Diocese of Winchester

Hand washing stand at Lowero Model Home in Uganda (photographed August 2006)

The government recently recognised the unique contribution that faith-based organisations like Mothers’ Union make in delivering development and connecting with community needs.

As part of its white paper “Building our Common Future” the Department for International Development have said they will be doubling funding to to faith-based groups engaged in such work.

In the mean-time Mothers’ Union is continuing to help an increasing number of communities in Uganda (and soon Kenya) bring about their own development through the Family Life Programme.

Mothers’ Union also welcome the white paper’s recognition that the multiple challenges created by growth, climate change and conflict, can not be solved by the state alone.

It is really encouraging to know that Mothers’ Union is already seeking to do just what the white paper is encouraging; linking with churches, regional and national governments, and fellow development organisations to bring about global solutions to problems which communities experience at a very local level.

This is particularly obvious through the Mothers’ Union Literacy and Development Programme. Click to download an information sheet: MULDP update March 2009.

Although this ground-breaking scheme has helped 45,000 people become accredited literate in Burundi, Sudan and Malawi, Kajo-Keji Diocese in southern Sudan is not yet one where the scheme has been formally launched – due to lack of funds. (Mothers’ Union in Kajo-Keji Diocese is linked to Mothers’ Union members in the Diocese of Winchester.)

The Literacy and Development programme has recently been reviewed, and despite it’s success Mothers’ Union is trying to improve it still further by increasing the financial skills taught in the numeracy part of the course, so that people can understand how to create and manage household budgets and organise the simple profit and loss accounts needed for business development and income generating projects. It is now partnering Five Talents International to achieve this.

However, this Literacy and Development programme alone needs £1 million to fund this development and role it out into new diocese in identified as being in most need of the skills it can provide. Kajo-Keji is one such diocese.

If you would like more information about the Literacy and Development Programme or the Family Life Programme, please contact us using the email at the bottom right of your screen. If you wish to make a donation to the development work of Mothers’ Union please post it to our contact details.

Without your interest and help this work can not be expanded.