WORLD
CHILDREN’S DAY UGANDA CELEBRATES 10 YEARS In 2007 two people from Uganda who were working with vulnerable children and young people attended a Pavement Project training session in Nairobi, Kenya. The following year 10 workers from partner organisations in Kampala, Uganda attended training in Nairobi. Then in 2009 the programme became fully active and since then Pavement Project Uganda has helped over 2,500 children discover and experience God’s love in their lives. There are now more than 70 qualified workers from 30 active partners, and more are set to qualify this year. As we celebrate 10 years of growth, healing and transformation with Pavement Project Uganda, we want to say thank you to groups, churches and individuals like you who continue to support us in this mission.
largest city. It has been recognised for hugely reducing its rates of poverty and deprivation over the years compared to other sub-Saharan African countries, but “more children are being exposed to negative experiences,” says Clara Ngobolia, Lifewords Kenya Programmes Director. “Many organisations that work with vulnerable and distressed children in Uganda are discovering Pavement Project as a solution to trauma healing,” says Clara. “As they witness God’s transforming hope in the lives of troubled young people, more people express interest in becoming trained with Pavement Project. The impact is undeniable.
Kampala’s challenged children
Issues affecting Uganda’s children:
The number of children at risk in Uganda cannot be ignored as it continues to rise. According to UNICEF more than half of Uganda’s children live in vulnerable situations, which include violence, exploitation and homelessness.
Violence in families Negative parenting Sexual abuse Witchcraft Political instability Homelessness
Kampala – where Pavement Project Uganda is currently active – is the country’s capital and
Save the date!
Tuesday 20th November 2018
Pavement Project is proud to join the United Nations in celebrating World Children’s Day on Tuesday 20th November 2018. And we’re inviting you too! Described by the UN as “a fun day with a serious message”, World Children’s Day was established in 1954 to promote international togetherness, increase awareness of the challenges children face, and improve their welfare worldwide. We can each play a part in recognising this and building a better world for our children by marking the occasion in our communities, churches, schools, and workplaces.
Join in! Numerous events will be held all over the world and we don’t want you to miss out, so we’ve put together some ideas to help get you started. At home: Bon Appétit! Host a lunch or dinner and invite friends and family to bring their little ones along, as well as their favourite dish. For many families around the world, shared mealtimes are sacred. But for street children who are alone and have very little money this can be very alien to them. Use this opportunity to come together and share about what each person is grateful for.
At church: Let’s bake a difference. If your church has kitchen facilities, bake some cookies and cakes with the kids at Sunday school. If not, ask parents if their children can bake some treats at home and bring them in. Then at the end of the service, have the children run a bake sale with the proceeds going towards the work of Pavement Project.
At school: A gift from me to you. Pavement Project is currently active in 16 countries around the world and one thing lies in common with each child – they all need someone to talk to. Encourage your students to write a letter of hope, or to draw an inspiring picture for a child somewhere else in the world. Once these have been collected you can send them to the Lifewords office, and we’ll get them to the Pavement Project team.
We’d love to hear from you, and see what you get up to! Please send your photos, stories and creative ideas to uk@lifewords.global.
FROM THE
STREETS
September 2018
Thank you!
Over the last few months you’ve helped us raise an additional £1,500 for the work of Pavement Project. Thank you! This will help children and young people all over the world who have experienced trauma in their lives have the opportunity to experience a life of love and hope with Jesus. This will cover costs for five new green bags, six additional tablets, and training for up to 10 more workers.
From the Streets is moving!
Going digital
For many years we’ve been sharing stories of hope, healing, and transformation of young people who have received Pavement Project’s Bible-based trauma counselling worldwide. This includes restoring hope in Zimbabwean orphans, listening to teenagers in Sri Lanka facing extreme exam and family pressures, exploring God’s love with young people in Brazilian slums, and identifying trauma experienced by Colombian street kids.
With so much access to digital platforms it now means we can be more environmentally friendly by cutting down on our paper usage, and keep in touch with you regularly through our website. We’ll be including Pavement Project stories in Interact magazine too, where you can also find out about the other ways Lifewords supports and resources people around the world.
