Posts by worldrelief
World Relief Malawi’s New Country Director is a Role Model for Girls
On an early morning in April, World Relief Malawi staff gathered together in Lilongwe for a socially distanced outdoor ceremony. Staff from abroad called in virtually. There was prayer, there were speeches, there was commissioning. The purpose? To welcome Matilda Matitha as the new World Relief Malawi Country Director.
Matilda is one of three women who have been promoted to Country Director in their respective countries over the last year. I recently connected with Matilda over Zoom where we talked about gardening, our favorite places to go for walks and her passion to empower women and girls throughout Malawi.
“Looking around Malawi, you will find that there are very few women in leadership positions,” Matilda said. “So when this message came to me — Matilda apply! Matilda apply! — I thought, ‘I have to so that I can be a mouthpiece for women. I can be an inspiration to young girls who are struggling out there in the village.’”
I am excited to share part of our conversation with you today, and I hope you are as inspired as I was by Matilda’s vision for addressing extreme poverty, child development and gender issues while also being a role model for girls in Malawi and beyond.
Thanks for being here today, Matilda. I’m excited to chat with you today.
Yes, thank you.
First, how long have you been working at World Relief, and what did you do before you became Country Director?
I joined World Relief in January 2017 as a project manager for the scaling up nutrition project. Before joining World Relief I worked with different international organizations coordinating and managing nutrition projects — both in emergency contexts where we distribute food to malnourished children as well as in development contexts where we roll out health education and promotional health messages. I have always enjoyed working with children in nutrition work.
What prompted you to take on the leadership role of Country Director?
First and foremost I applied to this position is because I felt God was calling me to lead this organization. To be frank, I never dreamt to be here — to be a country director. When the job was first posted, I did not apply. But then I got encouragement from a lot of people. They said, Matilda, I think you would be a good leader, you should apply. So I said, I think God wants me to do more than just be a Manager. So, it was more of answering his call.
But then I also felt it was time, because looking around Malawi, you will find that there are very few women in leadership positions. Because of social norms in Malawi, already parents prefer a boy to go to school and a girl to marry. Especially when resources are minimal, parents think that after a girl marries, the husband will also be able to take care of them. So girls are already disadvantaged at a very young stage.
Recent studies have shown that only 3% of young Malawian women have a degree. So out of that, it means that there are very few women in leadership positions. So when this message came to me — Matilda apply! Matilda apply! I thought I have to so that I can be a mouthpiece for women. I can be an inspiration to young girls who are struggling out there in the village. I can also encourage women. So I said, “Let me take the challenge!”
What are some of the goals and dreams you have for the communities we serve in Malawi?
I want to have a strong church. I would really like to strengthen our Integral Mission work so that we have a church that is able to respond to God’s call. God wants the church to help people who are marginalized, people who are sick and the poor. That is the role of the church so if we can strengthen the church and help the church understand its role, then whatever we are doing we will find that a strong church is our foundation — that is my dream, to expand what we are doing.
What are one or two of the biggest challenges you hope to address in Malawi?
In Malawi, there is a lot of poverty. If we could do more sustainable economic empowerment, we would be able to get our communities out of deep poverty. If we are able to move them even just a little bit, most of the issues that we are struggling with, we can find solutions — like issues of education, health, nutrition. These issues occur because people are living entirely in poverty.
The other issue is, since I was in college, I have had a passion for the girl child. As an undergraduate, I went on a project where we were mobilizing girls to go back to school. So now I would love to incorporate gender ministry into whatever we are doing. I would also like to see more gender ministry within the staff and the churches so that issues of gender-based violence that are very rampant in Malawi would be reduced.
How are World Relief’s programs addressing these challenges?
Some of our programs, like Families for Life, are already addressing these issues. If we have a strong family, most of the issues we are struggling with in terms of gender can also be resolved. Programs like FFL need to be scaled up, as do programs like child development where boys and girls are empowered and taught about what is right. Sometimes things are happening to girls because the girls don’t know that what’s happening to them isn’t right. So, growing our child development program would be very good. In terms of economic empowerment, we can look at the Savings for Life program. We need to scale up these projects because we have seen a lot of success and heard a lot of good stories. But we need more resources to be able to scale these innovations.
