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WORLD MISSION PROJECT FOR FEBRUARY

Imagine that you have to drop out of school just because you have reached puberty, are female and your periods have begun. Is this fair? What can be done? The Beatrice Project was set up in 2015 in response to concerns from teachers and community leaders in the poor rural areas of South Zimbabwe. They saw many girls dropping out of school for lack of sanitary protection. Inevitably these girls were suffering from the effects of a lost education, often pushed into unwanted early marriage and teenage motherhood, and needing child protection and safeguarding. The project started by supplying sanitary pads to local groups to enable the girls to complete their education and fulfil a positive role in their communities. Schools are now being supplied with sewing machines and materials so that the girls can make masks and reusable pads. There are also workshops (for boys too) e.g. on sexual health and child protection. Sessions are led by local leaders and peer educators. Over the last few years, The Beatrice Project has helped support hundreds of girls to stay at school.

If you would like to support this project see payment details on the weekly ‘Spotlight’ news or find details on the Beatrice website by clicking on the photo.

WORLD CHURCH PROJECT

We are excited that Link to Hope is our new project over the next few years.  The Project that we will be involved in is Future Change – based in Romania.

They are setting up a Kindergarten providing education and social care. There is so much help needed to educate and support families. They provide medical advice, help with birth certificates, and  property. They run homework clubs which help with basic life skills and developing behaviour.

Ann Coleman

 World Mission group

Read about shoeboxes and fundraising below and more about Lint to Hope on their website by clicking on this logo.

LINK TO HOPE SHOEBOXES AND FUNDRAISING

The Shoeboxes that we sent at Christmas were very much appreciated, especially this year.  The Charity were delighted that they managed to collect over 20,000 boxes in difficult circumstances. (Last year they sent 37,000.)

We will be supporting this Charity again and hopefully even more of us can get involved. This is a wonderful way to show love to the poorest people in Eastern Europe.

The Charity has a calendar listing items we can collect each month which helps to spread the cost. Many of us are still knitting and sewing in readiness for next Christmas. They really appreciate that we care enough to make items for them.

Each month in Yours I will let you know the items required. Please collect and keep safely as it helps spread the cost.

  • January: warm items hats/gloves/scarves/ knee blankets.
  • February: Heat and light – candles and holders/hot water bottles.
  • March: crafts, aprons/bags/sewing kits/pencil and glass cases.

It is hard to believe that they live in temperatures as low as -25°c. Their houses are not heated and are poorly built huts/sheds. We have felt the cold over the last month, but we live in insulated warm houses!  They really appreciate knee blankets approximately 3×3 feet (these are collected with the boxes). If you have a fleece this can be cut up.

The shoeboxes do far more than just provide gifts. Often when boxes are delivered, they discover the real needs of a family. One year a young baby had died of the cold. Another dwelling found an elderly lady sleeping on a cold stone floor. The charity was able to help with getting a bed and bedding.

If anyone has spare wool or material please let us know.

We are delighted to welcome Yvonne North onto the committee.

Fundraising at the moment is going to be difficult but the charity is struggling to provide the usual support. Regular donations would be greatly appreciated.

  • If you would like to set up a standing order please contact David Worrall.
  • If paying by cheque, please make it payable to’ The United Church CFL account’ to be sent direct to him. Please write Link to Hope on the back.
  • If you are paying by online bank transfer, details are ‘The United Church Winchester CFL ‘account sort code 40-46-39 Account No 91386808.

Many thanks in anticipation for your support. We are a small committee and welcome any fundraising ideas.

Ann Coleman

World Mission Group

EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Our church community has decided to make Education for Sustainability a focus.

This means a focus across the whole community on education, awareness and our impact over time that is in tune with creation; consciously embracing environmental degradation as a call to transform how we live as a community – by linking up what we do, by learning, by creatively exploring our connections within nature, and our understanding of God.

Read more

MHA COMMUNITIES WINCHESTER

MHA Communities Winchester is a charity offering support and friendship to local older people living in their own homes; helping to maintain independent living, improve well-being and reduce isolation.

For more information please email office@ucw.org.uk

EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Our church community has decided to make Education for Sustainability a focus.

This means a focus across the whole community on education, awareness and our impact over time that is in tune with creation; consciously embracing environmental degradation as a call to transform how we live as a community - by linking up what we do, by learning, by creatively exploring our connections within nature, and our understanding of God.

Unprecedented international agreement through The Paris Agreement in 2015 urges that everyone needs to be involved in avoiding the most catastrophic effects of climate change, now! There always seem to be numerous pressing issues for our community to respond to.  The specific challenges of climate change present a different kind of pressing issue, because the need for finding different ways of living, is so urgent. The 2018 IPCC report (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) pushes for no more than a 1.5 degree rise in global temperature to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.  We’ve already gone over the 1degree. Friends of the Earth say the period before 2020 is critical. This issue is of singular importance. But how does this translate down into each organisation, each individual doing their part to make it possible?

As an organisation that cares about love, justice, easing poverty, showing there is another way to live, our way of trying to do this is by a focus on Education for Sustainability (EfS).

What this looks like:

The urgency is uncomfortable and poses challenges, but the opportunity for us to be engaged in shaping a community that is willing to grapple with the shift to more sustainable ways of living is exciting, and profound, and deeply about God’s yearning for all to have life in all its fullness.

MHA COMMUNITIES WINCHESTER

MHA Communities Winchester is a charity offering support and friendship to local older people living in their own homes; helping to maintain independent living, improve well-being and reduce isolation.

Through our able team of Volunteers we are able to offer opportunities for companionship, support and advice to older people in the Winchester district. We have services which can be offered at home and group activities in a place where our members can be among friends. These include our weekly schedule of clubs and activities,  our one-to-one services and the opportunity to join our regular outings and  annual holiday.  Above all our members know that there is always someone to turn to for help, advice or simply a chat.

For a small monthly donation to the Scheme, Members benefit from a regular newsletter, birthday card, Christmas gift bag, regular telephone contact, transport to one off appointments (subject to availability), signposting & information.

If you would like more information about the scheme, would like to become a member or have an interest in volunteering then please contact us on 01962 890995 or Winchester.liveathome@mha.org.uk. You can also visit our website www.wlahs.org or come and see us at our offices based in the United Church.

Anna Miles
MHA Communities Winchester Manager

MHA Communities Winchester
Jewry St
SO23 8RZ
Tel: 01962 890995

www.mha.org.uk