Minute for Mission
In Zambia, People’s Action Forum (PAF) has been supporting girls’ education through its Girls’ Action Forum program. Through our ongoing support of Mission and Service, we are part of a partnership that helps girls stay in school, access mentorship, and build pathways toward a brighter future. This work is now growing through the development of a new girls’ school in Shimabala, Zambia. For many girls in the area, completing their education can be a challenge. When girls begin menstruating, become pregnant, marry, or are needed at home to support their families, they may be forced to leave school. Without access to continued education, these girls will face fewer opportunities and a heightened risk of lifelong poverty.
Since 2014, PAF’s Girls’ Action Forum has worked to support girls, particularly those from rural communities, by helping them remain in school or return to continue their education. Through mentorship and encouragement, the program has helped girls recognize their potential and continue pursuing their goals. Building on this important work, PAF is developing a girls’ school that will provide education and scholarships for students from rural communities. The school is being developed on two hectares of land in Shimabala. The long-term vision is for a comprehensive girls’ school that will eventually grow to include secondary education and boarding facilities.
As part of creating a sustainable future for this project, PAF has started agricultural activities on the land to help generate income that supports the organization’s ongoing work. The project has established a water system, built caretaker lodging, and joined a local farming cooperative to increase opportunities for sustainable income. The school’s growth will happen in stages. It began by serving younger children through nursery and kindergarten programs, with plans to expand to include preschool and eventually secondary education. Each step brings PAF closer to creating a learning environment where girls can access education regardless of their circumstances
Through our gifts to Mission and Service, we support long-term partnerships that create lasting opportunities for communities around the world. Together with organizations like PAF, we help nurture education, leadership, and hope for the next generation. Our gifts help sustain partnerships that support education and create opportunities for girls and young people around the world. Together, we can help ensure that more girls have the chance to learn, grow, and shape their own futures.
– Thank you –
Refugee Project
Nov 17, 2022
As we watch with disbelief a war waging in the Ukraine and over 600,000 being displaced in under one week fleeing the bombs, we appreciate the greater need that exists to welcome refugees. Our faith calls us to respond and through this ministry, we try to answer this call. Our Lenten Project for this year was our St. Paul’s Refugee Campaign, to raise funds for our work with refugees. As you know, we are working with St. Mark’s Anglican/Lutheran Church to sponsor a family from Syria who just last week arrived here in Canada. We are also working with a local Afghani family in co–sponsoring six members of their family who have fled Afghanistan and the have now arrived. With the invasion of Ukraine, we know that there are now many more refugees who have fled their homes and we have no idea if they will be able to safely return to their own country or not.
To donate to our Refugee fund, please make your cheque payable to St. Paul’s United Church and clearly mark on the memo line of the cheque that is for the Refugee Fund. If you are making an e–transfer or donation online through our website, then please indicate that it is for this fund. Thank you
Scott Warnock, Executive Director of the Huronia Community Foundation, presents a cheque for $2,000 to Ken Woods, of St. Paul’s Refugee Committee.
_______________________
St. Paul’s United Church in Midland is in the process of sponsoring a family from Afganistan, and is also assisting St. Mark’s Anglican – Lutheran church as they are sponsoring a family from Syria.
St. Paul’s has a long history of sponsoring refugees going back to the 70s with the sponsorship of a family fleeing Vietnam after the war.
All funds raised will be used to cover the costs of supporting the refugee families once they arrive in Canada, for the sponsorship period of 12 months.
Refugee Programs
We asked Rev Martin Giebel, from St. Mark’s, for an update on the Ismail and Maghrebi families which is included here.
The Ismail family (from Syria): all the children are in school, enjoying it and making progress both in English and academically. The father is employed. Regarding the son who is still in Germany, his application is now at the Vienna visa office – it’s progressing.
The Maghrebi family (from the Ukraine): everyone doing well. They are now in their own apartment.
The Maghrebi family are in touch with the Ismail family and Rev. Martin visits both regularly. The two mothers, Jihan and Svitlana, are forming a friendship even though both hardly speak any English – they ‘understand’ each other.
Everyone takes ESL lessons. Rev Martin is trying to establish in-person ESL in Midland.
We have a Travel Date for the family from Afghanistan; for now, it is for late October (no names and dates are included for their safety). We are making efforts to bring them to Canada as soon as possible as the situation where they are is very dangerous; we are very concerned.
We are all grateful for the safe arrival of all refugees; please pray for those who are still waiting to travel to Canada, and safety.
This family has arrived and more information will be forth coming.