Summer Newsletter - June 2021 |
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If you cannot feed one hundred people, then just feed one." Mother Teresa |
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A CONTINUING CRISIS FOR BRAZIL'S POOREST FAMILIES Sadly, 16.6 million people have been infected with Coronavirus in Brazil since the beginning of 2020 and 465,000 of them have died. According to a trusted news source, lack of consistent access to enough food affected half of all Brazilian homes (117 million people) during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Food prices are believed to have risen by an average of 15% – almost three times the overall inflation rate, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The price of rice, for example, has jumped by 70%, soya oil by 88%, potatoes by 48% and milk by 21%. In fragile communities many people are living in extreme vulnerability, especially now that they are being stretched to look after loved ones who became orphans or lost their sources of income.
The Northeast region of the country – where we focus our work - is most affected with food insecurity, mainly due to the long periods of drought, fragile livelihoods and poor governance. Thankfully, our church-based partners are working hard to build the resilience of the local vulnerable communities they serve by providing life-saving food, personal hygiene and cleaning items – and this is all thanks to your generous financial support. We know that hunger does not walk alone. Our partners also offer pastoral support, opportunities for education, skills and vocational training and advice on how to find jobs or set up small enterprises. Please pray that the Brazilian authorities will be able to produce or access sufficient numbers of the Covid vaccines for the entire population as well as for the poorest families who are struggling to make ends meet and feed their children.
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FOOD BASKET APPEAL TARGET REACHED. THANK YOU. At the end of March, we launched our Food Basket Appeal, asking you to help us raise £5,000. We want to thank you for giving so generously and for helping us to raise our target. Your financial support has enabled our partners to continue providing life-saving food, personal hygiene and cleaning items to 185 vulnerable families. For some of them, the donated food is sufficient to last a whole month. They can also wash their hands with soap several times a day, drink safe water and keep their houses clean. |
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A STORY OF HOPE Jaqueline is one of the mums supported by one of our partner organisations in a poor community called Joana Bezerra, in the city of Recife, Northeast Brazil. She is 32 and has 3 young girls. She has told us that when she can work, her earnings are a mere £70 a month so it is a struggle to make ends meet. |
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Photo: Jaqueline looking proud of her 3 beautiful daughters - Casa da Rocha/Ammar Transforma, May 2020. |
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It took a long time for Jaqueline to accept help from our partner as her trust in people has been broken many times due to violence in her own home and community. She showed us knife scars on different parts of her body – a clear indication of a difficult life. Our partner team did not give up on her though and over many months continued to reach out to her. Now, Jaqueline and her 3 daughters are all enrolled on the support programme. Despite her initial hesitation and her own limitations, she has shown that she is "a real fighter and it has been a joy to see her attending the support programme activities on a regular basis”. We want to help Jaqueline, a survivor of violence, to regain her confidence, find a sustainable livelihood and flourish so that she can support her children. This is the message that Jaqueline has asked us to share with you: “Thank you for the food parcels and the trays of eggs. I want to thank you for donating this food so that we don’t lack what we need. Prayers, peace, health for all of you who are collaborating to help us.” |
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Through its local partners, Happy Child International will continue to support vulnerable families such as Jaqueline's by working with local authorities and churches and providing food baskets, PPE and pastoral support as the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic is likely to be felt by a generation of children and young people. |
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WORLD WEEKEND OF PRAYER The World Weekend of Prayer for children and young people at risk is a global initiative held over the first weekend of June every year, uniting hundreds of thousands of adults and children globally. Happy Child International is joining this amazing campaign in 2021 - its Silver Anniversary Year. The theme for the weekend (5 - 6 June) is based on Psalm 25 verse 5: “Teach Me”.
Click on this link to join us and to download a free resources guide that you can use with your family, church or study group. The guide can be used any time during the month of June. We would love to hear about how you have used the guide - please send your feedback and stories to jennie.sullivan@happychild.org. A little prayer: We pray for all those who take part in this World Weekend of Prayer. Teach me to build on the foundation of your words and to trust that you answer our prayers. Instruct me how to apply my gifts to help children, young people and families at risk around the world. Amen. |
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HAPPY CHILD FUNDRAISING DINNER AT THE HOUSE OF COMMONS Our prestigious fundraising dinner will now take place in the iconic setting of the House of Commons on Thursday, 9th December from 7 – 10.30 p.m. More details will be shared with you in the next issues of our newsletter. You can also write to Caroline Taylor to ask for more information: caroline.taylor@happychild.org |
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“Hunger is not a problem. It is an obscenity. How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world” Anne Frank Help us to continue helping people who are struggling to survive the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. Set up regular giving today through the donate page on our website: www.happychild.org or click on the donate button below:- |
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Or you can:- - Send a cheque payable to "Happy Child International"
(our office address is at the bottom of this page). - Online banking: HSBC Leatherhead. Account holder: Happy Child International. Sort Code: 40-27-07. Account Number: 81485504.
- Leave a legacy in your will. For more information on how to do this,
please click here. THANK YOU |
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Happy Child International Registered charity no.: 1116809 (England and Wales) |
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