Tear Times Autumn 2013

teartimes Autumn 2013

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AMAZING THINGS THANKS TO YOU ANNIVERSARY EDITION INSIDE: Bangladesh building collapse • Syria conflict •

campaign success

Be part of a miracle | www.tearfund.org

welcome

Peter Shaw, Editor editor@tearfund.org www.twitter.com/TearTimes

Ralph Hodgson/Tearfund

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t’s been an absolute privilege putting together this edition of Tear Times. A few months ago, I sent out messages across Tearfund asking people to gather and send me stories celebrating our work this year.

I was inundated with incredible lifechanging testimonies of how your gifts, prayer and actions are transforming the lives of individuals, families, churches and communities – even nations.

In this issue – and over in the Prayer Diary Peter surrounded by children in Tonle Batie, Cambodia.

– you will find 45 amazing things to mark Tearfund’s 45th anniversary. (We started in 1968.) Tearfund’s work spans many countries, continents, ages and issues, from disaster relief work in Syria, campaigning here in the UK to self-help groups in Ethiopia. But the central figure uniting our work is Jesus.

He is not only our inspiration for the big picture: he’s there in the detail, the everyday nuts and bolts of our work. In my five years at Tearfund, I’ve visited projects in Asia, Africa, Latin America and here in the UK. And, again, the single characteristic I can identify in all our partners, staff and projects is a passion for Jesus – a desire to grow in relationship with him and to put that passion into life-transforming action among the poorest people on earth.

We start this journey on page 8 in a small church community in Cambodia that I visited earlier this year. They are just starting to seek out ways to lift themselves out of Jesus is not only our poverty, thanks to your support for Tearfund. inspiration for the big It’s a small – but just as amazing – first step...

picture: he’s there in the detail, the everyday nuts and bolts of our work.

Tearfund We are Christians passionate about the local church bringing justice and transforming lives – overcoming global poverty.

And so our ten-year vision is to see 50 million people released from material and spiritual poverty through a worldwide network of 100,000 local churches.

We can support you if you want to encourage your church and others to get involved with Tearfund. And if you have any questions, we’d be delighted to talk to you.

Editor: Peter Shaw News Editor: Mark Lang Design: Premm Design Print: Red & Green Marketing Ltd Copyright © Tearfund 2013. All rights reserved.

Permission is granted for the reproduction of text from this publication for Tearfund promotional use only. For all other uses, please contact us.

Cover image: Gneam from Tonle Batie, Cambodia Ralph Hodgson/Tearfund

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CONTENTS 4

News – DRC appeal latest, and updates from across the world

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Heartbreaking need matched by boundless hope – the amazing story of Gneam from Cambodia

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45 AMAZING THINGS, THANKS TO YOU – how you have changed the world this year

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Worldview – a big leap forward in Cambodia

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45 AMAZING THINGS, THANKS TO YOU – more incredible stories from this year

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Why I have hope for the Democratic Republic of Congo – interview with Christine Karumba

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A child abducted, a mother who feels powerless – the devastating effect of child trafficking in India

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‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat’ – tackling poverty on our doorsteps

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‘Your generosity is a great source of hope.’

Christine Karumba, DRC

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‘The church is helping me to help myself.’

Ralph Hodgson/Tearfund

Despite brutal experiences in her past, Gneam from Tonle Batie, Cambodia, has new hope for the future. teartimes autumn 2013

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NEWS

Richard Hanson/Tearfund

Thanks to your generosity, we are distributing seeds and other essentials to struggling families in the DRC.

You haven’t forgotten the Democratic Republic of Congo Thank you for supporting our DRC appeal

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housands more people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will receive Tearfund’s life-saving help thanks to an amazing response to the emergency appeal following renewed fighting.

For more than a year, clashes in the east of the country between the Congolese army and an armed group called M23 have caused a mass exodus of civilians from their communities.

The eastern regions of DRC remain extremely volatile despite the 2013 peace agreement.

More than 25 armed groups are still active in this part of the country.

Around 3 million Congolese have been displaced and are showing incredible resilience, often surviving without adequate food – having lost household possessions and livelihoods.

In June, Tearfund launched an emergency appeal for the DRC, to enable our staff and partners to provide more emergency essentials. This is so we can give longer-term help, for example by supplying tools, seeds and training to farmers – and improve access to clean water and sanitation.

Thanks to your continuing generosity, we will be able to support more people like Colette Molassi. Her husband was killed in the conflict, 4

leaving Colette with four children to bring up.

As well as giving Colette seeds so she can start growing crops again, we've given her training in better farming techniques and nutrition, which will have a lasting impact on the family whatever their future.

‘I feel motivated to continue planting seeds and using the knowledge that Tearfund has given me to provide for my children’s future,’ says Colette. ‘We are so thankful to God and to Tearfund for helping us through these difficult times.’

Your support means we can also continue this life-changing work with more people like Biamungu Kipenduka. Biamungu, aged 50, walked for days to escape fighting that was heading for his village and ended up living in dire conditions for four months before it was safe to go back.

He and his six children returned to find their home had been burnt down and possessions looted. Tearfund provided replacement household items and seeds so he could start growing crops again.

Please support the people of DRC – there’s still time to make a donation to our emergency appeal at www.tearfund.org/congo

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Thank you for supporting families devastated by the floods in India

M Emmanuel Hospital Association

ore than 2,700 families received emergency support from Tearfund following early monsoon flooding in India which claimed nearly 600 lives and left around 3,000 people missing.

The Himalayan state of Uttarakhand bore the brunt of the damage in June after mudslides and flash floods destroyed homes,

Made homeless in the floods, Ramesh received emergency food for his family from Tearfund partners.

swept away roads, ruined crops and disrupted water supplies.

Tearfund partners provided food, kitchen utensils, household items and hygiene kits, in some cases travelling for long periods on foot over difficult terrain to reach cut-off communities.

Our partner Eficor helped 2,160 families with emergency aid in Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts. The Emmanuel Hospital Association helped 600 vulnerable families in Tehri Garhwal district, providing relief aid items, including rice, salt, oil, sugar, milk powder, pots, pans, pressure cookers, soap, blankets and plastic sheeting.

Tearfund partner staff also ran medical camps which treated more than 1,000 patients in two districts, dealing with skin infections, respiratory problems and physical injuries. Please pray for families who have been affected.

