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| Working with the biggest corporation in the world – the church | Working with the biggest corporation in the world – the church |
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| When I began working for the Christian child development charity, Compassion, nearly 12 years ago, I felt a need to constantly defend the organisation's decision to work exclusively through local churches. To many, the church seemed like a rather 'quaint' way to do development rather than a force for unprecedented change. | When I began working for the Christian child development charity, Compassion, nearly 12 years ago, I felt a need to constantly defend the organisation's decision to work exclusively through local churches. To many, the church seemed like a rather 'quaint' way to do development rather than a force for unprecedented change. |
| But, having sat with dedicated, experienced and highly trained church staff across the world, and seen the incredible changes they are implementing in their communities, I no longer feel a need to apologise for our strategy. I'm proud to say that I believe the church is one the best vehicles for human and societal development. | But, having sat with dedicated, experienced and highly trained church staff across the world, and seen the incredible changes they are implementing in their communities, I no longer feel a need to apologise for our strategy. I'm proud to say that I believe the church is one the best vehicles for human and societal development. |
| Globally, there are millions of Christians who form part of the worldwide Church. Even China Petro-Chemical, the largest corporation in the world with a labour force of around 1,190,000 employees, is still at least a thousand times smaller than this global movement. In development terms, what is exciting is that this global body has local churches in virtually every nation made up of individuals who meet regularly for worship and to encourage each other to live out their faith. A major aspect of the Christian faith is serving the community and through these individual churches there is the capacity to mobilise millions of volunteers who come with diverse expertise and have an intimate knowledge of their communities. | Globally, there are millions of Christians who form part of the worldwide Church. Even China Petro-Chemical, the largest corporation in the world with a labour force of around 1,190,000 employees, is still at least a thousand times smaller than this global movement. In development terms, what is exciting is that this global body has local churches in virtually every nation made up of individuals who meet regularly for worship and to encourage each other to live out their faith. A major aspect of the Christian faith is serving the community and through these individual churches there is the capacity to mobilise millions of volunteers who come with diverse expertise and have an intimate knowledge of their communities. |
| Ed Green, Harvard medical anthropologist, is one of the many development professionals who understands the potential of well-managed church partnerships. "Churches are respected within communities and most have existing resources, structures and systems upon which to build," he writes of the church in east Africa in his report on faith-based organisations contributing to HIV prevention. "They possess the human, physical, technical and financial resources needed to support and implement small and large-scale initiatives. They can undertake these actions in a very cost-effective manner, due to their ability to leverage volunteer and other resources with minimal effort." | Ed Green, Harvard medical anthropologist, is one of the many development professionals who understands the potential of well-managed church partnerships. "Churches are respected within communities and most have existing resources, structures and systems upon which to build," he writes of the church in east Africa in his report on faith-based organisations contributing to HIV prevention. "They possess the human, physical, technical and financial resources needed to support and implement small and large-scale initiatives. They can undertake these actions in a very cost-effective manner, due to their ability to leverage volunteer and other resources with minimal effort." |
| Compassion currently partners with more than 5,600 churches to help communities support their most vulnerable children. More than 1.4 million children currently attend church-based programmes run in partnership with Compassion. Our choice to partner exclusively with churches does limit our reach, it must be said, as there are some areas where there is no church and others where persecution of Christians makes it too dangerous to work. | Compassion currently partners with more than 5,600 churches to help communities support their most vulnerable children. More than 1.4 million children currently attend church-based programmes run in partnership with Compassion. Our choice to partner exclusively with churches does limit our reach, it must be said, as there are some areas where there is no church and others where persecution of Christians makes it too dangerous to work. |
| In the 26 countries where Compassion does work, however, there is no shortage of churches requesting our support. It's never easy selecting partners but, development is largely about working with and empowering local grassroots communities to take the lead in the long-term transformation of their communities. To do this we need to find churches that are well established and able to demonstrate their accountability and commitment to supporting children. We also have to remember as an NGO that the church itself is not 'our programme', but a partner we can support. Equally, the church should not see us as the solution to all their problems. This is a real challenge for smaller church partners in more remote communities with limited resources, so expectations from both parties need to be agreed from the outset and, like any good relationship, nurtured with personal contact and ongoing support. | In the 26 countries where Compassion does work, however, there is no shortage of churches requesting our support. It's never easy selecting partners but, development is largely about working with and empowering local grassroots communities to take the lead in the long-term transformation of their communities. To do this we need to find churches that are well established and able to demonstrate their accountability and commitment to supporting children. We also have to remember as an NGO that the church itself is not 'our programme', but a partner we can support. Equally, the church should not see us as the solution to all their problems. This is a real challenge for smaller church partners in more remote communities with limited resources, so expectations from both parties need to be agreed from the outset and, like any good relationship, nurtured with personal contact and ongoing support. |
