2017 walk is a great success!

Our sponsored 5K walk in May 2017 raised £25,300! A huge thank you to all who walked, sponsored and helped. Our biggest participating group was Cullybackey College, whose pupils raised an astonishing £4,355 - they are pictured below queuing for their well-deserved hot dogs.

The money which you have raised will go towards Tearfund's support of refugee children in Lebanon. £10 can provide a family with a monthly food parcel, so £25,300 will make a real difference. Well done, and we hope to see you again for our 2018 walk - Shanes Castle Friday 18th May.

2017 Mid-Antrim Tearfund walk

Friday May 19th at Shanes Castle, Antrim

We invite you to join us for a 5K walk or jog in the beautiful Shanes Castle grounds, enjoy the barbecue and help raise urgently needed funds. We will be there from 11am until dark.
The walk is buggie-friendly and dogs on leads are welcome.

Why are we doing this?

When her husband was kidnapped crossing a checkpoint, Karena and her children fled from their home in Syria to a refugee camp in Lebanon. Distraught, Karena considers herself to be a widow because she has lost all hope of seeing her husband again. Karena and her children are living in a tent with two other families. Like most of her fellow refugees, Karena has no money - she left everything behind in Syria. But occasionally she is able to work as an agricultural labourer for which she receives a small amount of food. She constantly worries about her children and where their next meal will come from.

Can we make a difference?

Karena and her children (left) are a long way from home, but they are not struggling alone. They receive regular visits from Tearfund’s partner as well as monthly food and hygiene parcels which contain the essential items that they need. Tearfund’s partner has also provided the family with clothes and mattresses and the family have attended hygiene classes to help them stay healthy whilst they are living in the camp. Karena enjoys attending Bible studies organised by Tearfund partner staff and church volunteers. She says, ‘You are the only ones looking after me - I am really grateful for your visits and all the support that you’re giving me.’   

Tearfund’s partner in Lebanon is committed to serving the needs of marginalised and vulnerable people. With your help 142 Syrian refugee families (about 850 people) in Beirut will receive physical, emotional and spiritual support between April 2017 and March 2018. Last year you helped us raise £20,000 - we can do it again!

2017 Tearfund Walk

Friday 19 May 2017 at Shanes Castle Antrim

Amira is a normal 16 year-old. She’s got the usual interests: pop music, boys and her mobile phone. But, along with 30 million other children and young people around the world she’s a refugee. Amira lives in a camp with her family after fleeing the civil war in Syria. 

Our 2017 sponsored walk will support Tearfund's work among refugees in Lebanon - please join us.

Another great effort - £20,000 raised

The 2016 walk (that's you!) raised £20,000 for drought-stricken Chad. Thank you for making the effort and making a difference.

2016 walk

Please join us on Friday 20th May at Shanes Castle for our 2016 sponsored walk. We will be there from 11am, the cafe will be open and the barbecue will be on. Please contact us for sponsorship cards.

Growing food in Chad
The full details of our 2016 project are below - we plan to make a difference for 3000 people!

​Sévérin​proudly shows off his market garden (Source: SCMR)

WHY SHOULD YOU GET INVOLVED?

The reason: The people served by this project live in almost constant fear of not being able to feed their families. In Chad around 87 out of 1,000 babies die, compared to around 4 in the UK, many due to hunger or indirectly due to poor nutrition. It is vital that local churches play a central role in training people to overcome the problems they face so they can be lifted out of material and spiritual poverty.

The results: This project will strengthen churches to take the lead in developing and transforming their communities. Farmers will learn to use their land more productively and sustainably to feed their families and earn a profit. Marginalised people living with HIV/AIDS will also be encouraged and supported to start small businesses to earn a living. Money earned will allow parents to send their children to school and to grow their businesses. The project aims to reach over 3,000 people, both directly and indirectly.

This project needs your support: The project year will cost £26,744 and runs between July 2015 and June 2016. Among other important activities, this money will be used to teach communities to farm in keeping with changing climate conditions, strengthen churches to take the lead in transforming their communities and support people living with HIV/AIDS.

WHY DOES THIS PROJECT EXIST?

Tandjilé in south-west Chad is one of the country’s 22 ​regions and is divided into two departments. These departments are split into 13 subprefectures. For the duration of this project, the Service Chrétien en Milieu Rural/SCMR (The Christian Service in Rural Areas) will focus on five of the most needy subprefectures where most people rely on small-scale farming and many struggle to support their families.

The success of cereal crops, such as rice, millet and sorghum, is highly dependent on favourable weather conditions and reliable rainy seasons. But rainfall in Chad is becoming increasingly erratic. Alternating droughts and floods ravage the land, hitting agricultural yields very hard and threatening livelihoods, health and lives. It is a cruel injustice that world’s poorest people are those most affected by climate change, even though they are the least responsible for it.

A lack of knowledge on how to farm successfully in the changing climate is leaving many families in these Chadian communities desperately poor and hungry. A lack of surplus produce to sell is keeping incomes low, meaning that children are deprived of schooling, forced to marry young and robbed of their childhood.

