United Society of Friends Women International
2016 Projects
FOUR FUNDS US $21,000
Love Fund
The Love Fund was created in 1914 when additional funds were needed so that Esther Baird could continue her missionary work in India. Because of this she was able to continue 24 years more, thus serving a total of 46 years. This year’s Love Fund recipient is Joyce Ajlouny, Ramallah Friends School Director.
Ramallah – Joyce Ajlouny US $5,000
Joyce is the Director of the Friends Schools in Ramallah/el-Bireh and the FUM representative in Palestine and Israel. The Love Fund provides financial support for Joyce and her family.
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Faith Fund
The Faith Fund was established in 1925, made it possible for Alice I. Kennedy to return to the work in Jamaica. Since her retirement the recipient of this fund has been chosen from among the workers in Africa. This year’s recipient is Robert Wafula, Principal at Friends Theological College.
Kenya – Robert Wafula US $5,000
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Hope Fund
The Hope Fund was established in 1928 when another worker was needed in the home mission field in Monroe County, Tennessee. More recently, the Jamaica or Belize missions have benefitted from this fund. But this year's recipient are the pastors at the Samburu and Turkana Missions in Kenya.
Turkana/Samburu Pastors - US $5,000
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Joy Fund
The Joy Fund commemorates Elize Armstrong Cox's joyous service to the Women's Missionary Union (now USFWI) and was established in 1935. Honoring Eliza's special interest in Native Americans, the recipients of this year's Joy Fund are women working with the ACFIA - Associated Committee of Friends on Indian Affairs - Centers: Mesquakie Friends Center - Iowa; Kickapoo Center - Oklahoma; and MOWA Choctaw Friends Center - Alabama.
The Joy Fund supports the women workers of the Indian Centers.
US $6,000
CHILDREN AND YOUTH US $9,000
Each year the Executive Committee of the United Society of Friends Women International chooses projects that will be of interest to children and youth. The children and Youth Missionary Education Secretary is responsible for promoting these projects.
#1 Ramallah: Amari Play Center US$2,000
With an average monthly salary of $400 to support a family of 10, often children go without the basic necessities. The Amari Play Center insures that the preschool students who attend receive one good meal a day as well as loving attention and the start to a good education. These funds will help keep this Play Center in business caring for the refugee children in Palestine.
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#2 North American Children and Youth Programs US$3,000
The oversight of the three centers (Mowa Choctaw, Mesquakie and Kickapoo) has been transferred to individual yearly meetings, but all of the centers still need our joint support of their important work that is impacting the lives of many children and youth. These funds will help support these programming activities at the three centers.
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#3 Kenya: Turkana/Samburu Girls’ Secondary Education US$2,000
Many of the young girls in these places do not get to attend secondary school or even finish primary school. They are needed at home to help carry water and attend to other chores. This project is to help keep ten girls in school for a year. It has been stated that if a girl gets an education, the village gets educated. Girls and young women share what they learn with their families and friends.
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#4 Belize: School feeding program US $2,000
These funds provide a morning snack for the students at Belize Friends Boys School. Often these students come without having had breakfast at home.
UNITED THANK OFFERING US $9,000
The Thank Offering is a special offering given annually, or semi-annually, by members of local societies in recognition of God’s favor and mercy.
The United Thank Offering is given for projects chosen each year by the Executive Committee of the United Society of Friends Women International. The Stewardship Secretary is responsible for promoting these projects.
#1 Jamaica: Leadership Training Program US $3,000
Our monies will help support Jamaica’s cooperative partnership with North Carolina Yearly Meeting to train teachers and pastors in the Jamaican Friends churches.
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#2 Belize: Friends School scholarship fund US $3,000
This fund provides for tuition support and uniform needs of students at the Belize Friends Boys School.
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#3 Kenya: FTC—Library/Technology US$3,000
Ann Riggs is the Friends Theological College (FTC) principal. She is leading FTC during an important time in its history as a theological educational institution, while they are working through the accreditation process. She is helping Kenyan Friends find ways to provide more local funding for the FTC ministries and pastoral training.
KEYS TO THE KINGDOM US $10,000
Local societies pay into the Keys to the Kingdom for special projects chosen each year by the Executive Committee of the United Society of Friends Women International, taking into consideration specific needs of the Friends United Meeting World Ministries and various other Friends organizations.
