Tutu backs US church initiative to end poverty in Africa

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner, has endorsed an interfaith initiative to partner congregations in the United States with African villages in the fight against poverty.

"We are thrilled to have Archbishop Tutu's endorsement as Millennium Congregation's mission speaks to the very actions of justice, compassion, and reconciliation that Archbishop Tutu has been committed to for so many years," said the Rev Jay R Lawlor, co-founder and CEO of Millennium Congregation, in a statement released Tuesday.

The Millennium Congregation seeks to link US congregations of different faiths to its network of Millennium Villages in Africa to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and end extreme poverty.

The MDGs are eight social goals that governments worldwide have committed to fulfill by 2015. The MDGs include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, combating HIV and Aids and other diseases, and reducing child mortality.

"If you want to eradicate poverty and promote justice, compassion and reconciliation, then I invite and encourage your congregation to join Millennium Congregation's exciting initiative in support of Millennium Villages," said Tutu.

US congregations support Millennium Villages through financial donations. Millennium Congregation can fund a Millennium Village of 5,000 people with the help of 50 congregations that pledge $500 a month over a five-year period.

"This equates, for example, to twenty-five families pledging $20 a month, or ten persons starting a Millennium Village Ministry by pledging $50 a month each. The smallest congregations can participate for as little as $130 a month," Lawlor explained.

Funding is used to provide food, drinking water, clothes, and healthcare among other services to the poor villagers.

"Our work is a call to faithful action as ending extreme poverty is a common thread running through the world's religions," said Lawlor. "The success of Millennium Villages in reducing poverty and building sustainable futures is something we are excited to share with congregations of all faiths.

"If all congregations in the United States were Millennium Congregations, we could end extreme poverty for 30 million people in Africa."