In 1945, the churches of Britain and Ireland united to support Second World War refugees.
Our founders held that peace required all nations and all people to hunger for justice and be guided by love.
Congregations responded by giving generously and sacrificially to their neighbours in Europe.
Their compassion laid the foundations of our movement. Their acts of solidarity defined what it still means to be a Christian Aid supporter. Their hope proved to be unstoppable.
For 80 years, our supporters have worked together, guided by their faith, for the good of humanity worldwide. Supporters like YOU.
Of all the many things we’ll say in 2025, the most important by far is...
Your hope –fighting poverty for 80 years
With great joy and gratitude, I welcome you to this special edition of Christian Aid magazine.
Throughout these pages, you’ll discover how gifts, actions and prayers have been making a real difference in the fight against poverty for 80 years.
Take a whistle stop tour of our rich history (pg. 10); read the memories of former Senior Projects Officer, Celia Cleave, who defied gender stereotypes in the 1970s (pg. 20); meet lifelong activist Ashley Green-Thompson, who fought apartheid in South Africa (pg. 26); and so much more.
In this anniversary year, it’s an honour to look back and celebrate the impact that you – our remarkable supporters – have made since 1945. It’s also an important time to listen intently to God’s call for us to love our global neighbours. A time for us to recommit and demonstrate the hope that unites us in this cause.
Thank you for all that you so generously give, and for your faith that one day, the world will be fair and just.
May God’s blessings be upon you always,
The
Rt Rev and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE Bishop of London Chair of Christian Aid
The joy of a new water pump, funded by Christian Aid supporters in 1978.
Cover story Amani with her son, Badu, in Wedweil Refugee Settlement, South Sudan. A cash grant from our partner, SAADO, supported Amani to establish a small restaurant. With an income, her family can now thrive as they forge a new life while waiting for peace.
Photos: Cover Christian Aid/David Macharia; page 2 Christian Aid/Dominique Fofanah; page 3 Christian Aid/Archive; page 4 Christian Aid/Max Colson; page 5 Christian Aid/Archive; page 6-9 Christian Aid/Ian Jones, Other Agency, Dean & Chapter of Westminster, Jennifer Weaver, Margaret Barr, Amy Sheppey; page 10-15 Christian Aid/Archive, David Rose, Fabeha Monir, Tom Pilston; page 16-19 Christian Aid/Amy Sheppey; page 20-21 Christian Aid/Archive; page 22-23 Christian Aid/Chetan Sahai; page 24-25 Christian Aid/David Brazier, Supremo Photography; page 26-27 Christian Aid/Jon Bilbrough; page 28-29 Christian Aid/ Esther Nsapu; page 30-31 Christian Aid/Emery Ninganza.
6 A year of celebration
Take a tour of the activities marking 80 years of Christian Aid.
10 Your support in 80 memorable moments
Explore decades of shared achievements through facts, figures and stories.
16 Seeds of resistance in Guatemala
Meet Sofia, who’s defending her livelihood with our partner, Congcoop.
20 A journey through time
Hear from Celia Cleave, one of the first women to travel internationally for Christian Aid.
22 Dalit women claiming their dignity in India
Discover how Manju and Poonam are working to end the practice of manual scavenging.
24 The Restore campaign
Make your voice heard in the corridors of power by calling for an end to debt.
26 The fight for justice in South Africa
Hear how Ashley Green-Thompson’s life has been defined by social activism.
28 Surviving war in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Find out how you can offer lifesaving supplies to families like Michel’s.
30 Last word
Read Karimi Kinoti’s highlights from two decades working at Christian Aid.
Christian Aid magazine Autumn/Winter 2025
2025: A year of celebration
This anniversary year is the perfect opportunity to loudly and proudly recognise your incredible support.
Creating a buzz at Buckingham Palace
In February, we were honoured to have our 80th anniversary recognised at a Humanitarian Reception hosted by Their Majesties The King and Queen.
In the palace ballroom, we showcased our partners’ work in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine and South Sudan. We were delighted to be joined by partners and supporters, including Rev Ian Woodward, Chair of the SalisburySudans Partnership, and Deborah Okeowo, who collaborated with us on the song Hold on to Hope.
During his time with us, the King was presented with a jar of honey from our partner, Nyuki Hubs Kenya, who’ve established a flourishing bee-keeping programme to combat poverty.
