Looking for a positive way to respond to disappointing Aid figures?

This tax time, here’s a really effective way to make sure $1.2 billion people living on less than $1.25 a day don’t get left behind in all this budget talk. We have been hearing some incredibly positive stories coming out of our new midwife training initiative in South Sudan. As one of the projects we’re supporting this year through the Matching Gift Fund, you have an opportunity to make sure even more women can be trained by donating to the Do More Together appeal; it’s the very best way to make your tax-deductible dollar go further. Read the story and find out more below.

Petrea is one of eighteen young midwives who have recently finished their training through the Leer Midwifery School in South Sudan. The project is partly funded by UnitingWorld and run in partnership with the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan. The good news is that students will directly benefit from gifts made to the Do More Together appeal, which is more effective because of funding we receive through AusAID.

“I decided to come here because where I come from there are no midwives,” Petrea says. “People are just looked after in the villages by traditional attendants who don’t know what to do if there is a complication. Many babies are dying because of ignorance.”

From many different regions, speaking many different languages, the trainee midwives have gathered to learn basic medical and midwifery skills. And they’ve been transformed by the process.

“The first time I saw a baby coming I wanted to run away,” Petrea says with a small smile. “But the midwife says to me “If you are the only one, who is going to help when the mother is dying and the baby?’ So I was standing firm, saying “This is the thing that leads me here! Let me stand firm and have confidence.” And I was able to do it. I know how to move the placenta. I know how to cut the cord. I was confident. And now I’m telling the mother how to breast feed the baby and how to care for the baby.”

An estimated one in seven women will die from complications related to childbirth in South Sudan. Petrea and the other student midwives are determined to turn things around for women in communities throughout this young nation. Your gift to this year’s Do More Together appeal will help provide training for MORE MIDWIVES in South Sudan. Please be generous.

For every $5 AusAID makes available to us through the Matching Grant Fund, we have to raise at least $1 first. Can you help us out? Our goal is to hear MORE stories like Petrea’s and see more transformed lives throughout Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

Australia’s ‘tight fiscal environment’- more pain for the world’s poorest

The impact of the Australian Government’s recent budget decision to delay much needed aid increases equate to a cut of up to $4.8 billion in projected funding from 2012-2016 to the world’s poorest people.  Check out the full details, as well as the GOOD NEWS below.

“While we welcome the decision to raise aid levels to 0.37% of GNI, we are disappointed the government has again broken its promise to the world’s poorest people and delayed the commitment of 0.5% of GNI for another year,” said Sureka Goringe, Chair of UnitingWorld’s Relief and Development National Committee.

A $375 million diversion from the Foreign Aid budget, while capped in the 2013 Budget, also continues to make Australia the 3^rd largest recipient of its own aid. 

“Last year’s unprecedented diversion of $375 million to domestic asylum seeker processing threw so many excellent programs into doubt and disrupted the sustainable planning of many future projects,” Dr Goringe said.  “We cannot underestimate the impact those cuts and diversions have had on vulnerable communities, many of whom are Australia’s closest neighbours.”

This year’s aid budget does have some good news for developing countries, with an increase of funding to water, health and sanitation programs (WASH) from $164 mill to $279.  This is great news because this is an area of real concern the WASH Millennium Development Goal (number 7) is well behind target and lack of access to safe water and sanitation contribute to 28% of all child deaths.   It’s encouraging that this area has been noted by the Government: it’s been the focus of many advocacy campaigns by NGOs over the last 18 months. 

The Coalition have suggested they won’t be ‘raiding the foreign aid budget’ to support asylum seeker processing costs.  They state they support the ‘aspirational target’ of 0.5% of GNI but won’t commit to a timetable.  Why not send an email to Julie Bishop letting her know of your support for this target?  Politicians need to know what we support!  Find more details here. 

Student shoots for the top – great news from squatter settlements in Fiji

Did you buy a school stationary pack to support a student from a squatter settlement in Fiji from our Everything In Common gift catalogue last Christmas?  Bruce Mullan, Associate Director Church Connections, Pacific, has just spoken to a student who has big plans for the future.  It’s a good news story!

Anisha is about to turn 19 and has been supported by the Methodist Church of Fji and Rotuma since she was in Grade 6 at school.  Her family moved to the Nanuku Squatter Settlement on the outskirts of Suva in 2005.  The area is home to around 2000 men, women and children, most of whom are traditionally rural people who have left their farming areas for the city in search of a better life.

