Personal Journey with Manly-Manado

I first got involved with Manly-Manado Community Partnership in 2005. At that time I was working as a Youth Pastor at Seaforth Baptist Church. When I heard about the vision all I could see were numerous positives. It provided the opportunity for me to connect the young people in my care with people from a different culture and context. Not only that, but it provided an opportunity to link them with other young people in the local Manly community to unite across denominations and schools, another form of primitive tribalism! Essentially, I was inspired because M-M offered something uniquely different to other charity initiatives focusing on the distribution of money to meet needs. In contrast, building authentic global and local relationships was at its core.

Through Manly-Manado I have been able to use my skills as a teacher and communicator in local schools and churches. Each week I would teach at Balgowlah Boys in lunch time for boys who wanted to do more than just live a normal life. I was constantly amazed that they would come each week and even without providing junk food as an incentive! One of the highlights was seeing 14 Bally Boys respond in a practical way by participating in the M-M walk. Together they raised over $2000! At St Paul’s Catholic College I gave a few year group presentations and was very happy to meet staff and students respond in practical ways.

Through M-M I have developed many new friendships with people in the Manly community across church and school denominations. It has increased my desire for community and a community that is active in alleviating very real problems. I have become aware of the subtle forms of poverty that exists in Manly: an excessive busyness preventing genuine community and resulting in weariness, loneliness and isolation.

On a personal level I am now equally concerned in matters big and small of global responsibility. Some people may think I’m crazy, but in Australia I will never accept a plastic bag from a shop with the knowledge that I have hundreds at home, and that they pose an environmental impact in the long term and already cause many problems in our waters. Usually I bring a green bag, so it’s often a funny sight watching me juggle $40 worth of groceries in my hands! In this example, I believe that making a decision and sticking to it is what’s important. In big matters, fair trade is important to me. I am now content to live on less. I don’t need to eat out as much, or keep buying new clothes. I would rather give money to others in real need. Beyond myself, I have been excited by the way churches have united under this vision of community partnership and begun to work together, share resources and support one another.

The decision to go to Manado was quite simple really. I have become increasingly frustrated by the harsh inequalities there are in the world and want to do something more than simply writing a cheque. I have a strong conviction that ridding inhumane inequalities present in society was something close to Jesus’ heart. He continually demonstrated this challenging the rich and powerful, and siding with the poor, uneducated and powerless. Complementing this growing conviction was the gift of a background in the Indonesian language, studying at High School and University, and the opportunity to join Ian Freestone on a trip in April 2004.

Upon meeting people face to face in their daily lives and seeing how profoundly different to mine, I was aware I had won the lottery of latitude. Consequently, I have become genuinely thankful for my life. Furthermore, I didn’t want to walk away from these very real people and live with my head in the sand in the insular peninsula. My response was not motivated by obligation, but was driven by the knowledge that with freedom there is responsibility.

Since being in Manado I have become increasingly challenged by the mobility and seemingly endless opportunities that I have, in stark contrast with the lack of mobility and opportunities for people here. Living side by side these people I am very thankful for the opportunities I have been given, and simply want to open the doors of opportunity to those who are not fortunate enough to be given them. I am constantly aware that money is not the solution, but that changing my heart is.

As I continue to live here I hope to be continually challenged and to strive towards bridging inequalities in education. I hope education in schools continues in Manly as I endeavour to write a curriculum and generate support from schools in Manado. Over time I hope that relationships will be established: school to school, church to church, council to council.

The potential for this model to be replicated is huge; imagine 50 community partnerships like this were started by 2015! This, I believe, would be a great step towards the MDGs vision for the eradication of extreme poverty by 2015. Furthermore, community partnership builds a foundation of global education and understanding to prevent ignorance, prejudice and miscommunication to cause divisions and escalating problems from this. I believe that cross-cultural education and communication is a fundamental building block for a safe and secure global community.

I believe the Manly-Manado movement offers people in Manly a unique opportunity to be involved in something to tangibly connect with people from another culture and context in a long-term effort to eradicate both the obvious forms in Manado and the subtle forms in Manly. Together, we our hearts can be transformed through cross-cultural relationship. Together with the community in Manado we can improve the quality of our lives and ensure a greater global future.

Sengkanaung: One in Heart

On Friday, 27 June, the 'Sengkanaung' Community Education Resource Centre was officially opened. Present were the local council leaders, staff and board of Bridge of Hope and many children and adults from the community of Sumompo. Sengkanuang is a word from the language of Sangihe, a collection of Islands to the north of Manado. The majority of the residents in Sumompo are from Sangihe, and thus the name reflects their culture and background. The word means One in Heart, which is a fitting title for the aims of this education resource centre. The name was chosen by local 13 year old student Meylan Papona, who is very excited about what this means to her. I asked Meylan two questions:

Will: “Why are you excited about Sengkanaung?”
Meylan: “I’m excited that every child has the opportunity to read. Even though they may come from far away, we are ‘one in heart’. Personally, I’m excited to extend my education as I like to read.”
Will: “What is your hope for your future?”
Meylan: “I hope to become a policewoman” (POLWAN is the term which comes from POLisi and WANita which stand for police and woman).

It has been 5 weeks since the official launch with much success to speak of. Each day around 50-60 people come to Sengkanaung to read books, play guitar, interactive games, or attend an English class run by Will. Will teaches every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and is supported by Meldy Modali who is the Centre Administrator. For Meldy this opportunity is not a job. She shows an incredible commitment to the children of Sumompo. The following is a brief outline of her day:

Meldy comes to the Bridge of Hope office at 8am and stays for morning devotions until 930am. She then goes straight to the rubbish tip to connect with children and parents. After lunch she opens Sengkanaung and helps children read. Sengkanaung is due to finish when the centre closes at 530pm. However, on Monday and Thursday she sits beside the 5 children who have recently joined the Government school program offered from 6-7pm. After the class finishes, she then walks the children home, which includes climbing a steep slope named ‘1000 steps’! On the other nights there are many people who are still motivated to read, and so Meldy finishes between 630-8pm. What is more, she works Monday to Saturday! I asked Meldy 2 questions:

Will: “Why are you excited about Sengkanaung?”
Meldy: “I am excited about Sengkanaung because it gives me the opportunity to help children who are not able to go to school.”
Will: “What do you hope to achieve?”
Meldy: “I want to serve them and help them as best as I can. My mission is to love and show genuine concern to everyone at Sumompo. I see this as my calling in life.”

Sengkanuang is just one little project situated on a rubbish tip in North East Indonesia. Yet, it is one little project that gives dignity to the children and community at Sumompo with fruits that will only be fully seen in years to come. It is one little project of thousands around the world that focus on minority groups that are often marginalized and forgotten, and seeks to bridge unnecessary inequalities in our world.