interactSpring 2010 The magazine of

Haiti Hope amid the ruins 2 spring 2010 • interact agenda justice notjustcharity. opportunities, ourvoicesand ownpower.Touseitfor deep, notjustintoourpockets, butelsewhere:intoour As Romero’slifeanddeathteaches us,wemustdig the poorthatunderpinassistance. used –andthestructures,policiesattitudestowards important, butsoisthequestionofhowmoney the needsandperspectiveofthosewhoarepoor.Aidis think abouthowtocastourvotes,weconsidercarefully here intheUKasaGeneralElectionapproaches.Aswe a policyresponsetopovertyisdoubtlessinourminds That questionofjustice,structures,theneedfor witness toanewhopeforthepeople. by takingsides,denouncinginjusticeandbeingaliving us howthechurchcantrulybeaofpoor, spoke outonbehalfofthepoorElSalvador.Heshowed a simplelifeandwhogenuinelyloved,listenedto and justicewasOscarRomero:anArchbishopwholived Someone wholivedoutthatdualcommitmenttocharity tackling thestructuresthatcauseandperpetuatepoverty. of charitablegiving.Itmustalsobeaboutjustice,and remind usthatourresponsecanneveronlybeamatter and actiononlonger-termmeasures,thepeopleofHaiti As theimmediateemergencyeffortsgivewaytoplans our ownappealandforthatwethankyou. beings forgenerosity.Therewasanenormousresponseto proportions. Yetitalsoshowedusthecapacityofhuman The recentearthquakeinHaitiwasatragedyofepic Hope amidtheruins Director ChristineAllen justice, saysProgressio’sExecutive Charity mustbeunderpinnedby contents 16 14 12 10 8 4 Saman/Panos Moises Photo: earthquake. the after days five , Port-au-Prince, of district Mariani the in pictured Walkine, Marie and Walker children their with Rose Marie and Sonnel family, Vilme The Cover:

Romero’s prophetic message reflection Dahir Korrow Issak Q&A prisoners inZimbabwe viewpoint Romero’s legacy voices Haitians ‘lockedout’ action hope amidtheruins insight Photo: NuriaZayas/Progressio www.progressio.org.uk the situationin , seeProgressio’swebsite remains dividedandpolarised. For morecommenton against socialactivistscontinues, andHonduransociety months onfromtheNovember 2009elections,repression representation inanewConstituent Assembly.Several since thecoupinJune2009and callingforpeople’s 2010, protestingagainsthuman rightsabusesperpetrated A demonstrationinTegucigalpa,Honduras,January focus 3 spring 2010 • interact focus 4 spring 2010 • interact insighttab people arerisingtothechallenge. accounts fromProgressiodevelopmentworkersandstaff showhowHaiti’s and willneedmucheffortmanyyearsofworktofix.”Theseeye-witness worker JoséManuelMorenowrote:“Thesituationhereisabsolutelycatastophic A weekaftertheearthquakehitHaitiinJanuary,Progressiodevelopment Hope amidtheruins still containedwithin thecreakingwalls. sky andfarawayfromthethreat whichis spend thenightaccompanied only bythe looking foracamp,placewhere theycan my colleaguesanswerthatthey mustbe salvage fromtherubble. the fewitemsthattheyhavemanagedto other receptaclesthatcanbeusedtohold their heads–suitcasesandbarrelsany whatever isleftoftheirhomesbalancedon approach Port-au-Prince,walkingwith volume ofpeoplewecomeacrossas to fall.It’sprettyamazingseethe We taketheroadhomeasnightbegins I wonderwheretheyaregoing, and José ManuelMoreno All photos by José Manuel Moreno/José Emperador/Progressio But wearemaking abigeffortandweareexpecting results. also bythelackofvoice,through asensethatnobodyislisteningtoyou. together. help andthosewhocangiveit –working together: everyone–thosewho need solidarity isalsoaboutdistributing supplies what ishappeningaroundus,andthat all agreethatwecan’tcloseoureyesto the trucksfilledwithaidarearriving.We who arelivinginthisarea,closetowhere do havewewillsharewiththepeople have alotofresources,butthatwhatwe international organisation,thatwedon’t we tryandexplainthatarenotabig aim ofreconcilingtheirneedswithours. really precariousconditions,withthesole community ofpeoplewhoarelivingin and potholessurroundedbyanentire in themiddleofaroadcoveredsand of needandemergency,wearesitting suburb, onadarknight,insituation incredible, animageIwillneverforget:inthemiddleofaPort-au-Prince shocked. gathering aroundus.Thepeoplearesurprised,angryandstillrather It’s almost9pmbythetimewegetthereandabout100peoplestart only bysticksandsheets. and mattressesprotected on thefloor,blankets find lotsofpeopleliving passageway wherewe streets andarriveata alleyways andnarrow speak tothepeople. to sayweneedgoand development worker,calls with asaProgressio organisation Iamworking of CentroBono,the when Mario,theDirector can sensethetiredness, Night fallsandyou Perhaps theangerisnotonlygenerated bythelackofresourcesbut If theyhelpus,wecanthem.So Mario asksforabitofquietandsuggestswesitdowntalk.It’s We walkthrough on, askingforhelp.” written have people which billboards, as used being sheets see you go you “Everywhere José ManuelMoreno 5 spring 2010 • interact insighttab People locally now know that we are distributing supplies from our base and insight more and more people are coming to ask for help. It’s really hard, but we have to insist on giving supplies through organisations, communities, associations and groups (such as school groups) so that people don’t just come individually. spring 2010 • interact Also, we don’t just give out medicine – but instead try to make sure one of our doctors goes to visit the individual in their community. In this way we are trying to ensure the medicines are being put to the best possible use. Nonetheless, people here are still hungry and thirsty and this is palpable in the work we do each and every day. In this situation it is hard to think about things in the medium and long term but we have already begun talking about our plans and strategies for after the emergency phase. We are thinking about various projects which might give some sense of continuity to this enormous effort we are making. For this, we are getting in touch with local organisations who work with women and with local citizens groups, to ensure that we make the right proposals and channel the help which is arriving each day in the best possible way – and to ensure that we plant a few seeds of hope for the people of this country. José Manuel Moreno

The people who were always traditionally excluded from public life – members of local Haitian communities – have made it clear that the future reconstruction of the country will happen through their efforts, or it won’t happen at all. From these grassroots groups, new social and political leaders will emerge, as will new neighbourhoods for those who have been left homeless – and, we hope, a new and more effective state which is closer to the people themselves. The word you hear most often during these meetings is ‘inclusive’. Projects must be run by the people, for the people. José Emperador

6 The serious problems facing [ agencies] in terms of distributing aid are twofold: security and logistics. These are slowly being resolved thanks to the insight incredible help and collaboration from Haitians – the locals who live here. It will always be the Haitians who will be the most effective. There is no-one who knows the terrain like the Haitians, there is no-one who speaks Creole like the Haitians themselves. The aid is here, but we can’t do anything without their help. It’s not a graphic image, but in many neighbourhoods Haitians are organising spring 2010 • interact things for themselves, carrying out the most basic tasks of organisation and distribution. It’s the people themselves who are doing this. José Emperador

Today, I got into the jeep, and drove out on to the road followed by the truck we are using to distribute aid from the Help Haiti platform. As we drove, I saw the women, smiling while they performed the daily miracle of navigating the many obstacles in the street without letting the baskets perched on their heads, full of goods, lose balance and fall off. A kilometre further on, workers were coming out of the textile factories, less rowdy than before but having completed a day’s work, almost the same as they did before the earthquake. In Port-au-Prince, the Haitian head of the It all adds to the growing sense that, Jesuit seminary where we were staying (by amidst the rubble and beneath the canvas necessity, in tents) held an evening meeting of the camps occupied by those who have for those of us staying in the compound, been made homeless, glimpses of normality aid workers, seminarians, and families are returning to Haiti. of Haitian relief workers. As we stood José Emperador together in the garden, in the dark, he asked us to hold hands, and say the Lord’s interactnow prayer, each in our own language. What a challenge, in the midst of such meaningless Progressio has been working with the Help horror, to be asked to pray in this way. And Haiti coalition. To donate to our work in Haiti, go to www.progressio.org.uk yet, we did. Tim Aldred

