Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

The magazine for supporters

Autumn/Winter2018

One global community With energy.

With hope.

Let us stand together against poverty

We are all God’s children.

With a gift in your Will, your love and care can live on.

We all need a Will. It’s the only way to ensure our wishes are carried out when we die.

Christian Aid / Susan Barry

We know that family and loved ones come first.

But with a gift in your Will to Christian Aid, you can help build a better future for children all over the world. You can reach out the hand of love and friendship to families you’ve never even met. You can stand together with people living in poverty, and help make sure the next generation live free from the injustice of poverty.

‘I have a belief in God that His will is to give to others. We are all God’s children.’

Mr Fitzroy Chambers, who has included Christian Aid in his Will.

Find out more about remembering God’s children in your Will.

Request your free Will Guide by filling out your details below.

You can also call our Legacies Manager Ali Linwood on 020 7523 2173.

Name: Address: Postcode: We would love to keep you up to date on the important work Christian Aid is doing. If you would like to stop receiving information by post, or you would like to change the way in which you hear from us, please call our Supporter Care team on 020 7523 2493 or email info@christian-aid.org including your full name and address. We promise never to share your details with any other organisation for marketing purposes. For more information please visit www.caid.org.uk/privacy

Please complete the form, cut it out and return to: Christian Aid, PO Box 100, London SE1 7RT This November, you can write or update your Will with Will Aid. A professional solicitor will write your Will in return for a voluntary charitable donation that is then distributed to charities including Christian Aid. www.willaid.org.uk

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Write your Will with Will Aid.

Christian Aid Magazine Issue 10: Autumn/Winter 2018 Editorial team Editor Roger Fulton Sub-editor Natasha Fiala Art editor Juliet Blackledge Design Christina Lock, Kim Kemp, Txabi Jones, Rachel Irwin Pictures Joseph Cabon Production Graham Winter Circulation Ben Hayward Published by Christian Aid 35 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7RL 020 7620 4444 info@christian-aid.org christianaid.org.uk UK registered charity no. 1105851 company no. 5171525 Scot charity no.

SC039150 Christian Aid Ireland: NI charity no. NIC101631 company no. NI059154 and ROI charity no. 20014162 Company no. 426928. The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid © Christian Aid October 2018.

The acceptance of external advertising does not indicate endorsement.

I’m so pleased to meet you It is a great honour to write my first letter to you as Chief Executive of Christian Aid. I’ve long been an admirer of the charity and it was always a great privilege to sit on the board before taking the opportunity to lead the organisation on a day-to-day basis.

One of the highlights of my first few months has been meeting supporters. You are the life-blood of Christian Aid, you sustain it with your prayer, your campaigning and your money. Without you there would be no Christian Aid. Most of you have been with us since long before I became CEO and many of you will continue after I’ve left this post and joined your ranks as a supporter. I look forward to meeting many more of you over the coming months and years.

Cover story Children in Samba village, Yako Province, Burkina Faso, celebrate after their school wins an inter-school football match.

Photos this issue copyright Christian Aid, except: Cover: Christian Aid/Mike Goldwater; page 3: Christian Aid/Matt Gonzalez-Noda; page 4: Christian Aid/Amy Sheppey; page 6: REX/AP/ Shutterstock page 8 Christian Aid/Matt Gonzalez-Noda; page 10 Christian Aid/Adam Finch; page 12 Christian Aid/ Matt Gonzalez-Noda; page 14: Christian Aid/Hannah Henderson; page 16: Christian Aid/Faysal Ahmad; page 18 Christian Aid/Adam Finch; pages 20-21 Lema Concepts Africa; page 24 Gen Lomax

All wrapped up As part of Christian Aid’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, we post this magazine in recyclable polywrap. Please recycle and help us to protect the environment.

Christian Aid is a member of

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What better time to join Christian Aid than Christian Aid Week. It was quite a baptism of fire but wonderful to see so much activity and life bursting out across the country. I’ve since been to see our work with the displaced Rohingya people in Bangladesh and also some remarkable programmes in Kenya, Malawi and Zimbabwe. I’m lucky to be able to see our work first-hand and it gives me great motivation to ensure Christian Aid flourishes so that it can continue to tackle poverty and give power and voice to those that need it most around the world.

Many thanks and God bless,

Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, Chief Executive

Contents 4 What we stand for Dignity. Equality. Justice. Reaffirming our core beliefs as we stand together against poverty.

6 News Birth of a new ‘Star’ in Ghana and reaching out to help in Kerala.

8-26 Frontline

8-11 Breaking the Barriers Climate and gender: Our Harvest Appeal celebrates the coming together of our campaigns to empower women – and to change the way we power the world!

Stories from the places we work around the world, highlighting the values that embody Christian Aid, including: Amanda Khozi Mukwashi meets the Rohingya, and hears from inspiring young people in Kenya and Malawi, plus the latest from our campaigns teams.

27 Events

22 Christmas Appeal 2018

29 The Last Word

Be a Peacemaker.

Need to know: Brexit and Christian Aid.

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Editorial: This is what we stand for

Dignity.

Equality.

Justice.

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veryone is equal in the sight of God. Yet we live in a world where poverty and inequality persist. Poverty is an outrage against humanity.

It robs people of their dignity and hope, their freedom and power over their own lives.

For over 70 years, Christian Aid has been standing with the poor, the marginalised and those left behind. Of all faiths and none. Working in times of crisis and beyond to help people reclaim their dignity, find equality and gain justice.

There is nothing like seeing our work on the ground – as I recently had the privilege of doing when visiting a number of our country programmes in Malawi, Kenya and Zimbabwe, and meeting Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh – to bring home the truth of these words.

It was humbling to hear the gratitude of young girls in Malawi, who have been enabled to return to school after giving birth, to avoid child marriage and stay in education. It was inspiring to hear of young people whose hopes, dreams and aspirations were being restored thanks to the support of our orphans and

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vulnerable children programme in Kenya.

Seeing such transformative work was a reminder to me of why Christian Aid exists.

Our vision is clear: we are committed to dignity, equality and justice for all. These are not just words, but lead to real and lasting change in the lives of those who need it most.

We at Christian Aid are so grateful for your support because we know that to be truly effective, those of us who believe poverty is an outrage need to come together. It will take commitment, boldness, and strong belief, but our voices and actions are stronger together. Thank you for caring as deeply as we do.

The stories in this issue are about putting our values into practice, about working to create a world where everyone has fullness of life. So, leaders, politicians, businesses, churches, communities and individuals, let us continue to stand together against poverty.

You and me. One global community. With energy, with hope.

Amanda Khozi Mukwashi

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News round-up

We’re reaching out to help Christian Aid opened an emergency appeal for those affected by Kerala’s deadly floods in August, and followed it up with a similar appeal in the aftermath of Typhoon Mangkhut in the Philippines in September

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he devastating floods in Kerala, southern India, killed more than 400 people and displaced more than a million people who have since sought shelter in relief camps.

