Archive for the ‘Pavement Project’ Category

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Where blossoms grow

Monday, February 1st, 2010

21st century India is a land of infinite layers. There are sprawling “mega cities”, where an ever-growing array of multinational companies, call centres, and high-technology firms rub shoulders with teeming slums that occupy every inch of urban wasteland. Meanwhile, traditional ways of life continue untouched in rural villages. There are temples, cinemas, politics, schools … and cricket. And everywhere the age-old struggle between poverty and potential rages on. New visitors find the sheer diversity “overwhelming”.

11 million slumdogs
India has another layer. One that the film Slumdog Millionaire highlighted – though for most real-life slumdogs there is no happy ending. India is home to the world’s largest population of street children. Conservative estimates put the figure at 11 million, but the number is likely to be far higher. Walk the crowded streets of Mumbai, Kolkata or Delhi, and you will meet them – begging, singing, performing for loose change; selling flowers, vegetables, fruit. They are rag-picking, working at tea stalls, playing porter at the railway stations, shining shoes. And they are always prey to exploitation, malnutrition, harassment, abuse.

400,000 children trafficked in one year
The circumstances that trap children in poverty and danger are as simple as accident of birth, caste, and location, and as complex as global capitalism and our insatiable appetite for cheap goods made from cheap labour. In India, as across South Asia, trafficking of children (and their parents) is a significant problem. According to UN sources, at least 400,000 children in India were victims of sex-trafficking in 2004 alone.

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Ten years on…

Monday, January 18th, 2010

I’ve known Carla* since she was eight years old. Now eighteen, she’s a radiant young woman, excitedly making preparations for her forthcoming wedding. A committed Christian, she loves children and teaches in the children’s ministry of her church. It’s hard to imagine that she’s ever had a care in the world.

But ten years ago, Carla was living on the streets, begging for food and loose change from passers-by. Like so many street children, she had suffered sexual abuse. Completely lacking self-worth, she compared herself to an armadillo in a hole that stayed hidden away to avoid being seen. Through Pavement Project, our stories collided.

It’s been ten years now since Pavement Project first hit the streets. This unique Bible-based counselling process has equipped hundreds of street workers with the ability to sow the seeds of hope, possibility and change into the lives of thousands of the world’s most vulnerable children.

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Prayer news – hope

Monday, November 9th, 2009

“Don’t be afraid, because I have saved you. I have called you by name, and you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through fire, you will not be burnt … because I, the LORD, am your God.” Isaiah 43:1-3 (NCV)

The Bible’s life words always contain the seeds of hope, of possibility, and change. This week, join us in prayer for our Transform initiatives, which seek to bring hope, healing and restoration to communities-in-need around the world.

  • Next year, we will be celebrating the tenth anniversary of Pavement Project. In the last decade, Pavement Project’s unique counselling process has held out the promise of hope to thousands of street children all over the world. Pray for the Pavement Project staff team: Clenir, Luciana, Carmen, Cleide, Serah, Jo, and Clara. Praise God for their commitment and dedication to the programme. Pray that as they work to encourage Pavement Project workers in all regions, they will know encouragement themselves.
  • When we consider the plight of the world’s 100 million street children, the sheer numbers involved can leave us fazed. Give thanks that God knows the name and story of every street child in every country of the world. Pray that through Pavement Project, many more children will find hope in the God who calls them by name, and who will be with them in every situation, however difficult or dangerous their circumstances.
  • Give thanks for the success of the Worker Training Workshops recently hosted by Pavement Project staff in Kisumu, Kenya. Please pray for the impact that these new counsellors will have as they come alongside the children in their local communities. Pray that their hearts would be full of love, kindness and patience as they to seek to share the Bible’s life-changing words with those around them.

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Pray for the Philippines

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

News from Pavement Project partners in the Philippines, in the aftermath of two weeks of storms that have left 712 people dead, with thousands upon thousands of families evacuated.

Philippines flooding

Philippines flooding

In all, an estimated 7 million were affected by the storms – more than a quarter of a million are still in evacuation centres. The first storm – Typhoon Parma (Pepeng) damaged 26,175 houses, of which 3,132 are uninhabitable. Tropical storm Ketsana (Ondoy) then damaged 101,278 homes, with 25,259 made uninhabitable. Together, the two storms wreaked an estimated Php$10,450 billion-worth of havoc on the nation’s infrastructure and agriculture.

As always, it is the real-life stories that hit home. Michael Quezon – our outgoing Pavement Project Coordinator in the Philippines – told us:

“We were very much affected. The flood was first time in our place. Nobody anticipated it. But still we thank God that He spared all our lives. And now everybody is starting to cope and trying to normalize life … We have relatives that have been devastated with the second storm. All of the farms and agriculture has been drown[ed]. But thank God also that their life was spared. Only their possessions have been severely damaged.”