Half of Syria will need emergency support

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broke out between the government forces of President Bashar al-Assad and opposition groups. See page 24 for more details about how we have supported the people of Syria this year.

Eleanor Bentall/Tearfund

Ten million Syrians – half the population – will need humanitarian help by the end of this year because of the continuing civil war. This worrying forecast from the UN is included in a report which states that about 2 million people have fled to neighbouring countries.

But thanks to your generous donations to our appeal, Tearfund partners are supplying food to people within Syria. We are also supporting refugees in Lebanon and Jordan by providing financial help with accommodation as well as food, hygiene kits, mattresses and blankets. We’ve also helped set up a pre-school in Jordan offering psychosocial support to Syrian refugee children who have experienced trauma.

The UN estimates that more than 100,000 people have died since fighting

A Syrian family who have fled to Lebanon because of the conflict.

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news John Archer/Tearfund

See lives transformed every day of the year

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ntrepreneurial volunteers Gordon and Brenda Wilkinson, together with their friend, Jon Toogood, have produced a fantastic 2014 calendar to raise money for Tearfund.

The Wilkinsons’ last enterprise, a cookery book called Recipes for disaster... relief and development, raised an incredible £26,000 for Tearfund. The Tearfund Supporters’ Calendar 2014, entitled Lives Transformed, features amazing photos and stories from our work across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Gordon says, ‘Rather than make a donation, we took note of the Parable of the Talents and put the money to work by printing the calendar, which we hope will raise more than £5,000 for Tearfund.’

Volunteers Jon Toogood and Brenda and Gordon Wilkinson have produced a calendar to support Tearfund.

The calendar is available to buy from Created, Tearfund’s fair trade gift range, priced £5.

You can order by phoning 0845 218 3960 or go online and search for ‘calendar’ at www.createdgifts.org

New stage musical tells the story of the Bible and supports Tearfund

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© Commissioned Limited

ove Beyond, a brand-new live musical production performed by world-class artists from London’s West End, has chosen Tearfund as its charity partner.

Through stirring music and song, the production tells the incredible love story of the Bible from beginning to end. Written and performed by Christian artists, Love Beyond will be touring major UK venues, starting at The Brighton Centre on Sunday 13 October 2013.

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The premiere gives Tearfund the opportunity to showcase a new film, and the audience will be invited to give a text donation in the programme.

Tabitha Webb from Love Beyond says, ‘We’re delighted to be partnering with Tearfund.

They’re a visionary organisation, passionate about delivering positive change for millions of people around the world. There’s a seamless connection between the beautiful story of Love Beyond and the reality of what Tearfund does as a charity – it’s a joining together of the arts and practical compassion that lays out the story of God's love for all to see.’

For more details and to book tickets, visit www.lovebeyondmusical.com – there’s also a promotional pack available for churches – contact enquiries@commissioned.uk.com for details. autumn 2013 teartimes

‘Roger is an inspiration. He looked for every opportunity to share his story, talk about Tearfund and raise money to transform lives.’

Rebecca Dyball/Tearfund

Amazing Roger at the finish line in Land's End.

Roger’s incredible feet – a 1,000-mile trek for Tearfund!

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Brilliant news that the European Parliament voted in new transparency laws that cover everything that Tearfund’s Unearth the Truth campaign has been calling for

PRAYER PULSE Prayer is the heartbeat of Tearfund

An end to the suffering of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where many years of conflict have caused thousands to flee their homes to live in camps Peace in Syria that would bring an end to the frightening rise in the number of people affected by the conflict

♥

PRAYING FOR

Amazing Roger Colgate, 74, has completed an epic walk from John o'Groats to Land’s End which lasted from May to mid-July, raising money and awareness for Tearfund’s work with some of the poorest people on earth.

Roger, a member of All Hallows Church in Twickenham, decided to take on the 74-day challenge, describing it as a ‘pilgrimage’ across the country – raising a fantastic £3,113 for Tearfund in the process.

He soldiered on through 30mph gales, hail, snow storms and a heatwave. He was serenaded by a bagpiper in Helmsdale... and fell out of bed thanks to a late-night fire alarm in a hostel in Edinburgh. Roger suffered a number of walking injuries including a stubbed toe and swollen foot from a severed tendon.

Rebecca Dyball, Tearfund Specialist Volunteer Manager, who kept in contact with Roger throughout his long journey, says, ‘Roger is an inspiration. Even through the challenges, he celebrated the choices he had and looked for every opportunity to share his story, talk about Tearfund and raise money to transform lives.’

There is still time to show your support for Roger. To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/ Roger-Colgate

Tearfund partner CASM in Honduras, which has won the prestigious National Environmental Award from its government

GIVING THANKS FOR

The success of the Enough Food For Everyone IF campaign: the G8 leaders listened and their commitments included many things that IF called for

Tearfund partners Eficor and EHA in India as they continue to provide relief and support to the thousands of people affected by severe floods in June

Latest prayer news at www.tearfund.org/pray 7

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Heartbreaking need matched by boundless hope ‘It was both heartwarming and at the same time heartbreaking to meet the children and families who had benefited from Tearfund’s provision of emergency goods, blankets, warm clothing and medical supplies. Heartwarming to receive the embraces and long-held handshakes of gratitude. Heartbreaking to see how much more needed to be done.’ George Hoffman reporting from Cambodia in ‘Children of the Killing Fields’, Tear Times, Winter 1987 Words: Peter Shaw

When Tearfund founder George Hoffman visited Cambodia, crossing the Thai border, Gneam may have been somewhere nearby. Together with her husband and three-year-old son, she had fled to the border to try to escape the brutal Khmer Rouge regime under Pol Pot.

TEN AMAZING NUMBERS THAT HAVE CHANGED THE WORLD THIS YEAR – THANKS TO YOU! 2 MILLION PEOPLE

NO.1

...supported by Tearfund, through 260 Christian and local church partners, reducing disaster risk, supporting people with HIV, helping people access water and sanitation, and making sure that people are food secure and that communities care for creation.

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Ralph Hodgson/Tearfund

Gneam in her home, the back of a storeroom loaned to her by the church.

‘We don’t always have enough food. But the church have started to help us.

The church is teaching me to help myself.’