What has been your favorite thing about working at World Relief so far?
The spiritual component has benefited me quite a lot as a person. When I first joined World Relief, I was a Christian. But some things I would not do as a Christian. But now being in World Relief, there is a component of spiritual formation where we share the word of God, we have prayer and fasting. That has helped me grow in my spirituality. I have been able to exercise some of the spiritual disciplines like prayer and fasting.
Another thing is in the past, I was not able to share the word of God. Every time someone would say, “Matilda share the word of God,” I would shy away. But now at World Relief, we share the word of God every day. I’m able to share it with my children and my husband. Every night at eight o’clock we sit and read the Bible and share the word of God. And also in terms of giving. I do a lot of giving and charity work — things that I could not do before World Relief. I pay school fees for two girls. So these are all fruit of being a member of the World Relief staff.
What advice would you give to other women who are leading in the community development areas?
We need to raise the banner for gender equity high, and very high. We need to be advocates for others, to share our story. We now have an opportunity to influence the environment. In some institutions, they don’t have policies in gender equality, while in other organizations policies are there, but they are not reinforced. As women working in development, we have a role to ensure that the working environment is enabling for women and girls who are fighting to get better, to be involved in what’s happening.
We also need to do more in terms of sensitizing the community at large. The government can create an enabling environment, but services are sometimes not accessible because of social norms. We need to sensitize parents that girls are not for marriage. Girls should also be encouraged to use their God-given skills and talents.
And also… the women and girls should be empowered to fight for their goals and their dreams. Like for myself. It was not easy to get here. I had to fight for my goals and fight for my skills. Women and girls should not just give in to social pressure. Social pressure will always be there, but we need to speak out and encourage these women, and as role models, we just need to be there for them and share our stories with them so they will continue to fight and know that it is possible to win.
Sometimes when you are doing something that is opposite to what society is expecting, you are seen as abnormal. We need to continue to show both men and women that we can work together and make our country, Malawi, a better place.
Can you share one story from your work that has encouraged you?
I remember this mother who had twins. We were working to strengthen referrals between community members and health facilities, to ensure that mothers were able to go to the health center in a timely manner.
We created Care Groups and they were trained on how to screen children for childhood illnesses and when they might need a referral. Often, people in Malawi don’t believe malnutrition is due to lack of food. They still think it’s some taboos — like maybe it’s because the husband is promiscuous. That’s the belief out there and one of the things we need to address.
When I met this mother, one of her children, at 16 months, could not attain milestones such as crawling because she was underweight. The malnutrition may have been worse because there were twins, so maybe she was struggling to feed both of them. We referred them to the health facility where the child received Plumpy’Nut for a month. After that, they came back to the community and we continued counseling the mother on how to feed both of her babies. We also assisted her with livestock so that she could raise chickens and take the eggs to feed the babies. And we encouraged them to have a backyard garden so they could use the vegetables to feed the babies.
This past February, we followed up with these kids. They are four years old now, and it is very exciting to see them. When I look at that baby, it brings a lot of joy inside me. If it hadn’t been for World Relief, I don’t think she would have been alive. Many children in Malawi don’t reach their 5th birthday, and the reasons they are dying are preventable. Our volunteers are doing a very good job identifying these women and encouraging them to go to the health facility for assistance. That’s one thing I like about doing nutrition projects — when your programming is good you can immediately see results, saving the lives of children.
We are so grateful for Matilda and all of our Country and U.S. Office Directors. Please join us by praying for them — that God would give them wisdom as they lead and for continued strength and unity among their teams. And pray that God would bring their vision for community transformation to fruition.
Rachel Clair serves as a Content Writer at World Relief. With a background in creative writing and children’s ministry, she is passionate about helping people of all ages think creatively and love God with their hearts, souls and minds.
A Mother’s Love
This Mother’s Day, we want to wish all of our mothers, in all stages of life, a Happy Mother’s Day. We know that motherhood is a blessing, but it’s not without its trials. For many of our families, mothers have made immense sacrifices for their children. Today, we honor and thank you for all that you do.
This story originally appeared on the World Relief Memphis blog.
Seeta is a mother of four. When her family left Afghanistan, however, only three children boarded the plane with her and her husband, Noor.