Reflecting at Westminster Abbey
On 12 June, supporters joined us for a very special service. It was a time to remember all that’s been made possible by our global community’s courage, compassion and hope.
The Order of Service included a performance (pictured above) of When I Needed a Neighbour, reimagined by the Kingdom Choir, Twyford CofE High School and singer-songwriter Emmanuel Smith. Meanwhile, Diana Gichengo and Bezwada Wilson, Christian Aid partners, led a recommitment liturgy, alongside school student Destiny Ochej. This liturgy was a pledge to keep standing with people who are marginalised, so that a brighter future is possible.
Serving up food for thought in Wales
In May, Mumbles Christian Aid Group dished up a Big Brekkie (pictured below), bringing their total fundraising for Christian Aid Week 2025 to £1,000. Organiser April Beynon said the event was: ‘a wonderful way to bring people together – many have asked if we’ll be doing it again!’
The Mumbles group was founded in 1948 by Gwynn Hodge, a member of Mumbles Baptist Church and a former prisoner of war. When HMS Exeter was sunk in the south Java Sea in 1942, Gwynn was captured and forced to work on the infamous Death Railway in Burma (now Myanmar). Once home in Wales, he vowed to do what he could for people in crisis, having been inspired by the kindness of Burmese villagers who pushed food through the prison camp’s fence. Gwynn went on to raise almost £30,000 in his lifetime.
Planting Trees of Hope
From Aberdeen to Ruthglen, supporters across Scotland are planting Trees of Hope to mark our 80th year.
In Fife, Temwa Kasakula, our Global Health Advisor (pictured above), planted an apple tree in a community orchard beside Largo Parish Church. The church holds a special connection to our past because former minister, Rev Douglas Lister, is widely regarded as one of Christian Aid’s founders. The Very Rev Dr Russell Barr said the tree is: ‘a permanent reminder of our support for an organisation that has roots here in Scotland.’
To learn more about the Trees of Hope project, email edinburgh@ christian-aid.org
Poetry in motion
‘We are bringing good news, when hope feels like a synonym for silence.’
These are the words of Storm Cecile (pictured below), taken from her poem The Unstoppable Power of Hope, written to mark this special year. Storm performed her work at our Westminster Abbey service. It’s a bold, beautiful and unflinching poem that invites us to see hope as urgent and alive, something that’s carried by communities, sustained by faith, and made real through actions. Read the poem at caid.org.uk/StormCecile
Power of Hope awards
In June, Rev Kate Bottley hosted our celebration of the remarkable volunteers and churches who go above and beyond to build a fairer world. Our heartfelt thanks and congratulations go to our award winners: Amplifying Hope: Arton Medd – a powerful voice for justice, education and compassion. Creative Fundraising: Sue Burston – a talented innovator and speaker. Project Power: Caroline Pybus – an extraordinary, unsung coordinator for five decades. Prophetic Activism: Meg Thomas –a bold and compassionate voice for justice. Standing Together: Garioch District Christian Aid Group and Haddenham Christian Aid Group –communities who excel at uniting with shared purpose. Young Global Neighbours: St Andrew’s Major Church in Wales Primary School (pictured above) – courageous advocates for climate justice.
Find full winner profiles at caid.org.uk/PowerHopeAwards
Exploring our history
A compelling new book – Justice Song – launches this November, celebrating our extraordinary history. The book will take readers on a journey around the world, from Afghanistan and Brazil to Sierra Leone and Sudan, through stunning photography and untold stories.
Author Michael Taylor, Emeritus Professor of Social Theology at the University of Birmingham, and Director of Christian Aid from 19851997, reviewed hundreds of archive documents and interviewed many supporters, partners and staff. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has written the foreword.
Justice Song is a must-read for all supporters, because it’s as much your story as ours.
Justice Song: The Story of Christian Aid is published on 24 November. Click to pre-order now.
No limits for Lesley
Over the years, adrenaline fan and all-action fundraiser, Lesley Williams (pictured below), has wing-walked and abseiled to fundraise for Christian Aid. But the former headteacher from Cowley, Oxfordshire, wanted to make her Christian Aid Week efforts extra special this year. Before successfully undertaking her epic challenge in May, Lesley explained:
‘Along with Christian Aid, I hit 80 this year, so I’m planning to enjoy two 40-mile rides. I’ll be covering the distance in solidarity with millions of people who have to walk long distances for clean water or to sell their produce.’
