Countries in South-East Asia are seen as colourful tourist destinations, but beneath the postcard image lies a grim reality for many. The PingPongathon is an event dedicated to raising awareness and funds toward alleviating human trafficking and exploitation in South-East Asia. In multiple venues across Australia, including churches, sporting clubs, community spaces, universities and local pubs, groups of people play table tennis for 24 hours straight. 

Adrian Rowse preached at Kew Baptist night church about the Pingpongathon in September. He spoke about his experience in South-East Asia and how confronted he was coming from a Western background seeing the problem of child trafficking. His experiences inspired him to create the Pong to make a difference and to engage with Australians about the issue. By combining a fun experience with a serious issue, it “helps us feel we can make a difference with the simple way of playing table tennis.” 

It began in 2011, with fifteen guys playing table tennis for 24 hours. The event has increased exponentially since then with 60 participants and $25,000 raised in 2012, $56,000 raised by 260 participants in 2013, 800 people raising $110,000 in 2014 and $203,000 raised by 1500 participants in 2015. The event was originally designed for men only, men being the main perpetrators of the demand, but opened up to women as well in 2015. While the Pong is open to everyone regardless of table tennis skill, some people have managed to record some great achievements. Two participants beat the singles rally record this year with an impressive 10,571 hits in Loxton, South Australia. 

I went along to Kew Baptist in the early evening on the 14th October. There was a really good atmosphere with some people playing singles or doubles matches, and others watching or relaxing on the couches. There was plenty of watermelon, pizza, cookies and cordial to keep our energy up! Some people on the overnight shift ended fatigued and exhausted, but for them it is worth being part of the community aiming for justice and positive change. Aaron said, “I haven't slept in 35 hours” but “it made me proud that I could be part of the solution.” Stu said it was “good fun” and a “really good way to get people involved in such a valuable movement.” The team at Kew Baptist managed to raise some $6,500 while the Pingpongathon has so far raised $236,000 in total. The grand finale events will be held on the 4th/5th of November. 

Slavery is not a new phenomenon and the issue arises multiple times across the Biblical narrative. The Israelites were allowed to have slaves, but were reminded continually that they were once slaves in Egypt themselves (Exodus 20:2; Deuteronomy 5:6). Likewise, some of the converts in the early Church were slaveowners, such as Philemon, but the barriers between slave and free were broken down in favour of an inclusive and equal community (Colossians 3:11). At the heart of the Biblical story is a God’s heart for the creation of a just society. Everyone is equal and is afforded the same dignity from being made in the image of God. Sexual exploitation and slavery is a harrowing example of how this ideal can be breached. As Stefan says, sexual exploitation is “so degrading” and it makes "people a thing to be used and disposed of, with no regard for their future or wellbeing.” We have a calling to “serve up some justice” as the Pong motto says, and the Pingpongathon is a great example of how this is being done. 

For more information see: http://pingpongathon.com

To see Pingpongathon records see: http://pingpongathon.com/pong-hall-of-fame-records/

Source: BUV News

Interfaith dialogue with students in Years 9 and 10

“This hour has changed my life.  And I think all of our lives in this group.I don’t think we will ever think about each other or the world in the same way again. And it won’t just affect us.  We will pass it onto our children if we have them. EVERY STUDENT in Australia should get the chance to learn this stuff.”

So spoke a year 10 student in an incredibly ethnically, religiously and culturally diverse secondary school in Melbourne recently.  A group of students had just participated in an interfaith dialogue workshop run by the Building Bridges in Schools program.  Guidelines were discussed and agreed at the beginning of the session: to be respectful, present to each other and to keep each other’s stories confidential. In small groups of 7 and a trained facilitator, the students discussed such questions as:

• do you have a belief system, or follow a religious tradition?  Briefly share with the group about what this looks like for you, or if you don’t, what values are important to you in life?
• what festivals or traditions do your family celebrate? Share about one that is special to you.
• has anyone ever put you down because of your beliefs/faith or culture? How did that make you feel?

They talked about the religious festivals in Islam, Christianity and Judaism and eyes were opened as they found so many similarities between them.  “We are not so different!”  The Buddhist and Atheist students were able to ask probing questions about the nature of belief and the connections between religious stories and history and current events.

The questions; ‘has anyone ever put you down because of your beliefs/faith or culture? How did that make you feel?’ prompted a strong response from a Muslim student. “I hate that there are people out there who say they are doing evil things in the name of my religion.  It makes me not want to be Muslim any more.  But then I remember that Islam says that ‘If you kill one person, you kill the whole world’ and I know they are wrong and they don’t represent my religion.  They are not following it and we are suffering because of it.” Another piped up with “it’s the same with the Klu Klux Klan.  They say they are Christian but they are far from it.” And so began a discussion about fundamentalism, tribalism and religion that persecutes and harms.  

All the students agreed that Islam was receiving negative attention and that they needed to carefully critique what was being presented in the media.  The burden the Muslim student had been carrying was physically lifted as she realised that she was not blamed for the actions of a few.

A gay student then spoke about his experience and others were able to ask him what it was like. A couple of comments included “my Mum says you can’t know you’re gay at our age.”  “I’m religious and I can’t see what the fuss is all about.”  In this safe place, with a facilitator guiding the discussion, the students were able to respectfully talk about their differences.

The concept of giving students a voice to share their stories with each other on a deeper level than they would in the playground is life changing for many of them. As many affirmed, our ignorance of each other can breed fear and misunderstanding and will affect the way we interact with each other and the rest of the world.  We ignore this conversation at our peril.

Our experience in the Building Bridges program has shown that the culture and faith of those who are religious, or have religious families, and those who have chosen to not follow a religious tradition, are validated and heard. Their pathway and reasons for their choices are also articulated and affirmed.  Every student has a story and a set of values that comes from somewhere.

The Building Bridges in Secondary Schools program has been running in faith based schools in Victoria, and now Perth, for the last 14 years. It is encouraging to see State schools joining in these vital conversations in their own schools.

Year 10 students are at a wonderful age to have discussions such as this.  They are open to new ideas and worldviews, are keen to learn and test their ideas and are hopeful about their future.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could have these conversations in every school in Australia?

Building Bridges in Secondary Schools is a program of WellSpring Centre

www.buildingbridges.org.au
www.wellspringcentre.org.au

For more information, interviews and resources
http://buildingbridges.org.au/

Ruth Sandy, Building Bridges Central region Co-ordinator

Source: BUV News