Christian Aid Week (14–20 May) is a time when Christians of all denominations come together to raise funds to help others across the world. This year’s focus is on the beautiful country Malawi.
Like many areas in the world, Malawi is seeing a sharp increase in the costs of everyday essentials, such as food and fuel. The climate crisis is also making it difficult to grow many of the foods that people in Malawi eat and sell, with cyclones and droughts devastating crops. Many farmers are exploited by big companies and don’t receive a fair price for their crops.
Christian Aid partners in Malawi are helping farmers transform their livelihoods using the pigeon pea – a drought-resistant, soil-revitalising, high-protein, low-cost, delicious crop. Farmers and communities are working with Christian Aid to form cooperatives to secure a fairer price, boost the quality of the seeds they use, adding value by baking and selling bread made from pea flour, and building warehouses to keep peas safe from weather events.
The Big Pea Challenge invites you to hold your own pea-themed fundraiser this May. Whether that’s hosting a pea soup lunch, growing and selling plants, or playing a game of ‘pass the peas’ with the kids. Every fundraiser will help families in Malawi secure a brighter future.
Envelope collections are a vital part of Christian Aid Week and worshipping communities across the Diocese will see the familiar red envelope being posted through letterboxes or given out at church. As well as physical envelopes and cash, you can create an ‘online envelope’ fundraising page to help raise funds to maximise your fundraising by allowing supporters to donate online. Find out how to get started here: Envelope – Get started – Christian Aid
Donations can also be made easily online to the Christian Aid website.
St Mary’s Church, Wotton-under-Edge is holding a special Evensong on 14 May at 6pm to launch Christian Aid Week, with a reflection given by the Revd Lesley Hewish and drinks and nibbles after the service. This is followed by a pop-up shop at Wotton Baptist church, from 15–17 May, selling books, crafts, puzzles and nearly new clothes.
Read all about the importance of peas and useful fundraising resources here: Christian Aid Week 2023 | The Big Pea Challenge
Find out more about where your fundraising will go by watching this Christian Aid video featuring stories from Malawi
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