Oceania News 16th August
Items this week include:
- The Edmund Rice Life Training Centre in Vuvu continues to provide a learning environment that engages the young men from the surrounding villages in a community focussed on life long learning. Over the past two weeks I have had the opportunity to live and work within this vibrant and truly inclusive community.
- Hopefully many of you saw the Richard Attenborough program on the ABC last Sunday night. Climate Change: The Facts. Excellent summary of a range of issues but very sobering and alarming. Catch it on iView if you missed it and need a good summary or are unsure of the science or of the timeline for action.
- Ahead of the 50th meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) starting on Monday, Edmund Rice Centre Director Phil Glendenning, who will be in Tuvalu during the PIF, has once again highlighted the importance of Australia’s commitment to urgent
climate action. - Five ACRATH members visited Canberra on July 28 and 29; we met with Ministers, ministerial advisors and Shadow Ministers to advocate on five key issues.
- Hits: 35
People are Not For Sale
ACRATH’s Government funding was cut last year and we continue to rely on your donations to keep working for those who are trafficked and enslaved.
Modern slavery exists in Australia today in various forms. Workers, from developing countries, are brought into Australia to work for very low wages, often in appalling conditions; girls and young women are being forced to marry; people, including children, in developing countries are working for little money, or are enslaved, to produce goods we use every day.
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- Hits: 30
ERI Geneva Training in Human Rights and Advocacy
Participants in the recent ERI training in Geneva.
Back row (l-r):
James Debuo Der fpm (Ghana); Hagar Bebuur (Ghana); Cyprian Omoding (Kenya); Antony Omondi (Kenya); Felisters Mudenda (Zambia); Brian Bond cfc (ERI); Mia irassou (USA); Kate Bradley (ERI Intern); Joe Johnson cfc
(India);
In front:
Rex Oraiz (Philippines); Iris Frederick (India); Jeremy Seng (Australia)
Landing in Geneva International Airport to the sight of the snow-capped Swiss Alps, we were soon to learn the contrast between those chilly peaks and the warmth of the hospitality offered throughout our stay. The Genevan-based Brothers of Edmund Rice International opened their home to us for two weeks and kindly punctuated our stay with beautiful meals, guided tours and brisk walks through picturesque French and Swiss countryside.
- Hits: 101
Team from Edmund Rice Centre travelled to Kiribati
PCP team had the opportunity to plant mangroves as part of the adaptation with youth organised by KiriCAN
In April 29-5 May 2019 the Director of Edmund Rice Centre, Mr Phil Glendenning, Corrine Fisher and Maria Tiimon from the Pacific Calling Partnership travelled to Kiribati for a one week visit with 3 main goals
1. Meet with key people from the Kiribati government
2. Meet with key community members
3. Conduct Kiribati Australia Tuvalu Exchange Program training in conjunction with Kiribati Climate Action Networt (KiriCAN)
As usual on the first night of PCP arrival there were beautiful voices and amazing dancers with big smiles welcoming PCP team with a Kiribati traditional feast which is called Te Botaki ni Butimwai or a Welcome celebration. On Friday 3rd May PCP team ran a full day workshop on leadership, advocacy and climate change to 25 youths from different denominations and communities. On Saturday 4th May PCP team had the opportunity to plant mangroves as part of the adaptation with youth organised by KiriCAN.
- Hits: 47
ERC Homebush
Staff Development
Once again, this year at the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education we have been busy and have exciting projects underway in our Refugee & Asylum Seeker area; our Indigenous programmes and our Pacific Calling Partnership. At weekly staff meetings all staff and volunteers hear something of the action in each team, but we can find ourselves focussed and busy within the “silos” of our own project.
- Hits: 83
Callan Services
CBR Certificate Level 4 Graduation
Community Based Rehabilitation Training
The aim of the program is to prepare participants (Inservice Teachers, Community Health Workers and CBR Field Workers) to acquire basic CBR skills to identify, assess and manage the children and adults with
disabilities in the communities and be able to make referrals to the nearest IERC or Health Centre for further diagnostic tests, treatments and/or rehabilitation.
- Hits: 95