Episcopal Press and News
$527,919 in Relief Grants Approved
Episcopal News Service. June 25, 1981 [81188]
GREENWICH, Conn. -- The close-out of the Cambodia Special Appeal, which Episcopalians supported with more than $1 million, was announced at the June board meeting of the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief by the director, the Rev. Samir J. Habiby.
The board, meeting at Seabury House here, also reassessed the Fund's role in sponsoring refugees, authorized a long-range development program with the Church of the Province of Tanzania, and approved grants of approximately $527,919 in support of disaster relief, rehabilitation, refugee ministry, and projects to combat hunger both at home and abroad.
The Cambodia Appeal, launched in 1979, has received $1,014,559. Presiding Bishop John M. Allin states: "This has been one of the Fund's very significant responses to human needs.... It shows the compassion of our Church people and what we can do when we are moved by deep concern."
The cost of communicating this Appeal was less than 1 percent of the total funds contributed.
Although there are still many needs in Cambodia, the immediate crisis appears to have been met, and government spokesmen have recognized the crucial role of voluntary agencies in the alleviation of this crisis.
The grants committee, chaired by the Rt. Rev. Matthew Bigliardi, Bishop of Oregon, recommended the approval of 17 Rehabilitation and Development grants:
- Diocese of Nebraska: a three-year project to study and test alternative energy programs for low income farmers: $15,000 from the Rochester Gift.
- Diocese of Tennessee: a pilot low-income housing cooperative near Knoxville, requested by APSO: $5,000.
- Diocese of Minnesota: designated supplies and resources to support a study of root causes of hunger and community programs to alleviate hunger: $2,000.
- Diocese of Washington: publications to be used by state and local leaders who are initiating various programs to meet hunger needs: $5,000.
- Lebanon: funds for the Society of St. Luke's Center for Mentally Retarded, to help develop programs for the 6-14 and 15-18 age groups and to assist in training their teachers: $20,000. (Asked for by the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem, the Rt. Rev. Faik I. Haddad.)
- Peru: an agricultural development program for Quechua-speaking farmers which is being carried out by World Neighbors: $15,000. (Asked for by the Rt. Rev. D.R. J. Evans.)
- Haiti: provision of a truck-mounted well-drilling rig to be shipped from Wisconsin to Petit Fond; also for a vocational school training program there: $11,015. (Asked for by the Rt. Rev. Luc Garnier.)
- Senegal, West Africa: to install wind-powered water-pumping systems in two villages and to train villagers in their operation and maintenance: $23,000. (Asked for by AFRI-CARE, a Washington, D.C.-based agency of which the Rt. Rev. John T. Walker, Bishop of Washington, is chairman.)
- Upper Volta, West Africa: dispensary and health care services at Tioujou: $9,000. (Requested by AFRICARE.)
- Diocese of Los Angeles: resources to support on-going programs at UCLA on Africa's agricultural crises. One of the teachers, the Rev. Stephen Commins (a member of the National Hunger Committee) is now in Africa on an intensive study tour: $5,000.
- Diocese of Arizona: support for the Phoenix Indian Center's Emergency Food Bank program: $7,000.
- Diocese of Nassau and the Bahamas: partial funding in support of a 400-acre project to establish sheep farming as a significant step toward self-sufficiency: $15,000.
- Diocese of Northern Philippines: reconstruction of typhoon-devastated buildings, school, clinic and dormitories: $18,000.
- Diocese of Washington: to support a nutritional program for pregnant and lactating women and their children under five years of age: $6,500.
- Diocese of Tennessee: to support a multi-programmed Mountain Women's Exchange, requested by Appalachian Peoples Service Organization: $5,000.
- Diocese of Albany: to strengthen the diocesan-centered program of Delaco as it continues to initiate and encourage food, fish and meat cooperatives, requested by Appalachian Peoples Service Organization: $7,500.
