Christian Aid News 51

CHRISTIAN AID NEWS Issue 51

Spring 2011

www.christianaid.org.uk

• Christian Aid Week: the story behind the envelope • Trace the Tax: how you can get involved

POVERTY OVER A manifesto for change

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CONTENTS

THIS ISSUE OF Christian Aid News coincides with the latest phase of Poverty Over, which you may have seen a lot of, particularly if you are a Guardian reader.

If you missed it... read our manifesto for change on pages 13-18.

As we go to press with this issue it is also hard to get the images from Japan out of our minds. And it is in that context that we should remember that once disasters such as this begin to slip out of the headlines, that is precisely the time when the long, hard haul to reconstruction is under way. That has come to the fore in Haiti, from where Christian Aid director Loretta Minghella reminds us that this process takes more time than we might think.

Also on the campaigning front, you can still get involved in the actions we are mounting over carbon emissions, tax havens and the World Bank. See pages 10-12 – and the postcard inserted in this issue.

Finally, Christian Aid Week is almost upon us, and we know many thousands of you are gearing up to help with this fundraising effort. Read one collector’s view in The Last Word, on page 30.

Roger Fulton, Editor

F1957

Christian Aid News is printed on 100 per cent recycled paper

13

Christian Aid/Jodi Bieber

EDITOR’S LETTER

Food and agriculture is one of the key issues examined in our manifesto for change

REGULARS

■ 25 INPUT Your feedback.

■ 4 THE BIG PICTURE ■ 26 EVENTS

One striking image…

■ 6 NEWS Including news of an HIV campaign success in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and partners’ response to the events in Egypt.

10

Cycling, trekking, abseiling? Are you up for the challenge of beating poverty?

■ 28 YOUR CHRISTIAN AID Events and stories from your part of the UK.

■ 10 CAMPAIGNS Join our drive to persuade the World Bank to pull out of fossil fuels; take action on tax secrecy – and carbon emissions.

■ 30 LAST WORD

19

A collector’s eye view of Christian Aid Week.

FEATURES

■ 22 LIFE AND SOUL

■ 13 POVERTY OVER

Read the story from Nicaragua that lies behind this year’s Christian Aid Week envelope.

Christian Aid’s manifesto for change.

■ 24 COMMENT Director Loretta Minghella on our work in Haiti.

■ 19 FRONTLINE

26

A health boost in Ghana and how singing is aiding conflict resolution in the DRC.

Christian Aid is a Christian organisation that insists the world can and must be swiftly changed to one where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. We work globally for profound change that eradicates the causes of poverty, striving to achieve equality, dignity and freedom for all, regardless of faith or nationality.

We are part of a wider movement for social justice.

We provide urgent, practical and effective assistance where need is great, tackling the effects of poverty as well as its root causes.

UK registered charity number 1105851 Company number 5171525 Scotland charity number SC039150 Northern Ireland charity number XR94639 Company number NI059154 Republic of Ireland charity number CHY 6998 Company number 426928. The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid; Poverty Over is a trademark of Christian Aid. © Christian Aid April 2011. The acceptance of external advertising does not indicate endorsement. If you wish to receive this magazine digitally, go to digitalcan.christianaid.org.uk

■ Pictures Joseph Cabon ■ Sub-editors Caroline Atkinson, Sophy Kershaw, Bettina Vine ■ Circulation Ben Hayward ■ Design and production Becca Higgins/Circle Publishing, 020 8332 8400 ■ Christian Aid head office 35 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7RL ■ Tel 020 7620 4444 ■ Fax 020 7620 0719 ■ Email info@christian-aid.org ■ Stay in touch online at christianaid.org.uk

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Christian Aid/Sarah Filbey

THE BIG PICTURE

4 Christian Aid News

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BITING BACK AGAINST MALARIA crucial to the programme’s success.

New collaborations between public and private sector partners, including the Flowers Foundation in Zambia and Nets for Life in Ghana, are ensuring plans are widescale and well coordinated.

In Ghana, Christian Aid and Comic Relief among others are supporting the local Anglican Diocese Development Relief Organisation (ADDRO) in a campaign to deliver mosquito nets and training to every household in vulnerable communities of Ghana’s northern region. More than one million nets have been distributed so far. If the project proves a success, the Ghanaian government hopes to replicate it in the remaining two of Ghana’s three poorest regions.

• Please support Christian Aid’s malaria prevention work this Easter. To make a donation and help our partners around the world, call 0845 700 0300 or visit christianaid.org.uk

• Malaria-related illnesses and mortality cost Africa’s economy alone US$12bn a year.

• Malaria cases fell from 8.6 million to 3.2 million in Ghana between 2006 and 2008 thanks to greater commitments from international donors.

• At least one in three deaths of children under five in Ghana is due to malaria; in Zambia, that figure is one in every five.

• One out of every four outpatient cases in Zambia is due to malaria, creating a vast burden on the government’s health budget.

Christian Aid/Sarah Filbey

MALARIA ACCOUNTS for an estimated one million deaths across the world every year. Now, in two ambitious initiatives, Christian Aid is working with others towards the total eradication of the disease in Zambia and Ghana.

In Zambia, the scheme’s initial aim is to reduce malaria by 40 per cent by December 2011 in targeted areas.

Christian Aid has launched the Cross Border Malaria Initiative, in partnership with the Zambian Anglican Council, to work in four districts bordering on Namibia and Angola. One objective is to prevent the disease spreading across porous national borders. Activities include distributing insecticide-treated nets and developing community-based treatment programmes.

Christian Aid’s church partners, which are experienced in tackling povertyrelated illnesses such as HIV, malaria and tuberculosis, through strong community networks, are seen as

Christian Aid News 5

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NEWS

FIVE-YEAR CAMPAIGN BOOSTS HIV RIGHTS DRC A CHRISTIAN AID-led campaign has helped more than 30,000 HIV-positive Congolese access life-saving drugs and dealt a major blow to the stigma of HIV. The five-year project by Community Action Against HIV/AIDS in the Congo (CAHAC), which brought together health organisations in a joint campaign, persuaded the Democratic Republic of Congo’s government to boost funding for treatment and adopt a law enshrining the rights of HIV-positive people.

Starting in 2006, CAHAC organised a range of activities to promote the rights of people with HIV in a country where HIV-based discrimination is rife. These included the country’s biggest ever HIV demonstration in November 2007, which saw 10,000 people take to the streets for simultaneous marches across all 11 of the country’s provinces.

Activists remember it as a joyous occasion. ‘We walked together as

friends, we waved our banners and we chanted and sang,’ said Nicole Makua Kabela (pictured above), an HIV-positive former nurse who took part.

Activists were also received by the Congolese prime minister and the head of parliament, a show of respect by the Congolese state that would have been unthinkable before the campaign began.

As a direct result of the march, parliament passed a law that had been blocked for months, criminalising HIVrelated discrimination, such as obligatory testing by prospective employers, and upholding the principle of universal access to antiretroviral (ARV) drugs.

The number of people with access to these drugs has risen from 4,000, in 2005, to almost 35,000. Around a third of these receive their ARV medication from Christian Aid partner AMOCongo, whose health centres operate in DRC’s poorest communities.

HIV-related stigma remains a problem, and finance for ARV treatment is an

ongoing concern. but the campaign success has strengthened activists’ resolve. ‘We’ve made progress but there remains an enormous amount still to do,’ said Jean Ilunga, HIV programme manager in DRC. • See christianaid.org.uk/hiv

TEA AND EMPATHY ON 9 JUNE six leading UK development agencies, including Christian Aid, will be lobbying parliament and we would love you to join us. Tea Time for Change will be a chance for you to meet your MP and to call on them to tackle some of the root causes of poverty such as tax dodging by unscrupulous companies.

When? 11am-4pm, 9 June Where? Methodist Central Hall, London SW1H 9NH. For more details and to register, visit christianaid.org.uk/tax

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Aid critics ignore public resolve to fight poverty CHRISTIAN AID HAS HIT BACK at criticism of the Government’s commitment to overseas aid, saying it fails to reflect the continued resolve of many in the UK to fight global poverty.

Last month’s pledge of further aid to India was particularly important given that the sub-continent remains home to more than a third of the world’s poorest 1.2 billion people.

Christian Aid director Loretta Minghella described the aid budget, unveiled by international development secretary Andrew Mitchell, as a ‘major stand against the global scandal of poverty’.

She continued: ‘A great deal of media attention has focused on whether the UK should continue to provide foreign aid during an economic downturn at home.

‘But Christian Aid and other organisations fighting to eradicate poverty know that very large numbers

of people here want the UK, as one of the richest countries in the world, to continue to help those struggling with extreme poverty.

‘Christian Aid supporters believe passionately that the continued existence of extreme poverty in a world where so much else has been accomplished is an appalling indictment of our priorities. To merely accept it as a fact of life diminishes us all as human beings.’

To abandon India at this stage of its development, added Ms Minghella, would be ‘misguided and extremely short-sighted.

‘In India the gap between the better off and 400 million people living in extreme poverty is widening all the time. Most of the very poor are in marginalised communities traditionally excluded from power and decision-making. ‘UK aid will help to change that.’

FUNDS PROVIDE RELIEF FOR FLOOD-HIT FAMILIES SRI LANKA

CHRISTIAN AID SENT emergency relief for nearly 10,000 families in Sri Lanka after intense flooding in January and February killed 62 people and left 470,000 families without homes.

Relentless downpours caused by La Nina left parts of northern, central and eastern Sri Lanka struggling to recover from the worst flooding in 50 years.

The loss of life was not as great as it might have been thanks to efforts after the 2004 tsunami to prepare vulnerable communities for floods and cyclones.

People have been building more

resistant homes, by constructing them on higher ground, with foundations above the water level, and used previously identified evacuation routes when the floods came.

Batticaloa, in the east of the country is one of the worst-affected districts.

Christian Aid’s senior programme officer Arulappu Iruthayanathan said: ‘A major concern is for farming communities. Ninety five per cent of paddy fields were damaged. Water washed away hundreds of cows as well as thousands of chickens.’

Christian Aid has allocated £113,000 to partner agencies, which have already been bringing relief to families affected by the Sri Lanka conflict that ended in May 2009. The partners provided food for 9,800 families, building and repairing shelters and providing clean water as well as helping families restart their cultivation.

EGYPT

Help for the vulnerable AS POLITICAL UNREST spreads across the Middle East and North Africa, Christian Aid partners are responding with help for the most vulnerable.

Sparked by protests in Tunisia, which quickly spread to Egypt, the call for economic, political and social reform has proliferated across the region. In the wake of change, Christian Aid’s partners have been at the forefront of ensuring that the needs of the poorest are met, and their voices are heard.

In Egypt rising unemployment and a fall in business affected the financial security of many people. Our partner Coptic Evangelical Organisation for Social Service (CEOSS) has assisted those who have lost their livelihoods. It provided cash support to families, and met the needs of those cut off from healthcare by sending mobile clinics to vulnerable communities.

Christian Aid partners have also been working to promote peace and security within their communities. Rev Andrea Zaki Stephanous, director of CEOSS, said: ‘This is a new moment in Egypt, which civil society has contributed to. The challenge is to keep Egypt a peaceful country and to start a new phase in history, where we can build freedom, dignity and co-existence.’

Our partner Better Life is working in the region of El Minia to establish voluntary committees that can advise communities. These groups will provide training on first aid, household security, and the rights and duties of civilians, and be a vital point of contact for marginalised groups in society.

Meanwhile, following the violent clashes in Libya, about 200,000 migrant workers and refugees have fled to neighbouring countries, and many of these need urgent support.

Christian Aid is working as part of the ACT Alliance to assess their needs, with the aim of providing assistance where necessary. Our partners in Egypt will also be supporting migrants who return from Libya, promoting community cohesion and helping them to access basic services.

• See christianaid.org.uk/emergencies

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NEWS

Chain GHANA gang call Partner picks on World up major Africa award Bank CHRISTIAN AID PARTNER Social Enterprise Development Foundation of West Africa (SEND-Ghana) has been awarded the 2010 ONE Africa Award of US$100,000.

The ONE Africa Award recognises remarkable work in advancing one or more of the Millennium Development Goals. SEND-Ghana helps communities speak up about issues that affect them and ensures that government policies intended to help them do deliver real change.

ONE Africa was set up in 2004 to combat preventable disease and fight extreme poverty. The award is funded by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. The award money will help SEND increase its advocacy activities from district and regional levels to a national level, allowing them to help thousands more access the services that they are entitled to.

SEND-Ghana is one of a group of Christian Aid partners part-funded by the UK Government’s Global Transparency Fund in a global project to make governance work for marginalised groups.

The project aims to enable those left out of the decision-making process to successfully demand better governance.

• SEND triples school feeding programme, see page 19, and christianaid.org.uk/whatwedo

Japan quake Although the Japanese government has not requested international assistance following last month’s devastating earthquake and tsunami, ACT Alliance member Church World Service (CWS) is assisting 5,000 families in five prefectures of northeast Japan. Christian Aid will direct any donations received through CWS.

ON TUESDAY 1 MARCH Christian Aid’s Campaigns team and a few volunteers descended upon the World Bank head offices in Millbank, London. Dressed as a chain gang, we called on the World Bank to ‘free us from fossil fuels’.

This was part of a Global Day of Action targeting the World Bank, which saw people in Zagreb, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Berlin and Durban take to the streets – you can see the photos and video on the Christian Aid website christianaid.org.uk/world-bank-day There was also much online activity including tweets from New Zealand to Brazil calling on the World Bank to clean up its act.

If you haven’t emailed Secretary of State Andrew Mitchell about the UK’s role at the World Bank visit christianaid.org.uk/climate • See full story on page 14.

SUDAN

SUPPORT FOR SOUTHERN SUDAN VITAL JANUARY’S HISTORIC REFERENDUM on independence for southern Sudan brought with it monumental consequences for Africa’s previously largest country, with a staggering 97 per cent of southerners in many areas voting overwhelmingly in favour of separation from the ruling NCP government based in Khartoum.

Following the carnival-like celebrations in southern Sudan’s principal city of Juba, however, there remain very real concerns regarding the mounting pressure on already-scarce resources in the severely under-developed south, as well as for the safety and citizenship rights of more than 1.5 million southern

Sudanese who wish to remain living and working in the north.

Tens of thousands of southern Sudanese, who were displaced to the north of the country during Sudan’s long and bloody civil war, have made the arduous journey back to their home villages over the past few months, and many thousands more are expected to return over the next few months.

However, essential services such as the south’s already inadequate schools, roads and hospitals, are rapidly reaching breaking point and will inevitably struggle to meet the additional demands from the ever-swelling population.

With an estimated 360,000 people

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Staff hit heights to raise funds KENYA IN MAY 2011 an intrepid team of 15 Christian Aid staff members from our office in Nairobi will set out to climb Mount Kenya. At 5,199 metres high, this mountain is the second highest point in Africa and is higher than any mountain in western Europe.

The challenge is daunting. Climbing the mountain takes five days, the weather can be unpredictable and the

altitude makes physical effort difficult.

To prepare, the Nairobi office is undertaking a rigorous programme of fitness development. Staff members have joined a local gym and the office is now empty at lunchtime while everyone is pumping iron! The training undertaken by the team is monitored, training climbs up nearby mountains are planned and advice on nutrition and diet is being provided.

To sponsor them, go to: justgiving.com/MntKenyaclimb

ZIMBABWE

also fleeing their home villages as a result of sporadic attacks by the Lord’s Resistance Army and inter-tribal fighting in southern Sudan over the past two years, any further violence will leave already-struggling communities totally unable to accommodate or support newly displaced arrivals, leaving many thousands destitute and hungry.