Aysha, their youngest daughter at less than a year old, was forced to stay behind as her family left in search of safety in America. Having served the U.S. military as a journalist, Noor and his family could no longer stay in Afghanistan for fear of retaliation from the Taliban.
“I was working with the U.S. military as a journalist, and she was working with USAID (United State Agency for International Development) and United Nations, so it was very dangerous for us because the Taliban did not accept people who worked for foreigners,” Noor explained. “We were not safe in our country, so in order to seek safety we came here.”
Consequently, Noor and his family were offered Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) from the U.S. government as a way to not only thank them but also to protect them.
But at the time the visa paperwork was issued, Aysha had not been born. As a result, her paperwork was filed separately, and Noor and Seeta were forced to leave her behind with other family members.
“It was a hard time because we didn’t have any choice,” said Noor, who recently found work with Amazon. “We thought if we lost that chance, we wouldn’t find it again. Because of that, we left our baby there. We came here. If we had cancelled our visas, maybe we wouldn’t have been able to get [them] back.”
Seeta and her husband arrived in Memphis in October 2020 with their eight-, six- and five-year-old children. It wasn’t until two months after their arrival that they received news about Aysha’s visa. But, in order for her to come to the U.S., Seeta would have to risk going to Afghanistan and not being able to return to the U.S. because her green card had not arrived.
Determined to be reunited with her daughter, Seeta and her World Relief Good Neighbor Team began looking for a way to make it possible alongside World Relief Memphis staff. After speaking with the State Department, they discovered that her green card had been misplaced, but that she could go to Afghanistan with her current visa knowing that it was coming.
Yet, when she arrived in Afghanistan, she was greeted by a baby who didn’t recognize her. The months apart had created distance, but Seeta was patient.
“It was emotional, and she didn’t want to come with me for one day or night, like maybe she [had] forgotten me,” Seeta said. “Then she realized who I am, and now she’s not leaving me for one minute.”
Finally, Seeta brought her daughter home. Her family was together, and they could begin to rebuild their lives in safety.
Today, she works for Shelby County, helping connect others in her community with the resources they need in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. After advocating for women and children’s safety in Afghanistan for many years, Seeta now seeks to empower women in the workplace.
Likewise, Aysha is flourishing.
“She’s very happy with us now. When she came, she was sad and keeping calm,” Noor said. “But now, she’s come back better than ever and is very active.”
When asked if they had hopes and dreams for the future, Noor and Seeta immediately responded.
“For sure, that’s why we are here. We are here because of these. We try to do all our best for all our children.”
Bailey Clark serves as the Communications Coordinator for World Relief Memphis. With a background in journalism and advertising, she is passionate about storytelling and its power to make a difference.
Biden Boosts U.S. Refugee Cap to 62,500
Bloomberg
President Joe Biden is quadrupling the limit set by former President Donald Trump on the number of refugees who can enter the U.S. by the end of September. Bloomberg’s Jordan Fabian and World Relief’s Jenny Yang discuss the move on “Quicktake Charge.”
World Relief Applauds Biden Administration’s Renewed Commitment to a Presidential Determination of 62,500 for Refugee Resettlement in FY2021
May 3, 2021
CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734
BALTIMORE – Today, President Biden raised the refugee ceiling for FY2021 to 62,500, following through on an earlier commitment to restore U.S. leadership on refugee protection and leaving behind discriminatory restrictions that effectively excluded many vulnerable refugees from being able to be resettled to the United States. This change comes after repeated calls from World Relief, volunteers and churches, the refugee advocacy community and refugees themselves, that urged the president to honor his previous commitments to refugees to raise the refugee ceiling.
“We are relieved and encouraged to see a renewed commitment to keep the United States a beacon of light for those fleeing persecution,” commented World Relief President Scott Arbeiter. “Without this key step, many refugee families would have continued to be kept apart and many vulnerable refugees unable to find protection here. We thank President Biden and encourage his ongoing support for refugees.”
In his first days in office, President Biden indicated that he would set the refugee admissions goal at 62,500 for the remainder of FY2021, paving the way for a goal of 125,000 for FY2022 – the number on which President Biden campaigned.
