Report to the UN highlights Anglicans' work towards hitting poverty targets

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Communion report to the UN highlights Anglicans'
work towards hitting poverty targets

Posted On : September 21, 2010 6:29 PM | Posted By : Admin ACO
ACNS: http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2010/9/21/ACNS4735
Related Categories: ACO - UN

Anglicans from across the world have contributed to a report to the
United Nations about church-supported projects that are working to
meet the Millennium Development Goals.

Between the 20 and 22 September global leaders are meeting in New York
for the UN's review of its Millennium Development Goals. The Anglican
Observer at the UN Ms Hellen Wangusa has compiled a report on what
Anglicans are doing to contribute towards the global effort to halve
poverty by the UN's 2015 deadline.

Ms Francisca Bawayan of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines
reported that the construction of post-harvest facilities and
provision of a micro hydropower supply are just two of the ways in
which the Community Based Development Program (CBDP) of her Province
has responded to MDGs 1 (Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger) and 7
(Ensure environmental sustainability).

"A solar drying pavement and warehousing for crops in the Diocese of
Northern Luzon have benefitted rural communities by reducing drying
times for palay rice and limiting crop spoilage," she said. "An
affordable supply of electricity has meant that residents of Tulgao
and Dananao, two mountain communities in the Diocese of Northern
Philippines, no longer need to use kerosene to light their homes or
cut wood for cooking. Household chores such as rice milling can be
undertaken much more quickly so that time is freed for
income-generating activities.

"Children can now do their homework in the evening. Both initiatives
have brought communities together in a common endeavour, encouraged
them to work ecumenically and in collaboration with local government,
and have improved local managerial and leadership skills which will
serve well in the future."

The Revd Catherine Dawkins, assistant Chaplain at Christchurch, Aden,
in the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem & The Middle East, described how
the work of the church?s clinic relates to MDGs 5 (Improve maternal
health) and 6 (Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases).

"The Ras Morbat Clinic has two departments," explained Revd Dawkins,
"The General Department serves the local community, one of the poorer
areas of Aden. It has a small laboratory for rapid, on site testing
for malaria and other diseases and a pharmacy providing treatments to
patients free of charge. A recently arrived Korean
obstetrician/gynaecologist advises and treats pregnant women who come
to the clinic. Eye problems in Yemen are common and the Eye
Department, staffed by optometrists and ophthalmologists, treats
patients from all over the country. Mrs Dawkins adds that in 2009 ?the
Clinic became an Implementing Partner of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees and is engaged to provide eye health care to
the large Somali refugee population in Aden?.

For MDGs 1 and 3 (Promote gender equality and empower women), Mrs
Josie Tengatenga described how micro loans, adult literacy programmes
and training in good practice in permaculture, agriculture and animal
husbandry have made a major difference to hundreds of women and their
communities in the Diocese of Southern Malawi of the Church of the
Province of Central Africa. Agricultural methods such as inter
cropping, use of organic manure, and growing nitrogen fixing and
drought resistant crops, increase both the abundance and quality of
food and the economic strength of village communities. As Mrs
Tengatenga pointed out, ?this project has a far-reaching effect as
drought, flooding and other effects of climate change continue to
become more evident in Malawi and other countries in sub-Saharan 
Africa?.

Both Canon Habacuc Ramos-Huerta of the Iglesia Anglicana de México
(Anglican Church of Mexico) and the Bishop of Muyinga in the Anglican
Church of Burundi, the Rt Revd Eraste Bigirimana, reported their
Provinces? efforts in respect of MDG 7. In Mexico, the church?s
National Synod has formally adopted Anglican Consultative Council
resolution 14.15 concerning the environment, the global economy and
the support of vulnerable people and communities, and has created a
National Environment Commission which will work with the dioceses to
promote such issues as water care and recycling, waste separation and
energy saving measures. Over the past three years, with the support of
The Episcopal Church, the Diocese of Southeastern Mexico has installed
eight water purification plants for rural indigenous populations. In
recent programmes in Burundi, the church has planted 4,222 hectares of
trees and agro forestry, installed 27 water wells and 13 rainwater
collection and treatment reservoirs, and is running environmental
clubs in twelve primary and secondary schools in order to raise
awareness among the young.

Bishop Bigirimana also reported on his Province?s efforts in relation
to MDG 2 (Achieve universal primary education). These have focussed on
the construction and refurbishment of primary and secondary schools:
?The Anglican Church of Burundi has already built five elementary
schools and two secondary schools and has also refurbished a school.
The proportion of girls now exceeds the proportion of boys attending
these schools?.

> The MDGs are as follows:

> Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
> Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
> Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
> Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
> Goal 5: Improve maternal health
> Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
> Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
> Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

For more reports of the ways the Anglican Communion is working to
reduce poverty visit www.anglicancommunion.org in particular the
network pages here or contact terrie.robinson@aco.org. To learn more
about the Anglican Communion?s role at the U.N. both in New York and
Geneva visit here.

> ENDS

> Notes to Editors

·         The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are the most broadly
supported, comprehensive and specific development goals the world has
ever agreed upon. These eight time-bound goals provide concrete,
numerical benchmarks for tackling extreme poverty in its many
dimensions. They include goals and targets on income poverty, hunger,
maternal and child mortality, disease, inadequate shelter, gender
inequality, environmental degradation and the Global Partnership for
Development. Adopted by world leaders in the year 2000 and set to be
achieved by 2015, the MDGs are both global and local, tailored by each
country to suit specific development needs.
http://www.undp.org/mdg/basics.shtml

·         The Anglican Communion Office serves the Anglican Communion,
comprising around 80 million members in 44 regional and national
member churches around the globe in more than 160 countries.
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/