The Church Of Ireland
News Briefing

The Church of Ireland Bishops' Appeal made eight grants at its September meeting, with a focus upon India and Bangladesh.

Tearfund is engaged an AIDS awareness education programme in India. Bishops' Appeal made a previous grant of £11,000 to this programme. An additional grant of £3,000 was approved.

In Bangladesh Christian Aid is funding a development project with displaced and landless people in the Lakshimipur District. Funds from the Irish Government will cover 75% of the £56,400 cost and Bishops' Appeal is contributing 25%, a grant of £14,100.

Also in Bangladesh a Christian Aid funded programme in the Noakhali district that will include income generating activities, savings and credit schemes, and training and education is receiving 75% support from Irish Government funds, a Bishops' Appeal grant of £17,769 will constitute 25% of the £71,706 cost.

The Society for Integrated Development, a Christian Aid partner, is involved in community organisation, sustainable agriculture and credit programmes in Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India. The overall cost is £20,309, and Bishops' Appeal is making a 25% contribution, £5,077, the other 75% coming from Irish Government funds.

The Diocese of North East India is a vast rural and tribal area. Travel in the area is very difficult and the diocese has sought funding to purchase motor cycles to assist communications. Bishops' Appeal has made a grant of £5,000 that will purchase five motor cycles.

Three grants were made to assist development projects in Africa.

CMSI are working in the diocese of Luweero in Uganda. The region suffered greatly during the fighting in the 1980s and remains poor. A builders' apprenticeship programme has been established to provide young people with a vocational skill to allow them become self reliant, to support their families and to have a sustainable future. A grant of £8,745 was made to assist in the development of the programme.

CMSI has been working with Canon Henry Leju in the diocese of Kajokeji in southern Sudan since 1992. Most of the people in the region are refugees and there is a growing AIDS problem. An AIDS Awareness initiative is being established and is being supported by a grant of £7,793 from Bishops' Appeal.

The Namirembe Resource Centre in Kampala, Uganda provides hostel accommodation and educational facilities for girls. Its construction has been assisted by Bishops' Appeal and a grant of £10,000 was approved to assist in the completion of the final phase.

In addition to these grants, Bishops' Appeal forwarded to Christian Aid donations received in response to situations of famine, disaster and war £1,300 for work assisting refugees in Kosovo; £17,568 to support communities in Mozambique rebuilding their lives after the floods earlier in the year; £282 for a reseeding project in Sudan; and £3,893 in response to the famine in the Horn of Africa.

Further details by email from Bishops' Appeal

The Revd Ian Poulton
Secretary