Christian Aid News 55 by Christian Aid

CHRISTIAN AID NEWS Issue 55

Spring 2012

christianaid.org.uk

• Can the world prevent a new famine in west Africa? • Two years on: how Haiti is rebuilding

OUR FUTURE IS IN OUR HANDS! This Christian Aid Week help communities worldwide to help themselves out of poverty

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overty Give p-around n the ru famous a with ic half scen on! h marat

BUPA GREAT NORTH RUN 16 September 2012

ROYAL PARKS HALF MARATHON 7 October 2012

Photo: Christian Aid

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CONTENTS Editor’s letter

F1988

Christian Aid News is printed on 100 per cent recycled paper

Christian Aid/Heidi Bradner

it’s not often that Christian Aid News comes with a ‘parental advisory’, but it may be necessary for a horrendous tale of how innocent men, women and children are being brutally abused by various armed forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Yet in this hellish environment, a handful of Christian Aid partners are managing to provide a lifeline to traumatised victims. From the horror of rape to the horror of hunger – we also report on the urgent need to stop a food crisis in west Africa from turning into a full-blown famine. But there is good news here too. Hope shines through our cover story this issue, focusing on stories that are helping to inspire staff and supporters ahead of Christian Aid Week 2012. The message from communities in Sierra Leone who are using resources and help provided by Christian Aid partners to lift themselves out of poverty is clear: ‘Give us the tools and we can help ourselves.’ Elsewhere, we have an update on reconstruction work in Haiti, and a report on how cash can be a ‘one-size-fits-all’ response to natural disasters. Roger Fulton, Editor

On a cassava farm in Gbap, Sierra Leone

REGULARS

■ 28 INPUT Your feedback.

■ 4 THE BIG PICTURE ■ 29 COMMENT

One telling image.

The case for foreign aid.

■ 6 NEWS How Haiti is rebuilding after the earthquake; appeal aids Philippines typhoon victims.

■ 30 LAST WORD A Christian Aid intern reports on her visit to Sierra Leone.

SPECIAL FEATURES

■ 12 campaigns Help us put tax and climate change on the G20 agenda.

■ 14 frontline ■ 22 LIFE AND SOUL Can you Live Below the Line? Plus, banking: the only way is ethics.

■ 24 YOUR CHRISTIAN AID Events and stories from your part of Britain.

■ 26 EVENTS Bike it! trek it! …and now row it or hotfoot it to raise funds for Christian Aid!

The food crisis in west Africa, and a shocking tale of sexual violence.

■ 18 LIFE AND SOUL SPECIAL: CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 2012 Our special feature looks at how a community in Sierra Leone is lifting itself out of poverty. Plus: a collector’s tale, and how you can help make our 2012 event a huge success.

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 March 2012. The acceptance of external advertising does not indicate endorsement. If you wish to receive this magazine digitally, go to digitalcan.christianaid.org.uk

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.

n Front cover Women working on a cassava plantation in Gbap, Sierra Leone. Photo: Christian Aid/Heidi Bradner n Pictures Joseph Cabon n Sub-editors Tomilola Ajayi, Carolyn Crawley, Louise Parfitt n Circulation Ben Hayward n Design and production Becca Higgins/Syon Publishing, Ojesh Singh/Syon Publishing, 020 8332 8407 n Christian Aid head office 35 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7RL n Tel 020 7620 4444 n Fax 020 7620 0719 n Email info@christian-aid.org n Online at christianaid.org.uk

Christian Aid/Heidi Bradner

THE BIG PICTURE

fishing for a better future 4 Christian Aid News

For the people of Mo-Albert in Sierra Leone, fishing is a way of life. It provides food for the families who make up this tiny riverside community, and – thanks to Christian Aid partner the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone (MCSL) – the fish being caught are now beginning to bring in a more substantial income. In 2011 MCSL provided the fishermen of the community with a large motorboat, allowing them to fish together as a group and to go much further out to sea. No longer required to fish alone in dugout canoes, the men can now help each other to bring in much larger hauls of fish from their longer fishing expeditions. The women of the community smoke the fish to sell at market and, thanks to a new smoking oven provided by MCSL, they now have a quicker and more efficient way of preserving their fish than the smoking huts they have traditionally used. The changes in Mo-Albert have been brought about by the community working together with MCSL’s help – and the benefits are being felt by everyone, from grandparents who have fished all their lives, to small children who are now getting enough to eat and have the promise of a brighter future. This Christian Aid Week, let’s give the tools to help people in poverty out of poverty. By taking part in a Christian Aid Week collection, event, or service, you can help families like Sugoa Beier’s fish their way to a better future. • See pages 18-23 for full Christian Aid Week coverage

Christian Aid News 5

NEWS

Many families in Haiti are still living in temporary shelters

haiti

separating fact from fiction When the earthquake struck Haiti, in January 2010, Christian Aidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sarah Wilson was among the first journalists into the country and reported on the huge challenges facing relief work being carried out by Christian Aid partners. She has returned several times to follow up on the reconstruction process, most recently in January Now that more than two years have passed since the devastating earthquake in Haiti, which claimed more than 300,000 lives, it is natural to take stock of what the reconstruction effort has achieved. If you believe the mainstream media, precious

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little has been accomplished and the millions raised in the UK and other rich countries to fund the relief effort have been largely wasted. That image, underpinned by a few carefully selected facts, sells newspapers precisely because it is so shocking. It is, however, not true. In particular, the aid effort has been criticised for failing to re-house everyone who lost their homes in the disaster. While it is true that an estimated 600,000 are still living in tent cities two years on, it is also the case that nearly double that number have been re-housed. Christian Aid realised very early on that building permanent, earthquake-resilient homes should be a priority for reconstruction and that allowed us to begin our building programme ahead of many other agencies. Because we had many partners who were already working in the countryside, and the Haitian

government wanted to try to resettle people outside of the capital, Port-auPrince, our partners focused their re-building programme in rural areas. So far, our partners have helped communities to build 160 permanent homes in the countryside with 426 more either under construction or in the pipeline. This is the sort of rebuilding that never gets reported in the mainstream media, because very few journalists are prepared to venture outside the capital. Several people I met said they had no desire to move back to Port-au-Prince and wanted to build a new life outside the city. The challenge for them was to find a sustainable way of earning a living. Christian Aid partners are helping in a variety of ways. People are receiving saplings to enable them to grow and sell coffee and fruit. One woman set up a small grocery shop; one man used a cash advance from a Christian Aid partner to buy a motorcycle that he uses as a taxi. But most have found it harder to earn a living outside the capital. However, lack of earning opportunities is only part of the reason why some people living in tents in the capital are reluctant to move out of them. Fears of corruption have made major institutional donors slow to release funds to Haiti. The Guardian has reported that, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;only 53 per cent of the nearly US$4.5bn pledged for reconstruction projects in 2010 and 2011 has been delivered.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Of the money that has been transferred to Haiti, only a tiny proportion has gone to the government. Thus, the Haitian government has a limited capacity to provide the level of health care, education and sanitation to communities in Port-au-Prince that are being provided by private agencies in the camps. There is currently a perverse incentive to stay in a camp even if you have a habitable home. International NGOs are not set up to rebuild cities. They can provide basic sanitation, health and education in the camps, but it is much harder to do the same in communities. That is the role of the government. The Haitian government does recognise this but its lack of funds means its capacity to provide such services is severely limited. Christian Aid, with its long-standing development programme in Haiti, has been better placed than many agencies to support people in the countryside and help them move out of tent cities into more sustainable communities.

New lives and new hope in Haiti Photos: Christian Aid/Sarah Wilson

When Dunois Fede lost his house near Lascahobas in the earthquake, he and his family of five were forced to live with other families in a church for months. Later they were given a tent, which was their home until Christian Aid partner the Support Group for Refugees and Repatriated Persons (GARR) built a new house for them. ‘I don’t call it a house,’ said Dunois, ‘I call it a palace. It is better constructed than my old house and I feel safer. My old house had a very poor roof and there was always water on the floor.’

Jocelyne Foreste has opened a small village shop on the front porch of the house built for her by GARR in the Lascahobas region of Haiti. She had gone to live in Port-au-Prince in 1981, hoping for a better life. When the earthquake struck, the house she was living in collapsed and with Port-auPrince in ruins, Jocelyne decided to move back to her home region. ‘It is hard to get by, but I wanted to make a new start here. It is where I grew up, so I know the area. GARR helped me with a little money to start this shop.’

Joseline Jean-Pierre lives with her fiveyear-old daughter, Paula Isabella, in a new community built on a hillside near Lascahobas for displaced Port-au-Prince residents. Joseline had been living with a man who was working at the Palais de Justice. When the earthquake struck, he was killed when it collapsed. Joseline knew people in Lascahobas, so she and her daughter lived in a tent there for 18 months. In September they moved into a new house built by GARR. Last year, GARR also paid the fees for her daughter to go to school.

Building back better: slowly but surely In the two years since the Haiti earthquake, Christian Aid and its ACT Alliance partner the Church World Service (CWS) have been working to help the victims rebuild their lives and plan for the future. Working exclusively through local partner organisations, and collaborating with government ministries where possible, Christian Aid and CWS have provided direct support to almost 70,000 people whose lives and livelihoods were shattered. During the past year our emergency programmes shifted from emergency response towards longer-term goals, reflecting lessons learnt from the 2004 tsunami programme that recommended combining livelihoods projects with

permanent shelter programmes. The livelihoods of almost 9,000 people have been supported by Christian Aid in a variety of ways, from provision of livestock, seeds, tools and training, to cash grants to help people start small businesses. Access to shelter was improved and the Haitian government’s strategy of decentralisation was supported by Christian Aid, helping the displaced to settle outside Port-auPrince. In rural areas, 160 hurricane- and earthquake-resistant houses were built or rehabilitated. In 2012, accountable governance will be a key theme of our work with civil society organisations, alongside projects to help 400 households get permanent

shelter and support more than 4,000 individuals to rebuild their livelihoods. More than 5,000 people will receive training in gender-based violence protection and disaster risk reduction. The work of CWS will include repairing five major buildings, including schools, and supporting more than 500 people with disabilities. To view a short film about Haiti, go to christianaid.org.uk/haiti-homes

NEWS Reuters/Erik de Castro, courtesy alertnet.org

Philippines

Typhoon victims rest in temporary shelters

Cash: the flexible friend for disaster victims Cash handouts are helping Christian Aid to respond more effectively to communities’ varying needs after a disaster, such as the Haiti earthquake or the recent typhoon in the Philippines In the aftermath of a disaster, all families find themselves in need. The problem for agencies such as Christian Aid is that these needs are never uniform – and so we have to find ways of meeting this diversity. Traditional responses include the obvious and the tangible: from rice, cooking oil and pulses to replacement pots, pans and plastic sheeting. Urgency often necessitates a ‘one size fits all’ response; each family in a community affected by a disaster receives the same, regardless of its individual needs. But

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with a more imaginative approach, relief efforts can meet the varied and precise needs of each individual family. One solution increasingly being used by Christian Aid’s humanitarian team has been to provide cash to families in emergency situations. The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a notable example. Initial assessments highlighted the enormous range in needs – from food to shelter materials and small business supplies – but there were huge logistical challenges in sourcing and distributing items. So,

just two weeks after the quake, partners were distributing cash to families, following guidance from Christian Aid of US$26 per person per month. The advantages of this kind of humanitarian response were considerable: giving people dignity, and putting the direction of recovery and decision-making power directly into the hands of affected families. The speed of the response was significant, and families could choose what they needed to buy from their neighbourhood market stalls that continued to function after the earthquake. Money entered the local economy once more, and there was a sense of life returning to normal.

Typhoon appeal brings aid to 10,000 increasing the power of the floods downstream. Linda Tiongco, Christian Aid’s north west regional manager, was in the Philippines on holiday visiting her husband when Washi struck. ‘I drove over a bridge and saw the river banks overflowing into shanty towns. Soon after there was absolutely no sign that people had ever lived there. Just mud and debris, logs and even container vans littering the area.’ The floods destroyed farms and trees, and wiped out crops. Most affected were day labourers working off the land; the floods wiped out their jobs at the same time. Christian Aid is distributing seedlings to grow corn, bananas, and coconuts, so these communities can start making money to feed their families again. ‘It is important not to lose sight of the factors that are increasing people’s vulnerability in the first place. Christian Aid’s network of partners continue to

When floods swept through the Indian state of Orissa at the end of 2011, submerging 2,600 villages, Christian Aid partner VICALP decided to provide cash and vouchers, rather than physical relief items, to families in one of the worst affected districts, Jajpur. The local markets were fully functioning, and with no need to manage the logistical movement of relief items, the money got to the hands of those in need speedily and efficiently. It was distributed to the community in a day, and spent by the recipients within a day or two. By distributing cash and vouchers, not only were the immediate needs of the community met (such as purchasing food or materials to repair their homes), but the programme supported the early recovery of their diverse livelihoods, from the farmers who grew dal or rice, to the fishermen along the coast.

As with Haiti, the greatest success of this response was that it provided dignity and empowerment, respecting that the choice of the most essential need is made at household level. After Typhoon Washi in the Philippines (see story above) Christian Aid partner Unlad Kabayan distributed cash to families in the city of Iligan who suffered loss and damage to their homes. Christian Aid’s head of Humanitarian

campaign for safer logging and mining practices,’ added Linda. Partners are also rebuilding villages, making buildings more resilient to floods. The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Frequent extreme weather events exact a high death toll and economic losses. Around 20 cyclones batter the country year after year, making floods inevitable in certain areas. Christian Aid will be working with communities to reduce risk in the future, through education on disaster reduction and the effects of climate change, and developing evacuation plans. This includes introducing early warning systems, such as a system of loudspeakers or two-way radios, and a network of trained hazard watchers to alert communities when villages are at risk. These have been successfully introduced elsewhere in the Philippines. We will keep you updated on this in future editions of Christian Aid News.

Division Nick Guttmann said: ‘In doing follow-up monitoring visits it has been really encouraging to see how well the cash is being used, and the diversity and appropriateness of the ways families are using it.’ Christian Aid can never meet the entire individual needs of every individual family, but this response offers them the chance to move quickly from emergency to recovery.

Photo: Unlad Khabayan

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TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE remain homeless in the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Washi, which devastated the island of Mindanao in December. More than 1,200 lives were lost in the flooding that followed. When the typhoon struck, Christian Aid launched an appeal, which raised more than £250,000 to help those affected. ‘We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to make a donation,’ said Ted Bonpin, Christian Aid’s country manager for the Philippines. ‘Thanks to this generosity, Christian Aid and its partners have reached more than 10,000 survivors with food and other items such as blankets, emergency cash and school materials.’ Logging and mining activities in the basin areas of the Cagayan de Oro and Mandulog Rivers have been blamed for the severity of the flooding. Debris from such activities is said to have impeded the flow of water along natural waterways, creating a dam effect and

The aftermath of Typhoon Washi in the Philippines

06/03/2012 15:19

NEWS East africa

Famine ‘over’ but food crisis remains Although the United Nations recently declared Somalia’s famine officially over, 2.3 million people – or a staggering 31 per cent of the country’s population – remain locked in the worst food crisis they have experienced for decades. In the east and horn of Africa as a whole, 9.5 million men, women and children still need urgent humanitarian aid and long-term assistance to help overcome the challenges they are facing. A combination of drought, displacement, the driest conditions in 60 years in some areas, and spiralling global food prices left more than 13 million people in Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Somalia in desperate need of support in 2011. However, with the long-awaited arrival of rains late last year, the situation is gradually improving and Christian Aid’s partners are continuing to address both the immediate and long-term needs of vulnerable communities in Kenya

and Ethiopia. By providing water tanks and food for animals early on during an emergency, alongside maintaining boreholes and providing farmers with training, tools and drought-tolerant seeds, we hope to build a strong and robust resilience to future crises. Christian Aid is also continuing to work through ACT Alliance partner Lutheran World Federation in Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya and Dollo Ado refugee camp in southern Ethiopia, including overseeing the administration of newly arrived refugees, and the provision of 200 latrines and safe drinking water for at least 20,000 refugees in the Dollo Ado camp. Christian Aid partners are also continuing emergency food, shelter and health response in Somalia and South Sudan, where ongoing conflict and regional insecurity continues to wreak havoc on the long-term food supplies of local families.

