CHANGE CAN BE CHALLENGING. We rely on the comfort of routines to get through the day. Moving house, getting to know a new colleague or even a hiccup to our commute can easily throw us off our game.
Toronto’s SkyDome opened in 1989 and became the Rogers Centre in 2005, though many still refer to it as the SkyDome. In 2021, the diocese of British Columbia changed its name to the diocese of Islands and Inlets. In 2024, the Ecclesiastical Province of Rupert’s Land became the Ecclesiastical Province of the Northern Lights. Getting used to new things and new names can be challenging, but newness can also be life-giving. At Alongside Hope, formerly PWRDF, we strive for change, whether it’s the gift of a goat that transforms a family’s nutrition and income, clean water that transforms the health of a community, or education programs that transform someone’s ability to earn an income.
As Christians, we know a thing or two about change. Change and transformation are at the very heart of the Gospel story. When God took on flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, he was doing something new. Through Christ’s life, death and resurrection, he changed the world. And when we choose to follow him, our hearts are changed.
In this issue of Under the Sun, we include stories of change from our partners in Gaza and Kenya and how a priest was transformed by her ministry with the Waswanapi First Nation in the Diocese of Moosonee. We’ll also share more about our own story of change to become Alongside Hope.
Pray for Alongside Hope
Your 2025 Alongside Hope parish resources are now available for order! We have created new place mats, book marks, bulletin covers, offering envelopes and a host of other new material to share with your community. Among the resources is a suggested prayer to include in your Prayers of the People or biddings. Feel free to customize it to your parish:
Elizabeth Mwende Mutua proudly shows the goat she received from Alongside Hope partner ADSE in Kenya. Goats are a powerful tool for transforming families and communities. They provide a source of protein, income and fertilizer, leading to a brighter future. Thanks to your support of the 2024 World of Gifts campaign, 158 goats will be distributed in Kitui county.
Our name has changed. Our work stays the same.
After almost two years of listening together and planning, PWRDF has chosen Alongside Hope as our new name. It was approved at a Special Members meeting held Tuesday, October 15, 2024, in accordance with our corporate bylaws.
In 2022, the Board of Directors allocated funding for the creation of a new name. We selected a Task Team of staff, board members and volunteers from across Canada. This team gathered on Zoom with the goal of identifying a compelling name – a name that better reflects our work, and one that would sustain our work into the future. In these and other discussions with stakeholders and staff, one dominant theme emerged: partnership
Canadian Foodgrains Bank, KAIROS, Cooperation Canada, among others.
• We partner with our generous donors, without whose support none of our partners’ work would be possible.
• We partner with funding agencies including Global Affairs Canada, businesses and a growing number of private and family foundations.
Let us pray for Alongside Hope (formerly the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund) as it walks alongside partners, across the globe and here at home, sharing hope for a better world on behalf of Anglicans in Canada. Amen. Our Mission Statement:
To watch a video about our new name please scan the QR code or visit alongsidehope.org.
• We partner with local organizations who carry out the work that you support — life-giving work that improves food security, champions gender rights, provides training on conservation agriculture, and creates income opportunities.
• We partner with membership organizations that allow us to be part of a larger network. These include the Anglican Alliance, the ACT Alliance, the
• We partner with the Anglican Church of Canada, Anglican dioceses, spiritual ministries and ecclesiastical provinces, through their bishops and their PWRDF Representatives, who support our programs and invite us to spread the good news of PWRDF at synods and other meetings.
• We partner with parish representatives, clergy and countless volunteers in the pews across the country, who share our stories and engage others in our work. This theme of partnership or
Inspired by God’s love for all creation, Alongside Hope accompanies, learns with, and responds to the priorities of our partners, acting together to improve the well-being of communities.
Our Values:
“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” Our Vision Statement: A truly just, healthy and peaceful world.
accompaniment is woven throughout the Bible, but the task team was drawn to the story of the road to Emmaus. Days after Jesus died, the disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, still grieving their loss. As Luke writes, the resurrected
Alongside Hope will carry us into the future
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Jesus came alongside them, but they did not know it was him. Jesus travelled with them and then accepted their hospitality to dine with them. In the breaking of bread, their eyes were opened and they recognized him. When we walk alongside one another, Jesus accompanies us. We are strengthened and comforted and recognize Jesus when we share in his feast.
As we walk alongside each of our partners, supporting, listening and sharing with one another, we embrace and embody the hope of a better world. Thus was born our new name: Alongside Hope, Anglicans and partners working for change in Canada and around the world, and in French, Auprès de l’espoir : Anglicans et partenaires œuvrant pour le changement au Canada et à travers le monde.
Alongside Hope conveys the concept of partnership in a simple and uplifting way.
• It is easy to understand and to pronounce.
• It requires no lengthy or clumsy acronym.