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hen I was with Gneam earlier this year, it was clear that the past for her is still an open wound – that much was obvious from the tears streaming down her face during church prayers. She offered few details about the past, and it didn’t feel appropriate to delve deeper. But I felt blessed that Gneam shared with me as much as she did.

Gneam’s family’s attempted escape ended tragically. Both her husband and her first child died of starvation while hiding out in the fields. I can barely grasp what that must have been like, to lose the two people you held most dear – your life partner and only child. teartimes autumn 2013

I wonder if those tears flowing were aching questions: Why did I survive? Why was my family taken away from me? Why did I have to endure this?

These are the wounds that the loving God whom Gneam now knows and follows is slowly, gently, beginning to heal. You can see that in the joy that lights up Gneam’s face when she speaks of her beautiful saviour, Jesus Christ, and when she listens to Christian worship songs on her pocket radio.

The genocide generation Sadly, Gneam’s story isn’t unique: it is the experience of an entire generation in Cambodia. The rule of Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge in the 1970s resulted in a genocide which left more than 2 million people dead through forced labour, starvation and torture.

‘Heartbreaking to see how much more needed to be done,’ observed George Hoffman in 1987, as the brutality of the Khmer Rouge was beginning to abate. That’s when Tearfund and our partners started to have access to Cambodia, to find a 9

45 AMAZING THINGS THANKS TO YOU

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population scarred not just in a physical sense, but emotionally and spiritually too.

Since then, Tearfund has been on a longterm journey with the people of Cambodia.

We first provided for emergency needs, and we now work among the poorest communities to restore hope. We offer them the physical, mental and spiritual tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty.

The church isn’t just giving Gneam somewhere to live: they have given her something to live for.

Something to live for The local church in Tonle Batie refused to see her left on the street, so they cleared out a corner of the church storehouse where Gneam has a bed and can keep her clothes and belongings. It’s basic accommodation, but it is safe and provides good shelter for them.

Gneam enjoys being at the heart of the church community, helping keep the buildings and grounds clean, setting up the church hall for the Sunday service.

But the church isn’t just giving her somewhere to live: they have started to give Gneam something to live for. Now she’s 65 and, for the majority of her adulthood, life has been a daily struggle for acceptance, protection and food. Now, a new opportunity

Ralph Hodgson/Tearfund

A new chapter in Cambodia The church in Tonle Batie, where Gneam now lives, is just starting a new chapter. It has an amazing opportunity not only to address the poverty the congregation face, but also to offer the same opportunity to the wider community starting in the next few months.

When Gneam returned to her home town alone, she found her land – a crucial source of income, stability and status – had been taken from her. Under Pol Pot, she was forced to marry again, in a mass wedding ceremony for 75 couples. She grew to love the new

husband who was chosen for her, and they had four children together. He died 12 years ago in a motorbike accident.

Gneam came to faith through the witness of her sister and through a Christian medical team who operated on a tumour in her stomach. But two years ago, now in Tonle Batie, she found herself in a desperate predicament again. Without enough money to pay rent, she became homeless, along with her youngest son, Bun.

Pastor Ke Pich (left) is helping local families in Tonle Batie, Cambodia, to farm more sustainably.

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is opening up in the village, where the pastor, Ke Pich, has been trained by Tearfund partner International Cooperation Cambodia.

Recent developments in Tonle Batie In the last few months, Pastor Ke Pich has set up a savings and credit group for 21 people, who have to save at least 500 riel (around 8p) each week. The group meet weekly after

Ralph Hodgson/Tearfund

Thank you for many years of help Ke Pich has launched an initiative called Umoja (see the box below for details). It’s a process where the community come together and read through passages of the Bible, which helps them to identify the problems they all face in their own lives. Then, they work out what resources they already have as a community so that they can start to use them to be steadily, sustainably, released from poverty.

‘We don’t always have enough food,’ says Gneam. ‘But the church have started to help us.

The church is teaching me to help myself.’

These simple words convey a new determination in Gneam, a hope that she feared lost in the fields when her first husband and infant son died. But hope was already on its way across the border, brought by Tearfund and George Hoffman.

More than 30 years later, thanks to the dedicated support of people like you, hope has reached Gneam. And as George Hoffman would have agreed – a man who never shied away from revealing the reason for the hope we have – the change that is coming is because of Jesus and his followers bringing the good news to outcast, forgotten and damaged people. That’s the most amazing thing that Tearfund has been privileged to do in this, our 45th year, and indeed every year – thanks to your gifts, your prayers and your actions.

church, with the aim of saving up to finance education or micro-enterprise. The pastor also recently led a parenting skills course and wants to organise transport so that mothers with young children can attend church.

Please complete the form between pages 8 and 9 to give regularly to support people like Gneam.

The wider community in Tonle Batie, such as Sina and her baby son Den, could benefit from Umoja.

What is Umoja?

Using Bible studies and interactive activities, churches are encouraged to develop a vision to reach out to their communities. They come to see that the challenges in their communities need to be met with their own resources. Then, they go out and invite the rest of the community to get involved. They ‘dream dreams’ together and plan projects to make those dreams a reality. A school, a clinic, a telephone mast, a well – whatever it is, the church and the community work together to see real change happen.

For more details, visit www.integralmission.net/umoja

TEN AMAZING NUMBERS 8,000 MORE LOCAL CHURCHES ...mobilised by Tearfund in the UK and overseas this year – thousands more churches inspired to take action to address the needs of poor, vulnerable and marginalised people within their communities.

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NO.2

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Thank you for being part of the wonderful IF campaign It’s a scandal that one in eight people goes hungry in a world with enough food for all. This year, the Enough Food for Everyone IF campaign brought the end of hunger a step closer, and people like you and the UK church were a key part of it. Together, we stood up against the injustice of hunger.

Words: Ben Niblett Photos: Clive Mear/Tearfund

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t my first IF campaign event, a woman said, ‘I love it when Christians are known by what we’re for, not what we’re against.’ So do I. Or as Elaine Storkey, Tearfund’s President, put it at our Belfast G8 launch, ‘We have a responsibility to stand up for poor people and recognise God’s call for justice. It’s saturated throughout the Bible, particularly the prophets and the psalms, as well as the teaching of Jesus.’

