Face To Face: Praying with the 2007 CWS Calendar

WISDOM OF AGE
Being the village elder brings Ugaram respect -- and responsibility. His area was hard hit in the October 2005 South Asia earthquake. His fellow villagers lost so much, including the cattle that Pakistanis in this area rely on for survival. But Ugaram is now looking to the future and has encouraged his people to work with the Saving and Credit Project initiated by CWS's partner, Lower Sindh Regional Development. With small loans from the project, villagers are beginning to replenish their livestock and re-establish their lives.

"The capacity of local communities is key," explains CWS Communications Director Ann Walle. "Leaders within each community are identified and are part of the CWS team." At training centers set up by CWS and another partner, the Dosti Welfare Organization, men are also learning new skills -- carpentry, masonry, plumbing, electrical work -- to help them build quake-resistant homes for their families. CWS's ultimate goal is to get beyond the marginal life that most people here in northwestern Pakistan led before the quake, and to move forward, to "build back better. "

"A lot of recovery work still needs to be done -- recovery that will be going on for years to come."

Connie Cheung, CWS Recovery Coordinator, Pakistan

Fact of Life:
Area affected by the South Asia earthquake: 30,000 square miles

Number of people displaced by the quake: 3.3 million

	WISDOM OF AGE Being the village elder brings Ugaram respect -- and responsibility. His area was hard hit in the October 2005 South Asia earthquake. His fellow villagers lost so much, including the cattle that Pakistanis in this area rely on for survival. But Ugaram is now looking to the future and has encouraged his people to work with the Saving and Credit Project initiated by CWS's partner, Lower Sindh Regional Development. With small loans from the project, villagers are beginning to replenish their livestock and re-establish their lives. "The capacity of local communities is key," explains CWS Communications Director Ann Walle. "Leaders within each community are identified and are part of the CWS team." At training centers set up by CWS and another partner, the Dosti Welfare Organization, men are also learning new skills -- carpentry, masonry, plumbing, electrical work -- to help them build quake-resistant homes for their families. CWS's ultimate goal is to get beyond the marginal life that most people here in northwestern Pakistan led before the quake, and to move forward, to "build back better. " "A lot of recovery work still needs to be done -- recovery that will be going on for years to come." Connie Cheung, CWS Recovery Coordinator, Pakistan Fact of Life: Area affected by the South Asia earthquake: 30,000 square miles Number of people displaced by the quake: 3.3 million
	Ugaram as village elder has had to guide his community through particularly difficult times since the earthquake. When has an elder guided you? What was their gift to you?
	How attractive is wisdom in the aged, and understanding and good counsel in the venerable! Sirach 25:5
	Loving God, guide and guard the communities struggling to recover from the earthquake in Pakistan. Bless their leaders, like this old man, whose creased face tells a tale of struggle and endurance. With the help of groups like Church World Service, may they gain the knowledge and resources needed to rebuild -- better than before.
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