- Diocese of Atlanta: a second grant of $10,000 to the "Help the Children" project, an ecumenical ministry in the neighborhood of the homes of the murdered children. This project includes a tutoring and recreational program, employment and training program, and calls for a continuing involvement of congregations in these schools and neighborhoods. Requested by Bishop Bennett Sims.
In addition, the board approved grants for the funding of a long-range provincial development and planning program with the Church in Tanzania. This project, initiated by Archbishop Musa Kahurananga of Tanzania, is expected to be staffed in part by Volunteers for Mission from the Episcopal Church. A grant of $110,000 was made of which $36,677 is to come from the Rochester Gift and $36,677 from the Diocese of Southwest Florida's Venture in Mission gift. The remaining third of this grant will be sought from other sources.
A grant of $75,000 was approved by the board for the Diocese of Liberia's Rural Development Institute of Cuttington College, to continue a training program for agricultural technicians. These funds will also come from the Diocese of Southwest Florida's gift for alleviating global hunger.
Harry Havemeyer, chairman of the Refugee/Migration Committee, in a joint presentation with Richard W. Wheeler, chairman of the Fund's executive committee, reviewed present operational procedures for processing, resettlement and sponsorship of refugees in the United States through the cooperative arrangements existing with Church World Service immigration and refugee programs.
The Board also directed the refugee reception and placement staff to study several options for receiving U. S. government grants to strengthen local sponsorship programs. It asked for a careful review of existing working relationships with Church World Service.
It was also agreed that steps should be sought to strengthen liaison with overseas Anglican provinces from which or through which refugees seek resettlement in the United States. It was reported that the U.S. Committee for Refugees estimates that there are today 12.6 million refugees who have fled their homelands, with the most devastating situation now in Somalia, where famine and disease threaten millions of homeless persons.
It was also announced that Wheeler has been asked to serve as a member of a Department of State panel which will visit Southeast Asia in July to study the existing refugee situation.
The Refugee/Migration Committee reported on eleven grants which were approved by board action:
- Diocese of New York: to mobilize relief aid for displaced Eritreans: $5,000, contingent on grants of $15,000 from other sources.
- Diocese of Jerusalem: educational support for high school students at St. George's Anglican School in Jerusalem: $16,000, of which $4,000 is for handicapped children.
- Diocese of New York : funds for staff assistance in caring for unsponsored refugees in the New York area: $12,000 from government-derived funds.
- Diocese of Maryland: to develop programs and stimulate refugee sponsorships: $11,918 in government-derived funds to cover a six-month period.
- Diocese of East Carolina: ministry to Haitian refugee migrant workers: $5,000.
- Diocese of California: to provide workshops, programs, and resource materials in order to strengthen ministry to refugees in this area: $8,000, contingent on matching funds.
- Diocese of California: assistance to refugees from El Salvador: $6,000.
- Diocese of Long Island: to provide pastoral services and support services for refugees, carried out jointly with the dioceses of New York and Newark: $20,000.
- World Mission Scholarship Program: support for 19 refugee students for the academic year beginning September 1, 1981: $50,000.
- Diocese of Long Island: to provide basic ongoing, refugee resettlement services to Roumanian refugees: $12,000 in Government-derived funds.
- Diocese of Rio Grande: special tutoring for Hispanic children preparing to enter the public school system: $5,000.
It was noted that the Fund, in the first five months of the year, resettled 1,500 refugees of whom 700 were Cuban and Haitian.
The Education and Communication Committee, chaired by the Rt. Rev. Philip A. Smith, reported that the principal work has been completed on the Fund's new refugee film which should be ready for distribution early in the fall.
Bishop Smith also reported that provincial network workshops had been led by Mr. and Mrs. John Goodbody in Provinces II, IV, V and VI. Meetings are scheduled for Provinces III, VII, and VIII in the fall.
It was reported that John and Harriet Goodbody will complete their Volunteers for Mission work as network officers for the Fund at the end of December.
Habiby reported an increase in the level of undesignated giving to the Fund during the past six months, enabling the Fund to respond without delay to crises.