Project 8305
Solesolevaki is a collaborative event for Bible engagement workers from Melanesia, Polynesia, Micronesia, Australia and New Zealand. It aims to empower participants to build relationships, support one another, share ideas, and work together across organisations. Funds given to this project will be used to subsidise the travel and event costs of attendees from the Pacific who would otherwise be unable to attend.
Project 8306
Over the past few years, SIL Togo-Benin personnel have held meetings with leaders of various local language associations and found that their translators have been managing scripture engagement activities in addition to the translation work. The leaders recognise the importance of identifying a pastor or church leader from the community who will take the lead in scripture engagement planning and activities, so that the translators can focus on translation.
At the same time the Bible institutes and schools in Benin and Togo have expressed concern that the scripture engagement training they have received from SIL might end due to lack of funding. They therefore want to see some members of their own staff trained by SIL so they can continue the scripture engagement training courses themselves in the coming years.
This project will meet the two needs by providing training for scripture engagement personnel in thirteen Bible translation projects, located in Togo (8) and Benin (5), and for pastors-in-training at five Bible institutes in both Togo (3) and Benin (2).
Wycliffe Australia will partner with SIL TGB in the area of workshops and training from 2025-2027.
Our partnership target for 2025 is $7,601
If we receive extra funds, this will go towards the following year’s target.
Project 8825
Immediate Bible Engagement for the Ethnic Minorities in Vietnam is a project that has been developed by the Bible Society Vietnam (BSV) since 2022.
In Vietnam, up to 70% of Christian believers are from minority ethnic groups. Scripture engagement materials translated into these languages are rare, and most new believers struggle with reading and studying the Bible.
The project aims at fulfilling immediate Scripture engagement needs for various language communities through the development and distribution of Bible stories and Bible study guides, tailored to the linguistic and cultural contexts of each community.
Milestones achieved by the project over the years:
– In 2022 & 2023, BSV developed and distributed 1000 sets of IBE materials based on the book of Mark to five language communities.
– In 2024, BSV expanded to 5 other language groups: each group with 1000 sets of IBE materials based on the book of Luke.
The IBE materials serve as a bridge, not only enhancing literacy but also fostering spiritual growth and salvation for believers and non-believers.
In 2025, BSV continues to support four language communities with 1,000 sets of IBE materials based on the book of Matthew.
Our partnership target for 2025 is $11,111
If we receive extra funds, this will go towards the following year’s target.
Project 8818
‘I am so very happy … Now I can share my knowledge and help teach other children about Bunong literacy so that they can read the Bible and sing songs to worship God like I do.’ Mhat, Koh Nhek District
Most people in the Bunong communities in Mondilkiri, Cambodia, cannot read or write, even in their own language. This means their language is in danger of dying out, their cultural heritage could be lost, they have difficulty interacting with government authorities, vital health information is missed, they struggle commercially, and those who are Christians are unable to read Scripture and worship songs.
The Northeast Community Education and Development Organization (NCED) is committed to helping Bunong communities with this need, with funding help through Wycliffe Australia and Entrust Foundation. NCED runs literacy programs through 12 Bunong churches with participants of all ages – children, youth, adults and elderly people.
As a result of this funding partnership, Bunong teachers are being trained and equipped, and their capacity to teach others is being strengthened. Literacy materials such as hymn books, early reading books and Bible story books are being printed and distributed to individuals who attend the classes, and also for use in mobile libraries. Solar lighting systems have been installed in churches that hold literacy classes to facilitate evening meetings, and leaders are trained in using and maintaining these systems.
Mhat was a grade 9 student using the National language in school, but she was sad that she didn’t know how to read and write in her own Bunong language.
After attending literacy classes at her church, Mhat says, ‘I am so very happy because at this time I can already read and write my own language. … Now I can share my knowledge and help teach other children about Bunong literacy so that they can read the Bible and sing songs to worship God like I do.’
Project 8523
Would you like to help us translate the Old Testament for the Gergiko people of Chad?
The Gergiko translation project began in Chad in 1992, with Wycliffe Australia members Dave & Elly Sharp being seconded to SIL Chad to work with the local church to accomplish the goal of translating the New Testament. The Gergiko New Testament was dedicated in December 2020 and is being used by the growing Gergiko churches.
There are some 50,000 Gergiko speakers who are mainly subsistence farmers living in the savannah region of central Chad. The majority of the Gergiko practice traditional spiritual beliefs. A successful mother-tongue literacy program is in place for adults and pre-schoolers.
While Dave has now reached retirement age, he is available to help with OT translation remotely as an adviser. A new translation team of three young men has been trained and the churches have decided to go ahead with OT translation, but funding is needed into the future for this to happen.
The OT books finished so far to publication stage are: Genesis, Ruth and Jonah, with a selection of 13 Psalms drafted. Drafting of other portions will begin in 2025.
Our partnership target for 2025 is $11,111
If we receive extra funds, this will go towards the following year’s target.
Project 8541
The medical clinic at Ukarumpa, in the Eastern Highlands of PNG, is vitally important to the local community as it is a long way to the nearest alternative medical centre. Ukarumpa is a large community of Papua New Guineans, as well as people from many different nations, serving together in Bible translation and supporting roles. The clinic serves the whole Ukarumpa mission community, as well as people from the surrounding villages. There is currently a significant need for some medical equipment in order to provide a good level of care for the patients treated at the clinic. For example, a reliable defibrillator is a priority need. The clinic comprises two sections as follows:
Equipment purchased for this project will be used in both clinics. Please consider giving a gift to this project in the knowledge that it will help many people in this remote part of PNG, and probably save lives.
