Inside ARC - 5.17.13 - Darfur, Nyabiheke, Sustainers

Hi jay, Here's a quick summary of what’s been happening at ARC, including a monthly sustainer challenge issued by ARC Board Member Sheila Leatherman. If you have any questions, please get in touch. -Daniel Daniel Wordsworth, President ***********************************************  *Congolese Refugees Relocate* One week ago, ARC began welcoming to Nyabiheke Camp in Rwanda a first wave of nearly 10,000 Congolese refugees. The new arrivals had been waiting at Nkamira Transit Center on the border with DR Congo while more appropriate accommodations were prepared. Because Nkamira was built to house only 2,600 refugees at one time, families went without a lot of important support and services. For several weeks, ARC has been preparing as smooth a transition as possible for these families to life in Nyabiheke Camp. They’ve been digging new latrines, installing new water stations and building shelters for the families. For the last week our health staff have been working tirelessly to help the new arrivals, many of whom suffer chronic diseases and urgently need care. Check out a photo of the operation on our Facebook page. Hats off to the team in Nyabiheke Camp for making this transition as easy as possible for these families! *Displaced in Darfur*   There has been escalating unrest in the Darfur region of Sudan. In the first few months of 2013 more than 5 times as many people were displaced from their homes as during the whole of 2012. The UN estimates 150,000 people have been displaced. ARC is responding. We’ve mobilized our team on all fronts to reach out to newly displaced families with lifesaving support and services. We will keep you updated on the situation in Darfur as it develops. We are actively fundraising to support the team in their response. If you would like to make a contribution, go to: www.ARCrelief.org/donate . *Sustainer (x 5) Challenge*   Last Sheila Leatherman – Vice Chair of ARC’s Board of Directors – has issued a challenge. When you become a monthly sustaining donor by June 20 (World Refugee Day), Sheila will MATCH your gift times 5! If you signup for $10 per month, she’ll give $50. $20 a month – she gives $100. That’s five times as many people you can help. To become a Sustainer, you can go online to www.ARCrelief.org/monthlygiving or call us at 1-800-875-7060. *Study on Gender Issues in South Sudan*   ARC has published an important study on attitudes toward gender and gender-based violence in South Sudan. We partnered with the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative to interview 680 men and women. Some of the findings: 82% of females and 81% of males agreed that ‘a woman should tolerate violence in order to keep her family together’. 68% of females and 63% of males, also agreed that ‘there are times when a woman deserves to be beaten’.  69% of respondents knew at least one woman who was beaten by her husband in the past month; 42% of respondents knew at least one man who forced his wife or partner to have sex. The report - “An Assessment of Gender Inequitable Norms and Gender-Based Violence in South Sudan” – can be accessed here:  http://www.conflictandhealth.com/content/7/1/4. Upon reading the report, a Member of Congress who works to promote women’s rights immediately reached out to learn more about the issue! *Engage*   Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube: https://www.facebook.com/ARCrelief  https://twitter.com/ARCrelief http://instagram.com/arcrelief http://www.youtube.com/chriskatarc

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It's In 9 Days.

jay, Mother’s Day is 9 days from now. It’s a day to recognize the women in your life who’ve made an impact on you, helped shape the person you’ve become. Do you have a plan?  If you’re looking for a way to say ‘Thank You’, we can help. Make a donation in honor of a special woman in your life and we will send her a card with a message from you – in time for Mother’s Day. Make your donation here: www.arcrelief.org/mothers .  You’ll not only be honoring someone important to you. Your gift will help kids like Fabien & Rehemah and their Mom Leontine, who fled Congo and live in Nyabiheke refugee camp in Rwanda (the kids share some thoughts about their Mom below).   Rehemah: My brother and I don’t remember much from our past when we were in Congo. Mom reminds us where we lived, how prosperous we were then, all the land, and cows, and lovely relatives and neighbors we had. And all the parties and celebrations. Now it’s just us. I think that’s why she works so hard. She doesn’t buy herself any nice clothes and neglects herself for us. To me that is sacrifice.    Fabien: If there is one thing she is always advising us to do it’s work hard. She’s always saying the old proverb, ‘sweet fruits bear from a suffering tree’. We know how much she suffers to get us school fees – how can we fail at school? I think the reason why mom sacrifices so much is that she is a widow and she has to be in two positions (mom and dad).  Rehemah: Mom has taught me to be patient, to love mankind, and to be hard working. I can tell you that I love mom. She gave birth to us, she’s raised us in a hard life, strived for our survival, and given us a lot of love.  Fabien: She is respected in our neighborhood and I have learned that I should step in her shoes. I love mom because she has given me affection, love, and sent me to school, and I cherish her all my life without hesitation. This is why I regard her as a hero.  If you make a gift in honor of a woman in your life, we will send her a card in time for Mother’s Day. And there’s room for a message from you to let her know just how important and special she is.   Thank you for your support.  -Daniel Daniel Wordsworth President American Refugee Committee P.S. Check out more stories of mothers at www.facebook.com/arcrelief and www.twitter.com/arcrelief .

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