Christian Aid and its local partner organisations – including IGSSS (Indo-Global Social Service Society) and CASA (Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action) – responded immediately, buying relief materials and hiring people to deliver these emergency supplies to deluged communities.

Money raised by the appeal – which stood at nearly £100,000 – meant the initial response could be scaled up and water filters, sanitation supplies, hygiene essentials such as soap, and shelter materials including tarpaulin, rope and blankets have been provided. Assistance on hygiene and sanitation has been particularly essential because of outbreaks of disease including Leptospirosis, also known as ‘rat fever’.

Christian Aid and its local partners have

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focused heavily on livelihood support as not only have people lost their homes and belongings but also their means of earning a living. Crops, livestock, and agricultural equipment have all been destroyed.

Ram Kishan, Christian Aid’s Regional Emergency Manager for South Asia, said: ‘What I have seen and been hearing here is on a scale not seen for 100 years.’

In September, People across the Philippines were hit by Typhoon Mangkhut – one of the strongest typhoons to hit the islands since Haiyan in 2013. While many communities were prepared for the storm, Christian Aid’s partners in the Cagayan, Isabella and Kalinga provinces were on the ground assessing impact and identifying needs. In many areas the harvest was days away from being ready but has now been lost.

• For more information or to donate to the appeals, visit christianaid.org.uk/emergencies Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

We’re launching a new shining STAR This October, an exciting new organisation is being launched in Ghana to champion active citizenship and social justice, promote giving and fill a critical gap in the country’s civil society space

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hristian Aid is playing a key part in this landmark moment, which is part of an increasing drive towards home-grown solutions to African development and governance issues.

Since 2015, Christian Aid has managed the £22m STARGhana programme, funded by the UK Department for International Development, the EU and Danish development agency DANIDA. STAR stands for ‘Strengthening Transparency, Accountability and Responsiveness’ and aims to support an active, engaged civil society and responsive, accountable government.

Part of the plan was always to launch an independent Ghanaian organisation within the lifetime of the five-year programme. Christian Aid recognises that as civil society in countries in the Global South grows, our role is changing to one of accompaniment and collaboration, with decisionmaking falling increasingly to national organisations.

The new STAR-Ghana Foundation will look beyond

aid, moving away from dependence on dwindling overseas assistance and tapping into new domestic and international funding sources, including Ghanaian philanthropy. It will support a more robust and resilient civil society and seek to put gender equality and social inclusion firmly on the country’s agenda.

The growth of Ghana’s economy and political stability mean the timing is right for Ghanaian civil society to build partnerships, move towards greater sustainability and bring change on issues that fire the Ghanaian people’s imagination.

‘In West Africa, the civil society sector is extensive, but indigenous social change grant-makers, foundations and philanthropic institutions are thin on the ground,’ said Dr Esther Ofei-Aboagye, chair of STAR-Ghana’s steering committee. ‘The emergence of STAR-Ghana as a national foundation is a major change in the development landscape.

It is the culmination of efforts to optimise the strengths of democratic governance.’

Our pioneering history This won’t be the first time that Christian Aid has played a pivotal role in the creation of important and radical new organisations and helped push them boldly on: • In the 1950s, we set up and administered Voluntary Service Overseas to enable young people to make a difference to those in need around the world.

• In the 1960s, we helped found the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) bringing together development agencies in times of humanitarian crisis.

• The Fairtrade Foundation was established in 1992 by agencies including Christian Aid, to make trade deliver for farmers and workers.

• In 2014, after five decades of supporting local organisations, Christian Aid responded to the changing political and aid context in India by launching Change Alliance, as a wholly owned subsidiary.

We’re working with business to tackle teen malnutrition

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hristian Aid has started an exciting new partnership with Unilever East Africa, for a new programme that aims to tackle malnutrition among teenage girls (10-19 years) including pregnant and young mothers in Narok county, Kenya.

pregnancies in the country - double the national average.

Tackling malnutrition among adolescents is crucial, as it is a key stage in the development of both the young mothers and their children.

Unilever, the makers of some of the best known brands in the world, including Ben and Jerry’s, Dove and Marmite, are introducing Royco, an iron-fortified stock cube, which it is hoped will raise awareness around healthy eating through activities and training including cooking demonstrations using green leafy vegetables which can be grown locally.

A study carried out by Christian Aid in 2018 showed that 16.2% of adolescent girls in Narok had a stunted growth rate due to poor nutrition; this is significantly high. Also, the county has one of the highest number of adolescent

Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

Teenage years bring additional physiological changes with energy and nutrition demands on girls which are further increased in pregnancy and lactation, hence the need to improve nutrition amongst this age group.

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Time to invest in

A new multi-million-pound project aims to ‘break the barriers’ by putting women at the heart of a drive to ramp up the growth of sustainable energy in remote rural communities Aster (left) and her ‘sisters’ run a thriving solar-powered business in their village

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Christian Aid Magazine Spring/Summer 2017

Frontline: Breaking the Barriers

powerful women

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arming, cooking and walking increasingly great distances to gather firewood – daily life was a constant struggle for Aster and other women living in their drought-prone village in southern Ethiopia.

No matter how hard she worked, she could never save enough money to support her family.

But, with the help of a local Christian Aid partner, The Women’s Support Association, Aster and other village women were

empowered to set up their own shop which is run on solar energy.

With training from our partner, Aster and her ‘sisters’ have turned their shop into a thriving business, selling essential items and offering a

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Frontline: Breaking the Barriers

mobile phone charging service.

Moreover, the solar shop, fondly named by the women ‘Shaka’, which means ‘morning light’, has become the hub of their self-help group.

They stand together – supporting each other to work through problems, providing loans to set up individual businesses or to support medical emergencies.

‘Before this project, any issue I faced, I had to solve alone,’ says Aster. ‘But I adopted 17 sisters; another family. They share my burden and help me face my challenges.’

Aster is now saving for the future, holding her head up high and making her children proud.

As impressively, firewood use has reduced by more than half in these communities, helping to protect the environment for future generations.

Their story is one that’s being repeated in many communities thanks to this new Christian Aid project, Breaking the Barriers, which unites two long-running strands of our campaigning – Solar driers for fish are transforming the business run by these women in Malawi

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women’s empowerment and climate change.

Over the past decade, Christian Aid and its partners have increasingly reached remote communities across the globe without access to energy by promoting sustainable energy technologies and products.

These projects have transformed lives through providing access to solar lighting and mobile phone charging, as well as cleaner cooking technologies through improved cookstoves and solar ovens.

To build on this essential work, the €6 million EUfunded Breaking the Barriers programme in Malawi, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Honduras, aims to increase rural women’s jobs and income, to improve working and living conditions, promote gender equality, and strengthen women’s social status. It is estimated that upwards of 3 million people will benefit from this project.

As Benson Ireri, Regional Coordinator – Climate Change

Breaking the Barriers and The Big Shift The Big Shift Campaign is a global initiative supported by more than 40 organisations across the globe, calling for a shift in energy investment from fossil fuels to renewable energy, and promoting access to energy for all.

Breaking the Barriers is a practical example of the call for this shift. The project works to enhance awareness of sustainable energy and support the role of women in this sector.

