Bishop George's Lent Appeal 2008
Youth Exchange Fund
I visited South Africa four years ago for the first time – it was an amazing experience. I met people whose lives were vastly different to my own. People living in shack communities without electricity or running water, families living with AIDS/HIV, children orphaned by the disease and others more comfortably off, but living in fear of violence on their own streets, or being attacked in their homes. I listened to people’s stories, shared their hopes for the future and their dreams for a new South Africa at the end of Apartheid. But the visit was more than just an ‘interesting experience’, it transformed the way I looked at life and the priorities I set at work and at home. Living with people in different cultures and in different situations is always transformational and that is why I am supporting this new Youth Exchange Fund for the diocese. I hope that it will enable young people to have fresh experiences and build new relationships that will have life changing effects for both them and those they meet. I am also delighted that this new fund will complement the special focus this year in our link diocese of Natal in South Africa, which has called 2008 the ‘Year of Youth’ and aims to support training and education to empower the young people in their parishes. I would like to encourage you to support this fund to enable young people to visit us here in the UK and allow some of our young people to travel out to Natal and benefit from a cross-cultural experience that will change and challenge them. The young people of our churches shape the future – so this fund represents a vital investment in the church of the future in this diocese and beyond.
Bishop George The Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham
The Youth Exchange Fund
This Fund has been set up to enable exchanges for young people between the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham and our partner diocese of Natal in South Africa. A special link was formed between the two dioceses in 2003 and since then groups from the UK have made short visits out to Natal and groups have also been welcomed here. Individuals have also taken part in the exchange for longer periods both, getting involved in projects here or in South Africa.
Why support a youth exchange?
Youth Leader, David Keetley and his wife Rachel, returned to Nottingham last year after spending two years living and working in parishes in Natal. David said: “Going to South Africa opened my eyes in new ways and helped me to refine and hear God’s call on my life as a year later my wife and I moved out to Natal to work there. Since moving back I have been actively involved in leading and planning a link trip between the Nottingham Bluecoat school and the St Nicholas Diocesan School, Pietermaritzburg. I feel so passionately about young people having the opportunity to visit such a place as Natal and I firmly believe that each young person will come back changed and with a hunger to do more whether it be in Natal or elsewhere in God’s Kingdom. God’s Spirit and Church are alive and kicking in Natal and I would really encourage anyone if they have the chance, to go out there and to meet people who expect God to move amongst them.”
"South Africa was the most amazing experience. It sounds like a cliché but it completely changed my outlook on life. It was unbelievably humbling to build relationships with people my age with nothing, but were so positive and happy. It made the little worries I had seem like nothing".
Youth Ministry Adviser for the diocese, Angela Heywood, joined a group visiting Natal last year, she said: “It was great to see the changes being made in some schools and children’s homes and yet we saw so many more young people who still don’t have the most basic necessities in life. This fund will not only provide Nottinghamshire young people with a whole new insight into life in Africa which will undoubtedly shape their future but will give South African young people support to develop their vision and aspirations for their future too. What better investment can there be?
Making Donations
Cheques should be made payable to: Southwell & Nottingham Diocesan Board of Finance and sent no later than 21st April 2008 to: The Finance Office, Dunham House, Westgate, Southwell, Nottinghamshire NG25 0JL (please mark cheques ‘Lent Appeal 2008’). If you are a tax payer please download a gift aid form from the website and mark it for Lent Appeal 08 - see: www.southwell.anglican.org
Applying for funds
You may know someone who could benefit from this exchange, or who would like to take part. Applicants will need to complete an application form with the support of their head teacher or vicar and local Area Dean. Decisions on applications for funding will be made by a panel including members of our diocesan link teams in both Natal and Southwell & Nottingham.
If you would like to find out more about how to apply to the fund, please contact, the Diocesan Youth Ministry Adviser, Angela Heywood, tel: 01636 817233 or email:angela.heywood@southwell.anglican.org
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