Lesson video

Hello, my name's Mrs. Robbo, and I'm delighted to welcome you to this lesson today on the work of Christian Aid for victims of war.

In today's lesson, you will be able to explain how Christian Aid responds to victims of war, Christian Aid, refugee, and victims of war are all keywords that will be using today.

Christian Aid is a Christian charity founded in 1945 that tackles poverty, injustice, and inequality through aid and advocacy.

A refugee is someone who's been forced to flee their home country due to war, violence, persecution, or disaster and seek safety in another country.

Victims of war are those who are harmed during a war, for example, those killed, injured, or left homeless.

Today's lesson will take two parts.

We'll be looking at Christian Aid and we'll be looking at Christian Aid's work.

Let's start by looking at Christian Aid.

Christian Aid is an interdenominational Christian charity that was founded in 1945 by British and Irish churches to assist refugees after World War II.

It was originally focused on supporting the victims of war, but expanded to global poverty, injustice, and humanitarian crises.

Today it works in 37 countries, partnering with local organisations for emergency relief and long-term development.

The roots of Christian Aid's mission are biblical teachings that call Christians to defend the vulnerable and care for those in need.

Its mission to challenge injustice includes helping people whose lives have been torn apart by conflict.

This work is guided by four key values, dignity, justice, love, and equality.

Christian Aid supports victims of war by providing emergency relief and helping communities recover and rebuild.

So which of the following best describes the roots of Christian Aid's mission to help victims of war? Is it A, political agreements between churches and governments, B, biblical teachings about social responsibility and defending the vulnerable, C, military partnerships with peacekeeping forces, or D, traditions passed down from early church leaders? Take a moment, pause if you need to.

Come back when you're ready to check your answer.

Excellent work if you spotted that it's B, the biblical teachings about social responsibility.

The roots of Christian Aid's response to victims of war are biblical teachings about social responsibility.

For example, Psalm 82:3 says, "Defend the weak and the fatherless, uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed." A duty to protect and support vulnerable individuals leads Christian Aid to help those affected by war, including displaced families, refugees, and communities left without shelter, food or healthcare.

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:8-9.

Christian Aid speaks up for those who cannot protect themselves by supporting victims of war, such as refugees and displaced people, and by challenging the injustice and suffering caused by conflict.

They also would look at the teachings of Jesus.

"Love your neighbour as yourself." Mark 12:31.

Jesus' teachings inspire Christian Aid to show compassion to those affected by war by providing practical help such as shelter, food, and medical care, and by working towards a more peaceful and just world.

What word is missing from the following quotation? Something, the poor and the fatherless.

Psalm 82:3.

Is it A, defend, B, love, or C, fight? Take a moment, pause if you need to.

Come back when you're ready to check your answer.

Excellent work if you put defend.

So this is the basis of some of Christian Aid's work with the victims of war.

Christian Aid's response to the victims of war is supported by its four key values.

Equality.

Everyone is equal in God's sight and all lives matter equally in war.

Dignity.

War strips people of the dignity they have due to being created in God's image.

Justice.

The impact of war is to create an injustice.

And love.

Love is the motivation for striving for a world where everyone can thrive.

Fiona, who worships at an Anglican church, is explaining why her church supports Christian Aid.

Fiona says, "The Church of England was part of the group who formed Christian Aid.

The church I go to supports Christian Aid because it's a way of acting on Jesus' commandment to love your neighbour as yourself in Mark 12:31.

We're especially moved by their work with victims of war, including refugees and displaced families.

By supporting Christian Aid, we are helping to provide shelter, safety, and hope to victims of war." So which of Christian Aid's four values does Fiona refer to? Take a moment, pause the video, tell and talk to someone nearby, or you can talk to me.

Come back when you're ready to move on.

So well done if you said love, as in the quotation, "Love your neighbour as yourself." Charlie, who goes to a Baptist church, is explaining why his church supports Christian Aid.

Charlie says, "The Baptist Church was one of those that founded Christian Aid.

The church I go to encourages us to give to Christian Aid because Jesus makes it clear that serving those in need is the same as serving him in Matthew 25:35-40.

