In 2015, what happens to the United Nations’ efforts to halve global poverty through the Millennium Development Goals? To begin addressing that question and the ongoing needs of people living in poverty around the world, an alliance of U.S. nonprofits called “58:” launched a campaign* in late 2011 to build momentum to eliminate “the other half” of extreme global poverty by 2035.

 

In 2015, what happens to the United Nations’ efforts to halve global poverty through the Millennium Development Goals?

To begin addressing that question and the ongoing needs of people living in poverty around the world, an alliance of U.S. nonprofits called “58:” launched a campaign* in late 2011 to build momentum to eliminate “the other half” of extreme global poverty by 2035.

Today, the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee is participating with 58: to initiate a year-long Global Impact Tour that introduces 12 poverty-fighting projects about 12 issues in 12 of the world’s poorest countries through an interactive online experience.

The online tour engages participants in fighting extreme global poverty by:

  • Learning each month about an issue that perpetuates poverty and practical solutions to solve it.
  • Encouraging personal involvement with an action, or “fast,” to build awareness and advocacy.
  • Inviting financial support for a proven poverty-fighting project by a 58: Alliance member.
  • Encouraging people to pray for needs, issues, and countries where extreme poverty exists.

CRWRC Director Andrew Ryskamp says that the organization joined the 58: Alliance as international community development representative in early 2011.”The 58: Global Impact Tour has a counter-intuitive aspect to it—putting together a fast with a tour,” Ryskamp says. “As people of faith, we believe that through God’s power, this initiative can change the world for good.”
CRWRC is a faith-based, non-government organization with a 50-year track record in community development, disaster response, and justice education in North America and around the world. In 2011, CRWRC worked in 4,500 communities to help ease the daily struggle to survive extreme poverty.

CRWRC’s current project with the 58: Alliance focuses is raising funds and awareness for AIDS orphans in Uganda who are being helped with community-based foster care, health care, better nutrition through community gardens, and opportunities for education. “CRWRC’s efforts in Uganda and around the world make a life-saving difference every day,” Ryskamp says. “58’s efforts focus on making a consolidated impact on eliminating extreme global poverty in our lifetime through established, experienced U.S. non-profits like CRWRC.”

As a member organization of the 58: Alliance, CRWRC is joining individuals, churches, and nine other key U.S. based, poverty-fighting organizations in the effort to eliminate global poverty. 58: takes its name from the prophet Isaiah’s call to care for the poor and oppressed in the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 58, in the Bible’s Old Testament.

58:’s mandate invites people to live out Isaiah 58, where the prophet Isaiah chastises God’s people for empty displays of religion and calls for a “true fast:” to remove the chains of injustice, set the oppressed free, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and clothe those in need.

“We believe that God has a heart for those who are poor, hurting, and oppressed,”says Steve Grey, Executive Director of 58:. “Imagine what could happen if every person of faith in the U.S. would fast, pray, and give financially to help people in poverty around the world. At even $10 or $20 per month, giving up a meal or skipping a new purchase is a small sacrifice for many of us—but it could change or even save a person’s life.” Elizabeth Ayebare, a seven-year-old living in rural Uganda, is one of the people Grey is talking about.

Elizabeth is an AIDS orphan being cared for in a poor community where CRWRC is working through Ugandan churches to stop the spread of AIDS and care for people living with it. CRWRC’s work there, and in 14 other developing countries around the world, is not only transforming her life, it is also changing her community, and contributing to the end of extreme global poverty by 2035 through Live 58:.

To give to CRWRC’s “Care for Orphans” project through Live 58: click here. Your gift to children like Elizabeth Ayebare helps communities care for orphans and vulnerable children by providing: food and nutrition services; shelter and care; protection from abuse, neglect, exploitation, stigma, and discrimination; grief and trauma counseling; education and vocational training; and spiritual care at a local church.

*If you are a Canadian and would like to support Live 58: and would like to receive a charitable tax receipt for your gift, please donate online and choose “Live 58:” from the Campaign category.

To join the 58: Global Impact Tour, go to www.live58.org/tour.

Media inquiries for Live 58:, please [email protected] or Jared McKinney at 541-250-0569.

Members of the media wishing to interview CRWRC Director Andrew Ryskamp, call cell 616-498-0816 or call Media Contact Beth DeGraff at cell 616-648-7821, or 1-800-55-CRWRC.