You’re an inspiration Lesley. Happy birthday and huge thanks!
Your support in 80 memorable moments
As our global community turns 80, we celebrate all we’ve achieved – together.
1940s
1 Responding to the devastation of the Second World War by founding as Christian Reconstruction in Europe in 1945.
2 Inviting churches to use the national day of Thanksgiving for Victory (9 May 1945) to show solidarity with Europe.
3 Raising more than £80k so that partner churches in mainland Europe can support war-stricken communities.
4 Broadcasting an impassioned BBC Sunday worship service on 12 May 1946 to raise awareness of our work.
5 Joining the British Council of Churches and changing our name to the Inter-Church Aid and Refugee Service.
6 Supporting refugees in Korea, Hong Kong, the occupied Palestinian territory, and Europe.
7 Standing with churches in countries moving from colonialism to independence.
8 Supporting Hungarian refugees to resettle in the aftermath of the 1956 uprising.
9 Launching the firstever Christian Aid Week in 1957, the largest public act of Christian witness, raising more than £26k.
10 Staging a replica refugee camp in London’s St Martin-inthe-Fields to capture public attention.
11 Helping to found the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) programme, which will go on to support almost 85 million people.
12 Publishing
Christian Aid News, a monthly newsletter for supporters, which eventually becomes Christian Aid magazine.
13 Leading campaigning for an end to refugee camps in mainland Europe.
14 Joining the UN’s Freedom from Hunger Campaign and raising funds for agricultural projects.
15 Co-leading the creation of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), so that agencies work together in humanitarian crises. It will go on to raise £2.5bn.
Changing our name
17 Advising Martin Luther King Jr during his trip to the UK.
18 Creating education resources for school pupils around our work and faith.
19 Producing the influential report World Poverty and British Responsibility, to drive political action on aid, trade and private investment.
20 Funding more than 90 programmes in Africa, Asia and Latin America with £2m during the first five years of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign.
21 Sending medical teams to run clinics for people facing starvation as a result of the Nigeria-Biafra War.
22 Helping to establish Action for World Development, a coalition campaigning for political change, now called Global Justice Now.
23 Running appeals asking supporters to donate 1% of their earnings to world development.
1970s
24 Supporting people enduring drought in India and making plans to tackle the growing world food crisis.
25 Turning a brighter spotlight on the causes of poverty and injustice, showing how people in the UK can take action to support global neighbours through our partners.
26 Working with the British Army to transport supplies to Africa’s drought-hit Sahel region.
27 Popularising world development issues by providing seed money to establish the New Internationalist magazine.
28 Campaigning for UK households to help end the global food crisis by living more simply.
29 Raising over £700k for thousands of refugees fleeing the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.
30 Funding £50k of medical aid for people fleeing the Vietnam War.
31 Promoting One World Week, a new campaign encouraging people in the UK to take action on global issues.
32 Supporting Ugandans to rebuild in the wake of Idi Amin’s rule.
1980s
33 Recruiting nurses and doctors, and raising money to support people in Lebanon.
34 Raising money and awareness to support people living through famine in Ethiopia.
35 Leading a mass lobby of the UK Parliament to demand more official development aid.
36 Standing with churches in the Philippines by supporting political prisoners and publicising human rights abuses.
37 Unveiling the now famous ‘Do you believe in life before death?’ strapline for the first time, on a Christian Aid Week poster.
38 Publishing a theological statement asserting the causes of poverty, which becomes the foundation for all of Christian Aid’s action and reflection.
39 Collaborating with Dalit communities in India to strengthen livelihoods and dignity.
40 Appealing for funds to support people in Mozambique in the grip of war and drought.
41 Convening the organisations that become the Southern Africa Coalition, helping to end apartheid.
42 Organising a stunt for the 30th Christian Aid Week, featuring an oversized set of scales of justice outside London’s St Paul’s Cathedral to highlight inequality.
1990s
43 Co-founding the Fairtrade Foundation, following calls for fairness from Mexican coffee farmers. Over 2 million farmers and workers will go on to join the movement.