Philippines flooding

Philippines flooding

On 11 October, Rachel Sanchez of Pavement Project partners, the Jesus Loves the Little Children Foundation, wrote in the aftermath of Tropical storm Ketsana (known locally as Ondoy):

“We are still experiencing the havoc it created upon us and our environment. We are sorrowful every time we hear stories of loss, death, churches ruined, businesses destroyed, families dislocated, houses wiped out, furnishings filled with mud and so on.

“In the JLLCF Children’s Home the water is still thigh-high … the water is not receding as quickly as it should.  It’s stagnant, filthy, poisonous and smelly.  The poor people are walking in this water daily to get to work, school, home or to their place of activity. The rafts fee is extremely expensive so they would rather walk through the dirty water and risk their lives without considering that they could infect their bodies with various water-borne diseases. The stagnant waters, floating containers and plastic bottles are breeding grounds for mosquitoes carrying dengue virus.

Philippines flooding

Philippines flooding

“JLLCF School is still underwater. Other schools could not open their doors because they are still housing hundreds of evacuees.  Life here … is very miserable.  Everyone is very much affected … We assume this hardship will last for another month.

“Meantime, food, commodities and services are getting very expensive.  Thank God for the continuous flow of relief goods for the children, the poor and the needy.  JLLCF packed and distributed 1,000 bags of assorted canned goods, rice, noodles, bottled water, sugar, coffee, bread, biscuits, milk, medicine and clothes to different areas …

“There are still a lot of goods to distribute and work to do … Let us partner together to restore broken houses and broken lives. Your help matters now!”

  • Please pray for Michael, Rachel and their families.
  • Pray for the Jesus Loves Little Children Foundation as they deal with the damage caused and try to serve their community.
  • Pray for the people of the Philippines as they begin to rebuild after this disaster.

The pictures from JLLCF show crowds pushing through the school gates to get supplies, and the extent of the sheer weight of water that the storms brought – Storm Ketsana alone dropping the heaviest single day of rain on the capital, Manila, for more than 40 years.

Sources:
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 13 October 2009
AFP 13 October 2009

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Pavement Project in Columbia

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

Against a background of nearly forty years of internal conflict and political strife, the children of Columbia live with the continual threat of forced abductions, intimidation and exploitation. This week, join us in prayer for the Pavement Project workers seeking to speak words of hope, healing and new beginnings into their lives.

  • Carmen Andrade, Pavement Project coordinator for Columbia, writes: “I want to thank you very much for all the prayers and support you have been giving on behalf of Columbia. We feel God’s hand upon us every single day.” Please pray for Carmen as she seeks to train and encourage Columbia’s team of Pavement Project workers. Pray that as she hears their testimonies, deals with their concerns, and affirms them in the work they are doing, she will know God’s encouragement, wisdom and peace.
  • A Pavement Project training session is taking place in Columbia this week. Pray for all those involved in running this week-long course, and pray for all those street workers who will be encountering the Picture Me process for the first time. Pray that throughout the week, they will feel affirmed and encouraged in their calling to work with children-at-risk.
  • Give thanks for the impact Pavement Project is already having in Columbia. 200 children were counselled through the programme this year; given the opportunity to share their stories, and to recognise God’s love and concern for them. Pray that as more workers are trained, they will recognise and be excited by the potential to be agents of transformation in the lives of the children they encounter.

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We are all God’s children

Wednesday, August 12th, 2009

When a Pavement Project worker takes a street child through a counselling session, one of the tools at their disposal are the pocket cards – four little cards with a picture and a verse, which remind the child of a key truth. One depicts welcoming hands, another the safety of knowing God. Children can choose the one that speaks to them the most. For some, that card becomes a treasured possession.

This week we heard of the cards being used in quite a different context, as a chaplain wrote to us, surprised to find they were intended for children. “We are all God’s children”, she wrote, “and if you knew how many old ladies I have visited in hospital who say ‘I’ve met you before and you gave me this’, and then extract from their purses one of the little cards… These cards have been such a blessing to so many, just when they needed reminding how precious and loved they are.”

We have a large supply of the four pocket cards, and are currently featuring them in our summer warehouse clearance. You can view and order them here.

If you haven’t browsed the other items in the clearance, the full list is here – including discontinued products, overstock, and old favourites.

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Pavement Project Partners

Monday, July 13th, 2009

It’s been almost a decade now since Pavement Project first hit the streets. Join us in giving thanks for the impact it has had to date, and in praying for new and existing partnerships in Brazil and Kenya.

