Tearfund Correspondent - May 2021

MAY 2021

Lives Changed Self Help Groups around the world are transformational . pg 2

Hey Baby!

A new programme is helping mums and their babies. pg 10

In this issue India is in the grip of a Covid-19 Crisis. How can you help?

Kiwi photographer helps tell the stories of trafficking survivors.

Syria marks the 10th anniversary since the conflict began.

pg 5

pg 8

pg 14

Self Help Groups turning surviving into thriving

BY KEITH RAMSAY

W

hen you are poor, your basic instinct is to focus on the fight for the daily survival of your family. The thought of saving, even a little, seems impossible. Tearfund’s Self Help Groups (SHGs) are changing surviving into thriving, flourishing lives not just financially, but holistically. Here are some examples of women whose lives have been transformed over recent years, and the ripple effects are flowing onto the next generation.

Armarech from Ethiopia Mother of five, Amarech from Ethiopia, was borrowing money from loan sharks to get enough capital to run her business, making Ethiopian flatbread—Injera.

“I had had zero capital because I was having to buy the grain to make Injera with credit. My children even had to drop out of school. I could never get ahead as the moneylenders took advantage of me. Now I only buy things with money I have earned myself.

When I joined the SHG, I was able to take loans to buy 100kg of teff flour on my own! Now my children are back in school.

There are 21 members in the group and we have had training on leadership, working in groups, administration and conflict resolution. “I believed that poverty was my portion, but after SHG’s my life has changed, my hope has flourished and this has been more beneficial than any other aid or support I’ve ever received. Today, I sell anywhere from 100-500 Injera a week and I’ve been able to send my son to university to study engineering.

I feel a love among the women. This group has changed my life not just financially, but socially and politically as well. So many members were not able to send their kids to school, but now some have even joined college.”

Amarech’s Injera business is thriving thanks to joining a Self Help Group.

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PICTURE Helen Manson

Saphange from Ethiopia

What are Self

Mother of six, Saphange, used to borrow from money lenders before she joined a SHG. Her husband is an Orthodox priest, so his meagre income wasn’t enough for school materials and to feed her six children. Since joining, Saphange has borrowed three times for her business.

“I sell butter for a living, and each loan has seen me expand my business further. Through this business, I’ve been able to educate all six of my children. Three of my children have recently graduated from university, two are in university and the youngest is still in high school. Since joining this group, my life has changed and I am happy. I sell my butter twice a week, and I sell 25-35 kilos on those days. I want to continue to build my butter business and one day diversify into spices and a small shop.”

Shabana from India Shabana was convinced to join a SHG by a staff member working for Tearfund’s partner, and it has transformed her life. Seeing the results has meant that all the women in her family have become members.

“The savings and the loans group have allowed me to provide health treatment for my mother-in-law, rebuild my house, pay for my daughter’s special education, start my husband’s business as a taxi driver, and buy a car. My daughter is deaf and dumb and faces many challenges. The SHG has helped put my daughter in a special school. My hope is to give my children a good education and that they would lead a happy life.”

Sayra from India Sayra’s husband was a loom worker, but his health suffered due to the small fibres in the air. He used to stand for 12 hours a day working and he was always ill. All he earned from this job was 600

Help Groups?

1. A Self Help Group (SHG) has 15 to 20 people who meet together each week to support each other financially and encourage one another.

Sayra, India.

PICTURE John Watson

rupees (NZ $11.30) a month to feed five people. It wasn’t enough. A neighbour took Sayra to a SHG and now her life has changed.

“I don’t know what it was about the SHG I visited, but I felt very good. I was learning a lot, so I joined and saved 100 rupees ($NZ 1.90) a month.

After six months, I borrowed to pay my son’s fees to study for a diploma in electronics. With the second loan, I bought a rickshaw for my husband because he couldn’t work in the looms any more. I used the third loan to buy a taxi, and my husband is now an uber driver. The fourth loan I took was for my daughter’s studies. She is studying pharmacy.

Since joining the group, I feel more confident and I can now read and write a little. I have also been elected president of my group. In the SHG, I meet other women and we have a lot of fun. We talk a lot about health issues and take people to the hospital. We also talk about women’s rights. Being part of a SHG has also changed my marriage, and our relationship has grown.”

Tearfund believes that SHGs are one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty when combined with training and disaster risk reduction. To support more inspiring women like these, visit our website tearfund.org.nz or phone 0800 800 777.

2. Members start by saving small amounts regularly and then begin taking out small loans from the group at a low-interest rate. Members often use the money to start or expand their businesses.

They also receive smallbusiness training.