44 Challenging the stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.
45 Launching the Change the Rules campaign to demand more fairly traded products on supermarket shelves.
46 Airing the first TV ad for Christian Aid Week, and another on debt that is banned after being considered too controversial.
47 Raising funds for people displaced by conflict in Colombia.
48 Supporting refugees in Kosovo with humanitarian assistance.
2000s
49 Championing the Jubilee 2000 campaign that leads to the cancellation of billions of dollars of debt for countries trapped in poverty.
50 Mobilising thousands of supporters to lobby their MPs for fairer trade rules.
51 Organising two hard-hitting photographic projects, highlighting the impact of HIV and AIDS on families in Zambia, Botswana and South Africa.
52 Raising £47m following the Asian Tsunami, supporting more than 500,000 people with food, shelter and healthcare.
53 Publicising that low-income countries lose more money through big corporations’ tax evasion than they receive in official aid.
54 Supporting thousands of people to rebuild their lives after a devastating earthquake in Pakistan.
55 Funding projects to support people fleeing conflict in Darfur, Sudan.
56 Helping to organise mass demonstration events as part of Make Poverty History.
57 Being the first major international non-governmental organisation to link climate change with international development.
58 Leading the longest climate change protest march in UK history to urge the government to cut carbon emissions by at least 80% by 2050.
59 Funding the Twic Olympics in South Sudan to celebrate sport and bring people together in peace.
60 Playing a leading role in The Wave campaign, calling on world leaders to deliver climate justice.
2010s
61 Repairing 1,200 homes and building 700 more following the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti.
62 Supporting the Right to Education campaign in the Latin America and Caribbean region, which sees countries pledge more money for education.
63 Standing alongside thousands of people on a 300km march to Delhi, India, to demand land rights.
64 Touring our ‘tax justice bus’ to highlight the injustice of countries losing over $160bn each year due to tax dodging by unscrupulous companies.
65 Helping to fund legal support for 18-yearold Nozeni Izatullah in Afghanistan who is sentenced to five years in prison for running away with her boyfriend.
66 Helping to launch the Enough Food for Everyone IF campaign.
67 Establishing Side by Side, a global faith movement for gender justice.
68 Celebrating the UK Government putting the 0.7% aid target into law, after decades of lobbying and campaigning.
69 Launching The Big Shift campaign to lobby banks to move away from fossil fuels and into renewable energy.
70 Helping lead the largest ever mass lobby of Parliament in recognition of the climate emergency.
71 Partnering in the Big Church Switch campaign, supporting 3,500 churches to change to a clean energy supplier.
72 Supporting 72,000 people fleeing conflict in South Sudan and 44,000 in Sierra Leone to bring about positive change in their communities.
2020s ...and we’re only halfway through!
73 Supporting thousands of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh with food, healthcare and clean water.
74 Championing the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund to compensate communities affected by the climate crisis. This will be achieved in 2022 at COP27.
75 Raising £5.5m for aid, attending prayer vigils, signing petitions and supporting #FastForGaza to stand with people caught in the Middle East crisis.
76 Raising over £3.45m for the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal, supporting more than 100,000 people.
77 Supporting the defence of human rights among LGBTI people in El Salvador.
78 Offering lifesaving emergency assistance to people fleeing conflict in Sudan.
79 Launching our Restore campaign to take action on the climate and debt crises that are trapping millions of people in poverty.
80 Delivering emergency assistance to over 800,000 people affected by the war in Ukraine. Here’s to as many more moments as it takes to create a fairer, more peaceful world.
Seeds of resistance
Thanks to your support of Christian Aid Week 2025, farmers like Sofia are defending their land and sowing seeds of hope.
Sofia belongs to the Indigenous Q’eqchi’ community of the Alta Verapaz region of Guatemala.
Sofia smiles. As she welcomes us to her home in Guatemala, her eyes light up with joy.
‘I feel very thankful that you are my visitors! It motivates me and emotionally supports me. My reality is very hard. But now I feel more encouraged to face life.’
Thanks to global friends like you, Sofia has the courage to push back against the devastating effects of the climate crisis – a crisis her community and way of life didn’t cause. You may remember Sofia’s neighbour, Aurelia, who shared her story for Christian Aid Week 2025. An inspirational Indigenous community leader, Aurelia’s working with our partner, Congcoop, supporting Sofia and other local women to protect their farms and families from a dramatically changing climate.
