Christian Aid Ireland magazine - Spring 2014 (No.44)

Christian Aid Ireland Spring 2014 â– Number 44

Count Your Blessings An inspiring Lent story from northern Iraq Christian Aid Ireland

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Christian Aid Ireland is the official relief and development agency of the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland, the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Moravian Church, the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), the Salvation Army, and the Irish Council of Churches.

Make Lent count

It is a member of ACT Alliance (Action by Churches Together), the worldwide ecumenical network for emergency relief.

40 inspirational reflections to help you to pray, act and give, delivered straight to your smart phone or tablet.

Christian Aid is a signatory to the Dóchas Code of Conduct on Images & Messages. More details can be found on www.dochas.ie Please send any feedback about images in this publication to ahorsman@christian-aid.org

This Lent, download the free app search ‘Count Your Blessings’ in your app store.

Rosamond Bennett Chief Executive, Christian Aid Ireland Belfast Linden House, Beechill Business Park, 96 Beechill Road, Belfast BT8 7QN Tel: (028) 9064 8133 Email: Belfast@christian-aid.org Contacts: Deborah Doherty, Head of Church & Community

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Adrian Horsman, Head of Communications & Media

Dublin 16-17 Clanwilliam Terrace Grand Canal Quay, Dublin 2 Tel: (01) 611 0801 Fax: (01) 661 0949 Email: Dublin@christian-aid.org Contact: Peter Byrne, Church and Community Manager (Dublin)

Cork Hill View Bandon, Cork Tel: (023) 88 41468 Email: Cork@christian-aid.org Contact: Andrew Coleman, South West Co-ordinator NI Company no. NI059154 NI Charity no. XR94639 RoI Company no. 426928 RoI Charity no. CHY 6998

Now available

Count Yo Blessingsur

“From Inspiration to Impact” is our new booklet spelling out the strategy and vision of Christian Aid Ireland, in a clear and concise manner.

We believe that human action is responsible for the underlying causes of poverty and that we - the wealthiest generations in human history - have the greatest opportunity to overcome it.

This publication shows how Christian Aid Ireland plans to achieve our vision, an end to poverty.

If you would like a copy, please contact our Dublin or Belfast office (details on the left) with your name and address.

Christian Aid is a Christian organisation that insists the world can and must be swiftly changed to one where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty.

We work globally for profound change that eradicates the causes of poverty, striving to achieve equality, dignity and freedom for all, regardless of faith or nationality. We are part of a wider movement for social justice.

We provide urgent, practical and effective assistance where need is great, tackling the effects of poverty as well as its root causes.

www.christianaid.ie

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Christian Aid Ireland

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Contents

Editorial Lent is almost upon us and this year instead of giving up treats, we’re asking you to make Lent count in a different way. We’re asking people to give thanks for the blessings in their life and at the same time help change lives of poor communities around the world.

This is good news for me. I am almost halfway through my ‘Living Without’ challenge and don’t think there’s much more I could give up. I am coping fairly well with not being able to buy clothes but I really do miss not being able to buy books and just little bits and pieces.

I didn’t expect my challenge to have such a profound effect on me. It has really made me question what I actually need as opposed to what I just want. It has also made me appreciate everything I have. I have found myself living more in the moment, enjoying the little things and trusting God with the big stuff - the worries and burdens.

‘Count Your Blessings’ helps me put things in perspective, even on the most challenging day. It reminds me that I have so much to be thankful for - clean water, food, good schools for my children, electricity and access to healthcare to name but a few. Reading about survivors of Typhoon Haiyan and about people displaced as a result of the conflict in Syria, makes me feel so grateful to have stability and security in my life.

So this year I won’t be giving up anything more for Lent but I will be using Count Your Blessings to show my appreciation for what I have.

8 News ■ 4 Former CEO honoured

Margaret Boden OBE ■ 5 Colombia

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Opportunity for the Irish Government ■ 6 Zimbabwe

Women speak up

Feature ■ 8 Count Your Blessings

Hope in northern Iraq

Emergencies

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■ 10 Philippines

Picking up the pieces God bless.