EGYPT

Cash-for-work scheme aids returning migrants With the Egyptian economy deteriorating following the uprising, Christian Aid partners are supporting the most vulnerable communities faced with growing poverty. ‘Extreme poverty and rising levels of unemployment in Egypt were exacerbated by the increased violence in neighbouring Libya, leading to Egyptian migrant workers returning to a job market that cannot absorb them,’ said Phoebe Aranki-Stoves, programme manager for the Middle East. Christian Aid partners Coptic Evangelical Organisation for Social

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Services (CEOSS) and Coptic Orthodox Church Bless responded with innovative cash-for-work projects and counselling for those who lost loved ones. Employing people for 10-15 days on projects identified by the communities, they can generate a small income, complete vital community work and reach the most vulnerable. ‘Children have lost parents; young people cannot find work and untrained women are thrust into the workplace for the first time. Our programmes are providing a path through troubled times,’ added Phoebe.

colombia

Award for community leader A Colombian community leader whose battle for land rights has been supported by Christian Aid partners, has been recognised by the British government for his tireless work on behalf of his community. The Human Rights Defender of the Month award conferred on Misael Payares by the British Embassy in Colombia is another small victory for the Las Pavas community in its struggle to remain on the land that it has farmed for many years. ‘It’s not gifts or handouts we’re asking for, it’s justice,’ said Misael. ‘If we have our land we can raise our children; with land we are free.’ In April 2011, the 123 families of Las Pavas won a constitutional court ruling granting the legal right for them to return to the land from which they had been forced off by Colombian riot police in 2009. Since that ruling there have been public attempts to discredit community members. But Misael and other leaders have continued to defend their rights. Recently, community leaders met with the Colombian president and had a visit from the national attorney general. The results of advocacy work by Christian Aid and our partner Programa de Desarrollo y Paz have helped to block attempts to delegitimise the community’s struggle. To read more, visit christianaid.org.uk/las-pavas-award

INTERNS GO THE EXTRA MILES FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE THROUGHOUT MARCH, TWO Christian Aid interns are taking part in an epic joint endurance challenge. Moses Tutesigensi from our Cardiff office, and Catherine Garsed from our Loughborough office will be making their way from Edinburgh to London – Moses running the route, while Catherine (known as Cat) is cycling. Their aims are to raise funds and awareness of our climate change message, which they plan to deliver to Downing Street. Both Cat and Moses have taken part in endurance events before. Cat has cycled from Lands End to John O’Groats, and Moses was part of a team that ran around the perimeter of Wales in four days! This challenge will be the biggest test yet of their physical and mental toughness. ‘It came about when we were kicking around different ideas about what we could do for Christian Aid,’ said Moses. ‘We settled on this journey, taking in virtually all the different regions where Christian Aid has offices.’ The venture kicked off in Edinburgh

on 12 March and is scheduled to end in London on 27 March. If you would like to follow Moses and Cat’s journey you can visit their twitter accounts (@MosesTT) and (@catgarsed), or log on to mapmyrun.com and search ‘mosestt’ to follow their route. To sponsor the pair, please visit justgiving.com/teams/ time4climatejustice

INDIA

Protest brings government response INDIAN GOVERNMENT MINISTERS have met with representatives of a Christian Aid partner campaigning for land rights in a move seen by activists as ‘encouraging’. In January, members of our partner Ekta Parishad, who are travelling across India for 13 months on a campaign for land rights and legal reform, were joined by the Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh and the Minister for Agriculture Charan Das Mahant. Activists say the visit represents a significant turning point in their Jan Satyagraha campaign, which aims to bring the voices and needs of millions of poor and marginalised Indians – mostly in rural areas – to the attention of the Indian national government and the global community. The ministers spent several hours with Ekta Parishad and key local activists who presented their concerns, their desire

for a comprehensive land reform policy that benefits poor and marginalised communities, and raised the issue of the government’s failure to act on the promises made following Janadesh, the 25,000-strong march for land rights and legal reform in 2007. Ekta Parishad’s President PV Rajagopal argued there is much that can be done to reduce poverty if only there was the political will. The establishment of a National Land Reform Committee was one of the main outcomes of the 2007 campaign and Mr Ramesh agreed to revisit the committee and its recommendations on how to create more equitable land reform policies. Ekta Parishad reports that though the ministers’ comments were met with mixed reactions from the gathered activists, all were hopeful that the discussions will lead to some of the key demands being addressed before the campaign’s climax in October.

Ekta Parishad’s journey is mobilising some 100,000 people to march for a month in October this year, 350km from Gwalior (near the Taj Mahal) to Delhi, for land rights and legal reform that could lift 400 million Indians out of poverty. To mark the campaign’s halfway stage, we are featuring new videos and articles on our website. See christianaid.org.uk/ india-march-for-justice

World Week of Peace From 28 May to 3 June, churches across the world will be praying and acting for peace and justice in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Initiated by the World Council of Churches, the week of peace offers a range of resources, including worship materials and service ideas to get your church involved. To download the resources please visit worldweekforpeace.org

Christian Aid News 11

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CAMPAIGNS

Christian Aid’s Helen Collinson hands in supporter action cards to the Embassy of Mexico to get tax justice on the G20 agenda

Over the past year tens of thousands of Christian Aid supporters have campaigned for our political leaders to dismantle unjust global systems and build a better world, free from poverty and inequality. We’ve shown that together we can have a real impact on government policy. This June, when David Cameron heads to the G20 in Mexico, we’re asking him to use this opportunity to tackle two major causes of global poverty today – climate change and tax dodging. Just south of Mexico, in Guatemala,

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seven-year-old Juan David Valladares Paz has experienced first-hand how climate change and tax dodging are keeping people in poverty. Juan’s world was turned upside down when a tropical storm engulfed his community. The damage caused was devastating, but for Juan his main memory is climbing a tree to see his house collapse into a floodwater river that hadn’t been there a week before. ‘I watched my house fall into the water’ says Juan. ‘It was breaking in half.’ Scientists agree that the storms that hit

• Please join us in calling on Prime Minister David Cameron to take this message to the G20 when he represents us there in June this year. You can take action at christianaid.org.uk/actnow or call 020 7523 2264 to order campaign postcards.

Christian Aid/Matthew Gonzalez-Noda

The G20 summit in Mexico in June provides a focus for world leaders to tackle the issues of climate change and tax dodging. Christian Aid is stepping up its campaign to get the UK government to make these a global priority – and you can help

Christian Aid/Hannah Richards

A global problem needs global leadership

this community on Guatemala’s Pacific coast are becoming stronger and more frequent, and that this is probably because of climate change. To make matters worse, Guatemala is being hit doubly hard by tax dodging, which is so widespread that the government doesn’t collect enough money to look after even the most basic needs of its poorest people. With the right resources, there are measures that can be put in place to prevent damage on this scale. Communities like Juan’s are lobbying for flood protection, and asking local government to clear and maintain riverways that could carry floodwater safely away. But because of low levels of tax collection and widespread corporate tax dodging, the Guatemalan government has struggled even to fund the national emergency warning system that saves people’s lives when disasters strike. The problems caused by tax dodging run even deeper. Fifty per cent of Guatemalan under-fives suffer from chronic malnutrition and many succumb to diseases that would be easy to prevent and treat – if only more money were available to the government. Christian Aid is calling on our leaders to commit to investing in clean energy for the world’s poor so that poor communities can develop without making climate change worse. And we need global action on tax havens and the companies that abuse them so that countries such as Guatemala can afford to protect their people and lift them out of poverty.

We must challenge companies on tax

The Bishop of Derby is a trustee of Christian Aid and a keen supporter of our Trace the Tax campaign

Churches up and down the country are becoming increasingly involved in Christian Aid’s tax campaign. The Rt Rev Dr Alastair Redfern, Bishop of Derby, reflects on what ‘Trace the Tax’ means to him John the Baptist advocated paying taxes (Luke 3:12-13). Jesus observed this discipline for St Peter and for himself. Any system of government requires funds for providing services and security for its citizens. One of the developments arising from the growth of democracy is that those who contribute to the common good have a voice in the establishment of priorities for spending the sums raised. As the demand for high-quality services such as education, health or transport increases, so there is a greater pressure on the public purse, especially when economic growth has become less robust. The result places more importance upon the discipline of contributing to the common good. But an age of globalisation has allowed companies to develop systems

of financial management that remove ‘profits’ from countries where goods are created, and place them in tax havens where tax rates are low. The company benefits but the producing country loses valuable resources for its common good. The Department for International Development (DFID) has confirmed its commitment to helping build the capacity of tax authorities in more than 15 countries and supports IMF endeavours to achieve similar results. The key area for Christian concern and action is in relation to large companies, who need to be challenged to be more transparent about policies and practices regarding payment of taxes, especially in relation to countries where their goods and services are produced. The common good includes all God’s children, and justice demands that large companies

Would you like to become a local lobbyist? This year we are looking to find supporters who are willing to meet their MPs to talk about issues affecting people living in poverty. Campaigns assistant Ralph Allen talked to Mary Stirling, one of our most committed local lobbyists Tell an MP that he or she is going to meet a local lobbyist and it’s unlikely Mary Stirling will be what they expect. Mary is 80, white-haired, polite and soft-spoken. But she’s as tenacious as they come. Mary lives in Argyll and Bute where her MP is the Liberal Democrat Alan Reid. She has been a local lobbyist for 10 years and in this time has fostered a very good relationship with her MP. ‘Direct contact with your MP is the best way to achieve change for the world’s poorest,’ she says. ‘Through our MPs the decision-

Mary Stirling with MP Alan Reid

makers in government can learn about the various campaigns Christian Aid organises.’ An important part of an MP’s role is to listen to the concerns of his or her constituents, whether these relate to local potholes or global poverty. Mary puts the quality of her relationship with Mr Reid down to the small size of her community and the fact that she’s built up the relationship over time. They now know each other very well – they have even had a meeting at Mary’s house over a cup of tea.

show a responsible attitude to their involvement in the communities that provide resources and labour to them. Christian Aid is a key player in promoting tax justice with its Trace the Tax campaign. I encourage you to get involved in this campaign to help poor countries collect the tax they are owed by taking action at christianaid.org.uk/tax

Mary regrets being unable to recruit more local lobbyists and thinks people might feel intimidated by the wealth of knowledge they think they must learn in order to talk to their MPs on these issues. Mary is quick to dispel such fears: ‘I would encourage anyone to sign up, and I would tell them what a great deal of help Christian Aid gives to us with briefing sheets for ourselves and a briefing for the MP that you can talk to him about.’ Local lobbyists are of great importance and value to Christian Aid’s campaigning work. They allow us to forge links with MPs and decision-makers throughout both the government and the opposition, and stalwarts like Mary have a great impact, not only in making MPs conscious of our campaigns, but by representing Christian Aid and bolstering our impact in the corridors of power. • To find out more about becoming a local lobbyist, call the campaigns team on 020 7523 2264 or email campaigns@ christian-aid.org

Christian Aid News 13

FRONTLINE

Photos: Christian Aid/Amanda Farrant

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

Can the world prevent another famine disaster in Africa? Humans and animals are competing for food in north-eastern Burkina Faso where drought and food shortages are pushing pastoralists to the edge, once again. Amanda Farrant reports

Five kilometres from the Mali border in north-eastern Burkina Faso, Elmamoune Ag Fereby Baye, village chief of Tin’Akoff, stares out across a sparse expanse of desert dotted with thorny bushes. He has been having trouble sleeping. ‘This is the worst it’s been since I have been chief,’ he says. ‘The only time I remember a similar situation was in 1973 when I was a child.’ The chief is talking about the current food situation in the Sahel region of west

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Africa. A perfect storm of failed rains, failed crops, drought, rising food prices and regional instability is heaping disaster on communities still struggling to get back to normal after the last food crisis two years ago. The mainly pastoralist households in this region regularly face food shortages – usually at the end of the dry season in May or June. This year the shortages have been pushing them to the brink as early as January. Elmamoune is also concerned about

the livestock. ‘If the animals are not good, we are not good. There is no grass for the animals to eat and the price of fodder has gone up. Without rains we have no harvest which means no food for the animals. And we can’t sell them because they are hungry and skinny.’ The situation is so severe that the most vulnerable families are in competition with the animals over ‘wild food’ such as the leaves of thorny bushes and the roots of lilies. These plants are usually fed to livestock in the late dry season. They are quite poisonous and cause skin problems in children. Also compounding the situation this

Main picture: Mother of two Fatumatou (centre) has resorted to feeding her children wild plants like lily roots. She explains, ‘We normally only feed these to our animals but the situation is so difficult that we are eating them ourselves. It’s all there is.’ Right: village chief Elmamoune Ag Fereby Baye

year has been the return of young men from turmoil-stricken Libya, Mali and Ivory Coast where they had been working to send money home. Extra mouths to feed on less food and money is adding pressure across communities. Villages in this remote northern region are also concerned that Malian refugees entering Burkina Faso with their livestock are adding to the pressure on food. One of the lessons drawn from last year’s emergency in east Africa was the need for earlier intervention to prevent the food crisis from becoming a famine. However, whether that lesson has been learned is still an open question: the EU estimates that US$724m is needed now to avert a severe food crisis in the Sahel this year, but governments have so far only pledged US$274m. ‘Governments need to respond very quickly if we are to avoid a situation like last year in the Horn of Africa when the international community only responded when the crisis had become very severe,’

says Cristina Ruiz, head of Christian Aid’s Africa emergency response team. ‘We are urging governments to commit a further US$450m now and ensure assistance reaches those in need quickly. National and local governments in the region are also requesting greater assistance from external donors to stop the current emergency from worsening.’ Timely intervention can mean millions suffer less and tens of thousands of lives are saved. It reduces the overall cost of the response in the long run and it reinforces recent gains made by many communities in building their ability to cope with drought and food shortages.

Building resilience: how it works How can communities facing increasingly severe and frequent crises become less dependent on relief and ultimately cope better in the long term? With support from the Department for International Development, Christian Aid has been working on a long-term programme to build community resilience in countries such

as Burkina Faso. Over the past four years, this has enabled communities to identify all the risks they face and come up with appropriate action plans to mitigate against the risks. Activities include those they can carry out themselves and those for which they need the support of local government or development

Christian Aid’s response Through its local partners, Christian Aid is responding in the most vulnerable areas of Burkina Faso and Mali. Our immediate response programme using funds remaining from the last food crisis appeal is providing food and cash transfers, cash-for-work programmes, nutrition support for under-fives, and provision of seeds and animal fodder for 400,000 people. To view a short film about the situation in Tin’Akoff, go to http://tinyurl.com/885estx To donate to Christian Aid’s emergencies fund, visit christianaid.org. uk/emergencies/areas-of-concern

organisations. By working in partnership in this way, communities get the right support at the right time to do the right things, which can help them become more resilient over time. In Zondoma province in northern Burkina Faso, Masbore village identified activities that would help them cope better with problems such as drought. These included organic composting, livestock breeding, fodder storage, mother-and-child nutrition training (left), market gardening for women and borehole construction. The process also empowered the community to ask the local government for a mother-andchild clinic and a new school. Christian Aid’s new three-year Programme Partnership Arrangement with DFID is enabling communities such as Masbore to build on this. However, while this community is managing to cope slightly better with current food shortages as a result, there is still a long way to go. Long-term support from governments and organisations such as Christian Aid is crucial.

