Methodist and Presbyterian women are focusing on promoting family wellbeing in the Pacific for this year’s Special Project. The women will be raising funds to assist families affected by the Covid pandemic, beginning with Fiji. Depending on the needs and the amount of money raised, they will assist in other Pacific nations as Covid spreads.

In Fiji they will assist Christian World Service partner, the Social Education and Empowerment Programme (SEEP) in the next phase of its Covid response. SEEP is beginning to work more closely with families living in the informal settlements. In the Livelihood Hand-up Project, SEEP will train and support five women in each of 15 communities to set up and run a canteen supplying basic food items. The women, who are struggling more than most, will learn business skills and improve their family income. The Project is part of SEEP’s work on Mai Democracy, an approach that breaks the culture of silence and encourages the participation of women and young people in community decisions.

“CWS values our partnership with Methodist and Presbyterian women in the Special Project. Their interest in what is happening in the world and fundraising are a testimony to their deep faith. Fundraising in Covid times is more challenging, so we encourage church members to support their efforts,” says Murray Overton, National Director.

SEEP is already working with 48 rural communities, sharing good health advice and safety in the home. By mid-March, it reported no infections or incidents of domestic violence in these rural communities. Food and hygiene supplies were distributed to families, where possible using produce from rural communities in the ‘circular economy’.

Information about the Special Project can be obtained from the Methodist Women’s Fellowship or from CWS: cws.org.nz/special-project-2022-methodist-and-presbyterian-women/