Welcome to a simple helping hand against global poverty

A suggested set of words for reading out and sharing in assembly or classroom at any time on or before Friday 15 October 2010
(or in any other setting on that Friday to Sunday)

Are we ready to count our blessings and share some Promises to the Poor?

First, let’s listen in silence to hear the voices of the poor coming from the south, north, east and west. Now let’s tell them whey they can count on us to stand up for them.

We want a world that helps the poor and hungry. A billion people go to bed hungry every night – unlike us. So shall we count our blessings today and every day – and promise to stand up for stopping extreme poverty and hunger? Shall we? YES!

We want a world that looks after babies and mothers. Each day 30,000 children and many mothers in childbirth die due because of poverty – unlike in our country. So shall we count our blessings today and every day – and promise to stand up for reducing child mortality? Shall we? YES!

We want a world that has more doctors, nurses and medicine for all. Diseases hit many communities. Millions of people don’t even have clean water. So shall we count our blessings today and every day – and promise to stand up for basic health for everyone? Shall we? YES!

We want a world that supports fairness, justice, dignity and respect. In all countries, people need these to have proper lives. So shall we count our blessings today and every day – and promise to speak out today for all those working for peace and justice, human rights and equality? Shall we? YES!

We want a world where all children get a basic education. Many millions do not even start let alone finish school – unlike us. So shall we count our blessings today and every day - and promise to stand up for making sure that all children get a basic schooling? Shall we? YES?

We want a world that respects the world’s resources. Millions of people are already suffering the effects of climate change and environmental damage. So shall we count our blessings today and every day - and promise to stand up and speak out for those working hard to ensure that the riches and benefits of our planet are shared fairly, and by all? Shall we? YES?

And finally we want a world where people care about what happens – and want to make things better. So shall we promise to stand up and speak out against poverty and for social justice – again and again and again? Shall we? YES!

Thank you. Now shall we give each other a pat on the back and say Well Done for Standing Up Against Poverty?
YES!

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	24 March each year	mid-October 2010	October 10-21 2011
Some simple helping hands for social justice and against global poverty



Special 2010 arrangements for Just1's annual contribution to the great worldwide show of solidarity on social justice
As an annual follow-on to Make Poverty History around the time of the United Nations’ annual Day for the Eradication of Poverty, many tens of millions of people throughout the world have marked out three days in October to Stand Up and Take Action Against Poverty & Inequality. This action is organised by the Global Call to Action Against Poverty and the United Nations Millennium Campaign. In 2009, over 170 million people took part in 130+ countries - a Guinness World Record for the fourth year running. As a UK contribution, in 2009 Just1 arranged for over 100,000 souls to share some simple Promises to the Poor in hundreds of schools, churches and other settings. It's been a popular action. Not only have whole schools and colleges found the few minutes to take part, but whole dioceses - Catholic and Anglican - have been encouraged to join in during services at the weekend. For 2010, you can choose to take part in September - see the Alternative Action Date on the right of this column. But otherwise, it's much the same. You’ll just need to find a few minutes during the ordinary day There's a simple set of Promises to the Poor for schools to share in assembly or classroom any time that suits on Friday 15 October 2010 - or the days before The Promises are slightly changed, to include the idea of counting our blessings - and plenty of opportunities to say a very loud Yes! Nothing is sacrosanct - if you feel you’d like to adjust the Promises or the timing to suit your needs, please do so If you'd like to think about involving others, consider inviting your local MP in to share the Promises letting your local paper or radio know what you're up to inviting cluster, feeder or other schools and colleges to join in as well write to the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for International Development, or your MP - to tell them what you stand for and value. (You'll get a letter back to share with pupils and parents and others). Extra ideas for this year? A simple slideshow is available to use in classroom or assembly. Click here to download. Badges are quite a good idea - made from ordinary small printing labels (as worn by St Margaret Clitherow above right) A small postcard or A5 version of the Promises for pupils to take home to their families	200+ pupils at St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary in Bracknell head off to classrooms with posters and badges after their StandUp assembly on 16 October 2009 One of the slides produced by the Chaplain at St Joseph's Business & Enterprise College in Swindon - on which the Just1 slideshow for 2010 is based. Over 1400 stood up! Activities poster prepared by the Lay Chaplain at St Peter's High School & Sixth Form in Gloucester - where over 1800 students and staff joined in.	The Official 2010 Stand Up Date and Action for anyone who can manage it in mid-September In late September a high-level meeting at the UN will review progress towards the MDGs and other international development goals. GCAP and UNMC are suggesting that millions of people Stand Up and Take Action on 17-19 September to demand that heads of states deliver breakthrough plans at the Summit the following week. On Saturday, September 18, they will join together in a unified global action to “Make a Noise for the MDGs.” Unlike in previous years, the numbers around the world won't be counted - so we won't know how things stand compared with the 170 million in 2009. Find out more at www.bond.org.uk/pages/noise-.html and www.standagainstpoverty.org However, for most UK schools and colleges, (as well as dioceses, parishes, groups, and others) Just1 suggests that standing up on the traditional date a month later on 15-17 October might suit better. Some reasons? Sharing the Just1 Promises to the Poor is certainly something worth doing in its own right - as part of RE/PSHE It's well clear of the clatter of the new school term and year MPs will be back from party conferences and can be invited to join schools on the Friday It's close to the traditional UN Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Micah Sunday, One World Week and a big parliamentary lobby by UK aid agencies a few days later In Catholic schools, parishes and dioceses - major supporters of StandUp in the past - mid-September attention is on CAFOD Harvest Fast Day and the visit of the Pope You might also like to be aware of the big worldwide prayer event on Sunday 10th October (10.10.10) involving 100 million people worldwide. For information see