Christian Aid News 15

FRONTLINE

Photos: Will Storr

Main picture: members of the sexual violence survivor support group sing on a Sunday morning. Opposite: Marie-Claire Mungualongiva Cidunda, raped by Rwandan ‘genocidieres’ as her husband and six children were killed; an anonymous Congolese refugee raped repeatedly as he tried to escape into Uganda; Pastor Lt Col Kubuta Aaron, a military chaplain who trains soldiers in their human rights responsibilities.

THE RAPE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD Sexual violence is all too common a feature of everyday life in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Africa editor Emma Pomfret visits Christian Aid partners that provide a lifeline for some of the most brutalised victims

16 Christian Aid News

Oblivious to the bustling world outside the darkened, dusty room in which she sits, a frail young woman wipes the constant stream of tears from her face with the edge of her brightly coloured wrap and stares blankly at the dilapidated straw roof. ‘I can’t see any future for me, my heart is broken into small pieces and I don’t think it can ever be repaired,’ whispers 35-year-old Mapendo M’Kata.

Mapendo was three months pregnant when she was brutally raped by three soldiers six weeks ago. She lost her unborn baby and was subsequently abandoned by her husband. She has four other small children to support and no job or home of her own. Later that day, 25-year-old Alice Cibalonza describes in hushed tones the day she was out buying cassava in Walungu Territory, South Kivu, when she

was abducted by 12 rebel militiamen. She was gang raped daily for 18 months and gave birth to two little boys in captivity as a result. ‘The two friends I was with that day were murdered straight away with machetes but I was taken and forced to live alone in the forest as a slave,’ Alice explains. ‘One night I somehow managed to escape with my babies, but I am so very ashamed; my family don’t want to know me now. I try to love my boys; they’re innocent, but I cry myself to sleep whenever I think about how they came into this world. What future do they have as the children of rapists?’ Tragically, Mapendo and Alice’s stories are not unusual in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), dubbed ‘the rape capital of the world’, where an estimated 30 per cent of women and 22 per cent of men have suffered sexual violence in the east’s volatile North and South Kivu regions alone. Both women are now being assisted by Christian Aid’s local partner SARCAF, which runs a vibrant women’s support group for survivors of rape and sexual violence in the beautiful lakeside city of Bukavu on the Rwanda-DRC border. The 40 or so women gathered here describe the charity as a genuine lifeline but the crisis of endemic rape runs deep into the fabric of society here. Innocent men, women and children continue to be brutally abused by Congolese armed forces (FARDC), extremist Rwandan FDLR, and various roving militia groups including the infamous Lord’s Resistance Army and indigenous Mai-Mai rebels. Fuelled by the country’s vast mineral wealth, with all sides taking advantage of the prevailing chaos and lawlessness to plunder natural resources, such groups jostle for control of the country’s abundant gold, copper and diamond mines, as well as the increasingly lucrative supply of coltan and cassiterite used in the international manufacture of mobile phones and laptops.

In recent years a horrifying upwards trend of civilian perpetrators has also emerged, demonstrating that the proliferation of sexual violence is starting to seep into every last layer of Congolese society. The prevalence of HIV is intensifying year-on-year, and most cases of rape in isolated areas go unreported with survivors often left with nowhere to turn for desperately needed treatment and support. This ongoing insecurity, which gives rise to systematic sexual violence, is itself the result of a long-term political crisis in the wider African Great Lakes region, with the DRC still struggling to recover from what has been called Africa’s ‘World War’ – a conflict in which an estimated 3-5 million people died between 1998 and 2003. Despite a peace deal and the formation of a transitional

The survivors who made it here are just the tip of the iceberg, and inside these men are dying government in 2003, people in the eastern regions of the country still live in constant fear of army and militia violence, which displaces thousands upon thousands of people every year, both internally and to surrounding countries. Indeed, just across the border in Kampala, Uganda, one such group of male Congolese refugees fleeing the violence in their home country sit quietly talking to a counsellor on the shady terrace of the Refugee Law Project (RLP), a long-term partner of Christian Aid, working to uphold the rights of the 200,000-strong refugee population in Uganda. Four years ago RLP’s British director, Dr Chris Dolan, realised that the problem of male rape might be dramatically underestimated when high numbers of Congolese men were arriving at the project with horrific sexual violence-

related injuries. Following a secret workshop on the issue, more and more victims began to come forward, and Dolan now estimates that the vast majority of male refugees who walk through the doors of RLP have been raped, either by army soldiers or rebel groups in eastern DRC. ‘The stigma surrounding male rape is enormous and it is almost impossible for men to admit what has happened to them. The survivors who made it here are just the tip of the iceberg, and inside these men are dying,’ he says. In 2009, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that a substantial proportion of general sexual violence in the DRC is committed by men in uniform, and in light of such findings Christian Aid set up a pilot scheme with church partner CBCA and the Congolese military to help stamp out army abuses through training and re-education of young recruits. However, the social and psychological effects on generations of people trapped in a country where rape and violence have become the norm are devastating and long-term. The only question I had as we left this beautiful but broken country is how much longer the world can simply look away while the heart-breaking human catastrophe in DRC continues to unfold.

• The BBC World Service travelled to Uganda and DRC with Christian Aid in February and a two-part documentary will be broadcast in early April. Christian Aid’s Africa editor Emma Pomfret has been shortlisted in two categories in the One World Media Awards. Her feature, The Rape of Men, which appeared in The Observer in July 2011 was nominated in the Popular Features and Press Award categories. Christian Aid’s Stigma under the Lens exhibition, featured in the last issue of Christian Aid News, was also nominated – in the New Media category.

Christian Aid News 17

LIFE AND SOUL SPECIAL

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK

CHRISTIAN AID W Fatmata Tucker, Mary Samuels, and Mariama Jabbie walk to the Gbap production group’s cassava farm, which is a short distance from the town across a swamp

ChristianAid/Heidi Bradner

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

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK

‘We have the power to change things now’ Christian Aid Week 2012, which takes place from 13-19 May, is about giving people the tools to lift themselves out of poverty. The community of Gbap (pronounced Bap) in Sierra Leone shows just what can be achieved when the right resources reach the right people SCANNING THE HORIZON of Bonthe district in Sierra Leone it is hard to believe that the population struggles to grow or purchase enough food for its families. Fertile arable land stretches before you for 52,000 acres. But two in every five children suffer from chronic malnutrition, causing stunted growth and impaired mental development. Sierra Leone is the sixth hungriest country on Earth, with families and

communities often struggling to feed themselves. ‘There were times when we would go hungry for a whole day until the evening, especially during the hunger season,’ explains Mariama Jabbie, a resident of Gbap. Although around half of Sierra Leone’s population depends on agriculture for its livelihood, fewer than five per cent of households have the tools or equipment necessary to improve their harvest,

restricting the vast majority to small scale subsistence farming and regular food shortages. But the commitment of Christian Aid partner the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone (MCSL), and the hard work of the communities it works with, makes real change a possibility. The primary aim is to reduce malnutrition and hunger. ‘If someone is hungry and you want to talk to that person about something else, they can’t even think about it,’ says Ezekial Samking, a staff member of MCSL. It is not until hunger abates that people such as Mariama can begin to live their lives

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D WEEK NEEDS YOU!

ChristianAid/Heidi Bradner

Children watch a performance in the old school building in Gbap. Huge cracks in the walls, rafters hanging precariously from the ceiling and termite-ravaged desks meant the school was regarded by many parents as a death trap and some refused to send their children there

to the full, and focus on improving life for their communities. Communities come together in production groups of around 30 people. MCSL provides the tools and equipment they need to ensure they can make the most of the abundant resources around them. Once the harvest increases and the group have enough to feed their families all year round, they can go on to sell their produce. It’s then that a real difference can be made. ‘Giving people the tools to work together as a group, MCSL has also given them a unified voice and a channel for discussing problems and other issues,’

There were times when we would go hungry for a whole day until the evening, especially during the hunger season Mariama Jabbie

says Christian Aid communications officer Antoinette Powell.

Unified voice This unified voice is key to success. MCSL encourages communities to set up committees representing the groups in the town who have previously been excluded from the decision-making process. Voted for and trusted by the community to voice their concerns, the committees lobby local government to make their needs heard and to secure funding for initiatives that will meet these needs. Such success has only been possible thanks to the determination of people such as Mary Samuels, who is inspired by what her community could become. ‘My hopes were that if I was a member of the committee, I would be able to link the community with the outside world. If I go out of Gbap and see projects, I try to find out how they were able to get these things and I plan to get them myself.’ An energetic member of the production group and a vocal committee member, Mary has been given the tools and knowledge that mean she, and the whole community, can lobby their government for essential services. With a new government-funded school building complete, and plans underway for an agricultural work centre, it is clear the Gbap residents are beginning to be heard. The success of the committee in lobbying the government for funds for the school gave great encouragement to the people of Gbap. Knowing that persistence means success, the committee and others in the community attended meetings with government representatives, and pledged to help in the construction of the school building. Their perseverance paid off and the school is a symbol to all in Gbap of what they achieved by working together. ‘We see that we have the power to change things now,’ says Tenneh Keimbay, a Gbap resident and part of the food production group. ‘More big changes can come to the community.’ The committee’s second project, a government-funded agricultural work

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centre, is currently under construction. This facility will allow Mary, Mariama, and all the other farmers in the community to process their produce so it is worth more at market, and can even be sent to the city for sale. One day soon, the determination of the committee members will mean that hunger is consigned to the past. As Antoinette Powell recounts of her recent trip to Bonthe, ‘When I told the people of Gbap that others, thousands of miles away, are standing with them in solidarity, they were profoundly encouraged. I hope that, in return, their infectious energy, dedication and warm wishes will inspire every single supporter whose tireless commitment will be the making of Christian Aid Week 2012.’ • If you would like to find out more about Christian Aid Week, please visit caweek.org to read more stories and watch our inspiring films.

HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE THE GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX ranks Sierra Leone as the sixth hungriest country on Earth, with levels of hunger described as ‘alarming’.

£4.17

could pay for a bushel of rice or ground nut seeds for a community such as Gbap to plant and harvest

£32.50

could provide five tool sets, each made up of a large and small hoe and a large and small farming knife, for a production group to farm a large area

£180

could provide a cassavagrating machine for a community, allowing them to process the cassava they grow so that it can be sold for a higher price at market.

OVERPAGE: COLLECTING IS AN ACT OF WITNESS, GROUNDED IN FAITH

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LIFE AND SOUL SPECIAL

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An expression of love to a watching world Christian Aid fundraising assistant Eleanor Ledesma reflects on what the Christian Aid Week collection means to her – and to many members of church groups who will be going house to house this May

ChristianAid/Matthew Gonzalez-Noda

Ten million homes reached and £12.5m raised over seven amazing days. Christian Aid Week’s headline figures are spectacular. But what’s also impressive is that Christian Aid Week is one of the UK’s

20 Christian Aid News

biggest acts of Christian witness. This May, more than 100,000 people will come together to express their love for God and for humanity to a watching world. Christian Aid Week collectors brave the British weather, overcome their reservations about knocking on neighbours’ doors, and spare time out of their busy schedules. They’re motivated by a multitude of factors – some common and some personal. But they all share the desire to do their part in helping to lift their brothers and sisters across the world out of poverty. They know that for every doorbell they ring, there are thousands of other collectors, up hill and down dale, who are doing the same thing. Almost all denominations and traditions are represented, as local churches work in partnership to cover more ground, to coordinate their efforts and to share resources. Llinos Roberts from Trefor, north Wales (pictured left), believes that ‘Christian Aid brings people together to work together locally, and to make a difference locally.’ Like jigsaw pieces, each individual collector, organiser and church fit together to produce the Christian Aid Week collection – an external manifestation of Christian compassion and duty to support the world’s poor. To the local community this is a powerful symbol. Jesus not only calls us to be hidden like salt, with its cleansing and seasoning properties, but also to come together as light, reflecting God’s glory and a heart firmly focused on the needs of the poor, the underrepresented and the oppressed. By showing the face of the local church in this illuminating way, the value of the house-to-house collection cannot be counted simply in monetary terms.

How your cash can help Donations from a house-to-house collection can go a very long way, for example:

£6.50

could buy a set of four hand tools for a farmer living in the town of Gbap, Sierra Leone

£50

could pay for advocacy training for two young people in a Kenyan slum, equipping them with the tools they need to pressure their government for essential services

£123

could buy a reclaimed aluminium greenhouse for women working on market gardening projects in Tajikistan, providing a vital tool for growing vegetables in a harsh climate with extremes of hot and cold.

Christian Aid Week prayer People working together, children going to school, women speaking out, tools for transformation, communities thriving and not just surviving, and no more hunger – these are fruits that will last. Jesus, who calls us friends, may we love one another and remain in your love. Text your prayer this Christian Aid Week. See caweek.org/pray

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK

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ChristianAid/Antoinette Powell

Peter Murray on his recent trip to Sierra Leone to see how our partners are helping a community to lift themselves out of poverty. Inset: on the cover of the last edition of Christian Aid News

Additional reporting by Kate Tuckett

A collector’s view: an easy way of doing something hugely important Peter Murray is a long-standing collector from Darlington, County Durham. In one sense, collecting during Christian Aid Week is not something he makes a fuss of. He emphasises that it is not difficult, few people are hostile, and the time commitment is relatively minimal – an hour to deliver envelopes and another hour to collect them. But for Peter, it is something deeply significant that is grounded in his faith. Collecting is embedded in the life of local churches, many of whom will meet at the start of an evening, and then gather, after they have collected the envelopes, for worship or socialising. ‘It’s an act of witness,’ he says. ‘It’s the one time in the year when the churches witness both to our faith and

to our commitment to the poor.’ Peter describes how energising it is to know that one has done something for people living in poverty, and to compare his own community’s efforts with specific projects. He refers back to Christian Aid Week two years ago, which told the story of helping a community in Nairobi, Kenya, bring clean water and sanitation to their slum. The cost of the project was £30,000. The churches in Darlington raised £20,000, so ‘paid’ for two thirds of the work. He adds: ‘Collecting is an easy way of doing something hugely important. House-to-house collecting raises £6m. It gives people tools to help themselves out of poverty, and it makes a response to the needs of the world.’

CHRISTIAN AID NEWS

Issue 54

Winter 2012

christianaid.org.uk

we need your help now!

Pledge your support for Christian Aid Week 2012

CHRISTIAN

LIFE AND SOUL SPECIAL

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK

ChristianAid/Matthew Gonzalez-Noda

Use YOUR tools this Christian Aid Week

From tiny tots toddling to mobility-scooter racing, every year Christian Aid Week sees people of all ages raising money in innovative, imaginative and inspiring ways. We’re sure this year will be no exception IN 2011, supporters in Newhaven, East Sussex, got parent-and-toddler groups in the town together for a sponsored toddle. Tiny tots were sponsored to toddle from the church down to the local park where they had a picnic. In Wooler, Northumberland, supporters turned an empty shop in the high street into a charity shop for seven days. They raised £6,489 in that time, selling everything from clothes, books and ornaments to three-piece suites! And the Loughborough Christian Aid Group held its annual Scoot for a Hoot (a time-trial round an obstacle course for people with mobility scooters), which raised £800. So… what can you do in Christian Aid Week 2012? The theme for this

Scooting for a hoot in Loughborough

year’s Christian Aid Week is tools – giving people the right tools to work themselves out of poverty. Why not use your tools to raise money for Christian Aid? If you’re a domestic goddess (or god), use your wooden spoons to make cakes or bread to sell. Knitters – use your needles to make an item that can be auctioned! Perhaps you have an exercise bike at home? Why not challenge your friends to a sponsored ‘cycle’ to Sierra Leone, taking it in turns to complete the 3,061 miles? If you’d like to use your tools to put on a fantastic fundraiser this Christian Aid Week, order Christian Aid’s Do It Your Way fundraising pack – a DVD-Rom full of ideas, inspiration and information. You can order it online at christianaid.org.uk/ yourway Alternatively, ring 020 7523 2019 or email events@christian-aid.org and you’ll be put in touch with your local events fundraising officer who can provide fundraising ideas, resources and guidance.

