I’ve known Carla* since she was eight years old. Now eighteen, she’s a radiant young woman, excitedly making preparations for her forthcoming wedding. A committed Christian, she loves children and teaches in the children’s ministry of her church. It’s hard to imagine that she’s ever had a care in the world.
But ten years ago, Carla was living on the streets, begging for food and loose change from passers-by. Like so many street children, she had suffered sexual abuse. Completely lacking self-worth, she compared herself to an armadillo in a hole that stayed hidden away to avoid being seen. Through Pavement Project, our stories collided.
It’s been ten years now since Pavement Project first hit the streets. This unique Bible-based counselling process has equipped hundreds of street workers with the ability to sow the seeds of hope, possibility and change into the lives of thousands of the world’s most vulnerable children.
Carla was one of the very first children to encounter Pavement Project. It provided her with an opportunity to tell her story, to understand how precious she is to God, and to have her self-worth restored. It gave her a stepping stone into a transformed, hope-filled future. That’s the difference Pavement Project can make.
A Ten Year Journey
I’ve been involved with Pavement Project from the very beginning. It’s been a ten year journey in which I have experienced huge challenges, but also great blessing! As a trained social worker and family therapist, I’d been working with children-at-risk on the streets of Rio de Janeiro for seven years when I was approached by SGM Lifewords (then Scripture Gift Mission) to coordinate a survey amongst children-at-risk in Brazil – exploring their experiences, fears, dreams and aspirations. The hope was that the results would equip SGM to produce a Bible resource that would touch and transform the hearts of street children the world over.
Mind the Gap
I realised that the Pavement Project idea brought all my areas of practice together: social work, children, evangelism and discipleship; and I was aware of a significant gap in my ability to bring about lasting change in the children I encountered. Even though they received all sorts of material, spiritual, educational and vocational help, most remained immobilised by pain and low self-esteem. Nothing I attempted seemed capable of transmitting the unconditional, transforming love of God. The possibility of having a tool which would enable me to bridge that gap filled me with excitement, and led me to accept the opportunity to be involved from the very beginning of the survey process, through the production of the Picture Me resources, and eventually in the implementation of Pavement Project.
Unprecedented Impact
Even at development stage, Pavement Project was investing in children-at-risk, giving them value and affirming their worth. Everything, from the colour of the bag to the pictures inside it, was chosen by the children. And I could see God’s hand directing every stage of the process. The difficulties were great, but what God did was greater still. As we began to implement the programme, the impact of the Picture Me counselling on the lives of the children was amazing, and unprecedented. The percentage rates of change in their behaviour and sense of self worth were so high that I spent hours studying them to confirm that we were indeed witnessing genuine transformation. I was not disappointed. External psychologists and researchers were astonished by the impact of the programme. “I’ve never seen this much improvement and this kind of progress in so short a time” said one. “I need to find out more about this Jesus factor.” “Incredible!” exclaimed another. “Imagine what this material could do to a whole nation, or even the whole world.” Imagine indeed! Why not find out if these results can be repeated in other cultures, in different countries? This has been my most recent involvement in Pavement Project, as I took on the role of global coordinator.
I never tire of it
As I’ve read the stories of transformed lives from all over the world, I’ve discovered that our God transcends differences of background, language and culture. God is equally efficient and powerful whatever the circumstances, wherever we are in the world. So ten years on, I’m still excited by Pavement Project. I never tire of it. I always feel that a world of children are asking for help, right before my eyes. And I’ve had the privilege of hearing the testimonies of children from Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Columbia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Brazil, all encountering the same material, all hearing the same stories, all experiencing transformative encounter with the Bible’s life words, all discovering a faithful friend in Jesus. What could be better than that?
* Name has been changed in line with SGM Lifewords‘ child protection policy.