Urbanisation Brings Africa New Health Risks

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for Africa]

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According to a World Bank report, urbanisation in sub-Saharan Africa accelerates rise in health problems, while more cars on the road are pushing up accident rates. The region has the highest number of accidents, but the fewest vehicles on the road. Younger and poorer people are disproportionately vulnerable: accidents on the road are expected to become the biggest killer of children aged between five and fifteen by 2015, outstripping malaria and IDS. ‘The poorest communities often live alongside the fastest roads, their children may need to negotiate the most dangerous routes to school and they may have poorer outcomes from injuries, due to limited access to post-crash emergency healthcare,’ the report says. The report concerns road safety alongside rising rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes and cancer. The shift towards urbanisation is a case in point. City residents typically take less exercise, and thus are prone to diabetes and cardiovascular problems. Rising incomes are driving demand for processed foods that are higher in sugar, fat and salt, as well as alcohol. [Guardian]

Pray for Africa:

  • Remember the plight of the disadvantaged communities under urbanisation;
  • Pray that the government and the NGOs can foresee the new challenges of urbanisation, take the preventive measures and provide appropriate assistance to those in need.

Urge Nuclear Disarmament on 68th Anniversary of Hiroshima Atomic Bombing

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for Global Nuclear Disarmament]

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Security is based on people’s welfare and not on military annihilation, UN said, marking the 68th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and later Nagasaki which together killed more than 400,000 people. ‘We are united in countering the erroneous view that security is achieved through the pursuit of military dominance and threats of mutual annihilation,’ Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his message to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony. There is a ‘surge of new interest’ in nuclear disarmament based largely on an increasing awareness of the horrific humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons. UN has made nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation a top priority. Disarmament frees up resources which could be channelled to address major global threats, including poverty, hunger and disease.

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) bans all nuclear explosions in all environments, for military or civilian purposes. It was adopted by the General Assembly in September 1996 but has not yet entered into force. China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan and the United States have yet to ratify it. [UN News]

Pray for Global Nuclear Disarmament:

  • Pray that the governments of the nations will put all their efforts to improve the people’s welfare and create the peaceful atmosphere. Pray that they will give up the military competition and nuclear weapons. 
  • Pray that the UN can rope in the nations to sign, ratify and implement the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

 

Churches in Zimbabwe are Mobilised to Care for HIV/AIDS Affected Families

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for AIDS Care Programme in Zimbabwe]

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CEDAR’s partner Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT) mobilises local churches to care for HIV/AIDS orphans families, providing venues for conducting regular life skills learning to children and guardians’ self-help groups gathering. FACT also works with church pastors to provide weekly biblical teaching on responding to the challenges of vulnerable groups. One pastor of a partnering church has been recently transferred to another locale. This may hamper the commitment of that church to this caring scheme. FACT is engaging the church leaders and facilitating more Christians to support the ministry. Besides, HIV carriers are now confident to disclose their medical issues to family members as they get support from the supporting network formed between local churches and 50 HIV/AIDS affected families. The network often provides financial support to the HIV carriers so they have money to pay their medication bills.

Pray for AIDS Care Programme in Zimbabwe:

  • Pray that more church leaders and lay Christians will be mobilized to join the FACT’s work; 
  • Give thanks that many HIV/AIDS affected families received financial resources. Pray for sustainable and positive outcomes.

Donate Now! Click here.

Other Methods of Payment

  1. Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
  2. Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
  3. Autopay (only applicable to regular fixed donations), enclosing with a completed Autopay Authorisation Form (Download: WORD or PDF)
  4. Visa/ Master Card

Download Donation Form

Please send a completed Donation Form, enclosing with cheque or pay-in slip, to CEDAR FUND, G.P.O. BOX 3212, HONG KONG.

Donation Form: WORD or PDF

[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.

 

Remember the Slum Project in in Bangladesh

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for the Slum work in Bangladesh]

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The political atmosphere in Bangladesh was relatively calm in the Muslim month of Fasting (10 July to 7 August). However, it will be tensed again while the election is coming soon. CEDAR’s partner SATHI has mobilised dwellers to participate in community development. Project focus is literacy. Give thanks that people organisations have enrolled 115 street kids at primary schools and have assisted 126 adult learners finishing the Adult Literacy Class. The project is led by a Christian Field Manager. The staff team maintains morning devotion a few times per week. They work hard to infuse the Christian value (e.g. love and justice) into the community. Many Muslims are also attracted by these values.

Pray for the Slum work in Bangladesh:

  • Remember the Bangladesh situation. Pray that His peace will come to this nation. Pray that no more shut- down and people can live normally.
  • Pray for the community work of SATHI. Give thanks that the staff team live out their faith. Pray that more local churches will join and serve for the continuous transformation of the individuals and the community.

Donate Now! Click here.

Other Methods of Payment

  1. Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
  2. Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
  3. Autopay (only applicable to regular fixed donations), enclosing with a completed Autopay Authorisation Form (Download: WORD or PDF)
  4. Visa/ Master Card

Download Donation Form

Please send a completed Donation Form, enclosing with cheque or pay-in slip, to CEDAR FUND, G.P.O. BOX 3212, HONG KONG.

Donation Form: WORD or PDF

[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.

The Letter from CEDAR | August 2013

Posted on by 施達基金會

A sponsored child in Ethiopia wrote ‘Jesus is LORD’ on the wall at home.

Dear brothers and sisters,

In the last couple of decades, there were lots of discussions around the globe on the issues of poverty alleviation and development. People have exhausted all political and economical means but failed to solve the problem of income inequality. And in fact the global wealth gap has become wider and wider. The optimistic belief and confidence relying on human wisdom to solve this issue grows dim and dim, and even displaced by hopelessness and blame.

Continue reading The Letter from CEDAR | August 2013