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK

CAN YOU LIVE BELOW THE LINE? SOME 1.4 BILLION PEOPLE around the world live below the extreme poverty line – surviving on the equivalent of just £1 a day. On 7-11 May, many Christian Aid supporters will be joining thousands of people across the UK choosing to live on just £1 a day to raise awareness and funds to help end extreme poverty. The Live Below the Line challenge gives a glimpse of life lived in extreme poverty, where just £1 has to pay for everything, everyday. But is it really possible to live on less than a £1 a day? One Christian Aid supporter (pictured above) shares her experiences: ‘I’m Sammi. I’m 18 and I live in York. Last year, when I was 17, I took part in the Live Below the Line challenge with my mum and my dad. I hadn’t heard of the challenge until Mum came home and said that she and Dad were doing it and asked whether I was interested in taking part. Obviously, being a 17-year-old teenager, I thought it was a crazy idea, but when Mum told me what it was for I thought I’d give it a go! ‘During the week that we were living on £1 per person per day, we ate porridge, toast, savoury rice and Cup-a-soups, and drank cups of tea with a little milk. On several nights, we put the money together to go to towards a treat like a pudding. ‘When I told my friends, not many thought it was possible, but they were supportive and interested in why I was doing it. At the end of the week I was both proud that I had managed to live on this small amount, and happy it was over and that I didn’t have to worry about that being a daily problem for me. And I managed to raise £185. ‘From this experience I learned that

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people can’t always afford the treats in life and that we should definitely be more grateful for things. It made me realise how fortunate I am! ‘For all those wondering whether they should take part: do it! It’s only for five days. At the end of it you’ll feel that you have made a difference and will have raised money for a great cause!’

how iT works Live Below the Line is a campaign run by the Global Poverty Project that is having huge impact. In 2011, more than 10,000 people around the world took on the challenge, raising more than US$2m for charity partners, including Christian Aid. Take part in Live Below the Line to raise money for Christian Aid, and you can help give poor communities around the world the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty. Register to take part at livebelowtheline.com/ uk-christianaid where you’ll find recipe ideas and tips.

Top Tips • Team effort Sharing meals with other families means you get more for your pound – and can socialise on a poverty budget • keep it close Buy local fruit and vegetables that are in season from your local market– these will be cheaper and better for the world • water of life Staying hydrated can help to make you feel alert and healthy– so keep topping up • Deal hunter Use supermarket price comparison websites to get the best deals • Cheap treats Break a chocolate bar into five pieces to allow yourself a small treat a day • Think big By making large portions and saving some for lunch or freezing, your pennies can be stretched • Tongue teaser Check out supermarket value ranges, and take your own blind taste test. Can you really tell the difference between 9p pasta and 80p pasta?

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EThiCAl bAnking for A bETTEr fuTurE Christian Aid believes that working with the private sector is key to eradicating poverty. For this reason, we seek out and work with ethical businesses that share our vision of a better world. Our newest corporate partner, Triodos Bank, exemplifies this kind of organisation AT A TIME WHEN banks are hitting the headlines for reckless lending, unethical practices and controversial bonuses, Triodos is leading the way as an ethical financial institution, offering no contractual bonuses to its employees and investing purely in sustainable business. Founded in the Netherlands in 1980, the bank has operated in Britain since 1995. Since then, Triodos has attracted about 30,000 UK savers and is widely regarded as the sector’s leading sustainable bank. It lends exclusively to ethically sound organisations and does so with the support of a community of savers and investors who want their money to build a more sustainable society. Unlike other banks, it publishes details of all the businesses it lends to, so that savers can see where their money goes. The list is filled with environmental, campaigning and social enterprise clients such as Cafédirect, the Fairtrade coffee and tea producer; Jamie’s Farm, which offers agricultural rehabilitation to deprived urban children; and Ecotricity (another Christian Aid partner), which provides green energy to households and businesses across the UK. UK managing director of Triodos, Charles Middleton, believes there is a greater appetite among savers for the type of institution he represents following the near collapse of the financial system. He says: ‘The media is full of talk about responsible capitalism and ethical banking and we believe there are specific things individuals can do to impact the way that banks and financial institutions behave in the future. We are here to help them take that action.’ Not content with trying to transform the banking sector in the UK, Triodos is helping to lift entire communities out of poverty by investing in businesses that are committed to fairtrade. Middleton

Charles Middleton

comments: ‘Farmers in developing countries do not necessarily reap the rewards of a complex international trade system. By financing fairtrade enterprises we aim to make sure that individuals and their families are paid fairly for their products. We have mobilised millions of euros to support the fairtrade and organic industries from “crop to shop”. With our innovative trade finance loans, we play a key role in building sustainable long-term trading partnerships between agricultural exporters in developing countries and buyers in Europe and the United States.’ Christian Aid’s corporate partnerships manager Sarah Taylor comments: ‘Triodos helps the world’s poorest people gain access to opportunities that can lift them permanently out of poverty, so it was a natural choice of partner for Christian Aid.’ And you can help Triodos to fight poverty. When a Christian Aid supporter opens a Triodos savings account and deposits £100 or more, Triodos will donate £40 to Christian Aid. If you want to find out more about saving money ethically, investing in sustainable businesses and helping Christian Aid at the same time, visit triodos.co.uk/christianaid • To find out more about the work Christian Aid does with the private sector, visit christianaid.org.uk/ corporate

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AROUND CENTRAL ENGLAND

Christian Aid/Pure Light Photography

Swimmers splash out to tackle poverty

Rev Neil Riches takes the plunge

On Sunday 8 January members of Bourneville Quaker Meeting and The Church at Carrs Lane joined Birmingham residents of all ages in Birmingham University’s swimming pool for a sponsored swim. The day saw 10 teams and three individuals, drawn from schools, businesses and churches around

the city, dip their toes in the pool. Each had an hour in the water and between them expect to raise more than £5,000 in support of Christian Aid’s work. The Church at Carrs Lane team consisted of its minister, organist and two church members. Organist Tim Batty commented: ‘Christian Aid is a very worthwhile charity to swim for’ and minister Rev Neil Riches added: ‘This was a different way to raise money, one that really engaged my church. More people paid us to take part than joined us in the pool!’ Christian Aid staff member Vicki Simpson was delighted with the swim. She said: ‘We had lots of people taking the plunge; all had smiles on their faces and all swam hard to ensure they raised as much as possible. Whether they swam one lap or one hundred, it’s because of money raised by the inspiring people today that we can continue to help support some of the poorest communities around the globe.’

Thirty Christian Aid volunteers and staff from across the region came to Hothorpe Hall, near Market Harborough for a challenging weekend of inspiring stories, reflection and action. The conference, titled Going Deeper, was an opportunity for volunteers and staff to spend time exploring the root causes of poverty and how we all have a role to play in tackling it. Speakers and workshop leaders included Sally Bossingham reflecting on her time in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory; David Pain explaining our partnership approach here and overseas; and Mark Vyner explaining more about the project in Sierra Leone featured in the Christian Aid Week 2012 materials. A strength of the event was the knowledge and enthusiasm brought by the volunteers. Kingsley Sheteh Newuh, a university student from Birmingham, was inspired by the Once

24 Christian Aid News

Alison Gage

Volunteers go deeper for inspiration

Kingsley Sheteh gets into the campaigning spirit

And For All multi-media presentation and was challenged to action by the campaigning and media workshop. Reflecting on the weekend he said: ‘To highlight just one aspect of the weekend for me would be to do great injustice to the others. From encountering people with diverse experiences, the Biblical reflections that gave a spiritual backing to these experiences, the music, the videos on Sierra Leone, the workshops, to the specialised groups, I found myself at each moment wondering if I could ever be able to do enough.’

Norwich zaps poverty Norwich celebrated the arrival of the Poverty Over tour with a vibrant dancing event called U zap poverty. Gigie Fletcher, a professional zumba teacher, imaginatively choreographed a series of Christian songs on justice and grace. The Bishop of Norwich, Graham James, led by example, enthusiastically jumping and flinging his arms around in time to the music. The Sheringham Gospel choir, ably led by Jenny Skivington, provided a gently rocking and beautifully harmonised backdrop of sound to the evening.

Poverty Over zips into Peterborough From 13-26 January Peterborough Cathedral hosted Christian Aid’s Poverty Over exhibition, giving visitors to the cathedral the opportunity to engage with our vision of a world free from poverty. During its stay there we were able to invite local primary schools to come to one of two schools’ days. Both were a great success with more than 200 primary school children visiting the cathedral. Sarah Croft, youth and student intern in the East of England team said: ‘The highlight of the schools’ days was when the children had a go at creating their own charities. One little boy stood at the front of the class saying: “I want everyone to stop fighting and be friendly”. ‘

Travellers’ tales Two members of the East Midlands team and one member of the West Midlands team have returned from visits to Christian Aid partners overseas. Regional manager Lucy Connell visited three partners in Tajikistan, while legacy and regional coordinators Alison Linwood and Martin Gage visited partners in India. To find out more about Lucy, Martin or Alison’s trips overseas or to hear them speak about their experiences, contact the East Midlands office on 01509 265013 or West Midlands office on 0121 200 2283.

AROUND NORTH ENGLAND Be inspired – once and for all!

You will smile, you may cry, you will learn, you may be outraged and you will certainly be freshly inspired for Christian Aid Week 2012. Christian Aid’s new audio visual presentation Once And For All uses powerful personal stories and reveals how our prayers, actions and donations are bringing hope and healing to those living in poverty all over the world. The event is perfect for your pre-Christian Aid Week meeting, to enthuse and inspire collectors, or it could be used at any time of the year to boost support for Christian Aid in your church, town or city. The presentation can include stories from Sierra Leone featured in this year’s Christian Aid Week resources. • Working with the support of singer/songwriter Gareth Davies Jones, the North East is touring Once And For All around the region. For more details or to book the presentation, please contact your regional office.

Here be dragon boats

Once every 20 years for the past 800 years Preston in Lancashire has celebrated Preston Guild, a famous and unique event. The guild was an organisation of merchants, traders and craftsmen. The faith community are fully involved in Preston Guild. The local Christian Aid Group is putting on various events throughout the guild year including a sponsored walk with CAFOD on 5 May, but the highlight will be the Riversway Festival Weekend on 21-22 July. Always keen to try something different and exciting to raise money for Christian Aid, the Preston Christian Aid Group has decided to have a go at putting together two sponsored teams for the colourful and energetic

Dragon Boat Races. An ancient Chinese tradition, dragon boat racing is one of the fastest growing water activities in Britain today, and Christian Aid is hoping to recruit 42 people to race two boats of 21 people, each including one drummer. If you would like to join one of the teams then get in touch with the Warrington office on 01925 573769, for more details. The North West office is also keen to put up teams for the Salford Dragon Boat Races on 6 May and in Chester on 10 June, so, again, please contact the Warrington office if you fancy having a go. If you can’t make any of these dates, there are other ‘open’ dragon boat events happening around the country where you can enter a team for your nominated charity.

FRIDAY 16 march – ThurSDAY 29 march Poverty Over exhibition Blackburn cathedral. FRIDAY 23 MARCH – sATURday 19 may Once And For All Come and discover Christian Aid’s new audio visual presentation (see story, far left). For more details, please call your regional office. Friday 23 March - Todmorden 7.30-9pm, St Mary’s Church. Friday 20 April - Preston 7-9.30pm, St Cuthberts Church, Fulwood PR2 3AR. Friday 20 April - Greater Manchester 7pm, Didsbury Baptist Church. Thursday 26 April - Stockport 7pm, Poynton Methodist Church SK12 1RB. Saturday 19 May - Cheshire 7.30pm, St Bartholomew’s Church, Church Minshull. SATURDAY 24 MARCH Poverty and Pastries 10.30am-12noon, venue tba, central Sheffield. A morning organised by the Sheffield Christian Aid Committee, to inspire you ahead of Christian Aid Week. To register and for more details, contact Alison Trezise on 0114 236 5938, or email jonathan.trezise@sky.com friDAY 30 MARCH Diocesan youth event 7-9.30pm, Durham Cathedral. An evening of workshops and debate to encourage young people to explore issues relating to poverty and development. With Bishop Mark, Bishop of Jarrow. To book, please call Val Barron on 0191 228 0115 , or email vbarron@christian-aid.org saturDAY 31 MARCH Pre-Christian Aid Week quiet day 10.30am-3pm, St Antony’s Priory, Durham DH1 1QT. A chance to meditate on the scripture readings for Christian Aid Week and hear more about our work in Sierra Leone. Cost £18 including lunch (£10 concessions). For details, please email Sarah Moon at smoon@christian-aid.org SATURDAY 31 MARCH An evening of music by the Highside Singers 7.30pm, Kirkby Malzeard

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AROUND SCOTLAND Piling on the pressure for climate justice

Happy Birthday Bridge Crosses THERE’ll be party hats and balloons aplenty as a couple of our annual Bridge Cross fundraising events in Scotland celebrate big birthdays this spring. On 5 May the Erskine Bridge Cross will have been running for 25 years, while the Forth Bridge Cross is celebrating 40 years on 28 April. Local volunteers are appealing for people to attend their nearest bash and join the party atmosphere. We would like to raise a toast in thanks to everyone who has contributed to fighting poverty step by step over the years, through

24 Christian Aid News

Cyclists tell the Scottish government to ‘Get On Yer Bike’ at St Andrews House. Christian Aid joined more than 350 cyclists who successfully lobbied for budget funds to be allocated to active travel

Christian Aid joined hundreds of people on bikes outside the Scottish government’s St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh lobbying for this move to be reconsidered. In February, the government announced that an additional £13m over three years will be allocated to sustainable and active travel. This is a campaign victory, which again shows that campaigning can and really does work; however, it is also bittersweet. Tom Ballantine, chair of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, explains: ‘While we welcome the additional funding that the Scottish Government has allocated to sustainable and active travel in the budget announcement, it is still

organising or taking part in these events. Don’t forget, if you don’t live near enough to the Forth or Erskine Bridge, you could always register for the Tay Bridge Cross on 21 April, or the Cumbrae Challenge on 16 June. See the events section opposite.

Colin Hattersley on behalf of Stop Climate Chaos

The Scottish Government has been working on its 2012-13 budget. It matters. In 2009, Christian Aid welcomed a strong Climate Change Scotland Act that demonstrated Scotland’s willingness to take its fair share of the global effort required to prevent catastrophic climate change. A highlight of the Act was an interim target that commits Scotland to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 42 per cent on 1990 levels, by 2020. Reducing global carbon emissions is a key strand of Christian Aid’s own climate change campaign, which calls on industrialised nations – who bear the historical responsibility for climate change and who have the greatest capacity to deliver a solution – to act. For Christian Aid, climate change is a social justice issue because people in developing countries who have contributed the least to the problem are bearing the brunt of its effects. This is why we recently encouraged Christian Aid supporters to back a campaign led by Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS). The campaign urged MSPs to ask key government ministers to prioritise climate change actions in the budget. One industry where emissions continue to rise is the transport sector: consequently, Christian Aid supported a call from SCCS in January to register concern that funding to improve and expand cycling and walking infrastructure was to be cut, while the road budget was to be increased.

insufficient to deliver plans to meet Scotland’s climate change targets. There is still work to be done. • For more information on how we in Scotland are campaigning on climate change visit christianaid.org.uk/scotland or stopclimatechaos.org/scotland • You can ask Christian Aid Scotland and Eco-Congregation Scotland to run a workshop in your area that helps churches to explore climate change issues. Over the past year we have run joint roadshows in Perth, Inverness and Falkirk. Further roadshows are planned for this year. For further information contact dgreen@christian-aid.org or manager@ecocongregationscotland.org

settling into our new home The Christian Aid office in Glasgow has now relocated to Sycamore House at 290 Bath Street, G2 4JR. We would like to say thank you to supporters for bearing with us as we made this transition. We are now back up and running on the same telephone number and email address: 0141 221 7475 and glasgow@christian-aid.org Thanks also to those who attended our ‘office warming’ in January: it was lovely to see some familiar faces, and meet some new ones too!