More than 200 groups joined the IF campaign and together we showed this is still a generous country, even in hard times. Churches and people like you across the UK prayed, reflected, signed postcards, sent emails, invited MPs for lunch, displayed banners, attended rallies, drew 12

Tearfund supporters get behind the IF campaign at the Hyde Park rally in London.

pictures on paper plates... and much more besides. It was hugely inspiring.

I will treasure the memory of turning people away from the full-to-capacity London G8 church service only to see them holding their own service on the green outside.

‘I love it when Christians are known by what we’re for, not what we’re against.’

What IF achieved At the G8 summit in Fermanagh, the key target of the campaign, David Cameron focused on tax, transparency and development. Just as we asked him to.

The eight world leaders made a great step towards stopping multinational firms avoid tax in poor countries. This matters because poor countries lose in tax-dodging about autumn 2013 teartimes

three times what they gain in aid. On the summit’s sidelines, governments promised an extra £2.8 billion to fight malnutrition, which should save 1.7 million children’s lives.

The leaders repeated rich countries’ promise to provide US$100 billion a year to help poor countries cope with climate change – but it’s frustrating they still haven’t agreed where the money will come from.

Outside the summit, another highlight was the united IF church service in Enniskillen, with Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Roman Catholic and other leaders remaining true to their traditions but working together.

Thank you for all your prayers and actions in the IF campaign.

It’s been wonderful.

Life after IF...

As the IF campaign draws to a close, please visit www.tearfund.org/IF to find out more about what we’ve achieved, and what else we can do.

Different member organisations from the IF coalition will keep up the pressure around each promise resulting from the campaign.

Tearfund is campaigning against corruption, working with the church across the world.

Next November, Australia hosts the G20 group of world leaders. The church in teartimes autumn 2013

Australia, and elsewhere, wants our help getting a G20 agreement to ensure oil, gas and mining companies publish what they pay to governments, as we’ve just done at the EU (see page 22).

Once payments are public, corruption is less likely and poor communities are more likely to gain from the wealth beneath their feet. ‘Big Australian companies work here in Malawi, so this could be very helpful for us,’ says Hendrix Dzama from Tearfund’s Malawi office. Thank you for all your prayers and actions in the IF campaign. It’s been wonderful. Please keep up the pressure by joining us at www.tearfund.org/campaigns

TEN AMAZING NUMBERS 1.4 MILLION MESSAGES ...sent to the G8 as part of the NO.3 Enough Food For Everyone IF campaign. Thank you that some 50,000 of those messages were from Tearfund supporters like you – we were part of a coalition of 208 organisations which supported IF. 4,600 (MOSTLY YOUNG) PEOPLE ...signed up to Rhythms this year, NO.4 a digital project that encourages people to engage in small, regular actions in their everyday lives. Many thousands of you across the UK have taken small, significant ‘actions’.

For details, visit www.rhythms.org

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FLUSHING AWAY

POVERTY ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could twin every loo in every church in the UK?’ Anna Bishop, Associate Minister at All Souls, Langham Place, London, laid down this challenge at the start of 2013. All Souls has generously twinned all 14 of its loos.

‘Isn’t that a wonderful thing!’

Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans said this about Toilet Twinning on his breakfast show, after a listener texted in about the scheme during a feature on ‘twinning’.

‘I don’t need to pay for medicine so much now: that money I use for school fees. I don’t waste money on disease now.’

Vernon Kingsley/Tearfund

Cadness Bankweise is grateful that Tearfund partner the Diocese of Kigezi in Uganda taught her community how to build latrines. Since she built her loo, her children have not suffered from diarrhoea.

Five little stories making a big difference through Toilet Twinning

‘The Toilet Twinning material highlighted, in an educational and entertaining way, the link between poverty, sanitation and health.’

Helen Gettings, Senior Tutor at Manchester’s Loreto College, said this when her students raised £2,220 to twin all 37 of their college loos.

‘It really, really moved me that we were spending several thousand pounds on fresh water just for swimming, when people don’t even have basic sanitation.’

Karen Duane, who runs Springboard Swimmers club, said building a new pool at Stanley Primary School, Teddington, made her stop and think about water supply worldwide.

The club has twinned a school toilet.

Twin your toilet now!

To find out more about Toilet Twinning and how you can link your loo, visit www.toilettwinning.org or call 0300 321 3217.

TEN AMAZING NUMBERS

One of Cadness Bankweise’s children washes her hands after using the family latrine.

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352 OF YOU… …went overseas with Tearfund NO.5 trips this year to to gain firsthand experience and understanding of poverty and how Tearfund operates.

For details on how you can travel with Tearfund, visit www.tearfund.org/go

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If only John and Hilda had taken time to talk outfits before the photoshoot.

We all believe in working together to get the best outcome, that’s why we’ve been talking to like-minded companies. Fortunately we’re all on the same page, so now, when you switch your electricity supply to Ecotricity, they’ll make a nice, generous donation to Tearfund. Now that’s worth having a chat over.

What’s more, they’ve promised to double their donation on every sign up before 31 October 2013.

Call Ecotricity on 08000 302 302 or visit www.tearfund.org/hilda to sign up.

Registered Charity No. 265464 (England and Wales) Registered Charity No. SC037624 (Scotland) 31008-(0813)

worldview

Tearfund photographer Ralph Hodgson says, ‘Sometimes, my camera sees more than I do. This is Seng from Tonle Batie, Cambodia, jumping over a rubber rope. The shutter, freezing motion at 1,000th of a second, has caught the moment the rope has snagged, making the dramatic Z shape.

His triumphant expression and thrown-back arm mirror perfectly the pose of an Olympic athlete – which echoes the new hope the community have, thanks to the church supporting them to grow more food.’

Photo: Ralph Hodgson/Tearfund

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Bring

to those

you and around the

this

Christmas by shopping at

Created offers a range of beautiful, ethical gifts – from homeware to children’s toys, jewellery to Christmas cards and decorations.

You can also order online, or request a catalogue, at www.createdgifts.org or by calling 0845 218 3960.

‘Joy’ candleholder p.60 – £17.50 ‘Love’ word stone (one of five) p.20 – £15 ‘Hope’ bookmark (set of two) p.58 – £6.50 ‘World’ box p.17 – £12

45 AMAZING THINGS THANKS TO YOU

45 Five encouraging stories from you – our fabulous supporters and volunteers Lindsey Holley

Rebecca Dyball/Tearfund

You are amazing too!

