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OVERSEAS
Mothers'
Union now has over 3,500,000 members in more than 76 countries. The vast
majority of our members live in developing countries.
For
recent news, information and Mothers'
Union events around the world, please click on
Mothers'
Union Worldwide
The Diocese of Gloucester has
linked dioceses :
In Ondo in
recent years Mothers' Union has established an Old Peoples Home, an Ecumenical and Vocational
Centre to provide a forum for education, Bible study and fellowship for
youth. Mary Sumner House Worldwide Grants Committee donated money for a
Motherless Babies Home.
The word Ekiti means Mound or
high ground. The area is thickly forested and has a rainy and a dry
season. The people are mainly farmers who produce yams, cocoa, cassava
and rice. Mothers' Union activities include : Annual Conference, annual rededication
and enrolment services, Youth Forum, annual "bring and buy" for funds,
annual prayer week and weekly prayers in members' homes. There is a
vocational centre for youth and women within the compound of the
Diocesan Headquarters.
The local market takes place
under the palm trees by the ocean. Women sell small quantities of
produce they have grown. The Cathedral at Popondota does not need walls
or stained glass to be beautiful. Mothers' Union is evangelising the remote
mountain areas, sharing the Word of God
This diocese
covers 214,000 square miles, more than three times the size of England!
The area continues to feel the effects of war started in 1996. Many
members have lost homes, families and livelihoods. Mothers'
Union tries to support single
parent families. Members receive guidance on nutrition, sanitation and
the challenges of everyday life.
SPOTLIGHT ON BUKAVU
Where is Bukavu?
What is the problem?
The present war (now in its
eighth year) has taken a fearful toll with 4.7 million dead from the
fighting, starvation and disease - more than any conflict since the
Second World War.
In May 2004, in spite of UN
Peacekeepers, rebels took control and, inevitably, looting, rape and
murder followed. In June government forces retook control - the people
took to the streets in rejoicing (picture)
Sadly, the reality seems to be
that the people are little freer from poverty, violence and fear.
Can you imagine trying to lead a
normal life or bring up a family in these conditions?
Where are the Southern
Highlands?
The Diocese of the southern
Highlands was formed about four years ago when the Diocese of South West
Tanganyika was divided into two. The
Bishop who was known to the then Archdeacon of Gloucester moved to the
Southern Highlands and we requested to be linked with them as the
previous Bishop's wife, Eunice Mgogo, had visited us and was a known
factor. The Diocese is mainly agricultural and communications are not
the easiest. When they were formed they had nothing, including no
Cathedral and no Diocesan Structure. However Eunice organised Mothers'
Union
and obtained a grant from MSH to start a project . Mothers'
Union there has
grown and Susan Kisongi is the very active worker.
The Parish Church became the
Cathedral and the Diocesan Guest House is now the Diocesan offices with
the Mothers' Union office there. They have one car which belongs to the Bishop but
Mothers' Union and others use it for travelling up country. Tetbury sent £300 in
1999 and a cow was purchased, who duly calved with a heifer. However,
since then all the calves have been bulls! They sell the milk (not from
the bulls, alas) and get money from which they have started a soap
making project using palm oil .
They have started craft
projects and as wood is the main fuel, Susan has planted masses of
seedlings which she is giving to Mothers' Union members to plant around their houses
and in 9 years they will have trees which can be cut and used for
charcoal or sold as logs. Their houses and churches are made from
bricks that they make in the villages and roof with palm leaves ( Palm
roofs need replacing every year as they tend to leak!). Corrugated tin
is also used but is very expensive. As a comparison, a Parish Priest
earns £20 a year (please don't tell the Diocesan Synod!).
Karnataka & Dornakal in Southern India
In
recent years frequent exchange visits between Gloucester and these
dioceses have enabled a growing understanding and a mutually beneficial
sharing of faith. Several members have been able to visit India or to
entertain visitors.
OVERSEAS - GENERAL
Facts & Figures
The
Overseas Fund plays an extremely vital part in our work. From this Fund
grants are made towards salary and travel grants for Mothers'
Union workers, office
equipment, transport, conferences and training events, and projects.
The number of requests to the Overseas Fund is increasing each year with
an increasing number of Anglican dioceses worldwide.
Supporting Mothers’ Union workers
Our main gift to the dioceses worldwide are the Mothers'
Union workers and a
significant proportion of the Overseas Fund goes towards supporting
dioceses with the costs of salary and travel for their workers.
All Mothers' Union workers are local women, who speak the language of the people
among whom they work and understand the local culture and customs.
They teach a variety of basic skills, both practical and spiritual;
organise conferences and training for members and the local community;
and encourage self-help/income generating projects and community
outreach programmes.
There are currently 286 Provincial and Diocesan Mothers’ Union workers
around the world and their number increases steadily year by year
Conferences and training
When women have the opportunity for training, the benefits are seen by
the whole community. Attendance at a conference or seminar arranged by
Mothers' Union
is often the only opportunity some women have to learn about and
discuss issues that affect their everyday lives.