  • Since Pavement Project was piloted almost 10 years ago, over 8,000 Brazilian children and young people have been helped using the unique Picture Me counselling process. Having reached such an important milestone, give thanks with us for all those who have contributed to the success of the programme; local partners, street workers, facilitators and supporters.

  • A recent spate of flooding in Northern Brazil has severally affected the Associacao Beneficente Metroploitana, a Pavement Project partner working in the state of Bahia. Food, clothing and bedding have all been damaged by the flood waters. Join with us in praying for God’s provision for both the organisation and its workers and the wider community as they seek to deal with the aftermath of the flood.
  • Give thanks for a successful meeting between Pavement Project workers and facilitators in Nairobi, in which workers were offered further training in their work with children-at-risk. Please pray for a continued sense of excitement amongst the workers, and for wisdom and compassion as they reach out to the children around them.

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Updates from India

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

With an electorate of over 700 million people, India can boast of the largest parliamentary democracy in the known world. The moderate UPA congress party was recently re-elected; please join us in praying for an inclusive political climate, and for the work of Pavement Project workers in the city of Hyderabad.

  • After a peaceful election campaign, the UPA party has been returned to power for a second term, prompting many minority groups to hope for a more inclusive future. Amongst those hoping for better representation at a national level are India’s 14 million Christians. Please pray that Christians throughout India would experience acceptance, and open opportunities as they look to share the Bible’s life words with those around them.
  • In February, we shared with you plans for a Pavement Project Worker Training Workshop in the city of Hyderabad. We’re delighted to report that eight new workers completed the training, and have received their preliminary certification. Please pray for them as they begin to counsel children using the Picture Me process.
  • The new Pavement Project work in Hyderabad is being coordinated by Serah Thomas. Please pray for her in this new role. She will be helping other workers as they gain experience of using Picture Me, monitoring the impact of the programme with the children who are counseled, and liaising with local VIVA and World Vision partners.

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Lifewords at work in Africa

Monday, June 15th, 2009

We’ve been encouraged this month by news of life words inspiring hearts and transforming lives across Africa. This week, join us in celebrating some of the highlights, and in praying for the ongoing work of Lifewords in Africa.

  • Last month Lifewords was involved in outreach programs in Myanza and the Western provinces of Kenya, distributing over 30,000 print  resources to churches and community based projects. Please pray that this work will bear fruit in Kenya, and that as people are given the opportunity to read the Bible’s life words for themselves, they will be encouraged, challenged, and drawn into encounter with God.
  • Give thanks for the continued popularity and impact of the Choose Life curriculum. In a recent training session in Nairobi, two teachers living with HIV/AIDS reported that their own openness and determination to Choose Freedom had helped them to build positive relationships with both students and colleagues, and enabled them to support children infected with the virus. Praise God for the stories of transformation we are hearing from both teachers and children. Pray for new partnerships and new opportunities for Choose Life to be introduced in schools across Africa.
  • Pavement Project co-ordinators Joanna and Clara have just returned from a visit to Kampala, Uganda, where they were able to oversee the training of three workers. Praise God for the success of this visit and for the encouragement shared. Pray for Rhona, Florence and Henry: that their training will enable them to lead the children they meet to encounter and be transformed by the Bible’s life words.

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Praying for children at risk

Monday, June 1st, 2009

This weekend, SGM Lifewords partners VIVA are holding a worldwide weekend of prayer for children at risk. This week, we join with thousands of others around the world in bringing these children before God.

  • VIVA say: Of an estimated 700 million primary-school-age children in the world today, around 121 million are not in school.  Most are children of ethnic minorities from remote regions, working children, children living in conflict zones, children affected by HIV/AIDS, or children with disabilities. Pray for those who have no opportunity to finish or even begin primary school.
  • VIVA say: Children should be free to grow to the full measure of their potential: spirit, soul and body. But those living in poverty face a daily struggle simply to survive.
    • Worldwide, 21 children die every minute from preventable diseases.
    • In Africa, the world’s poorest continent, 1 in 3 people are malnourished.
    • 80% of brain development happens in the womb. Providing proper care and support for pregnant women ensures the health and wellbeing of future generations.

Read Psalm 139 in the light of these statistics. Pray for justice for those growing up in vulnerable communities. Pray for wisdom for organisations working with children at risk as they seek to address some of these inequalities.

  • VIVA also report on the encouragement that it has been to see projects and ministries around the world connecting with one another, working in partnership, and raising a voice from the margins on behalf of children at risk. Give thanks for SGM Lifewords‘ partnership with VIVA. Praise God for all of the street workers and children who have been impacted by Pavement Project since the programme began. Pray that as we continue to work together, many more children will encounter the seeds of hope, possibility and change in the Bible’s life words.

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