Andy Rayner (second from left) has raised tens of thousands of pounds for Tearfund producing Christmas concerts.

The efforts of Created seller Jenny, from Bangor, supports seven artisans.

Christmas cracker Andy Over the past 20 years, Andy Rayner from Suffolk has written and produced a series of concerts performed by local schoolchildren.

Andy works alongside the schools to encourage them to get involved and produces DVDs and CDs to sell, with all the proceeds donated to Tearfund. Last December’s concerts raised an amazing £51,000.

Amazing seller Jenny Jenny from Bangor in Northern Ireland has been a dedicated seller of fairly traded goods through Tearfund’s Created range. Over the last ten years, she has sold £150,000 of Created products, consistently selling around a quarter of all goods bought in Northern Ireland. We’ve calculated that Jenny's earnings alone keep seven artisans in employment.

Beth's brilliant petition Beth, 19, who’s a Tearfund Emerging Influencer, started a petition, Put Thirst First, to ask the UK government to keep its promise to provide access to clean drinking water and basic hygiene education, and to improve access to effective sanitation for 60 million people by 2015. She encouraged friends, university and church to get involved. So far, brilliant Beth has collected 1,500 signatures.

Ben's spare pennies We also want to say thanks to Ben from Mold, North Wales. He’s 17 and has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and learning difficulties.

He draws great satisfaction from collecting his spare change and giving what he can to Tearfund through his church representative.

Over the past few years, amazing Ben has collected more than £20 for Tearfund – we treasure every penny.

Birthday generosity On 4 February this year, one of our supporters – who wanted to remain anonymous – told us she celebrated her 71st birthday. She went into work that day – which she doesn’t usually do on her birthday. And, instead of keeping her earnings, she decided to give the day’s wage to Tearfund, saying, ‘We are blessed with 11 gorgeous grandchildren, so I wanted to give to Tearfund, who do amazing work with children.’ teartimes autumn 2013

TEN AMAZING NUMBERS 27 THEOLOGICAL CONFERENCES ...and events instigated by Tearfund NO.6 around the world this year. In 15 of these, we helped to make sure that releasing people from poverty through the local church was a key part of the programme.

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Bangladesh building collapse:

the hidden story Harrowing images from Rana Plaza, Bangladesh, were flashed across the world.

But at the same time, unseen and overlooked, an amazing thing was happening.

Thanks to your support, volunteers trained by a Tearfund partner set to work rescuing from the rubble many hundreds of survivors. This is the untold story of 13 amazing Christians who helped save 2,535 lives...

Words: Helen Crawford

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n the morning of 24 April, a ninestorey building collapsed, with an estimated 3,000 people inside. The Rana Plaza in Dhaka housed five garment factories, a bank and several stores before it toppled. This was the worst building collapse in Bangladesh’s history. The final death toll stands at 1,127.

Prince* Elison Baidya was at his desk when he received an emergency phone call from the fire service, informing him of the disaster and calling on him for help. Prince is Programme Organiser for the Mobilising Church in Community Earthquake Preparedness Program (MCCEP) – an initiative of Tearfund’s partner, Koinonia. So he was in a unique position to gather volunteers. Within 15 minutes, he had assembled 12 of them and they were all at the scene.

One of those volunteers was electrical engineering student Flabian. ‘I was shocked and tears were rolling down my cheeks, silently watching the devastation,’ says Flabian. The building had entirely collapsed.

But, thanks to their training, the group knew what to do…

‘We started to make holes from the top floor and tried to bring out many victims and dead bodies from the debris,’ says Prince. ‘Many of them were trapped under the pillar and roof 20

so they lost their arms and legs.’ The team used their hands and portable equipment.

They couldn’t use heavy equipment: the risk of a further collapse was high.

‘I feel very proud that I saved many lives and am thankful to Tearfund partner Koinonia.’

Lives saved thanks to your support Over the next five days, the group – trained by the fire service as part of the MCCEP – worked alongside fire officers and the army, helping to save an incredible 2,535 people.

TEN AMAZING NUMBERS 1.6 MILLION PEOPLE directly supported by Tearfund NO.7 through our emergency projects in Darfur, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan and Haiti this year. Thank you for enabling us to respond directly to disasters where needs are overwhelming. * A popular Indian name, not a royal! autumn 2013 teartimes

The Daily Star, Bangladesh

Volunteers trained by Tearfund helped save 2,535 lives in Rana Plaza, Bangladesh.

‘I feel very proud that I saved many lives and am thankful to [Tearfund partner] Koinonia and the fire service – that they allowed and selected me to join with this rescue work,’ says Flabian. Other church members contributed towards the effort, providing food, water, medicine and portable equipment to ensure the rescue operation continued.

‘Before starting our MCCEP, the church action was limited to activity among congregations,’ Prince says. ‘But now we have come out from those barriers and we are dedicated to showing the love of Jesus Christ among the community. They saved many lives.’

It’s regular gifts from supporters like you that have enabled Koinonia to offer training to volunteers and churches, helping Christians in Bangladesh serve their community where the need is greatest. God’s church, strengthened and mobilised, is ready. teartimes autumn 2013

'We are dedicated to showing the love of Jesus Christ among the community.'

FIVE SOUL-REFRESHING QUOTES – No.1

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'Every day I cried. I was hopeless and had no confidence. But thanks to Jesus, I now have confidence to fight against the wrong I've seen in this world.'

Roopa, 20, from India, who was a victim of sex trafficking. Now rescued by the police, she is being helped by a Tearfund partner and is an apprentice at one of India’s most fashionable hair salons.

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45 AMAZING THINGS THANKS TO YOU

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THANK YOU for unearthing the truth How your campaigning and prayers are bringing an end to corruption Words: Melissa Lawson Photos: Jay Butcher/Tearfund ‘

T

he country is very, very rich – one of the richest in the world,’ says Isatu who runs a hotel in Freetown, Sierra Leone. She knows her country is rich in natural resources.

But she’s also acutely aware this wealth rarely benefits ordinary citizens. And so aid dependency continues. ‘I feel embarrassed and annoyed that donors should come to feed us.

We have everything.’

In many resource-rich nations, secrecy and corruption mean mineral wealth goes missing.

Denied this revenue for essential services such as schools and hospitals, many poor communities are locked in poverty.