7 Haitians ‘locked out’ of talks about Government makes pledge on own future illegally logged timber action More than 26 Haitian NGOs representing New guidelines issued by the UK tens of thousands of ordinary Haitian government mean that imported wood people have condemned recent used by local authorities, schools and

international talks about the future of their hospitals must now meet ‘social criteria’ Marcus Perkins/Pro gressio earthquake-shattered nation. such as respect for land tenure and forest They say they have been “totally workers’ employment rights, as well as excluded” from the discussions – and meeting standards of sustainable forest that their calls for a “new model of management. development” in Haiti are being ignored. Lizzette Robleto, Progressio’s advocacy Following a round of talks held in the officer who has been lobbying for the spring 2010 • interact in mid-March, the change, said: “In the UK, 62% of imported Haitian organisations issued a statement tropical wood is illegally logged. If these saying: “The ongoing process [which will criteria are followed, the public sector will result in a reconstruction plan for Haiti] be setting a good example. We hope this has been characterised by an almost is a step towards eliminating illegal timber total exclusion of Haitian social actors from the UK market for good.” themselves and scant and disorganised Read more about Progressio’s work on participation of representatives from the illegal logging at www.progressio.org.uk Haitian state.” They continue: “The Haitian context UK election: make international demands a complete rethink of the model development a vote-winner of development.” Instead of ‘business as Voters need to remind politicians that usual’ following the quake, the Haitian their stance on international development groups say they want to see “a new project is a key issue in deciding who to vote for the Haitian nation, which includes for at the election. The Bond network of serious strategies to overcome exclusion development agencies, of which Progressio and political and economic dependence.” is a member, has produced an election toolkit with ideas on how to challenge interactnow candidates and promote action on global Read Progressio’s briefing poverty. See www.progressio.org.uk for Haiti: Key points for policy makers more info and links to download the at www.progressio.org.uk toolkit.

World Water Day (22 March) reminds us that it is the world’s poor who suffer first and foremost from lack of access to water. In Marcala in western Honduras, Progressio is working to Roger Diaz/Progressio improve access to water for irrigation for peasant farmers. “Our ultimate goal is to raise our income by growing a variety of vegetables rather than just corn, beans and coffee,” says farmer Hilda López. “But to do so we need water for irrigating. Especially now, in the summer, with no rain water at all, there is nothing we can grow. The economy is at rock bottom.”

8 action

Sponsor a spring 2010 • interact development worker

Musa Chibwana is a Progressio ‘Local Hero’ working with the Mbuya Nhanda Children’s Home in . By helping the children’s home to gather resources and funding, and by setting up an improved water supply system, his influence has transformed the way in which the home can provide for children. Musa has also been working with the Zimbabwean National Council for the Welfare of Children to promote the adoption of improved childcare standards in children’s homes across the country.

“How can you talk to someone about and supporters. HIV and AIDS if they have not eaten for We hope our members already feel a three days?” says Edson Chiota, National personal connection to the work we do. Co-ordinator of the Zimbabwe Association But did you know it is now possible for for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation you to directly sponsor a development of the Offender (ZACRO). “And how can worker? By sponsoring a Progressio ‘Local you rehabilitate someone who is at risk of Hero’, your money will go directly to pay dying?” adds Teclah Ponde, Progressio’s for Progressio development workers in development worker with ZACRO. Zimbabwe and elsewhere. In return for Despite the challenges of working in your support, you will get regular updates Zimbabwe’s prisons, “Teclah is one of from our development worker – so you can the best things to have happened to our see what they are doing, and how they are organisation. She has zeal and the will helping to change people’s lives. to succeed, even using her own personal resources to help us,” says Edson. “We interactnow really respect what you have done for us.” See page 13 of this Interact for an idea of Progressio works through people – the difference that a Progressio ‘Local Hero’ can make – and to find out more about development workers like Teclah Ponde. sponsoring a development worker, please And our work is only possible because of contact [email protected] or tel the people who fund us – our members 020 7288 8667.

