Emmanuel Church Community Welcomes You

ACTION FOR A BETTER WORLD

We seek to support justice globally by engaging with the big issues such as fair trade, and campaigning for justice.  We also support various projects around the world which members of our community have developed links with.  In addition, we support "Doorways" - a churches together project in Saltburn which reaches out to 13-25 year-olds.

Rhema School, Kampala, Uganda

RHEMA Junior School Child Sponsorship programme was started in Nakulabye Slum with the aim of educating orphans and other disadvantaged children mainly due to HIV/AIDS problems.   These children are not able to go to school because they have no one to take them or fund their attendance. As a result many opt to become street children and survive by eating from dust bins and begging.   During 2005 the number of children at Rhema School increased from 123 to 200 and we expect it to continue increasing. In 2006 a building project is planned to extend to a building that will house 500 children in 10 classrooms; funds allowing.   The children at Rhema School are being well taught which is making a remarkable difference in their lifestyle & skills such that the rest of children, youths and adults in the community are beginning to admire the school.

Compass School, Kenya

Djenane Watkins writes:  I visited the compass school in September 2006 for the first time. It was opened initially as a refuge for vulnerable children living on the streets, usually aids orphans,then expanded so that children between the ages of 4 and 18 could receive an education and take public examinations. The childen were given porridge at break and a nourishing lunch,often their only food source - they would sometimes arrive with babies on their backs so that the babies could be fed, and it was not unusual for children to go from Friday evening until Monday morning without a meal.We visited their homes in the slums  - no sanitation, no facilities for cooking food inside, and it was common practice for babies and toddlers to be tied up and left when the mothers went to work, as they were not allowed to take the children with them when they went to clean in the 'big houses'.
Last year the buildings and facilities were taken away from the school by the sadly corrupt church leadership, but thanks to the perseverence of the wonderful deeply Christian headteacher, the school has reopened in much better conditions and now has gained full charitable status and is receiving funding from official sources. I am hoping to revisit in February as my planned visit earlier this year had to be cancelled due to the political situation.
I feel very positive now about the school's future - the head and staff are all deeply committed Christians - most of them work without pay and are completely dedicated to the children and the community.

Fair trade stall and Alert Social Action group

Annette Adams runs a fair trade stall based at Emmanuel.  She sells consumable products, jewellery and crafts.  She is involved in the campaign to make Emmanuel a fair trade church, and Saltburn a fair trade town.

The Alert social action group meets once a month and exists to get social action going among Christians and like-minded people in Saltburn.  It is trying to recruit from all churches in the town.

Bethany Project, Tanzania

We have twice been visited by children from this project, and seek to support it with prayer and giving.  The Bethany Project works with currently 132 children.   Bethany’s aim is to help the most underprivileged, deprived and vulnerable members of society,  especially orphaned children, providing education where possible.  It will carry out this work with love, commitment and compassion. http://www.bethanyfamily.net/

Pastor Kwacha Mvula, Zambia

Doorways Project, Saltburn

John Pearson writes:  DoorWays was established in 1998. The project is managed by Saltburn Christian Projects, a charitable company limited by Guarantee.  It is an ecumenical initiative of the churches in Saltburn-by-Sea. The project aims to work with young people aged 13-25, living in and around Saltburn. To develop facilities and support networks that will benefit them and to provide the kind of support, advice and information that compensates for the difficulties faced by many young people in the area.

The Drop-in-centre is a safe environment to meet, socialise and find support.  Facilities include Internet – DVD – Tea/Coffee – PS2 – Telephone – CV help – Signposting to other help / organisations – Someone to listen.
As we have spent time listening to and befriending young people, encouraging them to believe in themselves and in their capability to achieve their ambitions, different areas of work have emerged and grown including making DVD’s weekends away and a Youth newspaper. Check out our website, which will soon include “Online radio”.
Contact: John Pearson 01287 625305
www.door-ways.co.uk