CaritasNews CHANGE STARTS WITH YOU #164 | WINTER 2021

The Emergencies Edition SURVIVING AND THRIVING BEYOND THE CRISIS

COVID-19 SURGES: OVERCOMING THE INDIGENOUS BACK LOCAL GIVING: How your support drives FLOODS: BURNING: Project Compassion makes resilience in Papua New -Leste and First Australian led fire a global impact Guinea and India recovering and rebuilding prevention

1 – ISSUE 164 | SURVIVING AND THRIVING BEYOND THE CRISIS

GLOBAL EMERGENCIES THANK YOU CONTENTS CARITAS IN THE LOOP As I write this letter, the shocking pictures and footage #164 | WINTER 2021 A MINISTERIAL VISIT TO INDIGENOUS CARBON ECONOMIES, coming out of India, which is battling a massive surge CARITAS OFFICE NEW OPPORTUNITIES in COVID-19 cases, loom large in my mind. It has been HAVE YOUR SAY deeply saddening to see and hear reports of hospitals 4 Raising your voice for For Reconciliation Week 2021, we celebrate one of our having to turn patients away. These reports are common marginalised communities First Australian partners and their innovation during across Asia, where vaccine and ventilator shortages have challenging times. left vulnerable people in a dire situation. INDIA The Aboriginal Carbon Foundation supports carbon It makes for a tough year for many of our neighbours, 5 Surviving a global pandemic farming projects to help protect environmental, social dealing with the pandemic on top of increasingly regular through healthcare and cultural values. investment and ferocious weather events. Earlier this year, Tropical To reduce damaging bushfires, rangers and Traditional Cyclone Seroja killed over 180 people in Indonesia and 45 Owners generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCU) people in Timor-Leste, destroying essential infrastructure 6 TIMOR-LESTE AND through the savanna burning methodology. ‘Cool burns’ and leaving thousands homeless across both countries. INDONESIA at the beginning of the dry season reduce greenhouse All this after tore through Fiji’s northern Sowing seeds of resilience gas emissions. The ACCU generated can be sold to against disasters The Hon Zed Seselja visited Caritas Australia’s islands in February, displacing over 14,000 people. Head Office in Sydney earlier this year. companies who want to be carbon neutral, address Photo: Daniel Nour. their Reconciliation Action Plan and corporate social Caritas Australia is a beacon of light – through your COVID-19 SPREADS responsibility goals. support and our local church networks and partners, 8 ACROSS PAPUA NEW We were thrilled to have the Minister for International “The rangers and Traditional Owners are very proud we are able to support in building resilience in the most GUINEA Development and the Pacific, Senator the Hon Zed of the work that they’re doing in terms of looking after vulnerable communities so they can better prepare for Battling contagion through Seselja, visit our Alexandria office. country, but also knowing that it’s a viable carbon emergencies. education economy,” says Rowan Foley, Chief Executive Officer of During his time in the office, the Minister learned By prioritising community development programs, we the Aboriginal Carbon Foundation. about our programs in the Pacific and Asia, and can strengthen communities before the emergency OUR COMMUNITY 10 voiced his support for Caritas Australia’s investment strikes, as well as help them to recover better afterwards. New ways of giving in challenging circumstances in the development of our nearest neighbours. Visit www.caritas.org.au/firstaustralians In Timor-Leste and Indonesia, emergency water, food and to find out more, today! sanitation provide relief for communities immediately, It was wonderful to hear of the minister’s long whilst sustainable agriculture programs enhance personal involvement in the work of Caritas Australia. resilience in the long-term. Project Compassion “Caritas Australia has been a part of my life for I’d like to thank Catholic Health Australia and its is an important part of a long time. What I love about Caritas is how it members for partnering with us at this urgent time. To Caritas Australia’s work generates a grassroots movement in which millions rise to the pressing challenge in , to empower the most of people are able to put in a few dollars, or more, our two agencies are working together, leveraging our vulnerable members of our global and they can trust that Caritas Australia will use it networks to get essential Personal Protective Equipment for good.” family. Thank you for your support this Rangers conduct controlled back burning as part of the Aboriginal Carbon to 1,462 health workers and 247 healthcare facilities year to end poverty, promote justice and Foundation’s fire prevention measures.Photo: Aboriginal Carbon Foundation. across the nation. uphold dignity all over the world. This issue of Caritas News highlights these kinds of solutions, which are only made possible through your generosity. Thank you for your unwavering support, In the last edition of Caritas News, we noted the $500 million FORGING A WAY THROUGH raised for the work of social justice globally by Caritas before, during and after the emergency strikes. Australia’s supporters. The figure is the cumulative result of FLOODS, A PANDEMIC AND public donations as well as Government funding. CONFLICT With gratitude, Simultaneous crises, including an unprecedented Writer/Editor: Daniel Nour global pandemic, flooding and cyclones have left Design: Ellie Wong vulnerable people in dire straits. In this magazine, Production Manager: Rory O’Callaghan you’ll learn about how your support builds resilience in Reporting: Cassandra Hill, Daniel Nour and Jessica Stone communities before, during and after the emergency Kirsty Robertson Cover: In India, your support is empowering communities with strikes. Chief Executive Officer poor healthcare systems with the essential personal protective In Bangladesh, midwives offer essential medical care to vulnerable equipment needed to save lives. Photo: Caritas India. women such as Salma. Photo: Caritas Bangladesh. Thank you for standing with us. Caritas Australia All photos belong to Caritas Australia unless otherwise stated