Christian Aid is supporting education across southern Sudan by funding the construction of essential school buildings, training teachers and helping many schools gain access to the World Food Programme’s child nutrition feeding programme. We are also providing £14,000 for an ACT Alliance appeal to distribute family emergency kits containing cooking equipment, soap, tarpaulin and mosquito nets, at key locations across southern Sudan and vulnerable border areas in the north.

Equipping people to build a secure future beyond the referendum is also critical and we will continue to work with partner organisations to support education, training, HIV awareness and access to credit.

A DEVON-BASED SINGING GROUP is using its talents to support a Christian Aid-backed project in Zimbabwe.

Proceeds from The Full Shanty, the third album by the Exmouth Shanty Men, will be donated to Christian Aid partner Zimpro, which teaches farmers in Zimbabwe better irrigation methods, crop storage and how to get better yields. Their work will bring sustainable agriculture to thousands of families who suffer from food shortages.

The album features a live recording of the Exmouth Shanty Men’s performance at the Exmouth Festival last year. All the production costs are

being paid for by Truro-based Skinner’s Brewery, which is also the principal sponsor of this year’s Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival (17-19 June) at which the Exmouth Shanty Men will launch The Full Shanty.

It is hoped CD sales will raise £5,000 – growing to £50,000 with match-funding by the European Commission at a ratio of 9:1, thanks to Christian Aid’s partnership scheme.

For more information about the scheme, contact Anna Couper at Christian Aid on 020 7523 2015 or your local Christian aid office, or visit christianaid.org.uk/partnerships Mary Neale

Christian Aid

Shanty singers boost Zimbabwe farmers

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CAMPAIGNS

Making the point: campaigners in London (above) and Belfast (opposite)

TAX: IT’S TIME TO TRANSFORM LIVES 2011 is a big year for Christian Aid’s Trace the Tax campaign, with the launch of a new phase of the campaign calling on G20 leaders to take effective action to end the tax haven secrecy that lets unscrupulous multinational companies dodge the taxes they owe to poor countries.

Meanwhile, we’re making great progress

on our campaign to get four influential FTSE100 companies to support tax transparency. We’re now stepping up our campaigning with a series of fun and easy actions that you can get involved in locally. Here, Christian Aid campaigns officers bring you up to date with what we’re doing

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WHY THE G20 MUST END TAX HAVEN SECRECY

Christian Aid

By Laura Trevelyan IN FEBRUARY CHRISTIAN AID and our partners from around the world met at the World Social Forum in hot and dusty Dakar, Senegal, to launch a new strand of our Trace the Tax campaign calling on the G20 to End Tax Haven Secrecy.

We estimate that the developing world loses US$160bn a year through tax dodging by some unscrupulous companies. That’s more than the entire annual global aid budget.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. With greater transparency, developing countries would find it much easier to detect tax dodging and raise more revenue for health, education and fighting poverty.

An end to tax haven secrecy could transform the lives of the poorest people in the world.

Together with a broad coalition of organisations from the global North and South we’re building a tax justice movement demanding concrete action from the G20 leaders when they meet in France this November.

Working with the Tax Justice Network for Africa, Oxfam International, ActionAid, Latindadd and groups from North America, France, Italy, India, the Philippines and Argentina, we have the global reach to make a real difference.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has expressed serious concerns about the gaps in global financial regulation and the effects of financial secrecy, particularly in offshore tax havens. It’s up to us to use this opportunity. What began in a tent in Senegal has the potential to change the lives of people everywhere.

Join us and call on Prime Minster David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minster Nick Clegg and President of France and G20 chair Mr Sarkozy to show global leadership.

Take action at christianaid.org.uk/G20

STEPPING UP OUR CAMPAIGN TO COMPANIES

By Alasdair Roxburgh SINCE THE LAUNCH of the Trace the Tax campaign in August there’s been a whirlwind of activity surrounding the issue of corporate tax dodging. In recent months we’ve seen the emergence of activist groups that have helped bring tax dodging into the public consciousness.

This has had a big impact in the corporate world. Tax is no longer seen as a specialist issue that only accountants worry

about; as the Financial Times has noted, it’s now an area of reputational risk for entire companies. This is great news for our Trace the Tax campaign. Our calls for tax justice now resonate more than ever.

Christian Aid’s approach to the four FTSE100 companies we’re focusing on (Vodafone, TUI Travel, Intercontinental Hotels Group and Unilever) is different to some of the other current campaigns.

For a start, our focus is not on accusing individual companies of tax dodging in the developing world; instead we’re calling on them to do the right thing and use their influence to change the structures that allow unscrupulous companies to dodge tax in poor countries.

These four companies have now received thousands of emails and postcards from you.

Because of this pressure we’ve been able to start engaging in serious dialogue with three of the four companies, so thank you! Now we want to increase our influence with these companies even more, which means we need to make the campaign local with a series of stunts and actions throughout Britain and Ireland.

Some of these actions are already under way. In recent weeks Christian Aid staff and supporters have been involved in a series of fantastic stunts outside their local Intercontinental Hotels Group hotels in Belfast, Edinburgh, Cardiff and London, calling on the company to support our calls for greater tax transparency.

Christian Aid supporter Hannah Henderson was involved with a recent stunt in London and is convinced these stunts make a real difference. She said: ‘Stunts are a really fun and effective way to make both companies and the wider public aware of tax justice issues.’

The Trace the Tax campaign pack outlines a variety of ways you can campaign to the four companies in your local communities. If you would like a copy of this pack, please contact your local office or email orders@christian-aid.org For more information about our tax campaign visit christianaid.org.uk/tax

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CAMPAIGNS

Day of action in Berlin: the earth on the World Bank’s chain

Clare Groves updates progress on Christian Aid’s World Bank campaign OVER THE PAST couple of months more than 22,000 of you have joined our campaign to persuade the World Bank to phase out its funding for fossil fuels and invest in sustainable energy for the poor. This is a fantastic response, so thank you all very much for your support!

We’re calling on Andrew Mitchell, the Secretary of State for International Development, to put pressure on the World Bank as it reviews its energy projects across the developing world.

The World Bank was established to work to reduce global poverty. Yet its funding for coal-fired power stations has soared 40-fold over the past five years to hit a record high of £2.8bn in 2010.

1 OCTOBER: A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY TWO DAYS AFTER becoming prime minister, David Cameron pledged that his coalition would be the ‘greenest government ever’. But has the government lived up to its promise?

What has it done to address climate change, which is devastating the lives of some of the world’s poorest people?

Christian Aid invites you to join us in Manchester, on the eve of the Conservative Party Conference, to ask these questions of our prime minister and MPs. On Saturday 1 October we

World Bank Day of Action

POWER TO THE POOR

Investing in burning fossil fuels is only going to worsen climate change and exacerbate poverty for the world’s poor.

With a quarter of the world’s population still living without access to reliable energy sources, Christian Aid partners around the world tell us that they need investment in sustainable, low-carbon development. We have been campaigning alongside them to demand that the World Bank change its practices.

On 1 March, Christian Aid took part in a global Day of Action. Campaigners demonstrated outside World Bank offices in capital cities across the globe to make our demands heard.

The first draft of the energy strategy is due out in April. It’s crucial we keep up the pressure for change.

Join the campaign today – go to christianaid.org.uk/world-bank to take action by emailing Andrew Mitchell. will team up with CAFOD and Tearfund to lead an inspiring day of learning, campaigning and worship for all ages around the issues of climate change and economic justice. There will be workshops and talks in venues around Manchester city centre.

We will also gather in the beautiful Anglican Cathedral for a special ecumenical service to pray and act on climate justice, and hear from speakers and partners from around the world.

So please put the date in your diary, and look out for more information in the next issue of Christian Aid News.

Email campaigns@christian-aid.org or call 020 7523 2264 with any questions.

Act now on carbon emissions call INSIDE THIS EDITION of Christian Aid News is a postcard for you to send a clear message to the government on mandatory reporting of carbon emissions.

Senior advocacy advisor Mohamed Adow, who joined Christian Aid from Kenya, explains why it’s important to act now I have been part of the campaign for companies to report their carbon emissions since 2007 when I laced up my walking boots and marched 1,000 miles on the Cut the Carbon march.

Many of you signed our climate change petition to the government calling for the inclusion of mandatory reporting of companies’ emissions in the Climate Change Act. Thanks for the part you played in this important win. Although the march ended the campaign is not yet over.

This year we continue to call for UKlisted companies to report and we have the opportunity to make it a reality.

I cannot overstate how important it is for companies to disclose their emissions. UK-listed companies are responsible for 12-15 per cent of global emissions, which is about four times the emissions of Africa – the most vulnerable continent to a changing climate. And in the face of the impact of human-induced climate change, the companies that have contributed to the warming of the earth’s climate system cannot continue to ignore their responsibility. By requiring these companies to come clean on their emissions we will be better placed to persuade them to think seriously about their global impact as key players whose decisions can affect the world.

It’s particularly important for UK-listed companies as global leaders in their sectors to lead by example.

For you, our supporters, your campaigning can help put pressure on the coalition government to make its commitment to be the greenest government ever a reality. Think how much that will mean, particularly to those suffering the impacts of climate change, and do your part in making it happen.

• Please fill in the postcard in the centre of this magazine and send it to environment secretary Caroline Spelman.

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POVERTY OVER

A MANIFESTO FOR CHANGE How the poverty map has changed. Below: the world view in 1821, showing the countries in poverty in grey. Left, the picture today: the more orange, the more developed. To see an animated version of these maps, go to christianaid.org.uk/povertyover

Poverty Over aims to deal with the root causes of poverty. In this six-page feature we look at eight global issues that could make a lasting difference to millions of people – and highlight some of the ways in which Christian Aid is working to achieve this POVERTY IS A GLOBAL SCANDAL It robs people of dignity and hope, of power over their own lives. About 1.2 billion people worldwide live in extreme poverty.

Poverty is not just the absence of money. It is the absence of life chances available to those more fortunate: a good education, decent work, adequate healthcare, personal security, political freedom...

POVERTY IS THE ABSENCE OF POWER – the power to determine one’s own future.

Christian Aid believes that poverty is an outrage against humanity. As a Christian organisation driven by a passion for justice, we believe the world can, and must, be a fairer place.

WE HAVE FAITH THAT POVERTY CAN END In 2008 we shared our vision of a world without poverty. Now we are launching a manifesto to transform that vision into reality, a manifesto for change – the kind of change the world needs to bring an end to poverty once and for all.

Poverty is about power, and power is political. Only people can change politics, and only people can end poverty.

POVERTY IS MANMADE, SO MAN CAN END IT Right now, we are demanding urgent action on eight global issues.

Action that we think will begin to shift the balance of power in favour of the world’s poor; issues that, if addressed,

could make a fundamental and lasting difference to lives around the world. The issues are climate change, conflict, corruption, disasters, food and agriculture, health, inequality and tax.

We recognise that this will require unprecedented global change – change at local, national and international levels.

But we believe that the world is hungry for change.

There is no time to lose. We must act now, for the sake of the future.

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Root causes of poverty CLIMATE CHANGE

Christian Aid/Genevieve Lomax

• Africa: supporting partners lobbying African governments to demand a fair, equitable and binding climate agreement through the UNFCCC • Bangladesh: supporting communities to adapt their livelihoods to a salinated environment • Burkina Faso: coordinating the climate lobby and supporting the government in seeking funds for climate change projects • Burundi: four million trees planted in heavily deforested areas to combat soil erosion and climate change • Cambodia: drought- and flood-resistant techniques for farmers • Guatemala: mitigation work with communities affected by increasingly intense storms and hurricanes • India: renewable, sustainable energy for the poorest and most excluded communities • Israel and occupied Palestinian territory (IOPT): supporting local farmers to introduce improved water-harvesting techniques • Malawi: equipping flood-affected communities with early warning systems to protect lives and livelihoods • Mali: supporting poor farmers to learn new techniques • Peru: helping communities improve agricultural practices and preserve water as glacial melt is depleting their water sources • Tajikistan: solar, microhydro and biogas energy generators for households, schools, hospitals and agriculture • UK: our climate change campaign • Zimbabwe: conservation agriculture in drought-prone areas.

Selina Begum harvests saline rice seeds in Satkira, Bangladesh.

Her village is affected by salination – an impact of climate change – so normal rice seeds do not grow well. Our partner Shushilan has introduced adapted seeds which can grow in this environment. The project has helped Selina rebuild her family’s lives after they lost much to Cyclone Aila

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CONFLICT Conflict generates poverty. It threatens livelihoods and liberty, and forces people to flee their homes.

Most conflicts happen within countries, not between them, and the most vulnerable suffer the most.

The global community must support peace-keeping and peace-building. It must include the poor in the process of building capable states.

What is Christian Aid doing to help?

• We work in 18 of the 30 most violent countries • Burma: keeping hope alive for 150,000 refugees who have fled conflict during the past 26 years • Colombia: helping displaced communities get legal property rights for their land • DRC: civilian and human-rights training for almost 500 senior soldiers to help improve army behaviour towards the civilian population • IOPT: supporting a leading Israeli human-rights organisation working to monitor human-rights violations in the OPT and educate Israeli decision-makers; supporting reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians through dialogue; creating safe space for children in Gaza to play, learn and deal with fear and trauma as a result of living under Israeli occupation • Lebanon: helping to promote community cohesion by breaking down barriers between young people of different sectarian groups • Sri Lanka: supporting the needs of more than 293,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) returning to their homes in northeast Sri Lanka after the end of almost 30 years of war • Sudan/Darfur: bringing communities together to resolve issues over scarce natural resources without resorting to conflict • Zimbabwe: working with young people to reduce likelihood of politically motivated violence.

Christian Aid/Rachel Stevens

What is Christian Aid doing to help?

Christian Aid/Paul Hackett

Climate change is affecting the world’s poor right now, and it has mainly been caused by emissions from richer nations.

These people are already vulnerable to drought, storms and flooding. Now, long-term climate change is putting lives and livelihoods further at risk.

Wealthy countries must urgently agree legally binding targets to reduce emissions. They must also help poor countries develop cleanly and adapt to the changing climate.

In Curvaradó, Colombia, small land owners forced off their land by paramilitaries – who then handed the land over to palm oil company Urapalma – are living in the Justice and Peace Humanitarian Zone from where they intend to reclaim their land

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POVERTY OVER There is no one simple way to end poverty, no easy-to-follow route map. But set out here are eight key issues that we urge the world to address to make a fundamental and lasting difference to the lives of the most vulnerable. For each issue we’ve highlighted how we think it causes or increases poverty; what the world needs to do about it; and examples of what we at Christian Aid are already doing to help. This is not a comprehensive action plan – but the issues we have identified are, we believe, urgent and compelling

CORRUPTION

Yolande Romulus lost her house and business in the 2010 Haiti earthquake; she used to live in downtown Port-au-Prince and afterwards lived in one of the camps in the city.

She received a transitional shelter from Haiti Survie, made of wood and plastic sheeting, with concrete at the base for stability

Corruption has a terrible economic impact on the world’s poorest people. Corruption means there is less money to develop, and poor people miss out on crucial services such as healthcare and education.

The problem is global as well as local. Corrupt practices take place at every level in business and in financial transactions, by individuals and in government contracts.

All countries, both rich and poor, must sign up to and comply with the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

What is Christian Aid doing to help?

Christian Aid/Susan Barry

• Ghana: supporting a partner aiming to ensure that pro-poor government policies do benefit the poorest communities in practice • Peru: lobbying and advocacy on behalf of communities affected by the activities of multinational companies • Tajikistan: setting up advice bureaux and complaints mechanisms to enable communities to understand and lobby local government for their rights as citizens; providing farming communities with training on their legal rights to help them refuse to pay informal taxes demanded by soldiers and police.