• It de-emphasizes the colonial, top-down approach of giving and emphasizes a more collaborative approach.
• It is a name that will carry us forward into the future.
You’ll note our new name pairs well with our existing globe icon. This continuity will improve brand recognition as we continue the transition to Alongside Hope over the coming year.
Got questions?
Check out our FAQ at pwrdf.org/frequentlyasked-questions or alongsidehope.org.
Staff, Diocesan Representatives, members of the Board and Youth Council and partners from Zimbabwe gather in Hamilton, Ontario in November. 2024.
Anglicans in Canada respond to a mining disaster in Springhill, Nova Scotia, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to support families.
The Primate’s World Relief Fund is established at Synod as an agency to fund disaster response.
1958 1959 1969 2018 2025
The D is added, and The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund begins working with partners to provide funding for sustainable development.
What does Alongside Hope mean to you?
“I recently changed my name and I’m using a new name, and it’s taking time for people to adopt. But I have not changed. In fact, I, like Alongside Hope, am growing into myself.”
– The Rev. Barr Heuther, Alongside Hope board member
“It’s not about a handout, it’s about a hand up … That’s where the alongside comes in because that’s what we do. We walk alongside people, we don’t pull them, push them, we accompany them.”
– The Rev. Val Kerr, Indigenous Knowledge Keeper
Indigenous community’s impact on priest leads to a transformative gift
By Janice Biehn, Alongside Hope Communications and Marketing Coordinator
FOR THE Rev. Barbara Nangle, leaving a gift in her will for PWRDF was a way to honour her mother, who “never had much money to give to the church.”
Born in Toronto and baptized at St. Bartholomew’s, Regent Park in 1938, Nangle grew up “immersed in the church” from day one. “I am a lifelong Anglican,” she said from her home in Bracebridge.
The path to the priesthood was long and winding, since women were not ordained in Canada until 1976. “My mother always told me I was going to grow up to be a missionary for the Bishop’s messengers, who were going across the North country helping people and sharing the Gospel.
“I never really thought about being ordained, but I got deeply into guiding in Dorset.” That’s where she met Maureen Lawrence, who was a guide commissioner and would later become the president of the PWRDF board. Maureen’s husband, Caleb, was the Bishop of Moosonee.
Eventually in 2001, at age 63, Nangle was ordained and headed to St. Barnabas’ in the Indigenous community of Waswanapi, a 13hour drive from Bracebridge.
Barbara Nangle was ordained at age 63 and then spent 10 years as the Rector of St. Barnabas Church in the far northern reaches of Quebec in the diocese of Moosonee. She was delighted to share her story with Alongside Hope. Sadly, Nangle died on December 2, 2024. Copies of this story, which appears in full on our website, were shared at her funeral.
“My first visit there I baptized seven babies. There was a feast for everything.”
The church had just been built by the band, and Nangle was its first Rector. “Everybody in the community of Waswanapi was a survivor of the residential schools. That’s where they got their Christian faith, even though there were horrors.
“Bishop Caleb figured I’d learn Cree in three years. I did learn some words. I preached as I could through the voice of their Chief. People were very, very kind, helping me out whenever they could.”
It was Nangle’s experience living in
“The name is easier to say and it’s more specific. It shows what we do. And what we do is bring hope to the people that need hope in this world, because all you have to show is kindness.”
– Abuk Deng, Alongside Hope Youth Council
PWRDF changes its graphic representation to a colourful globe-like icon that evokes a stained-glass window and an inclusive and diverse world.
“Alongside Hope speaks to me of coming alongside people and accompanying them on their journey... When we open our hands and give something, what is returned to us is something incredibly beautiful.” – Archbishop Anne Germond, Primate
“In 2019, we were hit by Cyclone Idai. We were in desperate need. PWRDF staff came and assessed our situation. Then you supported us with food, clothes and all the basic needs. Thank you Alongside Hope!” – Farai Gumisai, TSURO Trust, Zimbabwe
A SPECIAL GIFT
“One night midweek I was invited to come to the Elders lodge for a surprise. There was a huge crowd. In high style I was escorted to a seat of honour with ceremony. This was the only time that this happened and I was surprised because it wasn’t a special occasion that I was aware of. It was a First Nations celebration with drums and incense and song and dance. It was in my honour and they went all out. The food was Aboriginal but it was all of their dishes that they knew I liked. The rice pudding had been simmering on the stove and all the dishes had particular significance to our relationship as priest and people.
“Before closing with the traditional bonfire the Chief called for quiet and in the silence of the dark night I was called forward and presented with an eagle feather, beautifully beaded. It is still one of my special treasures.
“The air was electric for days as people retold the story of a reward that I never expected. It changed my life through the deep spiritual Aboriginal life that I learned to respect. Many that were there that evening are etched in the love of acceptance, of acknowledgment of the bonds between God and all people in the world. This evening happened because people really loved and cared for each other. It shows how we are all gifted by our Creator and can change all the problems of the world. Thank you God for giving me this wonderful experience. Our God is an amazing God.”
