Author: CEDAR Fund

Myanmar Cyclone Relief

Cyclone Mocha hit the coastlines of western Myanmar on 14 May. 150 lives were lost as it rampaged through the country. Rakhine state was devastated. More than 5.1 million people were struck by the disaster, many of whom are vulnerable groups, including internally displaced and undocumented persons. Homes, communication towers and road infrastructure were turned into wreckage. The water source was polluted because of the destruction of hundreds of wells and toilets. Many families were deprived of access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation facilities. The residents of Rakhine are tormented by diarrhoea and infectious diseases. In recent years, the Burmese have been afflicted by the civil war. They have been living under threatened food supply and

Works with local churches to fulfil ‘Integral Mission’ and witness the Lord’s grace

Written by: Clara Chiu (Head of Partnership Development) In the process of promoting overseas poverty alleviation and development work and fulfilling Integral Mission, CEDAR’s staff are often inspired by the testimonies of lives being transformed. We hope that in our home of Hong Kong, we can also work with local churches to practice Integral Mission and experience the grace of the Lord. Since last November, CEDAR Fund has commenced an eight-month programme, ‘CEDAR Course’, to promote Integral Mission locally. Through the programme, we hope local churches are given support and the resources to serve the community in greater depth. Pastors and church leaders who enrolled on the programme to gain some knowledge about ‘Integral Mission: church fulfilment and

Building Local Capacities for Peace in Manipur

Project Name Building Local Capacities for Peace in Manipur Project Location India Project Natures Peace and Reconciliation Project Objectives Establish community capital in Manipur to promote peaceful coexistence among different ethnic groups in the region and mitigate the impact of harmful conflicts. Beneficiaries Leaders from various sectors (including churches, civil society organisations, women’s and youth groups), and children. No. of Beneficiaries Approx. 1,100 Key Activities Organise peace workshops for youth groups, women, church leaders, and leaders of civil society organisations in five regions, enabling them to learn how to heal historical wounds. Organise inter-ethnic football matches for youth groups, church leaders, and leaders of civil society organisations to learn cooperation with other ethnic groups through sports activities. Provide

Preventing and mitigating the impact of trafficking through empowerment and livelihood training, phase 2

Project Name Preventing and mitigating the impact of trafficking through empowerment and livelihood training, phase 2 Project Location Myanmar Project Natures Anti-human Trafficking Project Objectives Increase resilience and provide essential support to trafficking survivors in Myanmar’s trafficking hub. Beneficiaries Men, Women, Boys and Girls No. of Beneficiaries 1,250 Key Activities Run a Drop-in centre (The Life Centre) in Yangon. Provide vocational training, transportation, gifts, and food parcels to victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Outreach in Yangon’s red light areas and trafficking hubs. Project Period Jan 2023 to Dec 2024 Expenses Approx. HK$478,850 Donate Now PARTNER INFORMATION Partner Name Eden Myanmar Year of establishment 2014 The Year Our Partnership Started 2016 Partner’s Mission Eden Myanmar is committed

Children’s Learning Space in Myanmar

Project Name Children’s Learning Space in Myanmar Project Location Myanmar Project Natures Children and Youth Development Church and Community Mobilisation Project Objectives Fill the education gap in Myanmar, especially for underprivileged children and dropouts. Arouse awareness of child protection among poor communities. Beneficiaries Children and orphans in slums and IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps No. of Beneficiaries 460 Key Activities Informal education: 4 days a week (teaching English and Burmese, mathematics, social behaviours, character building, child protection information sharing, arts & crafts) Provide basic stationaries, books, and snacks Teacher training and meetings (with church partnership: human resources and venue) Bible teaching (Sunday School) in some learning spaces Trauma counselling for the children in need Project Period Jan 2024

Shiva, a Nepalese colleague – Restore Dignity for the Dalits

Written by: Clara Chiu (Head of Partnership Development) Whenever I read Philippians 2 about Christ’s incarnation and dwelling among us in the likeness of men, I am moved by His love and sacrifice. He was willing to lay down His nobility and power, taking the form of a servant to be a human. Such sacrifice is love. Abandoning one’s birthright for others is easier said than done. Shiva, a colleague of our Nepalese partner, Samari Utthan Sewa (SUS)*, followed Christ in a way that he willingly put down his esteemed identity to serve those marginalised. Nepal borrows India’s caste system, which divides people into four main categories, each with its subcastes. The castes are hereditary, and their occupations

Urban and Rural Development

Slums are a phenomenon of economic takeoff and rapid urbanisation in some developing countries, and they are also a symbol of inequality between the rich and the poor. Next to the modern skyscrapers, there are a dense pile of old houses. Sewage, narrow alleys, and broken walls have become ‘scene panels’ for poor areas; the tourists’ cameras reflect helpless and lost faces. Poverty is not a problem to be solved overnight. Only by allowing poor friends to discover their potential and realise they are also self-sufficient can people on the poverty line’s edge live with dignity. CEDAR provides resources for low-income families in different countries to learn livelihood skills. Also, it supports religious, family relations and financial management

Advocacy

Changing the lives of communities, apart from the efforts of community residents, also requires the cooperation of public policies. Residents, social welfare organisations, and regional officials should all participate in public policy discussions and make suggestions for improvement to enhance the rights and interests of poor communities. CEDAR believes that the poor can contribute to their communities. Therefore, we make advocacy from an institutional perspective and promote citizen participation, educate residents in slums to understand the issues that affect the community’s well-being, drive discussions among residents, and organise various issue groups to allow them to participate in the advocacy work. Advocacy Projects