A crisis before her eyes
Sofia has seen how extreme heat, droughts and storms are harming this once beautiful mountainous region. Rivers are drying up. Land is failing to produce the lush crops it once did.
She’ll never forget when soaring temperatures destroyed her crops. Sofia told us: ‘One day, my neighbour was clearing his land. He set it on fire, but the fire spread, burning down our plantation, which was so painful after years of growing.
‘The fire was a huge pain in my chest. I had nothing left to provide for my family. It felt like losing a child – you plant something, you take care of it, and then suddenly it had all gone.’
Sofia is at the coalface of the climate crisis. Like many farming women, she’s battling crop failure – which, devastatingly, can lead to hunger and malnutrition.
‘ We are experiencing extreme climate change. Women are the most affected, as there is no water to grow food and feed their children.’
Gladys Mucu Choc, Congcoop Facilitator
Sofia is part of a supportive rural community.
A solution in her hands
Your gifts, actions and prayers support people like Sofia to discover the practical solutions that mean they can recover from disaster.
Through our partner, Congcoop, Sofia has accessed tools and training that have seen her build rainwater collection systems, cultivate native seeds, and grow nutritious crops that are more resilient to extreme weather.
Alongside Aurelia, Sofia’s also been attending chocolate-making workshops. Belonging to this community of farmers and makers has inspired Sofia to sell her products at the local market, earning her an income to support her family.
‘I feel very fortunate to be part of this group,’ says Sofia. ‘I am very
Sofia’s reclaiming her life, land and livelihood. Through her actions, she’s sowing seeds of hope for her children and grandchildren’s futures.
By giving, acting and praying during Christian Aid Week 2025, you supported women like Sofia and Aurelia to protect their farms and futures. Thank you for using those seven special days in May to make lasting change possible.
You raised more than £5m during Christian Aid Week 2025!
Sofia, with her daughter and husband Eduardo, worries about food for the family.
Sofia holds her dead cacao trees.
A journey through time
Encompassing famine, war and drought, Celia Cleave’s experiences working for Christian Aid remain powerfully present to her, 50 years on.
‘I visited a refugee camp in Sahel where people were dying,’ recalls Celia of the region running from the east to the west of Africa. ‘The drought was very real. A child came over to me and told me his brother had just died.’
With nothing else to offer the little boy, she handed him her hat. He made her a gift in return. ‘He gave me a small wooden black box,’ Celia explains. ‘It was a memory of my time there. It was a very tough place.’ She still has the box.
A fascinating role
Celia was Senior Projects Officer and one of the first women to travel widely for Christian Aid, seeking out the very best initiatives for us to support.
‘There was a bit of resistance to a woman travelling back then,’ smiles Celia. ‘But it was great! I really enjoyed it.’
Celia joined us in 1969 at a challenging time. Christian Aid was then supporting civilians affected by the Nigeria-Biafra War (1967-70), in which up to 2 million people died from starvation.
Throwing herself into her work with the fledgling international team in our London office, Celia soon
Celia and Pastor Michel Kabone of the Evangelical church, Burkina Faso, in 1975, discussing his work on drought-resistant farming.
found herself managing all of our programmes in sub-Saharan Africa.
‘Christian Aid was very small then,’ she says modestly, ‘I was just doing my job.’
Impossible decisions
In her six years working for Christian Aid, Celia was passionate about helping the communities she encountered. But the work could be tough. ‘It was sometimes quite overwhelming,’ she admits.
‘I flew out with a load of blankets to Calcutta [now Kolkata] for refugees during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971,’ she remembers. This brutal conflict created 10 million refugees and caused countless deaths.
Then, when drought hit Africa in the early 1970s, Celia visited the worst-hit countries. Faced with such huge need, how did she and her team decide who to support?
‘I looked for projects that were well run – helping people to fight poverty and seek justice – and that would interest people in the UK.’
Inspired by faith
In her more recent role as a volunteer, Celia ran Christian Aid Week for an organisation called ‘Churches Together
Celia working in Gao, Republic of Mali.
in Barnes’ for a number of years, based at her church, St Mary’s, in south-west London.
‘I’ve always been keen to tell supporters about where their money goes,’ Celia explains. ‘I think the work Christian Aid does is really important, particularly when we face such a terrible situation in the world.’