& Sustainable Energy, explains, ‘At the heart of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 7 is the promise to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable energy. But meaningful development can only be achieved with the participation of women in this process.

‘For many years, Christian Aid has put women’s empowerment at the core of its agenda, empowering them economically, as well as through participation in policy processes. To achieve access to affordable, reliable, sustainable energy, women must be supported to play a lead role.

‘The world can no longer rely on “business-as-usual” approaches that have left women behind. New and innovative approaches need to be put in place, with women firmly front and centre.’

‘Sustainable energy is a relatively new concept for many communities in Malawi, a country where access to

Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

Country by country, we’re making a difference Malawi Breaking the Barriers Malawi will focus on growing women’s expertise in solar refrigeration, cookstoves, solar powered rice mills, sun driers for food produce and briquette making as a cleaner and more efficient energy source for cooking.

Ethiopia In many communities in the Southern region of Ethiopia, women are traditionally left out of community discussions and are not able to access loans or get involved in business. This gives them limited opportunities to take charge of the household income and their independence.

The Breaking the Barriers programme in Ethiopia

modern energy services is limited,’ explains Yvonne Murindiwa, Programme Manager, Malawi. ‘And women entrepreneurs have often lacked confidence, assertiveness, and the necessary skills when dealing with suppliers, buyers, banks and government institutions.

‘I hope this programme will see a rapid increase in independent and confident businesswomen who will sustain profitable enterprises and become mentors for others in their communities.’

In the four countries where Breaking the Barriers operates, women bear the brunt of energy poverty as they are responsible for cooking in the home and face enormous challenges to

will build on the successes of women’s involvement in sustainable energy enterprises.

support women to use sun driers for food produce, so that they are able to dry and store food more effectively, and sell produce for a higher price when there is low market supply.

Honduras Breaking the Barriers Honduras will focus on cleaner cooking through cookstoves, and energy creation through bio-digesters and solar driers.

Burkina Faso Breaking the Barriers Burkina Faso will focus on solarpowered irrigation to enable women to cultivate larger areas, increasing production and reducing time spent on gathering water. It will also

Top: solar-powered irrigation source fuel, such as firewood. for market gardening in Burkina Coupled with current rates Faso will dramatically increase of deforestation, women are these women’s time to engage increasingly travelling longer in other activities. Above: distances to source it. solar driers in Honduras allow Once established, the 201 small-scale farmers to dry corn Women-Led Sustainable Energy Enterprises will drastically for better storage, giving them increase affordable and locallymore flexibility on when to sell available sustainable energy products and services in their communities. Use of unsustainable sources such as wood, kerosene and batteries will be reduced. Farmers will Christian Aid is co-funding this be able to increase income by programme through the 2018 Harvest selling preserved foods at a Appeal. Money raised will be matchbetter price when there is low funded by the European Union meaning market supply. that every £1 you give will be worth £5.

This 42-month programme, To donate, go to was launched on 8 March christianaid.org.uk/harvest-appeal to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

How to donate

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Frontline: campaigns

Wanted: more ambition for people and planet After a blazing hot summer across the northern hemisphere, climate change finally made front page news. But it’s long been a subject at the top of our priority list – and we’re not about to let up now

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hristian Aid has been campaigning on climate justice for more than a decade now, highlighting that the impacts are real and very challenging for people living in poverty.

Now is a time of both urgency and opportunity, and it’s essential that we redouble our efforts to protect both people and planet. That’s why we’re not only Breaking the Barriers (see previous page), but stepping up our Big Shift campaign.

Your role in this campaign so far has been brilliant, so thank you!

For example, last year you urged the four biggest high street banks in the UK to stop fuelling

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climate change, and instead invest in renewable energy. Together we’ve made some great strides: • Barclays ruled out funding new coal projects in high-income countries and put heavier restrictions on funding coal in poor countries.

• Lloyds announced that it will not finance any new coal power plants or mines.

• RBS announced it would phase out finance to new coal power projects and restrict finance to companies involved in coal.

• HSBC updated its energy policy to rule out funding for new coal projects in almost every country.

Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

Science and the already devastating effects of climate change demand a rapid phase-out of coal power everywhere. Yet HSBC has left out three countries that are already experiencing severe effects from climate change even though each have enormous potential for renewable energy – Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia.

The power from big coal plants is unlikely to reach poor and isolated communities whose needs would be far better served by renewable energy. Meanwhile, scientists predict an additional 70,000 premature deaths from coal-related air pollution in the region if plans for coal go ahead.

That’s why we’re refocusing our Big Shift campaign on HSBC. As one of the biggest and most influential banks in the world, it can do more – starting with a total ban on financing for coal.

Around the world, many of our teams, partners and the communities they work with are leading the way on climate change initiatives.

From the Philippines to Malawi, Ethiopia to Bolivia, our partners are working with communities to develop renewable energy powered solutions to the challenges they face.

Our country offices in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and Burundi have all recently installed their own solar panels, helping to overcome power shortages and demonstrating the action we need to see from our leaders.

We’re powering up for climate justice. Now is the time to call on decision makers to match our ambition for a safer, cleaner future for all.

Send a message to HSBC now by visiting christianaid.org.uk/bigshift or get in touch with us via locallobbyist@christian-aid.org to talk to your MP about the Climate Change Act, which is ten years old this year. Ambitious at the time, it now needs serious updating.

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Scotland’s Goal Thank you also to campaigners in Scotland who have been lobbying their MSPs on the Scotland Climate Bill which is currently making its way through Parliament. Following its worldleading Climate Change Act in 2009, Scotland must work hard to continue as a leader in progressive climate action.

We’re asking for the Scottish Parliament to aim for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest, and to put in place policies to make that happen.

Find out more about our campaign action at: christianaid.org. uk/news/scottish-climate-bill $

We’re powering up for climate justice.

Now is the time to call on decision makers to match our ambition for a safer, cleaner future for all.

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Frontline: campaigns

Randy Zosa lives in a coastal community in the Philippines that was destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan. He’s now trained as a solar scholar, a programme developed by Christian Aid’s partner the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, to teach community members how to use, maintain and repair solarpowered kits that provide emergency lighting, radio and phone chargers.

Randy said: ‘I wanted to help – it seemed that the community was left behind by the government. I’m just an ordinary person, but I can contribute. It doesn’t take someone very special – everyone can do their share.’

Get powered up for climate justice

Keeping up the fight for tax justice Corporate tax dodging is unfair. It keeps people trapped in poverty.

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t is estimated that developing countries lose up to $300 billion every year to tax dodging; Funds that could provide clean water, healthcare and education. Services that could make the difference between life and death.

Together, over the past decade, we’ve been challenging the darkness in our financial system that allows tax dodging to flourish.

Whether it be ‘sleeping out’ in front of Holiday Inns or lobbying your MP, you’ve played a crucial role in pushing tax justice up the agenda.

