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MissionAid April 2015

Issue 91

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Welcome to the April Issue!

A girl fills a container with muddy water in the Ajuong Thok Refugee Camp in South Sudan. The camp, in northern Unity State, hosts thousands of refugees from the Nuba Mountains, located across the nearby border with Sudan. Photo: Paul Jeffrey.

A Message from our CEO April has definitely been one of our busiest month of the year so far. I have just returned from Zambi where I accompanied Irish Aid on their monitoring visit of Misean Cara projects. The planning, preparation and organisation of the visit was a fantastic team effort by everyone involved - staff, Development Mentor Joe Makano, MDOs, and ou members in Zambia. The trip reminded me once again of the solidarity our members with the poor and marginalised. I wa deeply moved and inspired by the work of our members. The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) is one of the leading human rig organisations in Zambia, advocating and framing debate, locally and nationally. The Sisters of Merc have founded a school for children with disabilities ensuring that these children are given opportunitie and visibility within their communities. Edmund Ri Development has established schools that addres significant local demand for primary, and seconda education. It is ranked as one of the top schools nationwide. The St. John of God Brothers provide holistic rehabilitation services in nine rural communities to people with disabilities through quality health care, social and educational suppor The Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa (St Paul’s School) is also run one of the top schools i the country providing greatly needed services to young people, many of whom are orphans due to HIV/AIDS.

The members' meeting provided an excellent

opportunity to bring our members in Zambia

together, and to lay the foundation for future

collaboration. Photo: Misean Cara.

CEO Heydi Foster

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News Stories Waste Pickers Mark 10 Years of Cooperative Growing Resilience in Sierra Leone Brazilian Partner Organisation runs Successful Workshop on Results Focused Planning People Forced to Flee – The Story of Statelessness

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The visit allowed our members to showcase their outstanding work. We rose to the occasion and this was certainly recognised by Irish Aid in the positive feedback they gave during the debriefing session for members. They stated that the work they saw was fantastic, and that the calibre of this is a tribute to Misean Cara and its members. I am proud of you, your compassion and your dedication, ensuring no one is left behind. I was thrilled to meet so many people at the Members’ Meeting, where 59 representatives from across Zambia were in attendance. I am conscious that many of those present undertook long and arduous journeys to join us in Lusaka, and I am very grateful for and humbled by this commitment to our Misean Cara family. We also used this meeting as an opportunity to work on the Mission Cara vision, and our mid-term strategy review. I also had the opportunity to meet members in Livingstone, and was greatly impressed with their projects. Special thanks to the Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa for hosting me. So, to all of our family in Zambia, thank you for providing such a wonderful welcome, and for giving me such a great insight to your work! I look forward to us continuing on our Misean Cara journey together! Before my trip to Zambia staff were busy assessing the latest rounds of applications. A number of reports including the Directors Report, the Irish Aid Grant Report, and the Annual Report were completed and, following Board consideration, approved. As some of you may be aware, I was recently honoured to be nominated for this year's Dóchas Global Citizen of the Year Award. This nomination, however, belongs to you. To your work transforming lives every day. I am proud to represent you by way of this nomination. I join four other inspiring women nominees from the development sector and I would like to wish every one of them the best of luck. This year’s AGM promises to be an exciting event,

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Send us your photos and videos! We want to help showcase the work of our members by sharing photos, stories and videos of the wonderful work you do on our website, Facebook Page and MissionAid. If you have a photo, story or video to share then please email Tara Finglastfinglas@miseancara.ie

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We're now on Twitter! That's right Misean Cara is now on Twitter. Follow @miseancara or check outhttp://www.twitter.com/miseancara for updates.

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with the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins delivering the keynote address. I trust you will atte in large numbers on Wednesday 27 May in the Milltown Institute in Dublin. Information will be shared with you shortly, but in the meantime, plea mark this important date in your diary as it is an event not to be missed!

Kind regards, Heydi

Funding Deadlines PSS Round 2 2015 (including multi-annual, multi-partn and capacity development) – Friday, 29 May. MPSS (greater than €10,000) Round 2 – Friday, 11 September.

Additional Support Prior to the PSS Round 2 deadline on Friday 29 May, w will be offering additional support to members to assist with applications being submitted. The range of suppo being finalised, and details about this support will be communicated to MDOs after the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Reports In recent weeks, we have forwarded notifications to a f MDOs who have outstanding reports from 2011 and 2012. If you have any questions or you received a notification and feel it is in error then please contact Se Wheeler swheeler@miseancara.ie

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Resources Available! The Partnership Policy, and Income Generating Activities (IGAs) and Livelihoods Funding Policy are now available in the Members' Section of the website under the Resources tab.

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LIKE our Facebook Page for all of the latest news and updates.

We Want To Promote The Wonderful Work You Do! We want to help showcase the wonderful work yo do by sharing stories; updates; photos; and video on our website, Facebook and LinkedIn Pages, Twitter account, and in our monthly e-newsletter MissionAid. If you have a story, update, photo, or video to sha then please email our Communications Officer Ta Finglas tfinglas@miseancara.ie

Connect with Misean Cara Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MiseanCaraIreland Twitter https://twitter.com/miseancara LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/misean-cara

Stories from the field Remarks by Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria Sean Hoy at Misean Cara’s First Education Learning Event in Nigeria Remarks by Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria Sean Hoy at Misean Cara’s first Education Learning Event in Lagos, Nigeria from 27 – 28 April 2015.

