Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Three local families, consisting of five adults and seven children (aged 9-16), have recently returned from a week in Manado.  The families spent time with both of Manly-Manado's partners - Bridge of Hope and Compassion - and visited their sponsored children and other children sponsored by the people of Manly.  They also met many families and groups that have received micro loans in the last year.

It was an inspiring visit for all of the families as they got to meet the people who are receiving the opportunities to lift themselves out of poverty, with the help of Manly-Manado, and to see the tangible difference it makes in their lives.

The children from Manly also had lots of fun as they played soccer with the children from the Sumompo Rubbish Dump area in Manado (a soccer ball is an international language they learned!), did face painting and ate lots of rice and fish!

All of the families were touched by the generousity and hospitality of the people in Manado and have been inspired to take further action in Manly through Manly-Manado.

Click here to view pictures of their trip.

 

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Over 160 people gathered for a sumptuous Indonesian banquet dinner in the transformed hall of St Matthews Church on the Corso on Friday 30 May for Manly-Manado's first ever Compassion dinner.  Guests from the Manly community came together to hear more about Compassions holistic child development model, whilst three local families from the Manly community shared stories from their recent visit to their sponsored children in Manado.

A new Compassion Child Survival Program (CSP) in Manado was also launched at the dinner.  This CSP program has started this month in Manado and has been set up to support 50 mothers and babies (up to age 3 or 4) working directly with caregivers, as well as expectation mothers, to provide them with a solid foundation - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually - for their children.  Without a healthy start, a child's chances of normal development are limited.

It was a wonderful night of sharing and fellowship.  And fifteen more children from Manado were also sponsored that night! Definitely a night to remember!

To find out more about the Child Survival Program, click here.
To donate to the CSP program, click here.

 

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Residents from Manly, who have either visited Manado, or been involved in the community partnership between Manly and Manado, volunteered their time over the weekend of 3-4 May and joined forces with Christian Surfers at the Jesus ProAm surfing competition at Manly Beach.

The competition was a great opportunity for Manly-Manado to engage with the Manly community and continue to educate, enable and inspire the community of Manly to continue to take action against poverty and make a difference in the lives of those living in less fortunate circumstances in Manado.  

Thanks to Christian Surfers for inviting us to be part of the weekend – it was awesome !

 

Monday, May 05, 2008

The Manly-Manado community partnership is all about relationships. This year, a representative of the Manly-Manado movement has been given the unique opportunity to live in Manado and help build the partnership between Manly and Manado.

25 year old Will Wrathall from Seaforth is now based in Manado working as a community education officer for our micro-financing partner organisation,  Bridge of Hope.  Bridge of Hope provides small loans to poor families in Manado to help them establish or expand their own business. He is working as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD) for AusAID, the development sector of the Australian Government.

This is what Will has to say about his move to Manado: "I'm very excited to be living in Manado this year. Last year, I spent much time in the local high schools of Manly bringing Manado to life through stories, experiences and photos. This year my task is to bring Manly to life in Manado!  Fortunately, there are regular groups coming in from the Manly community to help me with this task. I have a conviction that cross-cultural education and communication is a fundamental building block for a safe and secure global community.

"My main are of focus is in Sumompo, the rubbish tip area of Manado, where many children drop out of school to work long hours in hostile conditions for low wages. A study of this area found 54 children have dropped out of school to work full time on the rubbish tip to make money for their family.  We are seeking to get as many children back to school as possible and instil the importance of education in both children and parents and help them to envision and create further opportunities for their futures."

Asked whether he is adapting well in this foreign environment? "Some things are tough - like getting used to Manado as the Indonesian city of spicy food. Some things are simply great - like getting around on a little motorbike in organised chaotic traffic!"

We look forward to bringing you more news from Will in Manado throughout the year.

 

Friday, April 11, 2008

St Matthews Church was transformed into a giant-screen movie theatre to show the motion picture ‘The Mission’. The normal Saturday night crowd wandering along the Corso of Manly were intrigued by a sign hanging outside the church stating ‘Actions Can Transform’ and were enticed inside by the large screen showing pictures from the communities of Manly and Manado. A duo from Wesley College added to the contemplative atmosphere by providing a mix of contemporary songs as background music.

Movie goers were treated to a sneak peak at some of the photos Stu Harris, a Manly resident who has recently visited Manado, has taken for his picture book,, showing the transformation of Manado. To add to the cinema atmosphere, guests were treated to an ice cream and bag of sweets to enjoy in the recently refurbished church hall, including cinema-like seats. Guests were stirred to action by the injustices portrayed in ‘The Mission’, a movie based on events surrounding the Treaty of Madrid in 1750 where Portuguese colonials inflicted acts of cruelty on Guarani Indians whilst capturing them for slavery.

Tickets sales from the night will enable 3 families to receive micro loans through the partner organisation, Bridge of Hope.

 

Thursday, February 21, 2008

With the morning sun shining in a clear blue sky, 26 steely-eyed paddlers set off on their 10km Paddle Against Poverty (from Collaroy-Manly) on January 12.   Their minds were set on one thing..... raising money for The Sumompo Rubbish Dump on the outskirts of Manado, home to around 1,000 people who earn their living by scavenging for recyclable items on the dump, 11 hours a day, six days a week.

With favourable weather conditions the paddle was completed in about 2 hours and 15 minutes.  And a massive $10,000 was raised by the amazing paddlers from Christian Surfers – how awesome !

For many people in the Sumompo Rubbish Dump community, living and working in the vicinity of the dump has been a lifestyle for generations.  But now, with the help of the paddlers from Christian Surfers, families in the dump area will be provided with an opportunity to be able to break the cycle of poverty and hope of a lifestyle outside of the dump.

Thank you for joining with Manly-Manado to support the community of the Sumompo Rubbish Dump.  What an amazing effort from all paddlers!

 

Monday, February 18, 2008

The Tea Room at St Matts Church on the Corso has brewed lots of pots of tea for members of the Manly community over the years, including many Manly visitors.  And last year was no exception !  At the end of the year one very special lady, June Harvey, who has been running the Tea Room for the last 40 years, decided to retire and hang up her tea pot.  And in doing so she decided to disperse the remaining funds that had been raised, giving $5,000 to the work of Manly-Manado.  And this donation was in addition to previous donations that had been given to Manly-Manado earlier in the year !
 
Although the people of Manado couldn't enjoy a chat and a cuppa in the St Matts Tea Room last year - they have experienced the wonderful blessing of the Tea Room and those who worked in it.  Through the money donated last year, a massive 28 families in Manado have been provided with the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty through the provision of micro loans from our micro enterprise development partner in Manado, Bridge of Hope.
 
Let's raise our cups of tea to the St Matts Tea Room and the inspirational lady who has served our Manly community for the last 40 years - we are in awe of your compassionate heart - thank you !  

 

Friday, February 08, 2008

When the combined churches of Harbord and North Manly (St John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, St Peters Uniting Harbord, North Manly Baptist and St Marks Anglican Church Harbord) held their Freshwater Carol Service on 23 December the spirit of Christmas - reaching out to others and those in need - was all around.
 
It was a wonderful evening with over 500 people coming together to celebrate Christmas, whilst at the same time providing families in Manado with the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty.  A great night was had by all with the generous proceeds of the sausage sizzle and glow sticks being donated to Manly-Manado.  What better way to celebrate Christmas - to help those in need.  The money raised from the carol service will be used to provide three families in Manado with a micro loan - what a great Christmas present. 
THANK YOU!