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

A Bishop’s farewell The Bishop of Bedford, the Rt Rev Richard Inwood, reflects on some eye-catching moments in support of Christian Aid Bishop Richard and his wife Liz

how old is spielberg?

Bert Abram

As I retire from being Bishop of Bedford, inevitably I have been looking back on the many and varied things that I have been involved with during my nine years in this job. One of those things has been taking part in a series of stunts (for the want of a better word!) that the Christian Aid staff in Oxford have come up with to publicise Christian Aid Week. In 2009 I engaged in a tugof-war with a bunch of rugby players to illustrate the inequalities across our planet. The following year, I and some of the local clergy queued outside a portable toilet, set up in the centre of Bedford, to draw attention to the need for sanitation and clean water in the developing world. Then, last year, we highlighted fairtrade by my being ‘trained’ as a barista in a coffee shop. ‘Trained’ is in inverted commas advisedly. I

signally failed to make any wonderful patterns on the top of a latte! In addition, to raise awareness of an important climate change conference, I was photographed – along with some of my colleagues – with ‘Copenhagen’ written on my forehead. All I’ve done is the easy and fun part of Christian Aid’s publicity. Behind all this lies the passion and the dedication of the staff, and of the volunteers around the country, who actually do the

hard work. Christian Aid is always seeking to build good relationships with the churches and with the people who champion the world’s poor in their local area. It’s been a further privilege, while I’ve been in post, to hold receptions for Christian Aid Week organisers across Bedfordshire. This has enabled us to say ‘thank you’ on behalf of people across the world who benefit from all that they and Christian Aid seek to do.

between Henley and Nettlebed, RG9 6BS. Walk 5, 10, or 15 miles in the Oxfordshire countryside around Bix. Register in advance for a sponsor pack or donate a minimum of £10 on the day. To register call John Russell on 0118 978 3232, email walks@ christian-aid.org, or visit christianaid.org.uk/walks

on 01865 246818 or email oxford@christian-aid.org

EVENTS SATURDAY 12 MAY The Christian Aid Walk Registration 8.30–9.30am Starts: The Chauncy School, Ware SG12 0DP. Finishes: Sacred Heart School, Broadmeads, Ware, SG12 9HY. Walk a marathon! The walk is in five sections, so you can walk as little as 5km, or up to 43km. To register, contact Liz Horner on 01920 465714 or lilacre@ ntlworld.com, or visit christianaid.org.uk/walks SUNDAY 13 – SATURDAY 19 MAY Christian Aid Week SATURDAY 19 MAY Walk the Country Registration 8.30–10am Starts: Bix Village Hall, Bix,

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SATURDAY 19 MAY The Hoe Down! 7.30pm, Thame Barn Centre, Church Road, Thame OX9 3AJ. Celebrate Christian Aid Week with a barn dance! Hog roast, live band and caller, and plenty of fun for all the family. Tickets £12.50, under-16s £7.50. Book by calling the Oxford office

We are rea dy, willing and able to come and speak at your Chri stian Aid W event or se eek rvice! Or, in vite us to come befo re Christian Aid Week to help insp ire collecto rs and volunteers . Send us d etails on 01865 2468 18 or oxford @ christian-aid .org

FRIDAY 29 JUNE The Sorcerer 7.30pm, Witney Congregational Church, 4 Welch Way, OX28 6JF. A concert by Kennington Church Choirs. Free entry, with collection for Christian Aid. Contact Pip Cartwright on 01993 703717 or pipcar@aol.com SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER Oxfordshire March for Justice – sponsored walk Walk in solidarity with India’s landless farmers. Save the date – details to come. Contact Amy Merone on 01865 246818 or amerone@christianaid.org for more details.

This is a clue in our allnew five counties quiz – all the answers are place names in the five counties we cover (see top of page). Get your friends, family and churches puzzling it out. £1 per entry, lovely Fairtrade prizes. Available online or from the Oxford office.

we’d like to say thank you... Please join us for tea and cake to celebrate all our efforts in Christian Aid Week (4.30-5.30pm), and give us your feedback (3-4.30pm or 5.30-7pm). 27 June – Letchworth: The Norton Parish Centre, SG6 1DA. 28 June – Chorleywood: Christ Church, WD3 5SG. 3 July – Wokingham: Wokingham Methodist Church, RG40 1XS. 5 July – Wendover: Christian Centre, HP22 6LL. 6 July – Newport Pagnell: The Brooklands Centre, MK16 8AN. 12 July – Witney: Congregational Church, OX28 6JF (NB 7-9pm). • Contact Hannah Roberts on 01865 246818 or hroberts@christian-aid.org for more details.

AROUND THE SOUTH AND WEST

Bristol’s major concert venue, the Colston Hall, was the scene of a vibrant Christmas celebration with the appropriate title Joy to the World. The evening showcased the talents of the Renewal Choir – the region’s top gospel choir – and also featured some of the country’s top gospel music artists. The Christian Aid West team works in partnership with the Renewal Choir and we were delighted that a collection of more than £600 was donated to us following an impassioned talk from Bishop Marcell Fullwood of the New Testament Church of God in Gloucester,

renewalchoir.org

Concert brings joy to our world

who spoke of his visit to a water project in Ethiopia, funded by Christian Aid. Maureen Robinson, Christian Aid’s black majority churches coordinator in the West of England, said: ‘It was a really exciting and memorable evening and we are delighted to be working in partnership with our friends in the choir and with Bishop Fullwood.’ During the concert the Renewal Choir premiered their new charity single Change the World, which will soon be released with proceeds going to Christian Aid. Copies can be pre-booked online at renewalchoir.org

better together – once and for all

Poverty Over – once and for all! That’s the Christian Aid vision that has inspired audiences large and small across the region this spring. The South West team’s Better Together tour has gathered people from all denominations and all walks of life and empowered them to put their faith into action, not only during Christian Aid Week but throughout the year. Using beautiful music, stunning images and personal stories, Better Together reveals how our prayers, actions and donations are bringing hope and healing to those shackled by poverty across the world. One supporter said: ‘Your presentation touched my very soul and for the first time I realised what I had to do to live out my Christian faith. Thank you!’ • The tour continues in the south west throughout the year and you can invite the team to visit your area by ringing our Southampton office on 023 8070 6969 or emailing southwest@christian-aid.org

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AROUND WALES

Inspiring worship for Christian Aid Week

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Llinos Roberts on her recent visit to Sierra Leone

Christian Aid/Antoinette Powell

Getting people to attend church services can be a problem, something that is just as true of Christian Aid Week services as any others. Most church leaders are aware of the difficulties and are constantly thinking of new and different ways of attracting people. Gethin Rhys, a URC minister with two churches in the Pontypridd area, has been experimenting for some time with café services. ‘We hold them once a month on a Sunday evening,’ he says. ‘In Trefforest the service is held in the church vestry, which is already used as a café one day a week and is therefore familiar to the local community. Whereas in Porth we use Porth Plaza, a council-owned building in the centre of the town, where we do get people coming in off the street. ‘Although the core of both groups is made up of regular churchgoers from local churches who want to explore different ways of worshipping, we also get people who have become disillusioned with traditional church services, but are still interested in spiritual questions. The important thing is to keep it informal and we like to say that Café Church offers good coffee, good cake and inspirational worship. ‘The services are built around a specific theme, with different activities based around that theme. One session last year was on money and I invited Mari McNeill, a Christian Aid intern, to come along. She spoke about Christian Aid’s tax campaign and we played money-themed games. This year Mari has been invited back to two services during May: Trefforest on 6 May at 5pm and Porth on 20 May at 7pm. The theme for both services will be Christian Aid Week.’ The beautiful setting of the ruins of Valle Crucis Abbey, near Llangollen make it a major tourist attraction in north Wales, but it is also the venue for the Llangollen Christian Aid Week service. Local Church in Wales priest Andrew Sully explains: ‘We started going there five years ago and have now built up a

congregation of about 150 people of all ages, and from many of the local churches. We include much of the Christian Aid Week liturgy, activities for children and youth, and different styles of music. This year’s focus on Sierra Leone gives us the opportunity to have African music.’ The speaker at this year’s service on

Some other Christian Aid Week events around Wales to attend: SUL 29 EBRILL Gwasanaeth Wythnos Cymorth Cristnogol yng Nghapel Penuel, Ffordd Deiniol, Bangor am 10.00 y bore. Siaradwr gwadd: Parchg. Jeff Williams, Pennaeth Cymorth Cristnogol Cymru. SATURDAY 5 MAY Soup lunch at St. David’s Church, Fairwater at 12 noon. Guest speaker is Mari McNeill, Christian Aid. SATURDAY 12 MAY Plant sale 9.30am-12 noon, Llanishen Baptist Church, Fidlas Road, Llanishen, Cardiff CF14 5LZ. Cardiff’s foremost plant sale with a wide selection of plants for your garden, baskets

27 May at 11am will be Llinos Roberts, an ecumenical community worker in north Wales, who went on the supporter visit to Sierra Leone last year in preparation for Christian Aid Week 2012. ‘Let’s hope that the weather will be fine,’ says Andrew, ‘but if it does rain the service will still go ahead at Llangollen Parish Church.’

or indoors. Various other stalls selling books, bric-a-brac, toys, cakes and light refreshments. WEDNESDAY 16 MAY Tea party 2.30pm, Caerleon Town Hall, Church Street, Caerleon. GWENER 18 MAI Bore Coffi a Stondinau Amrywiol yn Festri Capel Penlan, Pwllheli LL53 5DD o 10.00yb tan 12.00yp. FRIDAY 18 MAY Community lunch 12 noon-2pm, The Salvation Army Hall, Pontypool. • For more information about these and other Christian Aid Week events, please contact your local office.

Have a good Christian Aid Week We would like to wish all Christian Aid groups a successful and inspiring Christian Aid Week! Across all the regions it has been inspiring to meet many of you at events and individually. We look forward to celebrating your successes and working in partnership with you as we inspire others to join together to give the tools to help people in poverty out of poverty.

EVENTS IN CENTRAL ENGLAND West Midlands SATURDAY 10 MARCH – SUNDAY 10 JUNE A Legacy of Hope Peace and Reconciliation Gallery, The Herbert Gallery, Jordan Well, Coventry CV1 5QP. A free photography exhibition, featuring the work of Christian Aid partner the Culture and Free Thought Association, which supports children and young people living in the Gaza Strip. Their experiences are depicted in a collection of compelling images. SATURDAY 24 MARCH North Staffordshire Walk 9.15am registration, for 10am start, Tittesworth Reservoir, near Leek. This annual event is a key fundraising event for Christian Aid. To take part, contact John Bamford, on 01782 516137. MONDAY 26 MARCH Speaker training for Christian Aid Week 10am-4.30pm, West Midlands Christian Aid Office, The Big Peg, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham. Polish up your public speaking skills ahead of Christian Aid Week. Paul Brannen, Christian Aid’s head of Advocacy and Influence, will share his knowledge and you can then use your refreshed skills to explore the stories featured in the 2012 Christian Aid Week pack. APRIL Passion into Action Two special campaign events created for people living in the Sutton Coldfield and Meriden constituencies. Date, time and venue to be confirmed. For more information, contact John Cooper at Birmingham@ christian-aid.org MONDAY 7 MAY – FRIDAY 11 MAY Live Below the Line Every day 1.4 billion people around the globe live on less than £1 a day. Can you stand in solidarity with them by eating for £1 a day this week? Find out more and sign-up at livebelowtheline.org/christianaid SUNDAY 13 MAY – SATURDAY 19 MAY Christian Aid Week busking For more details and to book a slot, contact Anna Burden at Aburden@christian-aid.org or 0121 200 2283. Sunday 13 May afternoon,

Birmingham city centre. Monday 14 May – Friday 18 May lunchtimes, Birmingham city centre. Saturday 19 May afternoon, Solihull town centre. THURSDAY 17 MAY Mamma Mia Sing-a-long Electric Cinema, 47-49 Station Street, Birmingham B5 4DY. A fun fundraiser for Christian Aid. To reserve a ticket, email Alison Linwood at alinwood@ christian-aid.org East Midlands TUESDAY 20 MARCH Sierra Leone – from Hell to Hope 6.30-8pm, Derby Multifaith Centre, the University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB. Join us for an evening of stories and experiences from the beautiful but troubled country of Sierra Leone. Hear from Christian Aid’s Mark Vyner, who oversees Christian Aid projects there, and from Catherine Garsed, youth and student intern for Christian Aid, who visited Sierra Leone in October. This event is completely free. For more information or to book your place, please contact the Loughborough office on 01509 265013 or visit: christianaideastmidlands3. eventbrite.com SATURDAY 24 MARCH Lent Soup Lunches for Christian Aid 12.30-2pm, Old Brampton Church (schoolroom) Home-made soups, bread, cheese and teas/coffees. Minimum donation £3.50. SUNDAY 25 MARCH Loughborough Simple Sunday Lunch 12.30pm, Sacred Heart R C Church, Park Road, Loughborough. THURSDAY 29 MARCH Super Soup Lunch 12 noon-2pm, St Mary’s, Wirksworth. FRIDAY 30 MARCH Super Soup Lunch 12 noon-1.30pm, Wragby Methodist Church. SATURDAY 31 MARCH Lent Soup Lunches for Christian Aid 12.30-2pm, St Mark’s Church, Brampton. Home-made soups, bread, cheese and teas/coffees. Minimum donation £3.50

SATURDAY 14 APRIL Taking Christian Aid into schools, Sunday schools and youth groups 10am–1pm, Chesterfield Central Methodist Church. Information, resources and techniques for getting Christian Aid into local children’s and young people’s work in schools and church. The event is just for the morning but feel free to bring a lunch with you as there is an opportunity to chat and network once the session has ended. For more information and to book your free place, contact the Loughborough office on 01509 265013 or online at christianaideastmidlands4. eventbrite.com SUNDAY 22 APRIL Virgin London Marathon Local Loughborough Christian Aid supporter Paul Anderson will be running the 2012 London Marathon for Christian Aid. Sponsor him online at justgiving.com/PaulLon-Mar2012 or contact the Loughborough office on 01509 265013 or email eastmidlands@christian-aid.org SATURDAY 5 MAY – SUNDAY 6 MAY Loughborough Canal and Boat Festival Every May Day weekend since 1997, this free festival has taken place on the beautiful Loughborough canal. Hundreds of boats and thousands of people throng the waterway to experience a unique atmosphere. This year Christian Aid will have a stall at the festival telling our Christian Aid Week 2012 story, including interactive and visual displays. For more information, visit the festival website at loughboroughcanalfestival.co.uk FRIDAY 11 MAY – SUNDAY 27 MAY Christian Aid Week Fishing Exhibition Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre, Alexandra Dock, Grimsby DN31 1UZ. Visit our free exhibition at the centre’s café gallery and find out more about Mo-Albert, a fishing community in Sierra Leone whose lives have been transformed thanks to your donations to Christian Aid. SATURDAY 12 MAY Christian Aid coffee morning and cake sale 10am-12noon, Great Glen Methodist Church Hall.

