The Alongside Hope Indigenous Partnership Program promotes partnerships based on recognition, respect, and support for the rights and wellbeing of the Indigenous partners.

Indigenous cultures, languages, and traditions are invaluable and contribute to the rich tapestry of Canadian society. Supporting Indigenous programs helps preserve and revitalize these cultural assets, ensuring they are passed on to future generations.

Mapping the Ground We Stand On

In 2015, following the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Alongside Hope developed a narrative and a process called “Mapping the Ground We Stand On.” The resulting workshop explored Indigenous presence and Settler arrival on the map of Turtle Island/Canada.

Piloted at Alongside Hope’s National Gathering in the fall of 2015, this “education for reconciliation” resource was further developed and delivered in parishes and other venues. In 2019, Alongside Hope launched a new five-year strategic plan. The fifth goal is “Mutual Reconciliation: We will accompany and support First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, guided by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the priorities of Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada.” In 2019, a decision was taken by Alongside Hope to train a national network of Mapping Exercise facilitators.

Bring a Mapping Exercise to your community

The map of truth and reconciliation in Canada is still very much incomplete. Alongside Hope remains committed to being part of the journey towards finding a more complete map.

Each ecclesiastical province group has been equipped with a large floor map of Canada and is ready to bring this education for reconciliation resource to you. It is ideal for a synod, clergy retreat day, youth gathering, or Indigenous awareness event in your parish or community.

Archdeacon Terry Caines wrote that “during the annual clergy Lenten retreat, under the guidance of Canon Tom Mugford, an Alongside Hope representative, clergy of Central NL took part in a meaningful Mapping exercise designed to create reflection, awareness, and shared learning. Through visual storytelling and guided discussion, clergy looked at key moments and stories that have shaped our nation’s history, including lesser-known and often overlooked experiences.

The exercise encouraged clergy to engage more deeply with the historical truths of our country, including the lasting impacts of colonization and the experiences of Indigenous communities across regions such as Newfoundland and Labrador. By visually tracing these histories, clergy gained new insight into how past events continue to influence present-day communities.

Beyond education, the Mapping exercise created sacred space for dialogue, mutual understanding, and collective growth. It offered an opportunity not only to learn, but also to listen—strengthening relationships and deepening commitment to reconciliation, compassion, and informed ministry within our communities.”

If you would like to host a Mapping Exercise for an Anglican entity, Alongside Hope will cover any travel costs for our volunteer facilitators. Local hosts are asked to cover any costs associated with the venue or refreshments and provide tech support. Non-Anglican entities are asked to cover both travel and hosting costs. For more information on the Mapping Exercise cost structure, please contact Abdi Ali aali@alongsidehope.org.

Information taken from the Alongside Hope website (alongsidehope.org)

The post A Journey Towards Reconciliation appeared first on Anglican Life.

Canada

The ecclesiastical province of BC/Yukon are ready to respond to wildfire emergencies with a $50,000 grant from Alongside Hope.

After the Jasper wildfire, the Diocese of Edmonton partnered with the Jasper Employment and Education Centre to offer critical support in employment, immigration and emergency assistance to more than 1,500 evacuees, including temporary foreign workers and their families.

440 people participated in 30 “Mapping the Ground We Stand On” workshops across the country. Through this hands-on exploration of the Doctrine of Discovery, participants deepened their understanding of what it means to live in right relations.

Cuba

5015 families received training to increase their resilience to disaster.

Mexico, Peru, Ecuador

342 indigenous midwives were supported to improve health service delivery and reduce maternal mortality.

Colombia

Grupo Comunicarte developed more than 400 radio programs with local youth, promoting environmental protection and sustainability, and reaching approximately 3,750,000 people.

Ukraine

More than 300 people living with disabilities developed critical social skills, especially challenging in times of war.

Gaza

18,205 patients have been treated at Gaza’s Al Ahii Hospital since the beginning of the current conflict.

Nepal

1990 flood-affected individuals received food relief in Kathmandu.

South Sudan

9,510 people received monthly food relief.

Uganda

6,730 adolescent girls and young women received training in entrepreneurship skills, resulting in increased knowledge and interest towards starting and managing businesses.

Two school campaigns provided sexual and reproductive health rights information and knowledge to 833 students. This resulted in better awareness of gender rights, menstrual hygiene, reduced absenteeism, and the formation of two new school health clubs.

