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Tag: Children and Youth Development

‘SHARE’ 247 – The AES Girls We Encountered in Nepal

Editor’s Note At the end of November just past, CEDAR’s staff members went to Nepal to visit several partners. During the trip, apart from showing our care for our partners, we also monitored the progress of the projects, hoping that the projects would have better results. In ‘Focus’ of this issue, is the sharing from our staff about the new project ‘Prevention of Trafficking and Exploitation of Women and Girls in the Adult Entertainment Sector‘ in Nepal and the situation of the beneficiaries. In ‘Back to the Bible’, we can think about the relationship between climate change and developing countries and how we in rich areas can lend a helping hand from the Book of Jeremiah. In ‘Learn

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Rayak Learning Centres

Project Name Rayak Learning Centre Project Location Lebanon Project Natures Children and Youth Development Project Objectives Provide high-quality education for Syrian refugee children to prevent them from dropping out of school. Beneficiaries Syrian refugee children aged 5 to 15 who are unable to access formal education or are interested in learning at the education centre. No. of Beneficiaries Approx. 150 Key Activities Provide accredited basic Arabic, English, science, and maths courses, along with physical education, music, or craft activities to prepare them for future entry into formal schools. Offer trauma-informed education for both students and teachers at the education centre. Supply school uniforms, learning materials, and healthy snacks. Organise summer activities such as day camps, sports competitions, craft

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Community Engagement Program for Sustainable Education

Project Name Community Engagement Program for Sustainable Education Project Location Bangladesh Project Natures Children and Youth Development Project Objectives To improve access to education for underprivileged children and build the capacity of local communities to take an active part in managing and operating sustainable quality and holistic education program. Beneficiaries Students from poor and disadvantaged families in urban slums and rural areas Teachers School management committee members Local church representatives No. of Beneficiaries 899 Key Activities Facilitate the transition of 10 primary schools across six districts in central and southern Bangladesh to sustainable local church and community management. Organise training on networking and fundraising strategies for teachers, church partners, and school management committee members, and coordinate community-level fundraising

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Gender Equity and Child Rights Promotion

Project Name Gender Equity and Child Rights Promotion Project Location Bangladesh Project Natures Children and Youth Development Advocacy Project Objectives Reduce gender-based violence (GBV) in the community by empowering females and community support system Promote the rights and protection of children and children with disability Beneficiaries Adolescent and youth boys and girls, adults and children with disability from poor families (over 75% are female) No. of Beneficiaries Approx. 2,715 Key Activities Organise training for peer educators and adolescent and youth girls and boys group leaders with lessons on basic life skills, including on positive and supportive gender roles. Support People Institutions (PIs) as local community leaders to plan, set up and manage a community training centre to provide

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Integral Development & Empowerment for Action (IDEA) in Rukum East

Project Name Integral Development & Empowerment for Action (IDEA) in Rukum East Project Location Nepal Project Natures Church and Community Mobilisation Children and Youth Development Project Objectives Equip local churches to work together in practising Integral Mission, bringing renewal and transformation to the community through active programme implementation and advocacy. Beneficiaries Nepali church members Pastors Community youth No. of Beneficiaries Approx. 930 Key Activities Conduct training, workshops, exchange visits, and experience-sharing activities to introduce the fundamental missional principles of Integral Mission to 42 local churches. Nurture 34 facilitators to guide 18 churches in identifying their own gifts, making good use of local resources, and applying the missional principles of Integral Mission through concrete actions to respond to community

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‘I don’t want to miss out on studying!’ said the Syrian children.

Written by Edward Lai (Senior Communications Officer) ‘I want to become a doctor when I grow up,’ said Bayane. ‘I really enjoy coming to the learning centre. Whenever I am here, I feel extremely happy. I never want to miss out on my daily study sessions at the centre!’ said Bayane, a 14-year-old Syrian refugee. In Lebanon, 90% of Syrian refugee families live in extreme poverty, a condition characterised by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, shelter, sanitation facilities. Refugee families are already under considerable financial strain. In order to survive, they usually resort to negative coping mechanisms, including child labour. Since 2019, CEDAR has been supporting the operation of two learning centres, ran by our

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Fortunate, Unfortunate, or Called? – Children in God’s Eyes

Written by Dr. Sarah Shea (Assistant Professor of Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary, Vice President of Asia Academy of Practical Theology) No one can choose their mother; we are accustomed to calling children of wealthy families lucky and those born amidst poverty, war, disasters, or disability unlucky. Is this interpretation of children precise and comprehensive? We suggest the contrary, that children are the called ones. Based on the Scripture, children are not arbitrarily manipulated by destiny, instead, they are the actors endowed with different missions in families and communities (Bunge 2001). In the Bible, the vocations of children can be varied, spanning from respecting their parents, loving the Lord, studying and practising the Word, and even teaching adults

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THE LETTER FROM CEDAR | JAN 2022

Dear supporters, Year 2021 has gone, but we are still living under the influence of COVID-19. Life in the pandemic hasn’t yet changed. Additionally, the world is still very volatile in economy, society, and governance. We ought to keep changing our mentality to face daily challenges at different degrees, so that we can live positively with people around. One of my family members passed away last year. I understand how helpless and painful families could be when they can’t stay with and care for their loved ones in quarantine. By the time of writing this letter, over 5.2 million people died of COVID-19. We can imagine the enormous pain and regret their families are bearing. The COVID-19 tragedy

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‘Go on Fighting!’ Interview with CEDAR’s Acting Chief Executive

Written by: Edward Lai  (Senior Communications Officer) When she was young, she walked through the northwest, southwest and central plains of China. She used to climb mountains and ridges; not to visit the most beautiful lakes and mountains or participate in cross-country competitions. She went to respond to the clear voice in her heart – to serve the poorest of the poor. For the past 30 years, she has never doubted or denied this voice. When she is exhausted, she is strengthened by her aspiration and carried on. She often says that she is just an ordinary woman, but the Lord lets her see the plight of the poor; this cannot be overlooked. Since last May, she has

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Children Ministry – Commitment and Collaboration

Written by Clara Chiu (Head of Partnership Development) In order to transform the society, we first have to give children a chance to grow up healthily so that they can become leaders of good character who obey God’s will. We provide basic life and human rights protection, learning opportunities and spiritual courses for poor children in many countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. In the previous year, CEDAR supported 14 partners and carried out a total of 17 children and youth development projects. Among them, we have a 15-year-long project in Zimbabwe to empower children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in the suburbs of the local city of Mutare. In the first phase of the project

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