One sixth of the world’s population lives on less than $1.00 every day. One person dies from hunger every 3.5 seconds. Each one of them is a child of God.
The aim of Goal One is to cut in half the number of people who are hungry.
Making It Real
Episcopal Relief and Development is one of the organizations that are fighting poverty. For example, in partnership with the Episcopal Church of the Philippines, ERD supports programs aimed at alleviating poverty
in five villages in the northern area of the country. These projects focus on three of the most critical needs: food, clean water, and jobs.
Gloria lives in the poor farming village of Uma. Her community depends on selling rice and coffee at market to buy their food, and everything they need to survive. But the harvest and the market price can vary.
Traditionally, women like Gloria process rice by pounding it with a heavy pestle for hours. The children of Uma also do this work, and because of this, rarely attend school.
The rice mill provided by ERD has fast become a source of pride in the community. With rice and coffee processed faster, and larger quantities sold, families can eat more nutritious meals, women are free to engage in other income-generating activities, and children can go to school.
What You Can Do: GIVE.
Donate 0.7% (that’s seven-tenths of one percent) of your household income toward the elimination of extreme global poverty. Give to an organization like ERD that fights extreme poverty and hunger.
For Further Consideration
- Commit to giving 0.7% of your annual income on the Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation website. EGR is keeping track of individuals, congregations, and dioceses who have pledged 0.7%.
- Urge your friends, fellow parishioners, church, and diocese to do the same.
Go on to Goal 2 >>
