The Guild has just announced the projects it will be
inviting its members to support from the start of the session, i.e.
September 2006 until 2009.
Guilds are free to support any or all of these projects, both prayerfully
and financially. They can also widen their understanding of other
organisations and the issues underpinning their work.
BORDERLINE
Supporting Homeless Scots – London
Every day a homeless person seeks Borderline’s help. As the Church of
Scotland London Advisory Service’s project to support homeless and
insecurely housed Scots in London, Borderline helps vulnerable Scots find
a way forward by offering a range of services including access to
accommodation, information, advice and support. We liaise with London and
Scottish agencies to find the best solution for each individual.
With the Guild’s help, we can find more accommodation; we can produce a
booklet that tells people where to find help in London and Scotland; we
can develop more partnerships; we can launch an ‘ambassador’ scheme for
volunteers to work on our behalf in Scotland and we can set up a unique
scheme to offer rent deposits across Scotland and in London. Most of all,
we can help those who wish to return home to Scotland.
CHRISTIAN AID
Action for the Adivasi – Bangladesh
This Christian Aid project supports some of the poorest people in the
world. In northern Bangladesh, the adivasi, or tribal people, have
traditionally lived in the forest and survived by hunting and gathering
food. However, some of them have lost their land, often by being tricked
out of it, and so survival is difficult. Their children suffer from very
high levels of malnutrition.
Through CA’s partner, the Council of Churches for Development in
Bangladesh (CCDB), thousands of peoples have been supported by a range of
initiatives. With the Guild’s help, CCDB will be able to expand their
nutrition projects, improve water and sanitation provision and increase
education for the children. CCDB also work to help people make the best
use of the land they have and even to get back some of the land they have
lost.
CROSSREACH – SOCIAL CARE COUNCIL
Beyond the Blues – Bluebell Project
Postnatal Depression is
a debilitating illness affecting around 11,000 women in Scotland annually.
It leaves mothers feeling guilty and isolated in the belief that everybody
else is coping. Despite the fact this is an illness which responds well to
treatment, the stigma and the fear of telling others, means that postnatal
depression and its associated problems are one of the major causes of
death for mothers within a year of childbirth.
The Postnatal Depression Project delivers counselling and support in
Lothian and Borders, but this support is not available in other parts of
the country. The Bluebell campaign aims to raise awareness, and help
develop services nationally. With the help of the Guild, we can deliver
support to women, who at a time they expect to be happy, often feel they
have little left to live for.
THE LEPROSY MISSION SCOTLAND
Walking in the Light – Nigeria.
TLMs Orthopaedic Project is based in Chanchago, Minna in the Niger State
of Nigeria. The project aims to improve the quality of life for people
affected by leprosy through the provision of protective footwear and other
orthopaedic appliances, preventing further deterioration and the very real
impairments they suffer. The project also involves training staff in
orthopaedic appliance making and co-ordinating supplies. This is a vital
aspect of TLM’s work in offering people affected by leprosy and other
disabilities the ability to walk again and work to support their families
which increases their self-esteem and their role in their communities.
With Guild help, the project will become self-sustaining over the next 3
years. As we seek to minister in the name of Jesus, we will have a
spiritual impact on the lives of those we care for and help them to ‘walk
in the light’.
LYDIA PROJECT
Miriam: Changing the World Together - Eastern Europe
The Lydia Project empowers women to help the most hurt people of 16 East
European countries, from Russia in the north to Albania in the south. New
church and community projects are planned and advanced at
gatherings/events arranged by the Lydia Project; they share best practice
and create joint projects of practical work with street & HIV/AIDS
children, abused and trafficked women, unemployed people, refugees from
regional wars, Roma families, pensioners and orphans or youth with no
future.
The Guild’s support will enable opportunities, that will not otherwise
happen, for women to develop new partnerships; with each other and other
deprived groups. Mutual encouragement, learning and inspiration, sometimes
between women of countries that have been enemies, strengthens the ability
to establish new work (after decades of state control) with people who
were devastated by radical social and economic change.
SCOTTISH LOVE IN ACTION
Touching the Untouchable – India
SLA cares for destitute, orphan children in Tuni, Andhra Pradesh, India by
feeding, clothing, housing and educating them. It developed in 1999 from
an outreach activity by the youth group at Greenbank Parish Church,
Edinburgh. Most of the children have tragic life histories, are Dalits
(‘Untouchable’, bottom of the Caste System) and before coming to the SLA
project, survived by scavenging in rubbish tips or begging and were being
exploited. Dalits remain ostracised by much of Indian society and are
denied basic human rights. Extreme weather, chronic drought and poverty
create an intolerable struggle for them and AIDS is endemic in the region.
The resulting high mortality rate leaves many children abandoned.
So far SLA has given hope to 370 children by building a school, clinic and
home for them. With the Guild’s support, this work can be expanded and
more children enabled to escape the poverty trap.
For more information on any of these projects, please contact Rhoda Wright
– Guild Council Project Co-ordinator or Fiona Punton = Guild Information
Office.
