Long List of Lent Ideas (Part 2) – 14 more!
Education
‘Every child has the right to an education. Primary education must be free and different forms of secondary education must be available to every child… Richer countries must help poorer countries achieve this.’ (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 28) (https://www.unicef.org.uk )
Prayer Focus: Please pray for the needy and vulnerable children supported by HHI in India and Zambia and those individuals and groups who have made education their fundraising focus. Please pray also for those who are charged with the responsibility for overseeing new initiatives, the ongoing projects and, importantly, those who are involved every day in teaching and learning.
2nd March
World Book Day
Play ‘Guess the Character’ … 20 Questions Style!
World Book Day
22 March World Thinking Day
Play the ‘If I were – I would’ game. Pretend you are the Prime Minister or a Famous Inventor or someone with a million pounds (?) and say three things you would do … and why!
World Thinking Day
25th March Tolkein Day
Using ‘The Hobbit’ or ‘Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy write down as many characters as you can in one minute! Or… play an ‘Animal, Vegetable or Mineral’ style game based on the same books.
Tolkien Day
14th March Pi Day
As a Maths focus, challenge friends and family to a ‘Sudoku Speed Solve’.
Tolkein Day
And for each of these suggested activities, please raise as much money as you can to swell our funds!
You can even select which part of our work in schools you would like to support! For instance…
Each month some of our education costs are…
India
Tuition groups 6 @ £50 each = £300
Happy Valley £1000 (40 children) – will be £1200 from April 2023
Asha Kiran Ashram £600 (40 children)
Zambia
One school term in Nanga for a child is about £70.
Feeding the children in Muumba school £150 monthly.
On the Move
Prayer Focus: We ask for prayer for those who, either because of physical, cultural or economic circumstances, have difficulty accessing enjoyable activities. Pray, too, for those who need structured exercise programmes such as physiotherapy, the appropriate apparatus to assist them and the skilled practitioners who work with them. Pray, too, that in order to sustain this aid, our supporters will ‘go the extra mile’.
22 February – ‘National Walking the Dog Day’ After an indulgent Shrove Tuesday Pancake Party, what better way to begin Lent than a brisk walk with the dog? Join with a dog walking friend or group and raise some money by contributing a small sum every time your dog barks or when you spot a bird or whenever a vehicle drives by… the list is endless! The more committed dog walkers may prefer to donate according to the distance covered. Whatever takes your fancy! Alternatively, a quiet walk with friends will afford the opportunity to begin Lent in a more reflective manner.
Walking the dog
Select a Sport
Take part in a sport of your choice with a group of friends and charge a participant’s fee.
Run a Marathon or Half Marathon
Committed athletes could ask for sponsorship and take part in an organised event… and publicise HHI while on the move!
Striders and Strollers
The more sedate among us could opt for a more leisurely jog or an enjoyable stroll and maybe chip in £1 (or more) for every 500 steps?
Include a ‘fun’ aspect by making it a fancy dress event!
Jogger
Sport or exercise
Dancing
Whether it’s Strictly style or a turn around the kitchen, get down and get with it! Alternatively, aim high and organise a Twmpath or Barn Dance and charge admission!
Do-si-do … and off you go!
Dancing
Some costs for mobility assistance
Zambia
Special chair for person with cerebral palsy, custom made/adapted by Robbie (HHZ carpenter) £90.
A new wheelchair – £110.
India
Physiotherapy treatment is £10 a session.
Asha Kiran £190 a month and Happy Valley £130 each month.
And do you remember Beulah?
She has had 3 sets of prosthetic legs to date at a cost of almost £2500. We expect to buy her a fourth set when she stops growing – in about 5 years probably. Cost? A final set of legs will probably cost around £2000, maybe a bit more, as they will need to be strong enough to take an adult for many years.
