Page 12 - Presbyterian Connection Newspaper

Connection
12
presbyterian
fall 2017
presbyterian.ca/pwsd
From the Director’s Desk
By Guy Smagghe, Director of Presbyterian World Service & Development
In August 2017, I will mark 20 years of service with Presbyte- rian World Service & Develop- ment—twenty years of witness- ing the transformational change of people rising out of poverty and disaster. Marking this anni- versary has caused me to reflect on PWS&D’s disaster responses over the years.
When I first started with PWS&D, food shipments worth over $5 mil- lion a year were being sent to North Korea in partnership with Canadian Foodgrains Bank in response to enormous hunger needs. This cru- cial work continued for 10 years. It is important for us to always have faith that assistance will reach the intended beneficiaries, so while the needs of the poor in North Korea remain great, PWS&D is no longer able to respond there due to restric-
Zahra al Hussein feeds her children inside her tent in a settlement of Syrian refugees in northern Lebanon. Photo credit: Paul JeFFrey
tions imposed by the North Korean government.
In late October 1998, I wit- nessed the devastation of Hur- ricane Mitch on communities in Central America. I remember working with partners to rebuild whole communities in Nicaragua and relocate families who lost their home along the shores of Lake Managua. We also reached out to indigenous Mayan communities on the Atlantic coast of Guatemala to provide seeds and tools so that agricultural production could be re-established. I witnessed a vil- lage association form as a result of the assistance provided—so that they could decide on the fair allocation and distribution of lim- ited resources available.
Through the years, many other disasters took place, including the Indian Ocean tsunami on De- cember 26, 2004. After seeing the first images on television, I immediately connected with our par tners in south India.
The tsunami prompted four Ca- nadian church denominations to collaborate on rehabilitation and re- construction projects in India worth $6 million of government matching funds; this was the largest Cana- dian government-funded tsunami project in India. I worked closely with our local partner and travelled to India every six months for three years to monitor progress.
Other disasters and government- matching fund programs prompted more church denominations to join
us. We eventually formed “Cana- dian Churches in Action” to jointly seek government funding to re- spond to disasters. We knew we were stronger together.
PWS&D also sits with 14 oth- er denominations at Canadian Foodgrains Bank. The Foodgrains Bank is a key part of PWS&D’s story over the last 25 years. With government-matching funds and resource sharing among members, we are able to maximize our reach and the value of the funds entrusted to us. Behind that story is the faith- ful and tireless work of farmers across Canada involved in growing projects, generating resources that enable much of our work with the Foodgrains Bank.
At this time, we are working with par tners at CFGB to respond to famine situations in South Su- dan and Somalia. With the latest appeal from the Canadian gov- ernment, Presbyterians raised $120,000 that will be matched by the government in its Famine Relief Fund and at Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Disasters are overwhelming for those who are directly affected and we play a small but often life- saving role in sharing resources to reach out and respond.
PWS&D continues to suppor t those who are affected by the crisis in Syria. The humanitarian needs inside Syria and in its sur- rounding countries remain at an unprecedented level. Working with the ACT Alliance and Canadian Foodgrains Bank, PWS&D is able
Bene ciaries enduring famine in South Sudan sort through emergency food packages that were provided in partnership with CFGB.
Photo credit: MattheW saWatzky
to meet the needs of thousands of refugees in Jordan and Leba- non, as well as those of displaced populations within Syria. It is com- for ting to know that churches are being used as food distribution centres in that context.
Throughout my time at PWS&D, I have been constantly amazed at the generosity Presbyterians show in response to appeals in times of disaster. Our website WeRespond. ca bears its name well. As we look
forward, let us continue to pray for those affected by conflict and disaster, and in the comfort of our homes always find ways to share a little more with those who need a hand up at a difficult time. Thank you for making this work possible.
Guy Smagghe is the director of Presbyterian World Service & Development. Check back in every issue for news from the Director’s Desk.
tive director of the Foodgrains Bank, says he’s grateful for the fruitful partnership between the Foodgrains Bank and PWS&D.
“We deeply value our part- nership with PWS&D and look forward to many more years of working toward a world without hunger together,” says Cornelius.
And for Rick Fee, looking back on the 25 years of partnership between PWS&D and CFGB, he couldn’t have imagined a more rewarding outcome.
“I think it’s had an impact on many people’s lives, and it’s very gratifying to see that Canadian Presbyterians are still respond- ing,” says Fee. “This has become a part of our DNA now.”
Community sees the value of the mission work
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get money, you can see that that’s when faith is alive,” she says.
Today, around 10 families con- tinue to suppor t the growing pro- ject in Eckville. For Ron Hopper, the growing project leader, being able to suppor t the effor t to end global hunger is encouraging.
“It gives the community a real sense of inspiration,” says Hop- per. “And pride that we can do it year after year.”
In 2006, Hopper went to Ethio- pia and Kenya on a food study tour to see first-hand how Foodgrains Bank–suppor ted projects are making a difference for those who are hungry overseas.
“Once you actually walk in the villages and you break bread with
them and go to church services with some of the recipients, you see first-hand the impact it has on their lives,” says Hopper.
Hopper also remembers meet- ing officials who worked for the United Nation’s Food and Agricul- ture Organization on the tour.
“They were just amazed that farmers in little prairie towns in Canada would band together to support the Foodgrains Bank like they did,” says Hopper.
“I think they wondered, ‘Okay, so why would a farmer from Eck- ville, Alberta, care about what happens in Ethiopia?’” he adds. “It was a real eye opener for them that a lot of farmers from across the entire country supported
these projects so much.”
Since its inception, the St.
Paul’s Presbyterian Church Growing Project has raised nearly $240,000 for PWS&D’s work through CFGB. When matched by Global Affairs Canada, that would be over a million dollars worth of aid for hungry people.
“Our community just really sees the value of the mission work and the food going to help people out in countries where they need it,” says Hopper. “They’re just re- ally invested in helping somebody else out.”
The commitment St. Paul’s shows for ending hunger is mir- rored in Presbyterian congrega- tions across Canada. Over the
past 25 years, Canadian Presbyte- rians have donated over $4 million to help alleviate suffering overseas through PWS&D, allocating over $270,000 in 2016–17 alone.
For Guy Smagghe, director of PWS&D, the generosity of Presbyterians across Canada, coupled with the hunger-focused nature of the Foodgrains Bank, al- lows for a more just world.
“Witnessing the passionate support PWS&D supporters have for ending global hunger is inspir- ing,” says Smagghe. “Together, PWS&D, Canadian Presbyteri- ans and the Foodgrains Bank are helping alleviate suffering for mil- lions of people.”
Jim Cornelius, the execu-
The Presbyterian Church in Canada