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Association of Christian Institutes of Social Concern in Asia

Oikosnet-Asia

NEWS LETTER
November 2009

Chairman’s Message:

Dear Friends:

Greetings from ACISCA/OIKOSNET ASIA!

Last few months have been very busy for me and for ACISCA. The November and December months will be busy with Global DPC and CLLT in Thailand and ACISCA CLLT at Bali, Indonesia. Pray for these programs.

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.

I am happy to share the following news from our centers. Please send your center’s information for our news letter

God bless you.

John Zechariah
Chairman ACISCA/OIKOSNET ASIA

(News from CCDB, Bangladesh)
Consultation Meeting of Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha (BBCS) - 2009

First time the inception of HOPE Foundation, the Church leaders of Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha gathered for consultation meeting. There were Ten Anchalic (regional) Presidents, Vice presidents, Secretary and Chief Pastors from all parts of Bangladesh.

The Consultation was inaugurated by All Bangladesh Central Sangaha President Mr. Joynata Adhikari. In his inaugural message he articulated we need to review what we had planned to achieve. How much have we reached our goal? We have gathered not to make decision but to evaluate our work, mistakes and where have we gone wrong? We have to comprehend Christ in us. Let’s turn from dark to light.  Jesus Christ is our light.

The consultation process continued by Dr. Matthews Swaroj Biswas’s paper presentation “Church and Values” followed by “Planning and development of Church”. These two papers have been very inspiring and fruitful dealing with real life situation. “Church and Values “dealt purely the norms and forms of Christ’s qualities which church body must reflect as Christian.  On the other hand, “planning and development of church” inspired doing everything with Lord Jesus Christ.

It was a rare opportunity for HOPE Foundation to dedicate the Center library in Memory of Susanta Adhikari in presence of church dignitaries and leaders from all over Bangladesh.  He has been a development leader for National, International and Church.  Further, he was a dreamer and foundation pillar of a center such as HOPE Foundation. We are inspired and pleased to dedicate the library in his name as “Susanta Adhikari Memorial Library”

 A comprehensive activities report has been presented on Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha (BBCS) by Acting General Secretary of BBCS and Director of Social Health & Education Development (SHED) Board.  In addition to that Ten (10) Ancahlic (regional) Church leaders presented comprehensively their activities written reports followed by Sunday School Program (Children ministry) moderator’s detail activities reports in power point. The majority appreciated the action reports.   Women moderator touched some glimpse of activities and plans. Youth and publication moderators were absent.  However, General Secretary high lighted some of their activities accomplished and future plans.  After the presentation of all reports a session was given for discussion and clarification for over all understanding of the activities and development.

(News from Christian Study Center, Rawalpindi, Pakistan)
Training Workshop: “Composite Heritage: An Opportunity for Peace & Harmony”

