Scottish churches raise funds for Christian Aid Week 2024
Published on 12 April 2024 3 minutes read
Churches across Scotland are raising funds whichever way they can for this year's Christian Aid Week focusing on Burundi - one of the most densely populated and poorest countries in Africa.
Christian Aid Week, Christian Aid's annual fundraising appeal, gets underway in a month's time - running from this year from 12 – 18 May 2024.
This year the message is seven days, so many ways to beat extreme poverty and supporters across Scotland and the rest of the UK are being encouraged to fundraise in whatever way works best in their local church or community.
It's the 68th Christian Aid Week, the annual fundraising appeal has been taking place every year since 1957. Val Brown, head of Christian Aid Scotland said:
"Every year hundreds of churches across Scotland leap into action for Christian Aid Week, putting our global neighbours living in extreme poverty at the centre of their efforts.
"We know there are so many brilliant events planned for this May: book sales, coffee mornings, plant sales, sponsored walks and much more. The energy and determination to make a difference is really inspirational.
"Ahead of this year's appeal I'd like to thank everyone for their efforts and wish them all the best with whatever they are organising.
"There really are so many ways to give, act and pray during Christian Aid Week."
Burundi is the focus of this year's appeal, one of the most densely populated and poorest countries in Africa. Heavily reliant on agriculture, it's also one of the least prepared to combat the effects of climate change, including droughts, floods and landslides. The global cost of living crisis has intensified the challenges: more than 70 per cent of the population live in poverty and more than half of children are chronically malnourished.
Christian Aid has been working in Burundi since 1995 when it first offered humanitarian assistance to people surviving the civil conflict. Now, alongside local partners, the organisation helps establish Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs).
These community-led groups mean people can save and borrow money, making small businesses possible, offering reliable and diverse incomes so families can eat regularly, get medicine when they need it, and build safer homes.
Thirty-five-year-old Aline Nibogora is the chairperson of a VSLA which supports some 25 families in a remote village, in Makamba Province. Aline escaped an abusive home only to find herself on the streets begging for a place to stay.
Her life changed when she went to a three-day, Christian Aid-funded community workshop. With a small start-up loan, Aline began trading avocados and peanuts locally. She's now a grocery wholesaler and living on her own plot of land where she's building a home for her family. In the next five years she hopes to expand, so one day she can buy a mill.
Reflecting on what she's achieved Aline said:
"I took a three-day training course with very skilled trainers. I came out with amazing knowledge and skills. The teacher restored a sense of hope and energy in me.
"The training helped me to get started, and today I still have it in my heart and mind. I intend to pass it on to my children and other groups like ours.
"It's important that we give back and train those who didn't have this opportunity, for the development of our community and our country."
Christian Aid Week offers seven days and so many ways to make a difference – to find out more or to order resources please visit.
