Partners in Hope Working for Peace in Afghanistan A learning/sharing experience for children and youth Rebecca Sherbino The Presbyterian Church in Canada Partners in Hope Working for Peace in Afghanistan A learning/sharing experience for children and youth Rebecca Sherbino The Presbyterian Church in Canada Partners in Hope: Working for Peace in Afghanistan A learning/sharing experience for children and youth © 2012 The Presbyterian Church in Canada 50 Wynford Drive, Toronto, ON, M3C 1J7 Writer: Rebecca Sherbino Editor: Karen Plater Assistant Editors: Heather Chappell, Jeanine Cudmore, Rick Fee, Ian McDonald, Guy Smagghe, Barb Summers, Janelle Yanishewski Design: Tim Faller Design Inc. Photos courtesy of PWS&D Every effort has been made to trace copyrights on the materials included in this resource. If any copyrighted material has nevertheless been included without permission and due acknowledgement, proper credit will be inserted in future printings after notice has been received. Scripture is taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Permission is granted for congregations and individuals to photocopy materials in this resource for educational purposes. They are asked to credit the source. PRINTED IN CANADA About the Author Rebecca Sherbino grew up in Toronto. When she was 16, a two-month mission trip to New Guinea inspired a passion for social justice issues overseas. Her journey began with a year at Capernwray Bible College in England, where she learned about God’s plan for people around the world. Following this, she pursued an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies: Global Development, Peace and Justice at York University in Toronto, and then completed a Master’s Degree in Peace & Development at the Universitat Jaume I in Spain. Wanting to work in an international context, Rebecca took a contract working in Peacebuilding in Sudan, Africa and continued to work in advocacy for Sudan issues from Ottawa upon return home. She met and married Joel and they spent three years in Malawi as mission staff with The Presbyterian Church in Canada. Rebecca worked as the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for the Blantyre Synod Health and Development Commission and Joel served as the Associate Pastor at St. Columba (Church of Central Africa Presbyterian). Rebecca and Joel adopted two Malawian children and two years later had a biological son. Isaac is now 7, Masika 5 and Canaan 3. Rebecca has been at home with her three children for the past few years. She continues to be passionate about social justice at home and abroad and is returning to work in the development field now that her kids are starting school. Although she has not yet had the privilege of traveling to Afghanistan, she hopes to get there someday! Rebecca currently attends Paris Presbyterian Church, where Joel is the pastor. Contents Introduction 4 How to use this resource 4 Take the Afghanistan Challenge! 5 Brief Introduction to Afghanistan 6 What is The Presbyterian Church in Canada doing in Afghanistan? 9 What are the Millennium Development Goals? 10 Session 1: Trading Places 12 Session 2: Justice 16 Session 3: Education 21 Session 4: Health 27 Session 5: Taking Action 33 Sources 38 Appendix 1: Naan Recipe 39 Appendix 11: Kites! 39 Introduction Afghanistan is a country that brings many different thoughts to mind. It is a country of mystique, beautiful people, challenging and rugged terrain. It is also a country that has been ravaged by war, occupied by foreign nations and torn by internal conflict. This resource is intended to introduce children and youth to Afghanistan, and the mission work that The Presbyterian Church in Canada is doing there. The Presbyterian Church in Canada works through Afghan organizations to find creative solutions to the challenging issues that Afghans face today. Presbyterian World Service & Development works with local partners to support programs that focus on establishing food security and promoting child and maternal health and education. Justice Ministries works with churches across Canada on policy issues that affect Afghanistan. It is hoped that this study will encourage participants to engage in greater global awareness, provide practical ways to love their neighbour and fuel their passion to act out their faith locally and globally. How to use this resource This resource is intended to be an interactive learning tool. The sessions work best when the leader/facilitator has a clear idea of the objective of each lesson and engages participants in the topic, as opposed to leaning heavily on the written word. The media content is provided to help engage technology-savvy youth with culturally relevant methods of learning. The video clips have been chosen to stimulate discussion on various topics. In some sessions, the clip is used as an icebreaker to begin discussion, and in others the clip highlights the issues being discussed. The video clips will enhance each topic; however, if the technology required to view the videos is unavailable, there is sufficient material in each session for an effective program. All of the sessions include games, crafts and questions for discussion. Online Video Clips The online video clips can be found on both YouTube and Wingclips. The website links have been included in each appropriate section. Video content should be screened prior to viewing so that the leader has a clear idea of how to integrate the video content into the lesson plan as well as to ensure that the material is appropriate for the viewers. Some of the video segments include material that may be sensitive for very young children or use humour that some viewers may not appreciate. Please review and use those that are appropriate for the group. 4 Partners in Hope Age of Participants This resource includes activities for children as young as six years. In some sessions, optional activities and questions have been added that are appropriate for older children. Duration of Study This resource contains material for five 60-90 minute sessions. Each session includes a game (either an active game or a board game) that shares the work of partners in Afghanistan, online video clips, questions for discussion and related Bible verses. The study could be used over five weeks in Sunday School, for mid-week children’s meetings, as part of a five-day Vacation Bible School, for family or intergenerational events, at retreats, camps and with youth groups. Alternatively, you may choose to do just one session. There are a variety of activities that can be picked based on time, interest, or the age of the group. In addition to doing the activities, it is recommended to break for a snack together. This resource could be open to people from outside of the congregation. Advertising the event before it starts would open the doors for people to join the study. Leading the Sessions Although each session could be led by one person, it would be more inclusive to arrange for helpers with different gifts to assist in running the games, serving and cleaning up snacks, storytelling, or helping kids with crafts or small group discussion. Involve as many people as possible! Take the Afghanistan Challenge! Each year The Presbyterian Church in Canada produces a Partners resource so children and youth in Canada can learn about mission partners. Each study encourages children and youth to give money for a specific project. This year the money raised will go towards schools, non-formal education and increasing food security for families in Afghanistan. Giving money to support mission work can be a very abstract concept. Providing strong images representing the gifts helps youth to see the impact they can have. The specific examples provided below will help give the children and youth an idea of what their donation can do. Actual costs and expenditures depend on local markets and the needs at the time. Your gifts will be used to PWS&D-supported projects help the education and agriculture programs’ overall goals. in Laghman Province give • $6 provides a child with school supplies and girls the opportunity to attend school. a school bag • $57 provides a small vegetable garden for a family • $120 provides education for a girl in Afghanistan for a year • $150 provides a goat for a family in need Your gift in any amount creates new opportunities for children and families in Afghanistan and gives them hope for the future. Ideas for Raising Funds Choose a realistic goal from the examples listed. You don’t have to raise the full amount to support the work. Because you are Working for Peace in Afghanistan 5 fundraising with children and youth across Canada, we will accomplish the mission together. For example, if you think your group can raise $96, you may choose to provide 16 children with school supplies and a school bag. For every $6 raised you could add a picture of a school bag to a bulletin board tracking your progress. If you choose the goal of $120 to send a girl to school for a year, find a picture of a girl and create a path for her on a bulletin board, making the starting point her home and the end point the school. Move the girl closer to the school as you raise more money and then place her at the school when you have raised $120. As you raise more money, you could begin to move another girl towards the school. If you choose to raise money to support vegetable gardens, you could cut out pictures of various vegetables, each worth $1, and see how many vegetables you can have in your garden.