DISASTERS Disasters hit the poorest hardest. They occur when natural hazards such as earthquakes hit vulnerable people.

Disasters aggravate poverty and undermine long-term development.

Poor nations need assistance in coping with crises, but the global community must also work with communities to reduce the risk and impact of disasters.

What is Christian Aid doing to help?

At Lema School in Nigeria, children and teachers make the most of their new building despite the lack of furniture or books. However, just four months after completion, the building is already deteriorating. The village believes that this is due to corruption. ‘It is everywhere,’ says Alh Yusuf Usmann. ‘The government inflates contracts. They promise to do something and then just don’t do it, or it is badly done even though they have spent lots of money on it.’

• Burkina Faso/Mali/Niger: support for 10 million people affected by the food crisis in 2010 • Guatemala: disaster migitation work, including maintaining the rivers that carry off the flood water • Haiti: building permanent houses for earthquake-affected families • India: equipping the poorest communities with the skills and means to withstand earthquakes, cyclones, floods and droughts • Jamaica: helping communities build check dams that prevent homes from being destroyed by landslides • Pakistan: from immediate aid to long-term recovery after the floods • Philippines: supporting communities after Typhoon Ketsana through relief work and preparing them for future weather events • Sri Lanka: hot meals for people who have lost their homes after the recent floods • Tajikistan: training young people to work with communities setting up mechanisms to withstand earthquakes, avalanches, floods, droughts and landslides.

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Root causes of poverty HEALTH Poor health causes poverty, undermines development and prevents people living full and productive lives.

People with ill health are less able to withstand emergencies or maintain a secure livelihood.

Governments in poorer countries must invest in healthcare and international donors must fulfil their commitments to improve global health.

What is Christian Aid doing to help?

There are about one billion hungry people in the world yet there is enough food to feed everyone.

Agriculture has the potential to end global hunger and provide an economic path out of poverty.

Farmers must have access to secure land, fair markets and support services, and they must have a voice in the political decision-making that determines agricultural policies.

What is Christian Aid doing to help?

• Afghanistan: livelihoods work with more than 50,000 people from some of the poorest communities • Bangladesh: helping 7,000 women in southern Bangladesh to develop sustainable livelihoods • Bolivia: helping indigenous families in the Amazon to diversify their crops and sell them for a fair minimum price • Cambodia: diversified flexible farming and access to fair prices and wider markets • Egypt: supporting the rights of small-scale fishermen; support for small farmers to improve their yield and market access • Haiti: helping to restore rural agriculture after the earthquake • India: right to land and diversified sustainable climate-resilient agriculture • IOPT: helping farmers develop a strong Palestinian agricultural sector • Jamaica: new economic opportunities for ex-banana farmers, including pig and chicken rearing, and vegetable gardens • Peru: helping farmers improve agriculture to maximise production • Zimbabwe: conservation agriculture in drought-prone areas.

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Sheikh Alamin Mansour and his wife Hayat have been learning about HIV as part of a project in Sudan run by Christian Aid partner the Gender Centre for Resources and Training, to promote caring attitudes towards people living with HIV. Sheikh Alamin talks to his congregation at Alzamar mosque during prayers, challenging attitudes that lead to stigmatisation

Christian Aid/Antoinette Powell

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Christian Aid/Jodi Bieber

In drought-prone east Kenya, farmer Makula Katiku is able to grow enough food to feed his family and sell the surplus at the market, thanks to skills learned from our partner UCCS. With the extra money he is able to educate all five of his children, build his own house and buy extra livestock

• Burma: provision of healthcare and reduction of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria in remote regions • DRC: campaign led to the introduction of a new law enshrining the rights of HIVpositive people and helped increase the number of people under antiretroviral treatment from 4,000 to almost 35,000 • Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia: malaria prevention through net distribution combined with education and awareness raising • Guatemala: help for families to improve nutrition • IOPT: supporting partner campaigning for the right to healthcare for all Israelis and Palestinians • Pakistan: providing mobile health units for flood-affected communities • Peru: workshops on healthy nutrition and help with tuberculosis testing in impoverished communities • Rwanda: significant success in fighting HIV discrimination. Involving religious leaders to reduce HIV stigma. Increase in numbers tested.

Also support for HIV orphans • Sierra Leone: helping communities to learn how to improve health through better sanitation • Sudan: working with Muslim and Christian faith leaders to challenge stigma against people living with HIV; support for people living with HIV through home-based care.

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POVERTY OVER

Christian Aid/Jodi Bieber

INEQUALITY

TAX Chandramma Moligeri is one of the oldest members of a sangham or women’s group, run by Christian Aid partner DDS in India. A dalit, she lives on the margins of a village in Andhra Pradesh.

Before she joined the sangham, she farmed only 1.5 acres of land. But through improving her biodiverse farming methods and cultivating multiple crops, she has grown her assets to 20 acres of land

Inequality is both a cause and a symptom of poverty.

Exclusion from political representation, land, work and services, because of gender, race, health, caste or religion, denies people the power to make decisions about their own future.

Excluded people must be able to take part in the political process, claiming their rights and holding their leaders to account.

What is Christian Aid doing to help?

development committees where women and young people can influence development in their area.

Christian Aid/Hannah Richards

• Bangladesh: support for a partner helping women’s groups to develop livelihoods and lobby for rights • Brazil: helping more than a million people to get land of their own • Cambodia: protecting women and children from physical and sexual violence, lobbying for laws that reinforce equal rights for women and men • Colombia: supporting communities fighting for their right to land, so they are protected from illegal and violent evictions • Egypt: work with Egypt’s poorest communities, strengthening access to basic services and working to eliminate female genital mutilation • Ghana: backing a partner ensuring that pro-poor government policies benefit the poorest communities in practice • India: working with dalits and tribal peoples in the poorest states to claim their right to a life of dignity with equal rights under Indian constitutional law; working with landless people to claim their right to land • IOPT: supporting a partner lobbying the Israeli government on human- and civil-rights issues for both Arabs and Jews within Israel • Iraq: support for a partner providing safe shelter for women who are victims of gender-based violence • Lebanon: working to ensure equal opportunities for people with disabilities; supporting a campaign for the right to work for Palestinian refugees • Mali: supporting a project to back women rice producers in southern Mali • Sierra Leone: supporting communities to set up village

Unfair tax systems rob the poor of a huge amount of tax each year.

Poor nations lose crucial revenue because the international financial system allows multinational companies to avoid paying taxes and money to be held secretly in tax havens.

The world’s poor need greater transparency in international financial systems. This will make it easier for developing countries to claim a fair amount of tax.

What is Christian Aid doing to help?

• Burkina Faso: lobbying for greater transparency on tax in the cotton and gold-mining industries • Cambodia: working with tax networks to monitor government revenues and spending and to lobby for greater transparency • Guatemala: highlighting the reforms needed to make the national tax system fairer • India: working with tax networks to lobby the government to fund a food welfare programme for millions of the poorest people through fairer and more transparent company taxation • Lebanon: enabling people to see where government money is being spent, and pushing for fairer tax rules • Philippines: supporting partners carrying out advocacy around tax and mining • UK: our Trace the Tax campaign • Zambia: supporting a trade policy think-tank that promotes equitable, pro-poor trade policies and practices.

In Guatemala Evelin, seven, and Isabel, four, get regular nutritious meals at our partner Bethania’s clinic to help them recover from acute malnourishment.

Half of all Guatemalan children are malnourished. However, Guatemala has one of the lowest tax takes in the world, and just doesn’t have the resources for the kind of longterm comprehensive programme needed to bring levels of malnutrition down.

Christian Aid is campaigning to end secrecy and practices that allow companies to dodge paying tax in developing countries where they work

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POVERTY OVER

Our website christianaid.org.uk/ povertyover contains everything you need to know about our Poverty Over manifesto. It includes a dynamic map experience that tells the history of poverty interactively and includes more detailed information on each of the eight issues with case studies and video content. You will also be able to share content with your friends and family.

Guardian Films Six films about poverty, commissioned and editorially controlled by Guardian Films, have been made. The first film went live on the Guardian microsite guardian.co.uk/poverty-over on Monday 14 March, with the others following in the order below every Monday until 18 April.

Health: sexuality-based discrimination and HIV in Kenya Food and agriculture: land ownership in Ethiopia Disasters: dalit communities in India Tax: cut-flower industry in Kenya Climate change: melting glaciers in Bolivia Inequality: female genital mutilation in Kenya The remaining issues – conflict, and corruption – are covered by audio-visual slideshows.

Screening event The second of two screening events (the first was in March) will be held on Monday 18 April at the Guardian’s headquarters in London. There will be a screening of at least three of the films, plus a short question-and-answer session chaired by a Guardian international development journalist and made up of representatives from Christian Aid and Guardian Films. We have five pairs of tickets to this event to give away, available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are interested, please apply to bsturdee@christian-aid.org

Christian Aid/Susan Barry

WHAT’S ON THE WEB?

Sabrina Joseph, left, a victim of the Haiti earthquake, is just 12 years old. Christian Aid partner SSID is the only organisation that has supported Sabrina’s community, with plastic sheeting for their shelter, blankets and food. She dreams of a day when her family will have a house with a bedroom for each one of them

SPREADING THE WORD WE LAUNCHED our Poverty Over manifesto in March on our website christianaid.org.uk/povertyover and via an unprecedented link-up with the Guardian newspaper.

Saturday 5 March saw the first of eight successive weekly advertising features in the newspaper’s Weekend magazine, focusing on the fundamental issues in the manifesto. The last three features will appear on 9, 16 and 23 April.

In addition to a wealth of material on our website, the Guardian has launched its own microsite guardian.co.uk/ poverty-over that will host additional material: six films (see left) and two audio-visual slideshows, accompanied by interviews with Christian Aid staff, as well as six weekly webchats giving you a chance to ask Christian Aid advisers how we are tackling poverty. The final three of these are on Thursday 7, 14 and 21 April.

Other activity also includes high-profile adverts in the Guardian and other newspapers, magazines and on websites.

Christian Aid director Loretta Minghella said: ‘We hope that this activity will take our poverty eradication message to a much wider audience, and

motivate many more people to join the Christian Aid movement. Our partnership with the Guardian goes far beyond traditional advertising. Articles and online films produced by Guardian staff will explain many of the Poverty Over issues. The paper’s microsite is hosting weekly online discussions between Christian Aid staff and readers wishing to find out more. We think this venture will go a long way towards convincing people that ending poverty can, and should, happen.’

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED? Spread the word. Knowledge is power: it helps us understand the reasons why poverty remains endemic, and it fosters solidarity with people in the developing world, too. That is why we are calling on everyone who wants an end to poverty to support our manifesto for change.

So visit our website, view the films, join the debate and share your knowledge with others.

• Please go to christianaid.org.uk/ povertyover to find out how you can get involved, and to share this vital information with others.

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FRONTLINE GHANA

Christian Aid/Sarah Filbey

Stories from around the world showing how Christian Aid and its partners are working to empower people to shape a better future for themselves and their communities

Children line up to take their free school meals

MAKING A MEAL OF HEALTH BOOSTS SCHOOL PUPILS Sarah Filbey reports from Ghana on a Christian Aidbacked health initiative which is bringing dramatic benefits to some of the country’s poorest children WORK BY CHRISTIAN AID partner SEND-Ghana has tripled the number of children receiving vital school meals in the country’s poorest northern regions to more than 17,000.

The Ghana government’s ambitious school feeding programme is now being delivered in nine impoverished districts.

The three main objectives of this government-led initiative were to reduce hunger and malnutrition, increase school enrolment and boost local food production by providing a way for farmers to sell their produce closer to home.Yet research compiled and analysed by SEND-Ghana from the 50 districts it works in, revealed that the benefits of the scheme were not being felt, especially in the poorest schools.

Government officer Godfred Bamba, responsible for the school feeding programme in Wa East, says that lack of

decent infrastructure often means the poorest communities miss out. ‘Road accessibility in this area is poor. It can take five hours to do a 20-minute trip.’

SEND presented its research at national level, which led to an agreement by the government to work with the organisation to set up local, district and national bodies to oversee the feeding

When my kids have good meals at school they grow well and are able to concentrate programme in their areas. On SEND’s recommendation, food, agriculture and health officials have now joined education authorities in managing the programme at district level, to ensure greater coordination.

Chan community is just one of those now seeing the benefits of the changes.

Ophilia Dapare is the mother of nineyear-old twins Bede and Betty who attend Chan primary school. She is also a member of a committee of teachers, parents and local leaders set up to oversee the school feeding programme

at Chan primary and secondary school.

‘SEND came to educate us that we shouldn’t sit idle, we should also do something, we should advocate for our rights, so when they [the government] are bringing something, they won’t forget our community,’ she explained.

At the request of Ophilia’s local committee, a caterer responsible for co-ordinating the meals for Chan’s 400 schoolchildren was replaced. The original caterer, hired by the district office overseeing the meals, travelled from the regional capital Wa and often arrived late, delivered the food late and did not buy ingredients locally.

A local businesswoman has been hired instead and has impressed parents and teachers by often using her own money to buy food when the government provision comes late, so the children never miss out on meals.

As a mother, Ophilia understands the impact on health and performance of nutritionally balanced school meals being delivered regularly. ‘When my kids have good meals at school they grow well and are able to concentrate,’ she says.

See christianaid.org.uk/whatwedo

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FRONTLINE DRC

Christian Aid communications officer Ally Carnwath reports on a groundbreaking reconciliation project in the Democratic Republic of Congo that is bringing together a community and the soldiers it once feared ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON, several miles from the eastern Congolese town of Goma, a choir is rehearsing.

Outside the large brick church in the centre of Kibati village, about 60 people are practising devotional songs, their voices blending with the sound of electric guitars and the smell of wood smoke from nearby homes.

Scattered among the pale blue shirts of most of the choir is the dull green of military fatigues – in among men and women taking a break from their work in the fields are soldiers from the Congolese army. Only a year before, the presence of these soldiers at church would have caused panic among their fellow choristers.

For decades, the relationship between civilians and soldiers in eastern Congo has been one of distrust, if not outright contempt. During the 32-year rule of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, poorly paid soldiers were encouraged by the state to earn their living by stealing and plundering. Worse followed when the country descended into war – a conflict which still continues – with indiscriminate looting, raping and killing perpetrated on civilian communities both by rebels and the Congolese army (known as FARDC – the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo).

‘During the harvest, they would just

In our village we don’t hear gunshots any more, there aren’t any more cases of rape; life is calm

come into the fields and take what they wanted – we wouldn’t dare say a word in protest,’ says Jean Busco Sebutozi, a young farmer from Kibati. ‘Sometimes they would beat us like snakes.’

But several months before this October afternoon, Christian Aid partner Central Africa Baptist Community (CBCA) organised a reconciliation ceremony for the villagers and for the members of FARDC based in the nearby countryside.

Soldiers and civilians were made to mingle, there was a public airing of grievances on both sides and then, through a series of addresses and Bible readings, the crowd was asked to reflect on what they had in common rather than what set them apart.

It may be hard to imagine how a simple ceremony such as this could correct years of distrust and contempt.

But Jean is adamant that the relationship between soldiers and the community is now better than it has ever been.

‘Peace has been re-established between soldiers and us,’ he said. ‘They know that their responsibility is to protect us and to protect the country and we actually feel safer now that the soldiers are here. In our village, we don’t hear gunshots any more, there aren’t any more cases of rape; life is calm.’

One of the legacies of that day was this mixed choir of soldiers and civilians. The local major is one of the guitarists and several of his soldiers are among the singers. They also view the reconciliation ceremony as a turning point in their relationship with the local community.