■ 11 Syria

Latest update ■ 12 Haiti

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Four years on

Rosamond Bennett

Campaigns

CEO Christian Aid Ireland

■ 14 Russian Dolls

Taxing Issues In Dublin ■ 15 Dates For Your Diary

■ Cover: 15-year old Rojan Wahid and her father Wahid Fatir Mohammed Babakr, 42, live in a remote village in northern Iraq. Their story, and that of the rest of their community, is at the heart of this year’s ‘Count Your Blessings’ Lent campaign. See centre pages.

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Photograph: Christian Aid/Sarah Malian

Christian Aid Ireland

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News

Honour for former CEO 2014’s New Year’s Honours List brought with it the news that Christian Aid Ireland’s former CEO, Margaret Boden, was being awarded an OBE. Margaret is being recognised for her 'lifelong services to International Development.’

As a teenager in Dublin, Margaret volunteered as a collector with Christian Aid, before working in the organisation for 28 years; as manager of the Dublin Office, as Northern Ireland co-ordinator and, in 1998, as CEO. She continued as CEO until her retirement in May 2012.

‘I suppose you could say that I’ve been associated with Christian Aid practically all of my life!’ she explained.

Margaret was shocked and thrilled to hear she would be receiving the award: ‘I did not believe it until I saw it in print - you could have knocked me down with a feather. My immediate thoughts were to the people who have encouraged and inspired me over the years. I regard this award as not just about me, but about all the people involved in Christian Aid - the

board, staff, volunteers and our overseas partners, who are numerous. It is a great honour for everyone.’

Speaking of all the people who volunteer for Christian Aid she further added that ‘this award is as much theirs as it is mine.’

Christian Aid Ireland is also delighted by this news.

Deborah Doherty, Head of Church and Community, expressed the thoughts of many who have had the opportunity to work alongside Margaret: ‘Her personal faith and commitment to the Gospel message of Good News to the poor have guided her throughout her working life.

'She has been an inspiration to staff and supporters alike.'

The Jesus Agenda Launch ‘How can we today, as disciples of Jesus and as the Church in the 21st century, inhabit the words of Jesus; inhabit the Jesus agenda?’

Revd Dr Joel Edwards was interviewed at the launch by Gerry McArdle for the 'God Slot' on RTÉ Radio 1

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Christian Aid Ireland

Human rights in Colombia In early June the Dáil will hold a debate on the EU Association Agreement with Colombia and Peru. This is an opportunity for the Irish government to take a stand for human rights in Colombia.

The current scale of human rights violations in Colombia was vividly illustrated by the personal testimony of Colombian journalist Jineth Bedoya Lima in Dublin last December. As reported in the last issue of this magazine, sexual violence is the hidden reality of the conflict in Colombia. Jineth was in Ireland for the launch of a report

by Christian Aid partner ABColombia titled ‘Colombia: Women, Conflict-Related Sexual Violence and the Peace Process’.

Due to her work, Jineth herself has been kidnapped twice, tortured and sexually assaulted by a paramilitary group.

Jineth’s own words show her bravery.

‘I spent nine years in silence. I felt ashamed. The damage done to your soul never goes away… Now I can speak about what happened to me.

‘I realised I could be a voice for the thousands of women who have been victims of sexual violence, which gives me strength.’

She chose to stay and fight, yet 13 years on the perpetrators of these crimes remain free.

This was the challenge that Revd Dr Joel Edwards, international director of Micah Challenge, put to those gathered for the launch of ‘The Jesus Agenda’ in Dublin and Belfast.

‘The Jesus Agenda’ is a nine week course compiled

by Micah Challenge, Christian Aid and Compassion.

Focusing on Jesus’ declaration in Luke 4 to bring ‘good news to the poor and liberty to the captives’, it looks at how the Church around the world can work in partnership to inhabit an agenda of liberation for those who are poor and oppressed.

January’s launch saw the DVD and study guide being introduced to various church leaders. Joel Edwards,

Colombian journalist Jineth Bedoya Lima speaks up for the victims of sexual violence.

