Shadow teachers project

Rising up for the right to education

Take Together for Family Development (TFD), as one example: A Muslim/Christian coalition that is working to ensure that Egypt’s constitution provides for the education of disabled children, and that school systems will do whatever is possible to make it happen – whether it is specialized teacher training or the installation of ramps to enable wheelchair entry.

 

Some of the funding to create accessibility and training is being sought from the United Nations’ Millenium Development Goals.

Imam and pastor presenting Islamic and Christian perspectives of social justice during Global Organizing for Social Change workshop in Egypt

After a meeting in Cairo in February, TFD’s partners in Des Moines will be advocating with the U.S. government to ensure that it keeps its funding promises to the United Nations’ millennial efforts as announced at the G-8 Summit. Education for All is the plank where access to education for the disabled is lodged.

It is a joy to see the networks getting more focused. Watching folks develop a strategy, identify test cases, sharpen messages and build coalitions is a privilege.

Rising up for the right to water

Just last week, the network in San Francisco Presbytery began divvying up tasks to join together with its partner-network, UMAVIDA, in Bolivia in its concern for water contamination in the hemisphere.

Sarah Harling and Rachel Medema from San Fransisco, with Alberth and Saúl, two Cochabamban delegates at the International Youth Congress on the Environment in Potosi, Bolivia. To the left another participant from Canada

Like its sister networks, San Francisco is beginning the hard work of collecting data about industrial pollution in the Bay Area and how contaminants impact drinking water. So are network churches in Newark and Cascades Presbyteries, all readying for a gathering in Bolivia where the data are presented and examined so that people may mobilize for action.

Rising up for the right to land

Chethana groups in Andhra Pradesh participated in a protest march against Special Economic Zones

In Sacramento Presbytery, the Joining Hands churches are studying ways to mobilize against water privatization efforts in Northern California. Its partner, Chethana, is already engaged in a national campaign on land and water rights. The campaign is fighting how local and foreign companies are diverting water away from local populations for agro-industry and usurping farmland that once fed India’s millions.

If this isn’t resurrection, I don’t know what is.

Rising up to reclaim life

This Easter season, let’s keep each other in our prayers and more. Coming back from the dead often startles others.

So let’s not be afraid to do so. As Christ’s Body, what happens to one happens to us all.So let’s remember that we are joined together this Easter and be grateful for it. And raise our voices together as we rise.

Alexa Smith Joining Hands Associate for Presbyteries