Attending our recent 80th anniversary thanksgiving service took Celia back through time. ‘I thought of all those who served when I was there, many of whom have died since. The people I have met through Christian Aid supported my faith. It’s been wonderful to relive my time there.’
Thank you Celia, for your love and commitment.
Dalit women claiming their rights and dignity
For decades, women like Manju and Poonam have fought against the inhumane practice of manual scavenging in India.
Manual scavenging. The demeaning job of cleaning away human excreta – by hand, and with no protection.
This dehumanising practice has been forced upon women, men and children from the lowest tier of India’s caste system – the Dalit community –for more than 5,000 years.
This filthy work is not just sickening, it’s deadly. People undertaking manual scavenging are prone to catching many diseases including diarrhoea, jaundice and typhoid.
Supported by Christian Aid’s partner, Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA), Dalit activists have fought to claim their rights and dignity, and helped bring about legal change (see timeline).
The
fight for freedom
1950s
Voices for change
Here, Manju, Poonam and Bezwada share their experiences of working to end manual scavenging.
Manju Community leader
In 2003, I started working at a hospital where I used to pick human waste off patients. I used to feel very dirty. I’d even vomit. But I had no choice –I had to clean it to raise my children. I was very happy when the law passed. This gave me hope that we would be able to live a good and dignified life.
Christian Aid begins to partner with organisations who support marginalised communities in India to fight for dignity and equality.
1980s
Our partner SKA launches their relentless campaign to end manual scavenging.
I am part of SKA. We fight for our rights. Manual cleaning of sewage should be banned, so no one loses their life, like my husband lost his life, for cleaning sewage.
Today, our future is bright, and I’m hoping it will keep getting better.
Poonam
Community leader
Growing up, I was ashamed of myself because I belonged to this caste. Since the law has passed, it has brought me a lot of peace.
Now, I know about my rights. We were able to raise our voices against the atrocities done to us, and also raise our voices so the lawmakers would hear us.
I have been volunteering with SKA for the last six years. I gain knowledge from the organisation and pass it to other members of our community.
Now that my life is better, I want others to have a good and dignified life too.
1993
The Indian Government prohibits manual scavenging, but the practice persists in many areas of the country.
Bezwada
National Convenor of our partner, SKA
For more than 40 years, I have worked to eradicate manual scavenging in my country.
Christian Aid was there at the beginning of the journey of SKA, and it continues even now to work with the communities engaged in manual scavenging across India.
We have 6,300 volunteers from the Dalit community. The majority are women. They come out onto the streets every day and talk to people and convince them about what their rights are.
The courageous women who fight against this inhumane practice always inspire me. Their courage is my hope. Thank you for supporting the fight for dignified work in India.
2010
SKA leads a rally of thousands of Dalit activists in New Delhi to demand the total eradication of manual scavenging.
2013
A new law comes into force that prohibits the employment of manual scavengers and rehabilitates workers and their families.
Together, we can play our part in God’s work to restore creation and see the flourishing of all people.
Standing up to injustice
In many countries throughout the global South, the climate crisis is colliding with a debt crisis – trapping
people into lives of poverty.
For 80 years, we’ve been speaking truth to power and helping to build lasting change. Today, we must rise to the challenge again.
Crises colliding
Reckless polluters – such as fossil fuel companies – have caused the climate crisis that’s robbing communities of their lives, livelihoods and traditions.
Floods have devastated communities in Nigeria. Cyclones have killed thousands in Malawi. Drought has left people hungry in South Sudan. And in every climate disaster, people living in poverty feel its impact the hardest.
At the same time, greedy corporate lenders have trapped countries in a debt crisis, preventing governments from providing everyday services. Without healthcare, people are battling treatable illnesses alone. Without education, lost generations of young people are lacking the skills they need for employment.
Meanwhile, the UK Government has looked the other way and repeatedly backed those with wealth and power over people living in poverty.
African countries
spend more on external debt payments than healthcare and/or education.
Muzori’s crops in Zimbabwe.
‘The debt crisis has led to a higher cost of living, making life very difficult ... people barely get two meals a day.’
Bernard Adaba, Ghanaian debt campaigner (above)
Be part of the solution
Today, we need you to address the UK Government – who are uniquely placed to act.
