During the Christmas season the Presbyterian Church is raising awareness of world development issues through its 'Horizons of Hope' campaign.
In its second year, the campaign which last year raised over £0.5m for third world development projects, will focus on programmes in Malawi, Burundi, the Indian state of Bihar and Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
"Last year, not only did Presbyterians respond with generosity to the devastation of the tsunami, they also increased their giving to world development," said World Development Convener Mark Gray launching this year's appeal.
"This happened because of their crucial and continuing involvement in development issues. Through our partners Christian Aid and Tearfund Presbyterians support projects which empower people to shape their lives and the life of their communities in positive ways, tackle the inter-related problems that keep them poor and help knit their countries back together again.
Typical of the people and communities being helped by Presbyterian World Development are Irene Tchuwa and her fellow villagers in Ziwambera, Malawi. They realise the importance of clean water for their health. However when their village pump broke they did not have the resources to repair it forcing them to use unsafe water from the nearby river. This caused much illness and debilitated community life.
With help from a Presbyterian supported programme which helps local people not only to sink wells but also to maintain them Irene and nine of her villagers have been trained to repair the pump and once again clean water is available in Ziwambera.
Through similar projects in every continent managed by their partners Christian Aid and Tearfund, Presbyterians are supporting programmes that work alongside local people to improve their health, their education and training and lead towards self supporting communities hopeful for the future.
"By lending our support to this year's appeal, we demonstrate and deepen our commitment as Good Samaritans," thinks Mark Gray, "incarnating the love of God to those pushed to the edge of life and helping create new opportunities for them."
Earlier this year Presbyterians donated over £2m for tsunami relief and during the autumn in response to an appeal by the Moderator a further £0.3m was raised for famine relief in Malawi and disaster relief following the Pakistan earthquake.
Helping the launch the Presbyterian Church's Christmas Appeal for World Development entitled Horizons of Hope are (l-r) Tim Magowan (Tearfund), Mark Gray (Presbyterian World Development) and Margaret Boden (Christian Aid)
Money raised through the appeal, which last year was over £0.5m, will be used by Christian Aid and Tearfund for projects in Malawi, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel, Burundi and the Bihar district of India in programmes that empower communities and work alongside local people to tackle the inter-related problems that keep them poor.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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