Diocesan News02 Apr 14

Diocese Hits The Target For Nets Work

Pupils join David Oliver (Principal of Ballyraine NS), Bishop Ken Good, Deborah Doherty (Christian Aid Ireland), Lydia Monds (Bishops Appeal) & Albert Smallwoods (Bishops Appeal Representative for Derry & Raphoe Diocese). Location: St Columb’s Cathedral, Londonderry.

One year ago the diocese of Derry and Raphoe set itself a target to raise £100,000 to buy Mosquito Nets for Nigeria. On Wednesday (2 April) it celebrated reaching that target, having raised a grand total of £111,000. The achievement was marked by the Diocesan Council at a special lunch in the Diocesan Office in Londonderry.

During the celebration a wonderfully enthusiastic choir from Ballyraine National School sang. The school pupils had been enthusiastic supporters of the Nets Work Project. Lydia Monds (Bishop’s Appeal) and Deborah Doherty (Christian Aid) both spoke and thanked the diocese for its hard work in the fight against malaria.

Bishop Ken Good congratulated members of the diocese on reaching their fundraising target. He said, ‘The target we set ourselves was daunting. But by an immense team effort across the diocese we are delighted to have reached it.’ He continued, ‘One of the themes we are emphasising in Derry and Raphoe at the moment is generosity. The generous giving of time and money by so many shows us what generosity can achieve.’

Albert Smallwoods was a key member of the project team. He paid tribute to the effort made right across the diocese saying, ‘Individuals, parishes and organisations really grasped the vision of saving lives by raising money to buy mosquito nets.’ He continued, ‘The money came from events including Fashion Shows, 5–Aside Football Tournaments, Pantomimes, special collections and Christmas Gift Cards – all part of the effort to raise enough funds to buy 20,000 nets.’

The vision for the Nets Work Project grew out of a desire to join the worldwide fight against malaria. Mosquito nets are a surprisingly effective weapon in this fight. When people sleep under mosquito nets it protects them during the most vulnerable time of the day.

In one area where a project to distribute mosquito nets took place the death rate from malaria fell by 67%. The World Health Organisation estimates that there were 216 million cases of malaria in 2010 resulting in 655,000 deaths. This is equivalent to roughly 2000 deaths every day.

Nets Work was a joint diocesan initiative with Bishops’ Appeal and Christian Aid. Christian Aid’s partner (Anglican Diocesan Development Services) will distribute the mosquito nets. Bishops Appeal is a Church of Ireland of Ireland body that channels funds through development agencies and partner churches who are already in place in areas of need.