HOTLINE - week of February 25, 2008

Bekim Greku, his wife Aisha, and their sons are now living in a better house because of the increased income he is earning from his new business, made possible by a grant from Church World Service for vulnerable Roma families whose children are taking part in a CWS-supported preparatory education project.

With the grant, Greku purchased a small tractor with cart. In the morning, Greku picks up goods for grocers from the wholesale market and transports them to their shops. In the afternoon, he collects iron for recycling. He also helps people who are moving into or out of their homes.

With his new income, he meets the basic needs of his family and has been able to save half the money needed to buy the house they are now living in.

So far, the CWS-supported livelihood project is helping 22 vulnerable Roma families (with a total of 117 family members) to start new businesses. Participants are purchasing sewing machines, welding equipment, electrical tools, shoemaking equipment, auto body tools, baling machines, locksmith's tools, and motorcycles with trailers for collecting recyclables.

Heavy rains and flooding in July and August 2007 affected communities in northern parts of the West African country, with hundreds of families suffering serious losses of crops and cattle.

Church World Service is supporting the efforts of the Green Cross Burkina Faso and the Association for Peace and Solidarity to provide agricultural assistance for some 600 families in the affected communities. The families will receive fertilizers and seeds, which will help them produce 360 tons of cereal grains.

And, with CWS support, a temporary health center will focus on health needs and supplementary feeding of children. The plan also includes the construction of homes for 13 families--some 118 people.

Contributions for flood-related needs in Burkina Faso are urgently needed.

Life in Darfur, Sudan, is full of uncertainty for tens of thousands of families. Violence affects lives in many parts of Darfur.

In the Dereig camp, where displaced families are trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy, a second community center has recently opened for camp residents. There are some 25,000 people living in Dereig.

Khayida, who sought refuge in Dereig four-and-a-half years ago, spends her days at the center. "I'm learning a lot of things," she says. "For example, I make grass mats, tablecloths, as well as some bed sheets by hand."

"We, the old women, are like the trunk of a tree," says Khayida. "The others are like the branches. Here we as old people are allowed to provide the youngsters with knowledge."

In the camp, opportunities to make a living are scarce, but Khayida and the other women can sell the items they make in the local market, which helps them provide food for their families and clothes for their children. Some women have saved enough to buy their own sewing machines and are now working on their own to make goods to sell at the market.

Church World Service is supporting Action by Churches Together-Caritas coalition efforts in Darfur to provide shelter, clean water and sanitation, training in improved hygiene, environmental education, and help in building schools and health clinics.

Families are working to bolster their food production and rebuild livelihoods, with support from Church World Service and local Liberian partner Church Aid, Inc. Church World Service has provided 1,000 pounds of vegetable seeds, 20 industrial sewing machines, 20 computers, six printers, 21 monitors, 4,500 CWS School Kits, and 14,850 CWS Hygiene Kits—tools of hope for the local development initiative.

Every one of Wells, Nevada's 700 homes has sustained some kind of damage from a magnitude 6.0 earthquake that struck on Feb. 21. At least 40 families are displaced. Wells is a town of about 1,500 people. Hours from major cities such as Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, transportation-related industries are the community's largest income generator. Impacts to businesses may prove significant to the community.

Church World Service is in contact with federal, state, and denominational liaisons to determine what CWS resources may be needed.

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.

Back to top