Symbols of Hope

While many actors are already working on the topic of migration, churches can add distinct assets to the work surrounding migration: They are able to relate to people’s faith convictions, which play a major role in both decision making and coping with trauma. Their broad outreach and local connectedness through congregational structures enables them to raise awareness on risks surrounding irregular migration in areas with limited access for international organizations or government authorities. In contexts of politicized narratives around migrants and refugees, churches can build upon their moral authority and credibility to speak up for justice and for welcoming the stranger.

In the context of the ‘Symbols of Hope initiative’ the Lutheran World Federation supports member churches in African countries of origin in their work surrounding migration. Implementation of ‘Symbols of Hope’ started in mid-2017 in Ethiopia and Nigeria. Zimbabwe was brought on board as additional target country in 2020. LWF aims at empowering the member churches in those countries to:

• Raise awareness about the risks of irregular migration and human trafficking in the churches and society;
• Train religious leaders, pastors and diaconal workers on psychosocial support and counselling;
• Provide psychosocial support and counselling to returnees, especially those who have experienced human trafficking during their journeys;
• Support potential migrants, internally displaced persons and returnees with skills training and seed funding so that they can (re)build their lives and gain new tangible perspectives in their home country.

The LWF assumes a role of networking, facilitation of joint learning and exchange, resource mobilization and strengthening capacities of implementing churches.

In Ethiopia ‘Symbols of Hope’ is implemented by The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Development and Social Services Commission (EECMY-DASSC). The EECMY is one of the major Christian national churches in Ethiopia and with over 10 million members plays an important role in Ethiopian society since its official establishment in 1959. Through its development agency DASSC the church has been strongly engaged in development and social services in the country.

In Nigeria it is The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria(LCCN) that implements the initiative locally. The LCCN was established as independent church in the religiously diverse Nigeria in 1913. With over 2.5 million members and more than 1,000 local congregations it has a nationwide outreach. The diaconal work of the church is embedded in its overall structure and is focused on provision of health services, education, and the work surrounding migration and human trafficking.

In Zimbabwe the work is carried out by the Lutheran Development Services (LDS), the development arm of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe. Registered in the country as a local non-governmental organization, the LDS seeks to empower marginalized communities in Zimbabwe through Christian-based, participatory, gender sensitive relief and development interventions to enable people to take direct control of their livelihoods.