Something to share......
For over 30 years the community of St. David's in Mold has supported the work of CAFOD.
CAFOD (the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) works with communities in need throughout the world, responding to crises, poverty, and natural disasters through its aid and development work, whilst also campaigning for social justice.
Over the years our support has helped communities in India, Cambodia, Burundi, the Philippines, Bolivia, Sierra Leone, Brazil, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan and Darfur, Tanzania, Zambia, Ethiopia ... the list goes on!
So, what have we done?
We began, all those years ago, by
. providing fertilizer to Warangal India
. supporting mat weaving in the Philippines
. sending sewing machines to India
. providing water collection systems in Bolivia and Sierra Leone
. helping to provide legal advice on land rights issues in Brazil.
More recently we have supported initiatives such as:
· HIV/AIDS work, helping families cope with the reality of AIDS
· projects for AIDS orphans and grandparents bringing up their grandchildren
· providing clean water supplies
· giving people training and skills for life, enabling communities to cope with the effects of climate change.
As a parish we are also increasingly involved in the campaigning work of CAFOD, raising awareness of issues which affect us all and challenging our politicians to make decisions which favour the disadvantaged and provide for a fairer future for all.
How do we do it?
As a parish we support this work through:
· Family Fast Day
· First Sunday collections after Mass
· Our annual Plant & Produce sales
· Special collections (e.g. after the disaster in Haiti)
· Fund-raising events
· Direct campaigns such as writing to MPs and attending demonstrations (Make Poverty History; 'the Wave' Climate Change event)
· Raising awareness
· Encouraging Fair Trade
Where does the money go?
We see many of these activities going on through theparish.
We see evidence of crises, disasters and poverty everyday on our news programmes.
We know there is a need and we know CAFOD isresponding.
But sometimes we'd like to know what happens next.
'Connect 2'
Well now we can find out!
This month CAFOD launches the 'Connect 2' scheme as a direct response to the request from supporters for more information about the projects and communities we support, about how the money is used and the difference it makes.
'Connect 2' is designed to foster a closer relationship between our local community and those communities supported by CAFOD.
Through 'Connect 2', we will be able to:
· follow the life of a community in Brazil
· get to know the community and the challenges people face
· learn about the complexities and needs of the community
· monitor the ups and downs of the project
· understand what can be achieved through our support
· see how the money is used.
Reflection
May we learn from our friends
Near and far,
sharing knowledge
to build a peaceful world
together,
so each of us can grow and
realise our full potential.
Produced by the CAFOD Group, St. David's parish. See the parish newsletter or website over the coming weeks for more information about 'Connect 2' and news of our launch event this Autumn.
For more information on CAFOD and how you can get involved, contact Joyce Elcock: elcocks(at)dsl.pipex.com
For over 30 years the community of St. David's in Mold has supported the work of CAFOD.
CAFOD (the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) works with communities in need throughout the world, responding to crises, poverty, and natural disasters through its aid and development work, whilst also campaigning for social justice.
Over the years our support has helped communities in India, Cambodia, Burundi, the Philippines, Bolivia, Sierra Leone, Brazil, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan and Darfur, Tanzania, Zambia, Ethiopia ... the list goes on!
So, what have we done?
We began, all those years ago, by
. providing fertilizer to Warangal India
. supporting mat weaving in the Philippines
. sending sewing machines to India
. providing water collection systems in Bolivia and Sierra Leone
. helping to provide legal advice on land rights issues in Brazil.
More recently we have supported initiatives such as:
· HIV/AIDS work, helping families cope with the reality of AIDS
· projects for AIDS orphans and grandparents bringing up their grandchildren
· providing clean water supplies
· giving people training and skills for life, enabling communities to cope with the effects of climate change.
As a parish we are also increasingly involved in the campaigning work of CAFOD, raising awareness of issues which affect us all and challenging our politicians to make decisions which favour the disadvantaged and provide for a fairer future for all.
How do we do it?
As a parish we support this work through:
· Family Fast Day
· First Sunday collections after Mass
· Our annual Plant & Produce sales
· Special collections (e.g. after the disaster in Haiti)
· Fund-raising events
· Direct campaigns such as writing to MPs and attending demonstrations (Make Poverty History; 'the Wave' Climate Change event)
· Raising awareness
· Encouraging Fair Trade
Where does the money go?
We see many of these activities going on through theparish.
We see evidence of crises, disasters and poverty everyday on our news programmes.
We know there is a need and we know CAFOD isresponding.
But sometimes we'd like to know what happens next.
'Connect 2'
Well now we can find out!
This month CAFOD launches the 'Connect 2' scheme as a direct response to the request from supporters for more information about the projects and communities we support, about how the money is used and the difference it makes.
'Connect 2' is designed to foster a closer relationship between our local community and those communities supported by CAFOD.
Through 'Connect 2', we will be able to:
· follow the life of a community in Brazil
· get to know the community and the challenges people face
· learn about the complexities and needs of the community
· monitor the ups and downs of the project
· understand what can be achieved through our support
· see how the money is used.
Reflection
May we learn from our friends
Near and far,
sharing knowledge
to build a peaceful world
together,
so each of us can grow and
realise our full potential.
Produced by the CAFOD Group, St. David's parish. See the parish newsletter or website over the coming weeks for more information about 'Connect 2' and news of our launch event this Autumn.
For more information on CAFOD and how you can get involved, contact Joyce Elcock: elcocks(at)dsl.pipex.com