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This year we’ve seen two major breakthroughs: • Vodafone published their taxes paid in every country – data which was previously shrouded in secrecy. This is a bold step, which you’ve been calling for since 2012, and will increase understanding of their tax affairs and encourage other multinationals to follow.

• Parliament signalled an end to secrecy in the UK tax havens by agreeing to publish full and transparent ‘public registers’ of who owns what businesses registered in the British Overseas Territories.

This means that places like the Cayman Islands will have to reveal the owners of companies registered there for public scrutiny; tax dodgers will have fewer places to hide.

Amazing work that shows what we can achieve when we stand together.

Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

We’re still talking about displacement Christian Aid was founded after World War Two to help refugees.

More than 70 years later we are still campaigning for the displaced and dispossessed, helping them take their struggle to the United Nations

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ou’ve lobbied MPs to raise this issue put into practice and that very soon IDP children and gained the support of Penny in my community will have a good education, Mordaunt, Secretary of State for water and food security.

International Development.

‘I have told the IDPs in my camp about the Internationally, Christian Aid has worked hard GP20 campaign, and we are eager to support to raise the voices of those who are displaced the campaign and call for our rights. We will directly with decision makers. We helped set be working with local organisations to speak in motion a out about the campaign situation of known as ‘GP20’ IDPs.’ based on the And Cleto United Nations’ commented: own ‘guiding ‘I’m from South principles’.

Sudan, and my This calls family have for a greater been displaced recognition due to the of the rights conflict there. of people I work for the displaced Hope Agency within their own for Relief and borders and for Development improvements Orpha Ibrahim and Cleto Kunda, from displaced communities in (HARD) and we in the are supporting South Sudan and Nigeria, outside the UN offices in Geneva international IDPs inside and response. outside camps. Most of the time IDPs are not Over the summer we supported Cleto Kunda consulted on their needs, meaning that the help from South Sudan, and Orpha Ibrahim from they receive is not always appropriate. I brought Nigeria, to participate in UN meetings in Geneva. recommendations on how this can be improved.

They each presented the challenges their communities are facing and suggested how the ‘Most of the time internally displaced situation could be improved. people are not consulted on their needs, Said Orpha: ‘I come from Borno State in the north of Nigeria. My own family experienced meaning the help they receive attacks from Boko Haram several times, and we is not always appropriate’ were forced to flee from our home.

‘I attended the UN meetings to voice the issues facing internally displaced people ‘Decision-making needs to involve more local [IDPs] in my community. I explained that more and national organisations who provide direct support is needed for food security, education, support to IDPs, and IDPs themselves. Attending health, family tracing, and for IDPs living in host the meetings was a good opportunity to meet communities. I hope that what I have said will be with key decision makers.’

Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

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Frontline: Bangladesh

Rohingya crisis: where is the sympathy?

In her first trip abroad since becoming our new Chief Executive, Amanda Khozi Mukwashi went to see how Christian Aid partners are helping thousands of displaced Rohingya people at a camp in Bangladesh. It proved an eye-opening visit…

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here is a woman, who in order to respect her confidentiality I have given a new name. I will call her Naomi.

Naomi came to Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh with the 2017 influx of refugees from Myanmar.

I know they have not been referred to as refugees, as this would give them legal status and bestow on them some rights. They are not Burmese because in Myanmar, they have

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been stripped of their rights as citizens. So, they are stateless, unable to go back home and unable to move forward.

Naomi came with her two daughters, aged 12 and 14.

Unaccompanied by any male relative and therefore living without a male presence in the house, Naomi could not sleep at night because the temporary shelter her family lived in was not secure. She received regular

threats from some members of her community. One man in particular gave her a stark choice: ‘Agree to marry me or I will come in and sexually attack your daughters’. With no secure house and no lights in the camp outside, Naomi lived in constant fear of possible attacks on her children.

I visited Naomi in June of this year. This was my first visit to Bangladesh and to a

Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

crisis reflects much of what is broken in our world today.

How did the Rohingya end up stateless? What makes a country deny the rights of a whole group of people in such a way?

‘At so many levels this crisis reflects much of what is broken in our world today’

Christian Aid programme. I was aware of the challenges people were facing. Christian Aid has been entrusted with the responsibility of site management of one of the camps – Jamtoli. Keeping track of what we are doing and who we are working with, and of what challenges our staff and partners are experiencing, is part of keeping ourselves on top of our work and continuously improving what we do.

As I listened to the first part of Naomi’s story, I was struck by the diminishing sympathy in human nature that was being manifested in the Rohingya crisis. At so many levels, this

As Naomi and I continued our conversation, she restored some hope in me. She talked about her new house and invited me in. It had been upgraded to provide better security from forced and unwanted entry as well as protection against heavy rains and some storms. She told me Christian Aid had also started to install solar-powered street lights so there could be some light in a place that would otherwise be in total darkness.

Another woman had described walking through the camp as, ‘like being in a graveyard at night’. But with the street lights, with houses being upgraded, with water pumps being placed in more accessible areas, with toilets and sanitation being taken care of, I could see that we are making a difference. We are continuing to stand with women, men and young people in Jamtoli to help them find dignity amidst crisis and confusion. ‘Now I can sleep at night,’ Naomi said.

Thank you for helping us to help Naomi to sleep at night!

• To donate to our Rohingya Appeal, go to christianaid. org.uk/emergencies/ rohingya-crisis-appeal

Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

How your money has helped Christian Aid has raised nearly £9 million through the Rohingya crisis appeal. With this we’ve worked with local partners to improve food security, health, access to safe water and sanitation, protection, shelters and communication with communities.

For example, we’ve provided: 67,000 children’s winter clothing kits, blankets for 9,500 families and floor mats for 11,500 families. Some 15,500 households received shelter upgrade kits, to strengthen their homes to withstand high winds and heavy rains.

138,084 health care consultations. Conditions in the camp are difficult. With limited medical facilities, people are sick and at risk of disease. Christian Aid has supported 3 health camps, 7 ‘pop-up’ clinics and 1 primary care clinic.

10,539 families received food packages containing rice, lentils, oil, salt and sugar.

8 women and child centres, and 6 community kitchens.

These serve as safe places for Rohingya women outside their homes.

22,384 families received water and sanitation kits, helping to prevent the spread of disease. To support this, 11,828 health & hygiene sessions have been delivered to women and girls.

In addition, 100s of Rohingya volunteers have been trained in emergency readiness and response, ahead of the monsoon season.

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Frontline: Kenya, Malawi

Learning to struggle, then struggling to learn Our values of equality, dignity and justice are underpinned by love. Visiting a Christian Aid programme for orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya, Amanda Khozi Mukwashi meets a young boy with dreams of becoming a pilot

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rian is just a little boy.

Living positively with HIV. His mother and three siblings are also living positively with HIV. They live in a one-room house. His sister is severely disabled and was sexually assaulted; she has a child who is eight years old, also living with HIV. They have little to no income. His mother is the sole carer of her children.

