National Disaster declared in Swaziland

The Marker for the bore-hole at Mpandesane 

Two conversations with Swaziland today: Mandla Mdluli, Diocesan Development Officer and Tiekie de Beer, Managing Director of Luyengo Farm.

Mandla Mdluli

Mandla says the Swazi Government have declared a National Disaster in the face of the on-going drought. “We have received a bit of rain in the past few days, still not enough to put to an end the current situation. In today’s  newspaper it is reported that “Water woes will last for the next six months in Mbabane”. Government is currently supplying water to 16 Counties mainly in the Lubombo and Shiselweni regions. I will tell you my experience that on January 20^th I went to the wholesaler to quote for a 50kg bag of mealie meal. It was E292 and I went back on February 10^th to buy it and the new price was E427. It is craziness.  The country will have over 60% loss in maize production which means we will have to import more than 150,000 thousand tons of maize, hundreds of farmers could loose their jobs, more than 50% of farmers will have their livelihoods wiped out.”

Tiekie de Beer

Tiekie agrees. “Most subsistence farmers couldn’t plant maize because of the dry ground. When a little rain came they planted their own seed, which will take too long to ripen. They couldn’t afford to buy quicker growing seed. So as bad as things are now, it will be much worse in April and May, when there will be no harvest. Some homesteads have planted cabbages, but it is still too dry for them to thrive. Half the country’s cattle are already dead; the maize harvest will only be 10% of what is required. People will starve, especially in the rural areas. Another complications that the sugar companies are not irrigating their crops and so government revenue will be seriously down when they are facing this crisis.”

Currently we are supporting the Diocese of Swaziland water project, which is ensuring that primary schools are supplied with water; we are also in the process of installing a bore-hole at Mpandesane, near Lavumisa, the poorest and driest part of Swaziland. (You may remember that the lake near the care point has dried up.)  We will support the diocese in whatever efforts they make to address the developing situation.

Luyengo Farm, thanks to Tiekie’s foresight in building the reservoir, has sufficient water to maintain production.

Invitation

All welcome

USPG >>> Us. Why? Watch....

Click...

Us. Every person, every community, a full life.

From November this year, USPG will be its changing name to United Society, to be known as 'Us'.

Canon Linda Ali, the outgoing chair of USPG’s Trustees, explained it was time for USPG to update our 311-year-old name.


She said: ‘The original title given to us by our founder, the Revd Thomas Bray, was The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, which was later abbreviated to SPG. No doubt this name worked well in its day, but words like “propagation” are simply out-dated in the twenty-first century. So it was time for a change.


'We're still about sowing seeds and nurturing faith and transformation in communities, but we want to speak in a language that resonates today.


‘Our new name, Us, is directly derived from USPG, so it speaks to our heritage, but it also speaks about inclusivity. There is no “them”; we are all “us”. Our work – in partnership with the churches of the Anglican Communion – is for the benefit of the whole community. No-one is excluded.’


A message from Archbishop Rowan


The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams endorsed the name change. He sent the following message to conference delegates:


'The worldwide church is called by God's love to promote life in all its fullness for everyone through its work in mission and development. We are call to rediscover our inter-dependence, our mutuality; to rediscover what it means to be "Us". This understanding of human dignity and mutuality in the gospel has always been at the heart of USPG's mission.


'This inspirational historical identity will continue as the United Society renames itself as Us, with its focus on "every person, every community, a full life". Indeed, the flourishing of each person is bound up in theflourishing of every other.'


He added: 'I send my greetings and blessings to you all at your conference this week - and as you continue to discern and respond to the calling of God to all of us.'


New name and strapline


The new strapline for Us - 'Every person, every community, a full life’ - is designed to underscore the concept of inclusion and point to a vision of the future where the words of Jesus in John 10:10 become a reality - the experience of life in all its fullness.


USPG Chief Executive Janette O’Neill said: ‘We are very excited about this new milestone in our history. It demonstrates our commitment to living out the gospel and communicating this message with clarity.


‘There are hundreds of international charities doing excellent work today, but we remain one of just a few agencies that are committed to supporting the churches of the worldwide Anglican Communion as they deliver transformational change.


