|PIC1|This month sees the launch of a brand new innovative website for children by one of the UK’s leading Christian humanitarian charities, Tearfund.

The Action Pack website is aimed at bringing the issue of poverty to children aged between 8 and 11 in a format that is both engaging and inspirational and is accompanied by a devotional book and CD Rom which encourages families to change their lifestyle habits to those that benefit the poor.

Action Pack is a fun, brightly coloured site split into five different sections for children to visit including a great food game called the ‘Grub Grab’ that is sure to keep children amused.

The website features a fact section with information and stories about the countries where Tearfund is working with local partners on various social projects, particular projects for children. Each month will see a special focus on one country.

The faith area guides children on the Bible and a Christian response to the events that occur around the world, as well as how children can put their faith into action.

|TOP|The food zones is sure to tickle taste buds with a different interesting food type being looked at each month, along with recipes for children to try out and interesting facts to discover. The section will also teach children about fair trade issues.

The Action Pack fun area includes jokes, a quiz and the Grub Grab game, with a special feedback section for children to share their views on some of the issues highlighted in the website.

The accompanying resource pack, Whole Wide World, contains 42 interactive devotions on the different issues that different people are confronted with around the world as they live their daily lives.

The different sessions encourage families and their children to make a basic commitment to helping in the fight against poverty by changing the small things in their lives. It addresses the small things such as why it is better to walk or why we should turn the tap off when we brush our teeth.

“The Whole Wide World uses the everyday things we do and say as starting points for a series of practical devotions,” says co-author of the resource, Phil Bowyer. “It is designed to help children and families develop lifestyle habits that benefit the poor. As we strive to live out God’s Word there’s sometimes a danger of spending so much time trying to avoid all the things we think we shouldn’t do that we never get around to doing the things we know we should do.”

|AD|Bowyer, who is also Tearfund’s National Youthwork Coordinator, highlighted the relevance of the Bible with its positive directions on how to live, many of which concern how we should relate to the poor. “God calls his people to do everything in his power to bring justice through everyday actions. Through small changes to simple, everyday lifestyle choices it is possible to make a big difference to personal, national and global situations.”

The CD-Rom features games, photos, videos and worksheets as well as a free poster pack and real-life stories to show the ways in which families or children’s groups can be part of changing God’s world.

To access Teafund’s Action Pack website go to www.tearfund.org/actionpack