ROCKFACE & AFFFINITY DOES ‘Slum Survivor’

‘Slum SurvivorSlum Survivor is a challenge to spend a few days the way a billion spend a lifetime. The idea is that for a short time we’d choose to make the reality of the world’s poor our reality, raising money for change and being changed in the process.

The reality

Around 1 billion people – that’s about one sixth of the world’s population - live in slums. Life in townships, favelas and temporary settlements across the world is hard. Often situated on the outskirts of cities throughout the majority world, these slums are populated by people and families who’ve travelled to urban centres to find work… often unsuccessfully. The everyday normality of life in the UK is alien to the world’s temporary settlements.  Running water,

electricity, employment, schools and other basic services are rarely present.

The cramped conditions mean disease and crime are usually rife. Just as bad is the
‘temporary’ nature of slums. They are often not officially sanctioned government communities and thus ignored on maps and in council policy. The threat of bulldozers tearing down slum settlements is always present.

However, this is life for a mass of people, real people that God loves. Soul Action is working to raise awareness of the issues and generate funds for projects and people serving some of the world’s poorest communities.

This is what Slum Survivor is all about.

The point

Slum Survivor is a simulation experience designed to help connect young people with the lives of some of the world’s poorest. By spending a few days the way a billion spend a lifetime, living in a temporary shelter, eating a limited diet and facing tough challenges and choices we’ll seek to both raise funds and awareness of the poverty and people that live in the world’s slums. Participants in Slum Survivor will get sponsored to take part in the challenge. The money raised will go to the work of Soul Action partner projects working in poor communities throughout the world.

However, we’ll also spend time in prayer, reading God’s word, learning about life in temporary settlements and connecting with God’s heart for justice. The idea is that through Slum Survivor we’d be changed, but also help change the lives of others too.

Over a weekend – 26th to 28th October – members of Rockface and Affinity (Whiteparish Youth Group) will construct a shelter from materials collected over the next couple of weeks.  We will live in this shelter according to the rules of the Slum Survivor challenge.  We will start the weekend at St. John’s in Winterslow, move on to All Saints, Whiteparish and lead the service at Whiteparish on the Sunday morning to share our experiences.
We hope you will be able to give your support by sponsoring the young people, visiting the ‘slum’ and of course you’ll be very welcome at the service at Whiteparish too.

Around 20 teenagers will forgo the amenities of the modern world – things such as ipods, spare clothing, pillows, deodorant(!), books or mobile phones. They will have two meals per day consisting of rice and lentils.
Anyone visting the slum will be offered hospitality, though it is up to you whether you accept!

Please sponsor our youngsters as they (and we through them) experience a harder life than we are used to. All monies raised will be passed to help poor communities around the world whose daily life is much more difficult than our own.

If you have any questions please ask
Linda or Richard Carter
or Steve Langdown.