SATURDAY 12 MAY – SUNDAY 13 MAY Sutton Bonington Arts Festival 1-6pm The Inaugural Arts Festival in Sutton Bonington. Events will be taking place in all four village churches so do come along, explore the local talents and take part yourself! Entrance is £2 per adult, children are free. For more information, please contact Bob Reed on r.a.reed@ lboro.ac.uk WEDNESDAY 16 MAY Afternoon tea 3pm, Waltham House Care Centre. THURSDAY 17 MAY – SUNDAY 20 MAY Christian Aid cake stall 10am-4pm, Tissington Village Well-Dressing Festival. SATURDAY 2 JUNE – MONDAY 4 JUNE Christian Aid Wirksworth Well Dressing WEDNESDAY 4 JULY Ilkeston Sponsored Walk and Barbecue 6pm, from the Cantelupe Centre, Ilkeston DE7 5HY. Take part in the Ilkeston sponsored walk with a barbecue afterwards to celebrate! For more information, contact Mary Hawkins on 0115 854 2634. East of England WEDNESDAY 28 MARCH Once And For All roadshow 7pm, Trinity Hall, Market Street, Rothwell NN14 6BQ. 7.30pm, St Cuthbert’s Church, King Street, Thetford IP24 1EA. Presentations and stories, focusing on Sierra Leone. SATURDAY 31 MARCH Africa Live 7pm, Chapelfield Methodist Church, Norwich. A meal and entertainment, Africa-style. FRIDAY 8 JUNE - SUNDAY 10 JUNE Celebrate Norfolk The Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich. Music, stalls, youth events and activities. SATURDAY 16 JUNE Sponsored canoe Make a splash to raise money for our partnership projects. Information from Eldred Willey on ewilley@christian-aid.org

Christian Aid News 25

EVENTS IN NORTH ENGLAND

SUNDAY 8 APRIL – MONDAY 9 APRIL Halifax Long March 10pm-9am, from YMCA, Crossley Street, Halifax HX1 1UG. The 47th staging of this marathon-length sponsored night hike in Calderdale, which has raised more than £360,000 for Christian Aid over its lifetime. For more information and to register, visit longmarch.org.uk or contact our Yorkshire office on 0113 244 4764. THURSDAY 12 APRIL – WEDNESDAY 2 MAY Poverty Over exhibition Bradford Cathedral, BD1 4EH. Contact the Yorkshire office, as above, for information about events and opening times. TUESDAY 17 APRIL Penistone open evening An opportunity to find out about Christian Aid Week and hear some of the inspiring stories from our partners in Sierra Leone. Contact Rev Antony Tomlinson on 01226 764868 or email revantony@aol.com SATURDAY 21 APRIL Christian Aid evensong service 5.15pm, York Minster. Guest speaker Inderjit Bhogal, from the Corrymeela Community in Northern Ireland. For more information, contact christianaidyork@googlemail. com THURSDAY 26 APRIL, THURSDAY 3 MAY Three Chords and the Truth 7.30pm, St. Martin’s, Heaton, Bradford. A concert to entertain, inform and inspire, with John and Cath Froud (Zephaniah Trust) and Alex Jones (Christian Aid). Tickets £5 from johnfroud@zeph.org.uk or call 01274 580817. SUNDAY 29 APRIL Morley Christian Aid service 6.30pm, St. Peter’s, Morley. Speaker: Lindsey Pearson talks about Christian Aid Week and Sierra Leone. All welcome. SaturDAY 5 may Walk the Waterfront in Liverpool 10.30am, Otterspool. Join this five-mile walk from Otterspool to Pierhead. For

details, contact Eirlys Jessop on 01925 573769 or email ejessop@ christian-aid.org sunDAY 6 MAY Christian Aid service 10.30am, Manchester Cathedral. Rev David Hardman will talk about his visit to Christian Aid partners in Tajikistan. MONDAY 7 MAY Sheffield May Day Trek 9.30am, Bolsterstone Village Hall. A 5-, 10- or 15-mile sponsored walk on the edge of the Peak District. For more details and to register, visit sheffieldmaydaytrek. org.uk or contact the Yorkshire office, as before. SATURDAY 12 MAY Lyme Park Sponsored Walk 9.30am, St Martin’s Church, Higher Poynton. Imagine you’re an extra in Pride and Prejudice! Come and enjoy an eight-mile circular walk in the beautiful grounds of Lyme Park or a three-mile shorter walk. For more information contact Jill Smith 0161 485 5041, or email codnersmith@yahoo.co.uk SATURDAY 12 MAY Humber Bridge Cross Sponsored Walk 2pm, start from either end of the bridge. Join the 30th anniversary staging of the sponsored walk across this iconic bridge. The span is about a mile, so walking there and back is about two-and-a-half miles. Last year’s walk raised a total of £8,000. Help us top that this year. For more information, contact gilldalby@gilldalby.karoo.co.uk SATURDAY 12 MAY Busk Aid Sheffield city centre. For more information, contact Alison Tresize, as before SunDAY 13 MAY Kelsall ecumenical service 10.30am, St Philips’s Church, Kelsall, Cheshire. Speaker: Linda Tiongco from Christian Aid. SunDAY 13 MAY Stockton Heath ecumenical service 3pm, Methodist Church Stockton Heath, Warrington. Speaker: Eirlys Jessop from Christian Aid. If you would like a speaker for your Christian Aid Week service, please contact your regional office.

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

SUNDAY 13 MAY Sponsored Walk 2pm, St Michael’s Church, Filey Road, Scarborough. A four-mile walk around the town, taking in magnifent views of the South Bay, the harbour and the castle headland. For more information contact davidgarnerbridge@googlemail. com MONDAY 14 MAY – FRIDAY 18 MAY Way of the Roses Sponsored Bike Ride 11am, Morecambe. A group of seven Christian Aid staff and supporters will cycle 170 miles, from Morecambe to Bridlington in five days, visiting supporters, attending fundraisers and helping out with house-tohouse collections. If you can offer support, contact scooper@ christian-aid.org or call the Yorkshire office on 0113 244 4764. TUESDAY 15 MAY Christian Aid Week 2012 event 7.15pm, Christ the King, Battyeford, Mirfield. For more information, contact Maggie McLean at m.a.mclean@ btinternet.com or call 01924 493277. TUESDAY 15 MAY – SATURDAY 19 MAY Cake stall 10am-4pm, Boyes department store, Scarborough. A stall of cake and provisions home-made by members of Scarborough’s 30 churches. For more information, contact david garnerbridge@googlemail.com friDAY 18 MAY Christian Aid Week supper 7.30pm, Kirkby Lonsdale. Speaker Linda Tiongco talks about her experience of the Philippines typhoon. SATURDAY 19 MAY West Craven Sponsored Walk St Andrew’s Methodist Church Barnoldswick. A lovely 12-mile walk following

parts of the Leeds-Liverpool canal towpath and The Pendle Way. For more details, contact Julie Bryan on 07896 964371 or email walks@christian-aid.org SATURDAY 19 MAY Mini market with stalls Churches Together in Dewsbury, outside Longcauseway Church, Dewsbury. Plus coffee morning, light lunches and teas. For details, contact Gill Beckett at gill.w.beckett@ntlworld.com or call 01924 510401. SATURDAY 26 MAY Roundhay Park Sponsored Walk 10.30am. A walk of about five miles, arranged by Morley Christian Aid group. For details, contact Hazel Rennison at msr52@hotmail. co.uk or call 0113 253 5107 SUNDAY 27 MAY Sheffield Half Marathon and Fun Run Run for Christian Aid. Enter at sheffieldmarathon.com For help with fundraising, vests and support, contact the Yorkshire office, on 0113 244 4764. WEDNESDAY 13 JUNE, THURSDAY 14 JUNE Christian Aid Week thank yous Wednesday 13 June – Newcastle 10.30am-2pm, St Nicholas Cathedral Education Centre NE1 1PF For more information, email newcastle@christian-aid. org or call 0191 228 0115. Thursday 14 June – Warrington 11am-3pm, Northwest Christian Aid office. Speaker: Bishop of Rochdale, Mark Davies. To book, call 01925 573769 or email warrington@christian-aid.org SATURDAY 7 JULY Sheffield Night Hike 8pm, St. Luke’s Lodge Moor. A 17-mile night hike out into the Peak District. For more information and to register, visit sheffieldnighthike.org.uk or contact the Yorkshire office, as above The Humber Bridge

Wikimedia Commons

Mechanics Institute, Kirkby Malzeard. For more information, contact susan_ant1917@hotmail. co.uk

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EVENTS IN SCOTLAND Wednesday 18 April Guardian film screening – Health: discrimination and HIV in Kenya 7pm, Centre for Contemporary Arts, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has described poverty as the ‘biggest enemy of health in the developing world’. This investigative documentary, created in collaboration with The Guardian, explores HIV, health and poverty. The evening will include an expert panel discussion and Q&A session. Tickets are available from the centre’s box office: 0141 352 4900. For further details, email mgrady@christian-aid.org

Bridge Cross. Come and enjoy the party from 1pm at the South Queensferry registration area. Walk starts at 2pm. For more details, call Amy Menzies, as above, visit christianaid.org.uk/ walks or email events@christianaid.org

Saturday 21 April Tay Bridge Cross 2pm, Dundee and Newport-OnTay Help fight poverty step by step at the 13th annual Tay Bridge Cross Sponsored Walk. For more information, call Amy Menzies on 0141 241 6138, go to christianaid.org.uk/walks or email events@christian-aid.org

Christian Aid Week events Monday 7 May – Saturday 12 May Book Sale Falkirk Old and St Modan’s Parish Church, Manse Place, Falkirk FK1 1JN. Falkirk’s fourth annual book sale in support of Christian Aid will be run by volunteers from a number of local churches. A wide range of fiction and non-fiction books are available. Please tell your family and friends, then come along and help us to beat last year’s total of £1,500. For more information, please call Hamish Scott on 01324 632387 or email

Saturday 28 April Forth Bridge Cross 1pm, North and South Queensferry Join us in celebrating 40 wonderful years of the Forth

Saturday 5 May Erskine Bridge Cross 1pm, Erskine and Old Kilpatrick Join us in celebrating 25 fantastic years of the Erskine Bridge Cross. Come and enjoy the party from 1pm at the Old Kilpatrick registration area. Walk starts at 2pm. For more information, call Amy Menzies, as above, visit christianaid.org. uk/walks or email events@ christian-aid.org

hscottfalkirk@yahoo.co.uk Monday 7 May, 7-9pm Tuesday 8 May – Wednesday 9 May, 10am-5pm and 7-9pm Thursday 10 May – Saturday 12 May, 10am-5pm Saturday 12 May – Friday 18 May The Book Sale at St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church 13 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PA. Scotland’s biggest Christian Aid Week book sale is back, after raising a tremendous £103,000 last year. The 2012 patron is Children’s Laureate and The Gruffalo author, Julia Donaldson MBE, who will be visiting the sale and meeting local children. For more information, including how to donate books or other items, contact sale convenor Mary Davidson on 0131 556 2168 /07714 186754 or email booksale@ standrewsandstgeorges.org.uk Saturday 12 May, 10am-4pm Monday 14 May – Wednesday 16 May, 10am-3.30pm Thursday 17 May, 10am-7pm Friday 18 May, 10am-3.30pm Saturday 12 May – Saturday 19 May The Holy Corner Book Sale 10am-4pm (Mon-Fri, 6pm), Morningside United Church, 15 Chamberlain Road, Edinburgh EH10 4DJ. Last year’s sale, held in the main

church for the first time, was the biggest yet. In the run-up to this year’s sale, donations of books can be made to the church office from 9am-3pm, Monday to Thursday each week. For more information, please call the church office on 0131 447 3152. Sunday 20 May Heart and Soul 2012 1-6pm, Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh. A large celebration, organised by the Church of Scotland, of the life of the church. All are welcome and the event is free. For further details, visit heartandsoul2012.org.uk Saturday 16 June Cumbrae Challenge 10.30am, Cumbrae Slipway, Isle of Cumbrae Walk, run or cycle the 10 miles around the Isle of Cumbrae. You can take in some of the beautiful wildlife and visit the town of Millport while on your route. For more information, call Amy Menzies on 0141 241 6138, visit christianaid.org.uk/events or email events@christian-aid.org Friday 22 June – Sunday 24 June Solas Festival Wiston Lodge, near Biggar. For more information, call Wendy Young on 0141 241 6137.

Christian Aid Scotland Annual Review 2011

the roots of our action

As we start another financial year, we want to take the opportunity to remind you that at the start of 2012 we published our Christian Aid Annual Review Scotland 2011. This review details how your fundraising, campaigning and awareness-raising in 2011 helped us make a difference to the lives of some of the world’s poorest people. You can read it on our website, and copies were sent to organisers around the country alongside the Christian Aid Week Starter Kits. If you haven’t seen this yet but would like a copy, please call the office on 0141 221 7475, or visit christianaid.org.uk/ scotlandannualreview

Christian Aid Scotland launched a series of Contextual Bible Studies in the Glasgow area in January and February. Participants have found these winter studies empowering and energising and it is hoped that more Just Scripture studies will spring up across Scotland and overseas. A group is now meeting in Burundi, while plans to share with a group in Brazil are also underway. We are delighted to be hosting Andre Nsengiyumva, Christian Aid country manager for Burundi and Rwanda, during Christian Aid Week, when he will share his study group’s reflections on the same passage that groups in Scotland have been exploring. Further information about Just Scripture and details of future events can be found at christianaid.org.uk/scotland/whats-happening-near-you/contextualbible-studies.aspx We hope that through these shared moments we might strengthen our solidarity and be inspired to sustain or deepen our commitment to overcoming extreme poverty. As Kathy Galloway, head of Christian Aid Scotland, has said: ‘It is where the word is made flesh that I find the faith and vision that empowers Christian Aid.’ • If you have been involved in the Contextual Bible Studies process before and/or are interested in being a facilitator, or are interested in having a study facilitated in your area, please call 0141 241 6137, or email wyoung@christian-aid.org

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

London’s Pentecost Festival is once again ready to burst into life. From 18-27 May this arts and cultural festival will feature a huge range of events attracting around 25,000 people. Christian Aid is a festival coalition member and is hosting 10 fantastic events this year, including a debate with Oasis and Theos, a Justice and Worship Workshop and a Gospel concert to round off the week. We are also holding a Sponsored Firewalk on Saturday 26 May. Come and walk barefoot over hot coals! A two-hour training session by a firewalking company will be provided. Register in advance for just £15 and commit to raising at least £50 for Christian Aid. Register today at christianaid.org.uk/firewalk or, for more information, please ring 020 7523 2077 or email events@ christian-aid.org. Pentecost Festival celebrates the Church’s birthday, but it also challenges us to better demonstrate God’s compassion for the world. All events are open to everyone, so watch out for details on the Christian Aid and Pentecost Festival’s websites (pentecostfestival.co.uk).

Santa Run London Twas the 4th of December and around Greenwich Park, 2000 Santas gathered – oh what a lark! Christian Aid had a team of 27 brave folk, who ran 5k dressed as Santa – was it a joke? No. Each Santa committed to raise 50 pounds, to Christian Aid’s work this is now bound! Together, an incredible £2,724 was raised – indeed a special someone should certainly be praised: our star Santa fundraiser was Sally aged eight, who raised £233, a sum which is great. Thanks do go to our Santa Run team – you truly are fundraisers supreme!

