From Poverty to Opportunity prospectus (2 MB) - Cafod

WELCOME“In my life and through my work as asoldier I have seen poverty in manyforms, and have had the privilege tobe at the forefront of many responsesto emergencies.These experiences have reinforced tome, as a Catholic, the need to support those who livein poverty – those who have so little whilst many ofus have too much. Equally I have seen how aid can bemisdirected, and how the successful programmes arethose which promote self-reliance.I am therefore delighted to have been asked by CardinalCormac to be Chairman of CAFOD’s From Poverty toOpportunity, a campaign that works through local partnersto give some of the poorest communities in South Sudan,The Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia the skills,tools and support they need to transform their ownlives; and it does this whilst protecting the dignity andindependence of those we help.Our aim is to raise £10 million by 2016. Through theenormous generosity of our supporters we have alreadyraised £4 million of this. We now need a further £6 million,so that over the next three years we can lift half a millionof the world’s poorest people out of poverty.CAFOD is about changing people’s lives permanently. Inthe past some of us may have felt that the problems inAfrica were so vast that whatever we did we would notreally make a difference, but that is no longer the case.This is the African century, when countries like those inour programme can, with our help, succeed in offeringtheir people a standard of living that begins to equatewith that enjoyed in more privileged parts of the world,something that is already fast being achieved by theirneighbours. That would be quite a moral prize.I commend CAFOD to you as a highly regarded andresponsible development and humanitarian agency;because we work through our Catholic community in ourtarget countries, we can guarantee your money is spentas you intended. Please help us make a lasting differenceto communities who need so little to achieve so much.Lt Gen Sir Barney White-Spunner KCB, CBE (Rtd), Chairman,From Poverty to OpportunityCo-operative farmers working in SouthSudan, supported by the Catholic Dioceseof Tambura-YambioABOUT THECAMPAIGNFrom Poverty to Opportunity is investing in thepoorest of the poor in The Democratic Republic of Congo,Zambia and South Sudan. It works through Catholiccommunities and local partners to give some of the mostvulnerable people the chance to lift themselves out ofpoverty, by teaching them the skills to do so, rather thansimply giving them handouts.From Poverty to Opportunity also responds to emergenciesthat do not make the UK press. Through CaritasInternationalis, the global confederation of 165 Catholicorganisations, we respond to humanitarian emergenciesaround the world. Because of our links with the localChurch and partners, we have an extensive networkon the ground. By having funds available to be drawn onat a moment’s notice, we can get money and resourcesimmediately to where they are needed most and act quicklyand effectively in emergency situations.Fetching water made easierand safer by CAFOD drilledboreholes in Zambia“The Church is at the heart of so manyof the communities in which CAFOD isworking around the world. This not onlyprovides direct access to a huge network oflocal contacts and partners, but also makesit possible to deliver practical support topeople who may be beyond the reach of other agencies.CAFOD’s willingness to go the extra mile will sometimesmean venturing into the remotest areas, in order to reachcommunities with no other source of help. This is thereason I am the Patron of the From Poverty to Opportunitycampaign. We are changing lives in challenging places.As part of the world’s largest development network,the volunteers of the Catholic Church are dedicated tosupporting the poor and disadvantaged. As part of this widereaching network, we can be at the heart of a communitynot just when disasters strike but before and after. Webelieve that to make a lasting difference it is vital to workcollaboratively with local volunteers and our Chuch linksenable that to happen.Much has been achieved since the campaign began, butthe need is great and there is so much more to do. That iswhy we are looking for more people to join us as investorsin people, families and communities with real potential, ifonly they can be given the opportunity.May I commend this vital campaign wholeheartedly toyou: CAFOD is not just reaching out to the poorest of thepoor, but doing so in a way that offers them hope for abrighter future.His Eminence Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor,CAFOD Patron3