Photo: ABColombia

International pressure on Colombia is badly needed. Irish politicians should raise questions on how human rights in Colombia will be properly monitored and protected within the EU Association Agreement itself, before ratification.

who journeyed across four continents gathering interviews and case studies to form the resource, led those gathered through ‘The Jesus Agenda’s’ central themes of proclamation, power and promise. This was followed by an opportunity for attendees to give their thoughts and ask questions, before concluding with lunch and a time to talk more informally over what had been said.

If you are interested in running ‘The Jesus Agenda’ in your church or small group then copies of the DVD and study guide are available by contacting Christian Aid.

More information can also be found at www.thejesusagenda.org

Christian Aid Ireland

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Overseas

Women in Zimbabwe speak up Chipo Matutu has a stall at Mutoko market in north-east Zimbabwe. Although she plays an important role in the community and in supporting her family, she has often found it difficult to have her concerns heard or taken seriously.

Consultation meetings for local budgets, intended to provide opportunities for communities to raise issues they would like addressed, are in place in Zimbabwe. However they are often poorly advertised and their importance poorly understood, as such participation by community members is usually very poor. Additionally, as a traditionally patriarchal society, it is less acceptable for Zimbabwean women to speak in public and they are not expected to attend or contribute to meetings.

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Christian Aid Ireland

Christian Aid’s partner ‘Zimbabwe Women’s Resource Centre and Network’ (ZWRCN) has been working alongside both men and women in local initiatives which challenge these attitudes. One of ZWRCN’s major concerns has been to raise awareness of ‘gender budgeting’, a relatively new developmental concern which attempts to allocate resources in a way that the needs of all individuals and groups are satisfied.

Gender budgeting is not about separate budgets for women and men, nor is it about asking for more money for gender issues. Rather it takes note of the differences in situations, roles, contributions and needs of women, men, boys and girls, and responds accordingly. Chipiwa Chifamba from ZWRCN explains the importance of gender budgeting as such: ‘We have found that the gender budgeting work we have done in communities has increased the participation of women significantly in decision-making at local level.

‘But our work has another important dimension,’ says Chipiwa, ‘it provides us evidence on which to base campaigns for more pro-poor budgets at national level.

For example, as a result of our lobbying, the Minister of Finance adjusted the 2013 budget to reflect more pro-poor concerns.’

Women in Zimbabwe speak up Chipo Matutu at her stall in Mutoko.

Photographs: Christian Aid/Alix Tiernan

For ZWRCN the first steps to making gender budgeting a reality has been by making communities aware of local governance processes and raising people’s awareness of their rights.

Recently Chipo and her friends Teurai, Bertha and Monalisa, also stall holders at Mutoko market, attended a workshop hosted by ZWRCN and the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe. The workshop taught about gender budgeting and encouraged women to become more actively involved in decision-making. The ladies took notes throughout of the need for active participation and access to information.

ZWRCN’s Chipiwa Chifamba (white top) helps lead the way in getting women’s voices heard.

Reflecting on the workshop, Chipo later said:

‘Learning about our rights as consumers and as women makes me want to participate at the next budget consultation.

I gave my phone number to ZWRCN, so that they will ring me to inform me of the meetings called by the local council. When we go, we will tell them about our need for better litter collection around the market, and cleaning up of the sewage.’

Some of the women, including Chipo and her friends, taking notes at the ZWRCN meeting.

Two of Christian Aid’s Zimbabwe staff met some of the Irish supporters, who are raising funds to travel to Africa, in Dublin last October.

Christian Aid has strong relationships with Zimbabwean churches and partners, working on a wide range of issues including food security, water conservation, education, HIV, health, human rights, gender equality and peace building.

The team will be paying a visit to a number of these projects, including a visit to the remote district of Binga, where our partner Open Schools Worldwide (OSWW) operates an educational programme for children.

Supporters to visit Zimbabwe A group of Christian Aid supporters has been raising funds to visit Zimbabwe in late March. The intrepid travellers are from different churches throughout Ireland, from Ballycastle to Cork.

