Exciting Developments in Social Action Projects
Eric Hoffer once said that “In times of change, the learners will inherit the earth while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.”
We have therefore been excited at the ongoing process and developments of some of our partners, one of which is Kings Construction in Constanta Romania. This company is innovative, yet holistic in its approach seeing community regeneration through changing the physical landscape as well as benefits to local tradespeople, suppliers and their own employees. Although the current global economic crisis has had some effect on the Romanian economy which prior has been expanding and developing in scope and pace. The crisis has caused several of the major private sector investments in plants and equipment to be delayed while they find adequate financing, mortgage rates have edged up whilst the government attempts to control inflation. However, because of the low rate of personal mortgages (3% of the population hold a mortgage) there has been virtually no impact on the personal mortgage sector as opposed to the United States. Jobs continue to be added to the economy, wages are increasing, continuing to create a growing middle class that is determined to improve their housing situation moving from communist built apartments to single family residences. The superheated property market is returning to normal. In recent years, many Romanians and foreigners attempted to secure property regardless of its location with some purchasing because it was a hedge against inflation and the only available opportunity to increase their net worth. Thousands of lots were sold with no servicing and no hope of servicing in the foreseeable future. As people have become more educated, more astute and more discerning they are looking to projects that will have enduring value. Therefore land values continue to hold and well situated, readily serviceable land continues to increase in value and Kings Construction are pleased that their six Town Houses are almost ready for occupation and many of the units of their future project are already sold. You may be surprised but King’s Construction is not in this for the money, suffice to say, they are experiencing rapid growth and momentum; but unlike other construction companies, Kings are extremely passionate about community regeneration. They believe in changing the economic and social landscape of their impoverished community through hope and one of the ways they can do this is to provide good quality family homes at a reasonable price. They are, a catalyst of hope.
The Cha’Balthasar Services & the Les EDGE Services Group are taking the best modern technologies and combining them into a coherent system to disposal of waste while creating energy from the process. They call it gasification of waste, the gas omitted within the process is in turn circumvented to power the waste disposal reducing the cost and energy consumption. The process is non-toxic, ecologically friendly making it a viable method of waste disposal providing rural communities with a sustainable solution to waste management as well as the energy crisis. Currently, it is being used in Malaysia with new projects underway in the Philippines and Hungary and promotion of their system taking place with municipal governments across Europe and the Middle East.
These two missional businesses are inspiring examples of neo-missional thinking that making a sustainable and tangible difference in the lives of others. This new worldview is what we are passionate about generating. You don’t need to look far to see the incredible need in the lives of every day people. Our world is crying out for hope. Whether in the housing needs of Constanta, the aftermath of Mumbai, conflicts in Gaza, the brothel children of Phnom Penh, the energy crisis in communities around the world; or in communities in Prague, Krakow, Munich, or Brussels where there is no shortage of need or desperation. What we are short of is missional innovative individuals and groups believing and implementing the message of hope through their specific skill-set in order to see a change in the lives of their friends, families, communities and ecological situations. Social action is no longer for the few chosen to go to the darkest jungles in Africa. It’s not even for moderates, colonialists or activist college students. Social action is a worldview that must be implemented in our every day lives, in our communities, our industries, our cities, our governments.
The world is changing, we must change with it.