Saskatchewan2010/2011 Mennonite Central Committee Annual Report

Participants in the Meadowgreen Soccer Camp, Saskatoon.

A Table of SharingIs not the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry...”

– Isaiah 58:6-7 (NRSV)

From our early beginnings over 90 years ago, MCC has communicated God’s love and compassion through literally sharing from our table. Thousands of meals were served each day from 1922-1924 from community kitchens in the Ukraine.

In 2010, Canadians entrusted MCC with more than $8.4 million to share God’s table with Haitians. Material resources, foodstuffs, building inspection and micro loans given in the name of Christ continue to support life. Today we are invited to share resources, prayers and efforts at peace building with people in East Africa.

In the Republic of South Sudan, the bishop of the Diocese of Rumbek called for prayer and dialogue surrounding Independence Day on July 9. Women in a particularly violent community determined to cry together, pray together, talk about peace during meal times with their children and husbands, and not to support the bush fighters by giving them water and food. Heather Peters and Joel Kroeker from Hanley bear witness to the faithful efforts of South Sudanese people.

The Psalmist speaks of God’s preparation of a “table before me in the presence of my enemies.” (23:5) As we share our tables, enemies of life will not be victorious as God’s love is realized. Thank you for making this a reality through your commitments to the work of MCC.

– Claire Ewert Fisher, Executive Director, MCC Saskatchewan

Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality. – Martin Luther King Jr.

MCCS board membersEd Bueckert (MC SK)Bob Buhler (MB)Florence Driedger (MC SK)Willard Dyck (Member-at-Large)Ray Funk (MC SK)Peter Guenther – (AGM Appointment)Margaret Hein-Wiebe (BIC)Tara Hiebert (Member-at-Large)John Neudorf (MB)Oudalay Senevonghachack (MC SK)Dan Siebert (MB)Dana Wood (Member-at-Large)Zewditu Wayeissa (Member-at-Large)

Rick Block, currently serving in Chiapas, Mexico, as a Community Development worker, recounts this experience:

“We typically bring small packets of seeds with us when visiting groups. In one community, after the frenzy of buying seeds and discussing garden plans with fellow members, one elderly woman dropped a pack of onion seed, and some of the seeds spilled on the floor of the church. Most intentionally this woman (and I followed her lead) went to hands and knees to pick up every precious seed. Was it that three pesos needed to be stretched as far as it could go, or perhaps she simply had a deep reverence for the sustenance that comes from every small seed?”

As part of an MCC-supported project, members of the family garden-ing group in San Jose Las Palmas, Mexico, (from the left, Berta Garcia Lopez, Eduardo Vasquez Escalante and Julio Reyes Perez) are preparing a compost pile for future enrichment of their gardens.

International WorkersBruno and Lois Baerg – southern Africa leadership in Johannesburg, South Africa

Rick and Jacquie Block and family – Community Development in Chiapas, Mexico

Jeff and Arda DeHaan and family – Agriculture in China and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Rachelle Friesen – Peace Worker in Bethlehem, Palestine

Jodi Holzman – Agriculture in Dodoma, Tanzania

Heather Peters and Joel Kroeker – Peace Workers in Rumbek, South Sudan

George and Pearl Richert – short-term leadership in Ukraine

Rod and Kathi Suderman – Northeast Asia Representatives in Beijing, China

Bryn Olfert – SALT in Vietnam

Kristin Friesen – SALT in El Salvador

Nicholas Doerksen – SALT in Zambia

Jim and Mavis Olesen – Education/Global Family Coordinators in Akron, PA

We especially value MCC’s global church partnerships and were blessed to share in fellowship and worship with other parts of the body of Christ in South Africa.– Luke Heidebrecht, instructor at Bethany College

PEACE & JUSTICEPeace sk.mcc.org/peaceadvocacy

Simunye sk.mcc.org/simunye

Restorative Justice sk.mcc.org/restorativejustice

Community Partners The Micah Mission – themicahmission.org

COSA South Saskatchewan – on Facebook

Ten Thousand Villages tenthousandvillages.ca

Victims’ Voice canada.mcc.org/victimsvoice

Tiera Goertz, along with six others, participated in a four week trip to South Africa and Swaziland to learn more about South African history and culture, and to engage with MCC’s partner agencies.

The program included three days of orientation in Johannesburg, a week working at an English camp with kids from a nearby township, a visit to a Swazi cultural village and volunteering at the Children’s Care Centre. Combined with a safari, dancing lessons, incredible music and many new friends, the team learned a lot about racism, grace and the power of forgiveness.

