Toward a World without AIDS

Can you imagine a world without AIDS? The Presbyterian Church can. Hearing the concerns of church partners around the world and in answer to God’s call, at the General Assembly in June 2004, the Presbyterian Church of Canada launched a major, long-term special appeal to tackle the AIDS epidemic.

The initial goal of the appeal of our denomination is to raise $500,000 as part of a long-term program in pursuit of a world without AIDS.

As of March 8, 2007 over $1,162,000 has been raised in The Presbyterian Church in Canada’s Towards a World without AIDS campaign.

Our Congregation’s Goal

Our congregation set a goal to raise $25,000 over three years. We began our project on our Anniversary Sunday, October 24, 2004 and by the end of December 2004 had already raised nearly $13,000. These funds came from our special anniversary offering, fashion shows, cookbook sales, a band concert organized by our youth, special donations, and other events. On September 24, 2006 we were pleased to present a cheque for $25,830 to the Rev. Rick Fee. We had surpassed our goal and done so one year sooner than we had planned. As of October 20, 2006, across Canada, over $900,000 has been raised for Toward a World Without AIDS.

How will the money be spent?

The money raised will be used by PWS&D to support work in the areas of:

• Prevention – addressing education issues and the root causes of poverty and injustice in order to prevent the spread of AIDS.
• Advocacy – to influence public policy decisions and resource allocation in favour of human dignity and human rights.
• Practical Responses – to ease the suffering. This would include such things as caring for orphans, training and equipping medical and care workers, helping AIDS sufferers provide for their families, and supporting pastoral-care givers.

Some Facts About AIDS

Forty million people live with AIDS, a disease with no cure; 95% live in the third world and only 7% have access to medical treatment. Half the AIDS victims are women and 10% are children. As well, millions of children have been orphaned as AIDS takes people in the prime of their lives. The AIDS pandemic is exacerbating existing problems, and reversing development and quality of life gains. In Malawi, for example, one in every six adults under the age of 50 has AIDS and the average life expectancy has dropped to 37 years.

For more information please see the Presbyterian Church in Canada: Towards a world without AIDS website.