My faith is small

I'm probably going to have to put
Mabel on the payroll soon

This week is Christian Aid Week.  It's no surprise to me that I've had a good run cloud-wise as I've been spending most of my working time out giving presentations and meeting supporters for the last few weeks.  I know right, I make this big play of being an introvert and I love to go out speaking in front of people.  Things just aren't that black and white folks!

Anywho, as much as this time of year is a hard slog it's also pretty amazing.  On Sunday I was sent away from three of my engagements with food for the journey and I've lost count of how many cream teas I've had...  and the whole raising money for people in poverty is important too.  Natch.

We hear so much about how much more shallow our pockets are and increasing numbers of people are dependent on aid and food packages.  You would think that special fundraising weeks like this one would be a waste of time in this climate.

I'm not saying it's easy, it is getting harder.  I'm not saying we don't need any more money, we do - it's not going as far as it used to.

But in my seven years at Christian Aid I have seen the people with the least give the most - without fail.

It follows what I'm learning about my own reflection (funny how that happens).  When I feel I have nothing, I become the most effective just in ways I wouldn't normally expect.  It's seem that when we have very little, we are forced to get out of the way and let the good stuff work through us.

It's not easy to keep encouraging those who are tired and sometimes unsupported to keep going, that their efforts are making a real difference.  We all want the wealthy and powerful to listen up and sort all this out once and for all, like we know they could.  With some sensible investment and high up decisions eventually we wouldn't need a Christian Aid Week.

But they will only do it if the rest of us use the little we have to shout.  We will only see communities start to thrive in the meantime if we stand with them.  If we all did as much as we could we would seriously be getting somewhere.

And saving the world with a cream tea.  It's not all bad...

Just as I was putting myself back together...

... I'm going to Palestine and Israel. In November I'm off on a study tour to hear some real stories and learn as much as I can about the issues facing that region. I'm going off my own back (no beach holidays for me, oh no siree) and as part of the deal those travelling are asked to consider whether they want to raise extra funds to donate directly to the projects we will visit.

I ummed and ahhed for quite a while, as I'm generally an advocate for trusting NGOs to distribute funds as they see fit as they work with partner organisations who know exactly what's needed for long term, sustainable change. However, I read through the organisations we're visiting, and I believe that they tick my boxes - far from throwing money at issues, they appear to be tackling root causes of oppression and are established in what they do and how they are run.

Therefore, I'm going to unashamedly ask that if you would like to give money to any of the projects detailed below then please do! There's no JustGiving page alas, instead you can donate to Thursdays in Black and I'll get the funds (you're going to have to trust me) to the right place. The paypal button is on the right of this page, email or facebook me telling me where you want the money to go. Alternatively you can send me a cheque or an IOU. Email me at laura.e.mcadam@gmail.com. Or slip me some cash when you next see me, just include a note for what it's for or I'll assume you think I need some new shoes.

So here are some of the organisations I'll be visiting:

Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD)
ICAHD is a non violent, direct action group originally established in 1997 to oppose and resist Israeli demolition of Palestinian houses in the Occupied Territories. It has expanded into actively resisting land expropriation, settlement expansion, Israeli-only road construction, policies of 'closure' and 'separation', and the uprooting of fruit and olive trees. Activities include resisting the demolition of Palestinian houses, rebuilding Palestinian homes as an act of political resistance, disseminating information and networking, running an alternative tour programme that explains the 'Matrix of Control' over the Palestinian people, providing strategic and practical support to Palestinian people and families. http://www.icahd.org/

Donations go towards core funding to keep ICAHD operating, providing analysis about the requirements for a just peace for all people groups based on international law and universal human rights.

Women in Black (i'm very very excited about this - they are one of the root movements that inspired Thursdays in Black)
Women in Black began in 1988 in Jerusalem and has grown into a world-wide network of women committed to peace with justice and actively opposed to injustice, war, militarism and other forms of violence. Weekly actions often take the form of women wearing black, standing in a public place in silent, non-violent vigils at regular times and intervals, carrying placards and handing out leaflets. Wearing black in some cultures signifies mourning, and feminist actions dressed in black convert women’s traditional passive mourning for the dead in war into a powerful refusal of the logic of war. http://www.coalitionofwomen.org/

Holy Land Trust
The Trust is a non-profit organization that was established in Bethlehem in 1998. It seeks to empower the community with spiritual, pragmatic and strategic approaches to resist all forms of oppression and engage the same community in making the Holy Land a global model and pillar of understanding, respect, justice, equality and peaceful coexistence. http://www.holylandtrust.org/

Donations go towards their Palestinian leadership development programme.

