CHURCH OF IRELAND SPONSORED RAIL RUN in aid of  “THE RAILWAY CHILDREN”* (TANZANIA)

BISHOP RAISES 38K FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN ON RAILWAY STATIONS.

In less than 36 hours the Church of Ireland Bishop of Cashel & Ossory, the Rt Revd Michael Burrows has raised over €38,000 for the “Railway Children” project in Tanzania through the Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal.

Over the two days of Wednesday and Thursday 19th / 30th August 2007 he travelled the length and breadth of his united six dioceses of Cashel. Ossory, Waterford, Leighlin, Lismore and Ferns - all by scheduled train service – the only diocese in the island by which it is possible to circumnavigate by train.  His stop at each station (24 in all and over 350 miles covered) was advertised in advance to all adjacent parishes and which had representative groups at each station to present the gifts of their fund-raising.

Railway Children was selected as the project partner. Its project to look after street children in Moshi and Arusha in Tanzania will benefit street children living alone and at risk on the streets. It helps children all over the world, many of whom live in and around railway stations (hence the name). The focus of its work is stopping the abuse of children living on the streets and it now works with more than 40 partner organisations with almost 120 projects worldwide

Bishop Burrows was accompanied by Mr Martin O’Connor Education Officer for the Bishops’ Appeal and Mr Herbie Sharman PRO for the Diocese. The Project was also supported and travel was sponsored by Irish Rail.

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Railway Children supports street children living alone and at risk on the streets. It helps children all over the world, many of whom live in and around railway stations (hence the name). The focus of its work is stopping the abuse of children living on the streets and it now works with more than 40 partner organisations with almost 120 projects worldwide.

Railway Children works with Mkombozi, the leading child-focused agency in Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions. It supports two Mkombozi initiatives. Through the Mkombozi outreach programme it supports the outreach worker in Arusha and is looking to provide a mobile unit that will enable more children to be reached and a more comprehensive array of services to be offered on the street. Part of this programme includes getting children back home with their families when this is appropriate.

The second Mkombozi project supported is a lobbying campaign run through the Arusha Caucas for Children's Rights which will attempt to challenge repressive laws in the Tanzanian High Court. Mkombozi have put together a compelling paper which challenges the legality of round ups of street children which are justified under the 1944 Townships (Removable of Undesirable Persons) Ordinance. The paper argues that more recent national and international law, ratified by the Tanzanian government actually contradict this antiquated law and as such it should be wiped from the statute book. This paper will form the basis of the argument that will be attested in Court.

PICTURE GALLERY