In God’s vision of a restored creation, the flourishing of people and the earth are interconnected. Tearfund partners with organisations whose work demonstrates this interconnected healing and inspires us to show Jesus’ love in action for the whole creation.
In Cambodia, after years of conflict, there is still much healing to be done. Tearfund’s partner Peace Bridges Organisation shows how the restoration of communities and care for creation can go hand in hand. Peace Bridges provides training in peace building and conflict resolution, aiming to reduce domestic and other social violence, leading to restored relationships within families and throughout the community. Peace Bridges also stresses the importance of peace with creation.
In many villages in rural Cambodia, particularly those where some people still derive a portion of their livelihood from hunting and foraging in nearby forests, there has been a lot of conflict over land grabbing and deforestation. These are issues that have split communities as well as damaged the environment. Peace Bridges is working to transform communities, person by person, to demonstrate that there is a future – for both people and creation – for those who seek peace (Psalm 37:37).
“We equip people to start on the journey of personal transformation – to become peacemakers and work towards a community goal,” Peace Bridges director Som Chanmony says.
Mrs But Saroeur is a 43-year-old widowed farmer from Samreth Village, in Kampong Thom Province. She has participated in training that Peace Bridges has delivered to her church.
“I am proud of taking the time to be a part of God’s creation,” she says. “I am dedicated to helping our natural resources and creating better lives for the people on this earth. The knowledge that PBO provides can help women to be educated and the youth to have a career.”
Related projects have received support from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