But people like you can change things. In 2011, Tearfund launched Unearth the Truth – a campaign to shine a light on corruption.

Alongside churches across Europe, Tearfund has been calling on the European Parliament to implement strong transparency laws in the oil, mining and gas industries. Armed with the knowledge of what companies pay to governments, people could hold leaders to account, and make sure money is invested in their communities.

Huge impact of your prayers and support Since we launched Unearth the Truth, the response from Christians like you has been staggering. Tearfund supporters have taken 40,000 campaign actions, like signing postcards or holding meetings with MPs. Along with your continued prayers, these have had a huge impact.

This victory has the potential to unlock billions of pounds to tackle poverty.

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autumn 2013 teartimes

Thanks to you, we've taken a significant step in fighting corruption.

Thanks to you, workers in Sierra Leone will know how much oil, mining and gas companies pay to their governments.

Last October, a key European Parliament committee publicly backed all our campaign demands. In the months that followed, UK politicians spoke favourably about clamping down on corruption. David Cameron declared the need to tackle poverty at its roots in The Wall Street Journal, stating his support for greater transparency laws.

Entering 2013, we could have been complacent. It seemed inevitable Unearth the Truth would secure victory in an EU vote in January. But when voting was repeatedly postponed, it looked like this historic opportunity was slipping away. In March, we asked you to pray with us that new laws would be implemented without further delay. A few months later, the good news came!

Victory for poor communities On 12 June, the European Parliament voted in favour of new transparency laws that cover everything Unearth the Truth demanded.

Now all EU-listed and large, privately owned extractive companies registered in Europe must publish what they pay to foreign governments.

With no exemptions. What’s brilliant is that Canada has made similar promises, and G8 countries have also committed to make sure extractive companies and governments publish what these companies pay.

This victory has the potential to unlock billions of pounds to tackle poverty. Now citizens and churches in resource-rich nations will be able to use these new laws to expose the payments companies make for oil, gas and precious minerals. Tearfund will continue to work with partners to show communities how to take full advantage of these laws. Thanks to your campaigning and prayers, we have taken a significant step in the fight against corruption.

FIVE SOUL-REFRESHING QUOTES – No.2

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‘I wanted to say thank you to people up and down the country who were involved in the Tearfund campaign, Unearth the Truth...

Thank you very much for all your hard work – it works!’

Jo Swinson, Minister for Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs in the UK’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, expressing her gratitude to all of you who campaigned as part of Unearth the Truth. The campaign led to new EU laws on transparency.

TEN AMAZING NUMBERS 75 MORE POLICIES AND PRACTICES CHANGED… NO.8 …at local, national and international levels by Tearfund, our partners, allies and coalitions this year. This included supporting partners and networks to help them develop advocacy campaigns.

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45 AMAZING THINGS THANKS TO YOU

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Joy of childhood restored to Syrian families Andrew Robinson/Medair

Words: Peter Shaw

Thanks to your generous donations to our Syria appeal, Tearfund is providing pre-school education and trauma care to children caught up in the conflict.

I

‘

am trying to recall whether there has been a time or a place where I have heard so many miracles and answers to prayer. I don’t think there is,’ said Oenone Chadburn, Tearfund’s Head of Humanitarian Support, visiting local churches in Lebanon who are providing support to Syrians fleeing the conflict.

You may be surprised to see Syria on our list of the amazing things that have happened this year. The Syrian conflict has resulted in the death of more than 100,000 people and about 2 million people are now refugees. The fighting seems intractable and the death toll continues to rise relentlessly as livelihoods and infrastructure are destroyed.

But, as Christians, we believe that, even in the darkest places, God is still shining a light – and we have seen that light shining even in Syria. Your amazing generosity to Tearfund’s Syria Crisis appeal resulted in more than £2m funding, plus further financial support from the Disasters Emergency Committee, which we are using right now to assist some of the most desperate people in Syria and Syrians who have fled to surrounding countries.

Supporting traumatised children We are thankful for all of you who gave. Here’s just one little example: ‘I was sat at my desk when I heard the patter of small feet,’ says Jane

‘I am trying to recall whether there has been a time or a place where I have heard so many miracles and answers to prayer. I don't think there is.’

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‘Vision Hope International is enabling these children to experience the joy of childhood once again.’

Thank you for standing with Syrian families Through our partner, The Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development, your support is providing vital food packages to 3,500 people in Syria and Lebanon who have been forced to flee their homes. In Jordan, our partner, Medair, is funding accommodation for hundreds of Syrians in urgent need of shelter and security. Your generosity is also equipping a network of local churches in Jordan to distribute essential food and hygiene supplies, showing God’s love in action to 150 refugee families each month.

…for the very first time in history.

This was first promised in 1970!

In partnership with other organisations, we successfully lobbied for this – so thank you for your support and prayers.

Please continue to pray for the people in Syria caught up in the conflict, those who have fled to neighbouring countries, and pray that leaders in Syria and across the world will work together to find a peaceful solution.

Whatever happens, thanks to your outpouring of prayer and giving, we will continue to provide emotional support, food and accommodation to displaced and distraught Syrians. For more details of how we are helping, and for the latest prayer updates, visit: www.tearfund.org/syria

FIVE SOUL-REFRESHING QUOTES – No. 3

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‘I had misunderstood Christianity because I used to think Christians were just trying to promote their religion. But now I know you are not promoting religion – you are a society of nation-builders.’

Shankar Prasad Koirala, Nepal’s Government Finance and Industry Minister, speaking to a gathering of 1,000 people from different regions and denominations representing Christian Commitment for Building a New Nepal, a nationwide movement to address poverty. teartimes autumn 2013

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Janene Ware

Robertson who works in Tearfund’s Northern Ireland office. ‘A mum had brought her two small children, Bethany, aged seven, and Elysia, aged three, to give Tearfund their pocket money during Lent – it came to around £10. The children, from Christian Fellowship Church Belfast, told me they wanted to give it to Syria, which they had heard about on the news.’

Thanks to Bethany, Elysia and people like you, Tearfund partner Vision Hope International has been able to provide pre-school education and Bethany, aged seven, and Elysia, aged three, gave their trauma care through play and art therapy to pocket money over Lent to Tearfund's Syria appeal.

90 children who have fled from Syria to Jordan.

