The CAFOD group at St. Mary's in Harborne has been in existence for several years and meets on the first Monday of each month at 8pm. in the Priory. Any parishioner of St. Mary's is welcome to attend the meeting as the group relies on members of the parish for its existence.
photo: © Gideon Mendel
In this part of Zambia the rainfall is very poor so CAFOD helped
the Jongola community to build a "dam for life". It's their only way
to harvest the precious rain, and save it for their livestock; which
means a brighter future for the whole community.
Because we are part of the regional and national CAFOD network we receive mailing which keeps us in touch with the latest developments of the work of the organisation which is worldwide. Our focus is to raise local awareness of world poverty, human rights and other linked issues of peace and justice. The "Drop the Debt" Campaign has been part of our undertaking during the past few years and we encouraged members of St. Mary's to take part in the huge demonstration on behalf of the world's poor during the G8 Summit meetings in Birmingham in 1998.
Linked with workers in Christian Aid we advertised locally the demonstartions at the G8 Summit meetings in Germany and Japan. We will be advertising the 2001 G8 Summit to be held in Italy on Saturday 21st. July. We can also offer ways of getting there.
During 2001 we are concentrating on Fairtrade with emphasis on National Fairtrade Fortnight during 5th. to 18th. March. In the parish centre, once a month, after the 9.00am and 11.00am. Masses there is a Traidcraft stall selling goods grown and made in Third World countries. The people who work for Fairtrade are paid a fair day's wage. Some supermarkets are now beginning to stock Fairtrade products and, in particular, Sainsbury's. Tea, coffee and bananas are three products available at this supermarket in nearby Selly Oak.
In the church porch there is a CAFOD information board facing the entrance. On it throughout the year we advertise fund-raising events held in the parish and other activities in the city and elsewhere. Details of meetings and dates and member contacts are also displayed on the board.
photo: © Jim Holmes.
Here in Cambodia CAFOD has helped local people increase crop yields,
improve healthcare and get access to clean water. The days are now
less of a life-or-death struggle, and the pace of life is gentle for
people of all ages in the community.
More recently the CAFOD group became affiliated to "The Burma Campaign, UK", an organisation that is raising people's awareness of the inhumane military regime that rules Burma. Members of the CAFOD group hope that St. Mary's parishioners will become aware of the terrible injustices the ordinary people of Burma have to endure under this regime.
CAFOD has its own internet web site, so if you would like more information about its work worldwide, or just to surf a very interesting site, then please CLICK HERE to go straight to the site.
Mary Sambrook.
