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Elsewhere in the world
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RWANDA and BURUNDI—General Shaw Clifton approved the upgrade of The Salvation Army’s work in Rwanda and Burundi from regional to command status, as of April 1, 2010.
The Salvation Army first became actively involved in relief work in Rwanda in September 1994, when the country had been ravaged by civil war and genocide. The Kayenzi Corps officially began its ministry on November 5,1995, but it was not until September 15, 2008 that The Salvation Army achieved registration as a church in Rwanda, by which time the Army’s influence had spread into neighboring Burundi.
In October 2008 the Army’s work in Rwanda and Burundi was officially brought together into one command unit, known as the Rwanda and Burundi Region. The region has continued to grow in strength and effectiveness; hence, the decision to re-designate to a command.
Majors Stephen and Grace Chepkurui are officer commanding and command president of women’s ministries, and Captains Jean and Elianese Clenat are general secretary and command secretary for women’s ministries.
SOUTH AFRICA—The Southern Africa Territory teamed with Saatchi and Saatchi Cape Town in a campaign to expose the horrors of human trafficking. Ian Young, MD, of Saatchi and Saatchi, said: “We decided that an unusual approach would work in generating awareness…we took an ordinary toy crane machine, gave it a sinister twist and created a new game called Little Treasures.” The machine—placed in a shopping mall—was filled with cute dolls. People immediately started playing. After they snatched a prize, the truth was revealed via an attached message—each doll represented a child lost to human trafficking.
The Salvation Army is at the forefront of anti-trafficking efforts in South Africa and maintains a 24-hour toll-free hotline number (08000 RESCU) for anyone with tip-offs on suspected human trafficking cases.
MEXICO—A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010, centered in the Mexicali Valley region. People as far north as Santa Barbara County, Calif., felt the quake.
Estimates are that 35,000 residents in rural areas lacked drinking water and close to 25,000 people—about 5,200 families—needed temporary shelter and will need to be re-settled.
The Salvation Army’s El Centro (Calif.) Corps sheltered displaced families and The Salvation Army in San Diego sent two mobile feeding units to serve first responders and those in need in Calexico and El Centro.
Donations may be made to the Baja/Imperial Earthquake fund at The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 503580, San Diego, CA 92150-3580; call (866) 455-4357; or donate online at www.sandiego.salvationarmy.org.
Sources: signonsandiego.com and Salvation Army San Diego Facebook page
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