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HILLSONG CITYCARE
HELPING THOSE IN NEED
For 13 years now, Sers Ta Ville has been meeting the homeless in Parisian train stations but also in Marseille. Often by means of a hot coffee or tea, these weekly meetings help create a unique and true relationship with an isolated, marginalised and sometimes even dehumanised population. Since the arrival of COVID-19, this population has been completely devoid of anything during the lockdown. Today, the city of Paris has allowed many of them to be accommodated in hotels, but the needs remain unchanged. We love putting value on them with real discussions, and even birthdays are celebrated in the street: a card, a candle on a cake, and a smile on every face. That same card will most certainly end up in the bottom of an old and damp bag, but the sense of hope sown through these actions will not be erased and will remain etched in our hearts.
We also resumed the distribution of hot meals at the Montparnasse station every two weeks, and during the first deconfinement, visits to inmates in prison resumed in Paris and Lyon.
ACCOMPANYING FAMILIES
Our actions were compromised with the closure of emergency accommodation centers, particularly in Raincy, where we went regularly. However, we were still able to equip the recreational play center so that the children could play in the yard during confinement and during the summer. As the activities are limited and the women’s centers do not allow us to do manicures, we decided to distribute some hand creams at the exit from these centers. Living on the streets is particularly tough for women, so by the end of the year, we want to distribute basic hygiene products in the form of beautiful homemade pouches.
MAKING SURE NO ONE IS FORSAKEN
It is common knowledge: the elderly are at the center of all attention with COVID-19.
This population, particularly vulnerable to the virus, suffers from great loneliness and isolation. This is why, though we have not been able to enter retirement homes since March, we have decided to send them personal cards with their name written on them to let them know someone is thinking of them. A writing workshop was put in place in September which enabled the distribution of cards for All Saints’ Day, and another workshop is planned for Christmas. We would like to see this initiative extended to all of our campuses.
ACT AND BLESS: CHURCH IN ACTION
In the face of the economic crisis related to COVID-19, some people in our church have experienced great financial difficulties. We were able to set up a discreet but efficient distribution of hampers in order to meet those known needs. Thus, since the beginning of the year, we have been able to support individuals and families with 127 hampers.
OUR PROJECTS FOR 2021
In 2021, in face of this very particular context, we do not want to give up, but on the contrary, to become more and more creative in the face of the needs encountered.
We are therefore approaching 2021 with great hope for new initiatives such as the social grocery store in Valley, where the needs (distribution and specific products) are felt. It’s about caring fully and regularly for a hundred families and making a difference in their lives.
Vision Rescue
FREEING CHILDREN FROM EXPLOITATION BY ENGAGING AND SUSTAINING THEM IN EDUCATION, EMPOWERING THEM TO MAKE GOOD LIFE DECISIONS THAT PROMOTE INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSFORMATION.
In this season, 90 percent of the world’s children are out of school. In India, it will be harder than ever to get families to send their children back to school as many will resort to their traditional methods of survival.
Vision Rescue will be working harder than ever to re-engage those children and their parents with education so that an entire generation of development in India is not lost.
During this COVID-19 season, the Vision Rescue team has quickly mobilised to assist slum communities, providing over 250,000 meals and protective provisions for hospitals, sanitation workers and police.
We continue to partner with them to provide educational pathways, sport and community programs that will help these communities build resilience and come through this season stronger.
A21
ABOLISH SLAVERY EVERYWHERE, FOREVER.
Across the globe, 165 countries have shut schools due to COVID-19. This has impacted more than 1.5 billion children, many of who are now required to learn remotely from home — with increasing time online, leaving them potentially vulnerable to online abuse.
In addition, higher unemployment leads to increased vulnerability for people looking for new opportunities. Many will take great risks to acquire new employment, setting themselves up as soft targets for traffickers to exploit.
Our partnership with A21’s education, awareness and prevention programs are critical at this time. These services include access to legal support, transport, family-based care options, livelihood support and ongoing social work support, and will ultimately enable survivors of trafficking to return to their home country.
COMPASSION/
SEL
RELEASING CHILDREN FROM POVERTY IN JESUS’ NAME.
As the COVID-19 health crisis has affected the entire globe, the countries and communities where Compassion/SEL work have been severely impacted.
In addition to supporting children through the sponsorship program, helping families and caregivers in these communities is now the most meaningful and immediate way to help these children.
Among the initiatives put in place, the emergency fund will provide housing assistance for families who can no longer pay their rent following the loss of their job. Food and hygiene kits will also be distributed to families most affected by COVID-19.
Hillsong Africa Foundation
BUILDING LIVES THAT BUILD A NATION.
In this season of global pandemic, vulnerability and inequality increases exponentially, which has dire consequences for communities already struggling to get by. With no disposable income or margin, meagre resources are stretched thin. High rates of unemployment cause more damage in informal communities, leading to harder recovery.
The team has been working around the clock to provide medical supplies, food security and hygiene products to vulnerable communities and frontline workers battling the effects of the virus and the lockdown.
Hillsong Africa Foundation is uniquely positioned to help communities emerge well from this crisis. Our continued partnership enables them to provide job skills, personal development courses and child care programs that will enable young people, adults and families to get back on their feet.
Preemptive Love Coalition
FIRST IN,
LAST TO LEAVE.
We are partnering with Preemptive Love to respond to the needs of displaced families and the task of rebuilding in Syria and Iraq. They provide food, water, shelter, and medical care for families on the front lines of conflict. They go to places that are dangerous, oppressed, or forgotten, bringing hope where no one else will go and loving those who no one else will love.
Preemptive Love are on the front lines in both Syria and Iraq, and their unique positioning enabled them to bring relief following the recent devastations in Lebanon.
With eighteen years of continued presence in the Middle East, they have built lasting, meaningful relationships, allowing a deep understanding of the needs in each local environment.