Religions: Inspiring Stories

PERU: Joining Hands –“Uniendo Manos”

High in the Andes Mountains of Peru, in the town of La Oroya, 99.7 percent of its 12,000 children have blood lead levels that exceed acceptable limits. A U.S.-based gold mining company operates a smeltering plant that pollutes the water, air and land. After public pressure and global media attention, community groups, including Uniendo Manos, a faith- and non-faith based non-governmental organization, the Peruvian government has imposed significant fines on the company as it demands tougher environmental standards. One step along a long road of healing, this is an example how a commitment to the health of the community can be an expression of one’s religious faith. A program of the Presbyterian Church, USA, Joining Hands works in 10 other countries worldwide to address the root causes of hunger through partnership and advocacy. http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/hunger/joining-hands/

EGYPT: “We’re all in this together. Muslims and Christians.”

The overthrow of the Hosni Mubarak government joined together people of varying faiths. The desire for peace and justice unified people of different religious traditions and moved them beyond their differences to a common goal. A group of young women and men sang a song of the 1919 revolution: “Arise O Egypt, arise. Arise Egyptians: Muslims, Christians and Jews.” “One hand! One hand!” The crowd roared. While the challenges for continued cooperation are significant, the image of the first step—is of hands.

BURUNDI:

Marguarite Barankitse,is the founder of Maison Shalom,(the House of Peace) a Burundian NGO which helps Orphans from both sides of the Burundian ethnic divide and is based in Ruygi,Burundi. During the conflict in 1993, Marguarite rescued 25 orphaned children. In order to help more children and devastated families, Marguarite formed Maison Shalom. Now a multifunctional service agency which manages 500 small dwellings, some educational facilities and a hospital with emergency and maternity unites, Marguarite and Maison Shalom have helped over 30,000 young people and families and has reconciled numerous orphans with their extended families. http://www.maisonshalom.net/index.php (Click on “English).

INDIA:

The children in this photo are fortunate to have met Manju and her husband, Ajeet, who have started a non-governmental organization in India called Guria. Their mothers are prostitutes and because of this, many of the children do not know the identity of their fathers. They live on a highway crossroads between Nepal, Bihar, Bengal and Mumbai where many truck drivers stay the night and have sex with prostitutes. Maju and Ajeet work to save these children from being caught in further sexual exploitation, HIV/AIDS and violence. They provide shelter, food and clothes so that they will not become victims of second generation prostitution. Guria also engages in public awareness and educational programs to counter negative cultural practices that victimize women and children. http://www.guriaindia.org/

HAITI: Resurrection Dance Theater, Haiti

Even before the devastating earthquake of 2010, there were an estimated 380,000 orphaned children in Haiti, whose population is just over 9 million. Based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the St. Joseph’s Home for Boys began in 1985 with only $1000.00 and 5 boys who had been living on the streets. Now known internationally, the Resurrection Dance Theater young people express their history of struggle and hope through dance, music and plays. http://www.heartswithhaiti.org/page5/page5.html