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This fortnight's thi>e Helping communities rebuild their lives Issue 129
 
 


The 3 Rs: Rebuilding communities, Restoring lives, Renewing hope.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.

Helen Keller

Helen Keller was born in 1880 and was left deaf and blind as a result of a childhood illness when she was not even two years old. She faced many trials, traumas and tribulations living her life in a society that could not always cope with her needs. Despite this she became an articulate spokesperson for the dignity of all individuals.

Mother and Child

Sometimes it is necessary to stop, look and listen to other people and the messages they have for us. It is through listening to stories of hardship, devastation and despair that we can become motivated to make a difference.

This year alone people have had their lives disturbed in a landslide in the Philippines, floods in Bolivia and continued famine in countries of Africa. Last year will be remembered for the tragic aftermath of the December 26, 2004 earthquake and tsunami waves in Asia, as well as hurricanes in central and north America, and the October 8 earthquake in India and Pakistan. Famine struck after crops were destroyed by locusts in Niger, and in El Salvador a volcanic eruption was followed by Hurricane Stan. As the World Health Organisation (WHO) states, "from January to October 2005, over 97,400 people were killed in disasters globally."

Lady Digging

Despite this death and destruction, the human will is an amazingly powerful and resilient force to be reckoned with. It is often in times of great adversity that people are drawn together, drawn to be pillars of strength, surrogate families, and friends in time of need.

We really do live in a large global village and we should see that actions in our daily lives have the power to affect people on the other side of the world.

  • Every day people are faced with having to rebuild their lives after disasters of one form or another that destroy villages.
  • Every day people are trying to restore some form of normality back into their lives because of the uncertain political stability of their country.
  • Every day hope and faith are renewed when someone lends a helping hand, a listening ear or a financial donation.

Child Walking

In times of disaster, people need immediate help with food, water, clothing, shelter and medical supplies. People also need help to break the cycle of poverty and you help to make this happen when you support Caritas' community development projects. These projects are about helping people to help themselves break free from poverty.

This week's Project Compassion story comes from the Solomon Islands. The Solomons is a collection of about 1000 islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea. The "tensions" in the Solomons started in late 1998. Fighting broke out between the Indigenous people of Guadalcanal and the increasing number of recent arrivals from the neighbouring island of Malaita. The fighting was largely over land and jobs. The conflict intensified in 2000 and in 2003 the Solomons Government requested assistance from Australia. The Australian-led intervention force, RAMSI, arrived in the Solomons in July 2003.

Boy Raking

It is within this context that the need for trauma counselling was identified in the Solomons. An introductory trauma workshop was conducted with the support of Caritas Australia in October 2003 and training for Trauma Support Workers is continuing. Stephen Tom is a Trauma Support Supervisor. Stephen says "The Solomon Islands was a really nice place before the fighting, we are just trying to get things back like they were before."

Over the past three years about 300 people have benefited from trauma counselling in the Solomons. This is one way that you have helped to put Compassion into Action.		    

Teaching and Learning Activities

HSIE/ SOSE/ Religion

1) Go to www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion/
lentenStories3_secondary.htm and read the profile on Stephen Tom from the Solomon Islands. Then go to worldatlas.com/webimage/
countrys/au.htm and answer the following questions:

  • Obtain a map of the world and locate the Solomon Islands.
  • What is the distance of Guadalcanal to the city you live in?
  • List six countries which are found in Oceania.
  • What is the area of Oceania?
  • What percenatge of the earth's land does Oceania make up?
  • List the highest and lowest points giving their altitudes.
  • Give a brief description of Oceania.

2) Go to www.ausaid.gov.au/hottopics/topic.cfm?
ID=5673_7577_405_1971_2560 . Read the article and comment on how you would go about assisting local people to rebuild their lives and assist the environment to begin regeneration and rebirth.

3) The Philippines Landslide in central Philippines on February 18 2006 has seen the death of over 1600 people.

History

1) Read about ancient natural disasters and write a report as an archaeologist who has been working in the field and found a huge collection of preserved pots, containers and relics from the past which have been perfectly preserved.

www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2001/
helike.shtml

www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/
atlantis_01.shtml


Civics

1) Go to www.cafod.org.uk/var/storage/
original/application/phptdfAy7.pdf for worksheets about how you can be a good global citizen.