EVENTS SATURDAY 24 MARCH Halstead Cream Tea 2-4pm, Halstead United Reformed Church, Kings Road, Halstead, Essex CO9 1HJ. A cream tea with a global twist! Hear stories of hope from around the world, see the Christian Aid Week 2012 resources and share ideas for inspiring others to give, act and pray. SATURDAY 24 MARCH Sponsored abseil St Mary and St Nicholas Church, Leatherhead, Surrey Don’t miss the chance to be one of the first people ever to abseil down this historic 15th century church tower, offering stunning views over the town of Leatherhead, across to Box Hill and Dorking. Register online at christianaid.org.uk/abseil – just pay £15 to sign up and commit to raising a minimum of £60 in sponsorship for Christian Aid. SUNDAY 25 MARCH The Wilberforce Oak Walk 2pm, Keston Parish Church, Church Road, Keston, Kent BR2 6HT. Join us for a delightful ramble to the Wilberforce Oak where, as William Wilberforce wrote in his diary, ‘…just above the steep descent into the vale of Keston, I resolved to give notice on a fit occasion in the House of Commons of my intention to bring forward the abolition of the slave-trade’. Afterwards there will be refreshments, a short talk and a chance to see Christian Aid Week 2012 resources. TUESDAY 27 MARCH Stories from the South 7-9pm, Folkestone Methodist Church, 153-155 Sandgate Road, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2DA. Join us for tea and cake and an evening of conversation, as we share inspiring stories from Christian Aid’s partners, and think creatively about how we can engage others in Christian Aid Week 2012. FRIDAY 30 MARCH Denman’s Garden Tour and Cream Tea 2pm, Denman’s Garden, Denmans Lane, Fontwell, West Sussex BN18 0SU. Enjoy an afternoon with Christian Aid at these beautiful gardens. Take a leisurely stroll

around the gardens, then sample a delicious afternoon tea. While you are enjoying your scones and cream, you will have the chance to be inspired by stories about Christian Aid’s partners around the world and hear more about how your community can be involved in helping bring an end to poverty. Tickets £5 (including the cream tea). Pre-booking essential. Wikimedia Commons

Fired up for the Pentecost Festival

SATURDAY 28 APRIL Concert for Christian Aid 7pm, Trinity Church, Golders Green. The Haywood Trio (cello, piano and violin) will be performing in support of Christian Aid. Their programme will include Beethoven’s ‘Archduke’ trio and the second piano trio by Camille Saint-Saëns. Admission free. MONDAY 7 MAY – FRIDAY 11 MAY Live Below the Line Every day 1.4 billion people around the globe live on less than £1 a day. Can you stand in solidarity with them by eating for £1 a day this week? Find out more and sign up at livebelowtheline.org/christianaid SUNDAY 13 MAY – SATURDAY 19 MAY Christian Aid Week We would love to hear from you about any events you are holding, or if you would like a member of staff to come to an event to give a short talk about Christian Aid’s work. FRIDAY 18 MAY – SUNDAY 27 MAY Pentecost Festival See story (left) for more information. SUNDAY 20 MAY Circle the City Sponsored Walk – 15th anniversary Last year almost 400 walkers visited 15 beautiful historic churches around the City of London, enjoying face painting and circus performers as well as interactive exhibitions about

Christian Aid’s partners in some of the world’s poorest countries. So far, the total amount raised from Circle the City 2011 stands at a whopping £33,000 and we want this year to be even bigger and better. We’re partnering with Pentecost Festival to make this a day to remember so sign up online today at christianaid.org. uk/walks to receive your free sponsorship guide and information pack. FRIDAY 8 JUNE – THURSDAY 21 JUNE Guildford Cathedral hosts the Christian Aid Cathedral Exhibition The display includes a stunning new sculpture by renowned British artist Mel Howse, and a wonderful photo exhibition featuring the work of some of Christian Aid’s partners. WEDNESDAY 20 JUNE Christian Aid Week Thank You and Evaluation From 3.30pm, Inter-Church 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 a thank-you tea, cake and an opportunity to meet other Christian Aid supporters and staff in between. If you can join us for either evaluation meeting or the tea then we would love to see you. Please do 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. SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER March for Justice A 10-mile sponsored walk for church leaders from Waterloo to Greenwich along the Thames Path. Walk in solidarity with 100,000 Indian landless people who are marching 320km to demand land rights that they have been promised by the Indian government. For more information about any of the above events, please contact the London and Southeast office on 020 7523 2321/2105

Christian Aid News 25

EVENTS IN THE SOUTH AND WEST TUESDAY 27 MARCH Cheltenham Christian Aid AGM 7.30pm, St Mark’s Methodist Church, Gloucester Road, Cheltenham. Speaker: Mike Secker (Christian Aid West student and youth worker) on Sierra Leone. For details, contact west@ christian-aid.org or 01454 415923. FRIDAY 20 APRIL Once And For All roadshow 7.30pm, Galmpton Village Institute, near Brixham. A chance to see Christian Aid’s new presentation, which unveils our transforming work in the poorest countries and our Poverty Over vision. Featuring Paul Field and Martin John Nicholls. For details, contact our Exmouth office on 01395 222304 or email southwest@christian-aid.org SATURDAY 21 APRIL Chippenham walk, run and cycle ride 9.30am, St Paul’s Church Hall, Malmesbury Road, Chippenham. An attractive out-and-back walk of about nine miles along mainly paved paths through beautiful countryside, to Maud Heath’s monument at the top of Wick Hill. For details, contact Beryl Fox on 01249 653394 or visit standrewschippenham.org.uk FRIDAY 27 APRIL Better Together roadshow 7.30pm, Dovetail Centre, Methodist Church, Winchester Road, Chandlers Ford. Contact the Southampton office

on 023 8070 6969 or email southwest@christian-aid.org SATURDAY 28 APRIL Sponsored Silence 10am-12 noon, Goodrington Methodist Church, Grange Road, Paignton. For details, contact Carol Marder on 01803 554429. SUNDAY 29 APRIL Once And For All roadshow 6pm, St John the Evangelist Church, Upper St Michaels Grove, Fareham. Contact Southampton office, as above. FRIDAY 4 MAY – WEDNESDAY 23 MAY Poverty Over exhibition Salisbury Cathedral, The Close, Salisbury. An exhibition about the work of Christian Aid, the issues behind poverty and how we can overcome them. The centrepiece is a specially commissioned sculpture by British artist Mel Howse. Contact Anna Potts on 01454 415923 or email apotts@ christian-aid.org. SATURDAY 12 MAY Once And For All – Brazilian evening 6.30-9.30pm, Queen’s Drive Methodist Church, Swindon. Singer-songwriter Martin John Nicholls presents a stage show with the vision for a world where extreme poverty no longer exists. Christian Aid Wiltshire coordinator Anna Potts shares her experiences of visiting our

partners in Brazil, and Swindon’s own Capoeira group will perform. Traditional rice and beans supper. Tickets £10 (with supper) and £7 (without supper). For more details, contact Anna Potts, as above. SATURDAY 12 MAY Newton Abbot Sponsored Walk The Racecourse, Newton Road, Newton Abbot. For more information, contact Exmouth office 01395 222304 or southwest@christian-aid.org SATURDAY 12 MAY Seafront Sponsored Walk Poole to Bournemouth. For more information, contact Southampton office 02380 706969 or southwest@ christian-aid.org SATURDAY 13 – SUNDAY 19 MAY Christian Aid Week For resources and support, contact your local Christian Aid office. SUNDAY 13 MAY 2012 Olympicnic – One World, One People 12.30pm, Borough Gardens, Dorchester (Dorford Centre if wet). Community picnic, please bring own food. Festival service taken by the Bishop of Sherbone, plus live music, roadshow, inspiring stories from around the world, children’s activities and light refreshments. Presented by Christian Aid and Cafod. Contact Peter Mann on 01305 266 7961.

SATURDAY 19 MAY Let There Be Music 7.30pm, Lonsdale Road Methodist Church, Gloucester. The 60-strong mixed choir, the Stuart Singers, in concert. Tickets £7 (including refreshments). For details, contact Jill Tucker on 01452 522602 or email jillyt@ highnambband.co.uk

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 Exmouth office (Cornwall, Devon) 35a The Parade Exmouth Devon EX8 1RH 01395 222 304 southwest@christian-aid.org Southampton office (Channel Isles, Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight) Isaac Watts Church Winchester Road Southampton SO16 6TS 023 8070 6969 southwest@christian-aid.org

Babies, Brazil and Sierra Leone We have been delighted to experience a mini baby boom in the West and South West teams with both Gill Alexander and Julia Fuell currently on maternity leave. Congratulations to both of them on the birth of their babies! Lydia Nash is covering for Gill as regional coordinator for Bristol and Somerset. Lydia grew up in Bristol and was an intern in our Lewes office and visited our partners in Kenya before doing her development studies degree. Shirley Beale is Julia’s cover as regional administrator for Cornwall and Devon, based in our Exmouth office, and brings with her many years of

administrative experience. We were sorry to say goodbye to Sally Ewen so soon after joining the South West team, but we are delighted to welcome Chris Jadav, who is already making a real impact in her new role as regional coordinator for Cornwall, based in Truro. Chris spent time working with street children at a Salvation Army education centre in a Brazilian shanty town before studying for her MA in development studies. Meanwhile, regional coordinators Anna Potts (Wiltshire) and Charlotte Page (Hampshire and Isle of Wight) recently visited Christian Aid partners in Brazil.

Mike Secker, our youth and student worker based in Bristol, visited our partners featured in this year’s Christian Aid Week resources in Sierra Leone. If you would like Anna, Charlotte or Mike to speak to your group or church about their trips, just contact your local office.

Left to right: Shirley Beale, Chris Jaday, Lydia Nash

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HAVE A GOOD CHRISTIAN AID WEEK We would like to wish all Christian Aid groups a successful and inspiring Christian Aid Week! Across all the regions it has been inspiring to meet many of you at events and individually. We look forward to celebrating your successes and working in partnership with you as we inspire others to join together to give the tools to help people in poverty out of poverty.

MOSES TUTESIGENSI, our volunteer intern, makes what we hope will be a triumphant scheduled visit to our Cardiff office on 23 March as part of his Edinburgh to London Challenge – see page 11. Moses is running all the way from Edinburgh to London, accompanied by fellow intern Catherine Garsed, from Christian Aid’s Loughborough office, who is cycling the route on her bike! Moses is due to arrive at our Cardiff office midmorning on the 23rd. But there will be no time to switch on his computer as he is due at the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay by 2pm to be greeted by Welsh supporters and assembly members. Moses will then pull his running shoes back on and is aiming to reach InterChurch House in Waterloo by 27 March – a total of 660 miles in around 15 days. • If you would like to sponsor Moses or Cat you can do so online at justgiving.com/ run4climatejustice or justgiving.com/ bike4climatejustice

Christian Aid/Jeff Williams

Moses Tutesigensi

When a butterfly flaps its wings in Wales… …it can help to bring changes on the streets of Guatemala. Noddfa Community Church, situated on the Maes Barcer housing estate in Caernarfon, north Wales, has supported Christian Aid from its beginnings, and was quick to hold a launch service for¡Viva Guatemala! – the Presbyterian Church of Wales denominational appeal that supports the work of Christian Aid partners in Guatemala. With the church’s strong focus on children and youth work, the younger generation played a prominent part in the event, sharing the story of Bianka, a six-year-old who lives in one of Guatemala City’s most violent slums. Bianka regularly takes part in the parades organised by Christian Aid partner Caja Lúdica, proudly wearing her favourite butterfly wings.

Erin Bohana Davies

Mererid Mair

RUNNING OUT OF TIME

The children of Noddfa prepared a special prayer of praise, which they presented using all manner of percussion instruments. Llinos Morris, children and youth worker, said: ‘Those present said they’d remember the prayer for a long time and that the service had inspired them to support the appeal.’ Each child had also made and decorated special collection boxes for the

appeal, and on the following Sunday, Erin Bohana Davies, aged three, one of the youngest members of the Sunday school, proudly brought her full collection box back. Erin’s mother, Elaine, explained: ‘She’s been on about children in Guatemala all week – I wasn’t allowed to put any change back into my purse – it all had to go to help more girls to be butterflies!’ Other up and coming ¡Viva Guatemala! events include: MONDAY 26 MARCH – 7pm, Bethel Chapel, Garden Village, Wrexham LL11 2SP. TUESDAY 3 APRIL – 2.30pm, Church and Community Hall, Ruabon, Wrexham. SUL 15 EBRILL – 2pm, Capel Baladeulyn, Nantlle LL54 6BH. THURSDAY 19 APRIL, 2pm, St Peter’s Church Hall, Penrallt Street, Machynlleth. SUL 22 EBRILL – 10am, Capel Bethel, Tywyn LL36 9HR. • For further details, please contact the Bangor office.

OTHER EVENTS IN WALES

DIGWYDDIADAU YNG NGHYMRU TUESDAY 27 MARCH Super Soup Lunch 12 noon, St Mary’s Church Hall, Trevor Road, Chirk, Wrexham. Lunch served between 12 noon and 1pm. Cost: £2. At 2pm, there’s an opportunity to hear Llinos Roberts sharing her experience of her visit to Sierra Leone in preparation for this year’s Christian Aid Week. For details, contact Christian Aid’s Bangor office on 01248 353574.

SUNDAY 8 JULY Sing for Christian Aid 6pm, Bridgend United Church, Bridgend. An evening of your favourite hymns and Christian songs, and an opportunity to hear the latest about the work of Christian Aid around the world. Organised by the Bridgend Christian Aid Committee. For further details please contact Rev Val Davies on 01656 654120.

FRIDAY 30 MARCH Super Soup Lunch 12.30pm, Blackwood Methodist Church, Wesley Road, Blackwood NP12 1PP. Speaker: Robin Samuel, Christian Aid For further details, contact Bert Harper-Asbridge on 01495 229573.

SATURDAY 16 JUNE, SUNDAY 17 JUNE Art for Africa Fern Lea, Trellech Cross, Monmouth NP25 4PX. The long-running art exhibition and sale for Christian Aid returns to its original venue. Full details available from Peter or Catherine Symes on 01600 860264 or John Aubrey on 01594 827516.

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 Wales) 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 News 25

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EVENTS 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

A brilliant evening was had by all at the second Poverty Over Burns Supper in Glasgow. The evening’s highlights included a world class performance of Tam o’ Shanter by guest speaker Neil MacGillvary, as well as a very funny Immortal Memory from Doug Gay and an excellent original Burns-style poem written by Kathy Galloway. The Hallanshankers provided outstanding music for the ceilidh, which was filled with joyful dancing from the guests.

Here be dragons… Slay poverty this July by joining the Christian Aid Dragon Boat Team! In conjunction with Preston City Council’s Guild Team and other charities working in partnership, Christian Aid will be making a splash for cash on Saturday 21 July as we compete in Preston Riversway Festival’s dragon boat race! If you want to get on board, contact Karen Dudleston at KDudleston@christianaid.org or on 01925 582825. You can register for just £15 and by pledging to raise at least £50 in sponsorship.

Souping up the fight against poverty

26 Christian Aid News

Go up the wall or get on your bike! This year, Christian Aid is wishing a very happy fifth birthday to two of our most popular fundraising challenge events. The Hadrian’s Wall Weekend Trek and the London to Paris Bike Ride both hit the half decade mark in 2012, and, like all good things, are getting better with age. This year’s 25-mile trek along the UNESCO world heritage site takes place from 29 June to 1 July, and will be particularly special as it will take in a fantastic installation being set up to mark the London Olympics. Aside from this, there will be the usual breathtaking scenery, camaraderie and personal challenge you can expect from this popular fundraising trek. For more information about this and other treks, go online at christianaid.org.uk/trekking The London to Paris Bike Ride is

marking its fifth anniversary from 18-22 July. After a glorious four-day ride through gorgeous English and French countryside, we will arrive in Paris in time to watch the final stage of the Tour de France along the Champs Elysées. To find out more about the charity cycling challenge of a lifetime visit christianaid.org.uk/cycling

Walkers tackle a steep section alongside Hadrian’s Wall

Christian Aid/Libby Gordon

All across the nation on 30 March, chums, colleagues and congregations will get together to sip soup as part of the Super Soup Lunch. From bisques to broths, Christian Aid supporters will join spoons to raise funds to help fight against hunger across the globe. We are well on the way to reaching our £100,000 target, so thank you to all who have signed up to take part. If you don’t want to miss out, it’s not too late – you can still hold your own Super Soup Lunch! For more details, contact Laura Sale at 020 7523 2328 or email lsale@christian-aid.org

Christian Aid/Matthew Gonzalez-Noda

Burns Supper

✁

Cyclists celebrate after completing the London to Paris bike ride

Have you joined our band of walkers?