The topics covered in a training workshop or conference are key issues
affecting the participants, their families and their community. In most
cases, a proportion of the costs of these events is raised locally by
the participants and/or the local Mothers'
Union, but without some additional help
from the Overseas Fund, few could take place.
The focus of these conferences varies
considerably. Below are a few examples:
·
Peace and reconciliation
·
Marriage
·
Working with young people
·
HIV/AIDS awareness
·
Widows rights
·
Family relationships
·
Women empowerment
·
Leadership
·
Health care
Projects
Across the world Mothers'
Union is involved in a wide variety of projects
including vocational centres, HIV/AIDS awareness projects, cafeterias
and sewing projects.
For
full details of projects worldwide visit the Mothers' Union Web Site
(click on globe)
Mothers' Union Emergency Relief Work
(This information is available on
the Mothers' Union Web Site )
The Mothers' Union Relief Fund provides emergency financial help for
communities affected by natural disaster or conflict. Although an
internationally renowned organisation, the grassroots nature of Mothers'
Union means
that it is exceptionally well placed within communities to quickly
obtain food, materials and medicines for immediate distribution where
most needed.
Mozambique
Mothers' Union were amongst the first charities to respond when a
cyclone struck at the end of February 2007. An immediate grant of 15,000
UK pounds was sent from the Relief fund to assist Mothers'
Union volunteers in
Niassa and Lebombo diocese. The cyclone and the following heavy rains
brought flooding and devastation, especially to families around Lake
Malawi, where 1,500 families were made homeless. As a direct result of
Mothers' Union intervention 680 families were supplied with emergency aid kits
including mosquito nets; essential in this highly endemic area for
malaria, food supplies and chlorine for water purification. Further MU
grants are already being made available to provide additional funding for
replanting crops, essential drugs, roofing plastic, soap and tents to
house people needing medical assistance.
Burundi
Mothers' Union responded to an urgent appeal from the Archbishop of
Burundi in January, when the effects of famine and flood were severe
enough for the Government to declare a national disaster. Houses, schools
and churches were destroyed, 80 % of crops were washed away or
destroyed, and the country's roads and communication infrastructure was
badly damaged. People in the area were suffering malnutrition and
disease. Alongside the financial contributions of the Burnundians
themselves, the Government and Anglican Communion appealed for
assistance. It is estimated that 800,000 people will need food
assistance between February and July 2007. Mothers'
Union sent an immediate fund of 10,000 to Mothers'
Union in Burundi to enable them to bring immediate relief
to families most in need in the affected areas.
Famine in
East Africa
Over 13 million people across East Africa, at least half of them under
18 years of age, were affected by prolonged drought in 2005. Across
Kenya, Malawi, Burundi, Ethiopia and Somalia rural communities were
pushed to starvation point by the resulting failed harvests. One Mothers'
Union
region in Burundi had not seen rain since 2002 and their situation
typifies many across East Africa their farms fail without water,
children are suffering from malnutrition and many people are dying of
starvation.
What did we do?
Whilst not a million dollar international aid agency, Mothers'
Union has been able
to fund many direct requests from dioceses across Kenya, Zambia,
Tanzania, Burundi and Malawi. In Kenya maize and beans were distributed
to those most in need. In Burundi over 2,000 families were helped by the
provision of rice, beans, maize and clothes: In Malawi 3,000 families in
need of urgent assistance were helped, and these dioceses are now
assisting communities on improving agricultural methods for long term
food security.
What can you
do?
Our Emergency Relief Fund urgently needs donations to enable us to be
able to respond to future natural disasters. Sadly, drought is a
perennial problem in Africa, flooding in Asia, famine across the
developing world. To respond we need your help:
Relief for Refugees
In September 2005 there was renewed fighting in the Diocese of Boga, in
D R Congo. A large group of rebels attacked the centre of the Diocese
looting and burning houses, buildings and the main hospital. Thousands
of people, mainly women and children fled from the area and settled in
camps in Eringeti and Bunia and across the border in Uganda. Living with
literally nothing on the side of the road, or in camps, the situation of
these displaced people was desperate.
What did we do?
At Eringeti, Bunia and in Muhabura, Uganda where over 20,000 refugees
sought sanctuary, Mothers' Union members visited people, listened and talked with
them, and asked what their needs were. A relief fund grant was quickly
sent for emergency supplies of maize flour, blankets, jerricans, soap
and other utensils to help these families. Over 2,000 families were
assisted in this way, and Mothers' Union continues to visit displaced families,
including children without parents.
What can you do?
Many people continue to die in refugee camps. Mothers'
Union can work through the
local diocese to bring comfort and immediate aid with your help. By
giving prayerfully and financially you can resource ongoing support and
ensure that we can respond to new needs for families facing adversity.
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