Children Matter!

17 Child Friendly Compassion Projects

Link: ChildrensMinistry.com:.

Need a quick list to brainstorm about how your children can reach out to others? Get kids involved in ministry with these ideas:

    * Clean and organize give-away clothing closets.
    * Sort through and organize donations given to agencies.
    * Help prepare and serve the food at a soup kitchen or hospice.
    * Clean up, set-up, or tear down at a soup kitchen.
    * Help move small furniture for shelters.

Click link above for more

World Vision launch youth magazine

Link: Youthwork

     International relief and development agency World Vision has launched a new magazine for young people with the aim of 'turning readers into knowledgeable impassioned activists.'

'Bug' encourages teenagers to get clued up and involved in world issues of poverty, fair trade and justice, claiming 'you're not too small to make a difference.'

The 20-page title will be distributed for free to supporters and subscribers three times a year. The editorial team insists that the title will not look or feel like a traditional charity magazine.

'It would not look out of place on a record store magazine stand,' says Bug editor Amy Polson. 'Becoming an activist is challenging and exciting and we want the design to reflect this.'

Tearfund Launches Children’s Website

Link: Christian News

   This month sees the launch of a brand new innovative website for children by one of the UK’s leading Christian humanitarian charities, Tearfund.

The Action Pack website is aimed at bringing the issue of poverty to children aged between 8 and 11 in a format that is both engaging and inspirational and is accompanied by a devotional book and CD Rom which encourages families to change their lifestyle habits to those that benefit the poor.

Action Pack is a fun, brightly coloured site split into five different sections for children to visit including a great food game called the ‘Grub Grab’ that is sure to keep children amused.

The website features a fact section with information and stories about the countries where Tearfund is working with local partners on various social projects, particular projects for children. Each month will see a special focus on one country.

More at the link above

Christian Childcare Forum: Home Page

1. Link: Christian Childcare Forum

The Christian Child Care Forum is a grouping of organisations and individuals committed to:

• promoting a vision of contemporary society in which children and young people have a rightful place,
• responding in love, from common Christian perspectives, to needs of children and families.

By providing a means of sharing experience and insights, and of increasing understanding and co-operation on matters of policy and practice the Forum seeks to sustain and develop the contribution of Christian resources to the well-being of children and young people.

Christian Child Care Forum operates by bringing its constituency of organisations, individuals and families together with issues of concern through its Annual Forum, its Newsletter and various working groups.

The result is shared co-operation, shared information and theological reflection so that together we develop, wherever possible, consensus over our respective views. We see deeper theological perspectives; greater incidence of collaboration; positive impacts on the care of children and young people; the greater influence of Christian perspectives on the care of children and young people.

Rescuing Street Children in Guatemala, Latin America

Link: Welcome to The Toybox Charity

Life is no game for the children living rough on the streets of Guatemala City. Thanks to people such as yourself, The Toybox Charity supports a rescue and rehabilitation programme for street children in Guatemala, giving them a loving home, education and hope for the future.

PavementProject.org reaches street children

Link: PavementProject.org.

PP uses child pyschology principles and Bible stories, with the aim of helping to raise street children's level of self-worth.

The trained street worker uses the Green Bag to go through 6 steps with a child. The bag is divided into sections full of pictures and activities designed especially for traumatised, low-literacy children.

Website calls for action against child killing

Link: STOP KILLING CHILDREN ::.

Stopkillingchildren.com is an international web-site dedicated to documenting and exposing the killing of children and young people. Many people assume that the days when children were shot dead in the street have been consigned to the pages of history. They have not. In Brazil for example, four to five children are being killed every day. This has to stop. Children have the right to grow up free from the threat of violence.

Below are the latest cases of children who been killed as a result of armed violence. Our aim is to use this information to shame the relevant authorities into taking action. This information has come from trusted partners in the field who have access to first hand information, a network of NGOs working at the grass roots level and press clipping services.

When a child becomes an adult

LICC
The LICC web site (link above) is a treasure trove of biblical cultural reflection. We've bought you some of the gems on children and youth.

Growing Pains - Jason Gardner asks what it means to grow up at a time when the boundaries between childhood and adulthood seem increasingly blurred. ‘Adolescence is like a tightrope walk from the secure, safe platform of childhood to adulthood. Suddenly the world becomes a difficult and dangerous balancing act – which the whole world seems to be watching.’ Hazel, 16

A recent foray by the Times into the world of teenagers provided much food for thought, plus a handy arsenal of quotes (like the one above) which will please analysts of youth culture no end. Penny Wark’s report - In Our Own Words: What it’s like to be a teenager (13/10/03) - revealed, in a series of interviews, what teenagers think about sex, drugs, rock’n’roll and, most importantly, growing up.

New Early Years Initiative

Christian Initiatives in Early Years Education
* Offering inspiration, encouragement and support to Christians working in early years provision. * Opportunities to explore ideas, share vision and practice.  * A new network facilitated by CARE for Education and the Evangelical Alliance. To find out more about this growing network click the link above

Faith Communities & Community Development

Faith Communities
Faith communities have tremendous potential for building assets and nurturing the healthy development of young people. Search Institute seeks to provide leadership, knowledge, and resources to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of the faith community to contribute to young people's growth in body, mind, and spirit. Stay up to date with research, ideas, stories, events, and resources by subscribing to a free electronic newsletter for congregations. click the link above for more information.
The latest issue focuses on engaging young people in service to others.