“I am Sapana and live in Nepal. I have three brothers and a mother. My father was blind at birth. My mother was the bread winner by working in the neighbours’ fields. She would tell me how badly my father was bullied and disrespected because of his disability. He died when I was 2 years of age. Life is not easy for a widow in our society. The community did not treat us with respect because of our socioeconomic problems and lack of a man in the household. My mother could not get waged work and it became difficult for her to feed and educate us. 

 If Kopila-Nepal had not been there, I could not have continued my studies. I received a school uniform and stationery regularly up until the end of high school.  My mother became a member of one of Kopila’s Self Help Groups (SHG) in my village. Kopila provided a she-goat for income generation. Mother also participated in training to help develop her self-confidence. Through the SHG saving and credit scheme, mother took loans for income generation activities, medical care for us and other household purposes. Living conditions improved. Mother’s confidence grew, she became stronger, we were happier and did better at school. My mother learned the value of education and motivated me to do further studies. I am currently doing post-graduation studies and work as a marketing representative for a cooperative.”

 No story encapsulates the hopes behind community development better than a young person, in difficult circumstances, making good in life. Kopila-Nepal, is one of Methodist Church in Ireland’s (MCI) development partners through World Development & Relief (WDR). Such stories highlight the need for a partner, beneficiary and donor – none could have changed this situation on their own. Each needed the other. Good development agencies connect these diverse groups, so each can play their part for the common purpose.

Sadly, WDR’s work is not an unbroken chain of success. Interventions are carried out in harsh environments where there can be economic poverty, climate chaos, an inadequate legal system, political instability, conflict, fear, under-developed healthcare systems and resource scarcity. Add to these the disadvantages that people may carry in life (gender, disability, ethnicity etc.) and one starts to appreciate how difficult it must be for WDR’s partners to operate at all, let alone see success.

Many recent messages from partners have told us of added difficulties they are facing.
In Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, Church Land Programme has seen many of its communities destroyed by the violence following the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma. The government estimate that the cost to the economy is over $1 billion.

Kopila-Nepal operates where there is a higher death rate (deaths per million) than neighboring India which has, understandably, had much media coverage during the pandemic. Bina Silwal and her staff, only now, are hoping to emerge from a two-month lockdown and get back into the field to meet beneficiaries and pick up the work again. Dabane Water Workshops in Zimbabwe, had to close its offices because of Covid infections amongst staff. Stephen Hussey, Dabane’s Director, shared, “We have had to stop work on a weir because of a Covid outbreak in the community. We’ve also been unable to travel to Malawi to construct three sand dams [used to trap and provide clean water] due to closed borders. People are generally tired of wearing masks – although it is possible that people are again taking the situation seriously.  But the weather is also cold, meaning people huddle inside in unventilated rooms. It certainly is a most difficult time.”

It is hard to build futures on these ever-shifting sands. Yet, our twelve WDR partners across the globe are having an impact upon over 420,000 people. If you give to the work, “Thank you”. 

Every year, for 51 years, delegates at our Irish Methodist Conference have agreed (via a vote) to the following statement in the Conference agenda:
“The Conference reminds all Methodists of the directive to share at least 1% of post-tax income for the work of Word Development & Relief.”

Simply put- all Methodists are asked to please consider giving 1% of your income (after tax) to support the work of World development and Relief and tackle global poverty.

Sadly, this remains a mere good intention. Whilst annual income for WDR is around £300,000, MCI membership statistics suggest that committed 1% giving would actually generate more than £3.5 million, more than ten times that amount. Imagine the mission we could have. Assuming average incomes, it would only mean £20 or €25 per month through a Standing Order. If God’s people don’t do this, who do we expect to do so?

The church’s task is huge. For example, 40 million people exist in slavery. Freedom and safety are far-off dreams. While they suffer, the criminals who exploit them prosper and profit. WDR partner, International Justice Mission, has established a team in Myanmar to address the cross-border trafficking and forced labour in the Thai fishing industry. The team will be working to help shut down trafficking corridors from Cambodia and Myanmar.

According to the United Nations, those with a disability are more likely to live in poverty than those without a disability. This is due to barriers in society such as discrimination, limited access to education and employment and lack of inclusion in livelihood and other social programmes. One billion, have a disability; 15% of these are significant. Several WDR partners work with people with disabilities: most obviously East-Jerusalem YMCA (Palestine), Kopila-Nepal and Father Andeweg Institute for the Deaf (Lebanon). Programmes include education on rights, rehabilitation and economic empowerment.

One billion people live in extreme poverty, two thirds of these are women. Climate change is hitting them hardest as food production, water supply, human health and infrastructure are all being impacted. Methodist Development and Relief Services in Ghana is helping people cultivate unused church land. Dabane and Methodist Development and Relief Agency (co-funded with All We Can) both address water challenges in Zimbabwe. Corambiente (co-funded with Christian Aid Ireland) in Colombia is helping farmers develop techniques to bring higher yields whilst protecting the environment in mountainous wetlands.

Research suggests that there will still be more than 200 million children missing schooling by the year 2030 (United Nations). WDR partner Open Schools Worldwide, delivers a literacy, numeracy and life skills programme to vulnerable children who cannot attend school. This is through the training of local volunteer teachers who care deeply about their own communities and the futures of their young people. Phakamisa working from Pinetown Methodist Church in South Africa, trains those running pre-schools in its poor communities, thus playing a part in the building of 8,000 children’s futures daily.

 In Ghana, Wenchi Methodist Hospital serves 180,000 people through its main hospital and satellite clinics and services. It is hard to accept that less than half the world’s population has access to essential health services (United Nations).

WDR’s theme for this coming church year is, “Building Futures”. The Methodist Church in Ireland has laid down firm foundations so we can tackle poverty and injustice:

1.     adhering to Christian values in all it does

2.     working with reliable and effective partners (covering a range of vital themes)

3.     following good development practices whilst seeking long-term change

 Our scripture for focus is I Timothy 6 where we are commanded to “do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” Covid has exposed the very different lives lived in this world. Does each of us need to again reflect upon the wonderful opportunity to give generously so that others can fulfil their God-given potential? Is now the time to follow through and honour our church’s desire to see us all give 1%? 

Sapana finishes her story by saying, “I am thankful to Kopila and its supporters. You have enabled me to have a dignified life.”

Praise God. What a gift we can give.