RESPONDING TO INVITATIONS

Christians Aware overseas visits and exchanges arise naturally, through meetings of people and through friendship. They are normally initiated by the host community. They are responded to on the grounds of the opportunity offered to visitors to learn from the culture and community they are visiting and to develop friendship. The beauty of the country, or lack of it, is not relevant in making a decision to undertake a visit. Christians Aware groups however visit for very short periods of time and therefore do not accept invitations into obviously dangerous situations where they might be a nuisance. They do accept invitations into suffering situations, to learn from the people there, and as a mark of solidarity with them.

IDENTIFYING A GROUP

It is vitally important to make it clear from the outset that Christians Aware overseas visits are not tourism, and that people who take part in them are not tourists. It is necessary to be very explicit to potential members of a visiting group about their responsibility not only to be good listeners and learners, but to be hosts in their turn and to share their experiences with other people in their church and community. No matter how careful the preparation of a group is, there will always be one or two people who will do very little or nothing when they return home. This is inevitable and should not be seen as failure. It is possible that the impact of a visit takes longer to be realised for some people than for others, and in the end, "nothing is lost."

The notification of an overseas visit and exchange is normally through the Christians Aware magazine which is sent to all members. Information about a visit may be included in other magazines or mailings, for example, members of Traidcraft have taken part in visits.

The size of a group will vary, depending on the invitation given and the programme arranged by the host community. Small groups of between six and ten people are often best, because they are not so noticeable in the community they go to, and they may therefore learn more about the way of life than if changes were made to accommodate them. When a work-camp is planned a larger group of perhaps twenty or thirty people may be invited to join in. The Kenyan work-camps have often included large British groups wording with equally large groups of Kenyan people. International gatherings in Britain often involve large numbers. Ideally a Christians Aware group should include people of different races, backgrounds and ages. It is sometimes possible to include people from two or three countries in a visit. When this can be arranged it is valuable.

If ill or disabled people apply to join a group visit it is wise to discuss the implications of their participation well in advance of the preparation of the group. The hosts should also be asked to share in the decision as to whether a disabled person should join a group visit. Sometimes hosts are pleased to welcome a disabled person, sometimes conditions are unsuitable.

Children should normally be accompanied by their parents, except, in the 16 to 18 year age group, when the parents' written permission may be obtained.

PREPARING A GROUP.

A Christians Aware group should be as varied as possible, and therefore the time spent in preparing for the visit is vitally important. This should be planned well ahead of the visit, and should include enough time for necessary vaccinations and other protective care to be given. If practicable, a residential weekend should be arranged. This need not be expensive if it is self-catering, and may sometimes, if the group is small, be organised in a home. The self-catering aspect of a residential weekend is an opportunity for a variety of people to become a group and to begin to learn how to work together. If a weekend of preparation is not possible, then a long day may be arranged, or two separate days.

Preparation should normally include:-

Time for people to articulate their hopes and fears of the visit, and for these to be discussed and where possible dealt with.

Time for people to talk in twos and threes about themselves, their work and way of life, their families and anything else they see as part of their contribution to the visit. It is useful after this session for the group leader to make a fist of the particular skills and interests of the members of the group. It is important to identify musicians, artists and photographers. Someone may also like to take a tape-recorder on the visit.

Time for people to listen to someone from the country they will visit talk about the history, geography, culture, and current issues facing the country. This session may include a slide-show and use of maps. It is also helpful to include the experiences of members of any previous visits. The magazines produced by previous groups are very useful.

Time must be given for the group leader to talk about the host community, and the detailed programme whilst drawing out the expectations of the group.

A practical session is essential when kit lists are made up, including lists of suitable clothes, and first aid. The particular needs of individuals should be discussed. Some items may be shared by a group, including clothes pegs, washing lines and sewing kits. First aid items should not normally be shared.

A money-raising session should be included. Group members may share ideas on sponsored events, on involving the local community and on possible organisations to apply to for help. Sometimes it is easier to attract sponsorship for group members who are under 25 years old than for those who are older.

It is helpful if preparation time also includes:-

Walks, as an aid to the development of friendship and understanding.

Role play on some of the situations which may arise during the visit.

A real situation from one of the previous visits may be used here. For example, one group, when camping in the Kenyan Rift Valley, went for a walk and returned to the camp to find that baboons had been into the tents, and had eaten the toothpaste, pills, (those for constipation and those for diarrhoea), and anything else they could find. They had also torn the tents.

A more difficult and more usual situation might be one of culture clash between the visiting group and the hosts, and how this might be tackled.

The Christians Aware Group Handbook includes a variety of games for groups.

Resources for preparation should be recommended, including book-lists, people to meet, and perhaps visits to relevant libraries and museums. It is helpful to write to the hosts, giving news of the group, and of their preparation time.

It is important to encourage members of the group to share news of their proposed visit with their local church or community. This will give the local community an interest in the visit, and will also give the group member an opportunity to share experiences and. new insights after the visit. It is possible that local communities may wish to sponsor the visit in some way.

"It is good for the group to include a variety of people"