Christian Aid Global

The number of refugees who have fled the conflict in Syria has reached 1 million. Half of these refugees are children and most are under the age of 11. Many have made an arduous journey overland with their parents, hoping to find refuge in a neighbouring land. Christian Aid partners Association Najdeh and Mouvement Social are working in Lebanon to support refugee children who may be experiencing psychological and social problems as a result of their experiences. In this podcast, Janet Symes, Head of Middle East Region at Christian Aid and Tanya Khahil, Coordinator of Psychosocial Support at Association Najdeh, explain the effects of conflict on children, and the work that is being done to support refugee children from Syria. To donate to our Syria Crisis Appeal, please visit www.christianaid.org.uk/emergency #Syria #Lebanon #Conflict #MiddleEast

While millions around the world celebrate International Women’s Day, and the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) meets to promote gender equality and empowerment at its annual conference in New York; Christian Aid’s Policy and Advocacy Officer for the Great Lakes, Chantal Daniel’s, reminds us how the daily threat of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo impacts gender relations.

In the latest stages of the IF campaign we are asking supporters to email or meet their MPs to ‘spill the beans’ on tax dodging in the run up to the government’s pending budget review. Find out more about how important it is for the government to maintain its commitment to the aid budget and the life changing impact that taxes would make to people living in developing countries. To take action visit http://www.christianaid.org.uk/ActNow/if-enough-food/if.aspx #IFcampaign #if #enough #aid #tax #ChristianAid #campaign #campaigning #lobby #budget #MP #parliament #food #hunger #justice #Ghana

Millions of Britons are using consumer power to boycott companies seen to be avoiding their fair share of UK tax, new research reveals. A ComRes survey about public perceptions around tax avoidance, commissioned by Christian Aid, found a third of Britons say that they are currently boycotting the products or services of a company because it does not pay its fair share of tax in the UK. Almost half (45 per cent) say they are considering a boycott. Find out more and add your voice to the debate at http://www.christianaid.org.uk/lobby

In late December 2007, Kenya descended into violence. Clashes which had been sparked by President Kibaki’s declaration of victory were spiralling out of control. The conflict rocked Kenya and shocked the world. It took more than a month for peace to be restored. On 4 March, Kenya will again go to the polls - the first since these violent clashes. Christian Aid communications officer Antoinette Powell spoke to colleagues in Kenya about what the organisation is doing to prepare. For more information on our work in Kenya and around the world visit www.christianaid.org.uk #Kenya #Kenyan #elections #presidential #polls #vote #voting #democracy #violence #conflict #Nairobi #KarimiKinoti #NicholasAbaya #Christian #Aid #ChristianAid #NGO #charity

For centuries, Haitians have been migrating to the Dominican Republic for work. The Dominican economy relies on this labour, yet Haitian migrants have no rights in the Dominican Republic and often work in bad conditions for very low pay. The children of Haitian migrants born in the Dominican Republic are also facing discrimination. Their Dominican citizenship is being taken away from them and the result is that they become stateless. Francisco Leonardo is a human rights lawyer from Christian Aid partner Centro Bono. He is helping to lobby the government for better rights and treatment for both Haitian migrants and Dominicans of Haitian descent. #Haiti; #DominicanRepublic; #humanrights; #statelessness; #poverty; #identity; #migration; #discrimination; #identity; #migrant; #exclusion; #inequality

The violent conflict in Syria has affected more than four and a half million Syrians, over 800,000 of whom have fled the country. Christian Aid’s emergency appeal for Syria and the Middle East is helping those in desperate need. We spoke to Janet Symes, Head of Middle East region at Christian Aid, to find out how our partners in the region are responding to the humanitarian needs of those affected by conflict. To donate to Christian Aid’s emergency appeal please go to www.christianaid.org.uk/emergencies. #emergency #Syria #Lebanon #Iraq #MiddleEast #humanitarian

As fighting continues in Mali, with French and allied African troops pushing rebel groups further north, thousands of families have fled the conflict. This has put pressure on food supplies that were already scarce, leaving many more facing hunger. Communications officer Lilly Peel speaks to Christian Aid’s country manager, Yakouba Kone, about the organisation’s response and what is being done to assist displaced families in Mali and in neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso. For more information about our ongoing West Africa food crisis appeal visit www.christianaid.org.uk/emergencies/current/west-africa-food-crisis/index.aspx #Mali #conflict #hunger #WestAfrica #FoodCrisis

Claire Aston, Christian Aid's Churches Resources Manager, describes how the new 'Count Your Blessings' app, for Apple iPhones, iPads, iPods and HD Android, will help inspire your reflections throughout the 40 days of Lent. Available on the app store and Google Play from 9th February. Visit http://www.christianaid.org.uk/getinvolved/lent-2013/count-your-blessings/apps.aspx for more information. About Count Your Blessings: Change lives, help end hunger and learn more about the world we live in with Count Your Blessings from Christian Aid. Each day from Shrove Tuesday to Easter Sunday, you’ll get a short fact or story, a stunning photograph and the opportunity to reflect, act or pray to help end poverty. You can take part on your own, or get your friends and church to join you.

