COMING TOGETHER IN EL SALVADOR
Inmyroleastheinternationalproject supportco-ordinatorintheinternationaldevelopmentdepartment,Iwas privilegedtovisitElSalvador,partofThe SalvationArmy’sLatinAmericaNorth Territory,whereIlearnedthedeeper meaningoftheterm“communitydevelopment”
AftersteppingofftheplaneinSan Salvadorandmeetingtheregionalofficers, CaptainsMarioandLoyda,thesenseof prideandthelovetheyhavefortheir communitywereimmediatelyapparent ThattrendcontinuedaswetravelledtoThe SalvationArmy’sministriesinUsulután.
TheofficersexplainedthatinEl Salvador,crime,traffickingandrecruitment forgangsaremajorconcernsforfamiliesin ElSalvador,especiallyinmajorurbanareas.
By Robyn Goodyear
TheSalvationArmy’scorpsinUsulután providesprogrammingforchildrenages514,includingeducationalsupportand specialactivitiessuchasartsandcrafts, physicaleducation,danceanddrama.The educationalassistancesupportschildren’s learningandreducesearlydropoutrates
Thechildrenreceivenutritiousmeals andsnacksatthecorps,whichareoftenthe onlymealtheyhaveinaday.Theprogram providesasafespaceforchildrenduring thedaywhennotinschool,reducingthe likelihoodofgangsrecruitingthem
Robyn Goodyear looks over children kept busy by Captains Loyda and Mario in Usulatán, El Salvador.
Itisthattimeofyearwhenwestart
toseeback-to-schoolsales The coolerdaysarereturningandour thoughtstransitionfromsummertofall Memoriesofhotdayssittingbyalakeor undertheshadeofatreefadeandour focusshiftstothecoolerdaysoffall.
Iremembertheexcitementofthe firstdayofschool,havingpickedout somethingspecialtowearandproudly displayingmynewbookbagandschool materialsasIlefthome,wavingtomy mom.Oh,thosearesuchgreatmemories Andwewanttogivethesememoriestochildrenaroundtheworld.
Inthiseditionof Global Link,you willreadaboutsomeoftheSalvation Armychildren’shomesinIndiaandhow generousCanadianshaveprovided infrastructureandessentialschool resources.YouwillalsolearnhowThe SalvationArmyinCongo(Brazzaville) helpschildrenexperiencethejoyof Christmasthankstoyoursupportofthe BrighterFuturesChildren’sSponsorship program.
Wehopethatasyoureadthestories andtestimonialscontainedinthis newsletteryouwilltakejoyinknowing youhavemadeasignificantdifferencein thelivesofmany.
WinstonChurchilloncesaid,“We makealivingbywhatweget,butwe makealifebywhatwegive.”Maythatbe trueforusall.
Sincerely,
Lt-ColonelBrendaMurray
Sincethecorpsbuildingisa20-minutedriveawayfromthecommunityandthere isnopublictransportationavailable,soldiersandmembersofthechurchopentheir homeseverydayforthechildren’sactivitiestotakeplaceclosertohome.Eachday, thecorpsofficerswalkthroughtheneighbourhoodtopickupthechildrenandsafely accompanythemtotheprogram Volunteerspreparethefood,planlessonsand organizespecialactivities
Thoughtherewerelanguagebarriersbetweenus,thesenseofcommunityand prideinUsulutánneedednotranslation.
ThankstothegenerosityofsponsorstotheBrighterFuturesChildren’s Sponsorshipprogram,TheSalvationArmycansupporthundredsofchildrenin urbancommunitiesinCentralandSouthAmerica
STORY OF CHANGE
MBy Charley Mbotani
ynameisCharleyMbotaniandI’m19yearsold Iwouldliketopresent mysinceregratitudetoTheSalvationArmywhohasenabledmeto changemylifetoday.Indeed,thedeathofmyparentsduringthecivilwar thatbrokeoutin1998hasnegativelyaffectedmylife.
Icouldn’timaginethislifeofmisery,loneliness,deepdistress,andIdidn’teven haveenoughtofeedmyself
Oneofmyfriends,whocompletedhertraininginhairdressingatTheSalvation Army’sBacongoVocationalCentre(inCongo-Brazzaville),stronglyadvisedand invitedmetoparticipateinthegraduationceremonyoffinalists.ThatdayIfeltthe joyofmyheartwhenIsawothervulnerablegirlswhowereinmysituationbecome independentthroughtraininginvocationalskills
Idecidedthatdaytochangemysadlifeintothelifeofawoman,fullofhope,who willbringchangetoothersthroughmytestimony.Today,BacongoVocationalCentre hasnotonlytrainedmeinsewingbutIhavealsobenefitedfromthespirituallife,how tobecomeaworthywomanaccordingtotheWordofGod
IthankGodforthechangeofmylife Idecidedtobefaithfultohiminall circumstancesoflifeandIwouldbeungratefulifIforgettheblessingsthatThe SalvationArmyhasgivenme.MaytheLordblessmylifeandTheSalvationArmy.
TO BUILD A HOME
By Kathy Nguyen
Thecareofchildrenandyouthisanintegralpart oftheinternationalworkofTheSalvationArmy asshownthroughthehundredsofchildren’s homesitoperatesaroundtheworld Withoutthese homes,manyofthechildrenentrustedtotheArmy’s carewouldbehomelessorlivingunderduress,withlittle tonoopportunityforaqualityeducation.
Thisiswhyit’ssoimportantthatthesehomesare supported,andwhypartnershipissuchacriticalfactor forthesecentrestothrive
ThroughourpartnershipwithTheSalvationArmy inIndia,we’reworkingtogethertoensurethreechildren’shomesinwesternIndiacanflourish
ThankstoourBrighterFutureschildren’ssponsors, wehaveprovidednewcomputers,desks,chairs,beds, kitchenappliances,toysandsportingequipmenttothe HopeHouseBoy’sHome,theJeevanAshaBoy’sHome andtheArunaGirl’sHome
Thiswouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthe partnershipofyou,oursponsors,whoenableustowork togetherwiththeinternationalSalvationArmyto provideholisticandpracticalcareforvulnerable children
Becauseyoucare,morethan70childrenwholivein thesehomeswillbenefitfromthehousing,educational andrecreationalsupport.
Thankyou!