World Development is a Presbyterian Church programme, helping people trapped by poverty. It works in long-term partnership with the poor, changing lives and communities for the better, supporting projects in every continent. Resources are channelled through the agencies Christian Aid and Tearfund who work in the countries of need.
This December the World Development appeal, entitled 'Horizons of Hope' will be launched in congregations throughout Ireland. The money raised will support the work in three countries: Rwanda, Ethiopia and Cambodia. As the people in these countries struggle to overcome the legacies of the past ten, twenty and thirty years, they are given hope for the future through the ongoing support that Christian Aid and Tearfund offer.
In 1994 Rwanda suffered genocidal horror and an estimated one million people were murdered. Today the country is peaceful, although fear and trauma remains. There are numerous orphan headed households and the underlying causes of poverty still exist. World Development supports two projects here creating food security by providing agricultural help and skills training.
In 1984 Ethiopia suffered severe drought and the subsequent crop failure brought famine to millions. Today much grassroots development work means that the most recent drought did not bring the catastrophic famine of before. However, there are still serious threats of famine due to land degradation, lack of clean water and the impact of HIV/AIDS. World Development is supporting programmes that work alongside communities, building towards food security, adequate health-care provision and justice for the marginalized.
In the early 1970s Cambodia suffered under the ruthlessly enforced ideology of the Khmer Rouge, which decimated every aspect of the country's structures. Today stability is gradually being restored. However, one third of Cambodians are illiterate with over half of women receiving no formal education. World Development is supporting projects that try to knit together family and community life.
During the last two years, through the generosity of congregations, over £1m was shared equally between Tearfund and Christian Aid to support 24 HIV/AIDS programmes in India, Ghana, Brazil, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Serbia, Thailand, Zambia, Argentina, Jamaica, Kosovo, Serbia, Ethiopia, Cambodia and Sierra Leone.
The ten, twenty and thirty year anniversaries of the horrors in Rwanda, Ethiopia and Cambodia serve to highlight the long-term relationships that World Development is involved in around the world. Presbyterians are urged to give generously to the appeal this year so that the people in these countries can continue to have hope as they struggle to deal with the aftermath of these atrocities.
Issued by Sarah Harding, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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