Many children in this area cannot go to school because they have to work or provide care for their ill parents or orphaned siblings. Motivated by their Christian faith, OSWW are responding to the educational needs of those children who have been shut out of the traditional school system for reasons beyond their control.

They work hard to bring them an education by training teachers and providing a ‘School in a Bag’. Although fairly new, this is an exciting project to be visiting as it has proven highly successful in South Africa.

If you would like one of the supporters to come and speak in your church when they return from Zimbabwe, please contact Christian Aid in Dublin, Cork, or Belfast.

Christian Aid Ireland

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Cover Story

Count Your Blessings As Lent approaches our thoughts often turn to what we can give up.

Lent, however, should also be a time to reflect, pray and be thankful for the goodness of God and the blessings we have received.

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Christian Aid Ireland

Caption: Rojan, 15, with her brother Sarmand, 12, outside their home in Zanan Bchuk, northern Iraq. The village's peaceful atmosphere today belies its turbulent past.

All photographs: Christian Aid/Sarah Malian

‘Count Your Blessings’ is Christian Aid’s Lent resource which contains thought provoking reflections, uplifting stories and practical actions which can be taken in solidarity with the world’s poorest people. Rosslyn Johnston reports.

This year ‘Count Your Blessings’ focuses on the story of Wahid Fatir Mohammed Babakr and his family, living in Zanan Bchuk. Like much of northern Iraq, this village has lived through decades of violent conflict.

After fleeing to safety during Saddam Hussein’s violent campaign against the Kurdish people in the north of Iraq, Wahid returned to find the devastation to be so great he couldn’t even identify his own home.

With the help of Christian Aid partner REACH the village has been transformed. Through the rebuilding of homes and the building of a new reservoir, tarmac road and greenhouses, Wahid and the Zanan Bchuk community have been able to create new and better lives for themselves.

‘Five years ago this place was just buildings. There wasn’t grass, no green, no trees’, Wahid explains. ‘You can see the difference in our lives now. It is unimaginable.’

The new road helps the remote community to stay connected, while the greenhouses and reservoir allow vegetables to be grown that otherwise would not survive the harsh dry seasons.

REACH also helped them petition the Ministry of Electricity to have the village connected to the grid. The Ministry agreed and the community will no longer be dependent on a costly generator to pull water from the

Wahid tends seedlings in the family greenhouse.

reservoir or power lights so that the children can study in the evenings. Rojan, Wahid’s daughter, speaks with excitement of the changes having electricity will bring; ‘Getting connected will be the happiest thing that has ever happened to me. At the moment we only turn the generator on at night, so we have to do so many different pieces of housework at night. During the summer, when the water gets hot, you cannot drink it so we have to bring ice from Chomchomal. If we have electricity we will have a fridge. You can do everything with the electricity.’

The changes in Zanan Bchuk have given Wahid a hope for the future. He has recently undertaken to build a concrete home for his family, as their previous house of mud and wood was vulnerable to attacks by insects. Others in his family are similarly optimistic; they have stocked the reservoir with fish, which they hope they will be able to farm for sale at local markets.

Wahid also spoke of his gratitude to Christian Aid’s supporters.

‘All I can say is thank you so much. All the hard work you are doing by your hand can be seen here. No one can pay you back: only God can pay you back. Your footprint is here.’

More of Wahid and his family’s story can be read in the ‘Count Your Blessing’ leaflet and, by joining us on the Count Your Blessings journey, you can help people like Wahid and his family change their lives for the better. So, this year rather than giving up treats for Lent, why not also think about what you can give?

The ‘Count Your Blessings’ leaflet is available with this magazine, and a free app is also available from app stores. Alternatively you can find out more by visiting christianaid.ie/lent

Count Yo ur Blessin gs

Christian Aid Ireland

Rojan's mother Samira preparing watermelons.

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Emergencies

Philippines typhoon Picking up the pieces after Haiyan ‘We’ve experienced a lot of typhoons here,’ 67-year old Teresita Abe says, ‘but I never experienced a storm like Haiyan before. It was so strong. We prayed and prayed that the storm would go away. I really think that our faith protected us and our community.

