HOTLINE - week of May 16, 2005

Erlene D'estines, 23, has learned to read, with the help of Church World Service and our partner, Christian Center for Integrated Development, SKDE. Once she completes the literacy training program, she will be certified to train others -- something she is extremely proud of. "My independence is very important to me," D'estines says. "Although I want to have a family someday, my education is most important, and because this opportunity was given to me, I want to share it with others. I remember when I was first able to read and write my own name, I cried."

CWS, together with long-time partners Service Christian D'Haiti (SCH) and SKDE, is supporting women's economic development through 13 community groups with literacy and micro-credit programs in Haiti's Northwest and Artibonite Departments. Many families in these areas are struggling to put food on the table in the wake of last September's Tropical Storm Jeanne and in the midst of a protracted drought.

The literacy programs are producing remarkable results in preparing women for increased growth and opportunity. "When they go to the banks in Gonaives, they can read and understand business documents," says Norelia Eneteda, president of Serious Business, a micro-credit group and member of the literacy program in the Bravard community. "They are able to make better decisions with greater confidence," adds Eneteda.

The Darfur region of western Sudan continues to be in a state of crisis and conflict.

Since July 2004, CWS has worked in partnership to provide food, medicines, water and sanitation, education, agricultural inputs and tools, and counseling programs for some of the most vulnerable people. And, newly-rehabilitated health clinics and hospitals have provided care for some 250,000 people.

In addition, 23 deep-water boreholes have been drilled. Purchase of a second drilling rig is speeding the progress of drilling new deep wells. Some 1,375 community pit latrines have been constructed, as well as latrines for schools. The nutrition program has exceeded its target number of under-five children and nursing and pregnant women.

To address the ongoing crisis, CWS partners are providing relief items for some 325,000 people. Vulnerable families are receiving food; shelter materials; mosquito nets; hygiene items and education; basic and obstetric health care; education, clean water, sanitation assistance; seeds, garden picks, and plows; counseling and recreational activities. In addition, the under-five nutrition program is continuing, and an emergency rapid response team is being developed to address the immediate needs of newly-displaced people.

CWS is seeking $1.75 million in support for emergency relief efforts in Darfur, Sudan.

More than 75,000 people on Nias Island, off the west coast of Sumatra, remain displaced from their homes after a March 28 earthquake struck the island. Immediately following the earthquake, CWS and its partners distributed 1,000 relief packages (mattresses, blankets, CWS Health Kits, gloves, masks, etc.), 500 family-size tents, and 29 Interchurch Medical Assistance medicine boxes containing basic medicines for some 29,000 persons for three months.

Through December 2006, CWS will help to provide assistance packages for 3,000 families – about 15,000 people – that include cooking stoves, utensils, kerosene, and rice cookers. Families will also receive "Gift of the Heart" Health and Baby Kits, along with CWS Blankets, mosquito nets, and additional hygiene items from Mennonite Central Committee.

Some 3,000 of the most vulnerable people – particularly women, children, and adolescents – will receive rice, cooking oil, water, sugar, eggs, and dried fish, cooking utensils, nutritional supplements, basic medicines, health education and treatment.

CWS is also helping to provide latrines, wells, a water purification unit that will provide 25,000 liters of clean water per hour, hygiene and sanitation training, trauma counseling, child development programs, child centers, "Gift of the Heart" School Kits, additional family tents, materials and tools to rehabilitate or reconstruct permanent shelter, seeds and agricultural tools, fishing equipment, and micro-enterprise training.

CWS is seeking $4 million to support ongoing recovery efforts on Nias Island. CWS is also supporting tsunami relief and recovery efforts in Aceh Province, Indonesia, as well as in Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, and Somalia.

June 20 is World Refugee Day, and many communities around the world are planning events to recognize the plight -- and contributions -- of refugees. CWS is offering two bulletin inserts for observances of World Refugee Day. More on World Refugee Day and these resources.

Your prayers and support - and your participation in CROP WALKS and the TOOLS & BLANKETS Program - make possible these and other life sustaining programs. For information on how to get involved, please call your Church World Service/CROP Regional Office toll-free at 1-888-CWS-CROP, that's 1-888-297-2767.

For information about free loan videos, please call 1-800-297-1516, ext. 338, or e-mail us at: videos@churchworldservice.org.

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