‘Vision Hope International is enabling these children to experience the joy of childhood TEN AMAZING NUMBERS once again,’ says Morag Gillies, Tearfund’s Country Representative for Syria.

0.7% OF THE UK’S NATIONAL INCOME PLEDGED IN AID… NO.9

45 AMAZING THINGS THANKS TO YOU

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FIVE SOUL-REFRESHING QUOTES – No. 4 & No. 5

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‘It is always inspiring when you see demonstrations of unity within the church, women of all ages, races, denominations, coming together to pray for Zimbabwe. I am full of faith for the future of Zimbabwe.’

Priscilla Nyathi from the Tearfund team in Zimbabwe, inspired by the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe’s conference in February. It gathered together thousands of women from different denominations to pray for Zimbabwe.

'For the first time in all my visits to Africa, I had come across something which has the capacity to change the face of communities and nations in a lasting way, which is entirely sustainable without any external aid and intervention.'

Ian Parkinson, Regional Director for New Wine North & East, after visiting Tearfund partners in Uganda, writing in New Wine magazine.

TEN AMAZING NUMBERS 130,000 PEOPLE REACHED… NO.10 …in East Africa, in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somaliland and Somalia this year, and a further 75,000 people provided with emergency food aid in West Africa, supporting partners in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad.

Turn to the Prayer Diary (enclosed with Tear Times) for 15 more amazing things that have happened this year.

AFTERWORD Thank you for your amazing support this year. You prayed, you spoke out and you gave generously in answer to Jesus’ call.

Poverty is widespread, complex and systemic. But the answer is not to turn the other way, but to do what we can – to reach out with love to the people who most need support. That’s what you did this year, and this magazine is just a snapshot of the amazing things your determination has achieved. God bless you.

Matthew Frost Chief Executive

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autumn 2013 teartimes

annual review

Thank you for more lives transformed Tearfund’s ten-year vision is to see 50 million people released from material and spiritual poverty through a worldwide network of 100,000 local churches.

Seven years on...

75,000

175

CHURCHES HAVE BEEN ENVISIONED

POLICIES CHANGED

Churches living out faith in Jesus in every aspect of life, recognising that people are more than their hunger or despair – they are made in God’s image

Policies and practices changed at local, national and international levels resulting in transformation in the lives of poor and vulnerable people

17 million

7.6 million

PEOPLE SUPPORTED PEOPLE REACHED THROUGH FOLLOWING DISASTERS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS People living in communities that can demonstrate longer-term positive changes to their livelihoods, health, relationships and natural environment

People who can face the future positively, with hope, following natural or manmade disasters – equipped with basic commodities, resources and skills

Report back on 2012-2013 Last year was the seventh year in the tenyear vision we set in 2006. Thank you for the wonderful support you are continuing to give Tearfund, in these very testing economic times, as we relentlessly pursue this vision.

In 2012/13 our income dropped by just over £10.2m compared to the year before, mainly because there were fewer large-scale disasters which led to a reduction in appeal and government income. Giving from individuals, churches and trusts remained steady. We give thanks for the many generous gifts in wills we have received this past year.

We are keeping a very tight rein on costs and constantly look for efficiencies and savings wherever they can be made. We will continue to ensure that your money goes as far as it possibly can to bring help and hope to people in need.

Alison Hopkinson Finance Director teartimes autumn 2013

2012/13 IN FIGURES INCOME General donations Government grants Emergency appeals Other income TOTAL INCOME

£32.3m £18.6m £7.1m £2.0m

54% 31% 12% 3%

£60.0M

EXPENDITURE Envisioning the global church £4.0m 6% Developing communities £23.7m 39% Changing unjust policies £2.3m 4% and practices Responding to disasters £25.0m 41% Total charitable activities £55.0m 90% Fundraising and governance TOTAL EXPENDITURE

£6.1m

10%

£61.1M

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Q&A with Christine Karumba

‘Why I have hope for the Democratic Republic of Congo’ Making a difference in one of the most dangerous countries on earth

Michael Owen/Tearfund

Christine Karumba visiting the UK for Tearfund's staff conference.

Interview: Peter Shaw

Christine Karumba is Tearfund’s Deputy Country Director for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Previously, she worked for Women for Women International, Cooperazione Italiana and Unicef. Born and raised in DRC, she lived through the 17-year conflict, during which time she spent four years as a refugee in Uganda. Christine has helped more than 8,000 women rebuild their lives after what is considered the deadliest war in African history.

DRC is still one of the most dangerous countries to live in, particularly for women.

Why do you feel called to live and work there?

This is my country. I was born in the DRC, grew up, studied here, and now I live and work here.

I stay here because it’s where I feel I can make a difference. For four years, I lived in Uganda as 28

a refugee, but I knew that many women in my home country were facing huge challenges such as displacement and rape. I decided that someone had to make a difference – to stand alongside and on behalf of others. That pushed me to go back to my country. When I first went back, I worked as a country director, but I wanted to stay close to the reality of my autumn 2013 teartimes

What signs of hope can you see in the country that a true peace can be achieved?

At a diplomatic level, we have seen some hope of bringing the parties in conflict together, but also external countries are starting to talk about peace. It is not possible to resolve the conflict without the involvement of external countries because the roots of the conflict in DRC are beyond country level. If all these parties come together and try to overcome these problems at the roots, then I believe there is a hope for peace. Some of the surrounding countries are starting to see the need for a region-wide approach to ending the conflict. In February 2013, 11 countries signed up to a Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the DRC and the region.

Moreover, since December 2012 there have been talks in Kampala [capital of Uganda] between the M23 armed group and the government. Talking about the deeper issues is a first step to a solution. If we don’t talk, there is no hope, no way forward. What we need now is for people to compromise, to let go of things, for the sake of peace. If there is compromise, we can expect peace everywhere, even in the Great Lakes region – that’s my hope. I’d like to say thank you to the many Tearfund supporters who gave to the Eastern DRC Crisis appeal: this generosity is a great source of hope too.

How should we pray for the Democratic Republic of Congo?

We need to pray for people to have more love in their hearts for others, especially the leaders in DRC. If they have love, they can change their ways and centre their decisions more on others. Selfishness and greed are destroying lives in my country. But the leaders are people with families. They should be asking themselves what they are living for.

Are they here to live, love and leave a legacy?

