Delegates from ‘Uniting World’ visit CNI SBSS

Rev. Laurie Fitzgerald and Rob Floyd from ‘Uniting World’ Australia visited CNI SBSS headquarters on September 21st. ‘UnitingWorld’ is the Uniting Church in Australia’s agent for purposeful, effective partnerships between churches and communities worldwide.

They were here to know more about CNI SBSS and discuss the possibility of entering into partnership with us. Dr. Shailendra Awale introduced them to the organisational structure and the role of the Synod and DBSS the implementing partners. They were briefed about ‘Speaking Out...’ the current phase of the ten years’ perspective plan - Resistance and Hope. He also shared the grass root experiences from various Dioceses. Our engagement with the communities especially the work we are doing with the dalit and tribals, in their political mobilisation and access to government schemes through NREGS and PDS were discussed. The role played by CNI-SBSS in designing a programme and monitoring the activities as well as financial devolution.

Issues discussed ranged from livelihood, gender, education, integrated development, urban slum to transparency and accountability within the organisation. Mr. Philip Jadhav, Dr. Shailendra Awale, Santosh George, Elizabeth Martin and Ritu were present there to give response to the queries based on their personal experiences in their respective areas of intervention. Dr. Shailendra Awale said that our accountability is toward God as good steward.

Rev. Fitzgerald and Mr. Floyd were amazed to know about our long standing relationship with our donors. They inquired about the funding pattern and maintenance of the account and reporting. They explained that the financial support by ‘Uniting World’ could in no way be used for evangelism and said that the communities benefitting from any project funded by them need not belong to a Church and should be available for the benefit of human kind, not religion specific.