| One of the key benefits of working through the local church is the access to volunteers who are motivated by a common cause and vision and with have an intimate knowledge of their community. In India, the Bannerghatta Child Development Centre, run in partnership with Compassion and the Karnataka Evangelical Association, is one example of how the long-term commitment of the church and the personal commitment of their congregation can help to bring change. | One of the key benefits of working through the local church is the access to volunteers who are motivated by a common cause and vision and with have an intimate knowledge of their community. In India, the Bannerghatta Child Development Centre, run in partnership with Compassion and the Karnataka Evangelical Association, is one example of how the long-term commitment of the church and the personal commitment of their congregation can help to bring change. |
| Located some 12 miles (20km) south of Bangalore, the Karnataka Evangelical Association has been fighting for decades to defend the rights of girls in the community. Legislation has failed to change attitudes towards female infanticide and child marriage. Unpicking harmful practices from centuries of tradition is a task that takes personal intervention, cultural sensitivity and dedication. | Located some 12 miles (20km) south of Bangalore, the Karnataka Evangelical Association has been fighting for decades to defend the rights of girls in the community. Legislation has failed to change attitudes towards female infanticide and child marriage. Unpicking harmful practices from centuries of tradition is a task that takes personal intervention, cultural sensitivity and dedication. |
| The church has been encouraging families to keep their daughters in school through a series of workshops and home visits. They have also been working with local adoption and fostering services to find families for unwanted baby girls and providing medical care, food, and personal support to parents of young babies. "We have saved four baby girls from certain death by convincing the parents to give up these girls for adoption rather than killing them," says Reuben, project co-ordinator at the church. "We have also helped contribute in lowering the female infanticide rates through similar awareness programmes and also because families are convinced we will help them care for their girls." | The church has been encouraging families to keep their daughters in school through a series of workshops and home visits. They have also been working with local adoption and fostering services to find families for unwanted baby girls and providing medical care, food, and personal support to parents of young babies. "We have saved four baby girls from certain death by convincing the parents to give up these girls for adoption rather than killing them," says Reuben, project co-ordinator at the church. "We have also helped contribute in lowering the female infanticide rates through similar awareness programmes and also because families are convinced we will help them care for their girls." |
| The elephant in the room when discussing partnership with churches is the evangelical nature of church-based programmes. Perhaps western minds are so trained to the secular communities in which we live, that we neglect to acknowledge the spiritual climate of many communities we work in and how meeting the spiritual needs of individuals may play an intrinsic role in aiding development. | The elephant in the room when discussing partnership with churches is the evangelical nature of church-based programmes. Perhaps western minds are so trained to the secular communities in which we live, that we neglect to acknowledge the spiritual climate of many communities we work in and how meeting the spiritual needs of individuals may play an intrinsic role in aiding development. |
| This issue has been raised by Bruce Wydick, professor of development economics at the University of San Francisco in his study into Compassion's child sponsorship programme published in the Journal of Political Economy in May. In his concluding comments he writes: "Economists have focused traditionally on releasing external constraints. But some of the most important constraints the poor may face are internal constraints." | This issue has been raised by Bruce Wydick, professor of development economics at the University of San Francisco in his study into Compassion's child sponsorship programme published in the Journal of Political Economy in May. In his concluding comments he writes: "Economists have focused traditionally on releasing external constraints. But some of the most important constraints the poor may face are internal constraints." |
| There may be wisdom in these words. We know it's essential for lasting change to grow from the heart of any community and the church could provide the key to reaching some of the world's most impenetrable regions and the hearts of those who live there. | There may be wisdom in these words. We know it's essential for lasting change to grow from the heart of any community and the church could provide the key to reaching some of the world's most impenetrable regions and the hearts of those who live there. |
| Kate Sharma is media manager at Christian child development charity Compassion UK. Follow Compassion on Twitter @compassionuk. | Kate Sharma is media manager at Christian child development charity Compassion UK. Follow Compassion on Twitter @compassionuk. |
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