Kenya

11 shallow wells were built this year, for a total of 99 since 2019, providing water to 25,000 people a day.

ECLOF serves more than 40,000 low-income entrepreneurs and farmers, primarily women. Last year, with support from Alongside Hope, 570 farmers were trained in sustainable dairy and agriculture practices, leading to an increase in yields and household income.

Zambia

593 adolescents attended weekly group meetings and learned about safe sexual behaviours, alcohol and drug abuse and children’s rights.

Zimbabwe

4,857 farmers revitalized and preserved local biodiversity.

The Philippines

747 people benefitted from the rehabilitation of two local drinking water systems damaged by typhoons.

Read more about the work of Alongside Hope at their website alongsidehope.org.

If you’d like you can donate today online at alongsidehope.org/give-today or by calling 1-866-308-7973.

As I wrote in an article a year or so ago, don’t forget the World of Gifts is about more than just Christmas!

God bless you all for your continued support of Alongside Hope!

The post Alongside Hope’s Global Impact appeared first on Anglican Life.

This has been a very challenging summer all across our beautiful country, and especially here in our own province off Newfoundland and Labrador. It was so devastating to hear how many people were forced to leave their homes, not knowing if they would have a home to return to.

In 2023, in response to unprecedented wildfires from coast to coast, Alongside Hope established a separate fund for in-Canada emergency response. This was to enable them to respond quickly when a diocese asks for support, rather than waiting to raise funds for individual disasters.

How does Alongside Hope decide where and when to respond (since we know that they cannot respond to all domestic emergencies)? A decision as to whether or not to respond will depend on several factors: the severity and impact of the emergency; the presence of other agencies responding including the government; the extent to which additional support is needed; the time and abilities of the diocese to engage; and Alongside Hope’s available resources. Efforts will be made to ensure duplication is avoided, effectiveness is increased, and that all of us work together to be the best stewards of the resources that are entrusted to us.

What is an emergency? Emergency is the term Alongside Hope and other agencies give to situations during or following a disaster when the lives and livelihoods of many people are threatened. Most emergencies in Canada occur through natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, or fires. The objectives of Alongside Hope’s In-Canada Emergency Preparedness and Response Guidelines are as follows:

• To provide a framework to help Anglican dioceses in Canada be prepared to effectively respond to emergencies in their dioceses

• To support dioceses and parishes to better leverage other national, regional and local resources to enhance their preparedness and response should there be an emergency

• To clarify how funds raised by Alongside Hope can be accessed and reported back to Alongside Hope

Suggested services that dioceses may offer for relief and recovery response

• Distribute relief items such as food, water, hygiene kits, gas, clothing, etc.

• Provide a place of refuge from extreme cold, heat waves and storms

• Act as a temporary relief shelter

• Provide a gathering place and emergency services such as washrooms, charging stations, etc.

• Lead prayers, offer emotional support

• Prepare a list of professionals to provide counselling for post emergency/disaster victims

• Invite these professionals to speak in parishes and gatherings organized by parishes

• Organize post-traumatic workshops/sessions for families and communities

Expenditures and activities that may be included in a relief or recovery response budget

• Diocesan/parish staff and/ or volunteer honorariums related to relief and recovery response

• Transportation, vehicle rental, logistics, etc., pertaining to the project/ response

• Gift cards for use by displaced individuals/ families for the purpose of purchasing food, water, emergency supplies, needed materials destroyed by the emergency or displacement due to a particular emergency/disaster

• Emergency accommodation

• Building materials

• Goods or services directly provided by the diocese/ parishes, or jointly with other agencies or outsourced to local specialized agencies

• Counselling and post trauma supports

• Locally identified long-term recovery activities that may help rebuild community assets and increase community resilience

For more information, read our Alongside Hope In-Canada Emergency Preparedness and Response Guidelines or our In-Canada Emergency Response booklet (as single pages or spreads).

The post Alongside Hope: Ready to Respond appeared first on Anglican Life.

Aside from special Alongside Hope Sundays, there are other ways to help. Some Confirmation classes decide to designate the loose collection at their Confirmation service for Alongside Hope. Other ideas include donating the proceeds from one stall at the parish Spring Sale or Fall Fair to Alongside Hope, or hosting a concert in support of our work.

