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Creative Fundraising for Children in Bangladesh

July 20, 2010

By pwrdf

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The people of All Saint’s, Ladner  Anglican Church in the Diocese of New Westminster decided to raise money for PWRDF in celebration of PWRDF’s 50th Anniversary.  The rector, Rev. Elizabeth Northcott, told PWRDF that photos and stories from Safe Haven (a residential home for care and support of vulnerable children in Bangladesh) and the Church of Bangladesh’s Drop-in Centre for Street Kids helped to galvanize parishioners to raise funds in creative ways, with the goal of raising $3,000 for this work.

Denise Hambidge, a former member of the PWRDF Board of Directors, visited Bangladesh as a participant in the Asia-Pacific Roundtable in 2009.  She wrote a story about her experiences with street children in Bangladesh which describes the life of boys aged 7-15 who “have either left home because of abuse or neglect, or who have been abandoned.  They scrounge for food, shelter, and work…”  Hambidge’s article describes not only the difficult circumstances faced by the children, but also the work of the PWRDF-supported Drop-in Centre which allows the boys to wash, eat, and learn to read and write.

PWRDF also supports the work of the Jagorani Chakra Foundation (JCF), which works with children born and raised in brothels in Jessore, Bangladesh.  Children helped by JCF receive psycho-social support and counseling at the Children’s Haven Centre, as well as being given the opportunity to go to school.  JCF recently celebrated the achievement of 11 children in their program who graduated from the equivalent of high school in Bangladesh.

Stories like these galvanized parishioners to raise funds to support PWRDF’s work in Bangladesh.  They kicked off the program with a 50th Anniversary Eucharist, at which former Primate Andrew Hutchison preached and celebrated.  After that service, parishioners spent 3 months raising funds through regular donations, 50th anniversary collection boxes, and selling home-made baking.  One person collected sponsorships and walked 350,000 steps to raise funds.

A large display thermometer tracked their progress.  The thermometer was surrounded by photos of children from Safe Haven and the Drop-in Centre- a constant reminder of why they were raising these funds.

On Pentecost Sunday (May 23, 2010), the program wrapped up.  In total, the parishioners of All Saint’s had raised $3192.03, surpassing their goal for the program.

Congratulations to all involved in this project, and many thanks for your hard work!

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