That ending poverty thing

If you look at the word ‘poverty’, you may notice something within it if you look really closely? There in the middle is the word over. This is the focal point of the new Christian Aid campaign, - poverty over. It came about when a secular marketing agency looked at everything we produced and all of our hopes and dreams, and came back to us simply saying – you believe in ending poverty don’t you? Well then that’s all you need to say. No gimmicks, no gloss. They effectively took us at our word.
It’s a brave thing to do – we really have risked being a laughing stock; no bases covered, no plan B, no excuses.
But when you consider it, human history is made up of instances where massive social change has occurred because of a determination to act. The ending of slavery, the collapsing of apartheid, and the eradication of smallpox within a decade are all examples. The scandal of poverty must be added to that list. The world has more wealth, more knowledge, greater interconnections and a greater capability to do so than at any other time in human history.
We are not calling for marginal improvements on what has gone before, instead fundamental changes in the global, national and local structures that create poverty are needed.

Christian Aid’s determination to end poverty is driven by the belief that the work of building the Kingdom of God is continued by his followers today. So, the church surely has a key part to play in all of this. Are we ready to really act with determination, regardless of what others say? Are we ready to take the gospel and put it into action? Are we ready to be taken at our word?

Wear black tomorrow to stand in solidarity

I’ve had the privilege of meeting some incredible people around the world, particularly in India and Uganda who have become the inspiration for an idea called Thursdays in Black. Gender inequality is one of the key factors hindering the eradication of poverty and there are people working in this area across the world who wear black on a Thursday as a personal protest and stand of solidarity, and I wanted to be one of them. This idea grew into an initiative which is fast becoming a movement of people from all backgrounds wanting to stand with those affected by injustice and effectively bringing about change to the structures and systems which favour some over others on the basis of gender.
I want to put the conversation on the table – the world is unfair. Men and women can work together to end the inequality between them, and then we can start to end poverty.

I don’t think it’s enough to have a campaign message though. Any campaign with such high hopes has to be shot through with integrity. That’s why for Thursdays in Black it’s as much about our ethos as it is about the message.
We want to stand out not just because of the cause but because of the way we operate – we will be ethical, transparent, eco friendly and deliberately un-glossy.

I probably sound a bit idealistic – I am. I have to be… the world needs some ideals to live up to, an un-cynical dream to grasp, and I just thought it was worth giving it a go.
We will be outspoken for the sake of those who are silenced. We will be outraged alongside those who are oppressed. We will be different because it’s about time.
Only with these high standards can we begin to be effective and most importantly be true to those inspiring women we represent.

I don't want to be able to email from my phone.

I upgraded my mobile phone recently and realised that I may be older than my years when I said ‘I just want something that calls people and sends texts’. The only ones available to me were all singing all dancing internet accessing music playing calendar diary voice recognition wide screen touch pad gadgets. For the same price I had the choice between a very basic phone which indeed just made calls and texts and was very similar to the one I had nearly ten years ago… or one of the fancier models which quite honestly just looked nicer. I was sucked in by the sexy mini computer phone… and now I can’t work out how to use it.

Technology has changed the way we communicate, work, study and worship. I can see via Facebook what nearly 500 people I’ve met at some point are doing and feeling without even talking to them. Teenagers in Uganda gave me their email and mobile phone numbers to stay in touch when they’d saved up enough shillings for a slot at the town’s internet café. It’s safe to say the world has got a lot smaller, and yet a lot less personal. Can anything really replace face to face contact?

The changing landscape of communication and technology offers us some valuable opportunities to connect with a wider group of people, to be efficient and be creative in new ways. However some of the greatest human achievements have been realised when people stand face to face. We cannot forget, amongst the impersonal connections and faceless cyberworld that we are all created as unique, named individuals with the inbuilt need for relationship. So while modern technology offers a level of networking, we need to work hard to invest in personal relationships which go deeper than a profile picture or status update.
The church is challenged to keep up and adapt to a rapidly changing world. But as well as technology being a great resource we can use, we are already equipped with just the tool for the job. We are good at loving people.

Boxed up

People tend to have all sorts of expectations when they meet me, before I've even spoken I can tell when I've been mentally put in a box. Whenever I throw in that I'm originally from Essex people seem to have an altogether different perception of me! I get all sorts of responses when I travel around the South West, turning up at a church to preach or lead a workshop, simply because I am a young woman. We have many preconceptions - which is not always a bad thing and it's certainly natural - but just as I have to so often prove myself beyond my first impression, I equally have to spend time dispelling the myths surrounding the poor.