3. Women participating in SHGs are more resilient to shocks such as disaster and drought because they have sustainable incomes and access to loans.

4. The money donated supports the women’s training in small business, reading and writing, and accountancy and oversight of the groups. It also increases the number of groups operating.

The money for the loans comes from members.

5. SHGs are not just about finances. SHGs build strong social networks where women help each other and unite to make changes in their communities. Women often lobby the local government to make changes to improve the lives of people in their community.

May 2021

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Humility in helping

BY DALE CAMPBELL

I

superior—a message that disempowers those we are trying to help.

It’s great for our compassion to be active, however, there is great wisdom in not doing everything ourselves. Getting help from others and fighting poverty as part of a caring network means that no one

f you’ve been a Tearfund supporter for a while, you may be familiar with

our model of Local Partnership. Instead of presuming to dictate solutions for those facing extreme poverty, we work

person is the ‘saviour’, and poverty can be addressed by a community. There is a surprising example of this in the way Jesus describes the aid of the Samaritan in Luke’s 10:25-37. We will focus on

with local, skilled Christian partners. As

verses 33-35.

much as I want to address the mess in

At the start, the Samaritan plays an

the world, Tearfund’s partners can do a

active role. Moved by compassion, he

better job than me.

applies first-aid using his available

As books like Walking with the Poor

resources: oil, wine, bandages and

and Helping Without Hurting point out, we believe great harm can be done if there are power imbalances in poverty alleviation efforts. When we try to ‘help’ the materially poor with ‘our’ stuff,

animal transportation. At this urgent end of the timeline, skilful, direct intervention is fitting because there is nobody else willing to help, and the victim is dependent on his help.

on ‘our’ terms and according to ‘our’

But then the power shifts. The Samaritan

plan, we send a message that we are

does not solely restore the victim to

Inside Out

A

BY IAN MCINNES

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health. Instead, he takes him to an inn where his care is shared with others until he can be restored.

The Samaritan has an incredible combination of generosity and humility. Generosity in that he provides not only the initial financial help but also promises to cover any further expenses.

Humility in that he does not see himself as ‘indispensable’ to the restoration of the victim. He doesn’t even feel he should stay.

The Samaritan, although filled with active compassion, does not imagine himself as a lone rescuer. He partners with the innkeeper, sharing the power, decision-making, and responsibilities associated with restoring the victim.

That is a model that works. Similarly, Tearfund fights poverty through a network of caring and compassionate partners. Thanks for your generous partnership with us!

s Covid-19 wrecks havoc in India, it has reinforced to me the importance of Tearfund’s local partner network. These locally based charities lift communities out of poverty and safeguard them in times of desperate need—like now!

communities, who have been left

Whether it’s a Mums and Bubs programme through Compassion in Indonesia, or the protective mantel of the women’s Self Help Groups in Ethiopia, or the Church in Lebanon that has been responding to the needs of Syrian refugees, all this work is delivered by locals who truly are Christ’s hands and feet in this very troubled world.

necessary, and help with funeral costs

Nowhere is this more evident and needed today than our partner in India who is working with Covid-affected slum communities outside of Mumbai.

We are raising funds to help them respond as they have been slammed

by India’s runaway Covid cases. For many years, Tearfund has supported livelihood projects among day-labourer

or you support one of our many other

behind in modern India. Now, many are quarantined—infected or otherwise— unable to work. Without support, they cannot feed their families. Those who have contracted the virus need hospital transportation, oxygen supplies where and counselling for the living.

This is the horror story I hoped we might avoid in the global pandemic but feared would play out in the developing world as case numbers spiralled beyond control and health systems became overwhelmed. Whether you have generously given to this appeal, programmes providing an essential buffer between life and death (and I’m not overstating this), thank you for caring. God will reign in this pandemic in the end, but you and I can be His samaritans—as Dale describes in his Biblical Snapshot article—on the lonely and dangerous road in between.

Test your knowledge for a good cause

BY VICTORIA HANNA

Who doesn’t love to challenge others in a battle of trivia knowledge or help people living in poverty? Tearfund’s Big Quiz Night combines both of these elements in a fun ready-to-go event. Want to join us? All you need to provide is the venue, a few people to help out, and of course, a room full of eager participants.

O

n September 12, 2020, churches across New Zealand participated in Tearfund’s first

Will you help Tearfund respond to India’s Covid crisis?

I

annual Big Quiz Night event. We had celebrities to host each round via video, such as Dave Dobbyn on music, Petra Bagust on quotes, and Frank Ritchie on history. Everything you need to run the event is sent to you (except coffee and food). The quiz night was a big success, and we received a lot of positive feedback on the ease of running the event. Although we all love a fun night out, the point of the quiz is to raise awareness and funds. Last year was for our dairy project in Sri Lanka.

of the most vulnerable families survive Covid-19 in India.