9 The legacy of Oscar Romero voices March 24th is the 30th anniversary of the murder of Oscar Romero. Progressio development worker Maggie Von Vogt asked the people of : if Romero were alive today, what would he be speaking up about? What would he be fighting for? Maggie Von Vogt/Progressio

Leonor del Carmen Huezo, age 52 Gladys Argentina Sánchez García, Romero’s family was from the countryside. age 15 Because of this, he greatly valued rural Aside from being an extremely good

spring 2010 • interact people, simple people who were workers. religious person, he left us with democracy And that is why he denounced the and freedom of expression. It took him injustices. He saw what the rich were dying for us as Salvadorans to understand doing to the poor. If he were alive today, that we need to respect each other’s rights he would support the most poor and as people, and that we have to think and humble people. He always said, “Onward. express ourselves about what we feel is Don’t give up.” He would be giving us the wrong. strength to move forward. Katya Marina Santos Rosarín, age 33 Luis Gonzalez, age 27 In the church, Romero is an icon because In the face of poverty and unemployment, there has never been a priest like him that in the face of death and repression, puts himself on the side of the people Monsignor Romero spoke for the people. most in need. If he were alive today, he But who’s saying it now? In the current would continue his struggle because there situation we are in of homicides, poverty, is a lot of exclusion, inequality, and a lack crime, and environmental destruction, who of opportunities for the people. is saying something? For us today, Romero is an example to Denis Wilfredo Chicas Marquez, age 24 follow. He pushes us to say, what are we The problem in this country is exploitation. doing for the poor and the excluded, and Many companies that have money exploit for the earth and the environment, which the resources that people need to survive. is also excluded and forgotten? The people are against this, but there isn’t anyone to organise the people. If José Benjamín Alvarenga, age 75 Monsignor Romero were alive today, he I think he would work for a better future would be organising everyone. All the for young people. You see things these people who suffer... always. days where youth of 16, 18 years of age commit crimes that usually only older Fernando Andrés Silieza, age 21 people commit. So he would have to If he were alive today, I think he would be look at how to prevent crime, more than taking a stance against social injustice – anything with youth, so that they don’t against government actions that threaten become involved with gangs and those the well being of the people and the kinds of things. economic situation of the poorest and most in need.

10 voices spring 2010 • interact

Padre Antonio Confesor Carballo lights and the elderly who have been Hernández (above, speaking at a abandoned. He would cry out for all the demonstration against the Chaparral anonymous who don’t have anything to dam, November 2009) help them to move forward Monsignor Romero would speak out for Romero’s humbleness, his simplicity, his those that need health care, education, desire for truth, has inspired me in my life nutrition, and for all those who do not as a priest. His desire to find God in the have opportunities. most vulnerable people, and to speak in Monsignor Romero would cry out for their name to the powerful of the world, the children who are working at the traffic has been an inspiration.

Ana Maria Umaña, age 60 One of the things Monsignor spoke The legacy that Romero left us is that we out about is that the people didn’t have always must work for the people most in work. It’s the same now. Mothers don’t need. He always spoke out against the have support for their children. Children injustices committed in this country and in the most humble of schools don’t have the conditions in which we are living. anything. He called for us to be Christians, And this is what he taught us... to go not Christians sitting at a desk, but real and investigate the conditions the people Christians. This daily accompaniment and are living in. speaking out is what he left us – and this Church leaders have a lot of influence; cannot be erased. in the the people follow Monsignor is gone but the people are their leaders. I think the Church needs alive. We follow him, us Salvadorans and to be stronger and more outspoken, like people from other countries. Romero was for us.

