Poverty and Hope Appeal

Founded in 1998, Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for marginalised Palestinians. Its aim is to develop the community’s artistic, creative and academic abilities, using art, dance, theatre, media and computer training.  Catering to children, youth, and women, Alrowwad is deeply embedded within the local community and runs regular children’s camps.

The work consists of 6 programmes: art, education, media, women, health and environment and vocational training. In addition to providing free pioneering training, equipment and supportive education, the centre runs an outreach programme to marginalised villages and refugee camps in the West Bank, where they partner with nurseries, schools and cooperatives to perform, exhibit and provide training and resources as needed.

Training programmes have also been developed to acknowledge and support the specific needs of women, including computer training, job creation projects, fitness and empowerment programmes. These help to reinforce the value of the women’s role in the community by improving their self-confidence and encouraging their creativity. At this difficult time they are also providing relief support for those in need in the Aida camp.

Amos Trust hopes to bring 9 young people from Alrowwad to the UK for their Christmas tour. The young people will perform Dabke (traditional dance) and share their stories

Katie Hagley : Head of Community Engagement

In Latin America and the Caribbean, life is rarely simple. Migration pressures strain communities, and the climate crisis brings longer droughts, harsher storms, and unpredictable seasons. Nowhere is this felt more deeply than in Honduras’ “Dry Corridor,” where farming families battle daily to put food on the table. 

With the support of the Poverty and Hope Appeal, Christian Aid joined hands with our local partners to act before hunger could take hold. Together, we reached 100 families — more than 500 people, over half of them led by women — and worked to secure their food supplies before the dry season arrived. 

We worked with the community to ensure that solar-powered drip irrigation revived five hectares of farmland. Families saw maize, beans, and vegetables thriving, with the promise of three harvests a year instead of one. Communities that had lived season to season now had grain banks capable of storing twelve tons of food, safeguarding it for the months when nothing grows. 

Training sessions brought knowledge in agroecology, water conservation, and post-harvest storage, ensuring that the gains of today would last into tomorrow. Meanwhile, twenty-four community-run weather stations began sending early warnings of storms and droughts, giving families precious time to prepare.

When Storm Albert and Hurricane Beryl arrived, bringing torrential rains and floods, the damage was minimal — crop losses were less than 20%. Preparation had turned vulnerability into resilience.

For these communities, water is more than a resource. It is survival, stability, and the promise of a future where children grow up nourished and hopeful.

Let’s continue to pray, act, and give towards this vital cause. 

Grace Kariuki : British Church Relations Officer, Christian Aid

Many young people are leaving Myanmar for neighbouring countries to avoid military conscription when they turn 18. Staying in full-time education gives them opportunities when they are older to go on to higher education or find work in other countries to support their families.

On 28 March 2025, a devastating earthquake hit Myanmar, causing significant damage to homes, infrastructure, and public buildings, including hospitals, schools, and churches. Tens of thousands have been displaced, with many living in temporary shelters or sleeping outdoors due to damaged homes.

The earthquake has worsened an already difficult situation in Myanmar with instability, conflict, and widespread displacement. Due to the military restrictions and danger from local militia groups, it is hard for people to move around the country, so access to some of the worst-affected areas has been limited, hindering relief efforts.

Many communities are struggling with food shortages, and the earthquake has exacerbated existing food insecurity, with millions at risk. Despite the earthquake hitting so many months ago, there are still frequent, violent aftershocks, which create further uncertainty and fear, as well as disrupting efforts to rebuild.

The ongoing conflict further complicates the situation and adds to the challenges faced by affected communities.

The church is also running earthquake relief programmes in the worst-affected dioceses, providing food packages and shelter for displaced people or families struggling with food insecurity.

In Mandalay Diocese, Archdeacon Joseph Yin Oo and a group of volunteers are bringing household relief packages to families in their diocese, which includes staples such as fresh water, rice, beans and cooking oil.

Janine Goddard: Senior Fundraising Manager