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Tag: Children and Youth Development

LETTER FROM CEDAR | APR 2023

Dear Supporters, In all of the previous alleviation work that I did, plenty of the projects were around fundamental medical and hygiene health, for these are the starting points for all alleviation work. However, if I compare it with the importance of education, I would think that education is even more critical to solving the problem of poverty. While the importance of education has been recognised, the implementation remains a challenge, because unlike other health and hygiene projects, it does not have measurable indicators such as the morbidity or mortality rate. As Immanuel Kant said, education is the journey that enlightens reason and understanding, it helps us develop learning abilities and helps us find our place in the

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‘SHARE’ 248 – Learning Brings Hope amid the Gunfire

Written by Ness Ma (Communications Officer) In Hong Kong, it is common to see students carrying school bags and playing with their classmates on the streets before and after class. It seems ordinary, but it is not a must that students can go to school safely without worrying about sudden attacks. In other parts of the world, children may be unable to go to school safely. Since the coup d’état in Myanmar began in February 2021, the country has been engulfed in ongoing conflicts. In January 2023, the UN reported that after two years of coup d’état, over 34,000 civilian buildings, including homes, clinics, schools, and places of worship, have been destroyed in Myanmar. The country has 1.2

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‘SHARE’ 248 – Learning Brings Hope amid the Gunfire

In this issue, we will lay out the needs of people under crises in different countries with the perspectives of the 3C’s – ‘Conflict’, ‘COVID’, and ‘Climate’. Myanmar has gone through years of turmoil, and its people have experienced displacement and poverty that wears their hope for the future. In ‘Focus’, we will introduce ‘Children’s Learning Space in Myanmar’, a new project that aims to help children regain hope through learning amid the war. In ‘Learn a Little More’, we will share the difficulties residents of developing countries face when receiving money from overseas relatives during the pandemic. Besides, we hope that everyone will fall in love with the world created by God, as many people suffer from

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‘SHARE’ 247 – The AES Girls We Encountered in Nepal

Editor’s Note At the end of November just past, CEDAR’s staff members went to Nepal to visit several partners. During the trip, apart from showing our care for our partners, we also monitored the progress of the projects, hoping that the projects would have better results. In ‘Focus’ of this issue, is the sharing from our staff about the new project ‘Prevention of Trafficking and Exploitation of Women and Girls in the Adult Entertainment Sector‘ in Nepal and the situation of the beneficiaries. In ‘Back to the Bible’, we can think about the relationship between climate change and developing countries and how we in rich areas can lend a helping hand from the Book of Jeremiah. In ‘Learn

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Gender Equity and Child Rights Promotion

Project Name Gender Equity and Child Rights Promotion Project Location Bangladesh Project Natures Children and Youth Development Advocacy Project Objectives Reduce gender-based violence (GBV) in the community by empowering females and community support system Promote the rights and protection of children and children with disability Beneficiaries Adolescent and youth boys and girls, adults and children with disability from poor families (over 75% are female) No. of Beneficiaries Approx. 2,715 Key Activities Organise training for peer educators and adolescent and youth girls and boys group leaders with lessons on basic life skills, including on positive and supportive gender roles. Support People Institutions (PIs) as local community leaders to plan, set up and manage a community training centre to provide

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‘I don’t want to miss out on studying!’ said the Syrian children.

Written by Edward Lai (Senior Communications Officer) ‘I want to become a doctor when I grow up,’ said Bayane. ‘I really enjoy coming to the learning centre. Whenever I am here, I feel extremely happy. I never want to miss out on my daily study sessions at the centre!’ said Bayane, a 14-year-old Syrian refugee. In Lebanon, 90% of Syrian refugee families live in extreme poverty, a condition characterised by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, shelter, sanitation facilities. Refugee families are already under considerable financial strain. In order to survive, they usually resort to negative coping mechanisms, including child labour. Since 2019, CEDAR has been supporting the operation of two learning centres, ran by our

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Fortunate, Unfortunate, or Called? – Children in God’s Eyes

Written by Dr. Sarah Shea (Assistant Professor of Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary, Vice President of Asia Academy of Practical Theology) No one can choose their mother; we are accustomed to calling children of wealthy families lucky and those born amidst poverty, war, disasters, or disability unlucky. Is this interpretation of children precise and comprehensive? We suggest the contrary, that children are the called ones. Based on the Scripture, children are not arbitrarily manipulated by destiny, instead, they are the actors endowed with different missions in families and communities (Bunge 2001). In the Bible, the vocations of children can be varied, spanning from respecting their parents, loving the Lord, studying and practising the Word, and even teaching adults

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THE LETTER FROM CEDAR | JAN 2022

Dear supporters, Year 2021 has gone, but we are still living under the influence of COVID-19. Life in the pandemic hasn’t yet changed. Additionally, the world is still very volatile in economy, society, and governance. We ought to keep changing our mentality to face daily challenges at different degrees, so that we can live positively with people around. One of my family members passed away last year. I understand how helpless and painful families could be when they can’t stay with and care for their loved ones in quarantine. By the time of writing this letter, over 5.2 million people died of COVID-19. We can imagine the enormous pain and regret their families are bearing. The COVID-19 tragedy

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‘Go on Fighting!’ Interview with CEDAR’s Acting Chief Executive

Written by: Edward Lai  (Senior Communications Officer) When she was young, she walked through the northwest, southwest and central plains of China. She used to climb mountains and ridges; not to visit the most beautiful lakes and mountains or participate in cross-country competitions. She went to respond to the clear voice in her heart – to serve the poorest of the poor. For the past 30 years, she has never doubted or denied this voice. When she is exhausted, she is strengthened by her aspiration and carried on. She often says that she is just an ordinary woman, but the Lord lets her see the plight of the poor; this cannot be overlooked. Since last May, she has

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Children Ministry – Commitment and Collaboration

Written by Clara Chiu (Head of Partnership Development) In order to transform the society, we first have to give children a chance to grow up healthily so that they can become leaders of good character who obey God’s will. We provide basic life and human rights protection, learning opportunities and spiritual courses for poor children in many countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. In the previous year, CEDAR supported 14 partners and carried out a total of 17 children and youth development projects. Among them, we have a 15-year-long project in Zimbabwe to empower children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in the suburbs of the local city of Mutare. In the first phase of the project

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