‘Before the ceremony, the villagers thought that being a soldier meant you couldn’t serve God,’ says Samuel Mosambo of FARDC. ‘But the church and the choir have brought us together. Now we hope that we can all live together as brothers and sisters with no discrimination between us.’

Reconciliation ceremonies represent one strand of a project run by CBCA to

Christian Aid/Ally Carnwath

SINGING WITH ONE VOICE

Members of the soldier and civilian choir in Kabati, eastern DRC, rehearse outside their church

improve relations between soldiers and civilians in North Kivu.

So far almost 4,000 people have participated, but CBCA recognises that tackling military conduct also requires a more targeted approach. They have organised training for 492 high-ranking soldiers on topics such as civilian rights, child protection and sexual violence.

The training is conducted by a Congolese soldier, trained for the purpose

by United Nations peacekeepers, and the idea is that its messages should pass down the Congolese army’s chain of command, helping to encourage a process of reform within the army itself.

Major Janvier Bulambo, whose army unit is based in the formerly rebel-held town of Rutshuru, was one of those who took part. ‘It was profitable,’ he said. ‘We received material that helped us with reflections on spiritual and moral

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A year ago we featured the work being done to improve conditions in Matopeni, a slum district in Kenya’s capital Nairobi. In the last (for now) of her updates, Antoinette Powell has been back to see how things are progressing attitudes. Just because a soldier has a gun, he shouldn’t abuse that power to hassle the population.’

Part of the training has focused on the punishments that soldiers can expect to receive for sexual violence. For years, the vast majority of rapes in eastern DRC – many committed by soldiers – have gone unpunished, due to a struggling justice system and the routine intimidation of victims.

But CBCA is now working to provide moral and financial support to rape victims to help them bring cases against their assailants. This has resulted in 30 rape convictions in the last year and a half, a small but significant blow to impunity in the region, and another step towards creating a national army that works to protect the Congolese people rather than terrorise them.

See christianaid.org.uk/gender

WHILE PEOPLE ACROSS Kenya eagerly anticipated the country’s short rains in March last year, residents of Matopeni knew that they would bring further misery to the impoverished slum.

With poorly functioning drains and no working toilets, Matopeni soon flooded, pouring faeces and solid waste into people’s homes and bringing discomfort and disease.

In July Christian Aid partner Maji na Ufanisi began work to improve the slum’s drains and provide clean water for residents. Nearly one year on, the slum’s residents say there has been little illness since the drains were completed. Lydia Kithuku – whose daughters Catherine and Everlyne campaigned to bring clean water and sanitation to Matopeni along with their friend Veronica – says, ‘It is a very big change in terms of diseases like malaria

Christian Aid/Antoinette Powell

COMING OUT OF THE MUD

Building the new shower block

and diarrhoea. There is no smell and now we are getting fresh air.’

The project has reinforced Matopeni’s community spirit with residents leading it since it began. From clearing waste before construction and working with Maji na Ufanisi to make space for the new drains to labouring on the project, residents have invested energy, time and commitment into making it a success.

With the drains constructed, a supply of clean water to be connected within a couple of months and a management committee established to ensure the new facilities are well run, the community can look forward to a future of better health and a cleaner environment. The project has also enabled them to see that they can drive their own future and given them the skills to do so.

See christianaid.org.uk/matopeni

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LIFE AND SOUL The way we lead our own lives can have a tangible impact in the fight to end poverty. By ‘doing the right thing’ we show we have a commitment to a sustainable lifestyle that places a high value on helping others

HELPING PEOPLE IN POVERTY OUT OF POVERTY Catherine Loy looks ahead to this year’s Christian Aid Week and reminds us of the inspiring ‘story behind the envelope’ FROM MAY 15-21, the extraordinary event that is Christian Aid Week will once again transform communities here in Britain and Ireland and in some of the poorest parts of the world.

Over seven amazing days, 200,000 Christian Aid supporters will take to the streets, collecting donations house-to-house in a bid to bring an end to poverty – and in the process they will bring justice to the top of the agenda for many communities in Britain and Ireland.

Our extraordinary band of collectors will inspire more than a million members of the public to give to Christian Aid’s projects around the world.

As well as the house-to-house

collection, Christian Aid volunteers will hold every kind of fundraising event you can imagine: walks, plant and cake sales, choir concerts and jazz gigs. And this year some people are even collecting sponsorship to ‘live below the line’ (see box) – limiting their spending on food to £1 a day in an act of solidarity with those who must live on this amount or less every day of their lives.

And where will all this money go?

Christian Aid Week typically raises between £13m and £15m each year and funds much of the vital work being done in communities throughout Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean. One such community, featured in the Christian Aid Week 2011 resources, is Los Alpes in Nicaragua.

Twelve years ago, the coffee-farming community of Los Alpes had no school and no health centre. The coffee farmers

Christian Aid

MANY OF YOU WILL ALREADY have spotted the bright red Bags for Life Ecclesiastical Home Insurance is providing for collectors for Christian Aid Week this year. You may not have realised that Ecclesiastical is also donating 50p to Christian Aid for every name, address and home insurance renewal date it receives per household from supporters and volunteers around the country.

Ecclesiastical’s managing director, Steve Wood, says: ‘We’re honoured to have been chosen to support this great charitable event. Our two organisations have, I believe, the same strong ethical stance and deeply held values that make this partnership a potent one.’

To find out more about Ecclesiastical’s home insurance products and at the same time help to raise thousands more for Christian Aid Week, call freephone 0800 917 4154 or fill in the online form at ecclesiastical.co.uk/caw

Christian Aid/Paula Plaza

RAISING THOUSANDS MORE BEGINS AT ‘HOME’

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Could you live below the line for Christian Aid Week FIVE DAYS, FIVE POUNDS TO SPEND ON FOOD FROM 2-6 MAY Christian Aid will be challenging the public to live on just £1 a day for five days to raise £500,000 to help some of the world’s Jonathan goes to a poorest people. school in La Paz del Live Below the Line is a new Tuma in Nicaragua. campaign run by the Global Poverty Soppexcca gave basic Project, and fronted by actor Hugh school supplies to all the children in this Jackman, which aims to recruit 5,000 school, most of whom people across the UK to take up the are sons or daughters challenge of spending just £5 in five of coffee farmers days on all their food and drink.

Globally 1.4 billion people live below This the poverty line, surviving on just Christian Aid £1 a day to cover all their living Week, we are expenses. The Global Poverty asking churches to pr ay for the Project has joined forces with world’s poor est people an d for those who w ill go out colle support to farmers and their cting in a bid to br ing an end to families, what touched me poverty.

To download prayer resour the most was the personal ces and to find out ho w your church relationship that each of the can help us throug h prayer, visi farmers seemed to have with t caweek.org/ praywithus our partner. A Mother’s Day party organised by Soppexcca’s struggled to eke processing plant is an example of the out a living selling little things that make a difference – or coffee to middlemen who the time when an employee’s house gave them a very low price for their burnt down and Soppexcca gave her produce. Then Christian Aid partner the materials to build a new home. No Soppexcca (pronounced ‘Sop-pecks-ka’) wonder so many told me they would began working with the farmers, offering never join any other cooperative or sell them a fair price and helping them to their coffee to anyone but Soppexcca. access Fairtrade markets and a ‘The cooperative model of Fairtrade premium. This premium development is inspiring for its values of is now used collectively by the mutual trust, participation and working community to fund infrastructure together for the benefit of the group. that will benefit everyone.

Countless times when I was with the School lessons were once held in farmers and their families, they talked coffee farmer Gustavo Adolfo’s front about how much they have achieved as yard. ‘I don’t know how to read or write a group, how their joint efforts mean that and I did not want my children to be their communities can improve.’ like me,’ he says. ‘I did not have the This Christian Aid Week, thousands opportunity to go to school, so I tell my of churches and approximately 200,000 children to study and do what I couldn’t.’ volunteers will mobilise in an incredible Gustavo’s determination paid off – in act of solidarity with communities like 2001 Soppexcca helped to fund the Los Alpes. Thank you to all of you who building materials and the community are part of this inspirational movement members themselves built the Los for change.

Alpes school.

If you would like to find out more Paula Plaza, Christian Aid about Christian Aid Week, please go communications officer for Latin to caweek.org For more information America and the Caribbean, has on how you can Live Below the Line to visited the community and seen the raise money for Christian Aid, see below difference Soppexcca has made. She and go to livebelowtheline.org.uk/ says: ‘Aside from the obvious financial christianaid benefits brought about by Soppexcca’s

Christian Aid to raise money towards their work to end extreme poverty in the developing world.

To take part in Live Below the Line you just need to register at livebelowtheline.org.uk/christianaid where you can set up your own fundraising page, share your story and check out recipe tips.

Claire Aston of Christian Aid said: ‘Many people spend £2 on a cup of coffee without even thinking about it, but for 1.4 billion people across the developing world that money would have to cover all their living expenses for two days. Live Below the Line goes a small way to helping people in the UK understand what it would be like.’

Off the Grid: free event HOW CAN INNOVATIONS in science and technology decentralise energy supplies, liberating the poor and stimulating sustainable development?

In collaboration with the Science Museum Dana Centre, Christian Aid will be hosting Off the Grid, an event exploring the contemporary scientific and technological ideas and solutions that can help poor communities across Africa, Asia and Latin America to face the challenge of a changing climate.

With talks from Dr Alison Doig (Christian Aid), Srinivas Krishnaswamy (Vasudha Foundation) and other guests, this free event will look at economic reforms, the impact and benefits of decentralised systems, as well as the potential for biofuels.

Off the Grid will be held at the Dana Centre in London on Wednesday 18 May, from 7-9pm. For more details, visit danacentre.org.uk

Volunteers needed Christian Aid partner the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel is recruiting volunteers to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory for three months to act as human rights observers, working alongside peace activists.

For more information and to apply, visit: quaker.org.uk/applyeappi

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COMMENT

‘HOW COULD THEY POSSIBLY BELIEVE IT WOULD BE SORTED SO QUICKLY?’

Christian Aid/Susan Barry

After the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti last January, Christian Aid director Loretta Minghella travelled there to see for herself what has been achieved in the first year

IT WAS IMPORTANT for me to see the work that Christian Aid partners are doing in rural areas of Haiti. Mainstream media reports give the impression that the disaster only affected the capital Port-auPrince and that all aid agencies have their operations centred there and are falling over each other.

By focusing our reconstruction work in the rural areas, I believe Christian Aid has been able to make a real difference.

We are not tripping over the toes of other NGOs and there are so many people who fled the capital following the quake who would like to start afresh in the countryside – something we are well placed to help them achieve.

One innovative strategy our Haiti colleagues employed in the early days was to hand out small amounts of cash

This chicken project in the south of Haiti offers hope and a small income to host families who are looking after more people than they can cope with. The earthquake meant thousands of people became displaced, leaving Port-au-Prince in order to seek refuge in their hometowns, often with family. Our partner KORAL hopes livestock projects such as this can make a difference to those with many mouths to feed

rather than goods to people who had been made destitute.

Some used it in an entrepreneurial way to buy goods that they could later sell.

Others bought chickens or goats which are still reproducing more than a year after they received the cash.

Partners have used Christian Aid funds to help people establish new livelihoods, rearing animals, growing crops, making crafts and toiletries for sale in the markets.

I was also immensely impressed by our country office staff in Haiti, who survived

the earthquake and within less than 12 hours were working flat out to plan and implement the national response.

Prospery Raymond, the team leader for the Caribbean, took us to see the site of the former Christian Aid office which collapsed around him on 12 January 2010. As soon as local youths freed him from the wreckage he had to carry a colleague from another agency who shared the office space to hospital. She was very badly injured with a partially severed arm and several broken bones.

His description of climbing over the dead and the dying to get his colleague to hospital was heart-rending and I was struck by how much trauma the whole country has suffered.

There is still a great deal to do to complete the reconstruction and it is frustrating that it is not all sorted yet. But I would say of the critics, how could they possibly believe that it would be sorted so quickly? At least 250,000 people were killed by the earthquake, many of them key government and NGO personnel. A further two million people were directly affected by the quake. The country also lost nearly 200,000 buildings and homes as well as 4,500 schools.

One of the poorest countries in the world, Haiti had a fragile government and limited infrastructure before the earthquake. Since the earthquake the country has had to contend with a hurricane, a very serious cholera outbreak and contested elections.

Knowing how my colleagues in Haiti have responded to date – that thousands of people have benefited from immediate support and new secure livelihoods – makes me proud of the work of Christian Aid.

24 Christian Aid News

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INPUT

Inspired? Enraged?

Send your views to: The Editor, Christian Aid News, 35 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7RL or email canews@christian-aid.org Here is a selection of letters and emails in response to the discussion on population in the last issue of Christian Aid News

OPTING OUT I dissent from Christian Aid’s campaign to impose an ‘ethical position’ on South Africa’s plans for power generation. First, it would have negligible effect if it could be achieved. China, already the world’s largest CO² emitter, has no alternative to coal as its main energy source.

Second, ‘green’ energy cannot power an industrial country unless there are means of storing it. We know that at least 80 per cent of energy must continue to come from existing sources.

Third, public policy is largely derived from the Stern Report, which says that Third World countries can best be helped by a ‘strong’ policy of ‘mitigation’.

I believe such a policy is unachievable.

The alternative is ‘adaptation’ as problems arrive. Christian Aid has a long record of helping the Third World to do just that.

Evan Rutherford, Wirksworth, Derbyshire

COSMETIC CHANGES As a lifelong Christian Aid supporter/ donor who prays daily for you at the Eucharist, having read the Gospels, and after breakfast reads Private Eye, why does your coverage of Vodafone and other corporations not mention the unjust HMRC decision-making allowing them to profit by untaxed activities while overtaxing the poor. Private Eye has for months exposed these malpractices to which Vodafone etc give only cosmetic assurances of change, while Christian Aid appears ignorant of Private Eye’s more informed analysis, and thus is seen as legitimising corruption.

Dr Yvonne Craig, via email

HYPOCRITICAL BROWN? I was shocked to read the hypocrisy evident in your interview with Gordon Brown (Issue 50). The world clearly needs a moral compass, but Gordon Brown is in no position to speak about it. This is the man who led the most amoral administration ever to govern

this country. This is the man whose gross economic mismanagement has brought the country to the verge of bankruptcy, necessitating the drastic public expenditure cuts we are now suffering.

This is the man whose government did more than any other to marginalise Christianity in this country.

If this man ever had a ‘moral compass’ then it’s clearly pointing in the wrong direction. Is he unable to differentiate between north and south?

As a regular supporter of Christian Aid, I was shocked and disappointed that you gave magazine space to airing this man’s hypocritical views, and that you did not appear to challenge him on his appalling record as leader of the worst UK government in living memory.

Ken Allison, via email

POPULATION: KEEP TALKING I read the recent edition of Christian Aid News (Issue 49) with interest, and the article about population in particular. Well done for raising this very unpopular and complex issue, and please keep it on the agenda. While I do not think Christian Aid should start getting involved in individual countries seeking to limit the number of children a family has, I think the huge problems caused across the world, which impact particularly upon the poorest nations of overpopulation, need to be brought onto the political agenda of governments across the world. I think Christian Aid should be adding this topic to that of the need to tackle poverty. We simply cannot ignore this issue, and the continuing population rise across the world is a grave threat to us all, whether from developed or undeveloped nations.

We should be discussing and airing this issue as being of as much importance as climate change. It may not be popular to do so, but I do not believe it to be un-Christian as one of your letter writers suggests. I believe it is a matter of caring responsibly for the world we live in, a world which does not have the resources to feed and provide for an infinite number of people living in it. I believe that as well as tackling climate change we should be seeking to address population

growth, and try to bring it under control, for the sake of the existing and future population of the world.