Christian Peacemakers Team (CPT) Hebron
CPT offers an organized, non violent alternative to war and other forms of lethal inter-group conflict. Since 1995, the team in Hebron has provided a violence reduction presence with street patrol, responding to trouble and staying with people in tense times and places. It also supports Israeli and Palestinian peacemakers in their work. http://www.cpt.org/

Donations go towards the expenses of keeping a team based in Hebron.

Combatants for Peace
This movement was started jointly by Israelis and Palestinians who have taken an active part in the cycle of violence. They believe only by joining forces will they be able to end bloodshed bringing an end to the occupation and the oppression of the Palestinian people. They organize meetings between both Israeli and Palestinian veterans in which both sides talk about their participation in violent actions and how they came to the turning point which led them to understand the limits of violence. Amongst many joint projects which they have set up, they seek to educate others towards non-violence. http://www.combatantsforpeace.org/

Donations go towards their project in the South Hebron Hills. Combatants for Peace visit Palestinian farmers on a weekly basis and offer assistance against the activities of settlers who threaten their livelihoods.

Dheisheh Refugee Camp
UNRWA's Dheisheh Refugee Camp was founded in 1949 within the municipal boundaries of Bethlehem. The camp's original 3,400 refugees came from 45 villages in the western Jerusalem and western Hebron areas. During the 2nd Intifada the inhabitants were badly affected with incursions by the IDF which continue until today. There are over 13,000 people now living at the camp under difficult conditions with lack of sufficient schooling and medical facilities, water scarcity, and with narrow alleyways winding between a hodgepodge of cement buildings.

Bethlehem University
The University was founded in 1973 by the Catholic De La Salle brothers and offers a broad education in the arts and sciences for over 3000 students. It is a vibrant, academic community and promotes inter-religious and cultural understanding, international cooperation, justice and peace. The Separation Wall built around Bethlehem together with numerous checkpoints and 'The Terminal' at the city's entrance makes attendance at the University very difficult. http://www.bethlehem.edu/

Donations go towards the university fees of a specific student identified by the university.

Observations of the white girl

My conversations with students have been most enlightening. I've also developed a lilt to my accent which helps them understand my english, but makes me sound utterly ridiculous. However I may try and hold to some of the sayings and unique sentence constructions as I do wonder if a different approach might help me in Cornwall...

I was asked by two students if it was true that 'lazy people in the UK get given money by the government'... and we discussed at length benefits, pensions, tax, the NHS. I've been asking what the students think of the UK, and all I can get from them is that it must be 'very nice' and 'very green'. And their favourite music? By far - Jay Z, Beyonce and Rihanna.

Spare change

Did you know that if you have any disposable income at all, you are in the top 8% of the world's richest people? I don't mention that to play down the trauma of the current financial situation but it's always nice to be given a little perspective don't you think!? Did you know that £3 could buy a month's supply of beans for a family following the disaster in Burma?

One of the most common comments I receive after I give a presentation or talk is about not having the resources to do anything about poverty. Another one is not being able to do enough to make a difference. My mum used to tell me that I had an answer for everything and I'm happy to say that it's no different in this case!

Firstly, we can all do something. Whether it is looking at our lifestyles (which can save us money by the way) and remembering that the way we live has a huge impact on people all around the world, or giving as much as we can to an organisation like Christian Aid who then transform pounds into sustainable solutions for the world's poor, or we can take part in a campaign to challenge the rules and structures that mean that the world favours some and not others... we can all do something.

And as to whether is makes a difference, absolutely. I've seen it. I've seen £5.25 loaned to a family to buy their first set of cloth and dye and start a business which is now independent, and that loan has been paid back. I've seen £10 worth of trees producing fruit preventing soil erosion in Senegal. A little does go a long way...