CATHOLIC Look out for Dignity of Care for The Promotion Subsidiarity and Participation and Solidarity Economic the CST icons the Human Our Common Common of Peace Participation Preferential Option Justice SOCIAL throughout Person Home Good for the Poor 2TEACHING – ISSUE 164162 | SURVIVINGONE HUMAN AND FAMILY THRIVINGthis edition. BEYOND THE CRISIS Awareness raising of COVID-19 prevention strategies across India is saving lives. RAISING YOUR VOICE FOR Photo: Caritas India. MARGINALISED COMMUNITIES Sending prayers for those impacted by floods in the & Timor Leste HAVE YOUR - Cristelia Da Costa Duffy SAY Dear Cristelia, Thank you for your support of Caritas Australia’s work to empower communities in Timor-Leste, with essential medical equipment and support. I use a Project Compassion box to - Caritas Australia remind me that people matter. - Thomas Horgan SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES WITH RESILIENCE

Dear Thomas, I would like to know if Caritas is doing anything in India to send money/ MASSIVE COVID-19 The Project Compassion box is the ‘little box that makes big change.’ equipment there to help with COVID-19? Thank you for bearing witness to - Margie Beck the place of the PC box in our lives SURGE ACROSS INDIA and communities. - Caritas Australia Dear Margie, The kindness of our generous supporters COVID-19 crisis is still in short supply due to shortages healthcare system is is enabling our partners on the ground, Aunfolding in India with more of materials and a slowdown in overwhelmed.” including Caritas India, to bolster than 29 million recorded cases manufacturing. community resilience against COVID-19. and over 340,000 deaths. Through your support of our India You can find out more atwww.caritas.org. “Now, more than ever, it’s vital COVID-19 Appeal, Caritas Australia au/support-india The country of nearly 1.4 billion that we provide support to India has been able to help Caritas India people currently contracts over to prevent even more lives being -Caritas Australia with: 100,000 cases per day, although lost,” said Bernice Sarpong, • Information and treatment experts warn that actual numbers Caritas Australia’s Emergency centres that provide isolation could be five to ten times higher Program Coordinator for Asia. during quarantine, than those reported. “We are working with our local • Ongoing awareness raising in “People are flooding hospitals, partner, Carita India, to support communities hardest hit, the hospitals have no beds and marginalised communities to people are just dying. We are prevent the spread of the virus • Support to families to care distressed and worried as we and also educating on how to for their loved ones at home, Mangrove plantations in Kiribati are improving community readiness see in front of our eyes hundreds look after loved ones with with so few places at public by bolstering low-lying areas up against the threat of flooding. Photo: Boore Moua, Caritas Australia. of our own near and dear ones COVID-19 at home, while the hospitals. dying or not getting a place in the hospitals,” said Fr Paul Moonjely, the Executive Director of Caritas India. Leave a legacy of love “We are equally worried about When you include a gift in your Will, you the protection and safety of our create a life-changing legacy which can help health workers.” transform the world for generations to come. The enormous second wave Your gift will go towards the communities has had a devastating impact on who need it. Thank you for leaving an India’s healthcare system, with enduring Legacy of Love. widespread shortages of hospital www.caritas.org.au/gift-in-will beds and oxygen. Vaccine registrations opened to Visit www.caritas.org.au/support-india today! adults; however, vaccines are also

