This year’s Christian Aid Week house-to-house collection will take place between 13th – 19st May and will raise money to bring clean water to people and livestock in three villages in Mali, one of the world’s poorest countries. The sum raised will be matched pound for pound by the Overseas Aid Committee of Tynwald, extending the project’s reach to six villages.

Local Chairman of the Churches Together in Mann World Development Committee, Paul Craine expects more than 300 collectors to be calling at houses across the Island during Christian Aid Week.  “The money raised on the Island will bring clean drinking water and improved hygiene practices to more than 5,300 of the world’s poorest people.  It will support people of all faiths and no faith. We hope that the people of the Isle of Man will respond generously.”

With the pound for pound matching by the government, Mr Craine believes that there is no more effective way of personal giving to help poor people.  “This project is run by a long-standing partner of Christian Aid based in Mali.  We know exactly what every pound will be spent on, and all money raised on the Island goes to the project.  Most of the money will be spent on the digging of wells, bringing safe drinking water to the people and their livestock. As well as reducing disease, this will save the time spent by women and youth walking to distant water sources, allowing them to work or study.  Villagers will also be taught about the importance of hygiene, both in their homes and communities.  Not a penny goes through governments and every aspect of the scheme is monitored by Christian Aid.  Every pound given in the red envelopes. or collection boxes. will be doubled by the Overseas Aid Committee of Tynwald.  You cannot make a greater difference per pound donated than this.”

Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa, ranked a lowly 175/187 on the UN Human Development Index.  In the project’s location, within the region of Mopti, rainfall is scarce and has declined by 30% in the past forty years.  The once predictable rainy seasons have been getting shorter, leaving water points dry.  Sometimes only surface water is available, unprotected from animals and other pollutants, and people are forced to drink contaminated water; young children are particularly vulnerable to the resulting diseases.

In the uncertain wake of the recent coup, local Christian Aid staff say this work is especially valuable.

There will be an all-Island service to mark the launch of Christian Aid Week, held on Sunday 13 May at 6.30pm at St Mary’s church, Port St Mary.

Several additional events are being held to support the Week.

-  John Hellowell is presenting an illustrated talk about his recent visit to the Falkland Islands on Friday 11 May at 7.30pm, at Kirk Braddan church hall.
-  Coffee mornings are to be held at Peel Methodist Guildhall (Fri 11 May, from 10.00),  All Saints Douglas (Sat 19 May from 10.30), and Peel Corrin Hall (Fri 25 May from 10.15). 
- Waterloo Road Methodist church in Ramsey will host a ‘Live Below The Line’ meal and talk at 7.30pm Fri 11 May.  For ?2.50 a meal is offered whose tasty and nutritious ingredients cost less than ?1!  Tickets available by phoning 817507.  More activities will be there on Saturday morning from 10am. 

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