Our partner in India is helping families with food rations and hygiene items to survive the coming months. Our partner will provide the cost of their care, such as an ambulance, oxygen and access to the hospital. In the event of a death, they will provide trauma counselling and cover the cost of the funeral for the family. Tearfund plans to partner with church-based hospitals to provide

deteriorating into Covid-19 chaos with

other vital medical supplies to fight the

hundreds of thousands of new cases and

virus and help those suffering.

thousands of deaths every day.

Every donation counts as they battle against this pandemic. Your support can mean the difference between life and death. To donate, visit tearfund.org.nz/india

overwhelmed, oxygen is running out, and bodies are being burnt in the streets because there is nowhere else to go.

Please take the inserted flyer and share this with your church, friends or community. Register at tearfund.org.nz/quiz

With your support, we can help some

ndia is in crisis and cannot cope alone. The country is quickly

Their healthcare system is

If you want to be part of the fun, the Big Quiz Night is happening on August 21. We would love your support to get your church or small group involved to raise funds for our work. It is also an opportunity to reach into your community. Why not add to the fun by supplying food or coffee to help with your fundraising goal?

Covid-19 resources such as oxygen and

A man is swabbed for Covid-19 at Emmanuel Hospital, India.

PICTURE Supplied

May 2021

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Guilt-free shopping?

BY CLAIRE GRAY

A loom worker in India makes cloth for the fashion industry. He earns a low wage and inhales micro-fibres into his lungs—causing health problems.

PICTURE John Watson

A Modern Slavery Act for New Zealand could help you shop guilt-free. If you’ve been around Tearfund for more than five minutes, you’ll know that one of the big global injustices we’re seeking to help end is modern slavery. Slavery isn’t something that ended a long time ago. In fact, there are more people trafficked and enslaved today than during the transatlantic slave trade years ago. Currently, there are 40.3 million people trapped in slavery, with cases found in every country, including New Zealand.

A

s history can attest, this isn’t an injustice that any of us can tackle alone. To end modern slavery, we need a collaborative movement that addresses the issue from multiple angles. This is, in part, already being accomplished through our overseas partners and our research in ethical fashion. But, to further the movement toward Modern Slavery Legislation in NZ, Kiwis like you can have a significant role.

Ultimately, the people this impacts the most are those 24.9 million people trapped in forced labour. We want those people to have their rights respected and to be able to live and work in environments that contribute to their economic empowerment and dignity.

Partners Overseas Tearfund’s partners overseas are diligently working to prevent trafficking and slavery. They work tirelessly to

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prosecute organised criminal networks responsible for trafficking people into slavery and provide protection and rehabilitation for survivors.

from a new angle: legislation.

Here in New Zealand

a highly effective measure to address

As you might know, for the past five years, we’ve released the Ethical Fashion Report and Guide to tackle modern slavery from a different angle— working with consumers to understand how our everyday purchasing decisions can perpetuate modern slavery. This project researches the supply chains of fashion companies and assesses what measures are in place to protect workers from exploitation throughout the supply chains. This allows consumers to vote with their wallets against exploitation and slavery.

The next step is legislation This year, we’re taking the next step in this area and tackling modern slavery

This might not sound as glamourous as stories of kicking down brothel doors and rescuing people, but it is modern slavery.

Of the 40.3 million people enslaved today, 24.9 million are coerced into forced labour. This means that hidden in the supply chains of the everyday goods and products you buy, are people who are forced to work long hours in unsafe conditions for little or no pay. Sometimes they are held against their will.

This might surprise you, but in our globalised world, supply chains are complex and often stretch across multiple countries. In many industries, supply chains are no longer vertically integrated, meaning a series of independent businesses now form the

supply chain for a single product.

This means a company selling a t-shirt or a laptop may not have any knowledge about where and how the raw materials for that product were produced or sourced. As a result, companies are importing and selling products in New Zealand that were made through the exploitation and enslavement of people.

For many years, there was little or no attention given to exploitation and slavery happening in supply chains. Companies could get away with either blatantly exploiting people for

A Modern Slavery Act could make life better for workers making our clothes.

PICTURE Unsplash

a profit, or turning a blind eye to what was happening in their supply chain,

legislation in place, and we, along with a

arguing that protecting the people

network of other NGOs, businesses and

who made their products was not

individuals, plan to change that! Our

their responsibility.

first step was this open letter to

In recent years, this has changed.