Simunye (a Zulu word meaning “We Are One”) is a partnership between MCC Alberta and Saskatchewan which runs every July in South Africa, Swaziland or Lesotho. Read more from this year’s team at mccsimunye.wordpress.com

1. Learn more about prison visitation in Saskatchewan.

2. Explore the MCC Ottawa website (ottawa.mcc.org).

3. Celebrate Peace Sunday.

4. Volunteer at a local Victim Services.

5. Write to your MP about mining justice (ottawa.mcc.org/miningjustice).

1. Preaching and conversation province-wide about the Justice of Jesus shown in Luke’s gospel.

2. Hosting two summer interns, exploring MCC program and leadership development.

3. Creating safer communities through promoting Circles of Support and Accountability.

4. Supporting the formation of a Provincial Committee on Chaplaincy to create better connections between churches and prisons.

5. Growing The Micah Mission with Lutheran, Quaker, Mennonite, Pentecostal and Catholic representatives.

6. Exploring MCC’s political witness in a three-day Ottawa seminar with Canadian students, including five from Saskatchewan.

7. Offering a Social Justice class at Bethany College.

8. Hosting Zoughbi Zoughbi, a Palestinian Christian from Bethlehem, in central Saskatchewan.

9. Connecting Canadian and global church leaders at an ecumenical mining conference.

10. Supporting church and community efforts for lasting and peaceful progress in South Sudan.

5WAYS TO HELP

10 HIGHLIGHTS

Tiera Goertz with Maryam, a four-year-old girl who attends the Children’s Care Centre in Durban.

FOOD, WATER & EMERGENCIES

Material Resourcessk.mcc.org/materialresources

No Waste Wednesdays sk.mcc.org/communityengagement

Community Partners CHEP Good Food – CHEP.org

Food, Disaster & Material Resourcescanada.mcc.org/food

Waterwater.mcc.org

An estimated 12 million people in the Horn of Africa have been affected by drought. Conflict and skyrocketing food prices have added to the crisis. In addition to providing much needed emergency food assistance, MCC is helping communities adapt to drought, high food prices, climate change and other causes of hunger. This greatly reduces the need for food assistance in the future.

One way that MCC does this is through promoting conservation agricultural practices, also known in Africa as Farming God’s Way. The three fundamental principles of conservation agriculture are reduced or zero tillage, maintaining a permanent organic ground cover and managing soil fertility through biological means, such as composting, crop rotation and green manure. Farmers are very interested in this model of farming because they understand the important connection between soil health and crop yields, said Dan Wiens, coordinator of MCC’s water and agriculture programs.

Working with small-scale farmers is a very efficient way to reduce the level of global hunger.– Dan Wiens, MCC Water and Agriculture

1. Invite MCCS to connect with your church on food and agriculture issues.

2. Recycle fabric into an MCC blanket.

3. Donate to MCC’s account at Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

4. Volunteer with a community gardening project.

5. Change one habit to care better for the earth.

1. Providing $80,000 raised at the Saskatoon Relief Sale to further the work of MCC.

2. Packing over 900 school kits and 4,800 comforters for Iraq, Ukraine and Afghanistan.

3. Promoting conservation agriculture in Mozambique through the Prairie Falcon Motorcycle Rally fundraiser.

4. Hosting Global Education events to interact with and educate people about global issues.

5. Donating funds from “Gift of Mercy” Fun Run in Prince Albert to provide milk for children in Jordan.

6. Building gardening skills among recent immigrant children through the CHEP Youth Gardening Project in Saskatoon.

7. Sponsoring Celebrate Restraint, a community event in Saskatoon focused on simple living in a culture of affluence.

8. Supporting small-scale farmers in the newly formed nation of Southern Sudan.

9. Promoting sustainable agricultural practices reducing the effects of drought in East Africa.

10. Training Haitian builders in earthquake-resistant building techniques.

5WAYS TO HELP

10 HIGHLIGHTS

Farmers in Malawi demonstrate the success of growing corn using conservation agriculture principles.

LOCAL & GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

Thrift sk.mcc.org/thrift

Refugee Assistance sk.mcc.org/refugeeassistance

Kids Club sk.mcc.org/communityengagement

Seeing his family again was the most indescribable experience for Stephane and those who witnessed the reunion. After 16 years of separation, Stephane stepped off the plane, tired but elated to be safe and in the company of the family he thought he would never see again. His three boys were ages six, four and two when he became separated from the family. Now in 2010, he was overcome with joy to see his wife and daughters, and the now young adult men who came to welcome him home.

Stephane was targeted as a leader of a teachers’ group who protested the govern-ment’s refusal to pay local teachers their salaries. In 1994, he fled with his wife and three sons to Kenya and then returned to the Congo to try to save the rest of his family. Ten years passed without a word, and then a miracle discovery! After five more years of hurdles and delays in the Canadian refugee system, Stephane finally arrived at the Saskatoon airport to a room full of family and friends, safe at last.

