Forged into slavery: There are 3 million slaves in Pakistan, vast numbers of these are trapped in bonded slavery in brick kilns or agriculture. Many people in the rural areas of Pakistan are living in severe poverty and whole communities have no access to education. Brick kiln owners and landowners take advantage of them by offering high-interest loans and trapping them into bonded labour. False contracts and forged accounting by the owners can leave families working in the kiln for decades, unaware of the fact that they have repaid their original loan many times over. Pray for deliverance for those trapped in slavery in Pakistan, that they can find freedom and hope for a better future.
Leprosy eradicated: Leprosy has officially been declared as eradicated in Nepal, but there are still hundreds of new cases detected every year. In fact the prevalence of the disease is two-and-a-half times the global average. Please pray for early detection and treatment of people with leprosy and for the total eradication of the disease in Nepal. Leprosy is a mildly infectious disease associated with poverty. It damages nerves resulting in loss of sensation. This means that injuries can go unnoticed and become infected, making them difficult to heal. It often leads to the shortening of fingers and toes or even loss of part of a limb.
The Church against discrimination: Over the last two years Chile has received immigrants from different parts of Latin America and Africa. Regrettably some of these immigrants have faced discrimination and prejudice. Several churches and Christian organisations are starting Spanish courses and offering legal advice and advocacy. Pray that the Lord will touch the lives of the immigrants through the preaching and testimony of the Church, and that he will challenge the prejudices and xenophobic attitudes in sections of the wider population.
Abuse report app: A survey carried out by our partner network, Red Viva Nicaragua, discovered that 60% children in the country have experienced domestic violence at home. 75% reported witnessing violence at school among students. A recent government report highlighted that half of all reported sexual assault claims made were committed against girls under 13 years old. Red Viva Nicaragua has been working hard to organise and promote abuse reporting training within local communities. Now, a breakthrough might have come in the shape of a new mobile app, created in partnership with a university in Managua (the capital city), which allows users to report instances of abuse or bullying to local authorities anonymously. Pray for network leaders and children as they promote the app through festivals, parades and training, T-shirts and banners, and in the media. Pray that it will ultimately be influential in bringing a decrease in abuse of all kinds throughout communities in Managua.