Sarah Slack, via email

IMMEDIATE CONCERN As a regular donor to Christian Aid and recipient of Christian Aid News, I note that, as usual, the Winter 2011 issue contains the routine scaremongering over carbon emissions and manmade climate change.

Surely we need to be more concerned about the projected increase of 2.5 billion in the world’s population to 9 billion by 2050, and the need for agriculture to almost double its productive capacity over the next 40 years.

This is a more immediate and certain challenge than that of manmade climate change which may yet turn out to be ‘false’ science.

Philip Shaw, Bolton, Lancashire

APOCALYPTIC RELISH In commenting on my previous letter, Tricia Delargy (Input, Issue 50) fails to distinguish between people’s personal choices and population control policies on the part of governments and NGOs. It was specifically the latter which I referred to as un-Christian; I am not saying that everybody ought to have hundreds of babies – far from it. I agree with her about empowering people and, of course, if the standard of living improves, population is likely to stabilise automatically, as it has in the West.

It worries me to see, issue by issue, how many of your correspondents fail to appreciate this basic point, or the fact that excessive consumption in the West uses up far more resources than African children do. There even seems to be a certain Malthusian relish in some quarters in proclaiming the ‘apocalyptic nightmare’ of population: after all, so this mythology goes, if population is the problem, then clearly those responsible for the world’s ills are the people having children. The rest of us can be content in the knowledge that we needn’t do anything to change our own behaviour.

Patrick Hanley, Preston, Lancashire

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EVENTS

DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND FIGHTING POVERTY ■ Did you roll down a hill? Zorbers in Brighton rolled down hills to push their sponsorship targets up.

■ Swap and shop? Traid-It! in the South West turned clutter into treasures, as supporters donated and swapped their things.

■ Go over the edge? Thrill seekers (below) took in awesome views from the top of the abseil towers across Britain in Christian Aid’s sponsored abseils.

Christian Aid/Keryn Irving

Whatever you did, thank you for taking part! Christian Aid hopes to raise more than £50,000 from these events. Visit christianaid.org.uk/ events to find out more about events in your local area.

Christian Aid/Adrian Arbib

We work with some of the world’s poorest communities.

They face huge challenges every day, so why don’t you challenge yourself? Have fun while fighting poverty: join one of our events or do your own fundraising

Get outdoors and get fundraising!

In 2010 more than 300 runners, trekkers and cyclists joined Team Poverty to raise about £300,000 to support Christian Aid’s work.

Young and old, male and female, long-term supporters and those new to Christian Aid joined together to cycle a total of 30,360 miles, and cover 3,197 miles on foot – challenging themselves to help raise money to beat poverty. And 2011 is shaping up to be even bigger and better, with thousands of Christian Aid supporters set to take part in an unforgettable array of fundraising events and challenges

THE EYE OF THE CHRISTIAN AID WEEK STORM

PUT A ‘SPRING’ IN YOUR STEP AND A BOOT INTO POVERTY

A FLURRY OF fundraisers and a vortex of volunteers are creating the perfect Christian Aid Week storm – are you ready for 15-21 May? The mobility scooters in Loughborough are revving up for this year’s ‘scoot for a hoot’ sponsored scooter derby and in Northumberland the Wooler pop-up charity shop will open again. In 2010 it raised £2,500 in just one day.

Sue Burston, the organiser, recalls: ‘People were queuing down the street to get in.’

St Andrew’s and St George’s church in Edinburgh will open its doors on 14 May for the annual book sale, which raised an incredible £106,000 last year.

Get caught up in the whirlwind of Christian Aid week by ordering your fundraising pack now at caweek.org.uk

GET OUT IN THE FRESH spring air on a sponsored walk. Christian Aid’s sponsored walks include crossing the bridges in Scotland, skirting the edge of the Peak District in Sheffield, and lapping the racecourse in Newton Abbott.

Walkers from London who took part in last year’s Circle the City sponsored walk had a fun day out and would encourage people to take part in 2011. ‘Do it! Do it!

Do it!’ they say. ‘You will discover parts of London’s charm and history that are unknown to most people.’

Bring along your family and friends to one of these great days out and help fight poverty step by step. The walks range from three to 26 miles, but are all guaranteed to be fun!

To register and find out more, visit christianaid.org.uk/walk

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✁

Don’t miss out on a fantastic challenge High fives in Paris at the end of last year’s epic bike ride

EVENTS FUNDRAISING CALENDAR 2011/2012 BRIGHTON MARATHON Sunday 10 April 2011 VIRGIN LONDON MARATHON Sunday 17 April 2011 BUPA GREAT MANCHESTER RUN Sunday 15 May 2011

Christian Aid/Matthew Gonzalez-Noda

EDINBURGH MARATHON Sunday 22 May 2011

ENTRIES FOR SOME of our Team Poverty challenges close soon, so go online to register at christianaid.org.uk/events before it’s too late.

Team Poverty runners, cyclists and trekkers travel great distances to raise money but they also go on a journey showing exactly how they are helping poor communities worldwide to have the chance of a brighter future. Rev Andrew Sully, who will be on his third sponsored cycle ride with Team Poverty when he heads off on the London to Paris Bike Ride in July this year, said: ‘It’s empowering sometimes in a job where I obviously communicate mainly through the spoken word to communicate my faith and convictions by actions too. Cycling to Paris is a way of saying how the little gestures we make to reduce our carbon footprints can collectively make a world of difference.’

Join Team Poverty and receive a Team Poverty training T-shirt and all the training and fundraising tips you will need to reach your fundraising target and personal goal.

Brian Draper, author of Spiritual Intelligence, will be running the London Marathon with Team Poverty on Sunday 17 April and he comments: ‘It is such a privilege to run for Christian Aid’s Team

SOUPER SUCCESS UP AND DOWN the country, soup was served and donations made as colleagues, friends, family and congregations slurped their way to success in Christian Aid’s Super Soup Lunch on 25 March.

Creamed, chunky or chowder, every bowl of soup supped will help hit the £60,000 target with the money helping the fight to eradicate poverty.

Laura, a Super Soup Lunch organiser in London,

Events.indd 2

OFFA’S DYKE NIGHT HIKE 18-19 June 2011 HADRIAN’S WALL WEEKEND TREK 1-3 July 2011

Poverty. I am excited about taking on the challenge of a marathon (a new challenge for me!) and I will do everything I can to make sure we raise lots of sponsorship.’

Team Poverty aims to raise £460,000 from bike rides, runs and treks this year so take up the challenge today.

Olympic gold medal winning cyclist Nicole Cooke said: ‘This is a rewarding and healthy way of raising money for Christian Aid, which will go towards helping the most deserving people across the world, who will be helped to lift themselves out of poverty.’

Jon Snow, presenter of Channel 4 News and president of the UK’s national cycling association CTC, said: ‘I’m deeply envious of the 140 riders on the London to Paris ride this July.

They’re raising money for Christian Aid’s fine work around the world and I hope everyone gives them plenty of backing.’

LONDON TO PARIS BIKE RIDE 20-24 July 2011 LONDON TO LUXEMBOURG BIKE RIDE 1-4 September 2011 JURASSIC COAST WEEKEND TREK 9-11 September 2011 QUIZAID 12-18 September 2011 HOLY ISLAND NIGHT HIKE 17-18 September 2011 BUPA GREAT NORTH RUN 18 September 2011 ROYAL PARKS HALF MARATHON 9 October 2011 SANTA DASH 5K FUN RUNS December 2011

said: ‘I held a lunch at my work and it really brought all the staff together – there was so much chatting and eating we struggled to get everyone to go back to their desks!’

Note to organisers: to find out how to pay in the money you raised go to christianaid.org.uk/ super-soup-lunch

THE BIG CHRISTMAS SING 9-11 December 2011 BURNS SUPPER 21-28 January 2012

For more details go to: christianaid.org. uk/events

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AROUND CENTRAL ENGLAND

‘THOSE TWO WEEKS WERE A ROLLERCOASTER OF A JOURNEY’ LAST DECEMBER, our gap year volunteers went on a two-week trip to Cambodia to see some of Christian Aid’s partners in action. Local girls Sharon Natt, Vicky Hotchkiss and Imogen Tate recall their most memorable moments and inspirational visits Vicky, from the West Midlands, describes how inspired she was by the work of partner Development and Partnership in Action (DPA). ‘DPA’s mission is to empower and support vulnerable and poor people in Cambodia by improving their quality of life through sustainable development. I had an amazing time, it was really encouraging to see how this country is developing, especially in light of its history.’

East Midlands ‘gapper’ Sharon remembers: ‘I was constantly excited and depressed at various points throughout the trip, yet continuously inspired also by the breathtaking stories of community spirit. We came away from Cambodia with admiration and affection for the people of this beautiful yet troubled country.’

The gappers in Cambodia

Imogen, from East of England, described how the work of partner Mith Samlanh had really moved her. ‘Mith Samlanh works with street children, their families and the local community to help these children be socially reintegrated back into their families as well as become productive and independent members of their community. One of

Cook for Christian Aid Christian Aid Youth Monthly meetings ON OUR PLATE is a recipe collaboration from St Matthew’s congregation in Ipswich, their friends and families. It brings together a collection of home-made recipes, personal inventions and adaptations.

One favourite story is about the dog that ate the cake, and gave her name to it – the Cornish family have now been making Jill Cake since the post-Second World War rationing period (when the loss of a cake to the dog would no doubt have been all the more disappointing!).

We have produced 500 copies, with wipe-clean laminated covers. They are on sale at £7.50, from St Matthew’s Church Office, Fletcher Centre, 2 Crescent Road, Ipswich, 01473 251630.

THURSDAY 21 APRIL • THURSDAY 26 MAY • THURSDAY 23 JUNE • THURSDAY 21 JULY

6-7.30pm, at the Urban Coffee House, the Big Peg, Warstone Lane, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham B18 6NF. Also at a venue to be confirmed, in Nottingham.

Come and join this dynamic group and be part of discussions and activities relating to justice and poverty issues (for ages 16-25).

• For more details, contact Katie Ormerod on 0121 200 2283, or kormerod@ christian-aid.org

my favourite memories was meeting the Cambodian people; they are so very friendly, generous and inspiring.’

Our Christian Aid gap year volunteers are available to give talks and presentations on their experiences. If you would like to hear their stories in more detail, please get in contact with your local Christian Aid office.

Calling all Young People WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER a new resources pack called The Parable of the Talents to encourage young people to take a small amount of money (for example, £5 each) and then multiply it, using their talents and creativity, for the good of others. The pack includes a bible study/activity session, fundraising DVD and stories from three Christian Aid partners to show how the money raised will make a real difference.

For more details or to order one, contact Vicky Hotchkiss on 0121 200 2283, or vhotchkiss@christian-aid.org

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AROUND NORTH ENGLAND Holy decaf! Bishops turn baristas for Christian Aid

Bishop Mark Bryant

Paul Judson

LOOking quizziCAL

THE BISHOP OF JARROW and the Assistant Bishop of Newcastle will be trying their hands as baristas on Wednesday 4 May to raise awareness of how small-scale coffee farmers in Nicaragua have been supported by Christian Aid to work their way out of poverty.

In the run-up to Christian Aid Week (15-21

May) Bishop Mark Bryant will be learning to make lattes and cappuccinos at Esquires in Silver Street, Durham. Meanwhile, Bishop Frank White will be doing the same at Esquires in Eldon Square, Newcastle. It is hoped that the stunt will draw attention to the way in which support from Christian Aid has helped to change the lives of thousands of people in Nicaragua by helping farmers to get a fair price for their coffee, thus enabling them to access education and healthcare for their families.

Bishop Mark and Bishop Frank are not the only aspiring baristas. Other Church leaders across the north of England are also preparing to become baristas for a day, in order to help us make the link between our local communities and communities in different parts of the world.

If you want more information about where these events are taking place, do contact your local office. If you live in the north east, please do join us at either of these Esquires cafés, and help raise the profile of Christian Aid Week 2011!

Pennies from the Pennines THIS CHRISTIAN AID WEEK a group of staff and supporters from the north west and Yorkshire regions will be donning helmets and cycling gear to take on the 240 miles of the Trans Pennine Trail to raise money and awareness for Christian Aid. During last year’s Christian Aid Week staff and supporters from the north east and north west regions raised more than £2,500 with a similar sponsored cycle ride on the Coast 2 Coast cycleway.

En route the group will meet supporters at churches, schools and community centres and park their bikes for a civic reception with the mayor of Hull. The meetings will be a chance to enthuse, support and thank the collectors who will be going house to house for Christian Aid during the week.

The team will start on Monday 16 May in Southport, call at Aintree and Warrington and finish in Altrincham. Day two takes in Didsbury and Broadbottom before the cyclists halt for the night at Penistone. Day three will include stops at Brampton, Bentley and Snaith before an overnight at Selby. Day four is the longest ride with 60 miles covered as the team take in York, Howden and Brantingham and rest at North Ferriby. The final day on Friday is a relatively short ride to Hornsea with that stop in Hull to visit the mayor.

• Are you interested in joining the team for a day? Contact warrington@christian-aid.org or if you would like to sponsor the team you can donate online at justgiving.com/ ChristianAidTranspennineTrail

Nick ends his long march ON EASTER SUNDAY last year, Halifax builder Nick Broadbent hung up his boots after pounding 1,000 miles around Calderdale’s streets for Christian Aid. Nick, 56, first took part in the Halifax Long March in 1972, aged 14, when the now 26-mile march was 30 miles long, and has missed just three events. His unique experience has made him the perfect organiser for this year’s secret overnight route.

He said: ‘I could have gone on forever, but this seemed a good landmark.’

Now in its 46th year the Long March has raised more than £360,000 for Christian Aid. This year’s walk takes place on Easter Sunday 24 April. See listings, opposite.

n Aid py of Christia Inside this co onal find our Regi News you will and give 11. Please copy Paper Quiz 20 £1. We , in return for to your friends prizes! ers – and the have the answ to your ey you raise Send the mon le e in Newcast regional offic arrington upon Tyne, W ed or Le s.

SUNDAY 10 APRIL Morley Christian Aid service 6pm, Greenside Methodist Church. All welcome.

Contact Lindsey Pearson on 0113 2444764, or email lpearson@christian-aid.org SUNDAY 24 APRIL The 46th Halifax Long March A 13.1- or 26.2-mile overnight sponsored walk following a secret route through Calderdale on Easter Sunday.

For details and to register, visit longmarch.org.uk or email ajones@christian-aid.org or call 0113 244 4764.

THURSDAY 28 APRIL Celebratory Christian Aid service in York Minster 7.30pm. Guest speaker: Rev Francis Nabieu, former president of the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone.

Contact christianaidyork@ googlemail.com MONDAY 2 MAY Sheffield May Day trek There are new five-, 10- or 15-mile circular routes for this sponsored walk on the edge of the Peak District near Bolsterstone.

To register, visit sheffieldmaydaytrek.org.uk or email maydaywalk@gmail. com or contact Bridget Kellet on 0114 275 9828.

TUESDAY 3 MAY The Future of Oil 7.30pm, Northallerton Methodist Church.

A debate about the future of oil and its impact on the poor.

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AROUND SCOTLAND

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland/Callum Bennetts @ Maverick Photo Agency

Keep global poverty high on the election agenda That time has come around again – canvassers knocking on doors, politicians kissing babies, election literature piling up on the doormat. While the focus of the debate for the Scottish parliamentary elections understandably revolves around employment, public services and an uncertain economic future, Christian Aid is campaigning to ensure prospective members of the Scottish Parliament don’t forget Scotland’s ongoing commitment to the world’s poorest people

ENDING GLOBAL POVERTY needs to be high up the political agenda at a time when many of the world’s poorest people were already living on less than US$1 a day before the financial crisis hit, and when climate change is killing 300,000 people every year.