#1 Kenya: Turkana/Samburu Mission Support US $3,000
Annual operating expenses at each mission total about $25,000. Many times their budgets are not met due to lack of funding. In those times, the pastors and staff sacrifice their salaries to keep the missions running. USFWI monies will help support the very important work being done in these two mission areas.
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#2. Triennial travel assistance US $3,000
This is an on-going fund to assist USFW Yearly Meeting Presidents/Presiding Clerks with the cost of overseas travel expenses for the triennial conferences.
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# 3 Advocate subsidy US $1,000
This is an essential tool for the subscription manager. These funds are used to offset the cost of overseas mailing, as well as to support the cost of ensuring that each of the USFW YM Presidents/Presiding Clerks receives an up-to-date copy.
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#4 East Africa—Leadership Development US $3,000
Leadership Development is one of FUM's four priorities, and it is one that is keenly desired by Friends in East Africa. Friends Theological College offers a highly successful program for training leaders for vocational ministry, but there is a constant demand for training for "lay" leaders - clerks, recording clerks, treasurers, etc. Judith Ngoya, FUM's East Africa Program Officer*, has developed a program of workshops to be offered in groupings of 2-3 Quarterly Meetings per workshop in a rotational cycle over a three year period.
*The African Ministries Office (AMO) is located in the city of Kisumu, in western Kenya. The AMO is the headquarters of Friends United Meeting in East Africa, and serves as the African counterpart to the FUM offices in Richmond, Indiana.
CHRISTIAN SERVICE US $9,000
The Christian Service Department was originally established to supply material needs of service organizations and the mission fields. Because of changing conditions this has been made a monetary project. This, too, is chosen each year by the Executive Committee of the United Society of Friends Women International and is promoted by the Christian Service Secretary.
#1 Belize: Student Services US $2,000
This fund provides support for students at the Belize Friends Boys School.
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# 2 Ramallah: Eli &Sybil Jones scholarships US $3,000
The Ramallah Friends Schools have served the youth of Palestine and witnessed to Quaker values in the midst of conflict and adversity for more than a century. Today, more than 950 students from kindergarten through grade twelve receive an education in Arabic and English, preparing them for caring, creative lives and further study at leading colleges and universities around the world. Many of these Friends students will become constructive leaders of their community, both in Palestine and in the diaspora, whose life-long work and witness will reflect their Quaker education in love, honest endeavor, and service. USFWI annually supports scholarships for students at Ramallah.
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#3 Kenya: Lugulu Hospital Adopt-A-Bed US $4,000
The hospital has 147 staff members that include 47 nurses and 8 clinical officers. The Adopt-a-Bed Program started by FUM many years ago. Funds are sent each year to pay hospital expenses for patients who cannot otherwise afford medical care.
PEACE AND CHRISTIAN SOCIAL CONCERNS US $7,000
A project in the field of Social Concerns is chosen each year by the Executive Committee of the United Society of Friends Women International and is promoted by the Peace and Christian Social Concerns Secretary.
#1 Cuba: Quaker Institute of Peace US $2,000
FUM and Earlham School of Religion are partnering with Cuban Friends to provide practical training in peace building and conflict resolution from a Quaker perspective to equip Latin American Quakers and others with tools they need to reduce violence in their communities. Read more about what this project has done in the Nov-Dec 2014 issue of the Advocate.
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#2 Right Sharing of World Resources – Sampson Ababu support US $2,000
Right Sharing of World Resources established the position of an in-country staff person in East Africa in 2009 to provide consultative services of micro-enterprise among the Quaker women in East Africa. Sampson Ababu was appointed to this position to offer support in training, capacity building, and coordination of travel in east Africa by RSWR staff and volunteers. USFWI is partnering with Right Sharing of World Resources in order to support Sampson Ababu's training in East Africa.
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#3 East Africa—Friends Church Peace Team - Getry Agizah US $3,000
The peace witness of Friends in Kenya is having an impact on Kenyans. There are numerous requests for workshops, trauma healing and reconciliation for local communities, religious and political leaders. The Team has only two paid staff and this support will provide some of the salary and travel funds for the coordinator.
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TOTAL BUDGET FOR 2016 -- US $65,000