Footprint

Some of you will be familiar with Footprint and have wondered where it is; others will never have heard of it. Footprint is the newsletter of CFR Footprints which is the umbrella charity of which TOUCH OF HOPE, the project on which Clive Fowle is currently working in Croatia, is the main beneficiary.

Footprint has been edited for 20 years by Carol Cave who has now stepped down. Many thanks go to Carol for the sterling work she has done.

HALF TIME ROLE FOR CLIVE FOWLE

From 1st September Revd Clive Fowle Has been working half time in the Rugby and Daventry Methodist Circuit and half time with TOUCH OF HOPE. This new arrangement has been agreed with the Methodist Church nationally and locally and comes after years of trying to facilitate this.

Heis available to speak about the project and promote the work and preach .

Clive will also be available in this country to lead workshops and speak on themes related to the work of the project.

He will continue as resources permit to lead workshops into Croatia.

WORKSHOP PLANS

Following the completion of 2 units of workshops,our plan is to conduct a third series of workshops in Facilitation skills.

Unit 1 covers a basic understanding of Health and healing, Identity, Listening, Forgiveness, Reconciliation

Unit 2 covers conflict transformation, dealing with the past and participants are required to undertake a project in the community using skills learned on the training.

Following a visit last year to Vukovar, the workshop team decided to introduce a third unit to help participants plan workshop activities for their own organisation on the theme of ‘living in a reconciling way.’

BOSNIA

During Clive’s sabbatical last Summer, he visited Sarajevo, Mostar and Srebrenica. On his travels he was able to talk about our work in Vukovar which was received with great interest and so Clive is putting out feelers with possible partner organisations we can work with in Bosnia.

BOOK OF STORIES

In Vukovar the Centre for Peace, Non Violence and Human Rights, our partner organisation launched a book of 23 stories from participants of the workshops. The title of the book is WOUNDED BY WAR,TOUCHED WITH HOPE .It is planned to produce an English version as soon as the stories can be translated. An English version of just 8 stories is already available and we are working on getting more copies of the book available.

FUNDING

Obviously, in order for Clive to live and for the work to be undertaken money is needed. This falls under two umbrellas.

Stipend

At total of just over £42000 is needed to cover Clives stipend and the associated pension contributions, NI etc.

As this is written over £22500 has been raisedor promised, including Gift Aid.

This money is channelled through

Rugby and Daventry CCT Clive Fowle, a special account set up by the Methodist Circuit.

Further information from

Revd. Andy Brooks

15 Polar Star Close

Daventry

NN11 9BU

01327 879832

Workshop expenses

To run the workshops, together with accommodation and travel expenses it is estimated that £30000 will be needed. There is £6500 in the bank at present towards this total!

This is passed through CFR Footprints

More information from

Dr.Alan Coulthurst

15 Overslade Manor Drive

Rugby

CV22 6EB.

01788 811395

THE RESULTS

In April, Clive and Dorn Margetts, a member of Clive’s church in Rugby, attended an international conference organised by a Catholic organisation Pax Christi International. In her report Dorn wrote:

I would like to share a conversation I was party to. One of Clive’s workshop participants came over to Clive insisting he needed to listen to her, bringing Nena the interpreter with her. She went on to say how she could not believe the change she had seen in one of the other participants on the workshop. She said how ‘exclusive’ the lady, had been previously, unwilling to see and share with people from the other side yet now she was so ‘inclusive’. The lady she spoke of was participating in the Consultation, and acted as guide on the coach visit to Ocara (Memorial Centre). The lady was a Croat and her best friend and confidante at the meeting was a Serb. The lady also said how this was only achievable through the workshops, because of Clive’s presence, that as an ‘outsider’ people were able to trust and listen to him.

PRAYER REQUESTS

  • Clive and Ann as they adjust to Clive’s new working arrangements
  • The churches and organisations which have already invited Clive to speak.
  • The people of Croatia and Bosnia, particularly with the upcoming trial of Ratko Mladic
  • Further available funds for the work

Footnote:

If you have already promised money and haven’t yet set up your standing orders, please contact Andy Brooks who will send you bank account details.

Edited by Kathy Brooks (at same address as Revd. Andy, above!September 2011