Excerpt from a letter of Sr. Adalberta’s prisoner in Texas: October 15, 2011 Prison have created human beings to be animals. Dehumanization among men in prison is truly abhorrent. It should be called dehumanization and not “animalization”, because animals cannot lose the marks of theier species; in no way con an animal develop in the ine or the other direction; calling  amn an animal is actually hurting the animal’s dignity.

Probably it is very sad for me to observe so much degeneration around me, a loss of man’s dignity. But also life outside prison (and I know about it from my direct exposure to it some 20 years ago) in its sad side shows ever increasingly kinds of dehumanization, too.

At the same time, there are, of course, uncounted good minds and deeds, but more and more they appear to exist as islands in an otherwise messed up world. That every man is an island to himself is a true saying in that is points to the fact that the gift of and therefore the responsibility for self-development can be put to use only by each individual personally.

I wonder, what possibly could be done in prison so that prisoner’s don’t fall to the lowest level of degeneration. As long as the system of so-called justice is oriented above all to punishment and not to re-education, the situation is probably hopeless. But then again look at the situation outside prison: where is there a real interest in education in terms of development of the human potential of each individual? For decades already, children have become the victims of public education, which is little more than an instrument of power of economic, social (including religious) forces.

These forces, if you asked them the critical question about education toward self-determination of the individual, would turn out to be highly afraid of self-determining individuals. It’s sad enough to learn each day what happens in so many geographic parts of the world through naturally caused accidents or even catastrophes, which force the people hit by them start their existence on earth from scratch. It’s more sad to see even more people forced into existence which do not allow them ever to move to a level higher than “from scratch”, by human intentions.

I so often think about my mother, because I really miss her so much. There have been times I found myself crying into the night because I miss her so much. She was everything in this world, for I could count on her support. When she passed my entire world just crushed down upon me. She passed away 10 years ago, March 8, 2001. I was 30 years old and losing her was worse than the day I received the death penalty 20 years ago.

I cried for several days and nights once I came to knowledge of her death and getting over the period of my life was the hardest thing I ever had to do, which was when I learnt the skill to “let go”. I was constantly holding on to her which was stopping me for growing  and developing into the man I have become today. That’s not to say, I don’t think about her because I do very much so and think about her daily, because I have developed the skill to grow and maintain a positive frame of mind in this struggle, and I know she is watching over me.”

Solidarity with Southern Sudan trains teachers, nurses and pastoral personnel in several locations throughout Southern Sudan. This initiative was inspired by the 2004 Rome Congress on Consecrated Life, Passion for Christ Passion for Humanity.

This project, Solidarity with Southern Sudan (SSS or Solidarity) is an act of communion between religious institutes of men and women, which are members of the Unions of Superiors General (USG and UISG), and the Church in Southern Sudan under the direction of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SCBC).

After decades of civil war, when the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed in January 2005, the bishops of Southern Sudan invited the USG/UISG to consider the needs of their people. Following a consultative process it became clear that projects related to education, health and pastoral care are needed if the goals of the CPA are to be achieved.

Solidarity with Southern Sudan is a project that seeks to promote the Kingdom of God in partnership with the local church and the people of Sudan through the establishment and development of teacher and health training institutes and those pastoral services deemed most urgent.

In recognition of the dignity of each person, SSS commits its community members to embrace and act out of a spirituality of justice, peace, and the integrity of creation marked by:

* proclamation of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ through our life witness and committed action, through our community life together.

* vulnerability and powerlessness, placing ourselves at the service of the people of Southern Sudan.

* appreciation and respect for local cultures, learning from the values of others which enrich and challenge our way of living.

* dialogue and mutuality, recognizing the Spirit of God at work in each person and each faith tradition.

* solidarity and accompaniment, empowering and supporting the Sudanese people as they rebuild their lives, their communities, and their societal structures.

* reconciliation, promoting mutual understanding to heal past hurts and build right relationships.

* reverence for all creation, committing ourselves to recognize the sacredness of life and to protecting life in all its forms.

* hope, shouldering the struggle together with the Sudanese people in their journey of peace and reconciliation.

“A todos mis hermanos de humanidad. Sufrir con sus fracasos, con sus miserias, con la opresión de que son víctima. Alegrarme de sus alegrías. Comenzar por traer de nuevo a mi espíritu todos aquellos a quienes he encontrado en mi camino. Aquellos de quienes he recibido la vida, quienes me han dado la luz y el pan. Aquellos con los cuales he compartido techo y pan. Los que he conocido en mi barrio, en mi colegio, en la Universidad, en el cuartel, en mis años de estudio, en mi apostolado… Aquellos a quienes he combatido, a quienes he causado dolor, amargura, daño… A todos aquellos a quienes he socorrido, ayudado, sacado de un apuro"

Children and adults scavenge for food and recyclable materials among mountains of stinking junk under an unbearable sun.

Sonidos de la Tierra now has 8,000 students in 120 communities

Suddenly the sound of violins playing Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks breaks the sound of stray dogs' barking and rubbish trucks, taking the visitor to the streets of any European city like Prague or Vienna.

This is Cateura, the main rubbish dump of Paraguay's capital, Asuncion, where the conductor of the country's symphony orchestra, Luis Szaran, has established a music school.

