Page 34 - Presbyterian Connection

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PRESBYTERIAN
SUMMER 2021
presbyterian.ca
Connection
PRESBYTERIAN WORLD SERVICE & DEVELOPMENT
The Special PWS&D Sunday School Project
The Toronto Formosan Sunday School virtually thanking their congregation for their support with their special Sunday School project.
Emergency Relief for Long-term Recovery
By Stephanie Chunoo, PWS&D Communications
Eleven-year-old Florence knew she wanted to support a project that would help those in need around the world. The previous year, she sold her Halloween candy during a lunch- eon at her church—the Toronto For- mosan Presbyterian Church—for a $5 donation toward humanitarian aid for children in need.
Realizing that this year would be different, since COVID-19 restrictions meant her church would be largely worshipping online, Florence asked her minister, the Rev. Beth McCutch- eon, for some help.
“As Florence’s minister, I wanted to encourage these gifts in her. I also saw this as an opportunity for edu- cation about PWS&D and its work, both with the Sunday School and the congregation at large,” said the Rev. McCutcheon.
With the support of her minis- ter and her Sunday School teacher, Carissa, Florence chose three pro- jects from the PCC’s 2020 Gifts of Change catalogue that she was inter- ested in supporting.
Getting to Work
On a sunny day in October, the Sunday School gathered online to learn about the projects and voted on which item to encourage their congregation to support. Ultimately, “Sowing the Seeds of Food Secu- rity” was selected and “The Special PWS&D Sunday School Christmas Project” began.
“I thought of this idea because
every year for Christmas, my par- ents and I donate and so, I thought it might be cool to get everyone to help,” said Florence.
The Sunday School got to work right away. With Carissa’s assis- tance, Florence spearheaded the initiative and created a presentation about the project for the Sunday School to share with the congrega- tion during online worship.
As a bilingual congregation, with many members speaking mainly Taiwanese, as well as English, the Rev. McCutcheon worked with the staff at PWS&D to create a spe- cial bilingual donation page for the congregation to donate to. “This project really was a par tnership between PWS&D and a small PCC congregation. PWS&D brought the vision, commitment and educational resource material—all in a really timely manner,” she said.
At the end of Advent, the Sunday School gathered enough support to provide farmers with seeds, com- munities with livestock vaccines, and cooking and nutrition instruction for families.
Reflecting on the Project
For the Rev. McCutcheon, this project reminded her of Isaiah 11:1–10, a scripture reading that is read in many churches during Advent. At the end of verse 6, it states “...and a little child shall lead them,” a verse that came to life during this project.
Speaking about her experience with the project, Florence said, “I re- ally want to do it again next year be- cause it helps other people.”
to enable the purchase of food. Live- lihood support was also provided to 28 small food businesses (bakers, restaurants and grocery stores) to help reconstruct and improve access to food in the affected area.
To learn more about The Presbyte- rian Church in Canada’s work in Bei- rut, read the cover story of the Winter 2020 issue of the Presbyterian Con- nection newspaper at presbyterian. ca/connection.
Conflict in Syria
After almost a decade of conflict in Syria, 2020 saw continued need for those displaced within the country. Through efforts with partners at the Foodgrains Bank, food assistance projects reached 7,400 households. Monthly food baskets were distribut- ed to the most vulnerable in order to stabilize the lives of those displaced and affected by the conflict.
Hunger in Yemen
In Yemen, where a serious humani- tarian crisis prevails, exacerbated by severe economic decline and
the collapse of essential services, life-saving food assistance was pro- vided to 2,256 households. Vouchers were provided to allow the purchase of food and to prevent families from selling household assets in order to feed themselves.
Hurricanes in Nicaragua
In response to Hurricanes Eta and Iota, PWS&D partners provided emergency relief to several commu- nities in Nicaragua. Large areas of crops were destroyed. Seed packag- es were distributed to 473 farmers, allowing them to replant their crops and increase food security. One hun- dred families also received materials to repair their homes. Sanitation and hygiene items were also distributed to help prevent the spread of COV- ID-19.
PWS&D’s membership in Cana- dian Foodgrains Bank and ACT Alli- ance allowed us to provide neces- sary interventions in 16 countries. These projects provided life-saving emergency support to 51,268 peo- ple in 2020.
By Karen Bokma, PWS&D Communications
In 2020, COVID-19 was the issue that dominated people’s lives around the world. Due to the coronavirus, it became increasingly challenging to ensure that affected people received immediate relief in the aftermath of a natural disaster or violent conflict.
Despite these complicating fac- tors, PWS&D worked to ensure that people had access to food, shelter, water, health services and psychoso- cial support in the immediate term, allowing for recovery in the long- term.
COVID-19 Response
PWS&D responded quickly to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in 17 countries through the ACT Alli- ance Rapid Response Fund. PWS&D also provided designated support to ACT Alliance COVID-19 responses in Somalia, Palestine/Israel, South Su- dan and Bangladesh, with a focus on food security, water and sanitation, and livelihood.
In Afghanistan, where many were already struggling with food insecuri- ty, unemployment and poverty due to decades of ongoing conflict, PWS&D implemented a large-scale food as- sistance project for Afghans who re- turned from Iran, with support from Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Monthly cash transfers were provided to 1,100 of the most vulnerable house- holds in Bamyan province, allowing for the purchase of food during the lean winter months.
Beirut Explosions
When a series of massive explosions rocked the Port of Beirut in Leba- non in August 2020, the world saw hundreds of thousands of people be- come displaced. In a country already struggling with COVID-19, a finan- cial crisis and a large Syrian refugee population, this disaster was unprec- edented. In response to PWS&D’s appeal, Presbyterians responded generously, contributing $164,132.
Support to two partners at ACT Alliance helped renovate 70 homes, thereby providing employment in the devastated area. Additionally, water and hygiene kits, school kits and cash vouchers were distributed to vulnerable households. Support was provided to small businesses to help them get back on their feet.
With support from Canadian Foodgrains Bank, 2,000 food inse- cure households received vouchers
In the aftermath of explosions in Beirut, PWS&D provided food assistance, water and sanitation, and livelihoods support to thousands of families. PHOTO CREDIT: NORWEGIAN CHURCH AID/HÅVARD BJELLAND
In Afghanistan, 1,100 households affected by COVID-19 received monthly cash transfers to purchase food. PHOTO CREDIT: CWSA