“At a time when the world is facing the most significant displacement crisis since WWII, the need for the U.S. to welcome and care for refugees has never been more urgent,” added Jenny Yang, senior vice president of advocacy and policy for World Relief. “This new Presidential Determination is a necessary first action, and many refugees’ lives will be changed as a result of the President’s actions today. There is much work still to be done to rebuild the resettlement infrastructure and restore refugee processing, but we look forward to partnering with the Biden-Harris administration on this important work.”
To download a PDF version of this press release, click here.
About World Relief
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems – disasters, extreme poverty, violence, oppression, and mass displacement. For over 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and community leaders in the U.S. and abroad to bring hope, healing and transformation to the most vulnerable.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.
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Why We Speak
“The ultimate aim of advocacy is to demonstrate the good news of the coming of the Kingdom of God.” – Jenny Yang, World Relief
Throughout Scripture, God moves for justice. Time and again, through ordinary people, God brings his vision of justice to a broken world, taking action on behalf of the most vulnerable. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. (Deuteronomy 10:18)
At World Relief, we believe it’s our call as Christians to speak with those who are often oppressed or overlooked in order to address the underlying causes of injustice and oppression. Speaking out can influence the policies and practices of people in power, and we believe it can demonstrate the good news of the coming of the Kingdom of God.
The injustices of our world and this time demand action. And though speaking out isn’t always easy, we believe we must.
We must speak out because:
- As a nation, we have chosen to be blind to the suffering of those seeking refuge from violence and persecution, or worse, scapegoated them
We must speak out because:
- Political ideology and religious identity have become inextricably conflated and truth has become a matter of subjective preference
We must speak out because:
- Climate change is ravaging more and more places in the world, forcing more than 20 million people a year from their homes by sudden onset weather events
We must speak out because:
- Systemic racism and the denial of equity and opportunity has been blatantly laid bare for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.
We must speak out because:
- Patriarchal attitudes and the acceptance of gender injustice is still far too prevalent both here in the U.S. and around the world.
Above all, we speak out because to NOT do so, would be to abdicate our role as followers of Jesus.
As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority.”
We, the Church, speak out to guide, to highlight critical issues, to influence public attitudes and enact or implement laws and policies.
Will you join us by raising your voices with courage and conviction today?
Francesca Albano currently serves as Director of Branded Content at World Relief. With a background in Cultural Anthropology and a graduate degree in Strategic Marketing Communications, she connects her interests in societal studies and global cultures with her training in brand strategy and storytelling. Francesca is especially passionate about grassroots community development and the treatment and advancement of women and girls around the world.
World Relief Applauds Progress in President Biden’s First 100 Days and Calls For Continued Action to Strengthen U.S. Humanitarian Leadership and Broader Support for Those Fleeing Persecution
April 29, 2021
CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734
BALTIMORE – As President Biden completes his first 100 days in office, World Relief commends his administration’s early actions around some of the most pressing challenges we face today: addressing racially-motivated violence, combating gender-based violence globally, tackling climate change, expanding refugee resettlement, and pushing for broad immigration reform. Yet while World Relief remains hopeful that Biden will continue to respond to these critical areas, we urge the president to continue to show leadership in other key arenas as well.
Since taking office, President Biden has issued several executive orders designed to help the United States create a more humane asylum system, promote immigrant integration and inclusion and reunite families separated at the border. The administration has also committed to processing unaccompanied children under the terms of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act and, despite logistical challenges, has made significant progress to ensure that such children are protected and cared for under the terms of the law. And the administration has taken important steps to combat sexual and gender-based violence globally. World Relief applauds the actions that Biden has taken thus far.
We also urge President Biden to strengthen U.S. refugee and asylum systems in the United States while leading globally to combat extreme poverty and support local communities engaged in relief and development. At the end of February, the President released a revised Presidential Determination that would raise the refugee ceiling to 62,500 for the current fiscal year, but the President has yet to officially raise the ceiling. In addition, while the President has taken the steps necessary to restore a functional asylum process for adults who arrive along the U.S.-Mexico border, the U.S. continues to use Title 42 to expel asylum seekers from the country. World Relief calls on President Biden to raise the refugee ceiling and strengthen our asylum protections for adults and families, not just unaccompanied minors.