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At 13, Brian has already learnt to struggle. When he gets up in the morning and there is no food, he knows that this will be a difficult day because he has to take his anti-retroviral drugs, which are very strong and can make him ill if taken without adequate nutrition, and still go to school. He knows that walking to school on an empty stomach and on strong medication will be a challenge – but he does it all the same. At 13, having learnt to struggle, he must now struggle to learn if he is to escape this extreme poverty and vulnerability.

On my field visit to Kenya, I met partners and members of the community who we work alongside. Supported

by USAID (US government funding), we are working to assist, support and empower

orphans and vulnerable children in Makueni County. I started off by meeting the carers in one of the wards and then visited one of the households to better understand our work. And that is where I met Brian, his mother and sister.

We sat outside and had a lovely chat. We talked about school and what he wants to be when he grows up. ‘My favourite subject in school is mathematics and I am currently the best in my class.

Overall in class I always come number two, but in maths, I am always number one,’ he proudly told me. As we talked, Brian shared his desire and passion to be a pilot with the national airline, Kenya Airways.

We laughed, shared some jokes and I walked away amazed and humbled. All he asked for

Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

Taking on the world I think one of the highlights of my visit to Kenya, Malawi and Zimbabwe was interacting with the Girl Guides and the young women who are raising awareness about early child marriages.

In partnering with the Malawi Association of Girl Guides, we are able to reach young girls through a project that increases their knowledge of their rights, inspires them to work hard and achieve their dreams.

Thanks to the project, which is run in collaboration with ActionAid, young women who were forced into early marriages and have now been rescued and are able to go back to school and become financially independent.

I loved visiting this community, the girls and the young women. They are ready to take on the world. As we sang and danced together, there was a joyful sense of solidarity. We are all part of a movement that is going somewhere and gender justice is our destination.

were two things: a bicycle and a set of textbooks. Because he walks quite a distance every day to get to school, he asked for a bicycle to make the journey a little easier. The books are to help him study. As it is, Brian is the second best student in his class. He is aiming for the top position.

The Comprehensive Assistance Support and Empowerment of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CASE-OVC) programme is already sourcing the text books. In addition to meeting some educational needs, the programme aims to address the general well-being of the OVC (children either having no parent or care giver or one parent or care giver).

In Brian’s case, his health is continuously being monitored.

The programme keeps track

of the health of Brian’s mother, Regina and all her children.

Regina is part of a village saving and lending group, which allows her to save the little she earns and take out small loans when she needs to. Regina will also receive training in managing a kitchen garden, beekeeping or livestock rearing to boost her livelihood.

As I finished my visit and prepared to leave, I thought, here is a boy with dreams and aspirations like any other young boy anywhere in the world.

The odds look stacked against him. But listening to him talk about his dreams and laughing at his jokes, you would not think so. I left encouraged and uplifted. Encouraged that his circumstances had not jaded him and taken away his love for school. Uplifted that God

Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

is still working and that He cares. Join me in praying for Brian, his family and others like him who face challenging circumstances. Let us stand together for dignity, equality, justice and above all, love.

A case in point The CASE-OVC programme aims to reach 170,000 orphans and vulnerable children from 52,000 households, who are affected or infected by HIV and AIDS. To read more about the work the programme does, go to christianaid.org.uk/aboutus/programmes/case-ovcprogramme You can also donate to the CASE-OVC project at christianaid.org.uk/fundraising/ kenya-children

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Frontline: Ghana

Ghana: living with respect and dignity

A critical aspect of Christian Aid’s belief in fostering dignity and justice for all is local job creation. Gen Lomax highlights how one project is transforming lives for people with disabilities

A

mina Ebanyinle, 42, lives in Kamgbunli community, in the western region of Ghana, with her three children. Born with a disability, life has been difficult for her as she has to work hard to care for her family.

Now, thanks to a Christian Aid-backed scheme, Amina and other people with disabilities have been trained in producing products to sell within their communities and beyond. For Amina that has blossomed into a business making bead slippers.

‘The training was extremely important as it has given me a source of livelihood to cater for my family,’ Amina explains.

Without the means to properly provide for themselves and their families, little would change for those scraping a living on the margins of their societies.

In Ghana, despite economic expansion, 98% of working age people survive in the informal sector

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or are unemployed. Young people, and people living with disabilities are particularly affected.

Now a programme called Growing Economic Opportunities for Sustainable Development (GEOP) is seeking to redress that imbalance. This three-year, €947,000, EU-funded programme, now in its second year, is providing training – from welding to bead-work and soap production.

Since the project began last year, some 132 people have been trained in local crafts as well as broader entrepreneurship, financial literacy and business management skills.

Abena Afari, Acting Programme Manager, Christian Aid Ghana, explains that the GEOP project was borne out of lessons learned after implementing a previous three-year project called LEARN which focused on increasing the accountability of state structures and improving the financial literacy of small-scale businesswomen.

Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

‘That project did not necessarily equip any groups with employable skills which we recognised as a gap due to the huge statistics of unemployed and unskilled youth. The GEOP project has provided avenues to train young women and men, including those with disabilities, in employable skills to be self-reliant and contribute to the economy.

‘Such marginalised groups were included to show how equal and important each and every one of us is.’

To create a niche for herself, Amina has so far focused on using beads to design female slippers. She has produced 41 pairs and sold 32, making a profit of GHS 85 (about £13) from the business over a period of two months.

She now aspires to train other interested people who are living with disabilities in neighbouring communities on how to use beads and dreams of exporting her products to other countries within the West Africa subregion.

‘Participating in the training was

the best decision in my life as I can now use my hands to work and provide the basic needs of my family.’

Grace Opoku, Agnes Karnanh, and Isaac Essah (at foot of page), have formed a partnership to produce liquid soap and other detergents to sell in their community in Ellembelle District, Ghana.

Isaac explains that life before the project was hard for people living with disabilities in their area. ‘We had menial jobs, and life was very tough. The little that we earned couldn’t even take care of us and our family.’

Through the training, the group came together to gain new skills and their business is also turning a profit, gaining them renewed respect and dignity in their community.

As Agnes explains, ‘We work together as a group.

I can now take care of my family and even pay for school fees. I am able to spend some of the money and save the rest’.

‘We work together as a group.

I can now take care of my family and even pay for school fees’

You can find out more about the GEOP project at caid.org.uk/GEOP

The European Union is match funding this project 1:3, so a £5 donation will become £20 – helping to grow economic opportunities for sustainable development.

Find out more by emailing cpartnership@ christian-aid.org

£5 Christian Aid Magazine Spring/Summer 2018

£20 21

Christmas Appeal 2018

Be a Peacemaker This year’s Christian Aid Christmas Appeal focuses on the need to build peace as the basis for tackling poverty in regions dogged by ongoing conflict. Tomilola Ajayi meets some of the frontline peacemakers

Diana Abbas, psychologist at a children’s centre in Nahr al-Bared refugee camp, Lebanon

I

n 2016, more countries experienced violent conflict than at any time in nearly 30 years, and today, 1 in 6 children are growing up in conflict zones. If current trends persist, then by 2030 more than half of the world’s poorest people will live in countries affected by high levels of violence – with devastating consequences for their development and well-being.