What legacy will they leave? So, we need to pray that the regional leaders embody Christ and his love for others. Please also pray for the church to bring transformation – families and communities are a reflection of the church. We are members of the community.

The church should carry out its calling and not compromise the message of transforming people’s lives. If the church does this, we will be really effective.

‘I’d like to say thank you to the many Tearfund supporters who gave to the Eastern DRC Crisis appeal: this generosity is a great source of hope too.’

Geoff Crawford/Tearfund

‘I decided someone had to make a difference – to stand alongside others. That pushed me back to the DRC.’

opportunity, as a region, to move on now that a peace agreement has been signed.

Ralph Hodgson/Tearfund

country. It was shocking to find that so many women in similar circumstances to me had been raped. Before the war, I never heard any women talking about rape.

Do people in DRC believe there will be peace?

People are tired. People are really tired. The conflict has been going on now for 17 years, and who has benefited? All we are doing is destroying the infrastructure and social fabric.

Tearing the country apart has no benefit for anyone. But now, I believe, we have an teartimes autumn 2013

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reflection

India is a source, destination and transit country for child trafficking, which Tearfund partners are working to prevent.

A child abducted, a mother who feels powerless...

A heartbreaking story of child trafficking in India Words and photo: Jamie Fyleman/Tearfund

S

even months ago, eight-year-old Ravi went missing – abducted from his village at night. He hasn’t been seen since. His mother, Kaushlya, says her son is a sweet boy who would play with his friends but always came home to help with the cooking. She knows who took her son, and believes Ravi’s working in a factory in Punjab producing Basmati rice. He has been seen there.

Kaushlya and Ravi are from an extremely poor family in Bihar, India. For three months a year, when she can find work, Kaushlya earns less than 40 pence a day. The rest of the time she earns nothing. Her husband is disabled so can’t help support the family.

They are from the Musahar community – the untouchable caste. Their name is translated the ‘rat eaters’. This might explain the resignation in Kaushlay’s voice when she explains why she feels powerless to search for her son. Because she has no money, she can’t go to the city to find him. Like most Musahar women, Kaushlya is illiterate. She doesn’t understand her rights or feel able to fight for justice.

Kaushlya believes that, if she does go to the police, they won’t take the case seriously. Even if they did, she fears that her life and Ravi’s would be threatened by the man responsible for his abduction. The man lives in their village.

This frail lady is left hoping against hope that the man who took her son will return him. Meanwhile, Ravi is losing his childhood

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in an unsafe factory, producing food which probably ends up on foreign dinner plates.

Yours and mine.

‘Kaushlya doesn’t understand her rights or feel able to fight for justice.’

I’m angry at the grinding poverty that allows this to happen, at the authorities in India who say the family don’t need help. Angry at the holding onto ancient beliefs of a caste system that leaves people powerless. Angry at a man who sees a child as an object to be traded.

Angry, if I’m honest, with a mother who is not doing more to find her son and bring the perpetrators to justice.

But I haven’t been told all my life I am worthless. I’m not illiterate, earning less than 40 pence a day, and don’t feel terrified that my life and my son’s life will be at risk if I speak up. Then I think about the packets of Basmati rice in my cupboard – perhaps rice that eight-year-old Ravi has helped prepare, against his will.

Jamie Fyleman, Tearfund’s Head of UK Church Relationships, visited Madhepura district in Bihar state where Tearfund has been piloting some income-generation and community-building work, as well as innovative trafficking prevention. autumn 2013 teartimes

reflection

‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat...’

Words: Stuart Ashmore, UK Programme Adviser

P

overty is a local issue as well as a global one. And as thousands of families across the UK turn to foodbanks for their daily food, churches are living out these words from Matthew 25:35 on a daily basis. Securing a grant from the Social Action Fund, Tearfund – in partnership with the Cinnamon Network – has helped fund 80 new foodbanks across the UK in the last year.

The first foodbank was opened in a garden shed by Christian charity The Trussell Trust in the year 2000. But it wasn’t until the trust launched the UK foodbank network in 2004, teaching churches and communities nationwide how to start their own foodbanks, that a movement was born…

Today, The Trussell Trust has more than 345 foodbank franchises, and there are countless more run by individual churches in response to the needs of local communities around the UK. But, despite this great work, the economic downturn and other factors mean the need has grown too. Recent Trussell Trust figures (April 2013) show that almost 350,000 people received at least three days’ emergency food

from their foodbanks last year – nearly three times more than the year before. With recent changes to the benefits system, this year’s figures could be even higher.

Life saving, life changing ‘If it wasn’t for the kindness and generosity of local people, I don’t think I would have survived,’ says a user of a Tearfund foodbank in Sheffield.

But, crucially, foodbanks aren’t just about giving a hand-out, but a ‘hand-up’. They’re about showing God’s love and compassion to people in need, coming alongside them and empowering them to move forward in a positive way.

Jesus calls us to be his hands and feet, to love our neighbours – local and global. Your support plays a crucial part in enabling churches to do this, in the UK as well as around the world. Thank you.

‘If it wasn’t for the kindness and generosity of local people, I don’t think I would have survived.’

Get in touch with us! www.tearfund.org www.twitter.com/tearfund www.facebook.com/tearfund Email: enquiries@tearfund.org Tel: 0845 355 8355 100 Church Road, Teddington, TW11 8QE Registered Charity No. 265464 (England and Wales) Registered Charity No. SC037624 (Scotland)

Challenge House, 29 Canal Street, Glasgow, G4 0AD T y^ Catherine, Capel Cildwrn, Llangefni, Ynys Môn, LL77 7NN 241 Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 1AF

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‘ The past is still painful, but now I can give it to God.’ Hope is growing in Gneam’s life as Ke Pich and the church in Tonle Batie reach out to her in love – giving her a roof over her head, and by teaching practical skills. She is learning to care for pigs and chickens, and has joined the church savings group. £26 a month can train a church leader like Ke Pich to transform the fortunes of their church and community. £18 a month means that every month you can give another three people like Gneam the opportunity to turn their lives around.

Read Gneam’s heartwarming story on page 8.

www.tearfund.org/gneam

Registered Charity No. 265464 (England and Wales) Registered Charity No. SC037624 (Scotland) Photo: Ralph Hodgson/Tearfund 31053-(0913)