NEWS VISION - April 2007

A Dream Come True –Josephine receives her sewing machine
Photos and text by Venerande Murekambanze, World Vision International

We first ran Josephine’s story and her request for a sewing machine in April 2006. A year later, thanks to a generous World Vision donor, she has her heart’s desire – and the means to run her own business.

April 2006 - Josephine uses a borrowed machine to repair clothes for food.

SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD Josephine was born in Murama, in Muyinga province, northern Burundi. She lost her parents to AIDS, leaving her with a little sister Oda. During the civil war, they fled their home.

When Josephine and Oda came back home in 2001, their house had been destroyed, and there were no friends or relatives to be found. As the then 11-year-old head of her household, Josephine wondered how she and her sister could survive without food, clothes or money. They were struggling to get just one meal a day by earning food for work, digging people’s land whenever it was possible.

Things became promising the day she met Micheline, a World Vision staff member working for an HIV and AIDS project in Rugari, about ten kilometres from Josephine’s home.

Josephine had received food through the project since September 2005, but she wanted to be able to support herself. She was earning a meagre living working with a rented sewing maching, but the rent cost her too much and she didn’t have enough money to keep hiring it.

April 2007 - Josephine is all smiles as she puts her new sewing machine to use.

Josephine told World Vision staff about her dream of owning her very own sewing machine. World Vision shared Josephine’s story around the world – a donor, hearing her story, promised to offer a sewing machine as a gift to Josephine.

Josephine was overjoyed and full of gratitude to Micheline, World Vision and the donor who had responded to her need. ‘‘I will use it with care. I am sure that I will earn my livelihood with it,’’ she said.

She now intends to help train other orphans to become self-sufficient to by starting their own small businesses.

Middle East Iraqi Refugee Crisis

VIOLENCE in the Middle East is a regular item in the news. But while the world is focused on political, energy and geo-strategic issues, a large refugee humanitarian crisis risks being forgotten.

An estimated 2 million Iraqis have fled across borders to escape violence in their homeland. “This humanitarian crisis has been quietly unfolding for a long time, yet until just recently, it really has had no voice. But the suffering is real,” said Hendrik Harbers, World Vision’s relief coordinator for the Middle East.

“Members of these groups say they are being targeted because of their beliefs,” said Sharon Payt, World Vision Advocacy Director. Payt went on to emphasise the urgent need to support all those affected by the crisis, regardless of religious affiliation. World Vision will support long-term partner organisations in providing food and non-food essentials, as well as basic health care and non-formal education, to Iraqi children, initially in Jordan.

"All the world is coming against terrorism but can you imagine the terror these people live in. Who will have the courage to say to the important people that we need to help these people?"

Ways You Can Help Spread the word: the media is underreporting these issues, but you can help raise awareness through word of mouth. Donate: Go to www.worldvision.org.sg (Ways to Help) – specify your donation as going toward the “Iraqi Refugee Crisis”.