In addition, while the President’s memo on April 16th expanded the categories of eligibility for refugees resettled to the U.S., World Relief urges the White House to continue to make critical changes in the U.S. refugee admissions program to increase processing capacities for refugees, streamline inefficiencies in the system and provide more robust resources for refugees before and after their arrival to the U.S.
“President Biden campaigned on the promise to restore our refugee resettlement program and restore American leadership on humanitarian issues,” said Scott Arbeiter, President of World Relief. “So far, he has taken steps in that direction, but much of his promise remains unfulfilled. In particular, President Biden can make good on his promise by immediately signing a Presidential Determination on refugee admissions of 62,500 refugees for the remainder of the 2021 fiscal year.”
Additionally, World Relief supports the Biden administration’s broad framework for immigration reform, which led to introduction of the United States Citizenship Act in February. This bill provides an 8-year path to citizenship for millions of Americans without legal status, outlines an expedited path to citizenship for Dreamers and others who have already been residing lawfully in the U.S. and proposes several other vital changes to our immigration system.
“Immigration is a complex policy issue that can ultimately only be resolved through bipartisan congressional action,” said World Relief Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy Jenny Yang. “We welcome President Biden’s efforts to address these challenges in a holistic way, including addressing the root causes that fuel migration to the U.S. and an earned path to citizenship for the undocumented. We now need him to play a proactive role in forging the bipartisan consensus necessary to actually pass reforms, with Dreamers as a particularly urgent priority.”
Globally, World Relief also applauds the Biden administration’s substantial commitments to combat sexual and gender-based violence, including his Executive Order on Establishment of the White House Gender Policy Council which would “advance gender equality globally through diplomacy, development, trade, and defense; implement U.S. government commitments to women’s involvement in peace and security efforts; and recognize the needs and contributions of women and girls in humanitarian crises and in development assistance.” These are all key recommendations World Relief made to the White House during the transition and throughout the early months of the administration.
U.S. leadership is critically needed to lead on global health efforts and combat extreme poverty. The U.S. government, and other governments worldwide, have promoted partnerships with faith-based organizations to improve social and health outcomes. Policies and procedures that include faith-based organizations as stakeholders need to shift from national level dialogues to include district and local actors, and the actual areas of faith-based difference must be understood by governments and donors so that there are not critical gaps in programs. A key example of this is World Relief’s work to meet the pressing humanitarian needs spilling out of the Tigray region in Ethiopia into neighboring Sudan. The established partnerships World Relief has developed on the ground prove the importance of engaging local and community actors to stabilize regions experiencing the effects of conflict.
World Relief also calls on the Biden administration to engage in diplomatic efforts to promote peace in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other areas experiencing conflict. U.S. leadership in partnership with local communities and faith-based organizations is critically needed to address the ongoing, complex humanitarian crises that are unfolding in many areas around the world.
As President Biden leads efforts to strengthen U.S. refugee and asylum systems, respond to international humanitarian disasters, combat COVID-19 and other diseases, reduce gender-based violence and address climate change, World Relief stands ready to partner with him and his administration to pursue these goals in partnership with local communities in the U.S. and around the world.
To learn more about World Relief’s programs around the world, visit worldrelief.org.
To download a PDF version of this press release, click here.
About World Relief
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems – disasters, extreme poverty, violence, oppression, and mass displacement. For over 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and community leaders in the U.S. and abroad to bring hope, healing and transformation to the most vulnerable.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.
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Pray for These People If You Care about the Plight of Refugees
Image: T. Albinson / IAFR Asylum seeker camp near Athens // Christianity Today
By Mark Finney, Director of World Relief Spokane
In prayer, we can transform God’s church into a place of friendship for the foreigner, for the oppressed and for our global neighbors in need. Today and every day I pray for the refugees I’ve met and heard. And I think it’s important to share my prayer with the world.
Mother’s Day Gift Guide
Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Today, we’re recommending gifts from three of our favorite shops and books from three of our favorite women authors. Inspire the moms in your life and let them know they’re loved by giving them a gift from our Mother’s Day gift guide!