But the reality of Suva hits hard – high rent, scarce jobs.  Nanuku is an especially tough place to live with – no electricity, high crime and poor sanitation.  Located on a mangrove swamp, much of the settlement floods at high tide. 

In partnership with UnitingWorld, the Methodist Church has been working with children in Nanuku to help provide resources for education. Co-ordinator of the project, Mr Anan Reuben, is a local businessman who keeps careful records of every child, their school fees, school results and days absent.  He follows up to make sure children are attending regularly and provides encouragement where necessary.

Anisha’s father died of ill health last year and she has been relying on the support of the Church to sustain her education.  Now a high school graduate, Anisha had been eager to attend university, but in spite of achieving more than the required marks for a scholarship, missed out on a placement.

The Church stepped in, covering her first semester enrolment fee in a Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting and Economics until she is able to reapply for a scholarship.

Asked what she hopes will come from the degree, Anisha replies that she’s aiming for a job with an Accountancy Firm.  Her ‘plan B’ is a Masters Degree!

Anisha is just one example of the many children who are working toward a better future for themselves and their families through education.  You can support a new student in Fiji by purchasing a gift from our Everything in Common catalogue.

Or support students in some of India’s most disadvantaged communities through our Do More Together end of tax year appeal.

It’s National Volunteers Week!

Did you know that UnitingWorld has 18 volunteers serving with our overseas partners in eight different countries right now?  They’re an amazing bunch of people and we’re delighted to be working with them…

Volunteers are integral to everything we do here at UnitingWorld.  Rev Luna Dingayan, from the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in the Philippines, sums up the vital role of volunteers:  “Our personal experience with volunteers is that they’ve shown us their genuine love and concern, not only with the work we’ve been doing but also with us as persons and partners in mission.  Their commitment and involvement inspires us even more, knowing that we’re not alone in this difficult task…”

Stan Tonkins:  From Regional NSW to Kiribati

Stan recently spent 2 ½ weeks working with young people running a course in audio recording technology.  The training will allow high quality recording and broadcast of radio programs and church services to reach remote communities. This is incredibly valuable in a country where 96% of the population identify strongly as Christian. 

Wilma Hewitt:  from QLD to Tonga

Wilma is assisting in the library at Tupou High School, sharing knowledge with staff and taking part in the day to day activities alongside students.  The Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga are delighted to have her.

Jo Spurling:  From SA to Malaysia

Jo with is working with Bethany Home Rehabilitation and Training Centre alongside children and adults with disabilities.  She’s also assisting with the centre’s administration systems.

David and Tricia Mileham:  NSW to West Timor

David and Tricia are on their second placement with microfinance organisation TLM and are assisting with strategic planning, management and client training. They say:  “Working with, sharing and listening to partners for us was the best way we could  make a difference.  This is a model of mission that can work for lasting change.”

Alex Baker: QLD to Solomon Islands

Alex is spending two months at Goldie College in the Solomon Islands, where he’s assisting with various classes and activities around the school.  He writes:  “I’m having the absolute time of my life over here at Goldie.  I’ve been helping the older kids with their computer studies and led a devotion session with the school the other evening!”

Could you see yourself involved in an adventure alongside our overseas partner?  Head here to find out what kind of opportunities are available right now.

Essential reading for your weekend

Every month at e-news time we get very excited. Why? Because we’re so keen to share the blogs, articles and other resources we’ve been reading, writing and sharing with you.  We hope you find time today or over the weekend to grab a hot drink, sit back and have a look at these engaging and challenging reads.  

Rev Paul Bartlett, one of our newest team members, has recently been to Indonesia to visit our partners and see firsthand how development projects are transforming lives. You can read all about it here.

May 14 is International Day of Families. In this blog Cath Taylor asks the tough question: “Why do I live like my family is so much more valuable than everyone else’s?” For all of us, this is a challenge to rethink the way we live out our beliefs.

With the Budget officially revealed on Tuesday night (but with most of the big news about Australia’s aid budget announced well before), there are plenty of varying opinions being thrown around. We’ve liked reading Micah Challenge’s summary of the Aid Budget.

Lu Piper was a volunteer with the United Church of Papua New Guinea for many years. Last month in Sydney Lu revealed some handy hints for volunteers serving overseas. “As a volunteer, you live in another culture that does things differently to you,” Lu said. “What you see as normal is not at all normal in the new place you are living. So it is your job to adjust – not to get them to live like you.” You can read more here.

Late last month Bruce Mullan outlined some of the shocking findings from a current Australian co-sponsored study of sexual violence in six Asia-Pacific countries and Cath Taylor explored how real peace is about justice – and it starts with each of us.