Presbyterian Moderator Dr Ken Newell is to report next week on how the £1.8m (€2.6m) generously donated by Presbyterians around Ireland for tsunami relief has been spent.
The Moderator will give his report at a special event entitled "Overwhelmed, Tsunami and Beyond" to be held in Church House, Fisherwick Place, Belfast at 7.30pm on Thursday 19 May which is open to anyone who wishes to come along.
"Following the tsunami I launched an appeal across our Church and I have been overwhelmed at people's generosity," said the Moderator. "By the end of March £1.8m (€2.6m) had been donated by Presbyterians around Ireland to help those affected by the tsunami. I want to say thank you and one of the best ways to do that is to let people know how their money has helped others."
Relief and development partners of the Presbyterian Church, Tearfund and Christian Aid have both received £600,000 each while the remaining £600,000 is being distributed by the Presbyterian Overseas Board to partner churches, particularly the Church of North India.
The Moderator has recently returned from a visit to the Tamil Nadu region on the south east coast of India. Much of the Presbyterian Church's money has been used by Christian Aid and Tearfund in this area to build temporary accommodation for homeless families, to provide new fishing boats and repair damaged ones and provide replacement fishing nets for communities devastated by the tsunami.
"The more I saw of how our partners are working in relief and development, the more I was impressed," commented the Moderator on his brief visit to the affected area. "They are very professional and very wise. They spend time consulting with the communities helping them to prioritise their needs. Then they work together to fulfil those needs.
"Our partners are not just here for a few weeks or months but are committed long term to put programmes in place that will return these communities to the vibrant ones they were before the tsunami.
"I am more than satisfied that the hopes of our Church in giving such a vast amount of money are being fulfilled. There is no doubt that every penny we have given is being used effectively by people whom we can trust. It makes me very proud to see how the Presbyterian Church has been able to help and I think the appeal and our response has been one of great blessing from our church to a part of the world in great need."
Also taking part in the Church House event will be Sudipta Singh, Programmes Director of the Church of North India who have received £400,000 form the Presbyterian Church to help with relief programmes on the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These low lying islands are only about 300 miles north of the epicentre of the Boxing Day earthquake and were devastated by the subsequent tsunami. As the largest church in the area the Church of North India has been the main provider of emergency relief in the area and is now embarking on major redevelopment programmes with help from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to help the communities rebuild their lives and livelihoods.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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