Some of the top people from Christian Aid were in the island at the weekend promoting the latest aid project and talking about how money raised in the Isle of Man has helped some of the world’s poorest people in recent years.
The charity’s London regional head Mark Sturge, was among the group which attended gatherings at churches in Ramsey and Onchan to discuss this year’s initiative to raise money to buy cooking stoves for people in Mali.
Louise Whitelegg, the island’s Christian Aid Week co-ordinator, said the stoves would benefit people in many ways by being more fuel efficient and conserving wood supplies, as well as saving them from illness contracted as a result of breathing smoke produced by the open fires traditionally used for cooking.
‘The meetings were a chance to talk to existing and potential Christian Aid supporters. It was also looking back at what has been achieved so far and looking forward to new projects for the future,’ she said.
Among the past projects was a scheme to improve access to clean water in Zimbabwe, The project funded 56 improved wells in the country with £80,000 from the Isle of Man consisting of £40,000 from Christian Aid Donations and a further £40,000 of government matched funding.
A three-year project in Sierra Leone to provide solar powered freezers and extra equipment for fisherman, as well as promoting other diverse income sources such as bee keeping had to be put on hold during the Ebola epidemic but Mr Sturge said this was due to resume soon now the infection was reducing.
He added: ‘The charity is celebrating its 70th anniversary and the people of the Isle of Man have been supporting it for many years so it is good for us to express thanks to the people of the Isle of Man for making things possible.’