‘We hope our new name will help people relate better to the work we are doing today. We are opening a door and inviting everyone to join Us.’


In 1965, SPG merged with the Universities’ Mission to Central Africa (UMCA) to form the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (USPG). Three years later, the Cambridge Mission to Delhi (CMD) became part of USPG.


Historically, SPG was a traditional missionary-sending agency. John Wesley was one of many hundreds of missionaries sent around the world by SPG.


However, over the decades, this view of mission has shifted, and the focus today is on inspiring local communities to unlock their potential so they can overcome whatever barriers they face, whether economic, political or spiritual.

Derek O'Neill and Patrick Comerford, and above, Yoshimi Gregory, Janette O'Neill, Richard Bartlett, Linda Chambers, Jan de Bruijn, Lynne Gibson and Patrick Comerford.

Face to Face

USPG Annual Conference: 25–27 June 2012

'Face to Face' is the theme for this year's USPG conference. There will be a chance to meet leaders and programme organisers from Anglican Churches around the world, take part in workshop, and learn new ways of engaging with mission to take back to your congregation.


Guests include:
• Sister Kasthuri Manickam, centre superintendent for the Women Workers’ Training Centre, Nagalapuram, South India;
• The Revd Rob Penrith, Rector of St John’s Church , Port Elizabeth, South Africa


Tuesday evening will feature worship and celebration with singer/songwriter Garth Hewitt.


Venue: High Leigh Conference Centre, Hoddesdon, Herts


Dates: Monday 25 – Wednesday 27 June


Special Day Conference: Tuesday 26 June


• Cost for three-day conference (25–27 June, lunchtime to lunchtime) is £140 (not sharing), £70 (sharing)
• Cost for Tuesday Day Conference is £25 (includes lunch)
• FREE for those in training for ordained ministry

For more information contact Linda: 086 8586337; uspg@ireland.anglican.org

Hands on Health, September 2011

Linda Chambers, USPG Ireland, and Janette O'Neill, General Secretary and CEO USPG:AWM with the Archbishop of Canterbury at the Lambeth launch of Hands on Health.

LAUNCH OF USPG’S NEW HEALTH POLICY HANDS ON HEALTH

“Hospitals in the developing world are overcome by excessive demand with preventable sickness,” says Linda Chambers, USPG Ireland. “Hospitals and clinics in many African and Asian countries are often over-stretched, sustained by declining foreign donations and lacking drugs and facilities.”

“USPG’s new approach is bringing communities into the centre of the health equation. Through local churches, communities and hospitals can enter into dialogue leading to practical action – health as a joint enterprise. As a result, hospital services will become more responsive and communities will have better access to the services they need. At the same time, there will be a greater emphasis on prevention through community based healthcare, which will help to reduce demand on hospitals.”

Speaking at the launch of USPG’s new health policy Hands on Health at Lambeth Palace Archbishop Rowan Williams said ‘It is easy to say that prevention is better than cure, but it takes courage and deep collaboration to turn this into a reality, transforming the health of communities. USPG is building on its considerable history in supporting mission hospitals and health clinics with an innovative approach that is very exciting.’

The programme will see local churches bridging the gap often felt between village communities and health facilities. Hands on Health acts as a catalyst enabling local communities to appreciate and act on their own strengths.  In working together all stakeholders can address concerns, share ideas and work on solutions. As a result, hospitals will have a sharper focus and communities will have more say in their health needs.

At the same time, there will be a greater emphasis on prevention through community based healthcare, which will help to reduce demand on hospitals.

It means a strategic re-balancing of the health equation. By strengthening community-based preventative health work, cherished mission hospitals will be given a new lease of life. The hospitals’ specialism in diagnosis and cure remains key but greater focus on appropriate hospital based services will make institutions more sustainable.

For those interested in health issues ,a comprehensive policy and priorities document for the development and implementation of Hands on Health is available is available. 

Alongside Hands on Health, USPG continues to focus on Growing the Church which covers theological and leadership training, capacity building etc.



Moving forward in mission, 2011