Cold Wave Relief in Bangladesh

Posted on by 施達基金會

people are suffering outside having no warm clothes

Cold wave is sweeping across countries in South and East Asia, including Bangladesh. Bangladesh has been reeling under bitter cold weather from mid-December 2013. Thick fog added with the lowering of temperature has been causing immense suffering to people. The wind blowing from the Himalayas has intensified the cold and will continue over North, North-West and South regions of the country. The meteorological office warns that another one or two cold wave will hit the country in this month. The lowest temperature of the country is likely to be 6.5°C – 9°C. The cold wave has also caused crop and other natural resource losses. Winter crop failures will result in greater poverty, poor dwellings, and seasonal unemployment.

CEDAR has granted HKD 46,800 to support partner KOINONIA to provide shawls to 2,350 people of 8 districts especially to the helpless cold victims, children and elderly people to save them from dying of cold chill and of diseases.

Support CEDAR’s Relief Work

CEDAR responds to the need of various disasters with ‘Emergency Relief & Disaster Preparedness Fund’. Please donate to support our relief work.

Emergency and Relief Donation

(Please mark “Emergency Fund”)

[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institution and trust of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.

Contact Method

Tel>23819627
Fax>23922777
Email>sharing@cedarfund.org
Add>G.P.O. Box 3212Hong Kong

CEDAR’s Relief and Rehabilitation Work in Past: http://eng.cedarfund.org/relief/
CEDAR Approach on Relief and Rehabilitation: http://eng.cedarfund.org/relief-approach/

Keep Praying for South Bangladesh after Cyclone

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for cyclone victims in Bangladesh]

SB_Fotor

On May 15, Cyclone Mahasen hit South Bangladesh resulting in many deaths and injuries of villagers. Hundreds of residential houses, public facilities, schools and mosques are destroyed. CEDAR’s partner World Concern received some relief funding and put full efforts in local disaster relief work, mainly in rebuilding houses, providing trainings on anti-cyclonic construction techniques and supplying roof materials. Thanks God! Through our partner, some of the villagers have received the required trainings and rebuilt their own house.

Pray for cyclone victims in Bangladesh:

  • May there be enough financial resources and manpower to complete all of the reconstruction.
  • May the environment continue to be improved, and the villagers gain more knowledge in disaster alert.
  • May the villagers have a chance to know God from the relief work done by our Partner. 
  • May all the injured and the families of the deceased receive healing in God’s love.

Donate Now! Click here.

Other Methods of Payment

  1. Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
  2. Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
  3. Autopay (only applicable to regular fixed donations), enclosing with a completed Autopay Authorisation Form (Download: WORD or PDF)
  4. Visa/ Master Card

Download Donation Form

Please send a completed Donation Form, enclosing with cheque or pay-in slip, to CEDAR FUND, G.P.O. BOX 3212, HONG KONG.

Donation Form: WORD or PDF

[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.

Sichuan Yaan Quake: Third Phase of Relief Work and Post-disaster Recovery Plan

Posted on by 施達基金會

The distribution process of relief material has been hampered because of the road block caused by heavy rain and landslide. Give thanks that the CEDAR’s China programme team and local church were able to successfully deliver all materials sponsored by HKSAR Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee to the quake affected families. Besides, members of Dazhou church went to the affected area and provided medical service.

1. Relief material distribution

CEDAR received a grant from HKSAR Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee for the second phase of relief distribution, and worked with local churches & Christian groups in Sichuan to deliver cooking oil, plastic sheets, metal food tanks and sanitary items for women, benefiting 2 administrative villages in Tianquan County and 3 administrative villages in Lushan County, altogether 2,772 households. The households greatly appreciate these materials, particularly the plastic sheets and metal food tanks. As rain still occurs frequently, they can wrap their properties with plastic sheets for protection and store their food in the food tanks.

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Once rain had stopped and the road had reopened, the team was busy to load the materials into the trucks.