At Christian Aid, we know that violence is a major cause of poverty, capable of wiping out years of development and destroying thriving societies. Where there is violence and conflict, people struggle to find food, a home, healthcare, education and an income. They cannot plan for the future, they cannot live with dignity, they cannot experience equality and justice.

Put simply, we cannot tackle poverty without first addressing the war, violence and instability that robs people of their futures. Yet it’s clear that, globally, peace-building efforts are off course.

Jesus said: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ – but we often look around and ask: ‘Where are they?’

At Christian Aid, we know that peace-building can and does work. While peace may be broken every day around the world, it is also built every day – by strong women and men determined to heal and transform their communities. These are the frontline peacemakers making peace happen, in ways big and small.

In our Christmas Appeal this year, we are inviting supporters to stand with these brave and dedicated peacemakers, as they partner with us to support people affected by conflict in places as diverse as South Sudan, Colombia and Lebanon.

Peacemakers like Bishop Emeritus Paride Taban, a UN peace prize winner and member of the South Sudan Council of Churches (SSCC), Christian Aid’s partner. Together with Christian

Aid, Bishop Paride and the SSCC have been calling for the restoration of peace to South Sudan, where millions of citizens face hunger and extreme hardship as a result of ongoing civil war.

Each morning, Bishop Paride repeats 28 words for peace while doing his daily devotions. Words such as: ‘Love, joy, peace, patience, compassion, truth, gentleness, self-control, humility, forgiveness, unity, I am wrong, I am sorry.’

‘If all [people] put these 28 words into their hearts, and every day they repeat them, there will be no war in South Sudan; there will be permanent peace in South Sudan,’ says the octogenarian Bishop.

Nearly 2,000 miles away another peacemaker – Diana Abbas – has been working as a psychologist in a children’s centre run by our partner Association Najdeh in Nahr al-Bared refugee camp, Lebanon.

Through counselling, psychotherapy, art therapy and literacy classes, the centre is helping young Palestinian refugees living in the shadow of violence to find peace and improve their well-being.

‘A lot of children with trauma come here.

Their symptoms include sleeping disorders, speech impediments, loss of concentration, loss of appetite, lethargy, depression, grief and aggression,’ says Diana.

‘We try to provide a place where they can find peace – working with them, their parents and their whole environment.’

Bishop Paride, Diana and our other partners worldwide need more support and resources, so they can help more people find safety and security.

Let’s help them bring ‘peace on earth’. Let’s stand together with them, this Christmas. caid.org.uk/christmas-appeal

Stand with the peacemakers This Advent and Christmas, Christian Aid is inviting churches, individuals and community groups to stand with peacemakers worldwide in bringing hope to people threatened by conflict and violence. Here are some ways to get involved in our Christmas Aid Appeal: • Hold a collection at an Advent or Christmas service.

• Organise a fundraising event such as a ‘peace feast’.

• Use worship and fundraising resources, including a service outline, prayers, sermon notes and film.

• Order donation envelopes, posters and dove decorations for your church.

• Stand with peacemakers worldwide by using #WeAreThePeacemakers on social media.

For more details of these and other ideas, please go to caid. org.uk/christmas-resources

Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

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hop Parid

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Frontline

The bigger picture A new project is using photography to achieve positive social change. Paula Plaza explains how it works

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ver the past two years, Christian Aid has been rolling out an innovative approach to our work called Picture Power. It might be a catchy name, but this is no gimmick.

Picture Power captures the ‘voices’ of communities – not through words but through their own photographs. First, participants are trained in basic photography skills before taking their own photos of challenges they face in their daily lives and solutions offered through Christian Aid projects.

Recently, as part of a DFIDfunded UK Aid Match* project that provides basic healthcare for children under five in Benue State in Nigeria, we trained health volunteers and health advocates to document some of the challenges that prevent children under five from being healthy. We also asked them to show the positive impact the project has had on their lives.

We then listen to beneficiaries’ feedback and use

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the photos to identify challenges and help our advocacy efforts.

The photos are shown in a community-wide exhibition to encourage community leaders and even government officials to act on the exposed issues and identify solutions. In the case of Nigeria, some solutions require long term advocacy, such as the provision of safe drinking water.

Finally, and significantly, the community feedback informs how we work and helps us modify programmes when contexts change. For example, in Nigeria, the photos highlighted the need for regular quality checks of the advice given by health volunteers when diagnosing illnesses. * UK Aid Match is a UK aid-funded programme that doubles all donations received during a defined appeal period.

For this healthcare programme, £2.6 million was raised by our 2015 Christmas Appeal and match funded by the UK Government through UKAID.

Community Selfies How our Picture Power participants show their lives – see overpage

Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

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The bigger picture Browse through photos and stories produced by communities in Nigeria ‘Herdsmen invaded the community and killed and injured many people. This has made the people afraid to go to the farm and has also affected their income. The injured had to go to a hospital in town because they needed surgery to remove the bullets they got during the attack.’

Words, photo: Gabriel Adah

PARTNER PROFILE Who: Ohonyeta Care Givers (OCAG) is a non-government organisation (NGO), founded in Benue State, Nigeria, in 1997.

How long: We have been working with OCAG since 2013 What they do: OCAG works to tackle the social, economic and health concerns of the people of Benue State through delivery of HIV/AIDS and reproductive health education, the provision of training and advocacy for the vulnerable and marginalised.

Funding to OCAG: £202,000 for the UK Aid Match project.

‘This is a volunteer treating a child using a malaria testing kit. Before the project, which provides basic healthcare for children under five, we had to travel far distances to take children to hospital.

Sometimes people didn’t have the money to go there, but today the project has trained a volunteer in the community, so people no longer need to pay or go far. Now, when there’s an emergency they rush to the health volunteer.’

Words and photo: John Jerome

‘Water is very scarce during the dry season, and our community relies on the stagnant water from the water hole. The stream is far, so people will go to this water hole. It is dirty and makes people sick, and is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. It also takes three hours to fill a 25-litre jerry can.

During the rainy season, there is plenty of water, but now, during the dry season, it is like this.’

Words and photo: Patricia Amali

‘This shows a woman processing palm oil on the banks of River Ogbadibo. Almost every adult woman in Akpuneje processes palm oil to get an income and use the river for this process.

Members of the community use the river to bathe, wash clothes and fish in the river. Nomadic cattle-rearers also wash their cattle in the river and walk through it in their search for cattle feed. The river is a major cause of diarrhoea and typhoid in our community.’

Words and photo: Steven Adah

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Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

Coming soon…

If you would like to get involved with a Christian Aid fundraiser, workshop, service, concert or challenge event, here’s a round-up of some of the events that are happening across the UK over the coming months.

You can also find out more about what’s happening where you live by going to christianaid.org.uk/inyourarea

OCTOBER 15-23 TRING, HERTFORDSHIRE

Uprooted Exhibition

High Street Baptist Church, 89 High Street, Tring HP23 4AB. A challenging exhibition of photographs that allows internally displaced people to tell their stories and highlights what Christian Aid is doing to support them. For more information contact awhalley@ christian-aid.org

19 MORLEY, LEEDS Autumn Bounty

7.30pm, St Andrew’s Church (Community Hall), Bruntcliffe Avenue, Morley, Yorkshire LS27 0LA. With Graham Porter, BBC Radio Leeds gardener.

