17/01/2002

Church organisation calls for better world

Despite their social, economic and religious differences, people could contribute to a more generous world if they understood each other better.

This was said by an official from the headquarters of the Community of Saint Egidio, Francesca Scambia, who is in the country on a short tour.

The Community of Saint Egidio is an organisation based in Rome, Italy, offering services to the poor, including education, health and eradication of poverty.

�Working with interest and commitment can do wonders. We are not diplomats but we were able to resolve the Mozambique crisis about ten years ago. Until now peace prevails in that country�, she noted.

Unlike other organisations, said Scambia, the organisation marshals resources from local communities to implement its activities.

�Any community, however poor it is, can contribute something useful to itself�, she stressed.

Giving living examples, Scambia said the organisation managed to offer lunch to orphans of Mama Theresa Orphanage at Mburahati in Dar es Salaam and at Kurasini Orphanage.

The food donated to Mama Theresa was collected by the local community in Dar es Salaam and that offered at Kurasini was donated by students of Muhimbili College of Health Sciences, she said.

Apart from offering service to poor communities, the Community of Saint Egidio also fights for human rights world-wide and was currently fighting the death penalty.

Scambia said the organisation had collected about 3.5 million signatures trying to get governments suspend the death penalty.

The community�s Dar es Salaam branch was established in 1998 and has about 150 members.

She called upon people with good cause to others to join in their efforts in making the world a better place to live in. The community expects to hold a general information disseminating meeting at Msimbasi Centre next Saturday so as to sensitise the people on its presence in the country.