The Bishop of Southwark's Lent Appeal 2012
Irrigation in Zimbabwe
How many of us get up each morning and turn on the taps in order to make a cup of tea or have a shower? Water is so important for all aspects of life that there is little that we can manage if there is not enough.
Many homes in Zimbabwe have no direct access to water and, often, villagers have to walk miles to collect it. There isn’t enough water to grow crops either and this makes the job of feeding the people of Zimbabwe even more difficult.
Education in Zimbabwe
Literacy in Zimbabwe is about 90%, which is one of the highest rates in Africa, but that does not mean that getting an education in Zimbabwe is easy.
Although education was made free in 1980 this has been increasingly difficult to sustain as the economic situation has worsened. So, the charges for various educational activities have gradually increased. All children have to pay tuition and development levies. This means that in all schools, whether they are state provided or independent, parents have to pay a lot (in comparison to what they can earn) in order for their children to be educated.
Health in Zimbabwe
Many of the issues faced by people in our link Dioceses in Zimbabwe are interlinked. Without water it is harder to grow the food which is needed to feed the people of Zimbabwe. Without sufficient food people will become unwell more easily and be less resistant to disease. Without clean water it is impossible for people to adhere to basic hygiene standards. Without enough clean water and food people are more susceptible to illness. Without sufficient clean water it is difficult to care for people who have diseases and injuries because clean water is basic to good nursing.
Ministry in Zimbabwe
Here in Southwark Diocese there are 812 priests, 277 readers and 201 SPAs for just over 50,000 people in our congregations out of a population of 2.5 million people in 317 sq miles of land.
Our four link Dioceses in Zimbabwe have far fewer priests to cover a much greater area. They often have large congregations to minister to - the Revd Ignatios Makumbe of St Andrew, Mkoba, has to deal with a parish which has grown from 105 to 876 people in six years.
Social Cohesion in Southwark
This year’s Lent Call will also help to address some of the issues underlying the causes of the disturbances last summer.
By helping to build a sense of family, of community and of individual self worth the projects here in Southwark which will benefit from your generosity will help to ensure that our communities will no longer feel as alienated and under-valued. They are: Slade Gardens Adventure Playground, Esther Community Enterprise, Camberwell Choir School and Neutral Ground Contact Centre.