Includes light refreshments and raffle. Tickets £5.

For more details, contact leeds@christian-aid.org or 0113 2444 764.

20 NORWICH

Climate Change Conference

10.30am-1pm, St Luke’s Church Centre, Aylsham Road, Norwich NR3 2HF. A chance to explore how to lobby MPs effectively. A member of our campaigns team will provide an awareness and training session and then Clive Lewis MP and others will join us for a debate about what can be achieved

politically and through lobbying key organisations and businesses. For more information and to book your place, please contact Julian Bryant on 01603 620051 or jbryant@ christian-aid.org

displaced people. For more details, contact the Bristol office: bristol@christianaid.org or 01454 415923.

25-27 EDINBURGH

10.30-11.45am, Barton Methodist Church, Cliffe Road, Barton-on-Sea BH25 7PA. All welcome – entry by donation. For more details, contact Southampton Christian Aid office: southampton@christianaid.org or 023 8070 6969.

7.30pm, St Mary the Virgin Parish Church, Ovingham NE42 6BW. Fun evening of live music and the chance to view our exhibition.

9 TIMPERLEY, CHESHIRE

Big Brekkie

Autumn Art Sale

10am-3pm, St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church, George Street, Edinburgh.

Annual art sale in aid of Christian Aid. For more information, please go to stagw.org.uk

NOVEMBER 3 MEOPHAM, KENT Tunes from the Trenches

7.30pm, St John the Baptist Church, Wrotham Road, Meopham DA13 0AA. Synchordia presents a musical celebration of the centenary of the World War One armistice. Tickets: Adults £8, Children £4, under 5s free. Available from St John’s Parish Office: 01474 813106; admin@stjohnsmeopham. co.uk; or on the door.

3-12 CHELTENHAM Uprooted Exhibition St Andrew’s URC, Montpelier Street, Cheltenham GL50 1SP. Our photo exhibition featuring photos and stories about internally

Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

6 BARTON-ON-SEA, HAMPSHIRE St Martin’s Day Coffee Morning

Sing for Your Supper

7.30pm, Holy Cross Church, 97 Park Rd, Timperley, Altrincham WA15 6QG. Join us for an evening of fun, food and inspiration.

Sing for Your Supper is a great way to connect with others in your area, listen to some fantastic performers, and hear more about how your money is helping those living in poverty. For details, phone 0161 980 4330.

9-23 YAXLEY, CAMBRIDGESHIRE Uprooted Exhibition

St Peter’s Church, Church Street, Yaxley, Cambridgeshire PE7 3LH. Our photo exhibition featuring photos and stories about internally displaced people. For more

information, please contact prichardson@ christian-aid.org

24 OVINGHAM, NORTHUMBERLAND Gareth Davies Jones – Inherit the Earth Concert

DECEMBER 1 LAUNCESTON, CORNWALL 8.30am-2pm, Central Methodist Hall, Castle Street, Launceston PL15 8BA. Raising funds for a Christian Aid project supporting young people in Ghana. Proceeds will be matched by EU 3:1. For details, contact Trevor Cook on 01566 773821.

1 CAMBRIDGE

Carol Singing in Cambridge

1.30-3.30pm, Grand Arcade, St Andrew’s St, Cambridge CB2 3BJ. Calling all local singers!

Following last year’s success, we are repeating our carol singing event in the city’s Grand Arcade.

For more information, contact prichardson@ christian-aid.org

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7 SELBY, NORTH YORKSHIRE

9 WINDSOR

6.30-8pm, Selby Abbey, The Crescent, Selby YO8 4PU. Enjoy a spectacular Christmas concert in a magical setting to bring hope and healing to some of the world’s poorest communities.

Hear local school and community choirs and join in with singing carols by candlelight. Suggested £5 donation on the door, children free. For more information, contact leeds@christian-aid.org or 0113 244 4764.

5pm, Windsor Baptist Church, Victoria Street, Windsor SL4 1EH. An ecumenical service.

Listen to readings, reflections and seasonal songs, and find out more about Christian Aid’s work.

Doors open 4.30pm. For more information contact ZKoroma@christian-aid.org

Carols in Selby Abbey

COME AND MEET ZEINA Many of you tell us how inspiring it is to meet people who are working on our programmes overseas. This Advent, the South East region is hosting a visit from Zeina Zakar, from our partner Association Najdeh in Lebanon. You’ll be able to hear directly from her about their work with refugees and peacebuilding, which links to this year’s Christmas Appeal. For more details and to find out about events and opportunities to meet her, log on to christianaid.org.uk/southeast

3 LANCING, WEST SUSSEX

details, please contact Neil Roper at nroper@ christian-aid.org

7.30pm, Lancing College Chapel, West Sussex BN15 0RW. A candlelit carol service in a beautiful setting. Join us to welcome Advent and reflect on the meaning of Christmas through words, music and song. Doors open 7pm. For more details or to book your ticket, call 020 7523 2105 or email LSE@christian-aid.org

6 MANSFIELD, NOTTS

Lancing Advent Hope

6 LONDON

Christian Aid Carol Service

7pm, St John’s Church, 73 Waterloo Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 8TY. With guest speaker Revd.

Canon Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Director of Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation for the Diocese of Southwark. For more

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The Big Christmas Sing

7pm, Sandworth Church Academy, Sherwood Hall Road, Mansfield NG18 2DY. Join us for a fantastically festive evening of carols and Christmas songs from school choirs across Nottinghamshire. Hear the wonderful performances from the children and find out more about this year’s Christian Aid Christmas Appeal. Get Christmas off to a perfect start and help us raise lots of money for the world’s poorest communities. Tickets £5; doors open 6.30pm. For more details, contact Nick Thorley on 01509 265 013 or email NThorley@ christian-aid.org

1-7 DURSLEY, GLOUCESTERSHIRE Uprooted Exhibition

Dursley Tabernacle, 3 Parsonage Street, Dursley GL11 4BW. A challenging exhibition of photographs that allows internally displaced people to tell their stories and highlights what Christian Aid is doing to support them. For more information, contact Bristol Christian Aid office at bristol@ christian-aid.org or 01454 415923.

8-16 JERSEY

St. Peter’s Church Christmas Tree Festival

9am-7pm, St. Peter’s Parish Church, The Rectory, La Rue du Presbytere, St Peter, Jersey JE3 7ZH. Come and see the Christian Aid Jersey Island to Island Christmas tree amongst many others and see St Peter’s Church turned into a glorious festive forest.

For more details, contact Jen Le Rossignol, regional co-ordinator in Jersey: jlerossignol@christian-aid. org or 07829 908247.

Windsor Christian Aid Advent Service

10 JARROW

Big Christmas Sing

7pm, Christ Church, Grange Road West, Jarrow Grange, Tyne and Wear NE32 3JA. Make a joyful noise and hear what Christian Aid is doing this Christmas!