4 – ISSUE 164 | SURVIVING AND THRIVING BEYOND THE CRISIS CARITASNEWS | WINTER 2021 – 5 Widespread damage has upended community life across Indonesia. CYCLONE SEASON UPENDS LIFE FOR OUR NEAREST NEIGHBOURS Photo: Caritas Indonesia/Caritas Atambua DISASTER IN OUR REGION Cyclone season, which occurs between October TIMOR-LESTE and May, swept through Timor-Leste and Indonesia with incredible force this year. Cyclones imor-Leste is still reeling in the wake of massive often damage communities in South-East Asia Tfloods which were triggered by and the Pacific, but now the COVID-19 pandemic Seroja in early April. has added an additional stress to already An estimated 2,000 households and over 9,000 pressured communities. people across Timor-Leste were affected. The Around 40% of Indonesia’s population is vulnerable to weather emergencies, with more frequent heat Your support helps build resilience in vulnerable torrential rain and landslides destroyed critical waves and floods. Droughts on southern islands communities so that they can better prepare infrastructure across the country and claimed the lives of 45 people. and floods and cyclones are intensifying across for extreme weather events, through building the country. improved infrastructure and socialising Some of the ways that your support has enabled - United Nations/Relief Web emergency response action plans. our partners on the ground to respond, is through the distribution of blankets, mattresses and food packages to families in evacuation centres, as well as There are many ways that your support helps conducting damage assessments on houses that will INDONESIA communities during an emergency. With your improve rebuilding efforts. ndonesia, one of the most populous countries in South- support, Caritas Indonesia staff were on the Through your generosity, Disaster Risk Reduction IEast Asia, is particularly vulnerable to frequent and often ground, (DRR) activities can strengthen communities’ disastrous weather events like cyclones and the associated impact of widespread flooding, landslides and infrastructure resilience to extreme weather events. Village Disaster Opening an emergency soup kitchen damage. Management Committees develop and implement serving 3,280 disaster survivors plans to mitigate the effects of natural disasters. When Tropical Cyclone Seroja hit Indonesia on Sunday These committees empower community members April 4, at least 130 people lost their lives. Another 13,000 to use their knowledge of the local context to identify people were forced to flee their homes and seek shelter in Providing emergency, ready-to-eat risks and drive change in their villages. evacuation centres. meals “It gives us a sense of hope to know that our work Additionally, Indonesia is experiencing a COVID-19 crisis, with more than 1.7 million confirmed cases since supports the most vulnerable communities to Distributing emergency clean water the pandemic began – the highest number of cases in work together and make their community safer for and clothes to survivors South-East Asia. There were 6,731 new COVID-19 cases themselves, to know that communities have their recorded on the same day Tropical Cyclone Seroja struck. plans on how to be prepared for disasters, to mitigate risk and what they can do to respond to disaster in Caritas Australia and its partners were already on the their village,” said Fernando Pires, Caritas Australia ground in East Nusa Tengarra province, where the supported the community with critical personal protective representative for Timor-Leste. disaster hit, working with villagers to implement a equipment. long-term livelihoods program through the Integrated Thank you for helping communities to prepare for and Village Development Project. respond to disasters in Indonesia and Timor-Leste, as The program equips communities with improved farming well as to the immediate aftermath of the emergencies Your support fosters improved community practices to increase their yield so that they can sell more themselves. preparedness against disasters, through: goods at market and upskill locals through training in business management. During COVID-19 times, we also Donate now at www.caritas.org.au/support-asia

water source catchment conservation techniques

building walls that prevent Give Monthly rivers and waterways from Driver, Vitorino Sarmento, is part of Caritas Australia’s first Regular monthly donations are response team in Timor-Leste. Photo: Caritas Australia overflowing the most effective way to support long-term development through better Timor-Leste is one of the least developed countries using terracing and tree community planning efforts. in our region, with 42% of the population living planting to prevent erosion below the national poverty line (World Bank). and landslides. Learn more at www.caritas.org.au/neighbours

6 – ISSUE 164 | SURVIVING AND THRIVING BEYOND THE CRISIS CARITASNEWS | WINTER 2021 – 7 Students from a primary school in Eastern Highlands “Health facilities across Papua province, washing their hands, as one of the measures put into place by the school. Photo: Nigel Akuani New Guinea have struggled with a lack of medical supplies over the past year as they respond to COVID-19, so supplies of personal protective equipment will make an immediate difference where it matters.” -Diane Unagi, Caritas Australia country representative, PNG. Caritas Australia PNG office staff raising awareness on COVID-19 hygiene practices to students and community members. Photo: Roslyn Kuniata