The four day training of trainer’s workshop in Quetta was held at Lourdes Hotel, Quetta from July 25 to 28, 2009. Forty‐two young leaders participated in the training, representing civil society and NGOs of Baluchistan. There were fifteen female and twenty‐seven male participants. Theme of the training was “Composite Heritage: An Opportunity for Peace & Harmony”. This workshop essentially enabled participants to understand the role of culture in peace promotion and share with them the basic tool of Composite Heritage for devising and implementing programs for peace and harmony. There were four resource persons facilitating this workshop. Mr. Mehboob Sada (Director) in his different sessions on Composite Heritage introduced this concept with participants in great detail he also shared with them the background and history of the concept and how it evolved into a full fledge project of international importance. He told the participants that how this tool of peace building is changing and transforming lives for betterment. There is perceptible improvement in relations among people with the confliction situations due to the healthy influence of understanding of the concept of Composite Heritage. He rightly articulated the importance of scientific and objective
approach for resolving problems. This approach particularly holds significance when dealing with issues that effect large number of people and more specifically of international nature. He told participants that it is a very minor endeavor by CSC but partners and friends are the really force behind the success of this project and it is hoped that with new friends in Baluchistan networks this cause would get further impetus and outreach in the region. Ms. Romana Bashir (Program Coordinator) in her number of sessions including Peace building Skills, Project Management, Project Writing, Composite Heritage; its forms and formation, Efficacy of Composite Heritage, Threats to
Composite Heritage, and many other sessions shared with participants how youth being the best asset of the country play their part in its development and progress. She helped them getting to know better Composite Heritage, its various dynamics and how it can
be most effectively used in peace building activities. She also discussed with participants how they best organize their potentials through various capacities building sessions like project management; writing and assortments that significantly affect the performance of the project. Her sessions were helpful for participants to familiarize themselves with essential techniques for effectively conducting and implementing projects. They were
given understanding on different aspects of project execution and through what parameters and factors they could get the desirable outcome from the project.
Mr. Nasrullah Khan (Resource Person) in his lecture on ‘Present Situation of the Region’ focused on Baluchistan and its situation. He said the Baluchistan province being the largest province in terms of area and rich with mineral resources is not playing its due role in issues of national importance. It’s sad to say that Baluchistan is the most backward province in the country. He said despite the fact Baluchistan is victim of international, national, regional feuds but people of Baluchistan are intrinsically peace loving and liberal people who are proud of their rich history and traditions. He said Baluchs are now developing themselves and time is not far away when they will be the front runners of bring peace and progress in the country. Mr. Ali Gohar (Resource Person) in his session on ‘An Indigenous way of Peace building…’ said that conflict depends upon variables of attitude, behavior, and situation. All conflicts require transformation. Five conflict management strategies to deal with conflict are:
1) Accommodation
2) Avoidance
3) Collaboration
4) Competition
5) Compromise.

Different theories of Justice are: The Retributive Approach, The Utilitarian Deterrence Approach, The Rehabilitation Approach, The Restitution Approach, and Restorative Approach.

Alternative Dispute Resolution involves: Adjudication, Conciliation, Facilitation, and Mediation.

Restorative justice pays consideration to victim, offender, community; focuses on harm needs rehabilitation and prevention. The feedback of participants was very encouraging and majority of them shared they want to see further consolidation of relations between CSC and their individual organizations to promote peace and harmony in Baluchistan province. Some of their comments are as follow:
EXPECTATIONS:
- It will be a good opportunity to learn and meet other people working on peace issues

- This training will be helpful in enabling participants to play important role in bringing peace in society

-  It would be helpful in disseminating tools for peace building in society
- The information learned from this training will be useful for community at grassroots Level

RECOMMENDATIONS:
- The program should be conducted in other districts of the province as well and opportunity to social activists and women should be given to attend the training
- There should be follow‐ up programs of this training and more and more people should be made part of it
- Video documentary on Composite Heritage would be helpful in developing interest in the concept and imparting better understanding of phenomenon of Composite Heritage

- Apart from NGOs other stakeholders should also be invited to broaden its network

(News from Institute for Development Education, Chennai, India)
Institute for Development Education, Chennai:
           
Introduction:

As a result of IFDE intervention in target communities in the past 15 years, the year
under review has witnessed the development of stable local community leadership especially among women in the villages around Kundrathur and Somangalam.  They begin to undertake responsibility for sustained community activities – income generation, employment, children’s education, tribal development, gender equity, etc.  Consequently IFDE diverts its attention to remote and poor village’s especially tribal areas beyond Somangalam where people are keen in development activities.

II.        Empowerment of Women
The core concern of IFDE is the empowerment of women at grass roots.  Their activities are given below:

1. Leadership of Women

1. Foundation for Empowerment  – Life Oriented Education   
2. Transformation of Life through Self Help Groups

D.        International Women’s Day by Chennai Rainbow Women’s networking
E.         Kundrathur-Somangalm Village Women’s Federation celebrates International Women’s Day
F.         Inter Faith Celebration of Pongal by Self Help Groups in Chennai Rainbow Area.