Beulah
Beulah’s legs
Health and Wellbeing
Prayer Focus: Prayers please for those for whom medical intervention is difficult because of inadequate resources or prohibitive cost. Pray for health workers who do their utmost to treat their patients in difficult circumstances. And pray for the supporters who are mindful of the wellbeing of those in need and who wish to help improve the health of people in India and Zambia.
3rd March National Day of Unplugging the Screen
For many people, this could pose the greatest challenge of all! So may we suggest limiting the ‘offline’ time to an hour or less OR, instead of giving up time online, use that time to visit our website or Facebook page. Please pray for the work of HHI and put aside a small amount of money each time you ‘unplug’!
unplug day
19th March World Sleep Day
Take 40 winks! Pay for the privilege of an afternoon nap! Or, better still, make a soggy day a duvet day!
Enjoy!
sleep day
Wellbeing event / Pamper day!
Reward HHI for having your own wellbeing hour. Set aside a whole hour where you can indulge yourself by doing something that YOU want to do and that makes you feel good. This could be enjoying an energetic activity or doing something more sedate such as reading or art and craft.
Enjoy! And repeat as required!
well being day
Family Fast / Feast Day.
After indulging in one of the festive events we have suggested, have a day of enjoyable, nutritious but simple meals. Perhaps the money saved on that day could be donated to HHI? Whatever you put on your plate – fast or feast- keep in mind those for whom eating is a luxury.
fast and feast day
Mindful of and Mindfulness
In a ‘moment of mindfulness’ where we can ‘be’ in the moment, we ask that you will be mindful of the people for whom the stresses of daily life are often overwhelming, when the ordinary business of living feels like an insurmountable challenge. Search your hearts to discover the best way to support the work of HHI.
Mindfulness
Some of the ways we support Health and well-being.
India
Orissa monthly medical camps £100 (100 people treated)
Shibu – hospital bystander – typically 6 patients £150
Kidney immunosuppressants / dialysis (25 people) £360 –Target increase £500
Heart meds £90
General medical help £300 – helps about a dozen people
Individual help with meds £360 – 50 people get £5-£20 each
Zambia
Additional feeding supplements for the children’s ward at Monze Mission Hospital £100/month.
Priscilla, the deaf and disabled young mother from Ntambo, and her toddler son, Isaiah, receive £40 each month from HHI.
Richard’s House Our caring supporters rallied very quickly to improve Richard’s living conditions. A month after hearing about his terrible plight, our supporters promptly funded a new house for Richard. His small but sturdy home is already complete and he will no longer need to sleep in the dirt under a shabby straw roof. Money has been sent to Zambia for a new bed, mattress, blankets and some new clothes. Our target is to supply water for him and his father and fund some physiotherapy sessions and regular care and support.
High Days and Holy Days
Ash Wednesday 22 February
Prayer Focus: Start Lent with a time of reflective prayer. Consider how your individual efforts and collective responses to our appeals have contributed to the growth and success of HHI for over 25 years. Remember the vulnerable, sick and needy people whose health and wellbeing has depended on your generosity. Seek guidance from God to discover the way HHI and everyone involved, should move forward in the future.
Notable days through Lent
01 March St David’s Day 3rd March Women’s World Day of Prayer 8th Mar 2023 International Women’s Day 17 March St Patrick’s Day
19 March Mothering Sunday Ebrill 2fed Sul y Blodau – 2nd April Palm Sunday
Mothering Sunday is a special day when mothers around the world are acknowledged for all that they mean to us and all that they contribute to our daily lives. We honour and salute them.
In Wales Palm Sunday is known as Flowering Sunday and it is customary to place bunches of flowers, often Daffodils on the graves of loved ones.
Perhaps the price of a bouquet of flowers or just a bunch of daffodils could be put aside for HHI.
And remember, every Sunday is a Sacred Sunday!
Whether it’s the ‘Wearin’ o’ the Green’, Welsh Rarebit for tea or participation in any of the notable events that occur during Lent, please consider the plight of people for whom, without your intervention, life would be very difficult.
And, please, give what you can!