Within this challenging landscape, local churches are reaching out to bring God’s love and salvation to people who desperately need Him. SCMR is working to strengthen these churches to work in their communities, bring spiritual and material support, and enable people to lift themselves out of poverty.

HOW WILL THIS PROJECT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Sévérin is a farmer and a father of ten. He has similar dreams and aspirations for his children as any good father would. ‘I used to grow rice,’ he told us. ‘After harvest, I always used to sell a large part of the yield to have enough money for the children's school fees, clothing, medical care and other family needs. But we couldn’t always make ends meet before the next harvest. At times, I was forced into debt, and this took its toll on the family.

But five years ago SCMR gave us training on how to diversify crops to increase income for our households. I learned to do market gardening and SCMR helped me with vegetable seeds and agricultural tools for working in the garden. Since then, a great change has taken place in my family. With revenues from the garden, I’ve been able to build a house with two bedrooms. I bought a pair of oxen and a cart. I can now pay for my children’s clothing and school fees and if anyone in the family falls ill I can pay for treatment. Our diet has much improved and we are able to store provisions that allow us to cover the whole year without going hungry.

Our prayer is to increase our productivity, so we can live a full life and witness more of God's blessings in my family.’

WHAT WILL THE PROJECT DO IN THE SHORT TERM?

In this project year, SCMR will inspire and equip three local churches to spread the good news of Jesus in word and deed to even more people. With SCMR-trained local churches taking the lead, communities will develop resources and skills they already have to improve their quality of life. This process will give local people a vision for determining their own future with their own resources.

An exciting aspect of this project is Hope Farm, a centre for theoretical and practical training. People will come here to learn about sustainable agriculture - how to invest in crops that are better suited to the changing climate and how to restore their soil using organic matter. Seeds, equipment and sacks of manure will be bought to demonstrate these sustainable techniques. On the farmer’s own land, SCMR staff will help farmers to implement the new techniques and monitor their progress. We pray that these farmers will reap bountiful harvests and be inspired to share what they have been taught with others, multiplying the impact of the training.

Ignorance and prejudice is marginalising and stigmatising people living with HIV/AIDS. A number of people with the virus have organised an association to join hands and tackle the challenges that they face together with strength and dignity. SCMR is following Jesus’ example by standing with these ostracised people and offering compassion and practical support. SCMR will provide this precious group with livestock to give them new opportunities to earn an income.

WHAT IMPACT WILL THIS HAVE IN THE FUTURE?

Through providing technical training and support, domestic vegetable production in the communities will increase. As well as improving families’ diet and health, proceeds from the sale of surplus produce will increase their income levels. This money will enable parents to send their children to school, expand their agricultural activities and increase their productivity.

Communities will take ownership of the project to make sure the work continues to develop and is sustainable in the long-term. Initially, SCMR will regularly monitor the use of new farming techniques so that future work will yield good results. Once funding has ended, the communities will be equipped to continue the work without external guidance.

Lessons learned during the outworking of the project will be shared, and agricultural practice will be improved upon from generation to generation. The sustainability of this project will be further strengthened through the establishment of church-led groups with a heart to serve and love their communities. These groups will share goods and knowledge to equip them to be more resilient and adaptable to climate change. Most importantly, we pray that through the work more and more people would come to know Jesus as their loving saviour.

WHO IS CARRYING THIS OUT ON THE GROUND?

The Service Chrétien en Milieu Rural (SCMR) was formed in 1976. SCMR supports around 500 churches in the Tandjilé and Logone Occidental regions of Chad. SCMR was initially set up by the Eglise Evangelique au Tchad (EET) to improve living conditions in rural areas. Their work includes improving food security, protecting the environment and preventing and treating HIV/AIDS.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

GIVING

This project needs financial support to run. We’re aiming to raise ​£26,744* towards the coming project year.

 PRAYING

·         ●  Thank God for the good work SCMR have been doing in Chad for so many years.

·         ●  Please pray that the local churches will be beacons of hope within their communities. Pray

also that they would play a growing role in lifting the people of Chad out of poverty.

·         ●  Please pray that God would change people’s hearts so that those living with HIV/AIDS would

no longer be excluded, but be accepted, valued and loved.

·         ●  PraythatmorepeoplelikeSévérinwillbeequippedwiththeskillsandconfidencetheyneed

to thrive and reach their God-given potential.

2015 Walk Update

We had a great day at Shanes Castle - the bluebells in the woodland walk were special. A big thank you to all of you who walked and raised funds.

Next year's walk will be on Friday 20th May 2016

2015 Walk - combating child labour

The purpose of this year’s sponsored walk is to help combat child labour in Zambia. Over 600,000 children between the ages of 5 and 14 are forced to work – about half of them full-time. We want to raise £22,000 - seems like a lot, but last year you raised an amazing £18,800! So it's possible!

See the project details below.

On Friday 15th May 2015 we will be at Shanes Castle from 11am until 10pm. We will be barbecuing for all and the café will be open. The walk is suitable for wheelchairs and buggies. We have sponsorship cards to help you in your fundraising. Please get in touch for cards or more information.