As the Alongside Hope tagline says, our name has changed; our work remains the same (and one of the new leaflets explains how we chose the new name). With USAID’s recent exit from the Aid and Development sector, the work of other agencies, like Alongside Hope, has become that much more challenging as we try to help fill the gap left by such a wealthy partner. In last month’s column, you read about the new Resilience Fund which seeks to do just that. A very generous and anonymous donor has recently offered to match donations made to the new fund until June 30th, up to $250,000. That’s a wonderful incentive to donate now rather than later. And, as always, donations to Alongside Hope’s equity in the Canada Foodgrains Bank are always matched 4:1 by the Government of Canada. It is always a win when donations are doubled or more. For those who like to see exactly what their donation will be used for, the ever-popular World of Gifts is open year-round for your convenience.

Obviously, the work of development and aid requires financial resources—and lots of them—but Alongside Hope also relies on your prayers and your participation. While each of our three dioceses has a Diocesan Alongside Hope Representative, they need parish reps to help promote the work and raise awareness at the local level. If you would like to know more about this opportunity to be part of the Alongside Hope team, please contact Doreen Klassen in the Western Diocese, Debra Gill in Central, Deborah Pantin in Eastern NL, or speak to your rector. The larger our team is, the greater impact we can make. You can make a difference!

The post New Resources to Help Parishes Help Alongside Hope appeared first on Anglican Life.

1958

A bump in a coal mine in Springhill, Nova Scotia, kills 75 men. The tragedy moves Anglicans and other Canadians to respond with assistance for the stricken families. As a result of this experience, the Church recognizes the need for an efficient process to channel assistance quickly in situations of emergency. One year later, the Primate’s World Relief Fund was established by the Anglican Church of Canada’s General Synod, named for the Primate, or Archbishop of Canada.

1969

The organization becomes the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, reflecting the agency’s maturing program focus and philosophy. PWRDF comes to see that deeper, long-term development needs are strongly connected to suffering caused by natural or human-provoked disasters. Even more significantly, PWRDF realizes that people who experience these problems first-hand are in the best position to develop long-term solutions.

1970s

PWRDF commits to addressing long-term development needs and to working in partnership with local communities and organizations. During this decade, PWRDF also recognizes the need to engage Canadians in the issues of tackling injustice.

1980s

PWRDF becomes very active in working with refugees, and in 1984, the Refugee Subcommittee and the Refugee Coordinators Network were both established. PWRDF builds a strong program for the support and advocacy of uprooted peoples, including refugees, internally displaced populations, and migrant workers—internationally through relief and development programs, advocacy, and monitoring of human rights, and in Canada through networking and education.

1999

PWRDF mandates a national Youth Initiative to engage young Canadians on social justice issues, leading to the formation of the PWRDF Youth Council and justgeneration. This movement is led by a group of youth and young adults representing ecclesiastical provinces of the Anglican Church of Canada, as well as ecumenical partner organizations. Their role is to connect the work of PWRDF with youth and young adults in communities across the country.

2022

A Task Team of staff, board members, and volunteers from across Canada is selected. This team is given the goal of identifying a compelling name –a name that better reflects our work and one that would sustain our work into the future. In these and other discussions with stakeholders and staff, one dominant theme emerged: partnership.

•PWRDF is all about partnerships.

We partner with local organizations who carry out the work that you support – life-giving work that improves food security, champions gender rights, provides training on conservation agriculture, and creates income opportunities.

•We partner with membership organizations that allow us to be part of a larger network. These include the Anglican Alliance, the ACT Alliance, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, KAIROS, Cooperation Canada, among others.

•We partner with funding agencies, including Global Affairs Canada, businesses, and a growing number of private and family foundations.

•We partner with the Anglican Church of Canada, Anglican dioceses, spiritual ministries, and ecclesiastical provinces through their bishops and their PWRDF Representatives, who support our programs and invite us to spread the good news of PWRDF at synods and other meetings.

•We partner with parish representatives, clergy, and countless volunteers in the pews across the country, who share our stories and engage others in our work.

•We partner with our generous donors, without whose support none of our partners’ work would be possible.