Several countries have introduced

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woods:

legislation—usually called a Modern

We are calling on the New Zealand

Slavery Act—that forces companies to

government to introduce a Modern

have a degree of transparency about

Slavery Act to New Zealand. This

their supply chains and holds them to

legislation will force companies to

account. New Zealand does not have this

take steps to firstly understand the

Loosening the grip of poverty

BY ROSLYNN SHEARMAN

R

achel Vince (pictured) has travelled the world. She has seen and

walked amongst poverty, and felt the overwhelming weight of enormous need.

“It’s hard to know how to respond.

How do you understand what’s going on for people and what interventions are really going to be catalysts for longlasting help?”

Rachel is a long-time Tearfund supporter, and through this partnership, sees the action she can take and the impact she makes.

I trust their knowledge of complex poverty issues and know that the solutions are delivered through partners that work in the name of Jesus. That part is especially important to me!

“I know that the aid Tearfund delivers is making a difference in the world. Targeted interventions can help loosen the grip of poverty and enable people to live with more options and freedom.”

modern slavery risks that exist in their supply chain, then take action and publicly report on this. With robust modern slavery legislation, consumers will be able to have more assurance that the products they are purchasing are slavery-free.

Will you sign the petition and tell your friends and family to do the same? You can sign the petition at signforfreedom.nz

Rachel’s decision to leave a gift that endures beyond today is a generous act that will transform the lives of many people—people who may otherwise be forgotten and left on the margins.

Will you join us in loosening the grip of poverty? Visit our website tearfund.org.nz/gifts-in-wills or email giftsinwills@tearfund.org.nz or call 0800 800 777 for more info.

Understanding that every life has immense value, Rachel discovered one of the most powerful ways to help make a positive impact is by leaving a gift in her will.

“It seemed a no-brainer for my husband and I to include Tearfund as one of the charities in our will when we were

“Tearfund understands the global

thinking about what we wanted to

context and have the smarts to deliver

accomplish after a lifetime of God’s

effective assistance on my behalf.

blessing to us.”

May 2021

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She is not a statistic

BY GRACE ELLIS

In a tiny dark concrete room in Makwanpur, Nepal, sits a woman wearing a beautiful floral dress with a red shawl. Her posture and eyes reveal a palpable sense of pain. *Setimaya was just 19 when she was trafficked—30 years later, she is ready to tell her story.

K

iwi photographer, Nikki Denholm, has worked with Tearfund capturing images of human trafficking survivors for the past six years. With her social worker’s support, Setimaya shared her dark past with Nikki.

“Setimaya was deeply traumatised by her trafficking experience. She wanted to tell her story in the hope it would raise awareness and prevent other girls from being trafficked,” says Nikki.

“I was from a very poor family. They married me off at 16-years-old and I had my son at 17,” says Setimaya.

Setimaya, Nepal (left) talks with a counsellor.

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“My husband hit me and abused me.

I was in a terrible state, I didn’t have proper clothes or enough food to eat,” Setimaya told Nikki. Then someone came into her life that loved her and cared about her. She felt she had found a true friend.

“My father-in-law brought a new wife home. The sister of the new wife loved me. She was like my sister and she said she’d take me back to my parent’s home. The plan was to stay just one night at her place first.”

But something terrible happened that would change her life.

“She didn’t take me to her home. She took me to a town on India’s border and rented a room. A lady I didn’t know came into my room, and I was left alone with her. I cried and she said, ‘I’ll take you to your home—get on the bus.’ I was brought to a railway station and threatened that the police would come and lock me up if I cried out. Two men joined the lady and they stuffed a cloth in my mouth and tied me up. I was on the train for four days. I had been taken to Bangalore, India,” says Setimaya.

PICTURE Nikki Denholm

When she arrived at the brothel, Setimaya was sick with a fever, but they told her that she would have to work.

“I tried to leave and was beaten. I was passed on to two more brothels. I was sold three times,” she says.

“Once I had recovered from my sickness, they brought men into my room and I had to have sex with them. The clients never paid me—they paid the boss.

“One time I fainted and even when I was unconscious, they sent in men. They didn’t care if I died. It would be up to nine men a day sometimes. I couldn’t keep count, as I was in and out of consciousness. I couldn’t even cry—they wouldn’t let me. I had no choice—they cut my hair, beat me, and spat on me if I didn’t do what they said,” says Setimaya.

“They would send me out to get a shot regularly to prevent me from getting ill and a woman would always accompany me. Another working girl suggested I escape. This was the key to my escape, because one day, I was sent to the clinic on my own,” she says.

