Sponsored canoe trip

In August, ten people canoed along the River Stour from Wissington to Stratford St Mary. They included John Boardman, Richard Stanford and Jane Martland, all from St John’s Methodist Church in Sudbury, and others from further afield. The weather was favourable, but low water levels and fallen trees presented a few challenges! This year the event supports a Christian Aid project in Kenya, Supporting children and orphans with HIV/AIDS and attracts an amazing 17:1 matched funding. The amount raised from sponsors and donations came to a record £2,304.50, which will become more than £40,000 for the project. St Gregory’s PCC has been asked if it will support the same project in Kenya, as part of its allocation of 10% of Planned Giving income to external charities, to take advantage of the special 17:1 matched funding. Other churches might consider this project too.

The project in Kenya

Over 1 million vulnerable children in Kenya have been orphaned by HIV and AIDS. This project will help them access vital health, education and social services.

The traditional support systems of extended families have buckled under the strain of the epidemic and the basic needs of children are not being met.

Of the 160,000 children under 15 years living with HIV, less than half get the lifesaving antiretroviral drugs they need to survive.

As a Christian Aid Direct project, donations go directly to helping children affected by HIV and AIDS in Kenya.

This project is part-funded by USAID, and for every £1 donated, USAID will give a further £17.

How does HIV and AIDS affect children in Kenya?

• They often miss out on critical immunisations
• They’re less likely to enrol at school
• They suffer malnutrition and stunted growth
• Girls are more likely to fall pregnant as teenagers and suffer gender-based violence
• They can be exploited, neglected, displaced, left destitute or left for dead

This project will reach 170,000 children across Kenya, using new approaches to build skills and capacities to strengthen local services.

The project will also promote innovations like the Jua Mtoto Wako (Swahili for ‘Know your Child’) system which will use mobile phone technology to identify, track and match the health and social services needed by every individual child.

This information is taken from www.christianaid.org.uk/fundraising/kenya-children , where you will find more details.