The Comfort Cooperation Circle, Luanda, Angola
July 15th, 2003 by sfuqua
The latest in our series on various interfaith groups around the world brings us the Comfort Cooperation Circle in Luanda, Angola, who has been doing wonderful work with Leprosy and HIV/AIDS patients in particular.
The CC Comfort Luanda wishes to thank the entire URI family for the
support and prayers.
The CC Comfort has been developing its activities as planned as we are
approaching the end of our trimester plan we have already established our
plan for the next six months.
Key Issues For Our Future Plan July — December 2003.
The end of the war opens a new chapter in Angola with the Angolans
holding hands moving toward the fulfillment and achievement of the
development goals.
The new situation of peace, the country has a very big advantage of
rising. What is needed is a very good and open society and good
management to clearly define priorities to enable good progress towards
the achievement of development goals over the next few years.
The progress of Angola requires the total inclusion of all Angolans,
irrespective of their ethnic or political affiliation and without any
kind of discrimination.
In this respect, it is critically important for the CC Comfort to
participate in the build up of new mentality, vision among the Angolan
society and spread the word of unity, tolerance, help the society to
understand how a perfect chord is made.
Tackling the challenges of promoting unity its started among the CC
Comfort members by organizing Fire Sides on monthly basis, the objective
is to get to know each other, understand and build a togetherness spirit
among the members.
Goals and Targets
Despite the difficulties encountered during the first trimester we can
say that most of our objectives has been achieved we have full
involvement and commitment of the members in our activities.
The visit to the Leprosy Center on 27th April and 25th May 2003 has
turned to be a very good therapy to the members and has given us another
gear in our activities.
The poverty resulting from the very limited access of the basic needs and
the dependence of this suffering people has made the CC Comfort decides
to associate with this group and offer comfort and any items we can
afford.
We are very glad to share the happiness of this people of the Center as
they receive the items they have requested during our first visit. Among
the items were, radios, jerry cans, blankets, second hand clothes, shoes,
mosquito nets, handbags, trunks, suit cases, cooking pots, plates, cups
cutlery beside other items the children were offered soft drinks and
cakes.
25th May 2003 turned to be a very happy day for us because we did
accomplish what the Leprosy had requested and all requests were fully
satisfied. The items offered were estimated in $1800.00 all contributed
by the members.
Our next challenge is to offer one day meal for 153 persons that will
include meat, fish, rice, cooking oil, sugar, beans and vegetables. It is
a very challenging project and ambitious but with the Grace of God we
trust that we will achieve it.
We are also seeking the opportunity to look deeply into the youth people
at the Leprosy Center on how better we can deal with them, their parents
are the one suffering from this disease and we have to help them to avoid
the combination of depression and frustration in future by seeing their
parents or relative in this health condition. Their prospects are so poor
and their aspirations undermined. The contrasts feed the sense of
frustration. If an opportunity arises we would send some members for
counseling and education with Christian background.
As outlined in our main objective plan, the CC Comfort will focus also on
sick people and we are looking into people with HIV/AIDS. Despite the
enormity of the challenge we have minimal budgetary resources but the CC
Comfort will also participate in the fight to roll back the spread of
this devastating disease by counseling and disseminating information on
HIV/AIDS and education programs to promote safe practices that prevent
infection.
Special attention should be given to HIV/AIDS as it threatens to
undermine prospects of economic and social development particularly in
Africa. We are ready to raise our voices to help reduce the low levels of
awareness. A huge amount remains to be done in terms of knowledge and
counseling.
We would also give special attention on women undergoing domestic
violence. In Angolan society wife beating is accepted as a legitimate
means of imposing discipline. It is difficult for women to pursue legal
action against the perpetrators of violence both because of the weakness
of the legal system and the strong cultural, family and psychological
pressures on women not to take such action.
Promotion of Diversification
Since the formation of CC Comfort the picture is getting much brighter
and this makes everyone feels like striking to spread the message about
URI.
The learning process has enlighten us and we are helping other people to
understand the need of getting together and reaching out to help each
other.
The Power of Hope
Anita is one of the biggest examples of the Leprosy Center, she has no
hands she lost her feet’s but she is the one doing her cooking by
directing her grandson how to cook and take care of her small room with a
very limited space.
It is also important to stress that Anita is one the leprosy sick that
has contributed most to the CC members to decide to associate with the
Leprosy. Although she is at a terminal stage she has a strong faith and
looking ahead on what the future might bring to her deteriorating health.
Requirements
Our main requirement is to build a solid understanding on what URI
activities and involvement around the globe are, leadership training
exchange of experience with the earlier formed CCs, office space. All our
meetings are being held at member’s houses as the number is growing we
definitely need an office to operate.
Funds Raising
All needs faced by CC Comfort are accommodated by the members,
transportation, meeting place, all our projects requires funding whenever
a need arises the members contribute by bringing what is needed.
URI - Africa Coordinator
As we returned from the Leprosy Center on 25th May 2003 we had the great
opportunity of meeting Mr. Godwin Hlatshwayo, the URI Africa Coordinator,
we had shared with him some of our few experiences and our challenges for
the coming period, our dreams to see the URI blooming here in Angola and
helping others. Mr. Hlatshwayo promised to bring it to the Africa
trustees for possible funding this year budget.
Thank you all once again for your prayers and moral support.
Luanda, 11 June 2003
CC Comfort Luanda-Angola