With many fossil fuel companies headquartered in the UK, the Government has the power to tax their profits and make them pay for the climate crisis they’ve caused.
Furthermore, 90% of debts owed by low-income countries to private companies are governed by UK law. Legislation could compel private lenders to renegotiate these debts, and end poverty for millions.
These transformative actions would mean governments in the global South could divert funds to health, education and disaster recovery.
Calling all supporters
In 1992, you helped found the Fairtrade movement – now stand with your global neighbours again.
In 2000, you campaigned and the G8 cancelled billions of dollars of debt – now shout louder than ever before.
In 2007, you marched and got the first legal act to reduce carbon emissions – now answer the call once more.
We believe everyone is made equal in the eyes of God and deserves the opportunity to flourish. This is the beating heart of the Restore campaign.
Join the 8,000+ people who’ve already signed the petition. Write to your MP.
Share the Restore campaign in your church.
Supporters like you have been raising your voices and getting results for 80 years. Get louder at caid.org.uk/Restore
The fight for justice in South Africa
Since the 1950s, Christian Aid has stood in solidarity with communities in South Africa. We caught up with Ashley Green‑Thompson, Director of our partner, ACT Ubumbano, to reflect on the battle for justice and equality, past and present.
What do you believe true solidarity looks like in our work together?
Christian Aid were one of the founding funders of ACT Ubumbano [a network of Southern African and European organisations working for economic, gender and environmental justice]. But I think our relationship is about a lot more than the contribution of funding. It’s effectively a space to have conversations. We bounce ideas. We share perspectives on what it means to be in genuine solidarity with community struggles, in a world that is becoming increasingly hostile to those who are at the margins of society.
How did apartheid shape the fight for justice in South Africa?
I think it was Marcus Garvey who said: ‘A nation without knowledge of its past
is like a tree without roots.’ So, you’re never going to know how to navigate a future if you don’t have knowledge, and an appreciation, of where you’ve come from.
We’ve achieved some incredible successes, right? We’ve defeated apartheid. We’ve ended the Cold War.
I think those things were driven by activism. The anti‑apartheid movement was probably one of the most significant movements of our time. It was about people connecting at a very human level and sharing a common desire to see something that was more caring and more just.
The one thing that the region of Southern Africa has taught is that liberation isn’t a moment in history. We are constantly engaged in the struggle to push back against systems that dehumanise.
Ashley Green‑Thompson shares his memories.
Can you tell us what the moment of Nelson Mandela’s release felt like? In 1990, Mandela was released from prison. It was around a week before my 21st birthday. I remember when the announcements of the changes were made, people had a spontaneous celebration in the street.
It was the joy of the time. We never thought that this would happen so quickly. For people who were older than me, I can’t imagine the despair that they must have gone through when things didn’t seem possible to change.
It was a blessing because I saw the horrors of apartheid. And frankly, I didn’t suffer nearly as much as so many people who lost family members, people who spent years in jail, people who were injured or killed.
What gives you hope for the future? I must confess, there are times when I feel completely hopeless.
And then I spend time with my sons – I listen to the one who performs slam poetry at various places. And I think, if he’s still willing to engage in these very difficult conversations, that means others like him are, too.
And so, it’s not the cliché of ‘the future is our young people.’ But if you engage in meaningful conversations with young people in particular, you find that there is a willingness to explore a future beyond anything we’ve ever experienced.
That’s where I find my hope.
Thank you Ashley for being an inspiring and dedicated partner.
Your prayers and faithful support fuel activism. Together, we can fight inequality today, to build a better tomorrow.
Read and watch more inspiring content from Ashley at caid.org.uk/ACTubumbano
Bold campaign artwork from the 1980s.
‘We have nothing to feed these children.’
Michel’s family barely escaped alive when militia raided their village. Now, with savings and livestock stolen, they face hunger.
Imagine: you’re approaching 80 years of age, and your grandchildren have come to play. Perhaps you’re settling down for a family afternoon, a little one giggling on your knee.
But no. Instead, there are gunshots outside your door. Men armed with kalashnikovs and grenade launchers are storming the village. An explosion rocks the house. The children, terrified, start to cry.
‘When I heard the shooting, I thought to myself – we are dead,’ says Michel, a grandfather caught in a brutal conflict. ‘We had no choice but to run. We locked all the doors and fled with the children.’