Project 8343
Having seen its usefulness and expansion over the past several years, SIL Vanuatu continues to facilitate a course for those involved in Bible translation and local church leadership, designed to develop higher level thinking skills which are applied to careful Bible reading, analysis of cultural practise and other daily life situations.
Five local men are trained to teach the material in each of the three two-week residential courses which make up the Trenem Tingting (Train your Mind) course. Participants are required to complete field assignments in their home communities before returning for the next course with the hope that what is learnt will have a far-reaching effect.
Funds are needed for transport and for the associated costs of the residential courses.
Our partnership target for 2024 is $20,000
If we receive extra funds, this will go towards next year’s target.
Project 8835
The Pacific Institute of Languages, Arts and Translation (PILAT) is a training organisation dedicated to preparing Papua New Guineans for Bible translation, literacy and other language development work.
The National Translators Education Fund (NTEF) project subsidises training in translation and language development activities for national translators. The goal is to equip PNGn translators to be able to produce quality vernacular translations of Scripture. NTEF scholarships are available to applicants who are working in an SIL or PNG Bible Translation Association (BTA) language program. Criteria for acceptance include academic qualifications, finished village assignments from previous courses, equal distribution of scholarships over different language teams, and willingness to bring a community contribution of PGK100 per week of training per language team. The scholarship can cover course fees, room and board at the training location (Ukarumpa and Alotau), travel, course material, books and subsidies for laptops after applications are reviewed and evaluated.
Watch this video for more information.
Budget target: AU$86,666.58 by mid 2025
Excess funds will go towards the following year’s target.
Project 8810
Due to a worldwide shortage of translation consultants, SIL is aiming to train more Africans in Africa to fill this role in the Bible translation projects that are being done there. Wycliffe Bible Translators Australia is looking to help by providing part-scholarships so that some of these CiTs (Consultants in Training) can attend their training workshops.
In recent years, there has been a very positive movement towards Bible translation projects relying more on mother tongue (local) translators, and less on foreign translators, who are more likely to be involved as trainers, advisors and consultants. This newer translation project model gives the local language users much greater ownership of their own Bible translation projects, often results in a more natural translation that will be easy for people to understand and can lead to greater community involvement.
This training model can have a big, wide-spread impact. The CiTs that Wycliffe Australia sponsored for the April 2023 Grammar Workshop came from a number for different Bible translation organisations in Africa. This was intentional. They returned to their different organisations and started sharing their new knowledge with their colleagues. The impact of the training was therefore spread across different Bible translation organisations, across colleagues of the sponsored CiTs, and therefore also across many different Bible translation projects.
The final comment should come from one of the Grammar Workshop participants … “With this strategy, there is every reason for us to hope for effective and credible translation in our communities”
Our partnership target for 2024 is $15,000
Excess funds will go towards the following year’s target.
Project 8590
Wycliffe and SIL have been working with the Binumarien people in the Eastern Highlands of PNG since 1958! With the committed help of Des and Jenny Oatridge, the Binumarien language was recorded, a writing system was developed, and the people were taught to read and write their language. They were hungry to have the New Testament of the Bible in their language, and so they worked with the Oatridges to achieve this. The New Testament was eventually dedicated in 1983. But this small language group of around 1000 people, want more of God’s word, and so they have been working hard for many years to get the Old Testament translated too! In 2011 SIL PNG’s Mitchell Michie commenced working with the Binumarien translators on the Old Testament. In 2018 five of the Old Testament books, and a revision of the Binumarien New Testament, were published in order to make more scriptures available for distribution. In 2021 a recording of the New Testament was also distributed to the people.
Just recently, a new agreement has been set up between SIL PNG, Tyndale Bible Translators, and the Binumarien translation team to give the project a boost. It has been recognised that the dedicated Binumarien translation team really need to spend more time in Ukarumpa, for face to face advisor checking with a Tyndale Bible Translation checker. It is hoped that this new agreement, and the increased time and resources being put into the Old Testament Translation, will see it completed in the next seven years. With this new structure, however, comes a significant increase in costs associated with the project. Please consider contributing towards this wonderful project to see the entire Bible available in the Binumarien language.
Latest update (May 2024):
In the last six months 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles and half of 2 Chronicles have undergone an advisor check with their Tyndale advisors. Twelve literacy primers/stories have been published and distributed in digital and print form. The Lumo Luke movie in Binumarien was shown in the village for the first time. Forty-five SD cards with vernacular Scripture and literacy materials were purchased for use on mobile phones. Ten Megavoice players were also purchased. Three Binumarien literacy teachers have completed the Vernacular Creative Phonics course and have followed up with Mitchell on curriculum and materials development. The Binumarien phonics school is built and close to opening (as of the end of March 2024).
Our partnership target by end of 2025 is $31,239
If we receive extra funds, this will go towards the following year’s target.
Thanks for your patience...Waiting is hard, isn't it. But imagine waiting 2000 years for Scripture in your language! Thanks for your patience. And thanks for your generous support which will help bring the long wait to an end...