Many people believe that the poor are lazy. I'm sure that, just as in this country, developing countries have their fair share of idleness but from what I've seen and known, those in the poorest countries are determined to change the futures for their own people.

Many people think that the money they give to development agencies like Christian Aid go to corrupt governments. It doesn't, we give money straight to partner organisations that account for every penny and are monitored and supported by us.

Many people know that throwing money at the poverty problem won't change things long term - and actually if you think that, you're right. And that's why Christian Aid is a development agency and not just a charity. We don't just give money, we give money to projects and local partners who are determined to tackle the roots causes of poverty. That's why we campaign and lobby the powers that keep the poorest poor and the powerful dominating.

That's why the continuing support through money, campaigning and solidarity from communities across the UK are actually changing the world because there are no quick fixes, just the long haul. Despite any preconceived ideas you may have, hope in action is what is changing our world.

An absolute nightmare. Or not...

I can’t count the number of ‘worst day ever’s I’ve had or how often I’m ‘starving’… Even when I say ‘I don’t have enough money’ what I mean is I don’t have extra this week, and why do I insist so often that things were a ‘nightmare’ when actually things were just a bit tricky?!
We all use exaggeration for effect. To make a point. Especially when we want to show how unfortunate we are. Why is that? And the danger is that we can begin to believe our own script.

So here’s a reality check:
• If we woke up today with more health than illness, we are more fortunate than one million people who will not survive the week.
• If we have never been shot at, or imprisoned, or tortured, or starved, we are more fortunate than 500 million people in the world.
• If we have food in the fridge, clothes on our back and a roof overhead, we are more fortunate than 75% of the people on this planet.

And here’s the big one - If we have money in the bank, or in a wallet, or even spare change in a dish somewhere, we are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthiest people!

Working with those who are really poor, I have seen the world through their eyes. And they have taught me that real poverty is not about having too little food, or nowhere to live. Real poverty means having no choice. No way out. No hope for the future. No real life before death.

I thank God that there are people out there who are willing to live their lives as a thank you, rather than a please or a shrug. Who put the needs of others first, and dare to make a difference. No exaggeration necessary.

Veneer

Since coming back from Uganda I’ve been struggling to put back in place the confident veneer I’ve always had. And recently, I’ve stopped trying. It turns out that when you show your raw unpackaged wounded reality, people listen. They listen and they start shouting ME TOO!

I strongly believe that we live in a world where most people see through the façade of glossy advertising and manipulative marketing, and that there are many of us tired with the old ‘how are you?’ ‘I’m fine and you?’ greeting – when actually we’re not fine. Authenticity is a word that is in danger of being over used, and the word honesty has sadly become diluted. But we are pleasantly surprised by the rare acts of unprocessed truth and I’m calling for more of it.

In my work I’m seeing people prick up their ears and take notice when we simply say it like it is. The world is a harsh place for most people living on it, there are bad people and policies that wield power and harm others, and there is a church in the UK that has the best intentions but is struggling.

We don’t need to gloss over it, we need a reality check. Once we know where we really are, then we can build on it. And the truth really can set you free.

My note to churches

If I had a pound for every time I heard how hard it was to interest younger people in the church I would go a long way to helping the country through the recession...!

I am in my twenties, and part of an 'apathetic generation' so I'm told. My advice to those who ask for it is this; people want something to live for. We've seen consumerism bring us down, we've learnt the lessons of materialism, and we've seen generations before us search for enlightenment. What is bringing a crowd of young new volunteers from outside the church to my office wanting to get involved is more that just the need to add to a CV. It's the profound dissatisfaction with the world as it is, and the burning desire to do something to be part of the solution - whatever the cost.

My message to churches in particular is this - the church that looks outwards, gives sacrificially and seeks the Kingdom first... grows. Christian Aid allows us to act ecumenically, be practical about unity and bring the Kingdom of God to the here and now, 'out there' beyond our church walls. It puts the poorest and most vulnerable to the top of our agenda not as an optional extra but as the heart and soul of the church and the community. It puts flesh on the gospel and love - radical, outraged love, into action. That's the kind of movement me and my 'apathetic' friends would want to join!