1. Community Health
2. Health Awareness
3. Attention to Pregnant Women

            C.         HIV/ AIDS Awareness
D.         Clean Drinking Water

1. Empowerment of Youth;

A. Vocational Training.
B. Technical Training
C. Chennai Rainbow Youth Rally

1. Empowerment of Children

A. Night Classes
B.    Summer Camps for Children
C.     Opening of Saving Bank Accounts by Children.

1. Care for Senior Citizens

VII.     A poor village girl obtains 4th rank in Std X examinations and aims at becoming District Collector
VIII.    A New Commercial Activity in the old tribal community of Murugan Nagar for empowering tribal women
IX.       A Proposal for Development Activities in New and Remote Villages
X.        Weaknesses
In the midst of successful programs, IFDE is concerned with the problem of women giving more attention to self help groups and economic activities at the cost of ignoring the welfare activities of women sagas.  However this is being rectified by holding meetings of self help group members in each village for action on community welfare. 
The rapid sale of farm lands for establishment of factories and industries has disturbed the traditional rural life of solidarity among the villagers.   “Outsiders” with employment in factories and industries tend to live in the villages bringing in a new culture.  The farmers who sold the lands build huge houses with modern amenities, including air conditioning, for self occupation or for rent at exorbitant rates.  Their problem is that they are unemployed or unemployable causing social problems.  Women associations are aware of it.
There is a danger of “the oppressed becoming oppressors”.  Women are made aware of the need to avert it.
XI.       Donations from IFDE Members
A. New and costly sarees donated by our President, Dr. Lalitha Ramamurthi were distributed among the women.  It was heartening to see them wearing those sarees at the International Women’s Day celebration.  We thank our President for her kind and generous help.

B. We express our thankfulness to Mr. D.M. and Mrs. Piroja Belgamvala for their kind, thoughtful and generous gifts of dress materials, blankets and kitchen utensils, which were distributed among the tribal women in Nandambakkam and Srikalathur villages and senior citizens. 
XII.     Conclusion

(News from Vellore Institute of Development Studies, Vellore, India)
Transparent India as a New Social Covenant:

A Regional Consultation on “Towards a Transparent Inclusive Indian Society: Challenges Ahead” was sponsored by the Commission on Justice, Peace & Creation (CJPC) of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) of Nagpur and organized by the Vellore Institute of Development Studies (VIDS), with the objective of launching a crusade for a just and equal social order in a campaign for a transparent society at all levels held at Vellore on 17th October 2009.  Elected representatives, administrators, legal experts, church leaders, NGOs, social activists, academicians and students participated in the deliberations of the meet.

Corruption: A Way of Life

While introducing the program Dr. P. Jegadish Gandhi, Director, VIDS said that corruptive practices had shaped and swayed politics, bureaucracy and judiciary to a large extent in the 62-year-old independent and democratic India, which is in the process of scripting an inclusive society with economic sinews of development.  Transparency, accountability and responsibility (TAR) must be imbibed in all public-centric relations for able governance and a better society.  Rev. J. Isaac Moon, President of the India Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELC), in his inaugural address, focused on the faith dictum that as the people of the transparent God, we are called to be testimonials transparent, attestable accountable and enviably responsible in all our activities in a secular setting.  Dr. A. Ranga Reddy, Professor of Economics, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupathi, in a special address on ‘Corruption: All the Way in India-Complacency vs. Transparency, said that corruption in India undermines democracy and destroys credibility of state and people.  Not only the politicians and the bureaucrats but also all people are equally responsible for the perpetuation of corruptive practices and the bribery way of life.  The time is ripe to bring both the bribe-takers and the bribe-givers under the ambit of rigorous laws.  A vibrant social revolution should be signaled, involving all social groups, to usher in a transparent India.”

Need for Transparency

Mr. C. Gnanasekaran, Vellore MLA, shed light on the shady and surreptitious dealings of public authorities at all levels and advocated a “transparency test” for them at regular intervals.  Mr. Raja Santhanam, Human Rights practitioner of Vellore, pointed out that there has been a growing sense of cynicism and concern among the public about the fall in standards of judicial conduct and pleaded for restoration of judicial integrity. Dr. Felix. N. Sugirtharaj, Secretary, Association for the Rural Poor, Chennai, said that the NGO movement in South India pinpointed the pitfalls in the globalised corruptive “social good delivery system.”  He exhorted all the NGOs, social scientists, academicians and student bodies to join to pave the way for a transparent society.  R. Jayakaran Isaac, a Church leader, urged churches and institutions to be prepared to move away from the present self-perception as a ‘religious minority’ entity to a larger ‘public-centric’ social network in a pluralized society.  “In a bid to increase TAR, every major church and institution should set up task forces for better governance and administration”.  Social activist P. Amudha strongly recommended public awareness-building programs at all levels to ensure sustainable transparent society.

