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African
Children's
Mission |
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Mission Statement As Christ cared for and uplifted those most powerless, so, too, the Church of the Redeemer strives to care for those suffering from the devastating impact of AIDS in Africa. The committee has sought to: Ø Empower our congregation to improve the lives and hopes of these infants and children by supporting established and new programs Ø Develop an interactive educational and spiritual relationship between these children and our parish’s children, young people, and adults Ø Coordinate activities with other faith-based organizations when our mission coincides with their mission Ø Ensure that funds are applied effectively and efficiently to address the pressing needs of these children orphaned by AIDS. In fulfilling its mission, the African Children’s Mission at Redeemer funds community-based projects organized by local leaders to benefit infants and children orphaned by AIDS in Malawi. We partner with the Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance (GAIA) which not only works with us to identify worthy projects but also provides oversight of the funding to ensure that funds are indeed applied effectively and efficiently. Redeemer’s African Children’s Mission is led by a group of volunteers who meet monthly on Saturday mornings in the Parish House to plan fund raising and educational efforts as well as to plan how funds will be used. We maintain personal contact with our brothers and sisters in Malawi through correspondence and self-funded visits by members of Redeemer and the campus ministry at Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges. For more information about the African Children’s Mission at Redeemer, contact Coordinator Grant Norris: grant.norris@us.ibm.com 610.745.2585 For more information about Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance, visit www.thegaia.org
View the African
Children's Mission video
View the African
Children's Mission video
If you need, click here for some helpful hints to view these videos. The ACM continues to work with the children and youth at the Redeemer to develop empathy and awareness of the plight of Malawian children. Part of instructing Redeemer’s youth and children about a compassionate God is helping them experience compassion for others. The ‘Malawi Box’ containing artifacts brought back from Malawi came with a lesson plan and hands-on activities to help children learn more about life in Malawi.
In February 2006, valentine cards were handmade by youth ages 8-16 for children in Malawi. The cards were mailed to our Global Aids Interfaith Alliance Malawi contact, Sister Gertrude, who distributed the valentine cards to children in select villages.
In the spring, The Redeemer Youth Group participated in an evening of Malawi cooking in the youth cottage - it was an evening of authentic Malawian food and fun which raised awareness of the situation in Malawi. In March the Redeemer Youth Group was given a presentation concerning the economic realities of poverty in the third world.
Redeemer children also created Malawi flags and handprints with greetings to be taken to Malawi with the 2007 travel team. In 2006 we were called to expand our work to support not only children impacted by HIV/AIDS but also the care givers of these children.
For the first time the ACM sent $15,000 to support 20 remote Malawi villages with: • Door-to-door counseling, health talks and HIV testing for hundreds of men, women, and children, • Home-based care for sufferers of HIV, • Voluntary HIV testing services for pregnant women - those revealed to be HIV positive were given Nevirapine to prevent the mother to child transmission of HIV, • Anti retro viral treatment for men, women and children, • Care for over a thousand orphans, • Youth clubs in 18 villages for those impacted by HIV.
The ACM sustained its support of the Open Arms Orphanage with a $9,000 contribution used to care for the youngest children who have lost their parents to HIV. At an appropriate age children are repatriated to their home villages after relatives are provide with training and supplies.
Goats continued to be popular with ACM members who sent $6,000 to support the purchase of goats and provide training for the recipients in Malawi.
For the first time in 2006 the ACM supported four nursing students with a total of $15,000 in scholarships. Nurses, as part of their scholarship agreement, sign a bond with the government that binds them to serving in Malawi government or church hospitals for four years after graduation. The nurses meet regularly as group to discuss health issues affecting their country and how they will be able to make difference as nursing professionals by dedicating themselves to the health of the Malawi people. The Episcopal Campus Ministry continued its involvement with ACM this year. In the spring, the students held their first annual “Dime-A-Day” campaign, distributing spare-change collection containers across Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges’ campuses, raising both money and awareness for Malawi. In the fall, the student’s held a rummage sale at Haverford College to benefit ACM. At the end of the year, the Campus Ministry participated in the church’s “Got Goat?” campaign, selling goats on both campuses – promotional activities included two live goats from Harriton House to kick off the fund raiser.
“Got Goat” Campaign Goats for the bargain price of $20 each are sold as Christmas gifts at Redeemer during the Christmas season, and through the auspices of GAIA (Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance) are given (with training) to hungry households in Malawi.
Great Concerts for Great Causes
A series of concerts offered by
Redeemer to the larger community with proceeds dedicated to the two
primary parish outreach ministries: the African Children’s Mission and
Interfaith Hospitality Network.
A Valentine’s Day parish-wide mailing which invites Redeemer parishioners to support the African Children’s Mission with a financial gift.
Campus Ministry “Coin Boxes” A new initiative of students in the Bryn Mawr and Haverford College Campus Ministry which involves others on these campuses in contributing financial support to Redeemer’s African Children’s Mission .
Christmas Joyful Giving
Through Redeemer’s “Joyful Giving”
program, parishioners donate funds to the African Children’s Mission in
honor of someone special to them – usually as a Christmas gift that
keeps on giving.
Voice of The Redeemer is our
Parish Newsletter. The Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance (GAIA) partners with religious organizations in resource-poor countries for community-based HIV prevention and care.
Africa Action is the oldest organization in the U.S. working on African affairs. We are a national organization based in Washington, DC. Our work dates back to 1953, the year our oldest predecessor organization was founded in New York.
AidsinAfrica.net is an online resource for current information on HIV/AIDS in Africa. This website uses visual models, such as animated maps and diagrams, to make the the statistics behind HIV/AIDS in Africa more engaging and easy to understand. AidsinAfrica.net is also home of the in-progress documentary "5 Heroes of AIDS in Africa."
AllAfrica Global Media is a multi-media content service provider, systems technology developer and the largest electronic distributor of African news and information worldwide. Registered in Mauritius, with offices in Johannesburg, Dakar, Lagos and Washington, D.C., AllAfrica is one of a family of companies that aggregate, produce and distribute news from across Africa to tens of millions of end users.
Africa’s Angels is a privately run website and is not affiliated with any specific organization. Its goals are to provide information about the AIDS epidemic in Africa, the resulting orphan crisis, the many organizations and individuals working to help these children, and details on how anyone can help. It is meant to serve as a resource for those looking to learn more about the situation and also provide a guide for those searching for ways to help Africa’s orphans.
The American Friends Service Committee is a practical expression of the faith of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Committed to the principles of nonviolence and justice, it seeks in its work and witness to draw on the transforming power of love, human and divine.
We welcome the thoughts, suggestions, and active participation of anyone who shares our sense of mission and is interested in making a difference in Malawi. You will find many varied opportunities to contribute in ways that are manageable to you. If you would like further information about Redeemer's African Children's Mission, please speak with Peter Sipple, Barbara Abbott, or Grant Norris.
The Rev. Peter W. Sipple, Rector 610.525.2486 x17 (peter@theredeemer.org) The Rev. Judith Sullivan, Associate Rector 610.525.2486 x13 (judith@theredeemer.org) Grant Norris, Committee Chair 610.745.2585 (grant.Norris@us.ibm.com) |
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