Our First Sunday Collection for March will benefit Self-Help International. SHI seeks to alleviate hunger by helping people help themselves, operating sustainable development programs in Ghana, West Africa, and Nicaragua, Central America. During our service, Executive Director Nora Tobin will speak briefly about funding needs for SHI’s Teen Girls Club in Ghana and will stay after worship for a more in-depth discussion.
SHI’s first priority for First Sunday funds is to further empower young women in rural Ghana to avoid teenage pregnancy and pursue formal education by graduating from junior high school and passing entrance exams for senior high school admission. Any additional funds would be for scholarships to young women who face financial barriers. While all schools are officially free, women are required to attend boarding school, which has costs not covered by other sources: uniforms, supplies, room and board, incidentals, and transportation. SHI anticipates a need to finance 11 new scholarships (~$400 each) for girls facing financial barriers to attend high school in the coming year, and 18 ongoing scholarships for girls already enrolled in high school (~$200 each).
For more information on this organization, visit https://selfhelpinternational.org.
Checks can be made payable either to “DMIEC” with “First Sunday” in the memo line or to “Self-Help International” with “DMIEC” in the memo line. Checks should be placed in the March 9th Collection Basket or mailed to: DMIEC, P.O. Box 30065, Des Moines, IA 50310.
To be included in the amount DMIEC sends to the organization First Sunday checks must be received by DMIEC by March 20th; if you elect to contribute to the First Sunday recipient after that date, please mail your check (made payable to the organization with “DMIEC” in the memo line) directly to Self-Help International, 3100 Ingersoll, Ave., Des Moines, IA 50312, and, if comfortable, let DMIEC’s Social Justice Committee Chair Kathy Eastman know the amount to assist in recording our community’s giving.