	Our Promises to the Poor 2010
A4 Briefing in Word to download and print. This includes the Promises to the Poor A slideshow version of the Promises (below) is now ready Click here to download	A suggested set of words for reading out and sharing in assembly or classroom at any time on or before Friday 15 October 2010 (or in any other setting on that Friday to Sunday) Are we ready to count our blessings and share some Promises to the Poor? First, let’s listen in silence to hear the voices of the poor coming from the south, north, east and west. Now let’s tell them whey they can count on us to stand up for them. We want a world that helps the poor and hungry. A billion people go to bed hungry every night – unlike us. So shall we count our blessings today and every day – and promise to stand up for stopping extreme poverty and hunger? Shall we? YES! We want a world that looks after babies and mothers. Each day 30,000 children and many mothers in childbirth die due because of poverty – unlike in our country. So shall we count our blessings today and every day – and promise to stand up for reducing child mortality? Shall we? YES! We want a world that has more doctors, nurses and medicine for all. Diseases hit many communities. Millions of people don’t even have clean water. So shall we count our blessings today and every day – and promise to stand up for basic health for everyone? Shall we? YES! We want a world that supports fairness, justice, dignity and respect. In all countries, people need these to have proper lives. So shall we count our blessings today and every day – and promise to speak out today for all those working for peace and justice, human rights and equality? Shall we? YES! We want a world where all children get a basic education. Many millions do not even start let alone finish school – unlike us. So shall we count our blessings today and every day - and promise to stand up for making sure that all children get a basic schooling? Shall we? YES? We want a world that respects the world’s resources. Millions of people are already suffering the effects of climate change and environmental damage. So shall we count our blessings today and every day - and promise to stand up and speak out for those working hard to ensure that the riches and benefits of our planet are shared fairly, and by all? Shall we? YES? And finally we want a world where people care about what happens – and want to make things better. So shall we promise to stand up and speak out against poverty and for social justice – again and again and again? Shall we? YES! Thank you. Now shall we give each other a pat on the back and say Well Done for Standing Up Against Poverty? YES!

	For more information at any time, contact The Conductor of Just1, Hugh Gibbons E-mail: hughgibbons@just1.org.uk Tel: 01344 451847 Write: 75 Qualitas Roman Hill Bracknell Berks RG12 7QG United Kingdom Back to Just1 Welcome page