"I came here once and saw a woman holding a newborn child with one hand and picking up rubbish with the other, and told myself this could not go on, this is how everything started," recalls Mr Szaran, who is of Hungarian and Polish origin.

He launched the Sonidos de la Tierra (Sounds of the Land) initiative six years ago to bring classical and folkloric music to the poorest children with the help of the Swiss non-governmental organisation, Avina.

Hope

The programme now includes 8,000 students in 120 communities throughout Paraguay, one third of whose 6.5 million population lives on less than $2 (£1) a day.

"Before I used to feel depressed all the time, but now I have hope," adds Maria del Carmen, 19, sitting in front of the teacher who is also charged with checking that they do well in school.

On the other side of the classroom door, their parents busily sort out recyclable materials from rubbish which they later sell back to industries for a meagre profit.

More in English: click here

Mette ist Autistin. Der jungen Frau fällt es schwer, Sinneseindrücke zu sortieren. Schnell ist ihr die Welt zu bunt, zu laut, zu voll. Keine guten Voraussetzungen, um sich in der harten Arbeitswelt durchzusetzen.

Der dänische IT-Unternehmer Thorkil Sonne hat sie dennoch eingestellt. Nicht trotz, sondern gerade wegen ihrer Behinderung. "Ihre Fähigkeiten sind zu wertvoll, um sie nicht zu nutzen", sagt der Gründer der Firma "Specialisterne" - zu Deutsch: "Die Spezialisten". Während Autisten oft erhebliche Defizite im Sozialverhalten aufweisen, erbringen sie in anderen Bereichen Höchstleistung. Psychologen sprechen von "Inselbegabung".

Mette sitzt an ihrem Schreibtisch in einem Kopenhagener Büro-Viertel. Am Computer berechnet sie, wo unter der dänischen Metropole Kabel verlaufen, damit diese bei Bauarbeiten nicht getroffen werden. Eine Arbeit, die enorme Konzentration und Präzision verlangt. Jeder Rechenfehler könnte zur Beschädigung einer Leitung führen - und für die Auftraggeber aus der Telekommunikationsbranche richtig teuer werden. Doch Mette macht keine Fehler. Jedenfalls nicht bei dieser Arbeit. "Ich kann mich gut konzentrieren, wohl besser als andere. Ich achte auf jedes Detail. Das bedeutet, meine ganze Konzentration ist die gesamte Zeit auf meine Arbeit gerichtet", erklärt Mette.

Nächstenliebe und schwarze Zahlen

Autisten nehmen ihre komplette Umgebung auf einmal auf - ungefiltert, mit all ihren Details. In einem Großraumbüro würde Mette verrückt werden. Sonne hat ihr und rund 40 weiteren autistischen Mitarbeitern daher schallgedämpfte Einzelbüros eingerichtet. Dabei plant der Specialisterne-Chef durchaus mit unternehmerischem Kalkül. Nach vier Jahren ist seine Firma kurz davor, schwarze Zahlen zu schreiben.

Der Anlass für die Unternehmensgründung war allerdings nicht Profitstreben, sondern ein ganz persönlicher: Bei seinem heute siebenjährigen Sohn wurde vor vier Jahren das so genannte Asperger-Syndrom diagnostiziert, eine milde Form des Autismus. Schon im Kindesalter stand damit fest, dass er es im Leben schwer haben würde. Gleichzeitig war Sonne von den Leistungen seines Sohnes immer wieder verblüfft. Einmal hatte dieser in einem Straßenatlas geblättert. Am Tag darauf zeichnete er aus dem Gedächtnis die Europa-Übersicht nach. Alle Länder lagen an der richtigen Stelle, sogar die Seitenverweise stimmten.

Wertarbeit für Weltkonzerne

Sonne wollte Menschen helfen, denen es wie seinem Sohn ergeht. Außerdem war er überzeugt, dass es Jobs gibt, deren Anforderungsprofile mit den Fähigkeiten von Autisten geradezu ideal harmonieren. Er sollte recht behalten. Selbst Microsoft vergibt heute Aufträge an die Specialisterne.

Für Mette war die Idee des IT-Unternehmers ein Segen. Bei der öffentlichen Verwaltung wollte man ihr keine reguläre Arbeit zutrauen. "Ohne die Specialisterne säße ich zu Hause und bekäme meine Invalidenrente", sagt die junge Frau dankbar. Unternehmer Sonne hat ihr eine Brücke gebaut - in die Welt da draußen, zu der sie so schwer Zugang findet. Statt Invalidenrente bekommt sie nun Gehalt und Selbstwertgefühl. Und schon bald könnten auch Autisten in Deutschland von Sonnes Engagement profitieren. Er ist fest entschlossen, sein Geschäftsmodell ins Ausland zu exportieren.

Mit Material von ZDF

Umwelttechnologie hilft philippinischen Slumbewohnern

Drei Millionen Menschen leben in den Slums von Manila. In den Müllbergen suchen sie nach Verwertbarem. Der Klimaschutz war bislang für sie kein Thema. Seit kurzem aber investiert eine italienische Umwelttechnologiefirma vor Ort. Und davon profitieren beide Seiten.