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Children In Crisis: What You Can Do
Children and teenagers all over the world face a war that is unnamed by adult populations, one that has few memorials or tributes paid to those who
have suffered and died. No medals have been granted for bravery to children and teenagers who have suffered torture, abuse, and death at the hands of
those who are bigger and stronger then they are. However, abuse and neglect of children and teenagers is incredibly destructive and continues to pervade
many aspects of society in both subtle and obvious ways.
In the same way domestic violence continues to destroy lives all around the globe. Adults who endure violent relationships often have no laws to protect
them in developing countries and have no recourse for the crimes committed against them. Even in the most "advanced" countries, domestic violence
remains as serious of a crisis as war, yet is not recognized as a war, and is not addressed in many of our communities. There is silence in many of our
churches concerning these issues. Sometimes, instead of silence there is blame for those who have been brave enough to talk about it.
Part of the war deals with the listlessness of the small section of the world that can change the situation for children in crisis and yet look away from the
realities of their difficult existence. The small section of the world that can change situations for children in crisis includes you and I. We can choose not
to look away from the reality that is a traumatized child's everyday life.
Nevertheless, Hope Exists. Hope for survival and hope for restoration may be experienced through the arts. When there is nothing left, the arts can
serve as a God given tool to restore power, dignity, choice, and color to a world darkened by loss, grief, anger, and despair.
You might wonder why we want to bring the arts to children who live in poverty when more basic needs could be met. To children, art and play is just as
important to development as the basics. To children, it may open a door for some of the despair to lift from their life, thereby allowing them to receive
basic help more easily or acquire it themselves. Children are resourceful and they learn how to survive. By giving them something that their soul needs
we offer them relief, safety, and expression to keep them going.
Hope can come without money, but money used the right way can help bring hope. You can give money to help a child in crisis and you can give of
yourself. Listed below are the ways that you can help, not only Arts for Life International reach children and adults in crisis, but other organizations who
are fighting for their lives as well.
SMALL AND BIG THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO
- Organize weekly or monthly prayer meetings for children in crisis (if you need names and stories of children, we can provide these)
- Learn about the issues that children in crisis deal with through these NGO's
Viva Network
- Shop ethically and use your power as a consumer to end child labor in sweatshops
- Buy a life changing gift from World Vision
- Donate money to help translate Hope Exists (current translation prices for a book about 200 pages starts at 2,000 US dollars).
- Educate your church or small group about children in crisis.
- Volunteer at a domestic violence shelter or children's crisis center in your community
- Educate your church community about domestic violence and abuse: Mending the Soul Ministries Curriculum
- We need illustrators for Hope Exists. If you are an artist we need quality art work dealing with various themes such as :
THANK YOU!
