Displaying items by tag: raising awareness

Guediawaye beach, close to Senegal’s capital Dakar, is suffering from coastal erosion, leaving residents with limited access to safe, local beaches. The Senegal Youth Consortium (CJS) has launched a project to rehabilitate the beach while empowering youth. Through cultural and sports activities such as swimming, boxing, and golf, the initiative attracts hundreds of young people each weekend. It educates participants about environmental issues, particularly coastal erosion, and encourages them to take ownership of the beach’s preservation. The project is set to create 400 jobs in the coming months; unemployment is particularly prevalent among Senegal’s youth. The country’s coastline is estimated to be retreating by 0.5 to 2 metres per year. Meanwhile, a new technique for combating erosion is being trialled in Togo: see

From April to June 2023 Release International is drawing special attention to the persecution of Christians in north and central Nigeria. The suffering of Nigerian Christians is causing an international outcry, concern and alarm. The ongoing violence targeted against Christian communities has led to mass killings of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Terror groups Boko Haram and IS West Africa continue to defy the authorities, and Fulani militants attack Christian villages with impunity. Reports indicate that in 2022 Fulani extremists killed more than 6,000 Christians and destroyed 17 villages. Please pray for peace for Nigeria, and also for protection of Christian communities from terrorists and extremists across the country.

Disability History Month runs from 18 November to 18 December every year. It is supported by many disability groups, unions, and voluntary organisations, who aim to promote disabled people's rights and their struggle for equality now and in the past. Every year the month focuses on a different theme - celebrating achievements and fighting for equality. For instance, 14-year-old Jonathan is non-verbal and a wheelchair user who was in a special school until his mother taught him to read and write by eye pointing on a perspex E Tran and eye gaze software. Jonathan went to a mainstream primary in Year 5. When he was twelve, he wrote the book 'Eye Can Write' and set up a charity. Pray for continued backing and funding for all those sharing resources to help people with disabilities, and helping able-bodied people to understand the struggles that disabled people have.

On 30 July, thousands will come together to draw attention to the horrific crime of human trafficking. IJM has partnered with singer-songwriter Roo Panes to release a powerful music video to raise awareness of the brutal reality of human trafficking, and to inspire individuals to get involved and take a part in ending it. Awareness is a vital first step in ending trafficking, and it is hoped this video will reach thousands, or even millions, as people share about it on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, using the hashtag #Warrior and #EndTrafficking and tagging @IJMUK. Everyone who wants to make a stand against trafficking is invited to find the film at: www.ijmuk.org/Warrior or on Roo Panes' YouTube. Nothing happens if people are unaware of the need: when we are aware of modern slavery, still nothing happens, unless we do something.