Press Releases
Pancakes and Prayer for Lent!
Young people encouraged to raise money for South Sudan schools
Bishops’ Appeal and the Church of Ireland Youth Department (CIYD) have teamed up to encourage all Church of Ireland youth groups / youth clubs / schools to take part in Pancakes and Prayer, a special initiative for Lent 2025, focussing on several schools in South Sudan within the Dioceses of Ibba and Maridi. The schools are all part of the Fields of Life Thrive Programme which helps every child to say: “I am educated, I am fed, I am safe and I am loved.”
We are asking young people and leaders throughout the Church of Ireland to pray throughout Lent for the students, teachers, and the wider communities of schools in South Sudan who are part of the Fields of Life Thrive programme. But also encouraging each group to run a special fundraising initiative at some point during this period – it could be a pancake party on or around Shrove Tuesday (4th March), or treats after church on Mothering Sunday (30th March), or simply to provide an opportunity for the young people to make a donation each time the group meets, in lieu of money they would normally spend on drinks or snacks.
Funds raised during Lent will go towards running school gardens, growing food to feed children during the school day. Training in growing and protecting crops, equipment and seedlings are all part of what will be provided through the generosity of young people within the Church of Ireland.
Many of us choose to give up something for Lent – be it sweets, fizzy drinks or crisps and snacks. The money we save, donated through Bishops’ Appeal to the schools in South Sudan, will enable children in South Sudan to be fed day after day, week after week and month after month. Long after Lent ends the legacy will live on through the impact of our prayers and through our giving.
It costs a little over £8,000 per year (€10,000) to set up and maintain a school garden in a group of schools, feeding up to 3,500 children for a year at a cost of less than €3 per child or £2.50. That’s not per child per day, but per year! This is a project where a small amount of money can make a big difference – and where our prayers for safety, welfare and the protection and presence of our loving God can and will transform lives.
The Download pack will be available at www.ciyd.org and a link to donate here.
Then, each week, there will be new video clips on social media to encourage prayer, and further information about the project, running for the six weeks of Lent. Whenever the group meets, midweek or on Sundays, we encourage you to take a few minutes to watch the latest video clip and to pray for the children and young people of South Sudan.