Traditionally, it has been the responsibility of the East Asian government to plan and implement community development projects. This is changing as both students and the government recognize the role citizens can play in creating a better place to live. It is often the task of education programs to help students realize the power they hold within themselves to change their communities for the better. At the Oasis Training Center in East Asia, students were given the opportunity and challenge to design a project that enhances their city. By identifying a need within their community, planning something to address that need, implementing it, and eventually evaluating and reporting on it, students took ownership of the change they saw occurring all around them. Students decided to plan a project in order to promote environmental health. They researched about recycling programs and then presented this research to a local high school. They then collected weekly the plastic and paper collected at the school. From these collections, the school benefitted financially and the students were proud to see the positive effects their work had on their community. Continue Reading »
Posts Tagged ‘East Asia’
Letters of Thanks from East Asia
Filed under: Community Development
Tags: East Asia, Education
These touching letters are from two young girls in a CWR-sponsored after school program. We thought it was important to share these with you, who have served as their “uncles and aunts of CWR” through donations, advocacy and prayer.
In parts of East Asia, the struggle to find a shred of employment sends many parents to the cities, forced to place their sons and daughters in the full-time care of tired grandparents. These so-called “left-behind” children often go a year or more without seeing their mother or father. We are watching depression and learning disabilities reach epidemic status among this young generation of borderline orphans. It is a slow-motion economic disaster. Continue Reading »
CWR Partner Update: East Asia Water Catchment Project
Filed under: Community Development
Tags: East Asia, Water
Water is the foundation of our livelihood. Not only do we need water for our own personal health, but without water crops would be depleted, animals would die, and good sanitation practices would be merely a dream.
It is difficult to imagine living in a place where an essential resource such as water is scarce. Unfortunately, having a lack of water is a reality for many communities throughout the world. One of those communities, a small village in eastern Asia, knows what it means to live without easy access to water.
In the past, the only water resource for the people of the village was a small spring two kilometers away from the community. Retrieving water on a daily basis was not only inconvenient but also difficult, especially for the elderly.
The Women’s Federation of the village saw this as an imminent need in the community and decided to take action. Through funds provided by Covenant World Relief, the Federation was able to work with the community to construct 100 individual rainwater catchment systems.
As a result, the lives of 500 people and 200 animals have been improved. Community members worked together to construct the cisterns and upon completion they were excited about the water they could use to irrigate small vegetable gardens, give to animals and use for washing clothes and bathing.
Even more encouraging is that many families were willing to contribute some of their own funds in order to make their situation even better. Now, many houses have added an additional paved area in their compound which is used for activities including drying vegetables and washing clothes.
It is clear that God is at work improving the lives of the people in this village in Asia, and though there are many communities that are still in need of access to water, it is encouraging to know that one more community is able to experience the Good News of the Kingdom through something as basic as water.
–Written by Lauren Ernst, CWR intern
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