14 TRURO, CORNWALL

Truro Big Christmas Sing

7.30pm, Truro Cathedral, St Mary’s St, Truro TR1 2AF. With music from regional choirs and guest speaker, Christian Aid CEO, Amanda Khozi Mukwashi. For more details, contact Jill Stone on 07814 131167.

15 LONDON

A Gospel Christmas

Save the Date!

Your favourite carols and more, with a gospel flavour! A venue had not been confirmed as we went to press, but will be announced on christianaid. org.uk/get-involvedlocally/london For more details, contact Peggy Amoako at pamoako@ christian-aid.org

MARCH 2019 23 HOOLE, CHESTER The North Staffs Sponsored Walk

Registration 9.15am Join hundreds of walkers for another year walking round Tittesworth

Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

Last Word

What does mean to Christian Aid? The UK is due to leave the European Union on 29 March 2019. Deal or no deal, that has implications for Christian Aid. Head of Programme Development and Funding Dominic Brain explains what these could be

E

ven though Brexit has rarely been out of the headlines since that watershed vote on 23 June 2016, one big question for Christian Aid has barely registered on the radar. And that is, what impact will Brexit have on the world’s poorest people?

As a charity, Christian Aid could not take a position to support either Leave or Remain during the referendum. At that time legal guidance meant it was difficult for us to argue one way or another, but either way it is the choices made by the UK and other governments that will make the difference for the world’s poorest people. And that is still the case even after Brexit. We have a responsibility to consider the impact of this major political decision on the poorest in the world and on our own work too.

Here’s where things stand…

The impact has already been felt Financially we have already seen a negative impact on our programmes. The purchasing power of the generous donations from our supporters and donors in the UK went down following the referendum, as the pound weakened against the US dollar. The dollar is the currency spent directly by many of our programmes or that local currencies track. This means that for every £1 million raised, we now only receive around $1.3 million where before we got around $1.5 million.

Why is the EU important to Christian Aid and development?

As well as being the largest free trade area, the Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

EU is also one of the biggest donors worldwide. It funds development and humanitarian projects in the poorest countries on Earth. We have 30 years’ experience of using EU funds in our programmes with partner organisations around the world. In fact, in 2017 around 10% of our total income came from EU grants – around £10.5 million.

Last year, this supported our emergency response in Bangladesh following floods and cyclones, the protection of human rights in Haiti and increasing energy access and resilience of communities in Burkina Faso. These programmes are truly transformational. Once outside the EU, UK-based charities such as Christian Aid will no longer be eligible to access EU funding.

The EU is not only a big donor, it also works in parts of the world where UK government aid funding does not go. It has considerable influence and status – due to its trade links and access to the EU Single Market. So, it is especially important for our Latin America and Caribbean programme and large parts of Asia and Africa.

Losing access to that funding will mean a big reduction in our work in some parts of the world and an overall reduction in our programme budgets.

Managing the impact We are working on managing the challenges ahead of Brexit, through a transition period (if there is one) and following Brexit. We have partnerships with a wide range of donors to diversify our funding and sustain our work.

These include the United Nations, the Global (continued on page 30)

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Aid has been in regular contact with the UK Government to share our concerns.

Breaking the Barriers – a Christian Aid project funded by the EU (see also story, page 8). (continued from page 29) Fund organisation (for our health work), and with other governments and foundations.

Does Brexit now mean the EU is a closed door?

Not entirely. We will seek other ways to access EU funding for our programmes. Christian Aid operates in three EU member-states – the UK, Ireland and Spain, where we engage with supporters, churches and governments. When the UK leaves, Christian Aid as a ‘family’ is still in the EU. Christian Aid Ireland would be able to access funding from the EU. We have already secured two small EU grants: Christian Aid Ireland and the EU will be jointly supporting new programmes focused on human rights in Colombia and El Salvador.

Are there concerns about existing projects funded by the EU? Many of these run beyond March 2019. We had significant success with new awards in the past 18 months. These new projects are currently being implemented. Our understanding is that they will continue to be funded until they are completed. A good example is the Breaking the Barriers programme that is part of our Harvest Appeal for 2018 (see page 10).

A commitment to honour the funding of existing projects was made in the joint UK-EU political communication in Autumn 2017. But it is subject to the final legal agreement. So, we do have concerns. Over the summer of 2018, with the political debate warming up, there are suggestions that existing commitments would not be honoured if there is no deal. Christian

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Are there issues beyond funding?

Yes. As the EU is a major trading bloc, the issues of trade and development are important.

Following the withdrawal agreement next year comes a crucial second stage. This is to agree terms on the UK’s new trading relationship with Europe, and permission to arrange new trade deals with other countries. It is critical to tackle poverty through trade as well as aid. With our partners in the Trade Justice Movement, Christian Aid is calling for the UK to have the best ‘trade for development’ policy in the world. This means bringing existing and future trade agreements into line with international human rights and environmental commitments and Southern countries’ development agendas.

With the political debate warming up, there are suggestions that existing commitments would not be honoured if there is no deal Looking to the future There are many big questions about the UK’s post-Brexit future: how will the EU and UK cooperate on climate change? Will the UK start to roll back environmental and climate change protections, or champion even greater efforts?

Will the UK’s already unsavoury debate about migrants and refugees lead to higher walls, or will the UK do even more for those in need of international protection? Is the UK destined to be an ‘offshore tax haven’? How will the UK Government reallocate Brexit savings and still meet its obligations to international development targets?

A UK outside the EU could be more progressive in certain areas of aid, development and climate change, if it chooses. The EU may be more ambitious in others, such as financial transparency, freed from the UK’s aggressive protection of its financial services. One thing is certain: we face many choices and negotiations in the years ahead whatever the political context.

Christian Aid will continue to stand together with those fighting against poverty.

Christian Aid Magazine Autumn/Winter 2018

Introducing

Christian Aid Charity Gifts After listening to your feedback, we’ve refreshed our virtual charity gifts catalogue and website, previously called Present Aid. It’s now called Christian Aid Charity Gifts.

Here’s how it works: 1.

2.

3.

Buy a virtual gift for a loved one from our selection We’ll send them an awesome gift card Your purchase helps transform lives on the other side of the world!

This Christmas, you have the power to transform lives.

Whether you’re shopping for an eco-warrior or entrepreneur, for a family member or friend, you’ll find an original feelgood gift that makes a difference.

Browse the new catalogue, and see more stories and our range of new cards online at: charity-gifts.christianaid.org.uk

Share your ideas with

Help shape the future of Christian Aid – in just 10-15 minutes a month.

Closer is our online supporter community that informs how Christian Aid works and communicates.

Closer is growing – and we’d love you to join us.

Every month, we’ll invite you to take a 10-15 minute survey.

You don’t have to complete each one. And you don’t need to be an expert.

If you care about Christian Aid’s work, it’s a simple way to make a big difference.

www.caid.org.uk/closer

Christian Aid Magazine Spring/Summer 2018

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