Michel lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Central Africa. His village lies to the east, near the Rwandan border. At 79, Michel should be enjoying retirement, but as he says: ‘Since I was born, I have fled because of three wars.’ Michel scarcely knows what lasting peace feels like.
Michel and his grandchildren were forced to flee their home.
Decades of political instability and violence between multiple non-state armed groups and the national army have had a catastrophic impact on civilians. Millions like Michel and his family have been uprooted from their homes and trapped in one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
Leaving everything behind, Michel and his family took refuge in another village. The children, he says, were traumatised.
Eventually, hearing the rebels had gone, they ventured back, only to find devastation: their home trashed, their savings looted, their livestock stolen. This last injustice was a bitter blow, since Michel’s village had received these animals from our partner, ECCMERU, a Congolese church programme that supports refugees and attends humanitarian emergencies.
Michel explains: ‘When we came back, four goats had been stolen – they left only one and its baby. Christian Aid helped us a lot by giving us money to buy those animals and we were happy. I was very sad to see those who were victims like me.’
Michel had personally distributed goats and rabbits to 25 neighbours as part of a community-led project to
uphold older people’s dignity through practical measures, including cash grants, clean water, and resilience plans. It’s vital that this programme of support continues, so that determined families like Michel’s can forge a more secure life while waiting for peace.
Though Michel works every hour of daylight to provide food for his family, he tells us:
‘We hardly eat because we have nothing to feed these children … except the vegetables and bean leaves we pick.’
The emergency aid we deliver with our trusted partners is helping to protect children from the pain of hunger and malnutrition. A donation from you this Christmas could support parents and grandparents, like Michel, to buy nutritious food, lifesaving medicines and essential supplies. When we unite in hope, we can make a difference.
This Christmas, put love into action. Please give, act and pray in support of families like Michel’s. caid.org.uk/Michel
Where does your story with Christian Aid begin?
In 1995, I was asked by the World Council of Churches to share a vision I had: of bringing together national councils of churches from six countries in East and Central Africa to work collectively on peace and reconciliation. In the audience that day was Tim Cole, who was at that time Christian Aid’s Head of Great Lakes Region. That vision eventually became a reality as we established the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa (FECCLAHA), where I became the founding director.
Christian Aid was FECCLAHA’s steadfast partner from the word go. While we received a small annual grant – critical for running the organisation – it was the work we did together in a region
Christian Aid is powered by people passionate about making a difference.
People like Karimi Kinoti, who spent almost two decades with us.
torn apart by devastating armed conflict and displacement of people that’s forever etched in my memory. We forged a genuine partnership anchored in a deep commitment to social justice.
How did you end up joining Christian Aid as a staff member?
In mid-2004, Sarah Hughes, Christian Aid’s Head of Africa, mentioned that the organisation was looking for a Regional Representative for Eastern Africa and asked me to circulate the job advert. I did not hesitate to apply for the role myself! After rigorous interviews, I was pleased to be offered the position, based in Christian Aid’s Nairobi office. What I thought would only be a one-year contract ended up being a fulfilling 19 years at Christian Aid!
Do you have a special memory from your time?
I visited a project in Burundi where women organised themselves into a coffee growing association and created a coffee brand called Horomama. I saw how the project transformed the lives of these remarkable women, who went from taking care of coffee trees to becoming major players in production and marketing. The women dealt directly with buyers rather than intermediaries and so were able to get a better return for their hard work. Over time, their earning potential increased, bringing benefits to their families and communities. The women were also able to grow nutritious food for their families among the coffee trees.
Joining a coffee-tasting session with an international buyer from Japan
‘These remarkable women ... went from taking care of coffee trees to becoming major players in production and marketing.’
was something quite special – made possible by a vision of hope, a desire to test new ideas, and a network of supporters willing to take risks.
What did you take away when you left?
I look back at my time at Christian Aid with great fondness, including being the first Head of the Africa division to work outside the UK, and growing a strong portfolio of programmes with dedicated country teams. By the time I left in 2023, I had reignited my passion for advocacy and for longterm visioning as I explored at the directors’ table what it meant to be an international NGO in the 21st century.
Thank you Karimi, for your incredible commitment and vision of hope.
Members of the UBWIZA BW’IKAWA coffee cooperative in Burundi.
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