Waswanapi and her compassion for residential school survivors that connected her to PWRDF. Her bequest will specifically support PWRDF’s Indigenous programs.
“My mom never had much money to give to the church although her offering envelope was ready every Sunday morning. This is the main reason I want to give this money,
which is solely from the proceeds from the sale of her house in Toronto many years ago. It was her mother’s house, and she left it to me, so it represents three generations of women. I wanted a way to honour my mom. I feel so glad that I have a chance to put something into the community. This is really for her.”
PWRDF becomes Alongside Hope.
Changing the trauma of war for children in Gaza
By Jacqueline Tingle, Alongside Hope Communications and Marketing Officer
THE ONGOING conflict in Gaza has had a devastating impact on the physical and mental health of children. Alongside Hope is a longtime supporter of the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza that is operated by the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem. With funding from Alongside Hope and other members of the Anglican Alliance, Al-Ahli launched a program to help children recover from the trauma and hardships of war.
While participating in the program, children can play, learn and interact with others in a safe and supportive environment. “The program aims to foster self-development and acquire skills to overcome difficulties and struggles resulting from the war,” says Nevin Al Sheikh, the program’s coordinator. “It teaches them how to express their emotions and includes displaced children living in tents from the Gaza Strip.”
The program consists of five 90-minute sessions that are delivered over five days. The sessions are designed to be fun and engaging, with activities such as games, arts, and crafts. However, they also provide a platform for children to share their experiences, process their emotions, and develop resilience to their situation in a safe space. The program strives to reintroduce some normalcy into the children’s lives, providing structure that would typically be provided by a regular school schedule, were it not for the war.
Noor, a young girl participating in the program, lost her father, brothers and uncle in the war. She and her mother were both treated for illnesses at the hospital. Noor noticed the children playing and asked if she could too. After participating in the program activities, she now experiences less anxiety and is sleeping better. “I am grateful for the improvement she made,” says her mother. “The program helps her immensely. I’d like to express my gratitude to the hospital and the people responsible for creating this program in support of the children and Palestine.”
“I joined the program to address my difficulty sleeping, stress and anxiety,” says Leen, a young Palestinian girl participating in the program. “Since enrolling in the program, I have made significant improvements. I now sleep better and no longer feel anxiety or fear.”
Despite the program’s success, the AlAhli Hospital faces significant challenges in maintaining its operations.
“The hospital is going through medicine and supplies very quickly,” Sawsan ArankiBatato, programs development officer for the Diocese of Jerusalem, told the Anglican Journal in November 2024. “We need advocacy for unlimited humanitarian aid to Gaza to save the lives of all people.”
As of January 2025, donors had given approximately $700,000 to Alongside Hope to respond to urgent needs in the Holy Land, including at the Al-Ahli Hospital and other ministries of the Diocese of Jerusalem.
Children play games and interact with each other in a safe space, returning some normalcy to their lives.
Rocket stoves transform health and homes
By Jacqueline Tingle, Alongside Hope Communications and Marketing Officer
ROSE MUENI, 59, lives in rural Kenya.
The mother of nine works hard to feed her family and like so many of her neighbours, she cooks meals over an open fire in her kitchen hut. But thanks to a new project with the Anglican Development Services Eastern (ADSE), funded by Alongside Hope, Mueni is now breathing easier with the addition of a rocket stove.
The traditional method of cooking inside, over an open fire, creates environmental challenges for the community. The excessive smoke produced by open fires posed a significant health threat to Mueni’s family, particularly to the women and children who spend more time in the kitchen than men.
The rocket stove has been a gamechanger for Mueni. Constructed by Winfred Kariuki, a trained Community-Owned Resource Person (CORPs), the rocket stove is built with locally sourced materials and is designed to be energy-efficient, environmentally friendly and less damaging to the health of people using it.
In a rocket stove, wood is fed into a small chamber, so even small pieces of wood or twigs work. The fuel chamber leads to a horizontal “burn tunnel” that sucks the heat and emissions from the fire. These emissions, such as soot or creosote are combusted in the burn tunnel, releasing even more heat, but not smoke, improving indoor air quality.
“The rocket stove has been a blessing to my family,” says Mueni. “It saves firewood, produces less smoke, and has improved our health. I am thankful to Winfred and the program for making this possible.”
One of the most significant advantages of the rocket stove is its reduced firewood consumption because it is built to burn wood more efficiently. This lessens the physical burden on the person cooking and leads to cost savings for the family.
By reducing firewood usage, the household also contributes to preserving trees in the location, aligning with bigger
goals to combat deforestation and mitigate climate change.
