The Australian government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has announced a consortium of eight church agencies, as one of the successful agencies that tendered for the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP).

The “Church Agencies Network Disaster Operation” (CAN DO) consortium comprises of Caritas Australia (consortium leader), Act for Peace, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency Australia, Anglican Board of Mission, Anglican Overseas Aid, the Australian Lutheran World Service, Baptist World Aid Australia and UnitingWorld.

The AHP is a five-year $50 million commitment from the Australian government which brings together six NGOs (Care, Caritas/CAN DO, Oxfam, Plan International, Save the Children and World Vision) to rapidly respond to global crises.

The AHP also has a new strategic focus on Pacific preparedness and resilience work. This new focus, in particular building capacity of local organisations, will enhance the effectiveness of the CAN DO networks ongoing disaster preparedness work through its extensive church network across the Pacific.

Speaking at the AHP’s launch in Brisbane today, Foreign Minister Bishop said the partnership will increase the capacity of local organisations and communities to manage crises. “Building on the NGOs’ extensive regional networks, we will help to ensure Pacific nations are more resilient to disasters, and can more quickly rebuild and return peoples’ lives to normal,” Ms Bishop said.

The Baptist World Aid Director of International Programs and CAN DO Chair, Anthony Sell, said the network members will use their extensive Church partners throughout the Pacific to reduce the disaster risk of highly vulnerable urban and remote island communities. “As individual agencies we already respond well to natural disasters. By joining together into a strong network, we can make an even greater difference, especially to our vulnerable neighbouring Pacific communities,” Mr Sell said.

All members of CAN DO are signatories to the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) Code of Conduct. CAN DO is a member of the Australian Humanitarian Partnership between the Australian Government and some of Australia’s leading international NGOs. The AHP has a strategic focus on Pacific preparedness and resilience work, in particular building capacity of local organisations across the region to manage disasters more effectively.

Source: BUV News

A Karen* carpet cleaning business has breathed new life into local job prospects with the help of a $12,000 Baptcare Community Engagement Grant.

The MADCOW Carpet Cleaning business began in late 2015 as an initiative aimed at providing education and jobs to Bendigo's local refugee and youth population.

Business Manager, Maree Shay heads the cleaning initiative, which functions out of the Bendigo Baptist Community Care Incorporated. She said the business has been able to provide numerous opportunities for Karen refugees, by helping them gain valuable practical and business skills. Since its inception, MADCOW Cleaning has helped over 40 Karen residents obtain a certificate of cleaning, boosting career opportunities for many.

Maree added as much as the business is helping to provide high quality cleaning services to Bendigo, it is also providing incredible client relationships and boosting the confidence of her staff and their connection to the wider community.

“MADCOW stands for Make A Difference, Change Our World and that is certainly why we do what we do," Maree said.

"We set it up to empower people and the relationships we have seen being formed are wonderful. (The boys and other cleaners) are able to support our clients in a very special way."

Maree said the Baptcare grant provided her with the confidence to invest her time and resources into educating and empowering her staff. Their hard work and fantastic reputation has Maree hoping that she will be able to have one of her hard working men manage the carpet cleaning side of the business.

* Karen people are indigenous to the Thailand-Burma border region in Southeast Asia and are one of the many ethnic groups in Burma. Many have fled their homeland to escape killings and torture by the Burmese military regime. According to the 2011 census figures, there were 282 Karen speakers in Bendigo. In 2015 this had grown to approximately 1000 Karen people living in Bendigo.

Source: BUV News