blog33

ak: photos

2008-01-02T18:19:00.002Z

more photos from Christmas and new year.

ak: updates

2007-12-09T17:44:00.000Z

updates to the ak Christmas and winter programmes, printable versions uploaded along with breakout booking forms - available on the ak forms page.

various tweaks to the design and layout of the site - hopefully we've not broken anything.

stop the traffik

2007-12-05T16:16:00.001Z

After the footprints petition, the final step of the Thr3e Small Steps campaign is demanding that the UK Government appoint an independent national Child Trafficking Watchdog (called a 'Rapporteur') to help keep track of the issue. A lot of trafficking takes place 'underground' so if we're going to stop child trafficking the Government needs to appoint a full time expert to raise issues, keep it in the forefront and have it exposed for the crime it is, not hidden away.

To tell the Government how important it is to appoint the Rapporteur, go to the campaign page and see what you can do. It's so easy to do - and so important.

ak: photos and updates

2007-11-29T19:52:00.002Z

a bumper edition of photos - akwa 2007, the pearl of africa choir, the ak bonfire, the ak jigsaws and origami night and the ak curry night.

also updates to the ak programme, mayc breakout and akwa pages.

ak: pearl of africa children's choir

2007-10-22T23:23:00.000+01:00

on sunday 28th february, alive and kicking are throwing a party for the pearl of africa children's choir. they'll be giving us a concert at 6pm at kingswinford methodist church (leave at 5.30pm from the hut) and we'll be entertaining them with food and games straight afterwards (until around 8.30pm, returning to the hut around 9pm).

bring some food to share and plenty of enthusiasm and we'll see you there!

ak: stop the traffik

2007-10-02T17:34:00.000+01:00

the stop the traffik website has a huge amount of information on modern-day slavery and what you can do about it. sign the petition, switch to fair trade chocolate, tell your friends, pray, write letters and do your bit towards eradicating slavery.

ak: updates

2007-08-21T18:39:00.000+01:00

alive and kicking autumn programme (september-december) is now available online and to download.

lou's news

2007-07-25T16:58:00.000+01:00

the latest update from lou bamber is now available on the mission page.

ad33 garden party

2007-07-04T15:20:00.001+01:00

your chance to find out more about alive and kicking, eleven, twelveforty and the rest of ad33. come along and meet the team, ask any questions you may have and find out more about all that is going on.

ak: updates

2007-06-28T12:03:00.000+01:00

the akwa 2007 information pack and booking form is now available to download. book your place at the event of the year now!

ak: updates

2007-06-13T23:55:00.000+01:00

the alive and kicking summer programme (july-august) is now available online and to download.

ak: updates

2007-06-11T23:31:00.000+01:00

some photos from the ak trip to the safari park added.

the akwa 2006 report is also now up - booking forms for this year's weekend away will be out soon...

ak: updates

2007-05-30T20:39:00.001+01:00

more photos from the ak easter walkover added.

ak: safari park

2007-05-25T11:07:00.000+01:00

the alive and kicking trip to the safari park has been moved forward to 10th june 2007 to avoid clashing with fathers' day. consent forms should be returned by 3rd june.

word on the web: 9 may 2007

2007-05-09T17:25:00.000+01:00

Ephesians 2:8-10

I mean that you have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. It was not the result of your own efforts, so you cannot brag about it. God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.

How do we get saved? Simply by believing in Jesus!

We make things so complicated, us Christians. We say that we know the truth of the gospel, and then we live like we've never really understood what Jesus' death means for us. The Bible makes it clear that, "If you use your mouth to say, 'Jesus is Lord,' and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, then you will be saved." (Romans 10:9).

So what do we do? We get hung up on the way we're meant to behave. We end up getting all self-righteous and pious. We put labels on ourselves and judge others - the very stuff that Jesus talked about as being the wrong way to live.

Paul explains here in this text that our new life in Jesus is a gift. Our salvation is not through something that's we've done or said. It's through God's amazing love that we are who we are. Our response should be to live a life of humility, taking on the example of Jesus the servant.

We should live our life in such a way that we demonstrate the love which saved us in the first place.

ak: updates

2007-04-25T17:09:00.000+01:00

photos from the fancy dress meal are available on the photos page.

ak: updates

2007-04-24T02:00:00.000+01:00

the spring programme (april to july) is now available on the ak programme page and to download from the ak downloads page.

photos from the easter walkover are available on the photos page.

we try and make it simple...

