Christian Aid Week
CHRISTIAN AID WEEK
Each year people in Wenvoe have been very generous in giving their time and money to boost the income of Christian Aid during their specific fund raising week in May. Each year 
an issue is highlighted to show why the money is needed and how it is used. In 2019 this was about projects in Sierra Leone working with communities to build clinics for effective maternity care. We heard the story of Judith who trained as a Health Worker and then as a Mid Wife. She created a Health Project developing the community’s knowledge of how they can best help themselves and with the support of Christian Aid built their own Health Centre. We later heard of the effectiveness of the Midwifery service giving women confidence and taking away some of the fears of child birth.
During the last two years the fund raising in Wenvoe has united with Sully and St Lythans to reach a total of £3,000. This has been heart warming to those helping to plan and ensure events ran smoothly. Last year this included the usual street collection of donations by envelopes in Wenvoe and St. Lythans, a Big Brekkie and non uniform day in Gwenfo School, a Bring and Share lunch in Sully and a donation from St. Mary’s Church.
Similar events had been planned for 2020. However, due to the coronavirus none of the above events could take place. The need though, has not gone away. Indeed Christian Aid has appealed for further help in countries where health care systems are rudimentary to cope with the pandemic. Their recent reports have emphasised they are using their knowledge of working with the Ebola crisis to now help with this current coronavirus:
‘Cases of coronavirus have been reported in all of the countries that we work in. Many people in these countries already struggle with poor health and are particularly at risk from coronavirus. These health care systems are struggling to cope already, let alone with a pandemic.’
Thanks to gifts from people like you, we are now responding in ten countries. ‘We are delivering life-saving soap and water to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. We are helping inform communities about social distancing and building isolation spaces for people with the virus. And we are providing urgent training to medical staff on the ground.’
Your help is needed more than ever. Fund raising this year went ‘virtual’. There were daily activities on the church Facebook page for children. This included a sponsored silence, painting trees, decorating plant pots for growing trees, baking cupcakes and sharing, and a scavenger hunt. This culminated in the Morning Service when we remembered and prayed for Christian Aid, for those working for the organisation and those communities and individuals they are supporting
For further information or to donate please go to the website at info@email.christian-aid.org or donate by post to, Christian Aid, 3 Church Street, Cardiff CF14 2DX or by telephone 020 75232269.
Jude Billingham