‘I used to have a small store, but most of my stock was washed away. It’s going to be really hard for our community to start over. Now we are just trying to make the best of what we have.’

Christian Aid partners responded in the immediate aftermath of last November’s Typhoon Haiyan, reaching people in some of the most isolated areas. Their initial priority was to bring people to emergency shelters and provide them with water and food, including rice, cooking oil, and corned beef. They also provided other items like soap, toothpaste, tarpaulins, mats and blankets.

Our partners have reached more than 165,000 people with food and non-food items; and more than 19,000 with emergency shelter materials. Distributions have taken place in the provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Iloilo and Palawan.

Ciara Loughney, Christian Aid’s Humanitarian Programme Advisor, flew out from Ireland shortly after Haiyan hit. ‘I spent a month in the Philippines supporting the emergency response and was deeply impressed by the commitment of our country team and partners, many of whom had been affected themselves.

‘The task of rebuilding following emergencies like Haiyan takes years. Restoring livelihoods will be the biggest challenge; the livelihoods of communities dependent on fishing and coconut trees were all but wiped out in some areas. However, the courage and resolve of the Filipino people in the face of a seemingly unending torrent of extreme weather is incredible.’

Teresita Abe in the remains of her home in Lawaan, Eastern Samaar province.

Photograph: Christian Aid/Melanie Smith 10 Christian Aid Ireland

Christian Aid has been working in the Philippines for over 30 years. Our local partners work year-round with vulnerable communities, training and preparing them for emergencies. While many lives were lost when Typhoon Haiyan struck, more lives were saved as a result of early warning systems in place.

Turkey Lebanon

Syria Iraq

Jordan

Syria Update Emergency sacks of rice are delivered to remote communities by fishing boat.

Photograph: Christian Aid/Coree Steadman

The deepening conflict in Syria means that more than 8 million people are now in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Many thousands are fleeing to neighbouring countries, arriving exhausted and desperate. Our emergency appeal is enabling partners in Lebanon and Iraq, and within Syria itself, to respond to the needs of some of the most vulnerable displaced communities.

Our response in Lebanon Lebanon is now home to over 720,000 refugees - a huge number for a country with a population of just 4.5 million.

We have two long-standing partners in Lebanon who are helping refugees from Syria; Association Najdeh, which has an established history working with Palestinian refugees, and Mouvement Social, which is helping Syrian children who cannot access state schooling to continue their education.

Our response in Iraq

Thank You We are grateful to our supporting churches who launched a special appeal for victims of the typhoon and - together with many generous individual donations - have raised totals to date of £235k and €135k.

In addition we were very grateful to have received €500k from Irish Aid.

Christian Aid partner REACH is working with some of the most vulnerable Syrian refugee communities living in informal camps in northern Iraq. REACH is working in these camps to provide hygiene and sanitation kits, as well as working with UNHCR and local NGOs to provide food packages and emergency shelters.

Inside Syria We are responding through our ACT Alliance sister agency, the International Orthodox Christian Charities.

IOCC is working with Syrian churches, as well as Islamic and secular organisations, to reach the widest number of people with emergency essentials. They are also running cash for work schemes and trying to minimise disruption to education.

Christian Aid Ireland

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Emergencies

Rebuilding After The ‘Quake: Haiti 4 Years On

In the four years since Haiti was hit by a devastating earthquake, Haitians have been hard at work rebuilding their homes and lives.

New earthquake-resistant houses are being built, but many people still live in crowded makeshift camps.

A Co Down clergyman and former Chair of Christian Aid Ireland, Revd Dr Roger Purce, has recently returned from Haiti, where he saw some of the new houses being built with money sent from churches in Ireland.

‘Each of the people given a house had to contribute to its construction’, said Dr Purce. A Christian Aid partner called Garr (Refugees and Repatriated Support Group) is working with 600 families who arrived after the earthquake in Lascohabes, a mountainous region near the border with neighbouring Dominican Republic.

‘It was made very clear to me that Garr was involved in building a community, not just building houses’, he added. ‘People need a house to live in, but they also need an income, a means of earning a living.’