Misean Cara Development Mentor for Western Africa Michael Osei Nkrumah, and Ambassador of Ireland

to Nigeria Sean Hoy. Photo: Misean Cara.

I would like to begin by apologising for the fact that I cannot join you today in Lagos due to other commitments in Abuja. I believe it is appropriate for Misean Cara to take stock of what has been achieved to date, and to look at how we can build on success and lessons from the past. Irish missionaries have made a huge contribution to the education of the people of West Africa, most especially in Nigeria. I have visited missionaries who have taught in schools for over fifty years dedicating their whole lives to the education of the future leaders in every sector. I know that this contribution is cherished by the people of Nigeria throughout the country irrespective of their own religious or ethnic background. Read more.

Building from the “Bottom-up” – Enhancing Urban Security in Settlements Special Report by Sr. Mary Deane, Congregation Leader of the Presentation Sisters.

I was impressed by Project Implementing Team. They had a large chart/planner on the wall of the office

mapping dates when construction began, was completed or is due to begin. This helps keep all the team

informed, and keep track of meeting with the families, preparation for the construction, follow-up work and

also to track payment and income from the families. They have a great sense of ownership of the project,

and when construction begins on a new wall all the project team gather to help with digging the

foundations. (Photo: Presentation Sisters).

During my recent visit to the Sisters and communities in Peru, I had the opportunity and privilege to visit the office of the Adsopur organisation, and meet with the Project team. I

visited the sites of two walls undergoing construction and also visited and met with families of some completed projects. I had last visited the area in 2007, and at that time the people were still carrying water to their homes from large water containers filled by the local municipality. Washing and toilet facilities were very basic. People (especially women) were constantly moving up and down the precarious slopes filling water containers, a chore that was challenging and hard work to say the least. The transformation that the addition of piped water, and the bathrooms (Earlier Project: Water is Life – Baños Solidarios) have made to the lives of the people in this area is transforming and life changing. Read More.

Overcoming The Adversity Of War, Investing In Stronger Communities

In South Sudan, less than half of children are in school and illiteracy rates are among the highest in the

world. Even before the conflict, girls in South Sudan had a higher chance of dying during childbirth than

finishing primary school (Angela Wells/Jesuit Refugee Service).

At the end of 2013, a political dispute between President Salva Kiir and vice-President Riek Machar, following months of escalating tensions, reached boiling point. Gun battles in the capital Juba in South Sudan quickly escalated to massacres and continued fighting elsewhere in the country, particularly in the eastern states of Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile. More than one year later, an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 civilians have lost their lives and a further 12,000 children have been recruited into armed groups. Nearly two million South Sudanese people have been forcibly displaced with 500,000 in nearby countries and 1.5 million internally displaced. According to estimates by the World Food Programme, nearly another 300,000 people will have fled to Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda by the end of 2015. Read More.

Meet the Misean Cara Team Members have expressed an interest in knowing more about the staff at Misean Cara. This is the thirteenth in a series of introductions to our team in the Dublin office.

Don Lucey

Don Lucey is a native of Macroom, Co. Cork in Ireland. He joined the Misean Cara Funding team in January 2015. His focus is on Income Generation Activities and Livelihoods (Jobs) projects. Don is also involved in the members’ Sector Interest Groups.

He also supports member organisations by assessing funding applications, liaising with Development Mentors, and taking part in monitoring field visits. He completed his civil engineering degree from the Dublin Institute of Technology. He worked 10 years in the construction industry. He completed a Master’s degree in Charity management in 2010 in Dublin College University (DCU), after which he started up the Carmichael Centre Ethiopia to build capacity of local charities in Ethiopia. Don spent four years as a Construction Advisor and Project Manager in South Sudan from 2005 - 2009. He constructed 30 schools and support buildings for the Jesuit Refugee Service and the Danish Refugee Council. Over 4,000 children use the schools each year. He joined the Government’s Rapid Response Corp in 2013. Don also has a passion for international culture and nature. He also enjoys cycling and various Team sports such as football and Volleyball.

Events and Training Courses

Media Training Workshop We are offering media training to Mission Development Officers (MDOs) and returned missionaries. This one day intensive workshop will give participants the practical skills, tips

and confidence to take part in media activities including but not limited to interviews for print and online media outlets, radio and TV interviews, techniques to share your story and lots more! The workshop will take place on Wednesday, 10 June from 9:30am - 4:30pm in the Misean Cara office, 563 South Circular Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8. The workshop will be run by Jack Murray, Managing Director of MediaContact.ie. Jack is a media innovator with over 18 years of experience at the most senior level in the Irish communications Industry. He has worked in marketing, journalism, and media relations. He is a former political spokesperson and government advisor. This workshop is a collaborative effort between Misean Cara, the IMU and World Missions Ireland to strengthen the media skills of missionaries. If you would like to take part in this workshop please email Tara Finglas tfinglas@miseancara.ie by Friday, 29 May. Please note that places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.

Upcoming Events & Training Courses:

• European Year for Development #EYD2015 • Comhlámh’s Coming Home Weekend: 16-17 May • Kimmage Open and Distance Education (KODE) • Child Safeguarding - Organisational Self Audit Tool (Free) • The International NGO Training and Research Centre (INTRAC)

Misean Cara is a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital. It is registered in Dublin, Ireland, No: 381117. Its registered office is: 563 South Circular, Kilmainham, Dublin 8. It has been granted tax exemption by the Revenue Commissioners in Ireland and has a charitable tax exemption number: CHY15772.