MCC continues to look for sponsors for refugees in similar circumstances. We need your help. – Elaine Harder, MCCS Refugee Assistance Program Coordinator

1. Buy clothing and housewares at MCC thrift shops.

2. Help sponsor a refugee.

3. Befriend newcomers.

4. Join your local thrift shop board.

5. Downsize your closet and donate to a thrift shop.

1. Volunteering 1,500 young adult hours to mentor 75 children and youth through Kids Club in Saskatoon.

2. Thanking and encouraging volunteers who contribute to MCCS’ work.

3. Raising $600,000 through the efforts of over 400 thrift shop volunteers in Saskatchewan.

4. Having a fun fashion show at the Regina MCC Thrift Shop to raise interest and funds.

5. Biking in the local Ride for Refuge event, seven riders raised $980 to help newcomers.

6. Facilitating a soccer camp in Saskatoon for 30 boys from 10 countries.

7. Welcoming refugee families from Colombia and Myanmar.

8. Partnering with a church in Regina to assist newcomers in receiving their GED and job skills.

9. Exploring complex global emergencies at a conference for Canadian and international development workers.

10. Enabling sponsors to continue resettling Palestinian refugees from Iraq.

5WAYS TO HELP

10 HIGHLIGHTS

Stephane is reunited with his sons on his arrival at Saskatoon airport.

HEALTHY COMMUNITIESAboriginal Neighbourssk.mcc.org/aboriginalneighbours

Community Partners Healing Hearts Ministry – healinghearts.ca

Low German programcanada.mcc.org/lowgerman

Indigenous Work mythperceptions.ca

HIV and AIDSaids.mcc.org

The second annual Spruce River Folkfest, sponsored by the Grace Mennonite Church of Prince Albert in partnership with MCCS and Mennonite Church Saskatchewan, is a lively gathering. Included are many musical acts, excellent food choices and a silent auction. This is a community building event as well as a fundraiser for the Young Chippewayan Genealogy Project which seeks to support the resolution of the Stoney Knoll #107 land issue in the Laird area.

The folks at Grace Mennonite Church are committed to building personal relationships between First Nations and settlers. They are geographically situated between, and in the midst of, these two cultures in the province of Saskatchewan, and, with events like the Folkfest, they are living out their calling.

We host this folkfest because we need to build understanding and reconciliation on the prairies.– Ryan Siemens, pastor, Grace Mennonite Church in Prince Albert

1. Check out the links on mythperceptions.ca.

2. Learn the Young Chippewayan Stoney Hill story (sk.mcc.org/aboriginalneighbours).

3. Support MCC’s HIV and AIDS program.

4. Support MCC’s Menno Santé campaign in Congo.

5. Borrow the new HIV and AIDS toolkit.

1. Participating in “Walking the Path to Truth and Reconciliation” to create healthier relationships with First Nations neighbours.

2. Contributing to the Conference for Children of Survivors of Indian Residential Schools.

3. Celebrating the 135th anniversary of the signing of Treaty Six, with Young Chippewayan, Lutheran and Mennonite folks at Stoney Hill.

4. Sponsoring the 2nd Annual Spruce River Folkfest.

5. Welcoming Low German families and assisting with translation, documentation and employment.

6. Producing Spanish and German versions of the booklet “Abuse: response and prevention.”

7. Supporting AIDS Saskatoon with the re-donation of supplies inappropriate for international use.

8. Conducting HIV and AIDS awareness programs in schools, parishes and youth centres in Jordan.

9. Preventing the spread of HIV by educating young people about resisting gender-based violence.

10. Assisting local efforts to build a women’s centre with a thrift store and supported housing in Labrador.

5WAYS TO HELP

10 HIGHLIGHTS

Ray Funk and A.J. Felix sing for the crowd at the second annual Spruce River Folkfest.

EDUCATION & SERVICE

Chalosk.mcc.org/chalo

Simunyesk.mcc.org/simunye

Global Family globalfamily.mcc.org

IVEP ivep.mcc.org

Summerbridge mcc.org/serve/programs/summerbridge

Service Workers mcc.org/serve

SOOP soop.mcc.org

SALTsalt.mcc.org

YAMENyamen.mcc.org

seedseed.mcc.org

Tiago Marin Gomez, Colombia, participated in MCC’s International Volunteer Exchange Program (IVEP)—a one year volunteer term in which participants are matched with a home stay and work full time with an MCC partner agency. AODBT architecture + design placed Tiago, who was working on his degree in architecture, at their firm. It turned out to be a great match for both sides. Tiago was able to put his architectural training into practice while AODBT gained from his design skills and new perspectives. In fact, many of the staff, who previously thought of Colombia as an unsafe place to travel, are now wanting to pay Tiago a visit.

