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Tag: Bangladesh

Uprooting Poverty: The Perspective of Christian Faith

Written by: Raymond Kwong (CEDAR’s Chief Executive) and Jady Sit In recent years, the international development sector began to emphasise the importance of human inner transformation for uprooting poverty. For instance, Cornell University Professor Kaushik Basu, who serves as the chief economist of World Bank from 2012 to 2016, shared in a public lecture, that no matter what kind of models of poverty alleviation is, one of the key factors to its success is whether people are willing to let go of some of their own interests or economic benefits and seek higher purposes, with which human being in general are common, and so, he advocates strengthening values education in society. This is about changing hearts and minds.

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Give US our Daily Bread

Written by: Tony Chan (CEDAR’s Senior Partnership Development Officer and Pastor) Matthew chapters 5 to 7 documented Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. At the end of the teaching, He invited the crowds to make a choice: Enter through the narrow gate and live faithfully according to His teachings. He pointed out the consequence of their choices (7:13-23). Jesus then told the parable of the wise and foolish builders; and the wise would put His words into practice (7:24-27). Jesus often took reference from daily life to explain through parables about difficult teachings. From the parables of the house builders, we learn that even in Jesus’ times, people were aware of the power of the nature and would try

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Act Now! Walk with Rohingya Refugees for the Next 6 Months

Banner image: This was taken when an IA member organisation visited refugees in Bangladesh. The site was filled with makeshift shelters Rohingya build for themselves In August, the Rohingya people received attention from the international community once again. Since late August, violence and conflicts in Rakhine state, Myanmar have caused at least 620,000 Rohingya to flee to Cox’s Bazar in the southeast part of Bangladesh. According to the United Nations, there are about 1.2 million people – including the 200,000 Rohingya arrived before the new influx in August and host communities – in need of assistance. Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB), a local Christian relief organisation in Bangladesh, told us that many Rohingya families have established themselves

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Local Churches – the Local Power of Community Development

Written and edited by: Tsun Wan Yan, Jojo Poon The act of poverty alleviation often gives the impression of aid workers carrying with them gifts of livestock and funds sponsoring children and their education to some remote villages. However, have you ever considered that the local churches are better suited in bringing continued and sustainable development and support to the people in need? To address the root causes of poverty for the poor, we must help the poor learn how to fish instead of relying on outsiders’ help. To prevent dependency on foreign aid, which would consequently hinder community growth, the average span of a development project is usually five to 10 years, and the development organisation will

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Child Rights for ALL Children

Banner image: As a peer educator, Taslima (middle) often catch up with other girls in the community to learn about issues they are facing Every individual has their rights despite their social status, age, gender, and education level. According to the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child, every child should have the rights to survive and thrive, to be protected, to participate and make their voices heard. In Bangladesh, where 90% of its population are Muslims and 10% are Hindus, the caste system plays a significant part in the lives of Bangladeshis. People are categorised into different castes, and people who belong to the lowest social status group in the caste system are the Dalits,

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South Asia Floods Relief Enters New Stage

Banner Image: CEDAR’s partner, ACN, in Nepal has been distributing much-needed relief aid to vulnerable families Nepal, India, and Bangladesh have been facing the worst monsoon rains in 15 years, triggering severe flooding across the three countries. Over 1,200 people have been killed, and 41 million people have been affected. CEDAR’s partners begun their responses the week after the flooding intensified. The initial responses were carried out in Nawalparasi district in central Nepal and Bihar state in northern India, providing emergency relief items for affected communities. The response is entering a new stage right now. CEDAR has allocated funds for Asal Chhimekee Nepal (ACN) in Nepal to provide hygiene kits and winter items for 600 households and provide

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41 Million Affected by Heavy Flooding in South Asia

Banner image: Incessant rainfalls have triggered widespread flooding in South Asia, affecting over 41 million people, including vulnerable women and children. Torrential downpour have caused severe and widespread flooding in India, Bangladesh and Nepal, killing 1,200 people and affecting 41 million people. Countless homes have been damaged and destroyed. Many are displaced and deprived of food and water for days. The region’s monsoon season last from June till September every year, but some aid agencies said things are worse this year. The United Nations said the situation could possibly deteriorate further as rains continue in some flood-affected areas and flood waters move south. In India, over 32 million people are affected. Several rivers are flowing at dangerous levels

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South Asia Floods: the Disaster That Didn’t Make Headlines

Incessant rainfalls in South Asia have triggered massive floods and landslides, destroying farmlands, houses and roads, as well as killing innocent lives. It is estimated that up to 41 million people are affected in India, Nepal and Bangladesh, where over a million people are displaced. Survivors are experiencing food and water shortages, and humanitarian workers fear the outbreak of waterborne diseases. CEDAR’s Nepali partner, Asal Chhimekee Nepal (A.C.N.) visited some flood-stricken villages last week to evaluate the situation and plan for a relief response. In a small village, community members lived in huts made of straw, and most of the houses were smashed and sandwiched by the flood. All the food they had stored were either swept away

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The Letter from CEDAR | December 2016

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 This is the verse we often see and read in this time of the year. As we have already entered into Advent, have you made any plan in response to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ? Last week, I just returned from a trip to Bangladesh. I paid a visit to some of our partners and their projects. One of them is the Outfall Telugu Community School. It is an elementary school incepted by

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