AN aid worker has called students to arms in the fight against global poverty.
Christian Aid intern Jonathan Shaw mobilised students at St Aidan’s Academy, Darlington, helping them launch a fundraising campaign in aid of the needy.
The Newcastle-based worker delivered a powerful message during an act of worship on the injustice of impoverished nations, such as Ethiopia, and how poverty hits women disproportionately hard.
He told them how he had visited Ethiopia for two weeks and discovered that daughters were often sold into marriage at the age of just 14 for the price of a cow.
“When I was at school I didn’t realise how privileged I was to have free education,” he said.
“When people are wondering where their next meal is coming from, sending their children to school is not an option. Christian Aid doesn’t feel this is right.”
He said the charity had helped one 14-year-old change the law so girls could not marry until they were 18 giving them time to finish school and think about their futures.
“Christian Aid is all about looking after people in poverty and there are lots of ways students can become involved.”
School chaplain Martin Stand said the charity did such a good job all over the world and in the weeks to come students would be organising a host of charity events to help.
“This fits in perfectly with the Christian ethos of St Aidan’s C of E Academy and I know the students can’t wait to get started,” he said.
“Whole academy worships are an integral part of life here where weekly Christian themes form the foundations of all acts of worship.”
Jonathan then ran a number of workshops with Year 10 students looking at poverty, including in Bolivia, during which they came up poignant messages to post on social media.
Eve Massey, 15, said: “I was truly shocked to hear that 14-year-old girls are forced into marriage. It makes you feel really lucky to live in this country and I will certainly be getting involved in fundraising.”
Luke Burnside, 15, added: “It is also wrong that industry in the developed world often takes precious resources, such as water, to produce things that aren’t really necessary, which I think is a sign of greed.”
