NECF helping Mercy mobilise Christian teachers to train Sudanese pre-school teachers
With love to the Darfur children from Malaysian evangelicals...
The Star Deputy Group Editor-in Chief Datuk Wong Chun Wai (right)
receiving the mock cheque from NECF Council members (from left):
Secretary-General Rev Wong Kim Kong, Treasurer Sam Ang,
Vice-Chairman Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng and Chairman Rev Datuk Dr Prince Guneratnam.
Photo courtesy of The Star.
The Malaysian evangelical community recently donated RM100,000 to the suffering children caught in the war in Darfur, Sudan. The money was presented by NECF Malaysia to The Star’s Darfur Children’s Fund, set up by the newspaper to raise funds for Mercy Malaysia’s humanitarian aid programme in West Darfur.
The sum was part of the total amount raised at last year’s 40-day Prayer and Fast Charity Campaign organised by NECF, which is an annual project held in conjunction with Merdeka Day. Some 70,000 Christians participated in the campaign and donated the money they saved from fasting.
Following the donation to Mercy, NECF received a request from Mercy to help mobilise Christians who have pre-school teaching experience to participate in its pre-school project in West Darfur. Those selected for the project will supervise and train the Sudanese teachers for at least three weeks. Mercy will sponsor their flight tickets and expenses (food and boarding); however, volunteers will have to pay for the required vaccinations.
Besides the West Darfur children, the poor and needy in Malaysia will also benefit from the campaign. In November, NECF will present cheques totalling RM360,000 to 51 local charitable homes and organisations. The balance from the 2003 charity funds has been set aside to meet urgent social and humanitarian needs as and when they arise.
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