Page 26 - Oxted Local May 2025

26 May 2025
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Oxted Local 
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Christian Aid
1945 -2025
Christian Aid is
celebrating its 80th
Anniversary this
year. Its origins go
back to 1945 when
it was founded by
a group of British
and Irish churches
who united to help
the many refugees
across Europe
displaced by the
effects of the Second
World War. It raised
over £80,000 to
provide emergency supplies in mainland Europe. It is now the official
development agency of 41 church denominations in Britain and Ireland,
including Protestant, Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches.
In the 1950’s it launched Christian Aid Week to raise additional funds
while continuing to help refugees from mainland Europe as well as ones
from Palestine, Korea and China. It also supported the establishment
of Voluntary Service Overseas and many local people have gone out to
help developing countries as VSO’s. In the 1960’s it played a crucial role
in helping to alleviate the problems caused by crises in Nigeria/Biafra,
Kenya and India and it co-founded the Disasters Emergency Committee
(DEC) for co-ordinated humanitarian responses.
Other noteworthy campaigns have included help in the Ethiopian famine
of the 1980’s, helping in the campaign against Apartheid in South Africa,
challenging the stigma and discrimination faced by people living with
HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, and providing relief to over 500,000 people
after the Asian tsunami. It is currently supporting those who were
left homeless and destitute following the devastating earthquake in
Myanmar and local churches have been holding special collections to
help.
Christian Aid has the aim of eradicating poverty through inspiring poor
communities to change and develop and help themselves. It also has the
aim of helping us in the developed world try to understand some of the
problems facing those in the poorer countries. Globally 1.4 billion people
live below the poverty line, surviving on just £1.00 per day to cover all
their living expenses. It does not give money to Governments instead
it works through more than 600 partners – local organisations that are
familiar with local conditions and customs.
Probably the most high profile activity of Christan Aid occurs during
Christian Aid Week – 11th – 17th
May this year, when over 300,000
collectors go out into their local
communities delivering millions
of envelopes with the idea of
collecting for the world’s poor.
Typically Christian Aid Week raises
between £13 and £15 million which
funds vital work being done in 47
countries throughout Asia, Africa,
the Middle East, Latin America and
the Caribbean.
Each year during the Week
Christian Aid focuses on a different
country and adopts different
themes – this year Christian Aid
is focussing on the country of
Guatemala in central America, a
country facing immense challenges.
More than half the population work
in agriculture yet it is a hunger
hotspot. It has one of the highest
rates globally of stunted growth in
children due to malnutrition and is
one of ten countries in the world
rated most vulnerable to climate
emergencies. The livelihoods,
traditions and very survival of the
indigenous farming communities
are threatened by deadly droughts,
savage storms and industrial
plantations that monopolise the
water supply and deforest the land.
Christian Aid through its partner
in the area is offering agricultural
training so that the farmers are
learning to grow climate resistant
crops, build rainwater collection
systems and produce fertiliser,
restoring food security and
improving their health.
So when that red envelope pops
through your door during Christian
Aid Week try and remember how
lucky we are in this part of the
world where despite the vagaries of
the weather food is in good supply
and put some money in it to help
the world’s poor. Small amounts
can do an immense amount of
good.