The Union of Welsh Independents (UWI) is calling on church members to respond generously to its South Africa appeal on behalf of Christian Aid.
Focusing on five Christian Aid partners - who work with the landless, women living with HIV, disadvantaged young people, orphans and vulnerable children - the year long appeal was officially launched at the UWI’s general assembly meetings in Swansea on 4-5 July 2008.
This will be the fifth time that the UWI has supported the work of Christian Aid partners around the world.
Support for our work
Gareth Morgan Jones, who chairs the UWI citizenship panel, says: ‘Having had such a good response in the past with our appeals for the peoples of Bangladesh, Central America, Sudan and Israel-Palestine, we are looking forward this time to learn more about the work being done by Christian Aid partners in South Africa.
‘Hopefully the churches will be able to identify with the situations in that country and give generously in support of the work.’
Appeal pack
The aim this time is to try to get each of the 26,000 members in the 450 churches affiliated to UWI to raise £1 per month per person during the year, and the special appeal pack on this website will contain many suggestions on how the churches can reach their target.
This website’s South Africa appeal section also has information on our partners’ work, worship and fundraising resources and regular updates on the progress of the appeal.
Painful wounds
Although the situation has improved substantially in South Africa since the end of apartheid, there still remain many painful wounds: the hurt caused by apartheid, unemployment, HIV and AIDS as well as widespread poverty.
More than 20 million South Africans live on less than £1 a day and one million children have been orphaned by AIDS.
UWI president Rev. Dewi Myrddin Hughes sees the appeal as ‘an opportunity to learn about the hardships, as well as the successes in overcoming difficulties.
‘And if we can reach the financial target, we will be able to help effectively where the need is so great.’