AN annual church collection gets under way on Saturday (March 30) to raise money to help some of the world’s most poverty-stricken people.
Last year, Isle of Man residents donated more than £7,300 towards the Adventist Development and Relief Agency’s (ADRA) appeal which works with 120 countries trying to eliminate world poverty.
Noel Apugan, pastor of the Isle of Man Seventh Day Adventist Church, said that a team of 25 volunteers – including young people – would be carrying out door to door collections across the island from Saturday to April 14.
All collectors will have identification and wear yellow vests with the ADRA logo on.
The money will be help provide bore holes to rural communities in Bazega, in Burkina Faso, to give easy access to clean water.
And it will help 30 ‘bamboo’ schools to given children in the Karen state of Myanmar access to primary education and train their teachers.
Mr Apugan said that every £1 donated was actually worth £6 because there is a top-up from the European Commission.
He added: ‘Because we are a registered charity in the island, part of the collected money we raise will be retained in the island, so we can run an ADRA project.’
The percentage of the total that stays in the island increases depending on the amount raised.
This year, ADRA is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Mr Apugan said: ‘The objective is to achieve a world without poverty by giving poor people the resources, skills and opportunities they need to meet basic needs and transform their lives.’
The charity supports people in the UK, Africa, Asia and elsewhere helping them to survive disasters and conflicts.