Update from Angola

ALMA (the Angola, London, Mozambique Association) celebrates the links between the Diocese of London and our partner dioceses in Angola and Mozambique. St Botolph’s is one of the London parishes with a special link in Angola – we built a school in the parish of St Barnabas, Songo, Angola in 2009, and have continued to support both our own school and other education projects in Angola, most recently with our 2019 Advent offerings. Every year ALMA Sunday is celebrated in July – normally there would have been a big Diocesan celebration at St Paul’s Cathedral, but like everything else at this time it had to move online.

Across the Dioceses of Angola and Mozambique, communities and churches have suffered much in the past year. There have been insurgencies, climate-related disasters including drought and flood, and a severe rainy season earlier this year which destroyed crops and hindered the rebuilding and repair work necessary following last year’s devastating cyclones Idai and Kenneth. The threat of disease is ever-present – not only the current spread of Covid-19, but also existing problems including HIV and AIDS, malaria, typhoid and yellow fever.

The Church is at the forefront of education and aid in all these areas of need, and the ALMA organisers have shared the following short video report about a water and sanitation hygiene (WASH) project undertaken by the Anglican Church in Songo (the area of Angola where our school is situated) which was funded by USAID through Episcopal Relief & Development. The Archdeacon of Songo, The Ven Garcia Kazailawoko, who is also the parish priest of our linked parish St Barnabas, can be seen speaking part way through the video.

Further information about ALMA and the partner dioceses can be found at www.almalink.org