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September 6, 2023 - No Comments!

Child Protection Week 2023

More specifically looking into where we start our lives, where we start as a service sector, and where we start as decision makers. 

As a team, ZOE has had a presence in Australia for well over a decade, but the main focus has always been on supporting the prevention, rescue and restoration work in Thailand as well as raising awareness and bringing education in Australia. 

In terms of looking at the issue of domestic child trafficking, it’s only been the past two years that our attention has been drawn to what this crime looks like in our own country. 

“Where We Start Matters” 

In Australia ZOE is continuing to ask, “How can we assist in combating domestic child trafficking?” This is a very important question and one that we are exploring in depth. Now with an increased understanding of the problem in Australia, we are moving towards our goal of ‘rescuing every child’ and ensuring that no child is trapped in slavery and exploitative situations.  

Treehouse Game: The aim of this game is to help children build (or redefine) strategies around how to identify safe people and safe places. Safe people and places are imperative in children's lives in order to establish strong connections and find trustworthy people they can share with when situations concern them. The objective also includes strengthening protective behaviours, healthy boundaries in relationships, and the skills to identify positive role models. The game focuses on the thought processes and language around recognising and calling out unsafe behaviour (within the game and in real life). This game is targeted at children 10-12 years old (Grade 4-6). Find out more about the game here.


Bringing Up Great Kids (BUGK) Program: The family environment is key for the prevention of abuse in childhood. Parenting programs have been shown to reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors associated with child maltreatment. To learn more about the Bringing Up Great Kids program click here.


Education and Awareness: We believe that creating a space for students to learn and ask questions from our team, will encourage them to think holistically about issues and embolden them to use their giftings and talents to become advocates for others. We offer a range of educational talks centered around child trafficking, Modern Slavery, ethical consumerism and exploitation. Each talk has been developed to be age-appropriate and can be modified to ensure that it meets the unique needs of your class. Find out more here.

Curriculum: We also have Year 9 and 10 curriculum. The Australian Curriculum gives teachers the opportunity to explore some of the big issues facing the globe today. These resources were developed to support Year 10, Unit 2: Geographies of Human Wellbeing and Year 9, Unit 2: Geographies of interconnections, with free downloadable versions available to comply with the Australian Curriculum Standards. The curriculum was written by Mark Easton who has written, co-written or contributed to more than forty textbooks for students and guides to support teachers in their use of these resources in the classroom. Find out more here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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April 15, 2021 - No Comments!

A Taste of ZOE For Kids

Written by Andrea Cross

On a cold Melbourne night in July 2019, my husband and I met Margaret at a ZOE prayer night. She offered to write a curriculum for churches to use in their kid’s ministry programs to encourage them to pray for children in slavery and those who have been rescued.

Since early 2020 when the planning began, the curriculum has been massaged and reviewed by several people, scripts written to match the content, and short videos recorded to enhance the learning experience. Finally now, after many months, the curriculum is ready to be released and provided free to churches, families and schools. 

Despite the fact that it’s written for children, as one of the people who has been working on the curriculum, it has spoken to me too and reminded me many times of God's character and promises. 

For example, many familiar Bible stories start with hopeless situations (Moses, Daniel, David and Goliath, Jonah, Noah). But just as Romans 8:28 tells us that God works all things together for our good, it’s important that we read and remember such stories. They change our thinking. They train our thoughts to be hope-filled. When we believe in God, we know that a situation that seems hopeless is not the end of the story! Our God is always good. When we invite God into our story, everything changes for good.

Working in the arena of child trafficking, the tasks that lay before us can oftentimes seem unachievable. Though there are days when we encounter ‘impossible’ situations that seem hopeless or too big, this curriculum reminded me again that God will anoint our work and give us ways to see problems through a different lens. It’s so wonderful that each theme in this prayer curriculum teaches children to see the world as God does, where no problem is too great and no child is out of His reach. It reminds children to ask God for ‘faith eyes’ to see things the way He sees them. Things that might seem impossible to us, are possible through His mighty power working through us!

