Today $1,360 was collected in memory of Peter Folprecht at his funeral. It was the wish of his wife Eleni that this money go to helping the poor and marginalised. It is our priviledge to grant this wish on her behalf and in memory of Peter.

 
Mike Baird's Golf Day raises $1,000! Mike, the new Liberal candidate for Manly dedicated one hole of his personal campaign fundraiser at Manly Golf Club last week towards helping families in Manly's partner community, Manado. The 'nearest the pin pay-to-play' fundraiser was run by Anna Knight on the day with close competition between some 70 golfers. 

Thanks Mike, you're a champ.

Bazaar raises $1,010. Ruach's Manly house church put on a front yard family bazaar yesterday that was attended by 60  neighbours, relatives and friends. The money raised will all go to Manado to help families have the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty. Well done everyone - what a wonderful community event.

Last Friday night the acoustic & eclectic event raised $1,925! More than 15 talented musicians performed at William St. Studios,  mc'd by Catherine White, programmed by Margi Cohen, sound produced by Colin Timms and initiated by Anna Kinight. The event was a huge success with over 100 people in the audience. The funds raised will give 7 families the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty. Thank you to everyone involved in such a wonderful night.

 
Last weeks ACE Quiz Night raised $560. Initiated by Lauren Prevy, the Australian College of English quiz night was a great success in raising funds and awareness, and sponsored by 10 local business for raffle prizes. "The students had a fantastic time. Lots of laughter and games were had all round" said Lauren, "I'm hoping this can be turned into an ongoing regular event."

Today we are launching our new and dynamic Action Against Poverty Community Partnership website. Check it out! On the new site you’ll find everything you will ever need to know about the Manly-Manado Community Partnership including:

• a calendar of upcoming events
• photos galore of all previous events and trips to Manado
• the latest Action Updates from both Manly and Manado
• videos on the Partnership
• running totals of raised funds and sponsorships
• how to get involved
• inspiring stories
• details of our partners and sponsors........and so much more.

Don’t forget to keep coming back to check out the new events and updates posted regularly. (If you use RSS in your browser you can even subscribe to the site.)

There are lots of exciting things coming this year, so keep a look out and please email the website link to your friends and family in Manly so they too can subscribe to the updates, through the site, and get involved in the Community Partnership.

Let’s TAKE ACTION TOGETHER in 2006!

This update we report on a recent Manly residents Insight Trip to Manado, and we meet Mr Abbas, an excited man who is only 5 weeks into his first first micro-loan and already seeing the benefits of being given the opportunity to help himself.....

Eight of us from Manly visited Manado for 5 days at the end of June. We went to see the work of Action Against Poverty's partners, Bridge of Hope and Compassion and to meet the people of Manado, to be further inspired to advocate on their behalf. It was a wonderful heart engaging trip, filled with laughter and tears, as we met many amazing families and heard their stories.

For some of us it was out first opportunity to meet the children we sponsor in Manado through Compassion. Members of the Manly community sponsor over 100 children.

For others of us it was a chance to see the empowering micro-enterprise work of Bridge of Hope and how it breaks the cycles of poverty that families find themselves trapped in.

One such benefactor of this work is Mr Abbas. He is 50yrs old and lives with his wife Mirna of 39yrs in Koka, near Manado's airport. We went to meet them and they kindly shared their story with us.

Before joining the local Bridge of Hope loan group called Pinasungkulan, Mr Abbas relied on irregular hard labour work at construction sites and helping out local people. For this he earned 60,000 Rph (A$8.80) per day but the irregularity of it meant that his average daily income was far less. He moved to Manado from a neighbouring island 11yrs ago looking for work and still supports his family back home.

Mr Abbas is only 5 weeks into his new micro business loan from Bridge of Hope, but has already opened up a new canteen at the front of his small wooden framed dwelling, where he sells the local speciality yellow rice, fish and crackers. He and Mirna run the business together, providing them a new regular income of around 25,000Rph (A$3.70) per day. They proudly showed us their new canteen table, water jug and glasses, while we tasted some of their local fare cooked in the earthen floor kitchen.

Mirna cannot think of the future, but is glad that today she has been given an opportunity to help herself. "Yes, I feel relieved of the financial burden that we used to live under" she added.  Both her parents have passed away. "We are very happy to be able to make savings for the first time" said Mr Abbas "and we hope that other people will get the same opportunity we have had, by telling our story."

Mr Abbas is a fit, motivated man and a key driver in the new loan group of 20 micro business owners, all who have a strong vision of loaning to each other in difficult times. This is an advanced stage to be at so soon - showing interest in helping each other and those in the community around them - it is "community empowerment"™ working at its best. They have a dream of pooling their capital and savings together to create a new mini-mart in their village!

Mr Abbas is one example of the now 480 family businesses that you, the community of Manly, are supporting by providing an opportunity for them to help themselves out of poverty and claim freedom from oppression.

We hope that you may be inspired to continue to partner with the people of Manado and advocate for other communities to take on similar partnerships with the developing world.

It was a privilege for us all to represent Manly on our recent visit and bring back with us the sheer joy of openness and close knit community that we all experienced.

Yesterday the German, Swiss and Austrian communities of the Northern beaches were represented at a Germanic business showcase and cultural day, held at the Queenscliff SLSC.

Over 1,500 people visited the showcase which had 15 businesses represented such as the Bavarian Bier Cafe, Blue Moon bakery and a Swiss watchmaker. A large raffle was run along with some items being silent auctioned off. Much of the business profit from the day and all the raffle and auction donations amounted to some $7,000, all of which will go straight to helping family businesses in Manado, with micro loans, to help them break out of the poverty cycle.

Congratulations to Bernd Martin for initiating such a wonderful event that not only helps those families in Manado, but also made a wonderful day out for the Germanic community and all those attending.
 

 Maggie Jenvey spoke at The Legacy Club (Banksia division) Dee Why in March about her personal journey with the Action Against Poverty campaign last year, in which she was heavily involved. She also sold some of her flower photograph cards, donating all proceeds to the community partnership.

Adam Moore of Richardson & Wrench Manly has been advertising to all his prospective property vendors his desire to give 10% of his commission on sale towards helping the people of Manado. So far he has sold three houses and his donations are in the order of $4000! What a wonderfully entrepreneurial way of helping others, while also inspiring the vendors of local houses. Good on you Adam....keep it up and may it inspire many more to follow you.