Not many Kiwi young ’uns can easily jet set off to a third world country and work with the worlds poor. While they may understand the extreme needs in such countries, for them to feel they can do anything down here in lil’ ol’ NZ is somewhat of a challenge.
Of course as many of you are aware, there are things that they can do to really make a difference – it’s just a matter of actually doing them!! Two awesome examples of this come out of World Vision, a Christian International Aid and Development Agency.
All of us have heard of it, most of us have done it, and some of us may enjoy it! Yep it’s the Famine and we’re into its 27th year in NZ and still going strong. This is a great thing to do as a youth group as it gives young people a chance to take some action against things like child labour, the situation for street children, the plight of AIDS orphans and providing emergency aid. They get to learn about such things, whilst having a chance to do something positive about it.
It’s easy to get involved and WV provides you with a Church materials manual full of great ideas as well as all the standard Famine things like books, organiser packs and educational materials.
Some ideas, which have been tried by crazy Presbyterians, are: IDEA#1 Creating your own refugee villages (cardboard boxes) IDEA#2 Sleepovers/all nighters IDEA#3 Staying on an island for a weekend where they have only the basics of life IDEA#4 Waking the youth up at some unearthly hour and making them march to another camp site IDEA#5 Getting them to eat only rice and water, not talking or going blindfolded for the weekend.
The 2004 Famine is set for 19-21 March, so put it in your calenders now!
If your youth group really wants to make an ongoing commitment to the kinds of programmes the Famine supports, then GAP is probably for them. GAP stands for Global Aid Partners.
The money raised through GAP goes directly towards the following areas: Urban Youth, Child Labour, HIV/AIDS & Emergencies
This is a pretty broad spectrum, but for a variety of reasons these are becoming huge needs. It’s a minimum of $10 a month, so costs around one cup of coffee a week. This is something that more and more young people want to be involved in.
If you think some of your youth might be keen to get involved, then call World Vision on 0800 800 776
Coffee, after oil, is the 2nd most traded commodity in the world. 3000 cups of coffee are consumed every second. Yet farmers in developing countries who grow the coffee are facing poverty and starvation. They are lucky to receive 3% of the final price we pay for our cup. Large transnational companies who roast and market coffee enjoy the rest. You are not a coffee famer but what you do can make a difference to those who are…
Be part of the solution, buy Fair Trade coffee from your local trade aid shop
Youth topics is a poster resource aimed at youth workers to use with people aged 12-18 years which is sent out three times a year and raises awareness about global issues. On the reverse of the posters are games, exercises, discussion starters, quizzes, action campaigns and worship material related to the issue. Previous topics include refugees, child labour, justice-do it!, and of course, fair trade coffee…
Christian World Service is the Development, Justice and Aid Programme of the Conference of Churches in Aotearoa New Zealand. The overall work of Christian World Service includes support for long-term development programmes, responding to emergencies, education and information, and advocacy and campaigning.
If you want to receive ‘Youth Topics’ fill out the postcard in this mailout and send it back to CWS or contact the youth team on 03 366 9274 or youth@cws.org.nz