After 16 months of working in brothels getting beaten and abused, she was

Nikki Denholm in her office.

PICTURE Supplied

finally free. But just when she thought it was over, it didn’t stop there.

“When I returned, my mother-in-law and father-in-law used to talk about me and said I had a disease that doesn’t have a cure (HIV/AIDS).”

Setimaya was abused by her traffickers and shunned by her family, but now is under the care of Tearfund’s partner in Nepal who looks after women and helps them reintegrate back into their communities.

Nikki says Setimaya is a woman she will never forget. “She has been so brutally trafficked; betrayed by her family and lost her only son in the process. Now, she lives with the stigma of having worked in a brothel and is struggling to be accepted.”

Nikki has spoken with many women just like Setimaya, but unfortunately, her story is not uncommon. An estimated 4.8 million women and girls have had a very similar experience to hers. *Name changed for protection

Across the world, commercial sexual exploitation generates NZ$150 billion.

Nikki says it’s up to us that have a voice to do something about it.

“It is absolutely vital, because survivors of human trafficking often have no voice. I feel so strongly about this. The least we can do is hear their story and be their voice. By telling their stories, being their advocate, lobbying for a world without human slavery and supporting organisations like Tearfund, you are actively working against human trafficking,” says Nikki.

“Human trafficking is a devastating crime, socially, economically, emotionally and physically. It’s exploitation at its worst,” says Nikki.

Nikki says putting a face to this story is so important.

“It’s very powerful to put a face to human trafficking through photography. An image takes the issue straight into someone’s heart. It invites them to imagine what it would be like if the person in the photo was their daughter, their cousin, their niece or their mother. Something profoundly changes when the broader issue of human trafficking has a face, a story and a name,” she says.

Nikki says her job is to create content that gives the people dignity and portrays them as survivors, not victims.

“I want to capture their beauty and not just their victimhood. I want to give them a chance to speak up and not be ashamed for what they have been through.”

If this story has moved you and you want to do something about this issue, visit tearfund.org.nz May 2021

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Journey with babies from before their first breath to their first birthday

BY KELLY BURGESS, PICTURES COMPASSION

The most vulnerable people in the world are babies. Their first year of life is so fragile. Many mums in the poorest countries watch their precious babies die in their arms because they don’t have access to the care they desperately need.

The future looks brighter for this little one in a Mums and Bubs programme.

G

lobally, 4 million babies die before their first birthday due to a lack

poverty and isolation through a supportive community of mums.

and neglect.

º Advocacy for mums

This should not be happening. With

ensures mothers are treated fairly by

of resources, delivery complications, malnutrition, preventable diseases,

your help, Tearfund is stepping in to help babies in Indonesia survive and thrive in their critical first year of life. The Mums and Bubs Programme, through our partner Compassion, focuses on promoting the development and survival of the most vulnerable babies, while also providing education and support for their mum or caregiver.

Assistance that provides and secures funding for medical treatments

Programme getting results

attendants to assist during childbirth.

Each year, the programme reaches thousands of babies and mothers around the world and helps ensure their critical needs are met. In one year:

Your generosity can have a lifelong impact on mothers, like Alince, who was the first mum to give birth in a survival programme during quarantine.

The safe delivery of her healthy girl was especially beautiful because four

helps using these strategies:

of Alince’s children had died; three at

Mothers are visited at home by a survival specialist who monitors the health and development of the baby. They support mums, tailoring their help to the specific challenges they

•

92.9% of Survival newborns were in the normal weight range.

•

95% of them were born full-term.

my previous pregnancies,” said Alince.

“I didn’t know about proper nutrition during pregnancy. I lost three babies in three different births.”

has proven to be a crucial lifeline

she learned how to take care of herself

for families.

during pregnancy and the importance of nutrition. “It was not my first time becoming a mother, but the things

Parents can receive basic

I’ve learned are mostly new to me,

education and income-generation

especially about nutrition during

training to overcome long-term

pregnancy,” she says.

May 2021

9,255 births were assisted by birth attendants.

“I didn’t have the right knowledge on

When Alince joined the programme,

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•

birth and one in early childhood.

face. During the pandemic, this strategy

º Group-based learning

Will you come alongside mums like Alnice and their babies from their first breath to their first birthday?

local services and arranges for birth

The Mums and Bubs programme

º Home-based care

The support Alince received helped her feel equipped and confident, despite the trauma of her previous losses.

A mother enjoys her little one.

99% of maternal deaths occur in developing countries.

4children Million die each year

during their first year of life.

800 Women die every day due to pregnancy and childbirth issues.

Mums like Alince and their babies are at their most vulnerable during pregnancy and in the first year after birth.