Giving people dignity is particularly important for me.

Many victims of war are left hungry, homeless, injured, or traumatised.

By helping them through Christian Aid, we recognise their inherent worth and treat them with the respect and compassion that Jesus taught.

So which of Christian Aid's core values does Charlie refer to? Take a moment again.

Pause.

Have a think.

Turn and talk to someone nearby if you can, and come back when you're ready to move on.

So well done if you notice he talked about dignity.

What are the missing words in these statements? Christian Aid's response to the victims of war is supported by four key values.

The first one, means all lives matter equally, especially in war.

The second, is important because war takes away the worth and respect.

people are due.

The third, highlights that the suffering caused by war is unfair and must be challenge.

And the last one, motivates Christian Aid to build a world where everyone can thrive.

So take a moment to think through what you've learned.

Pause the video if you need to, and come back when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you spotted the first was equality, the second dignity, the third justice, and the fourth love.

For task A, Aisha is explaining why justice is one of Christian Aid's key values and how it supports their work with victims of war.

Some parts of her explanation are missing.

Rewrite a complete version.

Aisha says, "Justice is a key Christian value, as the Bible calls us to defend the vulnerable.

Psalm 82:3 urges believers to defend the, while Proverbs 31:8-9 tells us to speak up for those who cannot.

Jesus also taught this links to justice because loving our neighbour means.

The charity Christian Aid follows these teachings by." So take a moment, think carefully, pause the video whilst you rewrite her answer, referring to those different Christian teachings, and then come back when you're ready to check your work.

Let's have a look at what you could have said.

Justice is a key Christian value, as the Bible calls us to defend the vulnerable.

Psalm 82:3 urges believers to defend the weak and uphold the cause of the poor, while Proverbs 31:8-9 tells us to speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves.

Jesus also taught, "Love your neighbour as yourself," in Mark 12:31.

This links to justice because loving our neighbour means ensuring victims of war receive their rights.

The charity Christian Aid follows these teachings by working to ensure that all people are treated fairly and that the injustice caused by war is challenged.

So well done if you've managed to develop her points on those key Christian teachings and how they link in with the work of Christian Aid.

So let's move on to the second part of our lesson, Christian Aid's work.

In 2023 to '24, Christian Aid continued its mission by supporting victims of war in some of the world's most conflict-affected regions.

It helped deliver emergency relief and recovery projects across countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America, reaching millions of people displaced or affected by conflict.

Christian Aid's work includes addressing the causes of suffering by challenging the injustice of conflict and calling for peace and the protection of civilians, providing emergency relief by delivering food, shelter, and medical aid in conflict zones and refugee camps, advocating for justice by urging governments to uphold international humanitarian law, and promoting equality by supporting displaced people and ensuring that refugees and victims of war are treated fairly regardless of race, gender, or background.

So how does Christian Aid support the victims of war? Choose two answers.

A, by helping to provide emergency aid like food, shelter, and medical care, B, by providing weapons to communities under threat, C, by speaking out for justice and supporting the dignity of displaced people, or D, by building churches for refugees in conflict zones? Remember, you're choosing two answers.

So pause the video, take a moment, come back when you're ready to check.

So well done if you went for A and for C.

They do provide emergency aid and they also speak up for justice and support the dignity of displaced people.

Christian Aid provides two types of support to victims of war.

Emergency relief.

So this supports people fleeing conflict by helping them access safety and their basic needs.

This could be by supplying food, clean water, and medicine for refugees and displaced families.

And they also provide support through long-term development.

This addresses the long-term effects of conflict and helps the victims of war to recover.

And it might be achieved by funding education programmes, clean water projects, and mental health services.

Izzy is talking about emergency relief for victims of war to David, who's a Christian doctor.

"I heard that you took time out of your career to volunteer for Christian Aid during the Rohingya crisis of 2017." David says, "Yes, help was desperately needed as over 700,000 persecuted Rohingya refugees had fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar.