Anchor of Hope Box
Give the gift that keeps on giving with an Anchor of Hope subscription box or shop their online market for jewelry, household items and more. Anchor of Hope employs survivors of human trafficking, refugees and others who are in vulnerable situations, bringing hope and dignity to those who have experienced poverty and injustice.
prettyinside.
Pamper the moms in your life with a gift box of face masks from PrettyInside!
PrettyInside is built on the belief that all women are beautiful, that they are created in the image of God and that beauty is more than skin deep. Empower the women in your life to take a look in the mirror and channel their inner strength, courage and beauty. All PrettyInside products are sourced with the best plant-based ingredients for your skin. The packaging is 100% recyclable, and a portion of all sales go to support refugee women through the work of World Relief.
InSenseUSA
This collection of candles, soaps and bath bombs are sure to make the moms in your life feel loved and cared for. Shopowner Al Alsaadi and his parents fled their home in Iraq several years ago and were eventually resettled in the U.S. They got connected with World Relief, and with hard work and a resilient spirit, they rebuilt their life in the Chicago suburbs. Al is now a design engineer, part-time college professor and small business owner. All items are crafted with love and handmade for you.
For the people in your life who need to indulge in a little self-care, InSenseUSA is your go-to shop. This collection of candles, soaps and bath bombs are all handcrafted with love in Wheaton, Illinois.
All Along You Were Blooming: Thoughts for Boundless Living by Morgan Harper Nichols
Invite the moms in your life to embrace the beauty of living fully, right here, right now with this beautiful collection of art and poetry. In this book, Morgan Harper Nichols reminds you that light will always find you, even when the sun sets and you sit awaiting the dawn. This is a book to nourish your soul.
The Very Good Gospel by Lisa Sharon Harper
It’s easy to forget that in the beginning, God once declared everything created as very good. For the mom who needs a fresh encounter with a familiar passage (Genesis 1), this book from Lisa Sharon Harper guides readers to discover God’s desire to restore all broken relationships and God’s vision of wholeness for a fragmented world and peace for a hurting soul.
Chasing Vines by Beth Moore
All of life’s concerns — both the delights and the trials — matter to God. In this book, Beth Moore takes readers on a journey to study biblical teachings on the Vine, vineyards, vine dressing and fruitfulness. Give this book to remind the moms in your life that God can use anything to produce fruitfulness and flourishing.
Rachel Clair serves as a Content Writer at World Relief. With a background in creative writing and children’s ministry, she is passionate about helping people of all ages think creatively and love God with their hearts, souls and minds.
World Relief Applauds Bipartisan Efforts to Bring Commonsense Solutions to the Immigration System
April 23, 2021
CONTACT:
Lauren Carl
lauren.carl@pinkston.co
(703) 388-6734
BALTIMORE – Yesterday, Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Representatives Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX) introduced the Bipartisan Border Solutions Act in both chambers of Congress. World Relief applauds this necessary first step toward resolving longstanding and recurring challenges along the U.S.–Mexico border and affirms that bipartisan legislation is critical for advancing solutions that would protect vulnerable children, women and men at the border and beyond.
“In a political climate that is all too often divisive, it’s encouraging to see both parties work together to introduce bipartisan legislation that would provide much needed resources and processes to help those seeking asylum in the United States,” said World Relief President Scott Arbeiter. “World Relief hopes to see more conversations take place across party lines that are centered on protecting those fleeing persecution – particularly children – and ensuring efficient and effective processes are in place for fair and timely hearings.”
The bill’s introduction shows that there is indeed a broad range of support for commonsense, bipartisan immigration reform. World Relief acknowledges that the legislation is a stepping stone toward a permanent solution for Dreamers, agricultural workers, long-term TPS recipients and others who are vital members of our communities in need of access to permanent legal status and eventual citizenship.
“Yesterday’s bipartisan cooperation is a prime example of the type of model members of Congress must strive for if they are to lay firm groundwork for broader immigration reforms,” said Matthew Soerens, World Relief U.S. director of church mobilization and advocacy. “World Relief believes every person is made in the image of God and longs to see dignity restored within marginalized and underserved communities. Ultimately, what’s happening at our nation’s border is not a partisan issue – it’s a moral matter of defending those in need of protection while maintaining legal order. Democrats and Republicans must work together to achieve meaningful change in all areas where reform is needed.”