A mother and her baby enjoy some fun at a Mums and Bubs programme.

$30 a month can help provide: •

Pre and postnatal care, including a skilled birth attendant.

•

Health check-ups, medical care, and food for malnourished mums and babies.

•

Education on breastfeeding, family planning, nutrition, hygiene, and disease prevention.

•

Skills training and literacy classes so mums can earn an income.

•

Social and spiritual guidance and support.

All mums and bubs deserve a decent start. Help build a circle of protection around them.

A baby in Indonesia gets a health check to ensure she is thriving.

Help build

a circle of protection

for mums and babies

Sign up at tearfund.org.nz/mumsandbubs to commit $30 per month for one year, and give a mum and her child the best chance at life.

May 2021

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Triple blessing

STORY AND PICTURES BY CAROLINE MWINEMWESIGWA

It’s not every day you hear a birth story that features motorbike rides in the night and a mum expecting to give birth to one child and ending up with three, but Annet’s experience is one that few women would want to go through.

Grace, Patience and Samuel, with their mother, Annet, in front of their new house built by Compassion International and the local church.

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W

hen 27-year-old Annet from Uganda went into labour, she had no idea she would be giving birth to more than one baby that day. Her husband had gone to the city, and she began feeling some pain that evening.

Her son Samuel was born that night alone in her house. After Samuel was born, she had trouble cutting the umbilical cord and so jumped on a Boda (motorbike) with her sister-in-law, Nerima, to rush to the nearest medical centre. A nurse told a very surprised Annet that there was another baby on the way.

all communication with Annet. The

The nurse was concerned about the delivery, so Annet got on another motorbike, and travelled to a larger hospital for help. There, she had the first scan in her pregnancy and was told by the doctor there was not one, but two more babies coming!

Annet’s situation. When the story went

When Annet’s family heard she had delivered triplets, they were shocked. Triplets were unheard of in the village! They said Annet’s triplets were a curse. They told Annet not to come home with the ‘curse’ of the triplets.

Annet’s husband had been working in a different town, but when he heard of the news, he also shunned his triplets.

He switched off his phone to cut off

doctor could see that she was losing strength and called her husband to ask for permission to perform a caesarean section. Because he believed triplets were a curse, he said no. The doctor realized this was a life and death situation and performed the operation.

Soon after, Grace and Patience entered the world, weighing just 1.8kgs each.

With a mounting hospital bill, the doctor who signed the paperwork didn’t know what to do, so he called TV, radio and newspaper journalists to take photos and put the news out about public, a Compassion staff member saw it and contacted the nearby project.

Shortly after, some Compassion staff came to the hospital and helped Annet leave. At first, they tried to reconcile Annet with her husband and in-laws, but that didn’t work.

In her loneliness, however, Annet had great joy because of the blessings of the triplets she had delivered. Annet already had two children before these triplets but had lost her second and third-born at a very early age. The triplets felt like God’s way of replacing the children she had lost to death. She was overjoyed.

However, she worried about how she would manage. Before this, she had a

The triplets wander near their home.

home, but now she had no income, no family, and no home but five children to feed.

For the last four years, Tearfund’s partner, Compassion, has helped pay for Annet to rent a home with her children, but recently, they outgrew the space (6x3m in size). Annet was given some land by her father but didn’t have enough money to build a home for her family. When Compassion let sponsors know about Anet’s need, thousands responded with love and commitment.

Over NZ$50,000 was raised to build a safe and secure home for Annet and her miraculous triplets — just in time for their fifth birthdays!

Thanks to sponsors like you, Annet’s family has a new home—a place of security, belonging and safety and, they will never have to fear eviction again.

“In the past, I was always worried about the rent. Now I don’t have that problem.

I’m feeling the peace of the Lord, and through this house, the gospel has come to life,” says Annet.

“The best thing about the house is the iron sheets on the roof,” says five-yearold Patience. “In our previous house when it rained, we would get wet and we’d have to stand in a corner and wait for the rain to pass.”

Annet’s former home.

The generosity of Compassion sponsors has helped to provide Annet and her triplets with security, stability and independence. “I thank God that He provided us with a house.”

May 2021

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2021 marks

10 years of suffering for Syrians

BY KEITH RAMSAY

A Syrian refugee looks out the window of her make-shift dwelling in Lebanon.

W

PICTURE Helen Manson

hat became known as “The Arab Spring”—a series of antigovernment protests and uprisings— started in 2010 throughout many countries in the Arab world. It came in response to oppressive regimes and a low standard of living. It spread from Tunisia to Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain and other Arab nations. In some cases, leaders were toppled. By March 2011, the discontent had reached into Syria.