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The truck arrived at midnight, and the staff team and volunteers were then busy to unload the plastic sheets despite heavy rain. 

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The staff was stock-checking the metal food tanks. 

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Villagers volunteered themselves to help in the distribution process.

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Villagers collected the women sanitary packs.

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Cooking oil fits exactly their needs. 

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Villagers were happy to receive the plastic sheets. They could wrap their properties and food so they don’t get wet. 

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Also, they like the metal food tank, as food can be stored in it and kept fresh. 

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Villagers had to walk over hills to carry the heavy packs of relief materials back home. They helped each other on the way. 

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The staff team also went to the affected villages to visit the families. 

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During the conversation with the villagers, the staff team learned their needs and also calmed down their worries.   

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Pray that the affected community can walk from the dire situation and embrace hope soon

2. Medical service

Medical service was organized in two townships in Lushan County, by Dazhou church, Sichuan. Many villagers in the affected areas exhibited dizziness, weakness, chronic illness and other sicknesses after the quake. The medical volunteer team provided consultation and certain medicines.

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Through the service, we can identify the physical and psychological needs of the community after the quake and then provide counseling and post- trauma services, hoping this can assist them to start a new life.  

Please keep praying for the new round of rehabilitation work that through our service we can continue to care for the quake victims.

Relief Donation

  • Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
  • Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
  • Visa/ Master Card (Download donation form)
  • Online donation

(Please mark “Sichuan Yaan Quake Relief”)

[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.

Contact Method

Tel>23819627
Fax>23922777
Email>sharing@cedarfund.org
Add>G.P.O. Box 3212Hong Kong

CEDAR’s Relief and Rehabilitation Work in Past: http://eng.cedarfund.org/relief/
CEDAR Approach on Relief and Rehabilitation: http://eng.cedarfund.org/relief-approach/

Appeal for Emergency Relief to Flooding in Northern India

Posted on by 施達基金會

india-flooding-20130629

Early monsoon rains have caused massive flooding and landslides in northern India’s Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh states since mid-June 2013, affecting tens of thousands of people. The state of Uttarakhand in India suffered maximum damage. More than 1,000 people have reportedly died with many more missing. Damage to bridges and roads left over 70,000 pilgrims and tourists trapped in various places.

On 24 June, CEDAR’s partner EFICOR has sent an assessment team to Uttarakhand. According to latest assessment, the affected communities need immediate help on food supplies, temporary sheltering, hygiene and health. Livelihoods have been destroyed and restoring would take at least a year. Fresh landslides and road blocks hamper the transportation and people are left without any food at homes.

indiafloodstory1 Living by the side of Mandakini river for decades in Silli Village, Viseswari Devi (a widow) never expected that her house would be washed away by flood. Her husband had built the house from his earnings and she has been living on his meagre pension. When the flood came suddenly she had to run to safety and there was no one around to help her move her belongings. Everything were lost.
indiafloodstory2 Gopal Singh owned a teashop in Ganurpani near Kedarnath. His two school going sons Ankit and Rohit were helping him in his business. He and his sons ran to the forest for safety when the flood came. Searching for food and water in the forest, the children consumed poisonous flowers and both died in the forest. While trying to seek help to save his sons he found others also battling for their lives. He left his two dead sons to help out others and providing them with water. Gopal Singh shocked at the lash flood said ‘It is unlucky for my family and others who lost their loved ones.’

From now on till the end of August, EFICOR conducts the relief operation in the worst affected district of Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi and Chamoli districts targeting 3,000 most needy families in the emergency response phase. The target beneficiaries will provide with food and non food materials such as rice, wheat flour, dal, cooking oil, salt, sugar, tea leaf, blankets, sleeping mat, bed sheet, hygiene kits, kitchen utensils and mosquito nets to sustain themselves during this time of devastation and help the family to restore their lives to normalcy. Priority will be given to woman headed households, widows, disabled, orphans and old age people.

