IN THIS EDITION: Australian Students Lobby Canberra | Transform $1 into as much as $6 | Fiji Recovers from Cyclone Tomas | Sydney Students Connect with Communities in PNG |Zimbabwe Methodist Minister Visits Australia | Experience Volunteer in Focus: Renee O’Shanassy | Experience Placements in 2011 Coming Soon | Connecting Communities for Peace
Australian Students Lobby Canberra for Action on the MDGs
During 19-22 June 2010, more than 300 concerned Christians from across Australian came together in Canberra to participate in Voices for Justice, an annual event of Micah Challenge Australia which aims to further the commitment of Australian political leaders to fulfil their pledge to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
UnitingWorld Communications and Fundraising Manager Mr Rob Lutton led a team of school students and teachers from St Vincent’s School in Potts Point, Sydney, in lobbying several Federal politicians and presenting them with the Micah Challenge Report, The World We Want To See: A Roadmap For Australia’s Overseas Aid Contribution By 2015-16.
Mr Malcolm Turbull MP (Wentworth), Ms Claire Moore (Senator for Queensland) and Mr Mark Coulton MP (Parkes) met with the group to receive the report and discuss their role in making progress towards the MDGs through supporting effective development policies.
“I would like to express gratitude towards each leader for meeting with us. I am thankful that each received our concerns with genuine interest and a desire to also work for change,” said Rob.
Click here to read the full story with links for further information
Transform $1 into as much as $6
Thanks to everyone for your overwhelming support of our Matching Gift Fund to support three of our development projects in Papua New Guinea and South India.
Funds raised for this appeal enable UnitingWorld to apply for an Australian Government grant, which will allow your gift to be multiplied by as much as six times.
Although we are now in a new financial year, gifts received after June 30th will be eligible to be matched in the next financial year – so your can still play a more effective than ever in empowering communities in South India and Papua New Guinea lift themselves out of poverty.
Click here to read more about this appeal
Click here to make a donation to the Matching Gift Fund
Fiji Continues to Recover from Cyclone Tomas
We are currently working with communities that continue to be affected by the destruction resulting from Cyclone Tomas that hit Fiji during 14 and 15 March this year.
In partnership with the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, we are initially responding by providing vital food aid such as flour, rice and dahl, to alleviate the strain from the food shortage.
Longer term food security will be addressed by providing seed and tools to enable farmers to continue producing crops. Additionally, building materials such as corrugated iron, timber and nails are being distributed to repair damaged homes and buildings.
Click here to read our full statement about Cyclone Recovery in Fiji
Sydney Students Connect with Communities in PNG
Development Education Officer Ms Bronwyn Fraser is currently leading a group of Australian students and teachers to connect with communities in Papua New Guinea.
Twelve students and four staff members from Knox Grammar School in Sydney are taking part in the UnitingWorld Schools Engagement Program to learn about best practices in development and poverty alleviation.
Stedents from Knox Grammar School have been closely engaging with the United Church in Papua New Guinea through regular visits, facilitated by UnitingWorld.
Click here to read more about the Schools Engagement Program
Methodist Minister from Zimbabwe Visits Australia
In July, a senior figure from the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe, Mr Astonishment Mapurisa, will meet with Uniting Church communities in New South Wales and Queensland to discuss the range of issues currently facing Zimbabwe.
Mr Mapurisa currently serves as Director of the Matthew Rusike Children’s Home, a community-based children’s care program in Harare, Zimbabwe, providing more than 6000 orphans and vulnerable children with ongoing care, education and support.
He is a dynamic, sociable and engaging character, with vast experience from several major public institutions, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Click here to read more about Mr Mapurisa and his visit to Australia
Experience Volunteer in Focus: Renee O’Shanassy
Renee is an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD) from Sunbury, Victoria, working under the nomination of UnitingWorld Experience Programs. The AYAD program is an Australian Government, AusAID initiative.
For 12 months, she will be working with the Free Wesleyan church of Tonga on a program aimed to contribute to the well being and livelihood of individuals who have been deported from Australia to their hometown in Tonga.
“When I heard about the Deportee Program in Tonga, I knew it would be challenging, but very rewarding,” said Renee.
“I hope that I can enhance the ability of the program and contribute to community development in Tonga on a long term basis.
“Please pray for my work with the Deportee Program, that my skills may be of use and that it might be a time of mutual blessing.”
Click here to view Renee’s full Experience profile
Experience Placements in 2011 Coming Soon
A fill list of Experience volunteer placements for 2011 will be released on September 1st 2010 on the UnitingWorld website.
Experience placements are the ultimate learning opportunity. Placements provide the chance to spend anywhere between four weeks and three years working alongside a partner church in a mission or development placement.
More than 100 opportunities will be available for suitably qualified candidates to use your skills and work alongside our Church Partners in Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
Watch this space for more information closer to the launch date.
Click here to read more about Experience programs
Connecting Communities for Peace
Associate Director for Peacemaking, Ms Joy Balazo, has said that the foundations for inter-connected global network of peacemakers are now starting to be put in place, following a Training of Trainers workshop in Mindanao, Philippines involving both YAP Mindanao and YAP Ambon (Indonesia) staff.
In June, three coordinators from YAP Ambon travelled to the Philippines in June to participate in the YAP Mindanao Training of Trainers workshop which took place in the province of Zamboanga del Sur.
This collaboration enabled the current and future in-country coordinators to share ideas, workshop methods, and work together on common barriers they face when facilitating peacebuilding workshops.
This event marks the beginning of an exciting new strategy for YAP that will enable this already successful program to grow in size and strength.
