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Press Release

Wednesday, 6 February 2008

 

“Be a Smartie Christian”

 
Bantry Churches launch campaign to support Haiti farmers

 

Cllr Mary Hegarty, Mayor of Bantry Town and Canon Paul Willoughby, Rector of Kilmocomogue Union launched “Be a Smartie Christian”, a Lenten campaign which will raise funds to support milk farmers in Haiti. The campaign is part of a series of events to be held in Durrus and Bantry to raise €5,000 for the Let Agogo project of Christian Aid Haiti partner Veterimed.

 

“This is a great, fun idea from our community which will help us reach our fundraising target of €5,000 and provide substantial support vulnerable people Haiti,” said Canon Paul Willoughby.

 

Every household will be given a tube smarties before Lent which they will eat before Ash Wednesday and fill the empty tubes with coins over the Lent period. The tubes will be gathered on Easter Day and all proceeds will go towards the Let Agogo project. The smarties were donated by Noel Crowley, Manager G.W. Biggs, Bantry.

 

Haiti is the poorest country in the developing world. 80% of the population in the countryside live on or below the poverty line and only 30% of the children go to school. In the rural areas, where dairy farming is the main source of income, diary farmers’ products are being pushed out of the market by imported dairy products.

 

Local Christian Aid partner, Veterimed established Let Agogo (meaning ‘flowing milk’) to give vulnerable farmers training to improve their animal breeding and dairy farming techniques so as to increase milk production. Through the Let Agogo project farmers are also trained in marketing skills to help them sell their products.

 

“The similarity of the milk co-operative movement in rural Ireland in the 1960’s and the current development of the co-operative dairy projects that Veterimed is now endeavouring to accomplish with dairy farmers in Haiti inspired the local communities to do something to help them. Their contribution will go a long way improving the lives of local Haitian farmers,” said Andrew Coleman, Christian Aid Cork.

 

Kilmocomogue Union of Parishes, which includes Bantry, Durrus and Castletownbere parishes, will raise €5,000 through a series of fundraising event for the Let Agogo project. Fundraising activities began with a Harvest service last year, where an initial €800 was raised.

 

As part of the overall fundraising activities, Canon Paul Willoughby will go on a public 24-fast for during Christian Aid Week, May 11-17, 2008, and an Opera recital will be held in St Brendan’s Church on April 19. Joining in on the fundraising drive, St James’ Durrus and St Brendan’s Bantry primary schools will organise fundraising events in their respective schools.

 

ENDS

 

For more information contact:

Andrew Coleman

Area Co-ordinator, Christian Aid

Tel: 023 41468 or 087 243 9280

Inside St. Brendan’s Church, Back left to Right: Canon Paul Willoughby (Rector Kilmocomogue Union), Lorna O’Donovan ( Parish treasurer), Mayor Mary Hegarty receives “smarties” from Mr. Noel Crowley, Manager of G.W.Biggs, Bantry, Anne Skuse, ( Parish Theological Student), and Andrew Coleman, Area Co-ordinator for Christian Aid.

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