We want children everywhere to have life in all its fullness - our partnership with Viva
This year, half of all children in the world - that's one billion children - will experience physical, sexual, or emotional violence.
That is one of the reasons Just Love is delighted to be entering a new season of partnership with Viva - an organisation that inspires, equips and connects networks of churches and community-based organisations to make a bigger, better and longer-lasting impact in the lives of children. Together, we're committed to building Just Love's network of thousands pursuing justice in the way of Jesus - holistically, fruitfully and sustainably - whilst combining our resources and networks for the benefit of children around the world.
With 30 years of experience and a deep commitment to coaching, mobilising and resourcing networks for children, Viva brings an extraordinary wealth of knowledge. We are thrilled that we can continue to learn from them and help bring that expertise to even more people!
Josh Smedley, Just Love's CEO, shares: "Since Just Love began, we have cared deeply about engaging critically and thoughtfully with the complexities of pursuing justice in the way of Jesus. If we're serious about loving people, then we always want to move beyond good intentions towards best practice. That's why doing justice well is one of our core values, and it's why we are delighted to partner with Viva - who we deeply trust and who bring a wealth of expertise and experience in what it looks like to effectively and sustainably empower children across the world."
This partnership is not starting from scratch - Just Love students and network members have already been significantly shaped by Viva's expertise. For the past two years, Viva has run a session at JLAT - our training conference for student leaders - exploring what it looks like to do justice well in practice. Drawing on real-life examples and using the Homecoming Project as a case study (both Viva and Just Love sit on its Leadership Council - read more here), these sessions have been deeply formative for Just Love students.
Some students have gone even further, choosing to do summer internships with Viva - gaining valuable experience while contributing to real, meaningful projects.
Vicki Price, Engagement Co-ordinator & Network Development at Viva, reflects: "We've absolutely loved having students work alongside us. Last year, one student brought brilliant data analysis skills to support our UK mapping work, helping us pilot new ways of working in the UK and contribute to a new project with real impact. It was such a joy to learn together and see the creativity, insight and passion students can bring into this kind of collaborative work."
(You can watch Jasmine talk about her internship experience in the video above.)
Moving into a more intentional partnership feels significant for both organisations. With a shared focus on building networks that seek justice together, we're genuinely excited - and expectant - about what this relationship will unlock in both movements.
Phil Green, Viva's CEO, shares: "Students and post-grads have played a significant part in Viva's history - as we've inspired and equipped networks of churches and organisations to work together to make a bigger, better and longer-lasting impact in the lives of at-risk children around the world. That's why we're delighted to partner with Just Love, as we come together, think together, and work together, to bring about a more just world for children everywhere."
There's a lot we're hoping to build as we grow this partnership, including:
Shared resources - continuing to equip students, network members and the wider UK Church to do justice well and champion children across the world.
Exploring collaboration - whether through ethical short-term mission trips, impactful events and conferences, or creating formative content together.
Overlapping our networks - our networks serve different purposes, but share the same ultimate aim: God's kingdom of perfect peace and perfect justice, on earth as it is in heaven. Wherever it makes sense, we want to be generous and open-handed in connecting people - inviting more of the Church to have a real impact in the lives of children.
If you're a Just Love student or network member passionate about justice for at-risk children and keen to get involved with Viva's work, get in touch at partnerships@justloveuk.com — we'd love to hear from you.
Interested in partnering with Just Love? Find out more here.