Barbara Asempa, Executive Director of HOCAP & Tema Redemption Catechist, and her team serve food in Tema, Ghana markets to hungry people who lost their only income source ($1 or $2 a day jobs) during 2020 COVID-19 shutdowns. In Spring 2020 Westminster Church partners in Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone all sought our help to avert starvation for people who have no savings and no stored food. Economic challenges were clearly evident in each country as lock-downs were imposed to halt the spread of the coronavirus virus.
Bread for the World says that poverty is the main cause of hunger in the world. Because of the number of people who live in extreme poverty (defined as an income of $1.90 per day or less), progress in reducing hunger has been slow in Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Progress has been particularly slow in Liberia and Sierra Leone — both slammed by civil wars and Ebola. In the past year Westminster has provided technical advice and financial support for projects to increase the quality and quantity of the food people grow – part of the long-term solution. Many more people were hungry after lock-downs were imposed to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Gifts to Westminster enable us to help our partners serve as safety nets for people facing starvation, to develop plans to keep girls in school after COVID-19 shutdowns end, and to complete funding for all other components of the 2020 African Mission target budget. We will continue to help partners search for ways to increase the production of the quality and quantity of food that is locally produced.
The African Mission Committee is most grateful that, as of late June 2020, it had received $10,650 in donations since January 1 — $7,400 from the Westminster Church Operating Budget, and a $2,000 grant from the United Presbyterian Church Mission Fund at the First Reformed Church in Schenectady. To raise more revenue for the 2020 target budget (shown on page 2), we have set a $10,000 goal for our November 7,2020 virtual fundraising event. Supporters may write checks payable to: Westminster Church, 85 Chestnut Street, Albany, NY 12210; note in the memo line “African Mission” or give online at www.wpcalbany.org/give. WESTMINSTER SELECTS 2020 PROJECTS TO CHANGE LIVES OF CHILDREN IN WEST AFRICA (Updated in June) Transforming lives of children by reducing poverty, education, keeping girls in school & empowering communities For contact information, please click on: African Mission June 2020 Annual Report
