In 2012-2013, TEAR worked with partner organisations in 21 countries in Africa, Asia and South East Asia on nearly 200 projects. Through such projects, communities develop support to establish and sustain microbusinesses and essential services.
TEAR involvement with Australian Aborigines began more recently.
The conference included keynote speakers, panel discussions, electives, a crèche, programs for children and youth, as well as stalls promoting Fair Trade and community justice issues.
The keynote speakers were: Joel Edwards, International Director for Micah Challenge; Dirk and Nel from Afghanistan; Mark Galpin, Executive Director of the United Mission to Nepal (UMN); Dhana Lama, Clusters Director, UMN; Tumain Matutu, Community Development, Tanzania; and Denise Champion, State Development Officer, Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress.
The theme of the conference was “for Tomorrow”, “Tomorrow” being Good Friday’s Sunday – today’s suffering giving rise to tomorrow’s resurrection, God working through God’s people bringing justice and truth or light to the world.
Numerous contributors offered a wide array of electives, including topics such as “A Theology of Climate and Poverty”, “Stop the Traffick”, “Muddy Spirituality” and “The Impossible Dream”. I focused on the Aboriginal electives with Denise Champion, Brooke Prentice, Dianne Biritjalawuy, Jazile and Ben Grygoruk and others.
Dianne Biritjalawuy outlined, with tears, how the removal of whole people’s rights to microbusinesses in Arnhem Land has reduced her people to extreme deprivation of morale, resulting in a high suicide rate and early deaths. TEAR is involved in the Dhumba project with Arnhem Human Enterprise Development, designed specifically for remote communities. Equal rights and recognition for Aboriginal people are paramount. Be sure to vote in the coming referendum for a change in the Constitution so that our black brothers and sisters can at last be recognised for who they are.
