Cork’s kindness to reach West Africa
The Church of Ireland Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross has launched an appeal for funds to support a Christian Aid Ireland project which helps dispossessed farmers living in poverty in Sierra Leone. The appeal, which aims to raise €30,000 (currently equivalent to £25,000) over two years, was launched by the Rt Revd Dr Paul Colton at the Cork, Cloyne and Ross Diocesan Synod, held at Bandon Grammar School on Saturday, 5th October.
Bishop Paul Colton and Christian Aid Ireland’s Head of Fundraising and Supporter Engagement, Ruth Cooke, launching the Cork Diocesan Appeal for Sierra Leone at the Cork Diocesan Synod recently. Credit: Denise Stobart.
The money raised will support the work of Christian Aid’s local partner, the Sierra Leone Council of Churches, which is helping families rebuild their lives and find new sources of income after being displaced from their farmland following the arrival of a huge palm oil plantation.
It’s estimated that as many as 400 people in Pujehun District in the south of Sierra Leone abandoned their farmland because of the impact of the plantation. Funds raised by the parishioners of Cork diocese will enable more than 200 families displaced or impacted by the plantation to develop new sources of income. The cash will pay for basic farming tools (hoes, pick–axes and watering cans) as well as rice and cassava stems, enabling people to grow food to feed themselves and their families and surplus to sell for an income.
One of those now receiving help is Hawa Sannoh. Hawa has joined a savings and loan scheme which has given her cash to establish a business and to pay for essentials during family emergencies. Hawa explains: “I left my home because the chief took my father’s farm. His land was sold without his consent. He used to have lots of land where he would grow palm oil, fruit and vegetables. He was left with nothing.”
Between 2019 and 2021, the diocese raised thousands of euros for Christian Aid’s work in Burundi. To support that fundraising effort, Carrigaline clergyman the Revd Tony Murphy visited each of the 22 parishes in Cork diocese to receive donations, walking with parishioners for 5km at each location. Mr Murphy plans to visit each parish again in support of the Sierra Leone appeal.
The Cork Diocesan Appeal will help more families like Hawa’s to make a living and provide for their families. Credit: Chris Nelson.
Bishop Paul said: “The United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross have a long tradition of engaging with the needs in society and in the world beyond our shores. Recently we completed our partnership with Burundi to support maize cooperatives there. This year, we were looking for a new project and we are delighted to enter into partnership again with Christian Aid and the Bishops’ Appeal (the Church of Ireland’s World Development Fund). The project this time is in Sierra Leone and we have given it the name Liloma, meaning ‘hope’ in one of the local languages there. We are delighted to make this new commitment of ‘Partnership in Hope with Sierra Leone’ for the coming years.”
Ruth Cooke, Christian Aid Ireland’s Head of Fundraising and Supporter Engagement, attended the Cork Diocesan Synod to help launch the new appeal. Ruth said: “We are grateful to the Bishop of Cork, the clergy and parishioners for choosing to support our work in Sierra Leone. The good people of Cork diocese have shown remarkable generosity in responding to the need in Burundi, and we trust they will respond once more to the plight of people in Sierra Leone.”
Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal Education Advisor Hilary McClay said: “The Bishops’ Appeal is so pleased to see the start of this initiative to raise funds for Sierra Leone, for which we will act as conduit. We congratulate all those involved for their generosity and hard work.”