It’s been wonderful sharing hundreds of these stories with you. And after all these years, we’ll now be migrating online!
To keep in touch online, please visit: www.lifewords.global/pp. To keep in touch with us through Interact, please return the attached form to us to receive your free copy though the post.
PAVEMENT PROJECT is a unique Bible-based counselling process that raises children’s self-worth and restores a sense of hope for the future. facebook.com/SGMLWPavementProject W lifewords.global/pp
GOD’S
LIGHT IN TIMES OF ANGER João* is 11 years old and has grown up with his mother in a poor, violent and hostile area of Rio de Janeiro. His weekly activities consist of going to school, helping out with household tasks, and attending a day centre at a local church. Here he can take part in different activities and also receive help with his homework. But often João is reported by students and staff at the school for his aggressive behaviour. In some cases teachers would leave their jobs to avoid being assaulted by João.
Frustration and fear One day a Pavement Project worker at the church day centre met with João. He began to open up about what was going on in his life. He told the worker about how he had feared for his life earlier in the week when his mum had sent him to pay a bill on his way to school. While in the queue he began to feel very uneasy about the man standing behind him and thought he might have a gun and kidnap him. As the feelings of fear and death continued to grow, João could no longer wait to pay the bill and decided to run to school for safety.
I had to go back to the shop in the evening to pay it, and I was so frightened. A lot of my anger comes from not being listened to When he returned home, João’s mum was angry that he hadn’t paid the bill. “She kept shouting at me and told me to stop making a big deal over it,” said João. “I had to go back to the shop in the evening to pay it, and I was so frightened. A lot of my anger comes from not being listened to.” João also admitted that he can be very aggressive at school, especially with his peers. “They call me
names like ‘whale’ because of my size and it makes me so mad,” he said. “I feel like I can’t control myself and then I become violent.” Describing his defensive attitude and behaviour he said, “I’m like a poisonous lionfish who is always ready to attack.”
The good judge The worker continued the Bible counselling session with João and told the story of the judge and the widow. He interrupted the worker and said: “Wait a minute. If God is a good judge that means I don’t João’s drawing need to defend myself of himself as a anymore. I can leave poisonous lionfish. it with God. The good judge will defend me.” João started to become a lot more relaxed through the session. When the worker asked if he’d like to talk to Jesus, he said yes. “God, I need your help. I need you to help me to stop being a lionfish mad with rage, and for people at school to stop bullying me.” Towards the end of the session João chose to take the “light” pocket card with him and said, “If I get angry I know that I can dig this out from my pocket and remember that Jesus is always with me.” By the end of the session he said he felt happiness and was confident that God would always be his defence. Later João’s school teacher came to tell the Pavement Project worker how astounded she was by the positive change in his behaviour. *Name has been changed.
TWO MINUTE TESTIMONIES Here’s a quick round up of some of our favourite recent Pavement Project stories!
India Josh* was a young victim of sexual abuse in India. He was approached by a Pavement Project worker and attended Bible-based counselling sessions. He first compared himself to a helpless vampire, but by the end of the session said he now believes there is hope and sees himself as a pastor. Josh now runs a Bible club from home with his sister for children and young adults. What an amazing transformation!
Guatemala In Guatemala 56.2% of the inhabitants are living in poverty. Many parents have to go to work and leave the children by themselves. Fatima* is 8 years old and was introduced to a Pavement Project worker. She began to reflect on the many times she was left alone and hungry in the house. “I feel sad and helpless,” said Fatima. “I feel like a bird without legs.” During the counselling she said it was the first time hearing that God loves her and wants to protect her like shepherds look after their sheep. “I see myself as a happy little lamb now. God’s happy little lamb.”
YES, I/my church would like to give a gift to PAVEMENT PROJECT
When Hannah* was 13 years old her mother called the police on her father. She was exposed to a lot of conflict between her parents and would often feel very afraid. Hannah kept all her pain and suffering inside, and when talking to a Pavement Project worker she described herself as “a closed book that does not show what’s inside”. Through Picture Me she heard about God’s love for her and the power that Jesus has to remove fear. Praise God!
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