The Union of Welsh Independents South Africa appeal has raised a magnificent total of £206,740.66.
The money raised will provide much needed support for Christian Aid’s South African partners who work on issues such as HIV, human rights, disadvantaged youth and the landless rural poor.
Rev Geraint Tudur, the General Secretary of the UWI, said that it gave him ‘immense satisfaction to see the churches responding with such generosity. People of all ages took part, organising fundraising events, in a practical demonstration of their faith.’
He also praised the efforts of the two representatives who visited South Africa on behalf of the UWI, Delyth Evans and Glyn Williams, saying that much of the success could be attributed to their work promoting the appeal.
Delyth Evans noted that the churches had responded admirably to the appeal. ‘On my visits to the churches I felt, from the outset, a positive response to my message. People understood the need for justice in South Africa.’
Glyn Williams also praised the generosity of the UWI congregations, ‘I was so glad that the churches rose to the challenge in such a magnificent way.’
Mural sale
One of the many original ideas for raising money was a striking mural made by Jill Jones, the wife of the former chair of the UWI’s Christian Citizenship Department, who coordinated the appeal in its early stages.
Jill donated the mural (pictured left) to the appeal, and the aim was to raise £1,200 to buy it so that it could be kept at Tŷ John Penri, the UWI head office in Swansea, as a memento. But the total raised was actually £2,500 - with every penny going towards the South Africa appeal.
Fundraising for Haiti
Not content with resting on their laurels, the UWI churches have also responded to a personal appeal from their General Secretary following the Haiti earthquake.
‘This is not the time for delay, to make excuses or to be hard-hearted’, he said. ‘The people of Haiti need our help. In the name of God, in the name of Jesus Christ, let us help them.’
To date, the churches have contributed more than £52,187 towards Christian Aid’s Haiti Earthquake appeal.
Find out more about the Haiti Earthquake appeal