Walking for Water in the hottest place on earth

Did you make a New Year’s resolution this year? Or maybe you already gave up on it? It is not too late. You can still make a slightly belated one, and really make a difference this Lent. Learn about a young man called Abdella  who walks 10 hours every day to get water to his family.

Abdella is 23, he has dreams and plans for the future. Yet, every single day he has to spend 10 hours collecting water for his family… there is not much time left to do anything else after. Recently, Abdella was joined in his treacherous journey by CAFOD Writer Mark Chamberlain. Listen to the recent webinar to hear Mark’s vivid story, where he shares his experience of walking the 5-mile trek for water in one of the hottest places on earth.

He is joined in discussion by Ethiopia CAFOD Representative Teamrat Belai; Mark and Teamrat talk about the challenges facing the country, and what can be done to provide clean water in dry areas. 

Leading up to the Walk for Water Lent challenge (starting on Saturday 20^th February), this special online talk  sheds light on why this issue is so important to us, and why we are coming together as a Catholic community to raise money to help end water poverty.

Why should Southwark volunteers Walk for Water? 

Show  support to people who do not have access to fresh drinking water and help to end water poverty once and for all. This way we are fundraising as a Catholic Community  community to help end water poverty. Make difference this Lent get your walking shoes or trainers on and walk  10000 steps a day for 40 days of Lent – join Walk for Water

Join the Big Walk for Water

On Saturday 20 February, Southwark CPC’s will be doing the Big Walk for Water. Marine and Celeste will walk over 7 bridges in London and Sarah will take a walk along the river Thames in Kent. Perhaps you are taking a daily walk for exercise, could you incorporate he walk for water into that? Join in where you are to walk 5 miles, 10,000 steps or whatever distance you can manage. Walk around your garden, around your home, or pray the stations of the cross and follow the Lenten calendar to show Southwark solidarity with Abdella. Sponsor the Southwark Team’s Big Walk for Water on our JustGiving Page

Don’t forget to share videos of you taking a walk or pictures of your walks to southwark@cafod.org.uk or send a Tweet to @CAFODSouthwark or send a Facebook post @cafodsouthwark

Voice from Assisi, Friar Alessandro Brustenghi – London Charity Concert

You are invited to a charity concert, supported by the RC Archdiocese of Southwark and hosted by St George’s Cathedral, featuring the much acclaimed ‘Voice from Assisi’ Friar Alessandro Brustenghi.

A collection will be taken during this concert, and the proceeds will be shared by: The CAFOD East Africa Crisis Appeal and Caritas Bakihta House supporting women who have escaped human trafficking.

Date and Time : Sat 6 May 2017 – 19:45 – 21:15 BST
Location : St George’s Cathedral, Lambeth Road, London, SE1 6HR
Please register at EventBrite (it is not too late!)

Why East Africa needs you : a lunch-talk with Dc Tesfa Mahari.

Thank you to Streatham and Clapham United Nations Association who organised a simple lunch on Saturday, 29th April 1.00pm to find out why East Africa needs your help.

A woman from South Sudan collecting wild leaves to eat. Photo by David Mutua

The event was held at the English Martyrs Church lower hall (2 Mitcham Lane, Streatham, SW16 6NN) to understand why East Africa needs us . Guests were invited to share a simple bread and cheese lunch, with a lecture that talks about the East African Famine.

The talk’s principal lecturer was Dr. Tesfa Mehari, from the International Business and Economics Department of the University of Greenwich. She discussed the causes, immediate needs and longer term solutions for the East African crisis.

Food distributions in South Sudan; Photos taken by David Mutua

This event aimed to raise funds and awareness for these communities suffering severely of hunger caused by long periods of drought. The proceeds from this event will be split between UNICEF and CAFOD. More information available here.

Our thanks goes out to Sarah and her United Nations Association group who organised this.