Lutheran World Relief asks you to raise a Tent of Hope for the people of Sudan
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ACTION ALERT: 11/07/07
For decades war has changed the lives of the people of Sudan. Since 2003 over 2.5 million people of the western most region of Darfur, Sudan, have permanently left their homes and approximately 200,000 of them have been killed.
Take Action
To respond to this tremendous tragedy, Lutheran World Relief (LWR) asks you to consider supporting an innovative new project called Tents of Hope. The project will allow your community to respond to the crisis in Sudan. If you choose to undertake this project, your parish or group will design tents that are unique works of art. Your community will create an active learning experience using the tents to raise awareness of the conflict in Sudan through education, advocacy and fundraising for humanitarian assistance. These tents are not the only answer to how to end the conflicts, but they are also a way to make people in your community more aware and empowered to work for an end to the conflicts.
Each group will need to purchase, at a discount rate, a canvas tent through a Tents of Hope partner to display in your community. Once purchased, your parish or group can hold an event to design and decorate the tent. Through painting, quilting and needlepoint people will have the chance to artistically express their concern for the Sudanese people. Additionally, through out the year your parish or group can host activities. Show a film on the side of the tent. Invite musicians to play music. Host a typical meal of Sudanese food or food that Sudanese refugees eat. Ask your youth to spend a night in the tent to gain a new perspective about the lives of displaced persons.
The project will culminate in an event on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Each community that has created a tent will have the chance to display it on the Mall. Additionally, a lobby day will follow giving you a chance to voice your concerns for the people of Sudan directly to your Representative or Senator.
Visit www.tentsofhope.org to learn more about how you can engage in this action in your community and raise your voice for peace for the people of Sudan.
Background
LWR has a longstanding commitment to the people of Sudan dating back to work with farmers in the early 1970s. LWR’s presence continued through the famines of the 1980s and the devastating civil war that began soon after. LWR is responding to the crisis in Darfur, assisting with IDP and refugee resettlement in Southern Sudan, and working with Sudanese refugees across the border in Kenya.
In 2005 the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed ending the 21 year conflict between the north and south of Sudan. During the conflict over 1.5 million people were killed and 4 million displaced. In recent months the frailty of this peace agreement has caused problems and the possibility of reigniting the conflict has reached new heights. Without stronger implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement the chances of seeing peace in other parts of Sudan, particularly Darfur, become less likely.
THANK YOU for considering this action. By raising your voice you make it more likely that the people of Sudan will one day live in peace.
We hope that you will let friends and family know about this action!
For more information, or to join the LWR advocacy network individually, please contact advocacy@lwr.org or Gretchen King at gking at lwr.org.
WHO IS LWR? Lutheran World Relief, an international nonprofit organization, works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the world's most impoverished communities to help themselves. With partners in 35 countries, LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and secure lives; engage in Fair Trade; promote peace and reconciliation; and respond to emergencies. LWR is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. and has worked in international development and relief since 1945.
Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), individuals and parish groups in international relief, development, advocacy and social responsibility.
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