Australia Day.............January 26 just too divisive
I'm with Mick Dodson and Ron Barrasi....January 26 is the wrong day to celebrate our national day. Why not a date that we can all embrace? There is
nothing to be gained in clinging to a date that causes unnecessary suffering to Indigenous Australians PERIOD. (And I say this as someone whose ancestor arrived in Sydney Cove as a convict on the First Fleet; it's not the right date).
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Zions Hill "Beyond the Box"
This innovative project was conceived by Zions Hill in 2008 in response to the incidents of rock throwing by young Ravenswood residents that resulted in Metro cancelling night time services to some areas of that community.
Zions Hill were developing plans to partner with the community of Singaraja in NE Bali to build orphanages and a community radio station, when the Metro crisis came to a head back home in Ravenswood.
Beyond the Box is a way of linking the work in Indonesia with the development of at risk youth from Ravenswood.
The following is from Zions Hill's "Singaraja mission and Beyond the Box Trips" pamphlet:
An Intro to Singaraja..
The Place: Singaraja is in the regency seat of Bali, Indonesia. The name is Indonesian for "Lion King." Along the north coast, east of Lovina, Singaraja has a population of 80,500. Singaraja was the Dutch colonial administration centre for Bali and the Lesser Sunda Islands until 1953, and the port of arrival for most visitors until development of the island further south.
The People: Zions Hill sent a team to Bali in June 2008 and there they caught the vision to partner with Dmaker (PS Paulus) to build orphanages and a Community Christian radio station in Singaraja. Where there are orphans who have lost everything and those which fled from Timor due to the destroying of their homes, it is time for us to move out of our comfort zones in meeting desperate needs.
The Plan: Apart from Zions Hill adopting Singaraja as its overseas Mision field, we are looking for long and short term partners to assist in preparing and sening four to six youths, per year, on short term aid trips to Indonesia to work with an orphanage.
What are Beyond The Box Trips?
"beyond the Box" aims at epowering the young people of Ravenswood involved with Youth Justice and problems within the community, a life changing and defining opportunity that causes them to realise how fortunate they really are, and that they too have something to give. The trips therefore involve living and working with the under-privileged from a developing nation such as Indonesia. The young people will be sent in pairs while in the constant company of a qualified adult team leader from the church who mentors them throughout the trip.
The trip is not a holiday, but will be the culmination of a six month commitment to the mentoring of each individual - during which we also connect them with the right service providers in sourcing employment and/or the various fields necessary (i.e. mentorship, employment assistance, arts programs, drug rehab centre, Adult Ed).
"Beyond the Box is empowering our community to move from a "give me, give me" mentality to a "I've got something to give" idea. It's about a community catching a selfless heart. It's Beyond OUR Box"...PASTOR Chris Billing, Project Director
For more information: Zions Hill Church, 7-21 Warring Street, Ravenswood - Phone 6339 1766, Fax 6339 4998 or email beyondthebox@zionshill.com.au
Or to donate directly by electronic transfer - Zions Hill Community Care Inc, BSB 807009, A/C No. 12254825 & please specify that it is for Beyond the Box.
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