colour, sometimes it all seems overwhelming and I just want to retreat to what I know – but then God reminds me that God is pleased because I will remain faithful to my calling, ‘to proclaim the gospel, to love and serve God, to live to win souls and make their salvation the first purpose of my life, to care for the poor, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, love the unlovable, and befriend those who have no friends’ – for now I will fulfil that calling by means of a new orange vehicle.

Small Steps Towards Healthier Mums & Bubs in Afghanistan

Laila: BORN

One of the projects I have the privilege of being involved in is located in Afghanistan. This is Laila's story...

When Laila was born in Jan 2009 in the Herat maternity hospital she weighed just 800 grams and her chances of survival were smaller than her tiny arms. Nargis, a midwife trained through World Vision’s midwifery programme played a large role in saving her life. Nargis quickly applied an intravenous drip, kept Laila warm and watched her slow progress. “I spoke with the relative who informed me that the baby's mother had been trying to get pregnant for 10 years, and this baby was her last hope”, recalls Nargis.

Laila: 2 Years

The tiny baby who weighed just 800 grams is now a bright-eyed two-year-old that weighs a very healthy 15 kilograms. She is testament to the importance of midwifery and nursing training and the critical services that the neonatal unit provides in Herat, Afghanistan. Her healthy, shining face also instills hope for the thousands of children born every year in Afghanistan where the odds are sadly still against them.

Read the details of the story inbetween from World Vision Afghanistan here.



Afghanistan, Pakistan & Azerbaijan

23 years and 6 months (almost exactly to the day)! That's a long time to work for the one organisation. And to say that I have few regrets is perhaps even more miraculous.

[With Sandy and Alexis] the Salvos allowed me the privilege of living in three countries; learning to love, respect and trust many people that have influenced and transformed my life. Add to that the opportunity to serve in a number of other countries; to offer hope in moments of despair and you have a (so far) eventful life journey. In all these years God has been good to me - to us.

But today I move aside from this avenue of ministry into another. Soon I begin with World Vision Australia as a Country Program Manager - Middle East and Eastern Europe Region (MEER). Whilst based here in the Melbourne office, my countries of focus will be Afghanistan, Pakistan and Azerbaijan where I will work with World Vision and its partners to deliver long-term development and sustainable community building projects.

So, my ministry continues in a different uniform (no tie) but the same passion - transforming lives and reforming society by claiming dignity and worth for all (disadvantaged) people.

Our vision for every child,

Life in all its fullness;
Our prayer for every heart,
The will to make it so.

(World Vision: Vision Statement)