Press Releases25 May 18

St Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin hosts ‘Uprooted’ exhibition for Christian Aid Week 2018

Christian Aid Ireland’s ‘Uprooted’ exhibition was launched in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, recently in aid of Christian Aid Week 2018. The guest of honour was the Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, The Very Revd Dr William Morton. ‘Uprooted’ displays stories from people forced to flee from their homes due to conflict in places like Iraq and Nigeria, and because of drought in Kenya. More than 40 million people have been forced to flee by conflict, and a further 24 million were forced to flee by disasters in 2016 alone. Yet, because they haven’t crossed a border, they receive almost no political attention, funding or support.

Speaking at the launch, Dean Morton said: “We are delighted to launch Uprooted this morning for Christian Aid Week, to highlight the organisation’s work to support those who have been forced to abandon their homes. The stories and photographs displayed illustrate the difficulties faced by people uprooted from their homes and villages, but also seek to inspire, with examples of how host communities and individuals have extended their hospitality to people in need.” Jane Burns, Christian Aid Ireland’s Church and Community Officer said, “We are most grateful to Dean Morton and St Patrick’s Cathedral for their incredible support of our exhibition and for hosting a coffee morning today, to raise funds for our work. Christian Aid Ireland believes that everybody counts. Our Christian Aid Week appeal this year highlighted the situation faced by people in Haiti who have survived earthquakes and hurricanes and who have been reached with new disaster–resistant homes”

Jane also added a sincere thank you on behalf of Christian Aid Ireland to St Patrick’s Cathedral, “The support of the congregation in St Patrick’s Cathedral, and from the Church of Ireland, is enabling us to reach out to many people in need and is making a huge difference to reducing poverty and tackling injustice. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all at St Patrick’s Cathedral for their generous support through our Christian Aid Week coffee morning and for hosting our exhibition.”

Christian Aid Week is supported by an incredible network of volunteers from local churches across the island of Ireland, who fundraise in their communities. If you would like to support Christian Aid Ireland’s work please go to www.christianaid.ie or call the Dublin office 00 353 (0)1 4967040.