Scotland has a proud record of striving to be a responsible nation.

Our Parliament has passed ambitious climate change legislation and supported developing countries by way of the international development fund.

Christian Aid believes that the next Scottish Government should continue to demonstrate that it is prepared to tackle both the symptoms of global poverty and the structural causes that keep people poor.

MANIFESTO LAUNCH That’s why Christian Aid Scotland marked the United Nations World Day of Social Justice by launching a manifesto calling on the next intake of MSPs to continue to support the most impoverished communities of the world.

Speaking at the manifesto launch, Kathy Galloway, Head of Christian Aid Scotland, said: ‘We are calling upon the next Scottish Government to ensure that

even in these tough economic times, we maintain our commitment to helping the poorest communities of the world.

‘We want to see continued action to support developing countries through our efforts to reduce global warming, our commitment to development work in countries such as Malawi, and our progress towards becoming a Fairtrade nation by 2012.

‘This manifesto seeks assurances from the political parties that Scotland will continue to play a key role in the global effort required to move the world towards one in which everyone can live a full life, free from poverty.’

Christian Aid’s Scottish manifesto sets out measures including maintaining Scotland’s position as a world leader on climate, supporting climate justice, encouraging greater financial transparency, supporting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, and making Scotland a responsible Fairtrade nation.

The manifesto calls for the Scottish Government to commit to reaching the 42 per cent reduction target in carbon emissions by 2020, as well as establishing a £9m fund to help overseas communities to respond to the challenges of climate change.

The next Scottish Government is also being urged to maintain the international development fund at its current level over the lifetime of the next parliament, and to encourage Scottish companies that operate overseas to take a lead on reporting the profits they make and the amount of tax they are liable for.

How you can get involved: see box on opposite page, far right.

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 2011 THIS YEAR’S CHRISTIAN AID WEEK will see a tremendous amount of work go into lots of different events across Scotland. We are delighted that several Church leaders are going to learn how to make coffee and will then volunteer a shift in a local café to promote Christian Aid Week partner Soppexcca, which supports coffee farmers in Nicaragua.

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, John Christie, is supporting efforts by hosting a ‘Moderator’s Mocha’ event in Edinburgh, while a similar event will be held in Barrhead by the Moderator of the United Reformed Church, John Humphreys. During Christian Aid Week itself, Bishop David Chillingworth, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, will be acting as a barista, serving coffee in Perthshire.

POET LIZ BACKS EDINBURGH BOOK SALE PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY for the UK’s biggest Christian Aid Week book sale, at St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church in Edinburgh.

The Book Sale is now a Scottish cultural institution, and it’s fantastic that Liz Lochhead, the new Scots Makar, or national poet, has agreed to be its 2011 patron.

This year’s event will take place on Saturday 14 May and from Monday 16 to Friday 20 May. It’s expected to be as busy and high-profile as ever, drawing in the crowds from all over Scotland and beyond to sift through an outstanding range of books and collectors’ items.

Thanks to all who organise and support this event, and to those who organise others like it. If you happen to be in the centre of Edinburgh during Christian Aid Week, make sure you drop by to see what’s on offer.

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AROUND THE SOUTH EAST Regional news and events in Beds, Berks, Bucks, Herts and Oxon

A day in the life of a regional coordinator

Abigail Knowles is based in Oxford – here we get a glimpse into what her work involves

How did you come to work for Christian Aid? I was a gap year volunteer in the Southampton office last year, doing youth and student work. I had a really exciting year including visiting Christian Aid partners in Kenya and going to the climate change summit in Copenhagen. I loved it so much I really wanted to stay on and applied for this job.

What’s the best thing about your job? I love getting out and meeting supporters of all ages. The efforts made to help the world’s poorest people are amazing. Recently, the Licensed Victuallers’ Junior School in Ascot raised £3,458 in support of our Winds of Change Harvest Appeal. Every child filled jam jars with donations from family and friends – and made windmills when they learned about the work of Christian Aid partners in Afghanistan. Another school, Wellington College, raised more than £2,500 with a sponsored reading of the entire King James Bible in celebration of its 400th anniversary.

School Chaplain Reverend Forbes Walker with children from the Licensed Victuallers’ Junior School, Ascot, and the windmills they made when learning about the work of Christian Aid in Afghanistan

Licensed Victuallers’ School

What does an average day look like? A lot of what we do is about supporting local churches and Christian Aid groups, helping them to give, act and pray for Christian Aid. It could be offering ideas for getting more collectors in Christian Aid Week, helping bring poverty and justice issues into worship, giving a talk or organising an event.

EVENTS THURSDAY 7 APRIL AND SATURDAY 9 APRIL Latin American nights 7.30-10.30pm, South Hill Centre, Hemel Hempstead (Thursday) St Luke’s Church, Watford (Saturday) Music, dance, food, Fairtrade wine and a chance to hear about Christian Aid’s work in Nicaragua.

Contact Abi Knowles on 01865 246818 or email aknowles@ christian-aid.org MAY Sponsored walks for Christian Aid Week Saturday 7 May – East Herts Registration 8.30-9.30am, Start St John’s Hall, Hertford

SG13 8AE. Split into five sections, so you can walk from 5 to 42 km.

Contact Liz Horner on 01920 465714 or email lilacre@ ntlworld.com or register at christianaid.org.uk/walks Saturday 14 May – Chinnor Start 9.30am, St Andrews Church Hall, Chinnor OX39 4PG Walk 10 or 20 km along stunning Oxfordshire footpaths.

Contact Jessica Hall on 01865 246818 or jhall@christian-aid.org Saturday 21 May – Walk the country Registration 8.30-10.30am, Start Bix Village Hall RG9 6BS.

Walk 5, 10, or 15 miles through lovely Oxfordshire countryside.

Contact John Russell on 01189 783232 or register at christianaid.org.uk/walks TUESDAY 10 MAY Church Leaders theology and consultation event 9am-1pm, Hertfordshire.

This is a chance for you to grapple with theology around the issue of poverty, hear more about Christian Aid and for us to hear from you. (Venue tbc) Contact Jessica Hall, as before WEDNESDAY 18 MAY Praying for Justice Starts 10am, Oxford Prayer

Rooms, Catacombs, Little Gate Street, Oxford.

Join us during Christian Aid Week as we pray for God’s justice around the world, and for those living in poverty. Drop in any time during the day or for prayers in the evening.

Contact Jessica Hall, as before THURSDAY 30 JUNE The Mikado 7.30pm, Witney Congregational Church.

A costumed concert by Kennington Church choirs. Free entry, with collection for Christian Aid. Contact Pip Cartwright on 01993 703717 or email pipcar@aol.com

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AROUND SOUTH AND WEST

PRISONERS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRYSIDE

LAND MINES are an ever-present danger in Cambodia and explosions are a frequent occurrence in the countryside. In December we visited the country with a group of other Christian Aid gap year volunteers. Our guide, Simorn, told us that there is one unexploded mine for every three Cambodians; that’s more than 4.5 million mines! Most Cambodians live in the rural areas and so it is hardly surprising that in almost every community we visited there was someone who had been affected by land mines.

Some areas had been discovered and fenced off, marked on maps with crosses.

Others remain undiscovered, potentially fatal to anybody unlucky enough to stumble upon them. In the village of Boegsangke the landmines are clearly marked on the map and yet in November 2010, just before our arrival, 16 people lost their lives as a result of stepping on one.

This is the harrowing legacy of the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, which ruled between 1975 and 1979 and implemented a policy of social engineering to wipe out educated and older members of society who may have been tainted with ideas of capitalism. The resulting genocide killed over 2 million people in some of the most horrible and brutal ways ever seen.

We’ve been back in Britain for a couple of

Ecclesiastical Daniel Sinclair

Following their visit to Cambodia to see the work of Christian Aid partners there, our gap year volunteers Luke Harman, from Bristol, and Nadia Kouhi, based in Exmouth, reveal how the people they met left a lasting impression

ECCLESIASTICAL SUPPORT IS IN THE BAG

Luke and Nadia (back row, right) with other volunteers and our Cambodian partners

months now and still struggle to contemplate the reality of it all – having to tell your children they can’t play there because they may get blown up. It seems so far from our reality and yet is common for the children who’ve grown up in Boegsangke and across Cambodia. They really are prisoners in their own countryside.

Despite this, we were struck by the positive aspects of Cambodian culture – the sense of community and sharing, personified by people such as Chou Ouk. His village of Boegsangke has benefited from the help of Life with Dignity, a Christian Aid partner organisation focussing on community development. It helped provide a community pond benefiting more than 100 families. The pond is on Chou’s land, yet he is more than happy to allow this, saying ‘both my family and my neighbours can use this water’.

This spirit of trust and sense of community stands out above any difficulties and troubles the Cambodian people face. To have experienced this and to have been allowed briefly into their lives has been an immense privilege.

• If you would like to invite Luke or Nadia to speak in your church or group about the inspiring people they met, please contact your local office.

STAFF AT ECCLESIASTICAL Insurance’s head office in Gloucester are getting behind the company’s partnership with Christian Aid. Ecclesiastical is sponsoring the new Bags for Life available to Christian Aid Week collectors for the first time this year (see page 24).

But perhaps the most exciting initiative it is taking will be a sponsored abseil down the tower of St Barnabas Church in Gloucester in June. Any funds raised by the staff will be matched by the company thus doubling their donation. The abseil will also be open to any Christian Aid supporters outside the company and, if you would like to challenge yourself and raise valuable funds at the same time, you can find the contact details in the events listings opposite.

Our regional manager Nigel Quarrell commented: ‘We were delighted with the response of the staff who have already held a Super Soup Lunch in their canteen and will also be organising their own fundraising for Christian Aid Week, for QuizAid in September and the Big Christmas Sing in December.’

Ecclesiastical’s managing director, Steve Wood added: ‘Christian Aid is a powerful force for good in our society and we want to do everything we can to help. Our two organisations have the same strong ethical stance and deeply held values that make this partnership a potent one.’

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AROUND WALES

LIVING IN THE REAL WORLD

Christian Aid/Branwen Niclas

Russell Jones meets a group of young Kenyans

He may spend most of his time ‘living in the garden’, but TV gardener Russell Jones found himself living in a very different landscape recently, thanks to Christian Aid VIEWERS OF S4C have recently enjoyed a series of programmes titled Byw yn y Byd (Living in the World). The presenter Russell Jones is best known for his popular Welsh gardening series, Byw yn yr Ardd (Living in the Garden), but the new series took him on an adventure to Africa with Christian Aid. Accompanied by Branwen Niclas from

EICH SWYDDFA LEOL – YOUR LOCAL OFFICE BANGOR (Gogledd Cymru/North Wales) 106 Stryd Fawr, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 1NS. Tel/Ffôn: 01248 353574 bangor@christian-aid.org CAERFYRDDIN/CARMARTHEN (De Orllewin a’r Canolbarth/South West and Mid) 75 Heol Dwr, Caerfyrddin/Carmarthen SA31 1PY. Tel/Ffôn: 01267 237257 carmarthen@christian-aid.org CAERDYDD/CARDIFF (Cenedlaethol/ National Office) 5 Station Road, Radyr, Caerdydd/Cardiff CF15 8AA. Tel/Ffôn: 029 2084 4646 cardiff@christian-aid.org

Christian Aid Wales, Russell visited the Mbeere district in the eastern province of Kenya, to view some of the projects of Christian Aid partner CCSMKE, the development arm of the former Mount Kenya East Diocese of the Anglican Church of Kenya.

CCSMKE works in the area of rural development and one of its main priorities is to address the longer-term need of pastoralist communities in northern Kenya, including building their capacity to prepare, mitigate and survive the frequent long periods of drought which the region is increasingly facing.

Through strategically located centres in the region, CCSMKE teaches people

dry-land farming techniques and soil and water conservation. They are taught how to grow their own vegetables and how to keep chickens and goats to eat and sell.

CCSMKE also distribute drought-tolerant seed varieties.

Russell had only been abroad once before, and the people he met in Kenya made a great impression on him. ‘I didn’t really know what to expect, but it was an amazing experience,’ he said. ‘From the beginning it was obvious that water was going to be an important issue.

We visited the Mbeere region, where they had expected three months of rain, but they only got two days, and they’re suffering quite a serious drought now.’

In one village Russell stayed with a family who had suffered severe losses to their livestock and crops through lack of rain. But despite their circumstances, ‘they looked after me so well,’ he said, ‘and they shared what little they had.’

He feels that he has benefited greatly from the experience. ‘During the visit I gathered fresh ideas and it has challenged me to do better. If the people I met in Africa manage to survive with the little they have, then I have no room to complain. I just hope that these programmes will encourage people to see things as I do and go out into their gardens to grow their own food.’

That was fast work!

FOLLOWING A DISCUSSION on what it means to belong to a church and how could they make a real difference in the lives of others, a group of young people from Capel Salem Canton in Cardiff decided to hold an eight-hour fundraising fast in January.

Watching the 2010 Christian Aid Week film about life in Matopeni, Kenya, also had a profound effect on the group.

It was decided that any money raised should go to support the work of Christian Aid in supplying clean water and sanitation to poor communities such as Matopeni.

Twenty-one young people, with the youth workers and Rev Evan Morgan, spent the day in the vestry, with pool and table tennis tournaments, an Xbox

competition and a quiz helping to take their minds off food! Aled Pickard from Christian Aid came along to help them play the Christian Aid simulation game, The Poverty Challenge.

The fast day ended with a feast of doughnuts and the group is already thinking of next year and how to improve on the magnificent sum of £1,100 raised.

You can read the Matopeni Diary showing the progress that has been made in bringing clean water and sanitation facilities on our website christianaid.org.uk/matopeni Details of The Poverty Challenge can be found in the youth leaders’ resources section of learn.christianaid.org.uk

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Time to get active in schools IS THERE A SCHOOL near you that would be interested in working with us this Christian Aid Week? We have lots of ideas and resources to give schools so they can learn more about communities around the world helping themselves out of poverty.

For ideas and resources see the website learn.christianaid.org.uk and contact your local office for a fundraising pack.

EVENTS IN CENTRAL ENGLAND EAST MIDLANDS: SATURDAY 9 APRIL, SATURDAY 16 APRIL Christian Aid Lent lunches 12 noon-1.30pm Light lunches served, with all proceeds going to support the work of Christian Aid. 9 April – Gedling Road Methodist Church, Nottingham 16 April – All Hallows Memorial Hall, Gedling, Nottingham.

SUNDAY 1 MAY Fanshawe Gate Hall open garden 11am-5pm, Fanshawe Gate Hall, Holmesfield, Dronfield, Derbyshire.

Morning coffee, ploughman’s lunch and afternoon tea available. Entry £2.50 (children free). Proceeds to Christian Aid. THURSDAY 5 MAY Barista Bishop!

Lincoln.

Have your coffee made by the Methodist Chairman of the Lincoln and Grimsby District, Rev Dr David Perry.

MONDAY 9 MAY Barista Bishop!

St Peter’s Coffee Shop, Nottingham.

Today it’s the turn of Bishop Paul Butler to be barista for a morning.

If you would like to come to either of these events, or for more information, please call our office on 01509 265013 or email eastmidlands@christian-aid.org

SUNDAY 26 JUNE The Bishop of Leicester’s thank-you garden party 2.30-4.30pm, Bishop’s Lodge, 12 Springfield Road, Leicester LE2 3BD. Bring a picnic and join us for a fun-filled garden party. It’s a chance for us to say thank you to supporters as well as enjoy live music and some tasty nibbles!

