Global Food Crisis Fund supports Africa development symposium, clean water in Cuba

A grant of $2,500 from the Church of the Brethren Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) is supporting the participation by Brethren and those with Brethren connections at a development symposium in East Africa. A grant of $3,000 has been given from the fund to help install a clean water system at the headquarters of the Cuban Council of Churches.

Clean water project in Cuba

The $3,000 grant responds to an appeal from Living Waters for the World (LWW), a mission project of the Synod of Living Waters, Presbyterian Church (USA), at the initiative of Church of the Brethren general secretary Stan Noffsinger in support of this ecumenical project.

An ecumenical group will travel to Havana, Cuba, to install the clean water system for the Cuban Council of Churches, enabling the council to provide clean water to families and people working at and visiting their offices, and to neighboring offices and nearby residences.

Total cost will be between $12,000 and $15,000, with the balance of the funds coming from LWW, the University Presbyterian Church of Baton Rouge, and the Presbyterian Church (USA). The Brethren funds will support purchase of water system hardware, replacement parts that must be taken from the US to Cuba, and clean water educational materials.

East Africa Highlands Symposium

Agricultural development workers from across East Africa will gather Oct. 28-30 for the East Africa Highlands Symposium organized by ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization). The training and networking event will share knowledge appropriate to farming in the highlands of East Africa. It will be held at the Kinindo Training Centre known as the Swedish Centre in Bujumbura, Burundi.

The $2,500 will help cover conference registration and travel costs for seven representatives of three GFCF partners: three from Eglise des Freres au Congo (Church of the Brethren in Congo); two from Gisenyi Evangelical Friends Church in Rwanda, which has been a GFCF partner for three years; and two from Trauma Healing and Reconciliation Services, a new GFCF partner in Burundi with ties to Church of the Brethren members from Seattle, Wash.

For more about the Global Food Crisis Fund go to www.brethren.org/gfcf.

Source: 9/9/2014 Newsline