IVEP focuses on offering participants vocational training, cultural exchange and global Christian fellowship. The program hosts 60 participants every year, spread across Canada and the U.S. Visit ivep.mcc.org for more information or contact your local MCC office to offer a home stay or a volunteer placement.

I feel privileged to have worked alongside Tiago. He is one of the most dedicated, hard-working young people I have ever had the pleasure of encountering in an architectural firm.– Ted Engel

1. Host an IVEPer.

2. Sponsor a Global Family project.

3. Volunteer with SOOP in your retirement.

4. Support workers serving internationally through prayer.

5. Consider the SALT and SEED program opportunities.

1. Creating bridge-building opportunities locally and globally through Chalo and Simunye programs.

2. Generating almost $93,000 in Global Family sponsorships in Saskatchewan.

3. Sharing MCC’s stories and information with almost 4,500 people in a variety of settings.

4. Placing five IVEP participants in workplaces and with host families in Saskatoon and Regina.

5. Facilitating 12 international placement opportunities for Saskatchewan service workers.

6. Visiting 19 Saskatchewan communities to educate about and promote fair trade through Festival Sales.

7. Placing 80 SOOP volunteers from across North America in short-term service.

8. Sending 138 people under age 30 from 27 countries to assignments in 30 countries, through SALT, Seed, IVEP and YAMEN programs.

9. Giving eight students access to quality education with every Global Family sponsorship.

10. Placing a SALT participant at a kindergarten for children of internally displaced families in Iraq.

5WAYS TO HELP

10 HIGHLIGHTS

Tiago Marin Gomez with Charles Olfert from AODBT architectural firm.

Herbert

Rosthern

Lanigan

St. Walburg

Wynyard

Humboldt

Perdue

Regina

Warman

North Battleford

Swift Current

HagueHepburn

Yorkton

Shekinah

Prince Albert

La Ronge

Biggar

Fort Qu’Appelle

Paradise Hill

Luseland Canora

Creighton

Norquay

Weyburn

Saskatoon

Offices/staffThrift shopsProvincial totals $433,224 411

Material resource centresSaskatoon q7,343 kits shipped 30

Ten Thousand VillagesRelief salesSaskatoon $80,000Hague $100,00 (for CFGB)

IVEP/Service workers 5Community partner grants 6Festival sales 190

Material resourcesVolunteers

Saskatchewan

q

2010–11INCOME

2010–11EXPENSES

National and international supportMCC operates at the provincial, national and international level. The numbers above explain MCC income and expenses in Saskatchewan. A portion of the funds raised by each provincial office also supports MCC’s national and international work.

This past year the budget for MCC’s national body — MCC Canada — was $46.3 million. This includes donations to MCC’s account at Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Ten Thousand Villages sales, government grants, and forwardings from the provincial MCCs. Of this, approximately $1.6 million supported MCC Canada’s national work. Total income for MCC globally this past fiscal year was approximately $76.8 million.

Due to publishing deadlines, actual income and expense figures for the fiscal year ending August 31 are not included in this report. However, those figures are currently available at sk.mcc.org/about/annualreport.

Earned Income6%

Grants2%

Relief Sales3%

Thrift Shops17%

Material Aid5%

Designated Donations28%

General Donations22%

Canadian Foodgrains Bank

17%

Administration15%

Fundraising9%

Provincial Programs17%

International Programs59%

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What is Mennonite Central Committee?MCC is a non-profit relief, peace and development agency with more than 1,000 workers around the world. It is a ministry of Anabaptist churches which includes Mennonites and Brethren in Christ. In Canada, MCC operates at both a provincial and national level.

PurposeMCC shares God’s love and compassion for all in the name of Christ by responding to basic human needs and working for peace and justice. MCC envisions communities worldwide in right relationship with God, one another and creation.

1107dh Printed in Canada.

Learn more or volunteer sk.mcc.org I 306.665.2555 I 1.888.622.6337 600 – 45th Street West, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7L 5W9

Find out about events in your area

manitoba.mcc.org/events

1. Make kits or blankets sk.mcc.org/materialresources

2. Find a relief sale in your area sk.mcc.org/mcc-relief-sale

3. Order resources resources@mennonitecc.ca

4. Find thrift shops in your area sk.mcc.org/thriftshops

5. Order Hello magazine hello.mcc.org

6. Order A Common Place magazine acommonplace.mcc.org

7. Work or serve with MCC mcc.org/serve

8. Donate donate.mcc.org

8 WAYS TO CONNECT