‘I had detailed conversations with two women, Miliana Delva and Gabriella Pierre, who had come from Port-auPrince and had never had a garden or grown anything.

One of the new houses near Lescohabes, built with the help of money sent from Ireland

Yet they showed me the gardens they had planted with fruit and vegetables and told me how they were, at least partially, able to feed their families with what they grew.

‘Garr has helped them get on their feet, provided advice and support, giving them credit to establish small businesses, helping them grow an income. Like many, both Miliana and Gabriella not only care for their own children, but have each adopted a child as well.

‘One thing was very noticeable - round every house flowers were growing. There was an obvious pride in their new home, although in the case of Miliana the only furniture in the house was a single bed. She didn’t have a chair or a table. Despite this, Miliana said to me “I thank God, I thank Garr and I thank Christian Aid for this beautiful house.”

‘I asked whether they had legal title to their home. I was told that the houses were owned not by the individuals, but by the community working as a co-operative. This prevents the person living in the house renting it to someone else or selling it.

‘Garr has also been helping other displaced families, together with their host families, by providing livestock and seeds, and supporting income generating projects.

‘There is no doubt that an organisation like Garr could do more if it had the funds. The work I witnessed is high quality, delivered by committed people. They know what needs to be done and are getting on with it.’

Rev Roger Purce with Mrs Maliani Delva 12 Christian Aid Ireland

Dr Purce is Minister at Groomsport Presbyterian Church in Co Down, which by itself raised enough money to build five of the new houses.

Fundraising Sheep’s Head Hike The most recent annual Sheep’s Head Hike, with a record 150 hikers taking part, raised over €6,000 for Christian Aid. The committee, pictured here, are already planning the 6th annual hike which will take place on the first Saturday in September.

L to R standing: David Hayward, Helen O’Mahoney, Caroline Coleman, Ulla Zepperitz, Margaret Skuce.

Seated: Richard Dukelow, Susan Whitty, Sandra Dukelow, Andrew Coleman, Canon Paul Willoughby.

Our magnificent volunteers We are very grateful for the support of our volunteers who regularly come into the office in Belfast and help with a wide variety of jobs: from answering the telephone, to data inputting, and packing envelopes.

Pupils of Ballyholme Primary School in Co Down, with their principal David Hewitt, giving a cheque for £1,163 to Christian Aid’s David Thomas. The money was donated by the Belfast Telegraph, as part of its “Newspapers in Education G8” project.

Photo credit: Presseye

Christian Aid Ireland

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Campaigns

Christian Aid’s David Thomas with three inflatable Russian Dolls outside the Dáil.

Full of hot air at Leinster House Our Russian Dolls visited Leinster House in January as part of Christian Aid’s campaign calling for an end to tax dodging. It’s a damaging practice which denies developing countries much needed revenue.

Where has all the money gone?

We are asking Finance Minister Michael Noonan to put in place public registers recording the beneficial ownership of all companies, trusts and foundations registered in Ireland.

This would allow the tax authorities, the media and the public to identify tax dodgers.

We’re making progress; the UK government has already agreed to create a public register of company ownership.

But there’s much more to be done.

You can help ensure Mr Noonan gets our message by sending him an email via christianaid.ie/tax

Climate Change: Europe sets its sights not low enough Christian Aid has expressed its disappointment after the European Commission recommended targets for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions for 2030 that are just ‘too low’.

The EC’s recommendation is a cut of 40% from 1990 levels by 2030. This is lower than the 50% target that had been hoped for.

Denise Fontanilla, advocacy officer of Christian Aid partner organisation Aksyon Klima, a Philippine-based climate advocacy group, said the target was a slap in the face to Filipinos still recovering from Typhoon Haiyan: ‘This low target insults not only Haiyan survivors, but everyone dealing with extreme weather events made even worse by climate change. The EU must make drastic emissions cuts in the face of the new normal.’

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Where has all the money gone? STOP tax

http://youtu.be/Rz

If you’d like to see a short film explaining how and why tax dodging has become such a major obstacle to fighting world poverty, follow this QR code.