There are 7 lessons included in this curriculum:

  • What is 'Hope' Like?
  • Eyes to See
  • We are Family
  • Finding a Way
  • God’s Treasure Hunt
  • Protection
  • Together is Better

And each lesson includes:

  • Warm-up (game or activity)
  • Group Time
  • Video
  • Reflection time/Talking with God
  • Small Group Time
  • Take Home Sheet
  • Comic Strip
  • Parent's Connect
  • Equipment List

The curriculum embraces topics such as trusting in God. Trusting in God means putting all our faith in His perfect love and letting go of all our fears. God has a plan. There is nothing God cannot do. It reminds children that they are a child of God and that He loves them. He walks with them. He encourages them. He protects them. He has a wonderful plan for them in this world.

It also covers how as God’s children they can ask God to give them Heaven’s ideas and plans to solve every need or problem here on earth. God wants them to see problems through His eyes of wisdom and understanding. He wants them to see challenges the way He sees them.

One of the most impactful lessons though is the one about the power in the words we speak and how our words create life or death! It encourages children to pray "No!” to the injustice of child slavery and poverty and declare it is not okay! And pray “Yes!” to life, declaring God’s promises over the children trapped in slavery. 

If you or your church would like a free copy of this curriculum, please contact us at info@goZOE.org.au and we will gladly share this free resource with you. 

For more info CLICK HERE

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October 2, 2020 - No Comments!

I Can Do That!

For all of us who work at ZOE, in any one of the 5 countries, we often cross paths with people who say, “I want to do something … what can I do?” Less often though, we see people who passionately embrace ZOE’s mission, combine it with their interests, skills or hobbies and then actually use it to influence their sphere. But when we do - it’s powerful!

Recently in Australia such a person came forth and reminded us again how everyone has something that they can do to bring awareness to the issue of ending child trafficking. 

Meet Sharon! An ordinary, yet amazing, woman who is using her heart -- along with her hobbies and circle of influence -- to make a difference by helping children.

Not long ago, I asked Sharon a few questions and here’s what she had to say!

1) How did you hear about ZOE?

About 9 years ago, I became aware of child trafficking through another organisation that was setting up in Mozambique. (My husband and I were living there at the time.)  But after a few years this connection waned.  I first heard about ZOE through the Development and Advocacy Coordinator in Australia.  He had been the senior pastor at a local church my family started attending maybe 20 odd years ago, and so his getting this position led me to check out your website. 

I noticed you were involved in education and had developed a curriculum for year 10 students and are in the process of a curriculum for year 9 students and possibly primary school students.  This sparked my interest even more as most of my time has been spent in ministry with children.  I started reading Facebook posts on ZOE’s work, then was invited to be part of a ZOE prayer team. I’m excited to be part of an organisation that brings healing, transformation, hope and the good news of Jesus to vulnerable children. 

2) What 'sparked' your ideas for both the dinner and the art work you're doing?

When I saw the delicious food being prepared from ZOE’s recipe book, I asked if I could purchase one.  It was suggested, “How about I send you some books and you can maybe cook something from it and have a few friends over to talk about ZOE and its work.”  My immediate response was, “I can do that!”  So then began my planning for my ‘awareness afternoon tea.’  I’m now planning to host a second one in the near future.

I’ve enjoyed sewing quilts and other projects for about 20 years and along the way, it’s been a pleasure to create things for other people and organisations.  When I saw the ZOE colouring book, I thought this may be a way for me to do some creative work for ZOE.  When I found out the drawings were done by some of the ZOE children and staff, well that was a bonus! 

3) Why are you passionate about ending child trafficking?

I’m passionate about ending child trafficking because it saddens me greatly that children, through no fault of their own, are subjected to terrible abuse and miss out on so many opportunities including to know unconditional love and the right to enjoy their childhood.  NO child should have to endure what so many are ‘living’ through and that also includes working in factories/or on farms for little pay and not receiving a formal education.  I have four children and one grandchild and am so blessed they have had and are still having many wonderful opportunities to grow, learn and flourish! I’m excited to be part of an organisation that brings healing, transformation and hope to vulnerable children. 

I feel that prevention and education is the key for big changes in so many areas. If I can play a small part in making people aware of what is happening in our world, in our country, then it can be the start of a journey which others can take and pass on.  Love the ripple effect!  

*If you have a passion to end child trafficking and ideas on how you could use your interests, skills or hobbies to influence your sphere, then please reach out and discuss your plans with us.