11 12 spring 2010 • interact viewpoint Letter fromZimbabwe Photo: MarcusPerkins/Progressio Chikurubi Farm Prison showshow. testimony (next page)ofaprisonerat prisoners andrespondingtoHIV. The has madegreatstridesinsupporting development workerTeclahPonde – ZACRO –withhelpfromProgressio (ZACRO). Despitetheconditions, and RehabilitationoftheOffender Association forCrimePrevention Co-ordinator oftheZimbabwe Edson Chiota(pictured),National are soharmfultopeople.”Sosays that itishardtodescribe–they has deterioratedtosuchanextent “The situationinZimbabwe’sprisons Life in Chikurubi Farm Prison is not easy. sessions, I encouraged the inmate to go for The food situation when I was imprisoned an HIV test. He looked at me and asked me in February 2009 was quite bad. I was a question that I was battling with within fortunate that I got visitors twice a week myself. He asked me whether I had been who were able to bring food in for me. But tested or not. I told him the truth: that I viewpoint for the majority of the inmates, life was a had not yet done so and that I was equally huge challenge. As a result some inmates scared of the outcome of the test. were forced by circumstances to trade We began to have a heart-to-heart talk sexual favours for food – a high risk activity about the advantages of knowing one’s as far as HIV transmission is concerned. status against living in ignorance. At the In the prison, I worked closely with end of this discussion, we agreed to go the Rehabilitation Department and together for the HIV test which we did. It was selected for the HIV and AIDS Peer was not an easy step to take but I am glad

Education Programme conducted by we took the step and now we both know spring 2010 • interact ZACRO. I welcomed this because it gave our HIV status. me an opportunity to develop myself and What I learnt from this experience was equip myself with new knowledge, and at that peer education activities are a strong the same time help make a difference in stimulus for self examination, and give one other inmates’ lives. an opportunity to face up to one’s own I was selected as a group leader and I fears. I am glad I was able to overcome was spearheading all the peer education my fears and as a result could reach out to activities of my group. We met once a another inmate. week during the weekends to discuss each individual’s progress, challenges faced and Challenges how they could be overcome. I am glad to say that when I left prison, the community where I live welcomed Achievement me back. Indeed it has been a source of As a group, we managed to establish a support to my family during my period of support group of seven inmates who were incarceration and I thank God for them. HIV-positive and getting treatment. To Now that I am back home, I am faced us this was a great achievement because with the challenges of getting employment it is not easy for someone to disclose and a sustainable livelihood for my family their status, especially within a prison in such a harsh economic environment environment. One runs the risk of being – one that is different from the prison discriminated against because a prison environment but equally difficult. I am is a harsh community with its own rules finding this hard to do, but I have not lost of engagement. Despite this, we still hope yet. I still believe that an opportunity managed to establish the group, helped will come my way sooner or later. them to conduct regular meetings and encouraged them to continue despite the Joseph Mangani (not his real name) was challenges. sentenced to 8 months in prison for fraud. I am glad to mention that the group is He was interviewed by Teclah Ponde – a still going strong and helping each other to Progressio ‘Local Hero’ in Zimbabwe. cope and live within the prison conditions. During one of my peer education interactnow activities at Chikurubi Farm Prison, I To sponsor a Progressio ‘Local Hero’, came across an inmate whom I began to please contact [email protected] or tel 020 7288 8667. counsel. During one of the counselling

13 Dahir Korow Issak is a Progressio development worker with GAVO (the General Assistance and Volunteer Dahir Organisation) in Somaliland. Dahir is Kenyan and is Q& A working as an HIV Youth Advisor. Korow Q: What made the biggest impact on you when you Issak arrived in Somaliland? A: I never expected it to be so peaceful – I thought it Somaliland would be like Somalia. The leaders at GAVO made an impact on me too. They were so young and dynamic, I Dahir (left) talking with fellow wondered what more I could offer them – but I’ve been Progressio development able to share a lot of my experience from teaching in worker Ahmed Mohamed Kenya, and being able to speak Somali helps. Mohamud, who is working as

spring 2010 • interact an Election Monitoring Advisor Q: What’s been the most exciting moment so far? with the Forum for Peace A: When the young people started telling me their and Governance (FOPAG) in personal experiences about HIV. It’s one thing when they Somaliland. understand the issues, but another when they’re willing Photo: Caroline Pankhurst/ to talk about them. One of the young people had always Progressio been told not to talk to his neighbour – he now realises it was because the neighbour was HIV-positive. Now he knows that you can not only talk to someone who is HIV- positive but you can hold them, eat with them and sleep with them (as long as you do it safely).