This theme of partnership, or accompaniment, is woven throughout the Bible, but the task team was drawn to the story of the road to Emmaus. Days after Jesus died, the disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, still grieving their loss. As Luke writes, the resurrected Jesus came alongside them, but they did not know it was him. Jesus travelled with them and then accepted their hospitality to dine with them. In the breaking of bread, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. When we walk alongside one another, Jesus accompanies us. We are strengthened and comforted and recognize Jesus when we share in his feast.

As we walk alongside each of our partners, supporting, listening, and sharing with one another, we embrace and embody the hope of a better world.

2024

A new name was selected:

Alongside Hope: Anglicans and partners working for change in Canada and around the world

I encourage you to visit the website to learn more about the history and work of Alongside Hope: https://alongsidehope.org/

The post A History of PWRDF / Alongside Hope appeared first on Anglican Life.

ACT Alliance comprises 143 churches and church-related organizations that work together in humanitarian assistance and development. Through our membership in ACT, Alongside Hope is able to respond to disasters and relief efforts around the world.

Though Alongside Hope is an autonomous international development agency, it remains closely linked with the membership, policies and procedures, structures of the Anglican Church of Canada, where the Fund originated.

The Anglican Alliance brings together those in the Anglican family of churches and agencies around the world to work for a world free of poverty and injustice, to be a voice for the voiceless, to reconcile those in conflict, and to safeguard the Earth.

The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) is a non-profit umbrella organization, committed to the rights and protection of refugees in Canada and around the world, and to the settlement of refugees and immigrants in Canada.

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank was established in 1983 as a Canadian-based Christian organization that provides food and development assistance to people in need on behalf of Canadian churches, including Alongside Hope and The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace. Today, Canadian Foodgrains Bank is one of the largest private food aid providers in the world. Donations made by Canadians have helped Canadian Foodgrains Bank and its members provide over 1,000,000 metric tonnes of food to people who are hungry throughout the world. These funds are matched 4 to 1 from the government of Canada.

The Canadian Ecumenical Anti-Racism Network (CEARN) is an expression of Canadian churches working together to support anti-racism programs and educators who are working in member churches of the Canadian Council of Churches, sharing resources and learning among anti-racism educators, and supporting long-term change in Canadian churches and church organizations.

Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCh) is a collaboration of over 80 organizations working to save the lives of the most vulnerable women, newborns and children in over 1000 communities globally.

The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance is an international network of churches and church-related organizations committed to campaigning together on common concerns. Current campaigns focus on HIV and AIDS and Food.

Imagine Canada is a national charitable organization which supports and strengthens charities and nonprofits by strengthening the sector’s collective voice, acting as a forum and meeting place, and creating an enabling environment in which organizations like Alongside Hope can contribute to building stronger communities.

In 2001, from a rich global heritage and a hopeful Canadian tradition, Canadian churches and religious organizations formed KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives. A faithful and decisive response to God’s call for respect for the earth and justice for its people,.

Oikocredit is a world-wide ecumenical co-operative society of churches and individuals whose purpose is to mobilize financial resources for further development of poor areas of the world. Oikocredit provides loans for small groups or individuals for whom, in our global economy, credit is often very expensive. These loans finance small projects: a sewing machine to start a new shop; poultry to provide eggs to sell; machinery for processing crops.

Alongside Hope supports the work of the World Council of Churches and has been active as a member of the Heads of Agencies (HOAN) consultative group of donor agencies.

The post Partnership Organizations appeared first on Anglican Life.

This year marks the third annual PWRDF Wild Ride, and it makes 65 years of support for refugees and displaced people. PWRDF partners are working to support refugees in Tanzania, South Sudan, Jordan, Ukraine, and in many more countries too. It’s not to late to join others across the country as we walk, cycle, roller blade, bake, read, knit, crochet, swim, kayak, canoe, dance, and sing—or pretty much any activity you would like to undertake. Join the Wild Ride, and put your stamp on it! The Wild Ride campaign will run until Thanksgiving.

The PWRDF Wild Ride is a Peer-to-Peer fundraising campaign. This means that those who participate reach out to their friends, families, and networks to ask for donations.

This year I participated by crocheting hats/headbands for The Gathering Place. By doing this project, I will be supporting those at the Gathering Place as well as refugees and displaced persons through the work of PWRDF.

In 2024, PWRDF’s aim is to raise $65,000 to mark our 65-year commitment to refugees and internally displaced people. At the time of writing this article $19,365 has been raised.