Protesters in Syria had hopes of bringing change, but instead, they were met by brutal force sparking the volatile Syrian conflict, which has seen an estimated 500,000 deaths and more than half of the population displaced.

About 1.5 million refugees have crossed

people of Syria has provided much-

into neighbouring Lebanon. About one

needed hope and relief to families who

in every four people in Lebanon is a

have lost so much. With no end in sight

Syrian refugee. This influx of refugees

to this conflict, the most vulnerable

has placed a big strain on Lebanon

families remain utterly dependent on the

and its struggling economy. The huge

goodwill of others to survive. Sadly, their

Thanks for your support

by Syrian forces.

In March this year, the Syrian conflict had reached its 10th anniversary—a milestone that nobody wanted to arrive.

The conflict has brought unfathomable violence and human suffering for the people of Syria. But amongst the suffering, there have been moments of joy and love which Tearfund’s supporters have been part of.

We want to thank our supporters who have allowed Tearfund’s partners to journey with Syrians in their suffering over the last 10 years and are continuing to provide vital help where it is needed most.

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May 2021

explosion that rocked Beirut has added to Lebanon’s woes and its ability to support the population.

God’s love shines through Tearfund’s church partner rapidly responded to the need of the new arrivals from Syria, but they had a lot to overcome, especially in the early days.

situation is becoming more difficult, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and Lebanon’s collapsed economy, which has left hundreds of thousands of Lebanese equally as desperate as the refugees they host. Tearfund and our partners are committed to journeying with Syrian refugees until they can

That’s because many Lebanese people

return home safely.

had suffered under a 29-year occupation

How our partners have supported Syrian refugees

But God’s love was enough to get them over the hurts of the past and the distrust of Syrians and they began serving Syrian refugees.

Ever since those early days, they have been helping the refugees to keep warm, fed and accommodated the best they could.

Our church-based partners in Lebanon and Syria have faithfully worked with the most vulnerable victims of the Syrian conflict since it began. Their genuine love and compassion for the

• Emergency food • Urgently needed winter materials (fuel for heating, blankets, mattresses) • Access to informal education for Syrian children • Child-friendly spaces • Hygiene kits (Covid-19 protection) • Health assistance • Trauma support

If you would like to help continue the support of war-affected Syrians, go to tearfund.org.nz or call 0800 800 777.

It didn’t take much to convince Juliet to partner with Tearfund for the event.

“The idea that I can help lift farmers out of poverty and give them a better life excites me,” says Juliet. “It’s absolutely fantastic what Tearfund is doing.”

A cheesy event for a good cause Juliet Harbutt.

BY LUISA GIACON

I

nternationally renowned Master of Cheese, Juliet Harbutt, has dedicated

more than 35 years of her life to cheese, and she used her talents in March this year to help farmers in Tearfund’s smallholder dairy project in Sri Lanka.

The Artisan Cheese Masterclass event in Auckland was attended by 90 people and raised more than $73,000. The Northern Club supported the event and provided a stunning space for avid cheese lovers who left with a new appreciation for New Zealand cheeses

About Tearfund’s Sri Lankan dairy project

PICTURE Gertjan Kardol

and the incredible work being done by Tearfund’s partner in Sri Lanka.

About Juliet Harbutt Upon Juliet’s return to New Zealand in 2016, she started Hunter Gatherer Tours in the Hawke’s Bay, working with New Zealand cheesemakers and artisan producers. A global cheese aficionado, Juliet has sold over 90,000 copies of her award-winning World Cheese Book.

She has featured regularly on BBC food programmes, has helped develop numerous cheeses for cheesemakers, and consulted for celebrities, including Prince Charles.

Blood, sweat and gears to help modern-day slaves

wind, sun and rain to raise $300,000 for people in need.

BY GRACE ELLIS earfund’s team of 47 cyclists raised over $130,000 in this year’s Tour of New Zealand cycle race to help people trafficked into slavery.

“It’s unlike any other competition— you’re not in it to beat your time or come first place, your blood, sweat and tears are for other people. It was great to see the generosity, the community and the team spirit,” says Peter.

“The team blew me away with their energy, dedication and commitment to fundraising for Tearfund. I am so proud of their efforts,” says Tearfund’s organiser, Beth Harper.

The cyclists started their seven stages in Glenorchy, near Queenstown, and finished at the Beehive in Wellington a week later. Jack Gilchrist, cycling for Tearfund, took third place.

