"Seeking Human Development and Social Justice, Liberation from poverty And Restoration of Basic human Rights"
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Association of Christian Institutes of Social Concern in AsiaOikosnet-Asia
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Chairman’s Message: Dear Friends: Greetings from ACISCA/OIKOSNET ASIA! Last few months have been very busy for me and for ACISCA. Friends from Bangladesh and Indonesia (Bali) organized their national programs very successfully in June and July 2009. Let me express my appreciation and thanks for organizing these programs. I am sure you will be happy to read about Executive Committee report, two national program reports and future programs for 2009 and 2010 in this news letter. I urge all centers to take part in national and international programs of ACISCA and let us make it as vibrant association. ACISCA has great potential as Asian Association of Christian Institutes in Asia, also around the world through Global Oikosnet. Let us strive and make it as great association. Coming together is a beginning John Zechariah
Brief Report of Dhaka Workshop Theme: Climate Change – Role of Christian NGO’s and Churches in Bangladesh Mr., Christopher Adhikari, HOPE Foundation, Director, welcomed participants for the resourcefulness of the workshop. Chairman of the HOPE Foundation, Mr. Joyanta Adhikari, inaugurated the workshop. In his inaugural message, he rightly articulated that the topic is very timely and it is the burning issue for the development agencies. No development strategies going to work unless we address the issue comprehensively. We are facing enormous challenges in natural calamities. We know it has different reasons for this calamity. We need to research & investigate the reasons. What is going to be our future? Who is responsible and how much? What is our social responsibility? We need to find all questions and be united to work together to combat this challenge. I congratulate the organizations and churches have who come together for this cause. I hope together we can achieve more. And we learn more and have better awareness through this initiative. I declare the opening of the workshop “Climate Change – Role of Christian NGO’s and Churches in Bangladesh” which is jointly organized by HOPE Foundation (HF) and ACISCA/Oiksnet Asia Fist session was conducted by Dr. Dwijen Mallick, - Sociologist- Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) researcher and expert in Climate Change. Topic of his presentation was “Climate Change impacts and its linkages with poverty, livelihood and development in Bangladesh “. He comprehensively covered and discussed the following issues.
Dr. Mallicks presentation was comprehensive and straight forward to the point. 2nd session conducted by Rev. Martin Adhikary, He presented, Biblical perspective:
In Biblical perspective, he referred Bible chapters and verses and explains the God’s desire for His people. He refers and describes chapters & verses from different books of Bible - Psalm 24:1, Acts 17:24, Genesis 1-2, Psalm 1:26-28, 2:19-20, Genesis 9:8-17, Roams 8:22 and 2nd King 2:17-22. He recommended that Christian NGO’s and Churches can play a very vital role in Climate Change in education awareness and mitigation. 3rd session conducted by Sudipto Charles Sarker- Consultant of Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) Expert implementer of disaster management for 15 years plus. The topic he presented was “Climate Change & linkage with disaster in Bangladesh - Role of Christian NGOs and Churches”
4th session conducted by Humayun Kabir, Managing Director of Programs Support Professionals Ltd. The topic he presented was “Climate Change, Awareness & Major impact in Bangladesh” He is grass roots expert in capacity building and training in Climate Change awareness Program
Areas Bangladesh will be affected due to climate change and global warming.
5th session was group discussion and presentation on the topic “Initiatives Christian NGO’s and Churches can take for Climate Change” The group was divided into two for discussion and presentation on the findings. RECOMMENDATIONS GROUP DISCUSSION Initiatives Christian NGO’s & Churches can take in Climate Change
6th sessions Roseline Costa. The topic of her presentation was: Human Rights violation perspective: “Climate Change and its impact in Bangladesh - Role of Christian NGOs and Churches: She is Human right advocate for many years. She has presented from her life experience how indigenous people being isolated from this forest life by cutting forest which has affected warming and climate change. The vast areas she covers are:
In closing she made remarkable recommendation that the responsible people must come out and rescue from this disaster since, because of their pleasure the innocent human race is suffering. And we must act together to face this challenges.
