Mission Partner: Mothers’ Union

Mothers’ Union is a global family committed to sharing God’s love through practical action, spiritual sustenance and compassion. As an international Christian movement, our      4 million members across 84 countries work together to help transform lives in the world’s hardest-to-reach families and communities. With kindness, courage and compassionate action, we will not stop until we live in a world free of violence, poverty and injustice, where everyone can thrive. We work with people of all faiths and none. We welcome people from all walks of life to join us, and we offer whatever help is needed, to whoever needs it, whenever it is needed. We believe that when people come together to solve challenges, amazing things can happen.

 Building resilience and responding to need in Madagascar, which has been badly affected by drought and hurricanes. MU members have worked with communities, for example helping to create a pipeline to bring water to an area which enabled the community to harvest sweet potato for the first time in 10 years. In a number of countries, MU works through literacy and savings and credit programmes to enable women to earn a sustainable living to support their families, often resulting in them taking on leadership roles in their communities.

 In the Democratic Republic of Congo, practical agricultural skills training have been added to MU programmes, so that women can feed their families and also sell produce to local markets. As conflict and climate change increasingly cause forced migration, MU members focus on supporting those forced to leave their homes. In the UK, for example, working with others in their communities to support refugees from Syria and Afghanistan.

 This year our Christmas Appeal was raising money for our Mothers’ Union Literacy and Trauma Healing programme in South Sudan. Sadly, South Sudan has seen years of conflict and violence which have devastated communities and forced millions of people to leave their homes. Over half of the refugees are children and are desperately in need of peace and a better future.  Based on over 20 years of experience working in the country, our Literacy and Trauma Healing programme provides a safe space for women to learn essential skills like literacy, trauma healing and peace building.

 Again this year, The Big Give matched all money donated online between 29 November and 6 December, doubling the impact of all the donations.  www.mothersunion.org            Janet Widman