One hundred and eighty cyclists from seven charities cycled over 500km in

To finish the tour off in style, Mike Pollok, from Ricoh, raced speaker of the

T

Tearfund’s dairy project is helping smallholder dairy farmers to turn dairy farming into a sustainable and profitable way of life. The project started in 2011 with just eight farmers producing 150L of milk a month. Now, almost 5,000 farmers are producing 500,000L a month.

With the recent launch of their first micro-processed milk product, farmers are adding value to what they produce, which is increasing their incomes.

Families are enjoying a better quality of life, and with additional income, they can now send their children to school.

This story of empowerment continues to see more Sri Lankan farmers finding hope for the future.

We would love to partner with you to take this event to other areas in New Zealand. If this sounds like your kind of night, contact enquiries@tearfund.org.nz

“This one was our most successful year yet,” says tour founder Peter Yarrell.

PICTURE Supplied

house, Trevor Mallard, and Wellington’s Mayor, Andy Foster, around the Beehive.

He won the $800 prize for his chosen charity, Tearfund.

“It was a bit of fun and all for a great cause.” says Beth.

The Tour of New Zealand started in 2011 and is held every second year.

May 2021

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Donate I’d like to support: Self Help Groups Where the need is greatest India Covid-19 Crisis Amount: $35

$50

$100

Other $ Tearfund is a registered charity.

Charities Act 2005 registration CC21725. Donations $5 and over are tax deductible.

or

Sponsor a child for $52/mth To sponsor a child in this edition, call us on 0800 800 777.

My preference is: Boy Girl Either Living in: South America Africa Asia Central America No preference

Sponsor a child today!

C

an you find room in your family for one more? With the impact of Covid-19, many children lost their sponsors due to financial hardship.

But there has never been a time where children living in poverty needed your help more than now.

Covid-19 has created even more hardship for families struggling against poverty.

For just $52 per month, you can sponsor

15

Joselyn Ecuador

DOB 07/11/2005

a child and help give them protection from the pandemic and exploitation. We can now match a sponsor child to a date that is special to you, to the age of one of your children, or you can sponsor a child from a country close to your heart. Make a difference today by sponsoring one of these children.

Visit tearfund.org.nz for more info or call 0800 800 777.

6

Joselyn lives in Ecuador with her mother and father. She is 15 and speaks Spanish. She loves to run and play group games.

Please add Sponsorship Plus: $10 extra per month covers additional needs like unexpected medical treatment and helps to support other children still waiting for sponsors.

Yudha Indonesia

DOB 13/08/2014 Yudha lives in Indonesia with his mother and father. He is six and speaks Indonesian. He likes art and playing with toy cars.

Your details Fill in this section if you are making a donation or if you’d like to sponsor a child. We’d love to start journeying with you!

2

Have you donated to Tearfund before?

Yes

Name:

Supporter Number

No

Title

First

Last

Owembabazi Uganda

5

Davi

Tanzania

DOB 24/09/2012

DOB 23/10/2003

Owembabazi lives in Uganda with her mother and father.

She is two and speaks Runyankole. She likes to dance and play with dolls.

Davi lives in Brazil with his mother and father. He is five and speaks Portuguese. Davi likes drawing and ball games.

Address:

Home ph:

4

Email: Tick to receive our monthly e-news

4

Give securely online at tearfund.org.nz Visa / Mastercard (please complete below) Cardholder name:

Cheque (make payable to Tearfund)

Risku Ethiopia

02/05/2016

OUR PURPOSE Motivated by Jesus, we encourage Kiwis to act for justice and relieve poverty among the world’s most vulnerable people.

0800 800 777 tearfund.org.nz enquiries@tearfund.org.nz

Philippines DOB 12/02/2018 Tinay lives in Philippines with her mother and father. She is three and speaks Bicolano. Tinay enjoys running and playing with dolls.

7

Clement Togo

DOB 21/03/2014

Risku lives in Ethiopia with his mother and father. He is four and speaks Oromifa. Risku likes to play ball games.

Payment details

Expiry:

3

Mateo lives in El Salvador with his mother and father. He is four and speaks Spanish. He likes to run and play soccer.

Mobile:

Signature: Card Number:

El Salvador

Tinay

DOB 06/09/2016

Work ph:

Please send me information about: Remembering Tearfund in my will Volunteering for Tearfund Please take me off your mailing list

Mateo

Clement lives in Togo with his mother and father. He is seven and speaks Moba.

He likes to play ball games.

Editor: Keith Ramsay.

Contributors: Ian McInnes, Dale Campbell, Kelly Burgess, Grace Ellis, Victoria Hanna, Roslynn Shearman, Claire Gray, Luisa Giacon and Caroline Mwinemwesigwa.

Design: Alex Carter.