“Look at how cleanly the fire burns now, with no smoke!’ says Mueni. “We are so grateful to [PWRDF] and ADSE for making this project possible.” In Mueni’s kitchen, she and Kariuki show the traditional threestone stove she once used and the sootstained kitchen walls it left behind.
Rose Mueni (right) and Winfred Kariuki demonstrate Mueni’s new rocket stove, next to the old three-stone stove that covered the walls of her kitchen in soot.
The project has also had a positive impact on the local community, particularly in terms of empowering women and youth. Kariuki, the woman who constructed Rose’s stove, has gained a valuable skillset and a steady income source, enabling her to contribute to her community’s development and help provide for her family.
Thanks to you
A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE!
By Abdi Ali, Alongside Hope Supporter Relations Program Officer
From orchard to outreach
Nestled among the vineyards and orchards of East Kelowna, B.C. this small but mighty congregation of St. Mary’s continues to demonstrate a big heart for supporting important causes. This year their beloved “Apples Abound” initiative yielded another successful result. This fundraiser was made possible by a generous family of orchardists within the parish, who donated apples and pears to be offered in exchange for donations. The initiative raised $613 for Alongside Hope.
Alongside Hope wants to hear from you! Please share your fundraising success stories to inspire others and to spread the word about the good work you have done! Email info@alongsidehope.org and tell us all about it. Many thanks to all of our donors.
Honouring a hero’s vision
St. Paul’s Church in Charlottetown, PEI, recently donated $25,000 to PWRDF’s Gaza relief effort from its Gordon R. DeBlois Peace Memorial Fund. The fund was established in memory of Lieutenant Gordon DeBlois, a member of St. Paul’s and a soldier of the West Nova Regiment, who died in action in Italy in 1943. In his final letter to his parents, DeBlois prayed that sacrifices like his would not be in vain and that the world would strive for lasting peace. The parish has faithfully managed this fund for more than 40 years, honouring DeBlois’ prayer for lasting peace by supporting initiatives that advance the Gospel and foster global harmony.
A Day of Giving
The Outreach Committee of St. Mark Anglican Church in Qualicum Beach, B.C., rallied their town of 9,000 to make a big impact through a “Day of Giving” on Thanksgiving weekend. Held on the morning of Oct. 12 in St. Mark’s Church Hall, the event inspired generosity beyond the congregation, bringing together family, friends, and the wider community. Through social media, leaflets with QR codes, and direct donations, the initiative raised an impressive $5,286 for Alongside Hope’s response in Gaza and the West Bank, with a particular focus on the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza.
Baking a world of difference
When it comes to creative fundraising, the Alongside Hope Youth Council knows how to bring people together. This year, they launched a Gingerbread House fundraiser to support two projects: Indigenous Responsive Grant Fund and CoCoSI in El Salvador. The council chose these two partners to reflect their focus on reconciliation and social justice. The social media campaign in the days before Christmas featured testimonials from Youth Council members across Canada and highlighted the impact of the Indigenous Responsive Grant Fund and CoCoSI’s work in rural El Salvador to promote LGBTQ+ rights. Supporters voted and donated online for their favourite of the seven gingerbread houses, raising $2,068!
Kids supporting World of Gifts
The Sunday Club Kids at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Bridgewater, N.S., brought their energy and compassion to their PWRDF Fall Project, raising an impressive $600. Their goal? To purchase two life-changing gifts from the World of Gifts guide: a donkey to carry water and warming kits for Ukraine. The kids’ efforts will make a tangible difference. In communities in Kenya, a donkey eases the burden of carrying heavy water over long distances, improving daily life. In Ukraine, their gift will provide blankets, warm socks, flashlights and thermoses, offering warmth and hope to people with disabilities during harsh winters. The Sunday Club has shown that even small hands can make a big impact!
YOUR GIFT CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU! Donations can be made online at alongsidehope.org/give-today or by filling out this form and mailing to the address below. To learn more about our work, please visit us at www.alongsidehope.org Like
OR c I would like to make a monthly gift of $ by credit card (info at left)
c I would like to make a monthly gift of $ by pre-authorized chequing to be withdrawn on c 1st of month c 16th of month
Please enclose a personal cheque marked “Void.”
This year, the Rev. Jonathan Rowe of St. John’s, NL takes us on a Lenten journey, weaving together the five Marks of Mission and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. Using scripture, reflection and questions, prayer and partner stories, Jonathan invites the reader to consider how the design that emerges attracts us, challenges our assumptions, and invites us to grow and change. As he writes, “God’s dream is not distant or passive but intimately woven into our lives and the world. As we walk through these days, may we be moved by the depth of God’s commitment to humanity, and may we open our hearts to the ways God calls each of us to participate in bringing love, justice, and mercy to the world.”
Learn more about the resource and subscribe to receive a daily reflection in your inbox at pwrdf.org/AlongsideHopeLent2024.