The conflict in Gaza last November caused widespread destruction and devastation to homes, agricultural lands and infrastructure. The effects of trauma and shock endured by Palestinians during the week of intense bombing have emerged. In this podcast, Hala Gishawi from Christian Aid partner the Women’s Affairs Centre in Gaza, explains how the organisation is supporting women who experience poverty and injustice in their lives as a result of the Israeli occupation and the continued blockade of Gaza. Christian Aid has launched an appeal to help the people of Gaza and across the Middle East who are suffering as a result of violent conflict. Please visit www.christianaid.org.uk/emergencies/current/gaza-middle-east-crisis-appeal/index.aspx #Gaza #Palestine #MiddleEast #Israel #gender #women #poverty #injustice #healthcare #conflict #occupation #blockade

On the evening of 23 January the London launch of the “Enough Food for Everyone… IF” campaign was held at Somerset House. The campaign will focus on ending global hunger and is the first time since Make Poverty History that the international development community has joined together to mobilise people for change. The launch was presented by Lauren Laverne and attended by hundreds including Bill Nighy and Bonnie Wright. In this podcast, Antoinette Powell, Christian Aid Communications Officer, spoke to The Right Rev Dr Alastair Redfern, Bishop of Derby, about what the "Enough Food for Everyone... IF" campaign is calling for. Find out more about the campaign at www.christianaid.org.uk/IF #tax #hunger #IF #Enough #campaign #ChurchTimes #Derby #Bishop #Redfern #SomersetHouse #BillNighy #BonnieWright #LaurenLaverne #BillGates #land #food #nutrition #health #poverty

The London launch of the “Enough Food for Everyone… IF” campaign was held at Somerset House on the evening of 23rd January 2013. The campaign, focussed on ending global hunger, is the first time since Make Poverty History that the international development community has joined together to mobilise people for change. The launch, presented by Lauren Laverne, saw a stunning 3D projection onto Somerset House. A host of famous faces added their support to the campaign, including Bill Nighy, Bill Gates and Angelique Kidjo. In this podcast, Christian Aid's Antoinette Powell catches up with some of the people who came along for the event. The overwhelming feeling surrounding the launch was one of optimism. Although the odds sometimes seem against us, we can end global hunger IF we choose to care and IF we all join together to take action. IF this happens, 2013 will be the year global hunger becomes part of our history, not our present. As Bill Nighy said in his speech “We are electing not to forget. We are choos

‘It was like someone drowning in a sea and wanting any kind of help’ recalls Mahmoud Hussein (on the left of the picture). It’s been two years now since the popular uprising but the situation is far from settled. In this podcast we’ll hear from Mahmoud Hussein and his friend Mokhtar Mohammed Abdallah, both of whom were given the opportunity to earn a much needed income by Christian Aid partner CEOSS, in the wake of the uprising that began on 25 January 2011 and ended 18 days later with the fall President Hosni Mubarak and his near thirty year regime. Moktar and Mahmoud had never met before the cash-for-work project. Their strong friendship firmly forged in the face of adversity. To find out more go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/christianaidimages/sets/72157632552231504/ #egypt #revolution #uprising #tahrirsquare #solidarity #struggle #emergency #anniversary

Urban Voices choir from London 2012 singing If I Ruled the World

Bill Nighy on how to change the world (quoting Nelson Mandela..)

London 2012 Games volunteer talks about promoting IF campaign

There is enough food in the world for everyone… yet every night 1 in 8 people go to bed hungry. Today (23 January 2013) Christian Aid along with over 100 other UK organisations are launching a campaign called "Enough Food for Everyone…If" It is the first time since Make Poverty History that the international development community has joined together to mobilise people for change. Together, we want to call for a fairer food system that works for all and ensure that 2013 is the beginning of the end for the global hunger crisis. In this podcast Christian Aid’s Director, Loretta Minghella, explains the importance of the campaign, and how we can work together to fight the greatest injustice of our time: hunger. To find our more please go to www.christianaid.org.uk/if #hunger #if #campaign #aid #tax #transparency #land #food #enough

On 12 January 2010 at 16:53 local time, an earthquake struck Haiti of a magnitude not felt in more than 200 years. Measuring 7 on the Richter scale, the epicentre of the earthquake was just 10 miles from the capital city, Port-au-Prince. Combined with the shallow depth of the quake, just 5 miles below the surface, this natural disaster had an extreme and devastating effect on the country. More than 220,000 people died and many more were left homeless after building collapsed. Paula Plaza, Communications Officer with Christian Aid, visited Haiti shortly after the earthquake. In this podcast, Paula reflects on the impact of the disaster and speaks to Prospery Raymond, Christian Aid’s Haiti Country Manager, about what has been achieved in the three years since the earthquake struck. Visit www.christianaid.org.uk/emergencies to find out more about Christian Aid's response to the Haiti earthquake. #ChristianAid #Haiti #earthquake #disaster #emergency #appeal