RADIO AND FILM One way in which Caritas Fr Ambrose Pereira, Social Australia is boosting the impact Communications Commission COVID-19 SPREADS ACROSS PNG SAVING LIVES of COVID-19 prevention strategies Secretary, spoke on the aim cross Papua New Guinea’s is through multimedia messages, of communicating messages ACatholic School network, your including short films and jingles through short film. for PNG radio stations. BATTLING CONTAGION support is crucial in raising “The important aspect of this awareness of, and implementing Year Twelve student at Caritas program is not merely to improved practices around, Technical Secondary, Alison communicate an idea or a news THROUGH EDUCATION sanitation and hygiene. Shangkei, said she was grateful item but how we can elicit change Approximately half of PNG’s for the sessions on the in ourselves, make sure that there schools and health centres are environment and COVID-19. is community change and ultimately to ensure that run by churches. This means that “I have now come to realise how there is change at the level of THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND it’s very effective to work through serious and severe the problems are, existing church networks to government,” Fr Ambrose said. ow do you tackle the spread of a pandemic in a country as The Australian Government’s and both lessons have really inspired counter misinformation, build trust geographically remote and linguistically diverse as Papua New Guinea? distribution of 8,000 COVID-19 me to do more, not just for me but H and reach the most vulnerable For this you would need an interconnected network of community meeting AstraZeneca vaccines has been for others and more importantly the and marginalised people. points and a system of community organisers and leaders. In short, you urgently needed in PNG. Poor environment,” she said. would need the power of Caritas Australia’s partner, the PNG church infrastructure and limited medical network. capacity mean that ongoing support is needed to maximise the Through your compassion, Caritas Australia’s talented staff sprang into CATHOLIC HEALTH AUSTRALIA AND ITS impact of the vaccinations. action. By engaging school teachers, clergy and volunteers, the network MEMBERS STEP UP TO RAISE OVER $350,000 was able to implement a COVID-19 response strategy: focusing on In a country where testing rates TO FIGHT COVID-19 IN PNG distributing essential PPE (personal protective equipment) and informing remain low because of such a community members about lifesaving health practices. limited number of COVID-19 testing ‘When we join together, we can go your generous donations with further.’ This is the message of When COVID-19 first hit, Caritas Australia distributed almost $250,000 facilities, healthcare systems are a massive $356,200 to bolster worth of PPE to facilities in 19 provinces, comprising more than: almost at breaking point. Catholic Health Australia and health resilience against the its members, who this year pandemic in PNG. “One of the challenges for PNG is stepped up to match the cost of testing and treatment,” This investment allows for an says Diane Unagi, Caritas Australia immediate increase in essential supplies such as personal 300,000 Training for 200 Country Representative for Papua Through the face masks, gloves teachers and health New Guinea. Catholic Church protective equipment for health and gowns, delivered to workers in COVID-19 Health Services workers, medical supplies and That’s why your support in ongoing network, Catholic Health Australia 1,460 health workers in 235 awareness triage tents. medical skills training and and its members can reach facilities community awareness raising 247 health care facilities with Thank you, Catholic Health is so important in PNG, to build over 1,400 medical staff spread Australia, for standing with the resilience long after the headlines throughout PNG provinces. people of PNG at this challenging This includes five hospitals, change. time. The production of 7 1,000 hygiene kits health centres and clinics and radio commercials and for vulnerable children, community health posts. Four With your help, we can go further 18,300 educational including those in of these facilities are currently for the most vulnerable in PNG. posters, which reached 3,000 orphanages, settlements administering COVID-19 testing, There’s still time to donate to help schools in 19 provinces Visit www.caritas.org.au/support- and refugee camps with the possibility of increasing protect the people of PNG against pacific to make a donation today. this number if resourced. Caritas Australia staff labelling PPE boxes ready the threat of COVID-19. for freighting. Photo: Roslyn Kuniata

8 – ISSUE 164 | SURVIVING AND THRIVING BEYOND THE CRISIS CARITASNEWS | WINTER 2021 – 9 THINKING CREATIVELY WITH OUR MOST VULNERABLE GLOBAL NEIGHBOURS

YOUNG HEARTS UNITE QLD | STUDENTS WORK AROUND THE ‘CLUCK’ FOR FOR GLOBAL CHANGE PROJECT COMPASSION!