Events Fundraising Calendar 2012

Throughout the year, thousands of supporters take part in locally organised sponsored walks for Christian Aid. One of our newest walks is in Bishop’s Waltham in Hampshire on 13 May. This pleasant country walk had a great first year in 2011, so why not join in this year if you live nearby? Also taking place are the Chippenham Sponsored Walk in Wiltshire on 21 April and the Scottish Cumbrae Challenge on 16 June, which will see participants choosing to walk, run or cycle the routes. Elsewhere, the East Herts Walk on 12 May offers a host of routes between 5km and 26 miles, while the Circle the City Walk in Nottingham will take in the city sights during Christian Aid Week. Alongside these new routes, we are celebrating the Christian Aid walks that have seen people rambling through our countryside for decades, including the bridge crosses in Scotland. The Forth Bridge Cross is celebrating its 40th birthday on 28 April and it’s the 25th anniversary of the Erskine Bridge Cross on 5 May. Circle the City in London marks its 15th anniversary on 20 May, but Newton Abbot in Devon beats them all with its 45th year on 12 May. If there isn’t a walk in your area, why not start one with friends and family? Visit www.caevents.org.uk for a variety of helpful resources. Visit christianaid.org.uk/walks to find your nearest or contact your local office to find out more.

sponsored Abseils March 2012 The Super Soup Lunch 30 March 2012 Brighton Marathon 15 April 2012 Virgin London Marathon 22 April 2012 LONDON TO BRIGHTON TREK 20 May 2012 BUPA Great Manchester Run 12-13 May 2012 Edinburgh Marathon 27 May 2012 HOLY ISLAND Night Hike 22-23 June 2012 Hadrian’s Wall Weekend Trek 29 June – 1 July 2012 London to Paris Bike Ride 18-22 July 2012

leap year fundraising

This spring saw hundreds of Christian Aid supporters from across England take a leap of faith as we challenged them to go over the edge to end poverty. Daredevil abseilers took part in Manchester, Newcastle, Hertfordshire, Exeter, Surrey and Dorset. Huge congratulations to everyone who took part in the events and a massive thank you to all the volunteers who helped make the days such a success!

Quizaid 10-14 September 2012 BUPA Great North Run 16 September 2012 CATHEDRALS TO COAST BIKE RIDE 22-23 September 2012 Royal Parks Half Marathon 7 October 2012 Santa Dash 5K Fun Runs December 2012

Walk through fire to end poverty

The Big Christmas Sing 7-9 December 2012 Burns Supper 19-26 January 2013

Visit christianaid. org.uk/events to find out more.

Shutterstock

Do you fancy trying a new kind of challenge this year? Here’s one idea that should have you hot-footing it to London in May. Christian Aid is delighted to once again be part of this year’s Pentecost Festival (18-27 May 2012) and as part of the celebrations we are hosting our very own Sponsored Firewalk challenge! Come to central London on Saturday 26 May and set fire to your fears by walking barefoot along a bed of burning embers in front of your amazed friends and family (don’t worry: a full two-hour training session is provided). Places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. All you need to do is register in advance for just £15 and commit to raising at least £50 for Christian Aid. • Full details at christianaid.org.uk/firewalk

HRISTIAN AID WEEK

INPUT

Inspired? Enraged? Send your views to: The Editor, Christian Aid News, 35 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7RL or email canews@christian-aid.org Population Priorities

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I agree with Mike Dommett (Input, Issue 54) about the loss of aid to corruption: this is a very serious problem that has not yet been adequately addressed. However, I think he is too dismissive of the population issue. Population continues to grow by about a billion in 12 years. The website breathingearth. net shows what is happening to our numbers, and while most of the increase is in the developing world, countries that are considered developed are also contributing to the increase. It is not true to say that ‘it has worked everywhere else’ – few countries have a steady or declining population. In any case, the numbers of women denied access to family planning, as shown in Dr Moor’s letter in the same issue, are surely just candidates for charitable concern. According to the UN Population Fund, about 40 per cent of all pregnancies are unintentional. That’s not something we should wish, especially as it directly leads to 40 million abortions annually, of which about 20 million are unsafe, resulting in many deaths and permanent disabilities. Inability to access family planning results in great suffering. However, some countries have

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK

achieved remarkable reductions in their rates of reproduction: studies show that whatever else applies, including changes in prosperity, the key requirement is the removal of the barriers to contraceptive methods, such as ignorance and misinformation. When these barriers are removed, through education and good use of the media, and contraceptives become easy to obtain, per capita wealth has little effect on family size. The evidence is clear that at whatever stage of development a country has achieved, the means of reducing the reproductive rate are welcomed and used. Investment in family planning and in education interact synergistically. It is imperative that attention be given to the growing unmet need for family planning. Roger Plenty, Stroud, Gloucestershire

Faces in the crowd I presume that when you print crowd photos usually you do not know who is in them, so here is some information on the Bearing Witness photo on page 16 of Issue 54 of Christian Aid News. The tall man with glasses and red shirt is Rev Michael Gisbourne, vicar of St Paul’s Church, Scotforth, Lancaster who

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is also chair of the Lancaster Christian Aid committee. His wife Elaine is down left and two of their daughters, Katie and Anna, are between them. My wife, Christine, who directed and conducted the Christian Aid Choir Northwest for 10 years up to 2009 (in that time it raised £46,000 for Christian Aid), is behind Elaine, and I am left of Christine. For 30 years I was the Christian Aid Week organiser for Lancaster. I remain a Christian Aid News distributor… Keep up your high standards of production – the map error on page 23 must be infuriating! Arton Medd, via email Editor’s reply: thank you, Arton for shining a little light onto a crowded photo. As for your other point… CHRISTIAN AID WEEK

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Map mishap

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Christian Aid Week 2011 How it all adds up...

CHRISTIAN

Thank you for producing such an eyeopening edition of Christian Aid News, Without with so many interesting accounts of the dedicat ed effort of suppor ters who organisthroughout e fundraising eve your current projects the nts and the country ’s biggest houseto-house collect These are the ion, this world. However,ach Iieve did note an on wonerror derful ment would not figures to end of be possible. If you want to help youmap the Christian Aid Week 2011 that r reg ion top its 2011 tota November 2011. l in 2012, go to christianaid.o rg.uk/volunte We expect to er region needs correcting. The East or get inNorth touch with you r local Christian receive Christian Aid is labelled as ‘Yorkshire’ and Yorkshire branch Aid Week 2011 as the ‘North East’! Perhaps you could income up to the end of the 2011/12 clarify whether the totals labelled in financial year, so the red boxes are those collected in the this figure will SCOTLAND £1,667,865 corresponding regions. keep on growing! SCOTLAND Priscilla Wadge, TOTAL £10,938,460* Wiltshire Editor’s reply: NORTHERN NORTH EAST IRELAND £331,937 a number of £505,721 Pentecost Festival is art, music and theatre. It’s comedy, sport and film. It’s debates, NORTH readers have NORTHERN EAST dance and a celebration of the diverse Christian communities in London. IRELAND NORTH contacted us YORKSHIRE WEST £660,500 about this. NORTH WEST YORKFor listings, ticket information and updates visit: www.pentecostfestival.co.uk £984,158 SHIRE As you’ve all EAST MIDLANDS £547,041 realised there was an error on the map, WEST MIDLANDS £817,583 EAST apologise. The names for whichMIDLANDS we REPUBLIC OF IRELAND EAST OF ENGLAND ‘Yorkshire’ and the ‘North£519,507 East’ were

PENTECOST FESTIVAL

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

WALES

£501,139

£39,544

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WALES

EAST OF ENGLAND

WEST MIDLANDS

OXFORD

WEST

£657,543 SOUTH WEST

SOUTH WEST

£794,920

£872,126

LONDON AND THE SOUTH EAST

£1,879,446

COMMENT inadvertently swapped and this was not picked up during the editing process. However, the figures associated with each area are correct (that is £660,500 raised in Yorkshire and £331,937 in the North East). We reproduce a corrected version here, and the digital version of Issue 54 (http://digitalcan.christianaid. org.uk/) has also been updated.

Whither Haiti? I am not a Christian, but still liked Issue 54 of Christian Aid News – informative, good coverage and not plugging your own ‘brand’ like some. I was surprised, however, not to see anything on Haiti, two years after the devastating earthquake. I would like to see some thoughts on how aid and development should be used after a disaster, in countries with widespread poverty and weak state institutions. Victor Cadaxa, Houghton-Le-Spring, Tyne & Wear Editor’s reply: as we went to press with Issue 54, Christian Aid journalist Sarah Wilson was about to revisit Haiti. You can read her report on page 8.

Whither Jesus? I found Issue 54 of Christian Aid News informative and inspiring, but halfway through I began to wonder why there was no reference to Jesus Christ, our founder and teacher. Then, on the Input page, John Shaw of Rickmansworth was asking the same question. Could it be that some of our partners are secular or of another faith and don’t share our enthusiasm for Jesus and his teachings? There might even be grounds for removing the word Christian from our title. After all, the Children’s Society used to be the Church of England Children’s Society. I do hope we don’t even think of going that way. Gordon Collins Alford, Lincolnshire Editor’s reply: rest assured Gordon, Christian Aid will not be dropping the Christian from our name, any more than we would drop it from who we are. Our work is founded on Christian faith, inspired by hope and acts to change an unjust world through charity. Christian Aid remains committed to working with people of all faiths and none. That said, our own faith runs through all we do and I hope that the Christian Aid Week coverage in this issue reflects our close partnership with churches throughout Britain and in countries where we work.

Making the case for foreign aid In print and in radio debates, Christian Aid news editor Andrew Hogg has found himself increasingly called on to defend UK aid to emerging economies. Here he reminds us what would be lost if aid ceased There are numerous ways in which the media can fan controversy; banner headlines help, of course, along with trenchant columnists, and fire-breathing broadcasters with eyes firmly fixed on the ratings. Once the hue and cry is on, the finer points of an argument are quickly lost in the clamour. One such furore surrounds UK government aid to the emerging economies of India, which has its own space programme, and Brazil, with a GDP now bigger than our own. No matter that the changing demographics of poverty mean that 75 per cent of the world’s poorest, living on less than US$1.25 a day, are now in middle-income countries, with India alone home to a third of those in the most desperate need. No matter either that at £8.7bn in 2011-12, the government’s total foreign aid budget runs at just one per cent of total government spending – but still manages to make a major contribution to combating poverty. This includes, in the next few years, providing an education to some 11 million children and saving the lives of 50,000 women who would otherwise have died in pregnancy or childbirth. In a country such as the UK, where free health and education are taken for granted, the life and death nature of such interventions can be difficult to grasp. With the recession biting, a number of commentators insist that charity should start and finish at home. At the forefront of agencies defending UK aid, Christian Aid has been open about declaring an interest. A number

of projects on which we are engaged in developing countries are funded by the Department for International Development (DFID). Existing programmes, some in existence since 2008 and some going through to 2016, account for £90m. It is not self-interest, however, that informs our stance. Nor do we minimise the very real economic struggle many in Britain face today. The stark reality is that in emerging economies, growth’s benefits are often shared unequally, outstripping the anti-poverty efforts of newly wealthy governments. In India, for example, a £25m DFID programme we manage as a part of a consortium plays an important role in helping marginalised and socially excluded groups such as dalits, tribal communities and women in poverty. The Indian government has recently endeavoured to make education available to all and provide health services in poorer areas, but poverty there is based on deep-rooted structural causes such as caste, gender and ethnicity-based factors that predate the economic boom. Brazil, despite its present economic growth, remains among the worst 10 countries in the world for income inequality. Some 16 million people – equivalent to the population of the Netherlands – still live in abject poverty. Difference in incomes is not the only manifestation of inequality. Wide disparities also exist in access to services such as health and education, with systematic impacts on life expectancy and literacy, for example. A high proportion of poor 10- to 14-year-old boys, for example, try to combine studying with work as child labourers. In 2009 more than three out of four of the poorest 20 per cent of children failed to complete even primary education and barely one in 200 students from the same group completed higher education. Faced with these realities, it is clear to us that eradicating extreme want still requires determined efforts – including UK aid.

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A reflection on playing a part in the fight against poverty, and living life in the wider family of Christian Aid In October 2011, a group of 13 Christian Aid interns travelled to the south west of Sierra Leone to see the work of our partner organisation the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone. Sofya Shahab was one of them and this is her story Stepping off the plane in Sierra Leone, what hit me first was the air. It felt and smelt tangibly different – heavier and greener, a combination of fresh humidity with an underlying smokiness. The second thing that struck me, and the part of Sierra Leone that I will carry with me forever, was the people. For a country torn apart by pain they were so joyful, welcoming us wherever we went. Venturing out of Freetown towards the town of Gbap (pronounced Bap), we all turned slightly paler when Christian Aid staff member Eustace Mensah halted the convoy to distribute sick bags. Our visit to Sierra Leone was marked by long bumpy journeys, as we wove in and around what were not so much potholes in the roads but craters, simulating what can only be described as a very slow rollercoaster. As road maintenance declined so did the frequency and number of the signs declaring that this well had been built by World Vision or that school provided by Oxfam. That is when the commitment and dedication of Christian Aid and our partners hit me: they are willing to travel in Sierra Leone to where no one else will, to help those communities no one else will help. The strong relationship between Christian Aid’s partner organisation in Bonthe, the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone (MCSL), and the people it supports was evident. There was trust and hope in Gbap whenever the people spoke about the work MCSL is doing. The model through which MCSL works means that it has invested in the community, allowing the people of Gbap to take control of their own lives, by empowering action and debate within the public sphere. This was particularly evident among the women of the village. Women like

30 Christian Aid News

the power of hope Sofya dances with villagers in Gbap, Sierra Leone

Christian Aid/Moses Tutesigensi

LAST WORD

That is when the commitment and dedication of Christian Aid and our partners hit me: they are willing to travel in Sierra Leone to where no one else will, to help those communities no one else will help Mary Samuels are challenging traditional gender models through the village development committee, a structure introduced by MCSL that allows people traditionally marginalised from decisionmaking to make their voices heard. Mary and others are gradually altering social consciousness in a country where women have long been among society’s most marginalised groups. Formidable but warm, it was Mary’s drive and charisma that convinced me that while it may be a difficult task, her daughters will have the education and voice she desires. We spent the night in Gbap, a night

without a spot of electricity. The children overcame their shyness until there must have been about 80 of us dancing, singing and playing games under the stars. After so much suffering, the people of Sierra Leone are beginning to rebuild their country, providing their children with hope for the future. Sofya is working on a new youth website during her internship with Christian Aid

Accompany us! Christian Aid’s partner the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) – featured on this page in the last issue of Christian Aid News – is now recruiting people for placements in 2013. EAPPI provides an international presence in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel, to monitor human rights and accompany those whose lives are affected by the occupation. The deadline for applications is June. For more information or to apply, please visit quaker.org.uk/eappi

With a Will, you can look after all the people you care about. It may look like a dry legal document, but a Will is really an act of care. Or even love. When you make a Will, you make a commitment to look after your family and friends even when you’re gone. And if you wish, you can do something even more extraordinary. By including Christian Aid in your Will, you can extend that loving care to people in other parts of the world. To a girl who wants to go to school in Bangladesh. To a community ravaged by war in Sudan. To the people you are already doing so much to help in your lifetime.

To find out more about the caring power of Wills, contact Kerry at kmcmahon@christian-aid.org or on 020 7523 2173.

DO IT YOUR WAY CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 13-19 May 2012 Want to help people in poverty out of poverty? Then join thousands of others fundraising this Christian Aid Week by doing it your way and making change possible for people across the world.

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