As bills continue to be introduced in the coming months and years, we recognize that Christians have a unique opportunity to call on our elected officials in Congress to ensure immigrants are not dehumanized and life-affirming principles are taken into consideration when forming legislation. World Relief calls on our Senators to approach immigration reform with passion over fear and urge them to work together to develop workable solutions that transcend mere rhetoric and result in true transformation.
To download a PDF version of this press release, click here.
About World Relief
World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization that brings sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems – disasters, extreme poverty, violence, oppression, and mass displacement. For over 75 years, we’ve partnered with churches and community leaders in the U.S. and abroad to bring hope, healing and transformation to the most vulnerable.
Learn more at worldrelief.org.
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Creation Care in Haiti
A global problem
While creation care is one of the core tenets of Christian witness, there is mounting evidence that we, as humans, are failing badly in the responsibility of stewarding our global home. Climates are changing, storms are happening more frequently with more intensity, systems that were once reliable for livelihoods are now becoming unpredictable, and the amount of accumulated waste continues to increase:
- Every year, an estimated 11.2 billion tons of solid waste is collected worldwide, and the decay of the organic proportion of solid waste is contributing about 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
- Only 9% of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled. About 12% has been incinerated, while the rest — 79% — has accumulated in landfills, dumps or the natural environment.
- Around the world, 1 million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute, while up to 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are used worldwide every year and generally thrown away after only one use.
Though these statistics are staggering, there is so much we can do individually and collectively to prevent a wasting of the environment. World Relief is committed to working toward environmental stewardship and climate-sensitive policies both internally and throughout our programs around the world.
A Collective Commitment
In October 2020, we began a partnership project called Environment Plus (EN+) with Tearfund UK and Arris Desrosiers, a Haitian waste management company, to provide sustainable solid waste management services in Carrefour, a metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince.
“When we were traveling out to our programs, we would see densely populated areas right outside the city that had become like dumpsites,” recalled Athanase Ndayisaba, World Relief Haiti’s Country Director. “All kinds of domestic waste from homes in the city was just being dumped outside in these communities. It was filthy and it creates huge issues for the general health of the population.
“Children in this area were playing in trash, and waste creates disease — this concerned us.”
Something needed to be done, so World Relief engaged with partners like Arris Desrosiers, who not only seeks to manage waste but uses recyclable waste to make school backpacks and fertilizer that can be sold to farmers in the area, to design the project.”
Together, we are raising awareness about the importance of reducing waste dumped into oceans, improving environmental conditions for those living in poverty and creating income-generating activities for local Haitians.
A key component of this initiative is the community mobilization of local churches and pastors. We are developing a biblically-based training and curriculum that we will use to train church leaders and volunteers of the value and importance of creation care. These leaders are essential in spreading the word about best waste management practices and the importance of creation care in their communities while supporting the waste collection process.
Currently, we have 30 local churches involved, and they are excited to help. “Church leaders recently spent a whole day collecting trash,” Athanase said. While church and community leaders are essential to mobilize their communities, youth are also integral in continuing this project into the future.
A Future for our Youth
By training young people in Carrefour about waste management and how to collect and separate trash, we can ensure these practices will be carried on long after the project ends. This project also brings income earning potential for young people by employing them in the recycling process.
“We want to see the waste in this area cleaned up,” Athanase says. “We want to teach the general population how to handle and separate domestic waste for recycling, creating a network of clean-up and conservation in the area.”
As a result of EN+, we anticipate that 15,000 individuals in Carrefour will have access to solid waste management services and an additional 5,000 individuals will be connected to interventions to help limit waste. Ultimately, the project will reduce waste dumped in oceans by 182.7 tons per month, 148.3 tons of which will be recycled.
While immediate and specific actions are necessary, we recognize that understanding the greater purpose behind waste management and our call to care for creation leads to meaningful solutions and lasting change.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1
Dana North previously served as the Marketing Director at World Relief. With a background in graphic design and advertising and experiences in community development and transformation, Dana seeks to use the power of words and action to help create a better world. Dana is especially passionate about seeking justice for women and girls around the world.