HOTLINE - week of March 03, 2008

As the world observes International Women's Day, March 8, billions of women are working--many struggling--to feed, shelter, clothe, and educate their families. Women and children are among the most vulnerable population groups worldwide. Church World Service gives special priority to the needs of both women and children by supporting initiatives that improve women's access to resources, education, and decision-making, and that undergird the rights, protection, and future that children deserve.

"There are just so, so many people displaced," says Jorge Samuel of Church World Service partner the Christian Council of Mozambique. Heavy rains and flooding in the past month in Mozambique continue to affect many people. An estimated 258,000 are in need of food, water, sanitation, and emergency supplies, according to recent government reports. More than 102,000 people have fled their flooded homes to evacuation centers. Samuel adds, CCM "is in the field, working to respond to the situation." CCM is carrying out a food-for-work project in Chemba for 19,620 people, and is providing food for 15,000 people in Mopeia.

The lack of sanitation in many areas is causing diarrhea and cases of cholera. In Mutarara, 700 people have come down with cholera, and 17 have died. And, due to poor conditions in resettlement centers, many children have stopped going to school.

Long-time Church World Service partner Ecumenical Committee for Social Development is assisting 30,435 people in Caia through the construction of 466 latrines, and provision of more than 338 tons of food, 778 water containers, water and water purification items, 900 5x4 shelter units, 5,600 bars of soap, and 580 buckets. CEDES is also providing some materials for building shelters, as well as HIV-AIDS awareness training.

Contributions for flood-related needs in Mozambique are urgently needed.

In the seaside town of Boca Chica, many of the vulnerable children who are working as shoe shiners, day laborers, or in other occupations on the street in order to support their families, or who are sexually exploited by the tourism industry, are finding hope for the future through participation in Proyecto Caminante, a Church World Service-supported partner.

Caminante provides a safe space where youth participate in recreational and enrichment programs. Caminante also offers the youngsters psychosocial care, preventive and curative health care assistance, and assistance with legal issues such as getting copies of birth certificates or learning about legal or victims' rights.

Caminante and other Latin American partner organizations working with children recently took part in a meeting with Church World Service in the Dominican Republic to review progress and lessons learned during the first three years of a regional focus on street children, the sexual exploitation of children, and underage working children, and to look at the future of programs.

In the coming years, Church World Service will focus on community-based child assistance efforts in Brazil, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Uruguay. Since 2004, CWS has provided more than $1 million in support for programs with vulnerable children in Latin America, and plans on doubling this support over the next four years.

Ethnic communities in northern Vietnam are taking part in multi-year Church World Service health and hygiene projects.

In Pho Yen and Dai Tu districts, Thai Nguyen Province, ethnic minority groups will take part in a five-year program (2008-2012) to improve health and education, and develop social work programs. This past year, 80 village households, two schools, a health clinic, and post office in Phuc Thuan commune saw the installation of a filtered water system for their needs, along with new primary classrooms, dormitories, a library, and provision of teaching aids, with help from CWS and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

In a three-year program in Muong Te District, Lai Chau Province, kindergarteners will take part in a supplemental food program, and village health workers will participate in special trainings.

The goal is to improve health and education among ethnic minority students.

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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