Aid week is more important than ever
This is Christian Aid Week.
Churches, organisations and individuals in East Kilbride, and across Scotland, will mark the week by organising fundraising events, posting envelopes through doors and rattling cans.
What’s so important for me about the work of Christian Aid and, of course, many other charities based on particular belief systems, is that help is given globally to those of all religions and none.
Reaching out to those in need, wherever they are, and whatever their personal beliefs.
Christian Aid was started in the aftermath of World War II by church leaders who were determined to do everything possible to help European refugees who had lost everything; to alleviate suffering for ordinary people, no matter what their faith.
I write this just having attended a moving service at the East Kilbride Old Parish, along with Councillor Hugh Macdonald, where Rev Stewart Smith spoke of this year’s Christian Aid theme – “A Safe Place”.
You see, all these decades down the line, Christian Aid has returned to their founding purpose – to help refugees fleeing conflict and disaster. As they say: “We’ve been there for refugees since 1945 – we won’t turn our backs now”.
Imagine having to make the decision whether to stay in a place of terror, where death for your family seems inevitable, or to flee into the unknown and hope that life gets better. Imagine then living in a refugee camp for years, with no idea of what the future holds for these children that you hold so dear.
Nejebar from Afghanistan says “It is better to die in a camp than to die in a war”. Nejebar fled the threat of the Taliban - a relative had already been killed because as a teacher he worked for the government.
All Nejebar wants is a future for her children.
Millions of people worldwide are in this position, fleeing disaster, war and terror; looking for a place of safety. We’ve all seen the images of desperate people, the wasteland that is Syria, the effects of conflict, terror and brutality.
There’s so much of it happening though.
Communication and media being such now that we see constant imagery means that disaster and hardship for fellow human beings becomes almost commonplace; there’s a danger that we become inured to suffering. Initiatives like Christian Aid Week are to be welcomed.
Scotland plays its own small part in helping some refugees find a place of safety – over the years we’ve welcomed people from war-torn communities and given them that safe place to rebuild their lives.
I know people in East Kilbride who have, over the years, given support and succour in many ways to Scotland’s new communities, from Eastern Europe, the Middle and Far East, Asia, Africa and South America.
War orphans, Chilean political refugees, Vietnamese Boat People, Congolese families – the list goes on.
Our latest arrivals to Scotland are from Syria and it was a real pleasure for me and the rest of the guests at the recent Young Scot Awards to see 21year old Syrian lad, Dured Alhalabe, win the Community Award.
Not much more than a year ago, Dured and his family were living in Jordan after fleeing with from the wartorn Syrian city of Homs.
Since settling in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, though, as part of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons’ Scheme, the Alhalabe family has found a safe place and Dured has been volunteering at a local food bank and for other local projects.
Dured told us that he is grateful to the people who welcomed his family with open arms and that he wants to do everything he can to give something back to his new community.
In fact, he says he likes to think of himself as a new Scot!
The first Christian Aid week was in 1957 so this year marks the 60th anniversary.
Sixty years of communities across the world helping each other. After all, compassion has no borders.