All across Australia, you have joined the groundswell of support to ‘Be More’ for Project The students from St John Bosco Catholic School Compassion. Here are just some of the ways that you have come together to work towards more in Collinsville, , recently shelled out an amazing effort for their Chicki-tas campaign. justice and equity for vulnerable communities. For school Principal, Nicole Preitz, the impact of the initiative, which can help supply communities in the ADELAIDE | STUDENTS JOIN THE LONG Solomon Islands with sustainable chicken farming WALK FOR JUSTICE projects, was inspiring. Across South Australia, nine Catholic Colleges came “For a school of 43 students, raising $500 for Project together for a coastal Caritas Ks. The students completed Compassion is an excellent effort and as principal I either a 3km walk or a 6km run, starting from Angus was very proud of it. It is amazing what young people Neill Reserve Seacliff and looping between Brighton and will do when they are given something tangible, that Seacliff. helps them to see the impact of their donation in real In the many communities where Caritas Australia works terms,” Nicole said. globally, it’s mainly the women and the girls that walk an The commitment of the students was clear for all to average of 6 km a day to obtain the water necessary for see, as was their clucky sense of determination! their survival. At the end of the walk, students pooled their Project Compassion donations for Caritas Australia. Caritas Australia acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians, past, present and emerging, of the land on which Thank you South Australian youth for walking towards a all our offices are located. This edition may include images or better, more just and equitable world. SYDNEY | GETTING SOAKED words of indigenous people who may be deceased.

School students strolled, walked and sprinted for Project Compassion in South Australia. FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE Year Six student, Tom, still has plenty of energy left as he runs the 6km to put dollars in Caritas Australia is fully accredited by the Department of his Project Compassion box. Photo: Tracey Tessitore Foreign Affairs and Trade. Please note: some of the programs featured in this issue of Caritas News are funded by Caritas Australia and the Australian Government.

Caritas Australia is a member of the Australian Council for VICTORIA | SMALL DROPS OF International Development (ACFID). COMPASSION, STRONG CURRENTS

OF CHANGE The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) is the national regulator of charities. Water access is one of the greatest necessities for wellbeing. Globally, clean water, sanitation, and hygiene could save the lives of 297,000 children under the age of Caritas Australia is a proud member of CAN, a group of five each year, according to the World Health Organisation. eleven Church-based overseas aid and development agencies Photo: St Patrick’s College, Sutherland committed to empowering people and providing avenues for In Echuca, Victoria, the severity of the global water crisis them to overcome injustice and poverty. was powerfully communicated with an interactive water display. At St Patrick’s College Sutherland, students A 1000L water container was set up in St Mary’s Church hit the pavement as part of a Caritas Ks FOR THE LATEST UPDATES HEAD TO: walk. They raised over $20,000 for Project forecourt. Students learnt of the ease with which this 24-32 O’Riordan St, .com/CaritasAust essential supply could be delivered to their community: with Compassion. As well as highlighting the Alexandria NSW 2015 plight of people globally who must walk facebook.com/CaritasAU this amount being available to local farmers for just $11. 1800 024 413 (toll free) hundreds of kilometres to meet their basic 9am – 5pm AEST Mon – Fri youtube.com/CaritasAustralia Echuca students and parishioners participated in a needs, the walk ended in one poor teacher’s [email protected] sponsored Caritas Ks event. Knowing the distance around getting drenched. www.instagram.com/caritasaust/ the city block was 600 metres, participants aimed to carry www.caritas.org.au water 10 laps i.e. 6km, the average distance women and Thank you, St Patrick’s student body: your generosity is overflowing, just like the head girls walk in many countries to collect water. MIX logo of Year Seven coordinator, Mr Chris Postill! A meaningful act of solidarity raising both awareness and (pictured). funds for the world’s most vulnerable communities!

10 – ISSUE 164 | SURVIVING AND THRIVING BEYOND THE CRISIS CARITASNEWS | WINTER 2021 – 11 Lat and Em worked hard all their lives as rice and poultry farmers in rural Cambodia, but only your support for improved farming techniques helped them to boost production and increase food and income security.

Around the world, families like Lat and Em’s still live without the income they need to survive.

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12 24-32– ISSUE O’Rio 164rdan | SURVIVINGSt, Alexandria AND NSW THRIVING 2015 BEYOND THE CRISIS1800 024 413 www.caritas.org.au 90 970 605 069