“Put your stamp on it” by turning your favourite pastime into fundraising for a great cause. For further information you can contact PWRDF at pwrdf.org or call 877-936-9199.

In an earlier article I wrote about World of Gifts and how it wasn’t only about Christmas. In April I gave a brief presentation on PWRDF to three confirmands from the Parish of Living Water in New-wes-valley. These young people decided to do two projects one to help out locally and one to help nationally/internationally. They collected food for the local food bank and they held a bake sale to support PWRDF. With these funds, they used the gift catalog to select how they would help out. They purchased part of one water tank, briquette-making for women, indigenous mid-wife home visit, a donkey to carry water, 3 goats, garden tools, vegetable seeds, ten rabbits, a home garden, and an emergency response. Well done!

The post Wild Ride appeared first on Anglican Life.

From April 1st, 2022, to March 31st, 2023, PWRDF supported 76 projects in 33 countries. $1,939,933 was spent on development projects (indicated by blue dots) and $6,828,929 was spent on humanitarian relief responses (indicated by the purple dots). 

The following are examples of some of these projects and responses: 

Development projects: 100 indigenous people accessed an inner city program (Winnipeg); 48 indigenous youth from 32 communities were trained in water monitoring (Pikangikum, Ontario); 500 families from indigenous communities achieved food security through sustainable agriculture (Mexico and Guatemala); 114 young people were trained in environmental journalism for the radio (Columbia); 1743 farmers learned how to improve their business productivity (Columbia); 350 women gained leadership skills (Haiti); 1,440,079 COVID-19 home care visits were made (Mali); 48 remote health clinics were outfitted with solar power (Mozambique); and 81,383 refugees learned about substance abuse through a prevention program (Thai-Burmese border). 

Humanitarian Relief responses: 400 people received trauma counselling after an earthquake (Haiti); 190 women were diagnosed and treated for osteoporosis at Ahli Arab Hospital (Palestinian Territories); 6730 people with disabilities and their families received supplies to get through the cold winter with power outages (Ukraine); 3,410 Syrian refugees were provided with food vouchers (Jordan); 640 South Sudanese who were returning home received 11 months of cash transfers to buy food (South Sudan); 500 households received food, water, tarps, and tents when floods forced them from their homes (Pakistan); and 883 children learned in a child-friendly space at a refugee camp (Ethiopia). 

These are only samples of all the work that’s being carried out by PWRDF. You can see more about their work on the website pwrdf.org, or you can call them at 1-877-936-9199, or write to them at 80 Hayden Street, Toronto, ON M4Y 3G2.

The post Where in the World? appeared first on Anglican Life.

Does your parish ever consider doing outreach ministry? Why not consider using the World of Gifts as a way to do outreach in the wider world?

Here are a few suggestions:

Clean water for communities in Kenya. Kenya is experiencing the worst drought in 40 years. PWRDF has been supporting Utooni Development Organization for three years to improve access to clean and safe water and is continuing this support for another three years. $100 will help fund a 10,000-litre water tank for a family or villagers managing a tree nursery. $2500 will build a well with a hand pump. $3000 will build a well with a solar-powered pump. 

How about supporting Indigenous health programs aimed at healing intergenerational trauma, youth suicide prevention, COVID-19 response, culture and language preservation, traditional environmental protection, teaching indigenous knowledge practices and sharing about indigenous food and medicinal plants? How about training Indigenous midwife apprentices in Mexico or Peru?

Then there’s always providing animals for people, such as donkeys, goats, rabbits, bees, or chickens. 

So many people are hungry. Why not consider supporting PWRDF’s membership in the Canadian Foodgrains Bank which supported food relief work in Pakistan, Kenya, Haiti and more over the past year? Through the Government of Canada, these donations are matched up to four times. 

The list is endless and the possibilities are limitless. 

As PWRDF staff like to say “the gift guide is evergreen.”

Gifts range from $25.00 to $3000.00. If you or your church would like to know more about the Gift Guide you can see it in detail on the PWRDF website pwrdf.org/worldofgifts or you can call them at 1-877-936-9199, or if you have a copy of the World of Gifts you can mail your order form to 80 Hayden Street, Toronto, ON M4Y 3G2

The post It’s Not Only About Christmas appeared first on Anglican Life.