THE PROJECT

THE NEED:

In Zambia over 600,000 children between the ages of 5 and 14 years of age are forced to work – about half of them full-time. Tearfund, together with Jesus Cares Ministries (JCM), wants your help to combat this.

THE PLAN:

500 vulnerable children currently being exploited through child labour will be given vocational skills and access to good education.

2000 ‘at risk’ children will be prevented from entering child labour through Life Skills Training.

400 caregivers will be taught skills to improve their income.

100 local churches will raise awareness of child labour and awareness will be raised in 4 local communities, impacting approximately 150,000 people.

THE COST: The direct costs, for 12 months, come to £22,000

Education support for children (school materials & uniforms)	6,000
Vocational Skills training	3,000
Life Skills training	2,000
Empowerment of 400 caregivers	2,000
Formation & training of 20 Self Help Groups	4,000
Church & Community Mobilisation Programme	1,000
Awareness Raising activities	2,000
Quarterly monitoring visits	2,000

THe location

Chipata and Katete in Zambia have been chosen for this project because they have had the highest incidences of child labour and HIV & AIDS in Zambia. A study showed that over 25,000 children, most of whom were orphans, were not in school and were engaged in child labour on farms or herding cattle for their families. This is partially due to high poverty levels, inadequate education facilities and the HIV & AIDS pandemic.

This project addresses poverty, lack of education, sensitisation on issues of child labour, and empowerment of vulnerable households affected by child labour and HIV & AIDS.

making a difference?

Below is the story of Josephine Phiri, a mother whose life has been transformed by the work of Jesus Cares Ministries.

My name is Mrs Josephine Phiri. I am 41 years old and married with 7 children. I live in Chibeteka Village in Chiparamba Community, where we are all peasant farmers.

I sent my daughter Maureen (12 years old) and Alpha (8 years old) to JCM Transitional School for early childhood education and now they are at Chiparamba Primary School. Maureen is in Grade 5 and Alpha is in Grade 2. Their school performance is very good.

I am so grateful to God for the empowerment I received through JCM. I was trained in baking to sustain the livelihood of my family. My husband helped me build a traditional baking oven, which I use to bake buns that I sell to the community. With this money I can support my children with their school needs such as uniforms, books, pencils and school fees.

My baking business earns me K50 (approx. £5) every day and I am able to make a saving of K20 (approx. £2) everyday to boost my profits. With the remaining money, I buy more ingredients for my baking business. With the surplus I have also diversified into a charcoal business. I do this with my family, which enables me to meet all of our needs - I never run out of money to meet the needs of my children and the family.

Last February (2014), I decided to join a Self Help Group (SHG) called Yamikani SHG in Chibeteka Village. The 20 of us meet weekly and make a contribution of K5 (approx. 50p) monthly, which is loaned to the group members who pay back with an interest of 10%. I managed to get a loan of K20 (approx. £2), which I used to buy baking ingredients (flour, salt and yeast).  This earned me K53 (over £5), which enabled me to paid back my loan with 10% bringing the total amount to K22 (over £2). I had a balance of K31 (over £3), which I put back into my business and also used some of the money to meet the needs of my children.

I thank God that this has transformed my life and mind set. I am now aware of our locally available resources, which I can use to help meet the needs of my children, my family and the community at large. To God be the glory.

What impact will this have?

Since Jesus Cares Ministries began this project in 2007, they have seen the number of children enrolled in community schools and formal schools increase. There has been a reduction in cases of child marriages, child pregnancies and child labour and more of the existing cases of child labour and abuse are being reported. Children are more aware of their rights and responsibilities towards education.

Thanks to Church & Community Mobilisation, the Church have understood their role as the salt and light of this earth and are addressing the way they meet the spiritual and physical needs of their communities.

Community participation is key. Communities work alongside JCM wherever possible and are more aware of their potential and locally available resources.

As the Self Help Group concept has now been adopted amongst caregivers, transformation in households and communities is highly evident, with 90% of children in the target communities now attending school.

Who is doing the work on the ground?

Jesus Cares Ministries (JCM) Zambia was founded in 1995. Tearfund have been partnering with JCM since 2007 and supporting them in their work with children and women through education, health services, social mobilisation, awareness raising, research and advocacy.

The vision of JCM is a better world for all, where the poor and less privileged are empowered and their human rights protected and promoted. JCM is guided by the values of Christ-centeredness, love, servanthood, teamwork, excellence, hope, faith, transparency, accountability, integrity, non-partisanship and gender sensitivity.

what can you do to help?

Giving

The project needs financial support to run. We would like to raise the £22,000 required to meet the direct costs of the project in Zambia for one year. Last year we raised £18,800 so our target is achievable.

please continue to Pray

·         Thank God for the success of the project so far – in particular for people like Josephine mentioned above, who have experienced such positive change in their lives as a result of JCM’s work.

·         Please pray that JCM would find the funds and people resources required to cope with the numbers of children who are being withdrawn from child labour.

·         Please pray for a change in cultural practises (such as childhood marriage) and statutory laws that are still governing the land and making it difficult for JCM to intervene.

Thank you for your continued support and prayer concerning Tearfund’s work