Relief Donation

  • Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
  • Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
  • Visa/ Master Card (Download donation form)
  • Online donation

(Please mark ‘India Flood Relief’)

[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.

Remember the India flooding in prayer

  • May His comfort and protection go with the victims and those who lost their families in the flood.
  • Pray for His strength that EFICOR can respond to the relief effectively and efficiently.
  • Pray for safety of relief operating staff, especially those work in the worst affected area.

When Caring About the Community Becomes a Job | TANG Po Shan

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ ‘SHARE’ May-Jun 2013 – Seeing It with Our Eyes ]　CEDAR’S BLOGGER

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Author> TANG Po Shan, Education and Promotion Officer

I often ponder this question: As a staff in a relief and development organisation that mobilises and encourages community concern amongst Christians, how deeply do I actually care about my society, or am I merely doing a job?

Indeed, it is wonderful to have work that combines one’s interests and ambition. It is a good thing if a person cares about his society and is able to work in a civil group or NGO, that promotes social changes through different channels such as education, services, community development, policy initiatives and social actions. Of course, caring for the society is not a privilege of a select few because it is our civic responsibility. In that face of various issues of modern society, we need skilled and able people, such as social workers, to act as frontline promoters and executors. My question is, when our work becomes routine, or when caring about society becomes a livelihood skill, would we be confusing means and ends?

I frequently ask myself, am I someone who cares about society? Outside of work, how much do I care about the society’s current affairs and how much am I concerned with the weak and disadvantaged groups? Do I keep silent in face of unrighteousness? Am I interested in spending time to listen to the poor? Am I willing to contact marginalised groups? I ask these questions not to set criteria, nor to imply anyone who fails to meet them would show that s/he is unconcerned, for I am against legalism. I believe that this is a kind of self-confrontation, to face my own life honestly, admit my self-righteousness and weakness and ask God to watch over me and have mercy on me when I fail.

Truly, concern for society is an attitude and one focus in our lives, and it should flow naturally from life. Caring about society is not about what we do but how we become someone who cares about other people and practises righteousness. I believe that, as Christians, caring for society is a spiritual discipline leading us to see people and the world as the Lord sees them, and in all areas of our life ‘to act justly and love mercy and to walk humbly with God’.

When we have been at our daily task long enough and are so familiar with certain methods and teaching, things can become habitual, and even more alarmingly we ourselves do not believe what we say or do. This reminds me to reflect often on my work, challenge myself to leave my comfort zone and be courageous in walking the path of faith.

Pray for Yunnan Earthquake Victims

Posted on by 施達基金會

On September 7, a pair of earthquakes measuring 5.7 and 5.6 on the Richter scale with multiple aftershocks hit Zhaotong, Zhenxiong, Yiliang area of China’s Yunnan province, causing at least 80 dead and 700 injured. The quakes leveled or damaged over 20,000 houses, with over 700,000 people affected. Landslides have been triggered in the affected areas. Communication disruptions, damages to major roads, water supply and power facilities have been reported.

CEDAR and the local church in Yunnan are making arrangements to travel to the affected areas and assess the situation. CEDAR will bring you the latest update from the ground with arrangement for emergency relief.  Please stay tuned for our next update.

Please pray earnestly that:

  1. God will protect the earthquake victims and relief workers in the midst of continual aftershocks
  2. God will comfort those who have lost their homes and family or are still desperately searching for their loved ones.
  3. God will mobilize pastors and organisations partnering with CEDAR to assess the situation of the affected areas, to plan and implement relief work.

About CEDAR

CEDAR Fund is an independent Christian relief and development organisation founded in Hong Kong in 1991.  Our mission is to partner with Christians around the world to care for the poor and disadvantaged people, to facilitate the transformation of lives and communities, and to advocate and practice social justice. We seek to build a just and compassionate world in Christ.

CEDAR’s HSBC Account for Emergency Relief: 600-385678-003