Conclusion The workshop had good learning interaction because of like- mind organizations and Churches participation. Further, they felt good because the title of the workshop has been very situational approach kind of topic. Participants especially thanked ACISCA/Oiksnet Asia and HOPE Foundation for organizing such valuable workshop for greater interest of the Country and Society. They said undoubtedly the leaning will benefit the organization and churches. Moreover, the facilitators were very resourceful and cordial in their deliberation and resource materials handouts. REPORT Theme: Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction Management Background: Any type of disaster always brings negative effect and great loss to the community phisically, psychologically and socially. Therefore, it is an obligation for every part of the society to have awareness of the surrounding área and put great attention to the efforts of disaster risk alleviation. Alleviating the disaster risk is an effort which has to be done together by the whole component of the society based on their specilized capabilities. Enhancing and developing the capacity of the community who live in the risky area of disaster is a wise effort in order to alleviate the risk in the coming times, so that the communities are alerted and be more aware of the disaster. The Protestant Christian Church of Bali (GKPB) sees this reality and declares that it is important for all the congregation members of the church and the institutions that work in communty service area, to have qualified capacities either in dealing or overcoming the potentially upcoming disaster. This high qualification of capablity is intended not only to anticipate the disasters that might happen in Bali, but also to lend helping hands to other regions which suffer from the same calamity. Therefore, the Protestant Christian Church of Bali (GKPB), through Maha Bhoga Marga Foundation (MBM), has committed partnership with YBTI in developing the capacity of the congregation members and the service-based institution through ”Community-Basis Disaster Alleviation Management”. General Objectives: To develop the capabilities and specialized skill of the Synod of GKPB and its network regarding to Disaster Risk Alleviation. Specific Objectives: 1. To enhance the knowledge to 40 people (from the network of the Synod of GKPB - Priests, Synod Commision members, workers and staff of the GKPB’s community service department, ACISCA national members in Indonesia) with the basic concept of disaster overcoming management and disaster risk alleviation. 2. To enhance the understanding to 40 people (from the network of the Synod of GKPB - Priests, Synod Commision members, workers and staff of the GKPB’s community service department, ACISCA national members in Indonesia) with vulnerability and capacity analysis. 3. To add skills to 40 people (from the network of the Synod of GKPB - Priests, Synod Commision members, workers and staff of the GKPB’s community service department, ACISCA national members in Indonesia) in identifying potential conflicts specifically, analyzing the conflict causes from the perspective of culture, social, economical and political. To add skills to 40 people (from the network of the Synod of GKPB - Priests, Synod Commision members, workers and staff of the GKPB’s community service department, ACISCA national members in Indonesia) in conceiving plans to alleviate the disaster risk.
Expected Results:
2. The 40 people from the network of the Synod of GKPB (Priests, Synod Commision members, workers and staff of the GKPB’s community service department, ACISCA national members in Indonesia) will have new understanding about vulnerability and capacity analysis. 3. The 40 people from the network of the Synod of GKPB (Priests, Synod Commision members, workers and staff of the GKPB’s community service department, ACISCA national members in Indonesia) will have new skills in identifying potential conflicts specifically, and analyzing the conflict causes from the perspective of cultural, social, economical and political. 4. The 40 people from the network of the Synod of GKPB (Priests, Synod Commision members, workers and staff of the GKPB’s community service department, ACISCA national members in Indonesia) will have new-added skills in conceiving plans to alleviate the disaster risk.
Training Strategy
Organizer:
Important Topics dealt: 7. Conflict Management Strategy
Ability is poor man’s wealth
Brief Report of ACISCA Excutive Committee Meeting of 17th July 2009 The follwing issues were discussed and appropriate decision were taken. (the detail minutes of this meetings will be sent to directors)
Global Oikosnet Executive Committee Report, June 2009: Global Oikosnet report presented: Dr.John Zechariah
ACISCA programs, September 2009 to October 2010:
Other news: 1. While we were getting ready for the meeting, Mehboob Sada received sad news of his brother’s demise in Pakistan. As a respect, the committee observed two minutes of silence and Dr. Zechariah offered prayer for the bereaved family. He also requested Mr. Sada to inform the family our condolences. 2. The committee congratulated Mr. Surakit on his ordination to serve the Christ Church of Thailand. 3. Ms. Ayesha Hassan from CWS, Pakistan attended a course on “Building Interfaith Communities”. Bossey institute organized this course only for Muslims and Jews. ACISCA Chairman took the opportunity and recommended Ayesha to represent ACISCA. Chairman is thankful for Bossey institute and Ms. Tara Taturi for granting one scholarship for ACISCA. 4. Fr. Bonnie Mendes, Regional Coordinator, Caritas Asia was invited (to executive committee) to share his experiences of Asia, particularly burning socio-economic issue of Asia. Committee appreciates and thanks Fr.Mendes for sharing his experience and guidelines for ACISCA Please send your center’s news and brochures or website addresses so that I can introduce your center to Oikosnet Stichting family around world.
Please send your center’s news and brochures or website addresses so that I can introduce your center to Oikosnet Stichting family around world.
John Zechariah
Correspondence Address:
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