'Slavery' behind Easter chocolate

2007-04-07T00:00:00.000+01:00

Thousands of children are working as slave labour on West African cocoa farms to help produce Easter chocolate for the UK, campaigners have warned.

The International Labour Organisation says 12,000 children have been trafficked to the Ivory Coast.

A coalition of anti-slavery charities says they work long hours for no pay and little food on the plantations.

British chocolate manufacturers said a certification scheme was being set up to tackle "unacceptable" conditions.

'Background of poverty'

The coalition, called Stop the Traffik, wants the manufacturers to declare chocolate "traffik-free" so consumers can be sure they are not supporting child slave labour.

Stop the Traffik's chairman Steve Chalke said: "These youngsters come from a background of poverty, and are even knowingly sold by their parents sometimes.

"Often what will happen is the parents are starving, they're poor, they have nothing and somebody comes along and says 'I'll take your son, he'll work on my farm and I'll give you some money'.

"They think 'We'll get money so we can eat and our son gets a job'. They don't know what he's going to is a living hell."

Hazardous conditions

The call for a "traffik-free guarantee" has been backed by MP Mike Hancock who has tabled an Early Day Motion in the Commons signed by more than 50 fellow MPs.

Charity Save the Children says many children in West Africa also work in hazardous conditions on family farms.

The Biscuit, Cake, Chocolate and Confectionery Association (BCCCA) said human trafficking was unacceptable.

Alison Ward, of the BCCCA, said UK manufacturers were spending about £8m a year to develop certification and monitoring schemes.

"We all want to ensure that the cocoa we buy is grown using internationally approved labour standards - notably without the worst forms of child or forced labour," the association said.

links:
original article (bbc news).
stop the traffik website.
stop the traffik 'good chocolate guide' (pdf).

Mission: Bolivia - Bike and Hike

2007-03-29T16:28:00.000+01:00

Do you enjoy a physical challenge?
Are you keen to see how Latin Link is making a difference in people's lives and to play a part yourself?
Do you want to raise money to help those in need in Latin America?
...Then Latin Venture Bolivia is for you!

Latin Venture Bolivia will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness the stark and unforgettable beauty of this country. The trip will take in the scenery and people that make up the diverse culture that includes 40 different ethnic groups and 36 languages. Trek through the Cordillera Real high in the Andes, cross Lake Titicaca to the sacred Inca temples on the Island of the Sun and cycle the 'world's most dangerous road' into the tropical heat of the Yungas jungle. You will also have the opportunity to meet Latin Link Bolivia team members and see their work. From the 'eternal spring' of the Cochabamba valley to the mining town of Oruro and spectacular city of La Paz which clings to the side of a crater high on the altiplano plain you will get a good taste of what life and mission is like in Bolivia.

The trip will be led by Adam Pope, who spent three years as Latin Link's Short Term Mission Coordinator in Bolivia. Adam’s experience of the Bolivian culture, language and people make him the ideal person to lead the Venture. Adam writes: 'if you are looking for a holiday with a difference, this trip is ideal. A chance to discover the hidden beauty of this awe-inspiring country, to meet Bolivian Christians and Latin Link members and experience a practical taste of mission on the ground. I can't wait to share this adventure with you.'

more information can be found in this flier.

lou's news - march 2007

2007-03-07T17:46:00.000Z

blocked in china

2007-02-28T19:15:00.000Z

www.ad33.org.uk, blocked in china.

sorry to anybody who wanted to visit us from china.

ak: photos

2007-01-14T00:49:00.001Z

new photos uploaded from akwa and pizza/bowling - sorry for the wait!

ak: programme

2007-01-03T18:21:00.000Z

the ak programme is now up - only slightly late :-). hope to see you all on a sunday night soon...

as usual, the printable version is on the downloads page.

the wrong rudolph

2006-12-25T23:05:00.000Z

happy Christmas

2006-12-24T19:26:00.000Z

happy Christmas and a peaceful new year from everybody at alive and kicking. see you all soon.

the 50 word bible

God made
Adam bit
Noah arked
Abraham split
Joseph ruled
Jacob fooled
Bush talked
Moses balked
Pharaoh plagued
People walked
Sea divided
Tablets guided
Promise landed
Saul freaked
David peeked
Prophets warned
Jesus born
God walked
Love talked
Anger crucified
Hope died
Love rose
Spirit flamed
Word spread
God remained