To book your free place, contact our office, as above.

WEST MIDLANDS: TUESDAY 12 APRIL This is My Story 7.30pm, The Drum, 144 Potters Lane, Aston, Birmingham B6 4UU. A Christian Aid Week prelaunch event featuring Midlands gospel acts. Tickets £5.

Book online at the-drum.org.uk or call 0121 333444.

SATURDAY 7 MAY Soup and pudding lunch From 12 noon, at St Luke’s Church and Community Centre, Church Street, Cannock.

For details, contact Ruth Isitt on 01543 466562, ruth@isitt.org SATURDAY 14 MAY Christian Aid Fun Day in Shirley Park 2.30-5pm, The Bridge, 234 Stratford Road, Shirley, Solihull B90 3AG. Stalls and attractions include a cupcake workshop (prior booking essential), a drumming

CHANGING FACES EAST MIDLANDS Judi Perry is the new regional coordinator.

She focuses on media, campaigns and youth work. She graduated from Loughborough University last summer having volunteered for Christian Aid during her final year.

Martin Gage is the new legacies and regional coordinator. He focuses on legacies, specialist volunteers and looking after Christian Aid groups. He

workshop (prior booking or on the day), face painting, bouncy castle, cake stalls, refreshments and Mehndi hand designs.

For more details, to bring a stall or to book into a workshop, contact the Birmingham office on 0121 200 2283, birmingham@ christian-aid.org MONDAY 16-FRIDAY 20 MAY Busking, Birmingham city centre 12 noon-2pm.

Calling all musicians, poets, actors and artists – come and show off your talent and entertain shoppers while raising money for Christian Aid Week.

For more details, contact the Birmingham office, as above.

SATURDAY 21 MAY Children’s Buskathon 11am-4pm, Birmingham city centre.

For the second year running West Midlands’ kids show how talented they are. Hear solo and group performers play folk songs, jazz pieces and classical.

For more details, contact the Birmingham office, as above.

FRIDAY 3 JUNE Musical cheese and wine evening 7-9pm, Clifford Parish Hall, Clifford, Herefordshire.

Enjoy a selection of music and hear an inspiring story of change in rural Bolivia. £5 entry with a glass of Fairtrade wine or juice.

For details and to book, call the Birmingham office, as above.

was previously a consultant for the voluntary sector in Leicestershire.

WEST MIDLANDS Alison Linwood is the new legacies and regional coordinator. She previously worked as Scotland’s major gifts officer.

Charlotte Marshall has taken a secondment as Middle East communications officer based in London. Anna Burden is acting as regional manager in her place for a year.

SATURDAY 11 JUNE, SUNDAY 12 JUNE Feast of Life 7.30pm (Saturday), 6pm (Sunday), Ludlow Methodist Church.

A Christian Aid musical by Garth Hewitt and Paul Field.

For details, contact Bernard Morgan on 01584 819971, or email hilary&bernard@ btinternet.com EAST OF ENGLAND SATURDAY 7 MAY Fun run 11.30am-1.30pm, field next to Christ Church, Moreton Hall.

Get sponsored for as many laps as you can. Barbecue for all afterwards, walkers eat free.

Booking forms from Christ Church, on 01284 725391 or worship@ccmh.org.uk FRIDAY 10 JUNE-SUNDAY 12 JUNE Celebrate Norfolk The Forum, Norwich.

Learn about Christian Aid’s latest work at this free celebration of Christian organisations.

For details, contact Eldred Willey, 01603 620051.

TBA Canoeing on the River Stour 10.30am start, Sudbury, 2.30pm finish at Bures. Entry £15, participants must be over 18 and are encouraged to raise at least £100 in sponsorship. No previous experience of boating required.

Contact Eldred Willey, as above, for date and other details.

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EVENTS IN NORTH ENGLAND For information, contact Janet Bryer on 01609 773620, or email janet.bryer@btinternet.com WEDNESDAY 4 MAY Bishops to Baristas 10-11am, Esquires in Silver Street, Durham, and Eldon Square, Newcastle.

Come and join Bishop Mark Bryant or Bishop Frank White who will be learning new skills and serving coffee to raise the profile of Christian Aid Week.

See story, left.

WEDNESDAY 4 MAY Preaching in Christian Aid Week workshop 2pm-4pm, Leeds centre.

Introduction to the stories and worship for Christian Aid Week.

To book, contact Lindsey Pearson on 0113 2444764 or email lpearson@christian-aid.org SATURDAY 7 MAY Humber Bridge Cross sponsored walk 2pm, Hessle Country Park.

Contact Gill Dalby on 01482 504203 or email gilldalby@ gilldalby.karoo.co.uk SUNDAY 8 MAY Sheffield Half-Marathon Run for Christian Aid. For runners’ vests and sponsorship forms, contact the events and fundraising team on email events@christian-aid.org THURSDAY 12 MAY, FRIDAY 13 MAY Plant sale St Edward the Confessor Church, Dringhouses, York.

Refreshments and light lunches available. Contact Jennifer Simpson on 01904 705809.

SATURDAY 14 MAY Morley sponsored walk Temple Newsam Park, Leeds.

A 4¼- or 6½-mile walk. Contact Hazel Rennison on 0113 2535107, or email msr52@hotmail.co.uk

SATURDAY 14 MAY Ryedale Christian Aid concert 7.30pm, Salvation Army Citadel, Norton. Tickets on the door, £5, including refreshments. Children free. Rock, pop, classical, folk.

Further details from Eddie James, on 01944 758807, or email eddieandwendyjames@ phonecoop.coop SATURDAY 14 MAY Scarborough Christian Aid concert 7pm, Westborough Methodist Church.

Programme includes Rev Mike Leigh, Chris Wright, Mark Haynes, Frank James, and St Peter’s RC Primary School choir.

Contact David Bridge on 01723 362091 or email davidgarner bridge@googlemail.com SATURDAY 14 MAY A Transport of Delight 7.30pm, Memorial Hall, Kirkbymoorside.

The music of Flanders and Swann, plus a little Gershwin.

SATURDAY 14 MAY Westerhope plant sale extraordinaire 10am, Westerhope Methodist Church, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Plants, coffee, cake stall, books and crafts.

SUNDAY 15 MAY Scarborough Christian Aid sponsored walk 1.45pm, St Michael’s Church, Filey Road. Enjoy spectacular views along the cliff to St Mary’s Church on the castle headland, returning along the seafront.

Contact David Bridge, as above.

MONDAY 16 MAY – FRIDAY 20 MAY North west and Yorkshire Christian Aid Trans Pennine Trail sponsored bike ride Join us for all or part of a day.

See story, left. North west: contact Dave, on 01925 582820,

or email dhardman@christianaid.org. Yorkshire: contact Steph on or 0113 2444764, or email scooper@christian-aid.org MONDAY 16 MAYSATURDAY 21 MAY Wooler Christian Aid shop Wooler, Northumberland.

Contact the Newcastle office for details.

TUESDAY 17 MAYSATURDAY 21 MAY Cake stall 10am-4pm daily, Boyes Store, Queen Street, Scarborough.

Supplied with cakes and goodies from Scarborough’s 30 churches.

Contact David Bridge, as above.

SATURDAY 21 MAY Busk Aid Sheffield City Centre Buskers and collectors needed!

For more details, contact Alison Trezise on 0114 236 5938.

SATURDAY 21 MAY Brazilian Soul Night for Christian Aid Week 6.30pm-midnight, Northumberland Hall, Alnwick, Northumberland.

Dance to samba and salsa music.

FRIDAY 10 JUNE Barn dance 7.30-11pm, St Andrew’s Hall, Morley.

Contact: Hazel Rennison on 0113 2535107, or email msr52@ hotmail.co.uk SATURDAY 18 JUNE Coffee morning 8.30am–12 noon, Richmond Town Hall.

More information from Judith Barber on 01748 824656.

SUNDAY 19 JUNE Band Praise concert 6pm, St Oswald’s Guiseley, Leeds.

With Guiseley Brass Band.

Contact Alison Lockwood on 0113 250 8460 or email alisonlockwood@yahoo.co.uk.

SATURDAY 25 JUNE One Summer Knight 6-10pm, Camelot Theme Park An evening of fun and challenge for young people and youth groups. The event is cosponsored by Christian Aid. Tickets from urbansaints.org/ onesummerknight SATURDAY 2 JULY Sheffield Night Hike A 17-mile sponsored walk from Lodge Moor. To register, go to sheffieldnighthike.org.uk or contact Alex Jones on 0113 2444764, or email ajones@ christian-aid.org saturDAY 2 JULY Voices in Harmony 7pm, St James’ and St Basil’s Church, Fenham Hall Drive, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 9UU. Newcastle Male Chorus and the Gibside Singers present a varied programme of choral music. £8. wednesDAY 6 JULY Northwest volunteers’ and supporters’ thank-you day For more details, contact the Warrington office.

FRIDAY 8 JULY–SATURDAY 10 JULY Spree North at Bramhope near Leeds An action-packed weekend for young people and youth groups.

Contact spreenorth@sky.com or call 07740 432570.

Christian Aid in the north east can now provide articles for church newsletters or pew sheets. We aim to produce regularly articles on themes relating to our work, such as information about a forthcoming event or an analysis of current issues affecting people living in poverty. To sign up for this free service, please contact the Newcastle office on 0191 228 0115, or email newcastle@ christian-aid.org

If you would like us to include your event in the next edition of Christian Aid News please contact your local office

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FASHION SHOW WITH A DIFFERENCE Get involved

Volunteers who were involved in Christian Aid’s Platform2 youth programme organised an ethical and Fairtrade fashion show in Glasgow city centre in February to coincide with Fairtrade Fortnight. The event was organised to raise awareness following their time spent volunteering overseas, and was supported by a range of ethical fashion designers and retail outlets from across Scotland. If you would be interested in organising an event like this, contact Matt Grady on 0141 241 6133.

EVENTS IN SCOTLAND SATURDAY 9 APRIL Johnstone book sale and coffee morning 10.30am-12 noon, Johnstone Town Hall, Johnstone PA5 8EG. For more information, contact the sale coordinator, Christine Dale on 01505 702729.

WEDNESDAY 13 APRIL Stop Climate Chaos Scotland online debate For details of this event featuring senior politicians, see the events section of christianaid.org.uk/ scottishelections2011 or call campaigns officer Diane Green on 0141 241 6136.

SATURDAY 16 APRIL Merrylea book sale and café 10am-3pm, Merrylea Parish Church, 78-80 Merrylee Road, Glasgow G43 2QZ. For more information, email sale organiser Gordon Herbertson

at merryleabooksale@hotmail. co.uk SATURDAY 23 APRILSATURDAY 18 JUNE Sponsored walks 2011 The Scottish sponsored walk season begins with the Tay Bridge Cross and ends with the Cumbrae Challenge. Dates are: Saturday 23 April – Tay Bridge Cross, 2pm Saturday 30 April – Forth Bridge Cross, 2pm Saturday 7 May – Erskine Bridge Cross, 2pm Sunday 15 May – Crombie Country Park Walk, 2pm Saturday 21 May – Ninian’s Walk, 10am Saturday 18 June – Cumbrae Challenge, 10am For details and sponsorship packs, please contact Amy Corcoran, on 0141 241 6138 or visit christianaid.org.uk/walks

ARE YOU OR your congregation or community group passionate about ending poverty? Use the Scottish elections to help raise awareness of the issues affecting developing countries so that politicians are primed and ready to take action.

There are many ways you can get involved, and the Christian Aid Scottish Elections 2011 website christianaid.org. uk/scottishelections2011 provides a range of resources and ideas to help you. Could you organise an election hustings or invite your candidates along to one of your coffee mornings? What about taking a look at our manifesto and writing a letter to your candidates?

If you don’t have internet access, Christian Aid Scotland’s Campaign Officer, Diane Green, will be happy to help if you give her a call on 0141 241 6136.

SATURDAY 7 MAY, MONDAY 9 MAY-SATURDAY 14 MAY Queen’s Cross Church biannual book sale 10am-4pm, Queen’s Cross Church, Albyn Place, Aberdeen AB10 1YN. For more information, contact Elizabeth Ferguson on 01224 315949.

SATURDAY 28 MAY Morningside and Fairmilehead Christian Aid Group’s annual Spring Fair 10am-2.30pm, Morningside Parish Church Halls, Cluny Gardens/Braid Road, Edinburgh EH10 6DN. For more details, contact the church office on 0131 447 6745.

SATURDAY 14 MAY-FRIDAY 20 MAY Holy Corner Churches’ Christian Aid Week book sale Morningside United Church, 15 Chamberlain Road, Edinburgh EH10 4DJ. Now in the main church, Holy Corner’s Book Sale will be bigger and better than ever before.

Saturday 14 May, 10am-4pm; Monday 16-Friday 20 May, 12 noon-6pm; Saturday 21 May, 10am-4pm. Closed Sunday 15 May.

SUNDAY 29 MAY Fundraising football match 7pm, Falkirk FC Stadium, Westfield, Falkirk FK2 9DX. Tickets are £10 and £7. £1 from every ticket sold will be donated to various charities including Christian Aid. For details, contact Amy Corcoran, as above, or Thomas Harry on 07929 058685.

For an up-to-date listing of events in Scotland, see christianaid.org.uk/scotland/ whats-happening-near-you.aspx

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Regional news and events in London, Essex, Surrey, Kent and Sussex

CAKE AID! Christian Aid Week 15-21 May IF YOU’RE LOOKING for some fundraising inspiration this Christian Aid Week, here’s one suggestion that we think should catch on!

Dave Clarke’s workplace Christian Union decided to hold a cake sale at work last Christian Aid Week as they wanted to support Christian Aid and also highlight the role Christians play in relieving poverty. Members either bought or baked cakes

and after sending an email with the subject line reading CAKE! they loaded up a trolley and visited everyone’s desks. They had two cake runs during the day in their main office and one in a neighbouring office. Dave told us: ‘We raised £430 for Christian Aid’s work. But it wasn’t just about financial success – we had a good level of engagement with people, who were happy to be served in such a way and it initiated several conversations in response to the leaflets we had about our Christian Union.’

If you would like to follow this great example, then we would love to know about it. We would also be happy to arrange for a speaker to visit your group or send you some resources to help publicise your event.

EVENTS SATURDAY 14 MAYSUNDAY 22 MAY Christian Aid cathedral tour Canterbury Cathedral The display includes a stunning new sculpture by British artist Mel Howse and a photo exhibition featuring the work of some of Christian Aid’s partners.

SATURDAY 14 MAY Alfriston sponsored walk Join Christian Aid supporters in Alfriston, Sussex, as they ‘Beat the Bounds’ of St Andrew’s parish boundary. The walk is split into three convenient sections so you can do part or all of the walk: Section 1 (4.5 miles) starting at 9am Section 2 (3.25 miles) starting at 11.40am. Lunch from 1.15-2pm Section 3 (4 miles) at 2pm Walkers can learn about the historical features of the area and will be accompanied by a National Trust Warden for part of the walk.

For more details, contact Laurie Walker on 01323 870833 or email L.walker456@btinternet.com SATURDAY 14 MAY Heathfield (Cuckoo Trail) sponsored walk 9.30am, car park, Station Road, Heathfield.

The Heathfield and District Christian Aid Committee is organising a sponsored walk

along the Cuckoo Trail, from Heathfield to Horam (or further if you wish) and back. If you only wish to walk to Horam, a lift will be available from the car park at the Horam end back to Heathfield (for a small donation).

daily from 2-5pm and later (to 8pm) by arrangement. Entry is free. As well as being a fantastic opportunity to purchase some unique artwork, this exhibition raises a lot of money for Christian Aid – almost £2,500 last year.