Along with local health teams and partners, we provided emergency relief by treating illnesses and injuries and also set up clinics and trained local workers." So why is this an example of emergency relief? Pause the video, turn and talk to someone nearby if you can, or turn and talk to me, and then come back when you're ready to move on.

So well done if you spotted, it's because it provided urgent help for people in immediate need.

Izzy is talking to Fiona, who's a volunteer for Christian Aid, about long-term support for victims of war.

"Christian Aid is involved in lots of long-term projects to support victims of war.

What do you do to help with this?" Fiona says, "I volunteer as a Christian Aid speaker and raise awareness about the needs of victims of war.

I talk about how Christian Aid helped rebuild homes and supported local health centres to provide trauma counselling for people affected by the war in South Sudan.

They also provided farming tools and seeds so families could grow their own food again." So how is this an example of long-term development? Pause again.

Turn and talk to someone nearby.

Have a look at what Fiona has said.

Come back when you're ready to move on.

Well, the reason is it helps communities to become self-sufficient.

Let's check your understanding.

What are the missing words? Christian Aid helps the victims of war in two different ways.

Something relief provides immediate help such as food, shelter, and medical care, and something support helps rebuild lives by repairing homes and schools, training teachers and health workers, supporting sustainable farming, and providing access to clean water and sanitation.

Pause the video, think about what you've just learned.

Jot down your answers.

Come back when you're ready to move on.

So well done if you put emergency relief and long-term support.

Frank currently attends a Methodist Church, and every year he volunteers as a collector during Christian Aid week.

Frank says, "Christian Aid Week helps raise vital money for people affected by war and conflict.

I collect donations door to door and raise awareness about how Christian Aid supports those who have lost their homes, families, or access to basic needs.

I also help run events like coffee mornings and sponsored walks to fund emergency aid and long-term recovery." So why might having a week of focused fundraising be so successful for Christian Aid? Pause the video, have a think.

Come back when you're ready to move on.

You might have said, "It creates urgency and brings people together to support a common goal." What are the missing words? A Christian Aid Week collector goes door to door to gather, they also help organise, events such as coffee mornings and sponsored walks while raising, about Christian Aid's work.

Pause the video.

Think about your answer.

Come back when you're ready to check.

Well done if you said they gather donations, they also help organise fundraising events, and they raise awareness about Christian Aid's work.

For Task B on Christian Aid's work, Charlie and David are discussing this statement, "Religious people should prioritise helping the victims of war." Explain how each of them might develop their point and link it to the work of Christian Aid.

Charlie says, "Jesus taught that we should love our neighbour.

When it comes to victims of war, that means.

." And David says, "Proverbs 31:8-9 says, 'Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

' Victims of war.

." So remember, you're both developing their point and leading it to the work of Christian Aid.

So, pause the video, take your time, and when you're finished, come back to see what you could have written.

You could have said, for Charlie's point that Jesus thought we should love our neighbour.

When it comes to victims of war, that means showing compassion to people who are suffering, especially those who have lost their homes, families, or safety.

And for the link to Christian Aid, Christian Aid puts this love into action by providing emergency relief, food, shelter, and medical care to people affected by conflict.

For David's point, Proverbs 31:8-9 says, "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves." Victims of war are often powerless and unheard.

Christians have a duty to defend their rights and speak out against injustice and violence.

And for the link to Christian Aid, Christian Aid speaks up for victims of war by campaigning for peace, protecting refugees, and challenging the systems that allow conflict to harm innocent people.

Really well done if you've managed to develop both of their points and to link it in with the work of Christian Aid.

We've learned today that Christian Aid was founded in 1945 to support refugees after World War II and now works in conflict zones around the world to help victims of war.

It provides emergency relief including food, shelter, clean water, and medical care for refugees and displaced families.

It also supports long-term development such as rebuilding homes and schools, training health workers, and offering trauma counselling.

Christian Aid's response is rooted in biblical teachings like love your neighbour and defend the weak.

Its work is guided by the values of equality, dignity, justice, and love, recognising the worth of every person affected by war.

Thank you so much for being with me in today's lesson and for all of the effort that you have put in.