Anglicans reach out to refugees

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April 2006

Anglicans reach out to refugees

Report from Stephen Daughtry, Mission Education Officer, Anglican Board of Mission-Australia

All Saints Cathedral isn't your typical Anglican centre. It's not just that it's designed to resemble a pomegranate, although that is a striking feature. It's more to do with the hundreds of Sudanese refugees who come there each day to work, worship and take advantage of the social ministry programs offered by the Cathedral and its welfare arm, Refuge Egypt.

Refuge Egypt has more than 22,000 people registered for emergency care, medical care, advocacy, training and income generation opportunities. That's more than half of the estimated 40,000 people seeking refuge in Egypt. Most of them are from Sudan, but there are also people from Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia and other African countries.

The Diocese has three main centres for refugees and asylum seekers: in Cairo, Alexandria and in the south west of Ethiopia near Gambella Town.

Not all of those who seek care are Christians. Approximately 15 per cent of those registered are Muslims who are surprised and overjoyed that the Church would welcome them and offer care and encouragement with no strings attached.

There is also the Tukul Craft workshop and sales centre, a small, income generation program that employs Sudanese. Each day you can see refugees hard at work creating beautiful screen-printed and tailored items that will provide them with sufficient income to survive. There is no welfare system for the refugees and many have no income if they are not recognised by the UNHCR.

With no-one else to care for them, these people - who are often made to feel unwelcome in Egypt - have found a home at All Saints Cathedral. ABM is pleased to be directing a portion of the annual Good Friday Gift to the Diocese of Egypt so that Bishop Mouneer and the Refuge Egypt team can continue this incredible ministry.

Adapted from the Egypt Diocese website . You can support their work through the Good Friday Gift envelopes or online.

All Saints Cathedral, Cairo

James David Wani is sewing shirts in the Tukul Crafts workshop housed beneath All Saints Anglican Cathedral. James was a high school teacher in Southern Sudan, but fled to Cairo with his family in 2004. He is earning more money in the workshop than he was being paid as a teacher in Sudan, but he hopes to go home when peace comes to Sudan.

	The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search
	a healthy church...transformingLIFE
	Home About Contact us News Issues Parishes Prayer Calendar Youth Resources

				April 2006

		Anglicans reach out to refugees Report from Stephen Daughtry, Mission Education Officer, Anglican Board of Mission-Australia All Saints Cathedral isn't your typical Anglican centre. It's not just that it's designed to resemble a pomegranate, although that is a striking feature. It's more to do with the hundreds of Sudanese refugees who come there each day to work, worship and take advantage of the social ministry programs offered by the Cathedral and its welfare arm, Refuge Egypt. Refuge Egypt has more than 22,000 people registered for emergency care, medical care, advocacy, training and income generation opportunities. That's more than half of the estimated 40,000 people seeking refuge in Egypt. Most of them are from Sudan, but there are also people from Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia and other African countries. The Diocese has three main centres for refugees and asylum seekers: in Cairo, Alexandria and in the south west of Ethiopia near Gambella Town. Not all of those who seek care are Christians. Approximately 15 per cent of those registered are Muslims who are surprised and overjoyed that the Church would welcome them and offer care and encouragement with no strings attached. There is also the Tukul Craft workshop and sales centre, a small, income generation program that employs Sudanese. Each day you can see refugees hard at work creating beautiful screen-printed and tailored items that will provide them with sufficient income to survive. There is no welfare system for the refugees and many have no income if they are not recognised by the UNHCR. With no-one else to care for them, these people - who are often made to feel unwelcome in Egypt - have found a home at All Saints Cathedral. ABM is pleased to be directing a portion of the annual Good Friday Gift to the Diocese of Egypt so that Bishop Mouneer and the Refuge Egypt team can continue this incredible ministry. Adapted from the Egypt Diocese website . You can support their work through the Good Friday Gift envelopes or online.		All Saints Cathedral, Cairo James David Wani is sewing shirts in the Tukul Crafts workshop housed beneath All Saints Anglican Cathedral. James was a high school teacher in Southern Sudan, but fled to Cairo with his family in 2004. He is earning more money in the workshop than he was being paid as a teacher in Sudan, but he hopes to go home when peace comes to Sudan.