International Work
Modern slavery is an international problem.
Despite being present in every country, modern slavery and exploitation do not look the same everywhere. In Italy, an isolated refugee from Syria might end up picking oranges in the scorching Sicilian heat for very little money. In Tanzania, a young girl might be forced into marriage with a much older man. In Ghana, a small boy might be sold to a gang by his parents and forced to harvest cocoa beans, which eventually become chocolate bars in British supermarkets.
Vulnerability is the key characteristic shared by all victims of exploitation, regardless of where they live. It is this vulnerability that allows perpetrators to exploit them.
As Christians, we are called to respond to slavery, exploitation and injustice wherever they occur. We believe the answer to these issues, regardless of geographical location or context, lies in the community. Strengthening and empowering communities has always been at the heart of our work and informs our international strategy.
Working with others across the globe
Over the last few years, The Clewer Initiative has developed an international body of work in Italy, Ghana, and Tanzania. It has worked with a variety of partners and networks to help build community resilience, raise awareness and support victims.
One of our most significant partnerships is with the World Council of Churches (WCC). The collaboration began in March 2020 and we have a particular focus on ending child slavery. Together, we created True Freedom, a substantial resource for churches and communities, which has been translated into French, German, Spanish, Dutch and Korean.
True Freedom is a six-week course that draws on themes from the book of Galatians, and encourages individuals and churches to respond to modern slavery in their communities. It included reflections from Revd Dr Kenneth Mtata (WCC programme director for Public Witness and Diakonia) and Bishop Alastair Redfern as well as many case studies and stories from around the world. We worked particularly hard to provide action points, appropriate for different contexts.
Other international engagements, through the work of our chair, Bishop Alastair Redfern, include a project with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association to try to develop and better coordinate supply chain legislation, and participation with a number of partners from across the globe in a project to work with the G20 governments to highlight the challenges of modern slavery and to coordinate effective responses for government, law enforcement, business and NGOs. We are also offering support, advice and some of our resources for a major conference on modern slavery in India later this year.
Our approach
Underlying all The Clewer Initiative’s work, whether in the UK or overseas, is the Clewer Journey. This simple methodology aims to move a community from initial contact, to training and awareness raising, to community mobilisation and finally action.
From delivering contextualised versions of the Hidden Voices course to running art classes for trauma victims, The Clewer Initiative is delivering the Clewer Journey in different parts of the world to help bring an end to modern slavery and exploitation.