2) Go to www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/
mdgs/index.html and read about the Millennium Development Goals.

 

Creative and Practical Arts (CAPA)

1) Go to www.cia.gov/cia/publications/
factbook/geos/bp.html and read the history of the Solomon Islands. Design a poster or brochure advertising the islands.

Religious Education

1) Go to www.caritas.org.au/project
compassion/lentenStories3_secondary.htm and read the story of Stephen from the Solomon Islands.

  • What qualities would Stephen have that make him a success in his chosen profession?
  • How can the qualities of Stephen be likened to the qualities of Jesus?
  • Stephen helps people in need as did Jesus. Think about one story in the Bible when Jesus helped someone. Describe the story identifying how Jesus helped the person and what the person did in return.
    • Matthew 8:5
    • Matthew 17:15-21
    • Mark 1:30-32
    • Mark 2:2-12
    • Luke 6:17-35
    • John 5:1-15

 

2) Oscar Romero said "The Church cannot remain silent before injustice; to remain silent is to be an accomplice." Go to www.cafod.org.uk/resources/worship/
quotes_and_reflections/romero_pages/guiding_light and read about Romero's work. Pray the prayer as a class.

3) Go to www.millenniumcampaign.org/
site/pp.asp?c=grKVL2NLE&b=173899 and see what Australia is doing to help achieve the MDGs.

Mathematics

1) Go to www.cia.gov/cia/publications/
factbook/geos/bp.html#Econ and look at the facts and figures listed.

a) Draw a column graph showing the GDP composition by sector.

b) The population is 538,032. The labor force is 26,840. What percentage of the population are in the workforce?

c) Look at the figures for labor force by occupation and work out the exact number of people employed in each of the three sectors mentioned.

d) Answer the following:

  • What is the electricity production figure?
  • What is the electircity consumption figure?
  • What percentage of electricity produced is consumed?
  • What could the Islands do with unused electricity?

PDHPE

1) Go to www.abc.net.au/am/content/
2006/s1572077.htm and read about the Solomon Islands triathlon team.

  • Design a training program for the team of triathletes taking into consideration their limited facilities at home.
  • Design a two month training and diet program for the athletes when they arrive in Melbourne before the games.

English

1) Conflict resolution is necessary in many areas of life, including the school. Write a conflict
resolution policy which lists ten things that can be done by students when conflict in the 
classroom or playground arises.

 

Parish/Community/Social Justice Groups

1) Go to www.cafod.org.uk/fasttrack/
campaign/MPH/mph.htm and read about how you and your parish or group can help to reduce poverty around the world.

2) Write to Senator the Hon. Ian Campbell
Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Senator for Western Australia
Parliament House, Canberra, ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 7640
Fax: (02) 6273 6101
Email: senator.ian.campbell@aph.gov.au

To see what the Australian Government is doing in order to ensure that MDG 7 is being met. Go to www.un.org/millenniumgoals/index.asp# to read about MDG 7.

3) Encourage people in your Parish or group to join a Lenten prayer group. The following 
materials may be helpful.

http://www.crs.org/get_involved/advocacy/
grass_roots/prayer%20service%20
revised%2004%20%20bb.pdf

http://www.cafod.org.uk/resources/worship/
quotes_and_reflections/lent/facing_forward

http://www.cafod.org.uk/resources/worship/
quotes_and_reflections/lent/lent_year_c

4) The United Nations Website has launched the World Bank Youth Essay Contest. Are you 18-25 years old? Do you influence decision making or solve problems in your community?
Write an essay about what you do, and you could win $5,000. Deadline: 2 April 2006. Go to  www.essaycompetition.org/ to read about it.

5) See what is happening in Australia to help achieve the MDGs and find out how you can help make a difference in the world by visiting www.millenniumcampaign.org/
site/pp.asp?c=grKVL2NLE&b=221304

6) Dates in March to remember:

  • 21  - Week of solidarity with the peoples struggling against racism and racial discrimination
  • 22  - World Day for Water (Theme is Water and Culture)
  • 24  - Anniversary of the Assassination of Oscar Romero in 1980
  • 25 - The Annunciation

 

  
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