Questioning the Basis of our Work: Christianity, Children’s Rights and Development
Compiled by Judith Ennew and Paul Stephenson
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has encouraged human rights principles worldwide. Many child welfare organisations now include children’s rights in their mission statements and encourage these rights in their work.
But what do children’s rights mean to Christian organisations working in development? Does the idea of children’s rights contradict biblical principles about family life? Should Christians use human rights in their work with children and communities? Doesn’t the Bible already provide a sufficient basis for their work?
These ideas were discussed during a workshop in 2000. This book is based on the agreements reached there, together with post-workshop reflections from workshop participants and their colleagues. It does not claim to have found all the answers, but should help those working with children, families and communities.
The book costs £4 (US $6 or € 6) including postage and packing. For Europe and Africa: order from Tearfund, 100 Church Road, Teddington, TW11 8QE, UK E-mail: roots@tearfund.org
For the Americas: order from Paul_Stephenson@wvi.org
For Asia: order from Black on White Publications at je19@hermes.cam.ac.uk
Health, Food and Nutrition Toolkit
This contains tools and reference material to assist field-based workers to manage and evaluate health, food and nutrition programmes in refugee situations. It is produced by UNHCR and is available free of charge from Health and Community Development Section, CP 2500, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland Fax +41 22 739 7366 E-mail: hqts00@unhcr.ch
Participatory workshops: a source-book of 21 sets of ideas and activities
by Robert Chambers
Robert Chambers is well known for his books and workshops on development. This book has been developed during the past ten years of workshops. It contains ideas, activities and tips for all those who try to help others learn and change. It would be useful for facilitators, trainers, teachers and those who manage meetings and workshops. It is written in an enjoyable, easy-to-read manner, designed to be read in short sections rather than from beginning to end! It is full of illustrations and cartoons. Pages 8 and 9 of this issue of Footsteps are largely based on material from the section on energisers.
The book has 200 pages and is published by Earthspan. It costs £8.95 and can be ordered from: Blackwells Mail Order Dept 48–51 Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BQ UK E-mail: mail.ox@blackwell.co.uk Website: www.blackwell.co.uk
Facilitation skills workbook
This new training workbook aims to equip people with skills and confidence to facilitate small group discussion. The training looks at some of the theory behind facilitation and participation. It considers how people already participate in their communities. It discusses what can prevent participation in discussion and decision-making and looks at how facilitators can encourage group members to participate. The training provides participants with an opportunity to practise these skills with other participants and with community groups. The skills taught are transferable to many different areas of people-centred development work. However, it is specifically designed as training material for people who are using PILLARS guides in their local communities.
The workbook costs £5 (US $9 or € 7) including surface postage and packing. It will soon be available in English, with Spanish, French and Portuguese translations to follow. Order from: Tearfund Resources Development, PO Box 200, Bridgnorth, WV16 4WQ, UK E-mail: roots@tearfund.org Website: www.tilz.info/pillars
What’s new in Source
This is a free bi-monthly e-mail bulletin of information resources on the practice, management and communication of international health and disability, provided by Source International Information Support Centre. It includes references to over 160 new books, reports, articles and CD-ROMs recently added to the Source online database. Their website is www.asksource.info Subjects covered include children and youth, community development, disability and rehabilitation, health education, NGOs and women’s health.
For people with limited web access, the bulletin is also available in Microsoft Word format. To receive this version, e-mail crowe.m@healthlink.org.uk and state your name, organisation and e-mail address.
PILLARS guides
PILLARS guides are designed for use within community groups. Each contains about 20 topics with illustrations for non-literate members and a set of participatory Bible studies. The guides are easy to use and a trained leader is not required. Eight guides are now available. PILLARS guides are designed so that translation into local languages is as straightforward as possible, and a CD-ROM with design files is available. Three PILLARS guides are particularly useful for encouraging community development:
- Mobilising the community
- Building the capacity of local groups
- Mobilising the church
All are available in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. Each guide costs £5 (US $9 or € 7) including surface postage and packing. Order from : Tearfund Resources Development, PO Box 200, Bridgnorth, WV16 4WQ, UK E-mail: roots@tearfund.org Website: www.tilz.info/pillars
Helping Children Who Are Deaf
by Sandy Niemann, Devorah Greenstein and Darlena David
This book supports parents and other caregivers in building the communication skills of babies and young children. It explains how deafness affects a child’s ability to learn language and develop mentally and socially. It is full of activities to help make language learning accessible to deaf children. Other topics include assessing hearing loss, education, causes of deafness, support for parents and caregivers and how communities can work together to help deaf children. The book is practical, accessible and appropriate across different conditions and cultures.
This book is available for US $12 plus postage and packing. Orders can be made by contacting bookorders@hesperian.org, or writing to Hesperian Foundation, 1919 Addison Street, Suite 304, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA Website: www.hesperian.org
Young People – We Care!
This book is produced by John Snow International (UK) and funded by DFID, Zimbabwe. It is designed to encourage young people in Zimbabwe who are supporting other children in their communities affected by AIDS. Young people who have already received training on the facts about HIV and AIDS, peer education, life skills and community outreach will use it most effectively.
It contains a Training Guide for facilitators to use to prepare young people to begin community activities. It includes participatory activities to help young people think through a number of topics. There is also a Community Activities section with activities that young people can undertake in their communities. Most of the activities require no resources – just the commitment of young people who want to help others in their community.
The book contains 78 pages and is targeted at young people aged 15–20 years. The book is available free of charge. To order copies, please e-mail info@jsiuk.com or write to John Snow International, Studio 325, Highgate Studios, 53–79 Highgate Road, London, NW5 1TL, UK Website: www.jsiuk.com/wecare.htm
Action on diabetes
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Diabetes Federation estimate that each year there are over three million deaths due to diabetes. They have recently launched a joint programme called Diabetes Action Now.
Diabetes is a common condition. Cases are increasing, particularly in developing countries. For example, in India there were just over 30 million people with diabetes in 2000, but by 2030 this number is expected to increase to almost 80 million. Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and can result in death.
Diabetes Action Now plans to raise awareness about diabetes. Simple changes in life such as eating a healthy diet and taking physical activity, often combined with medication, can allow people with diabetes to lead a full and healthy life.
A free booklet on Diabetes is available either in print or from the WHO web site www.who.int/diabetes. For further information please contact: Amanda Marlin, WHO Avenue Appia CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland.
International HIV/AIDS Alliance
100 ways to energise groups: Games to use in workshops, meetings and the community This guide aims to be an ‘ideas book’ of shared experiences to help facilitators prepare for participatory workshops. It may also be useful for people who facilitate meetings and planning activities using participatory techniques.
A Facilitators’ Guide to Participatory Workshops with NGOs/CBOs Responding to HIV/AIDS This is one in a series of resources that the Alliance is developing to encourage participation in practice. It is a compilation of energisers, icebreakers and games that can be used by anyone working with groups of people, whether in a workshop, meeting or community setting.
These books are among many produced by the HIV/AIDS Alliance. They are both available free of charge in English, French and Spanish. Copies can be downloaded from their website, www.aidsalliance.org or ordered by writing either to publications@aidsalliance.org or to: HIV/AIDS Alliance, Queensbury House, 104–106 Queen’s Road, Brighton, BN1 3XF, UK