India – Education and Economic Development Project

This project is being implemented by our partner, the Indian Gospel League, and in their recent report they share the following story to demonstrate how the project is helping the local community.

This is the story of Miss Kalaivani, a 13 year old girl. Her father died in an accident a year ago and after his death her mother was forced to work as a construction laborer to feed her three children including Miss Kalaivani.

Miss Kalaivani had low education and was unable to concentrate on her studies and so she stopped going to school. For the last year she has been working as child laborer along with her mother.

She was identified by one of our volunteers and brought to our community workers. Our community workers took efforts to meet with her mother and asked to admit Miss Kalaivani into school again. After two months of continuous efforts, Ms Kalaivani returned school. Now she is studying in 8th grade and attends our evening study center regularly. Our IGL-ORAF – Education and Economic Development Project help to helpless school dropouts in the target area.

ORAF has been funding this project since July 2008

How the Sudan Micro Enterprise Development Project is Helping

Mrs Onesta Gaba’s Story

Onesta Gaba is the group secretary for Kaya Women Association. When interviewed to draw a line and look at her past life before joining the group, Onesta had this to say, “I am a mother of four children and always puzzled if I will be able to send them to school. And here came the Across Micro Enterprise D programme that opened up my minds so much so that I could now think outside (the box). (Note: ACROSS is the local partner running the project.)

Onesta joined Kaya Women group in 2006 and she began to experience positive socio-economic changes in her family. She was able to acquire enough household utensils and send her children to school in Uganda. As she progressed, the idea of constructing a permanent house came in, and she consulted with a retired reverend to learn how he managed to construct a house using the loans borrowed. In early 2008, Onesta begun gathering building materials and April 2009, she started her construction project. As it can be seen from the picture Onesta’s house is nearly complete.

What captures ones eyes when viewing Onesta’s house is the writing on the front wall, which reads, “A Good Family is a Gift From God” Luke 8:22-24. When asked why this writing was chosen, Onesta replied, “My husband was always behind my idea of starting this project and encouraged me to continue and when I engaged our children in the brick project which we moulded as a family all were cooperating. This was the major reason I chose this scripture to be reflected on the wall of our new house.

Onesta, confirmed that she had such a dream for many years and no single step was taken. However, with the trainings we got from ACROSS, and guidance from the Reverend who registered success on a similar project, it gave me the courage. At this moment I want to thank the Project Staff for their articulate trainings for us. Many of our group members have vowed to emulate this example and it was all possible because somebody had once done it.

Peter Singer - Whose Song Sheet Is He Singing From?

David Mansfield was the speaker at our second breakfast meeting on 9 March 2010 and spoke on Peter Singer’s latest book “The Life You Can Save”. David began his talk with three questions: Who Is Peter Singer? What Does He Believe And Teach? and Why Bother With Him? The rest of his talk was addressing these issues and ended up saying “For very different reasons and from a very different songbook, we may find ourselves singing the same song as Peter Singer in saying that 24,000 children dying from preventable causes is a social evil we just cannot turn a blind eye to anymore.”

If you are interested in receiving a copy of David’s talk please email enquiries@abau.org.au.

The next breakfast meeting is on 23 March 2010 at St Andrew’s House and the speaker is Alfred Olwa, Dean of the School of Theology and Divinity at the Ugandan Christian University. His topic is Islam or Christianity, the Battle for Ugandan Hearts and Minds. RSVP by 19 March on enquiries@abau.org.au.

Archbishop of Sydney's Chile Earthquake Appeal

A magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit Chile at 3.35am local time on Saturday 27 February. Within two and a half hours of the earthquake 11 aftershocks were recorded. Five of these registered 6.0 on the Richter scale. The epicentre was 325 km southwest of the capital in the moderately populated region of Bio-Bio in central Chile.

The death toll is over 800 and countrywide about 1.5 million Chileans were affected and 500,000 homes severely damaged.

Our diocese has very close connections with the Diocese of Chile through our CMS Missionaries, Chileans who have studied at Moore College, and with the Chilean Diocesan Leadership.

Archbishop Jensen has been monitoring the situation with the Primate of the Province, Archbishop Greg Venables, and the Bishop of Chile, Tito Zavala and has launched an appeal to assist those affected by the earthquake.

Now is the time to help, and give generously to the Archbishop of Sydney’s ‘Relief to Victims in Chile’ Appeal. Your gift to The Archbishop’s Overseas Relief and Aid Fund (ORAF) will enable the Bishop of Chile to provide ongoing assistance to those hardest hit and in greatest need. Donations can be made through the website www.abau.org.au/donations or on 1800 653 903.

Office Relocation to the City

Our team has now relocated to St Andrew’s House in the city. Our new address is: PO Box Q190, QVB Post Office NSW 1230 and the new telephone number is 9284 1406. The email address stays the same.