Lobbying Bill is flawed Christian Aid, along with other charities, has voiced concerns over a Lobbying bill currently passing through the UK Parliament. The bill, although intended to curb the power and influence of corporate lobbyists, would have unintended and damaging consequences for charities.

During parliamentary debates a number of MPs from Northern Ireland spoke in support of changes. East Belfast MP Naomi Long said: ‘This bill as it stands, could impose significant restrictions on the entirely legitimate and non-partisan activities of many charitable organisations and good-cause campaigners who seek to raise issues with political parties.’

While South Down MP Margaret Ritchie said that that the bill would ‘hit the work of local charities and third sector organisations that form such a vital part of political life in Northern Ireland.’

Fortunately some of the recommendations have now been incorporated, but others were not and the bill remains a concern.

Diary Dates Supporter Conferences - All Welcome Saturday 22nd February 10am-1pm Ballyloughan Presbyterian Church, Ballymena Speaker: Stephen Lynas, Head of Communications, Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Soup and Cheese Lunches

Drumbeg soup lunch

Saturday 1st March 10am-1pm Belfast South Methodist Church, Lisburn Road.

Every Tuesday

Speaker: Ciara Loughney, Humanitarian Officer, Christian Aid

1st Wednesday of each month

Saturday 29th March 11am-1pm Letterkenny Presbyterian Church, Co Donegal

Armagh Road Presbyterian Church, Portadown and Centre for Celtic Spirituality, Armagh Cathedral

Speakers: Very Rev Dr Rob Craig and Mrs Karen Craig

Saturday 12th April 10am-1pm Limerick United Christ Church, O’Connell Street Speakers: Bishop Trevor Williams , Jackie McNair and Karen Gillespie

Clanmurry Plant Sale Tuesday 29th April at 7pm Annual plant sale at Clanmurry house, Dromore, Co Down

1st Lisburn Presbyterian Church

1st Friday of each month St Patrick’s Parish Church, Drumbeg, Co Down

Every Friday during Lent Lenten lunch at 1st Cookstown Presbyterian Church

Every Thursday during Lent Soup lunch at the Community Centre, Circular Road, Castlewellan

Special Conference for Christian Aid Week Wednesday 14th May 2014 “Strategies for Peace Building - Sharing Lessons Learned.”

For more details contact Dave Thomas dthomas@christian-aid.org (Belfast) or Karol Balfe kbalfe@christian-aid.org (Dublin)

Marathons Belfast Marathon

Cork City Marathon

Dublin Marathon

Monday 5 May 2014

Monday 2 June 2014

Monday 27 October 2014

belfastcitymarathon.com

corkcitymarathon.ie

To book your place call Jennifer Swensson in our Dublin office

Belfast One World Run

Flora Women’s Mini Marathon

Sunday 18 May 2014

Monday 2 June 2014

belfastoneworldrun.co.uk

florawomensminimarathon.ie

CONTACT

Run, jog or walk, or get a team together to share the miles, and raise money for Christian Aid Ireland.

Belfast: 028 9064 8133 Dublin: 01 611 0801 Email: eventsireland@christian-aid.org Christian Aid Ireland www.christianaid.ie/running

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Christian Aid Week 11-17 May 2014 Seven amazing days of love in action

Bronach McFall and her daughter Molly with friend Zoe

Will your church be taking part in Christian Aid Week?

Loving God, you make us in your image.

Forgive us when we fail to see your image in each other, when we give in to greed and indifference when we do not question the systems that are life-denying.

As we are made in your image, let us live in your image and be Christ-like in service, endurance and love.

Amen 16 Christian Aid Ireland Northern Ireland Charity number XR94639 Company number NI059154

Order your resources today from caweek.org or contact: Helen Newell Belfast (028) 9064 8133 Belfast@christian-aid.org Jennifer Swensson Dublin (01) 611 0801 Dublin@christian-aid.org Andrew Coleman Cork (023) 884 1468 Cork@christian-aid.org

Republic of Ireland Charity number CHY 6998 Company number 426928