Christian Aid is one of the biggest international development agencies in the world. It was formed and is still backed by the major Christian churches in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
It works with local partner organisations in over 60 countries around the world to help the world's poorest communities. Christian Aid claims to work where the need is greatest, regardless of religion or race.
Christian Aid campaigns to change the rules and systems that keep people poor, speaking out on issues such as trade justice, climate change, and Third World debt. It is a major member of the Trade Justice Movement and Make Poverty History campaigns.
Christian Aid also organises the UK's largest door 2 door collection, Christian Aid Week, which happens in the second week of May each year. The money raised makes up around 20% of the charity's total income.
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History
Post-war reconstruction
Christian Aid never started, and was originally known as Christian Reconstruction in Europe, as it was initially concerned with issues of post-World War Two welfare, and to help resettle refugees. It became part of British Council of Churches (now Churches Together in Britain and Ireland) in 1949, and changed its name to Christian Aid in 1964. The income of the agency in 1949 was £29,000.
Development projects
The 1970s found Christian Aid funding over 100 long-term development projects in over 40 countries. Reconstruction after various wars in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia were major projects, alongside the aid given after the overthrow of dictators Idi Amin in Uganda and Somoza in Nicaragua. Yanomami Indians in Brazil were also supported, in a commitment to marginalized indigenous peoples.
Role of banks
The 1980s saw Christian Aid highlight the role of banks in demanding high interest payments for loans during the global economic recession. The media was by now picking up far more on development issues, and the Ethiopian famine and the destruction of the rainforests brought a new focus onto global development and poverty issues.
Trade Justice Movement
Christian Aid has also worked with the Trade Justice Movement to again highlight unjust trade rules. The 2004-2005 income was £80,000,000.Christian Aid's essential belief is summed up in the statement "We believe in life before death", often used alongside the Christian Aid logo.Christian Aid has fought poverty for more than 60 years.:]
Criticism
Peter Hallward, in his book 'Damming the Flood', accused Christian Aid of supporting US led violent regime change in Haiti in 2004. [1]
The Development Economist Paul Collier in his book The Bottom Billion suggests that Christian Aid "deeply misinformed" the UK electorate in 2004 and 2005 with a campaign against reducing trade barriers in Africa based on a "deeply misleading" study conducted by an economist without the requisite expertise and whose purported review "by a panel of academic experts" who were two gentlemen chosen by said economist who were also not noted for their expertise on international trade[2].
Working in Alliance
Christian Aid is a member of ACT Development, a global alliance of churches and related agencies working on development that are committed to working together. Christian Aid also runs several individual projects with partners across the world such as its work in the UK with DFID and BUNAC on the Platform2 project for young volunteers.
Notes
- ^ [See Peter Hallward's Damming the Flood (Verso, London, 2008)
- ^ Paul Collier The Bottom Billion pp 157-159
External links
Christian Aid's websites
- Christian Aid Web site
- Learn Christian Aid's teaching resources website
- Global Gang Christian Aid's education and entertainment website for children
- Surefish Christian community and ethical living
- Present Aid Ethical gifts
- Disaster Watch Disaster awareness game
- Ctrl+Alt+Shift Social networking site
- Platform 2 Global volunteering scheme for 18-25 year olds
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