Associate Ministries
As a Church we recognise Associate Ministries that, while operating independently have close links with the life and people within ABC
Act 4 Africa
As a church we also recognise Act 4 Africa, a Christian organisation, as an Associate Ministry. They have founding members within the church and are a ministry that we support with both personnel and finance.
Act4Africa Needs You! to Join In The Fight Against AIDS
Are you up for a real challenge? Do you have a heart for Africa? Do you want to learn to use performing arts skills to combat the scourge of AIDS and HIV? Then join Act4Africa in its work to combat AIDS this summer. Looking forward to its most exciting and challenging year yet, the charity hopes that you'll want to be part of it.
In Uganda last summer Act4Africa presented bible stories and HIV workshops, using performing arts, to around 8000 children. A key highlight was also training and commissioning of a local team of Ugandans in Jinja . Those individuals now carry the chalice for Act4Africa in the home team's absence, working with children in schools and giving them the opportunity (often for the first time) to find out the reality about AIDS. They are making small steps to breakdown the stigma and give people a thorough understanding of the nature of HIV.
And now the net is widening. With 36 million affected by AIDS (25 million in Africa) Act4Africa is now adding Tanzania to its expedition focus. Last summer founder members Kathy and Martin Smedley completed a whistle stop tour of Dar Es Salaam, where they met with the Tanzanian Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) to see how they could help. With 15% of the Tanzanian population HIV Positive, the Smedleys are determined that their charity can help to alleviate the problem.
In 2003 they will lead groups of short-term mission delegates from all over the UK to Tanzania and Uganda. They also aim to set up and train local teams to continue their work when they return to the UK. It seems a natural progression, using the success of two years work in Uganda as a launch pad.
Plans for the future include setting up regular health education clubs in schools, and helping to get sex education and HIV awareness onto the national curriculum. Teachers in Tanzania are not trained to deal with it and have no materials to endorse the key messages. Act 4 Africa aims to change all that, but can only do it with your help! If you are interested in short term mission opportunities with us this year or would like to support our work in any way please contact us on 0161 941 2161 or email: admin@act4Africa.co.uk