Is a Transparent India Possible?

The Vellore Consultation had called upon concerted involvement of all sections of the society to foster transparent culture and help India evolve as respectable in the comity of nations.  The participants had identified that corruptive practices had shaped and swayed politics, bureaucracy and judiciary systems in the country to a large extent in the 62-year old independent India.  They have also identified the rampant corruption stunting the growth and development to realize the goal of transforming India into a superpower.  “Bribery fosters all kinds’ social evils such as casteism, nepotism besides widening the gap between rich and the poor.”

Recognizing the challenges ahead in tackling situations, the civil society should lobby with the State and the Centre to conform to liberal procedures to bring both bribe taker and bribe giver under punitive provisions of the criminal law.  The meet has urged the need to create more awareness on the RTI Act at grassroots level besides evolving the role of the public information officer more citizen-friendly.  A resolution has urged the need for periodical check on the assets of government officials while they availed promotion and other pecuniary benefits.  A special call has been given to all social groups to launch A Transparent India Campaign across the country.  Social networking of NGOs, social activists, academics and student bodies should engage in creating awareness.  All NGOs and service organizations should maintain regular social audit of their programs and make “stand-alone” example in public affairs.  It is not just the government and its leaders, even the Christian churches and institutions were called not to misuse minority rights and cover up unhealthy practices.  They were urged to set up effective grievance redressal system to address genuine complaints at all levels.   The participants have advocated people’s initiatives from the top to the grassroots level in order to stamp out corruption, involving overt and covert unethical public deeds and dealings.

Is a transparent India possible?  Amid an upsurge in corruption and poor governance, attaining a transparent society will be full of legal obstacles and social opportunities.  However, the Vellore consultation discerns that upon concerted involvement of all socially inclusive sections, a transparent culture can be made feasible.

ACISCA programs, September 2009 to October 2010:

1. ACISCA CLLT will be organized in Indonesia (Bali) for about 10 days in the month of    
November 2009, most probably from 29 November 2009 to 10 December 2010. Exact dates        will be informed later.
- One participant from one center.
- Registration fees US $ 100 per participant
- MBM, Dayanapura and Church of Bali, has taken the responsibility to organize.
2. Global DPC and CLLT in Bangkok, November 5 to 20, 2009
3. Workshop on Composite Heritage in 2009. The dates and place will be decided
as per resources persons availability.
4. Youth Capacity Building training for ACISCA staff, March 2010 in India
5. Workshop on migrant labor, women and children in Asia, July/August 2010 in
Bangkok
6. National programs are planed, September 2009 to October 2010. Any center if
interested, contact chairman or secretary. ACISCA will support maximum of US $ 1000.      ACISCA also expect the host center or country to bear some portion of the cost
7. General Assembly and 40th Anniversary of ACISCA in November 2010, Bangkok,

The great end of life is not knowledge but action.
It is by acts and not by ideas that people live.
Think like a man of action and act like a man of thought.

Action to be effective must be directed to clearly conceived ends.

John Zechariah
Chairman ACISCA/Oikosnet Asia   

Correspondence Address:
Dr. John Zechariah                                           Mr. Mehboob Sada
Chairman, Indian Society for Social Action            Director
C/o Mary Memorial School,                                 Christian Study Center
Daund-Patas Road, Girim,                                  # 126-B. Murree Road,
Daund-413801, Poona Dist, India                        Rawalpindi Cantt. Pakistan
E-mail:issa@pn2.vsnl.net.in                               E-mail: cscpak@isb.comsats.net.pk
Tel: 0091 2117 262938                                     Tel: 0092 51 5567412/5568657