Q: And the biggest lesson? A: The need to be patient – you can’t force things. You need to realise the hurdles, for example frustrations with the government, and change your plans to achieve your goals.

Q: What’s the biggest challenge facing HIV work in Somaliland? A: Denial. People are dying but their families don’t want to talk about it. You can’t talk about condoms – people use the Koran as an excuse and say that condoms encourage intercourse (it’s not in the Islamic teaching for unmarried couples to use condoms). But I’m a Muslim and know that condoms are better than people dying. Common sense dictates that you should save your life if you decide to have sex.

Q: If you could change one thing what would it be? A: The perception that HIV is for non-believers – “AIDS is not for Muslims” – and yet many Muslims are dying because of it. For this to change there needs to be a brave move to integrate the basic concepts of HIV and AIDS into both the formal and informal education systems.

14 15 spring 2010 • interact Q&A Romero’s prophetic message

Monsignor Romero said that Jesus respect. And we are not constructing reflection Christ is in El Salvador and Central it if at the same time there are America. And it’s true. In his own life people dying in Africa. We are not and death, Romero showed us how. constructing it when there are women Romero saw Jesus Christ as dying as victims of male violence. We something that must be seen – like are not constructing it while young a Christ incarnate in his people. people are dying as victims of gangs, Meaning, Christ is not over there... drugs, and organised crime. far away. He is here with us, And when we do not do accompanying us. something to stop this suffering, we spring 2010 • interact Monsignor Romero saw Jesus are complicit in this violence. That is suffering when there was someone what Monsignor Romero always said. who didn’t have If we do not do something, we are food to eat. complicit in the violence. We are guilty He saw Jesus of a social sin, a structural sin. And suffering in when we do nothing to change that, someone trying we are complicit in this sin. to make a living As people of faith, we can’t selling in the just stay in the church praying, but market. we need to act. This is Monsignor According to Romero’s message, which challenges Catholic belief, us to develop praxis – meaning everyone who has see the reality around us, make been baptised judgements based on the word of forms part of God in the Bible, but act. Act. What the mystical are we doing? What are we doing body of Christ. to change this reality of death and That is exactly oppression? how Monsignor As Christians, we are called by Romero saw the gospel to change this reality, to Luis Gonzales things. The do what we can to construct the people that suffer are a part of Jesus Kingdom of God on Earth. Christ. They are Jesus Christ. And in the same way, as a part of Jesus Luis Gonzalez works for Progressio Christ, we must do something for the partner organisation UNES (the El people that are suffering. Salvador environmental movement). In this way, we are questioned, He is a member of Juventud as Christians, what are we doing Romerista (Youth for Romero). to construct God’s Kingdom? A He was interviewed by Progressio Kingdom that should be constructed development worker Maggie Von with peace, justice, dignity, equality, Vogt.

Published March 2010 by Progressio, Unit 3, Canonbury Yard, 190a New North Road, London N1 7BJ (tel 020 7354 0883 e-mail [email protected]). Progressio is the working name of the Catholic Institute for International Relations, charity reg. in the UK no. 294329, company no. 2002500. Progressio Ireland c/o CORI, Bloomfield Avenue, Off Morehampton Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, Ireland (tel 01 6144966 e-mail [email protected]), charity reg. in Ireland no. CHY 14451, company reg. no. 385465. Interact editor Alastair Whitson, design 25 educational, printed by APG on recycled paper. www.progressio.org.uk