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Michael Anthony is of to Tanzania

Michael Anthony is raising money for Church Mission Society
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Encounter · 23 January 2009

Church Mission Society began in 1799 with a group of Christians, including William Wilberforce, who said yes to Jesus’ call to follow him to the edges. Today, in that same pioneering spirit, we continue to share Jesus’ love at the edges – working in over 40 countries across the world and in the UK.

Story

Welcome one and all..

I am going to visit a project called Neema crafts in April. This project aims to provide training in handicrafts and employment for deaf and physically disabled people in the Iringa region of Tanzania, and also to change negative attitudes toward people with disabilities in the local community.

The Iringa region has one of the highest proportions of physically disabled people in, yet nothing was being done to provide them with practical help in the form of vocational training and employment. Neema Crafts is helping to change that.

At Neema crafts people are taught how to make paper from recycled and natural materials, such as maize husks, pineapple leaves and elephant dung.

At Neema, they also learn other skills, including screen printing techniques and how to use their hand-made paper in albums, cards and picture frames, etc. In addition, Neema's Beading Project trains disabled participants for a week in beading techniques.

Many go on to become so proficient that they quickly earn more than their able-bodied families and friends, this has a tremendously important effect on their sense of self-worth, self-esteem and dignity.

It also helps to change attitudes towards disability in the community. Those same disabled community members, who used to be hidden away, are now major income providers!

I will be part of a team that will visit this project for two weeks in April. We aim to support them and help them out in whatever way we can! Please help me to help them and to bring them a sense of value as we advocate what they are doing in their community to change lives.

Do the right thing.. sponsor me now!!!

Please take a look at the following links

www.neemacrafts.com

http://mission.typepad.com/church_mission_society_cm/2009/02/people-without-disabilities-open-new-craft-centre.html

Thanks in advance

Mike

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Donation summary

Total
£1,214.00
+ £161.62 Gift Aid
Online
£605.00
Offline
£609.00

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