SUNDAY 22 MAY Circle the City 2011 sponsored walk Christian Aid takes you on a journey past some of London’s most prestigious sites (including St Paul’s Cathedral and the Royal Courts of Justice), while you explore beautiful churches (including the Royal Air Force church St Clement Danes), and collect stories of Christian Aid’s work around the world. Choose between a 6 or 8.5 km stroll.

Children are welcome: face painters and entertainment provided! To register, visit christian-aid.org.uk/walk

MONDAY 6 JUNESUNDAY 12 JUNE Pentecost Festival Once again, Christian Aid is involved in this amazing arts and cultural festival in London, which is open to all people of faith and people of no faith, to young and old, the serious and comedic! We have several activities in the pipeline including a House of Commons seminar, a Westminster flash mob and a sports zone activity in Trafalgar Square.

For more information, see pentecostfestival.co.uk/

SUNDAY 29 MAYSATURDAY 4 JUNE St John’s Wood art exhibition 2-5pm daily, St John’s Wood Church Hall, Lord’s Roundabout, London NW8.

Now in its 33rd year, the St John’s Wood art exhibition (right) has become a local institution. The art is provided by amateur and professional artists and features oils, watercolours, ceramics, photography and textiles. The exhibition is open

WEDNESDAY 15 JUNE Christian Aid Week thank you and evaluation

From 3.30pm, Interchurch House, 35-41 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7RL. If you’ve been involved in Christian Aid Week, we’d like to say thank you and hear what you thought about the resources.

There will be two separate evaluation meetings with thank-you tea and cake and an opportunity to meet other Christian Aid supporters and staff in between. If you can join us for either evaluation meeting or for the tea then we would love to see you. Please let us know if you are able to attend.

3.30-5pm for first evaluation meeting 5-6pm for thank-you tea 6-7.30pm for second evaluation meeting For more information about any of the events, or to book a place, please email Lse@christian-aid. org or phone 020 7523 2105 (for Essex, Kent and Sussex) or 020 7523 2321 (for Greater London and Surrey).

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SUPPORTERS IN PAIGNTON recently got together for the sixth year in a row to sit in silence for two hours! The sponsored silence was held at Goodrington Methodist Church, where some read, some wrote, some meditated and some sewed, but all did so in silence while details of Christian Aid’s work around the world was shown (silently!) on a screen.

Over the years, the sponsored silence has raised more than £7,000. For further information on how you can be involved in this event or events in the local area, contact the Southampton office.

■ Daphne Tomlinson (harp) and Angelika Roth (flute) from Nailsworth will be busking in Cheltenham, Gloucester, Bath and Bristol during Christian Aid Week

YOUR LOCAL OFFICE BRISTOL OFFICE (Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire) 57 High Street, Thornbury, Bristol BS35 2AP 01454 415 923 west@christian-aid.org facebook.com/ ChristianAidWest SOUTHAMPTON OFFICE (Channel Isles, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight) 106 Shirley High Street, Southampton SO16 4FB 02380 706969 southwest@christian-aid.org

GLYN RUNS TO THE ROOF OF AFRICA THIS CHRISTIAN AID WEEK we are looking forward to another visit from Cathy Riley, Christian Aid’s country manager for Ethiopia.

She and her husband Glyn come from Chew Magna in Somerset and Cathy will be speaking in her local church and to local media during her visit to support our fundraising efforts.

But it was Glyn who took centre stage in February when he ran the Kilimanjaro marathon in a personal best of 4 hours 3 minutes, raising £634 for Christian Aid. This was no ordinary marathon – if such a thing exists – as it was run at 1,200m above sea level and conditions were not easy.

Cathy Riley

Silence is golden

EVENTS IN SOUTH AND WEST FRIDAY 8 APRIL Brixham Lent lunch 12 noon–1.30pm, Christian Community Centre, 24 Fore Street, Brixham.

Lunches will be held every Friday during Lent.

For details, contact southwest@ christian-aid.org or 02380 706969 WEDNESDAY 13 APRIL Backwell partnership scheme Lent lunch 12.30pm, St Andrew’s Church, Church Lane, Backwell.

Lent lunch in aid of fundraising partnership with ZimPro, Zimbabwe.

For details, contact Gill Alexander on 01454 415923, or email galexander@christianaid.org SATURDAY 14 MAY Bournemouth and Poole sponsored walk Start between 8.30am and 12 noon, Bournemouth and Poole seafront.

For details, contact southwest@ christian-aid.org or 02380 706969 SATURDAY 14 MAY Pill and district Christian Aid Week sale 11.30am-1.30pm, St George’s Hall and Scout Hut, Church

Road, Easton-in-Gordano.

Books, plants, lunches and cakes.

For details, contact Gill Alexander, as before.

SATURDAY 14 MAY Christian Aid Week coffee, lunches and stalls Christian Community Centre, 24 Fore Street, Brixham.

Also on Saturday 21 May. For details, contact southwest@ christian-aid.org or 02380 706969 MONDAY 16 MAYFRIDAY 20 MAY Gloucestershire Christian Aid Week ‘shops’ ‘Shops’ in churches and halls around the county, including Newent, Painswick, Nailsworth and Wotton-under-Edge. Books, plants, cakes, lunches and so on.

For details, contact Nigel Quarrell on 01454 415923, or email nquarrell@christianaid.org SATURDAY 21 MAY Newton Abbot sponsored walk Newton Abbot Racecourse, Kingsteignton Walk up to 10 miles in memory of Sydney Williams who organised and took part in the walk for 42 years.

For details, contact Helen Burgess on 01395 222 304 or visit christianaid.org.uk/walk SATURDAY 21 MAY Redland Park Christian Aid Week sale Redland Park United Reformed Church, Whiteladies Road, Bristol.

Books, plants, bric-a-brac and cakes.

For more details, contact Gill Alexander on 01454 415923, or email galexander@christianaid.org WEDNESDAY 15 JUNE Ecclesiastical Insurance sponsored abseil St Barnabas Church, Stroud Road, Gloucester.

Ecclesiastical Insurance staff and Christian Aid supporters will abseil 100 feet down the church tower (see story, left).

Funds raised by the staff will be matched by the company.

You too can take on the challenge for just £15 registration fee and a minimum of £30 sponsorship.

For details, contact Helen Burgess on 01395 222304 or visit christianaid.org.uk/abseil

Christian Aid News 29

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EVENTS IN WALES – DIGWYDDIADAU YNG NGHYMRU NOS WENER 8-DYDD SADWRN 9 EBRILL Cynhadledd Newid Hinsawdd Berea Newydd, Glanadda, Bangor LL57 2AX. Trefnir gan UAC, EBC, UBC a Cymorth Cristnogol Siaradwyr yn cynnwys: Mohamed Adow, Staff Cymorth Cristnogol yn Kenya.

Manylion ar caerdydd@cymorthcristnogol.org neu 029 2084 4646 FRIDAY 8-SATURDAY 9 APRIL Climate change conference Berea Newydd, Glanadda, Bangor LL57 2AX. Organised by UWI, PCW, UBC and Christian Aid. Speakers include: Mohamed Adow, Christian Aid’s Senior Advisor Global Advocacy and Alliances, Kenya.

For details, contact cardiff@ christian-aid.org or 029 2084 4646 THURSDAY 14 APRIL International dinner 7.30pm at Chepstow Methodist Church, Albion St, Chepstow.

A meal with an international menu to promote Christian Aid Week in Chepstow.

For details, contact catephillips@02.co.uk or on 01291 624260

FRIDAY 15 APRIL Bread and soup lunch 12 noon–1.30pm English Presbyterian Church, Ruthin.

Christian Aid Week materials will be available to collect.

For details, contact bangor@ christian-aid.org or 01248 353574 THURSDAY 21 APRIL Coffee, cake and soup The Bishop Bevan Hall, Brecon A Christian Aid coffee morning with cake stall. Soup and bread lunch to follow.

For details, contact Dafydd Jones on 01874 625862 WEDNESDAY 11 MAY Welsh-themed evening 7pm, Bailey St Uniting Church, Brynmawr.

An evening of Welsh food and traditional items in support of Christian Aid Week.

For details, contact Rev Linda Price on 01873 831841 SATURDAY 14 MAY Brecon Beacons Christian Aid Week sponsored walk 9.30am start at Llangorse Lake, near Brecon.

A 10-mile walk through beautiful countryside.

For details, contact Dafydd Jones, as above.

Distant cousins join to pedal for the poor TWO NORTH-WALES WOMEN, who became friends and then discovered they were related, will be taking part in a Christian Aid challenge event, the London to Paris Bike Ride in July.

Nan Hughes from Rhuddlan and Jean Williams from Llanddulais became friendly five years ago, but while tracing her family tree Nan realised that she and Jean shared the same great-great-grandparents.

Nan has been a keen cyclist every since she can remember, ‘As children we shared a bike between seven of us.’

She has been riding for charity for the past 10 years. Her journeys include Glasgow to London and a fortnight cycling around Lesotho to raise money for schools and hospitals.

This is her first cycle ride for Christian Aid, but she has been supporting us for many years through her local church,

SATURDAY 14 MAY Cardiff Christian Aid Week plant sale 9.30am, Llanishen Baptist Church, Fidlas Road, Llanishen.

Now in its 32nd year. Choose from a wide range of plants and shrubs to brighten your garden and pots, before retiring to the church hall to browse the various stalls and enjoy a cuppa and light refreshments.

For details, contact Beryl Bisset on 029 2075 3056.

TUESDAY 17 MAY Christian Aid Week flag day Newtown, Powys Organised by the Newtown Christian Aid group For details, contact bangor@ christian-aid.org or 01248 353574.

WEDNESDAY 18 MAY Christian Aid Week tea party 2-4.30pm, Caerleon Town Hall, Church St, Caerleon.

For details, contact La Bessa Warren on 01633 423134.

GWENER 20 MAI Bore Coffi Wythnos Cymorth Cristnogol 10.00 tan 12.00yb yn Festri Capel Penlan, Pwllheli.

Manylion o bangor@cymorthcristnogol.org neu 01248 353574

FRIDAY 20 MAY Annual fancy dress walk and street collection Walking from Penrhys to Tonypandy in support of Christian Aid Week.

Organised by the Penrhys community Christian Aid committee.

For details, contact Sharon Rees on 01443 755654.

FRIDAY 20 MAY Christian Aid Week lunch 12 noon, the Salvation Army Hall, Pontypool.

For details, contact Doreen Richards-Clarke on 01495 764553.

FRIDAY 15 JULYSUNDAY 17 JULY Art for Africa 6-9pm (Friday); 10am-6pm (Saturday and Sunday) Bridges Community Centre, Drybridge Park, Monmouth NP25 5AS. This popular annual art sale for Christian Aid is moving to Monmouth town centre. This year we will be supporting food and water projects in Sierra Leone.

For details, contact 01600 715638 or 01600 860264.

Ebeneser Rhuddlan. ‘We raise money every year during Christian Aid Week,’ she said. ‘I know that it gets to where it is needed. I’m really looking forward to the trip and a bonus will be the chance to see the finale of the Tour de France.’

She recently celebrated her 70th birthday and asked her family and friends to sponsor her instead of giving presents, and she is well on her way to achieving her target of between £1,500 and £2,000.

Although Jean has ridden a bike since she was a child this will be her first charity bike ride. ‘I’m getting in as much practice as possible,’ she said. ‘I wanted to do this with Nan, but an interesting fact from the family tree was discovering that my great-grandfather went as a missionary to Africa. It seems right for me to take part in this ride.’

The London to Paris Bike Ride is between 20 and 24 July 2011.

For details of this and other challenge events, see page 26.

Christian Aid News 29

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LAST WORD A reflection on playing a part in the fight against poverty, and living life in the wider family of Christian Aid

‘CHRISTIAN AID WEEK IS LITERALLY OPENING DOORS’

Anyone who receives a Christian Aid Week collector’s kit this year will see this man – John Lane, for 15 years a collector in Sevenoaks, Kent – smiling up at them. Here John talks about his experiences and his delight at people’s continuing willingness to support our fight against poverty Christian Aid/Matthew Gonzalez Noda Christian Aid/Elaine Duigenan

AS THE PACE, the strain and the increasing demands of modern life get more hectic, it doesn’t get any easier to round up willing souls ready to trudge the streets in all weathers with a bagful of envelopes or stand on sentry duty with a bucket at a station watching people in a hurry rush by giving no more than an embarrassed glance in your direction.

But I have no doubt that being a collector during Christian Aid Week is one of the more rewarding experiences in my life and, I’m sure, for the tens of thousands who do likewise each year.

Of course, you do get the occasional person who won’t give because they don’t like us for reasons ranging from religion to the mistaken belief that the money they give might be diverted to buy arms, but I have found that the response on doorsteps has been overwhelmingly positive. Very often it is the people who appear to have less who will give more freely whereas many of those who have chosen to put up entrance gates and the like will not be so responsive. Funnily enough it’s sometimes the more evangelical Christians who are less likely to give because they don’t think we’re are evangelical enough. But I believe that Christian Aid Week is one of the biggest acts of Christian witness in the world.

After all, how many times do you see tens of thousands of people knocking on doors saying: ‘I am a Christian and I am collecting on behalf of Christian Aid, which is working to end poverty.’ It’s a powerful catalyst for our beliefs.

Whether door-to-door collections are financially the most effective form of

John Lane, out collecting last year in the streets of Sevenoaks

fundraising, I can’t really judge – but in terms of raising awareness it literally opens doors. And the personal touch is very important. It gives us a chance to talk about our work and for the people we meet to ask us about what we do.

Some of the most gratifying responses have actually been from children. Quite often when I am collecting, a child might open the door. I ask to speak to their parent who is duly summoned from a sofa somewhere in the depths of the house. But on several occasions the child has insisted on going upstairs to fetch their piggy bank to make their own contribution, often adding that they heard about Christian Aid Week at their school.

A great many factors influence people’s willingness to donate – from the recession to whether there has been a recent big disaster appeal. But it will be

especially interesting to see how people respond this year with finances being so tight for so many.

This year will be the first in many years that I have not been collecting at Sevenoaks station. My wife, Teresa, and I now live in Uckfield, East Sussex, and will be offering our services there, but I used to enjoy especially the station collection. You’d get a lot of people who didn’t want to stop, but many people would – again, children were always very kind, and the people who know you have to give as they’d be embarrassed not to.

But – and I think this applies equally to any occasion where you are collecting donations – as long as you don’t expect to get a response from every person you encounter, you will always be delighted when someone does give something.

Christian Aid Week 2011: 15-21 May

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Photo: Christian Aid/Paula Plaza

Look to the future

Lidia lives in a remote farming area in the highlands of Peru. The glaciers there are melting, and Lidia knows that the region faces increasing poverty as this supply of fresh water disappears. She is determined to protect her community’s future.

Christian Aid partner CEDAP has taught Lidia how to store water and use it efficiently, to irrigate crops and sustain pastureland for livestock. Lidia now teaches the techniques to others – in her own community and beyond.

You can also help to change the outcome for some of the poorest people of the world. A gift in your Will can help Christian Aid provide vital training so that communities can help themselves.

Please look to the future. Leave a legacy.

To find out more, phone Kerry on 0207 523 2173 or email ksherlock@christianaid.org

Say ‘on your bike!’ to poverty by cycling 360 miles through four countries in four days

London to Luxembourg bike ride Christian Aid/M Gonzalez-Noda

31 August – 4 September 2011

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PRAY www.caweek.org/praywithus

Sunday 15 May 2011 Join us in prayer Help people people in in poverty poverty out outof of poverty poverty

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