CAFOD

Will Cochrane is one of the founding members of CAFOD in St Vincent's. The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development is focused on helping the world’s poor. Will and his colleagues attempt to find practical ways of making his happen.

Will was quick to point out that he is only a point of contact for CAFOD. The group do not believe in official titles nor in large bureaucracy. The charity do not have swish offices in London, nor a large staff of highly paid administrators. While the organization is highly professional, it is also highly efficient and focused on the objective. This means the majority of resources can be spent on the people in need.

The emergence of the St Vincent's branch is actually due to John Mulholland. In 1980 John and Will literally commanded an empty table at a parish event and formed a new branch of CAFOD. While Will is happy to be a point of contact, he is adamant that he is only one member of the group.

While CAFOD in St Vincent's is a parish based organization, their work helps people throughout the world. CAFOD work in around 64 countries, from Brazil to  Romania. They are currently attempting to help the people of Sudan, which is a particularly remote and hostile environment. Will comments that operating in a country like Sudan is a challenge. He also adds that Sudan has no oil. In his view this may explain some of the West’s apathy toward that country's plight.

CAFOD believe in sustainable and long term development. While aid can be useful as a short term response to disasters like the tsunami, it is not a long term strategy. CAFOD invest money in education in order to promote important skills. Will makes reference to a current project where African women are being trained to manage budgets and understand how a business works.

CAFOD prefer to send sowing machines to Africa than clothes. The machines enable people to develop a skill and start a business. The charity recently refused a donation of clothes from a British based manufacturer. These clothes would only have made life harder for locally based suppliers and not helped people to help themselves.

During the last year the political climate has changed. The Make Poverty History and Jubilee Debt campaigns have encouraged mainstream political parties to do mo re. Will thinks the cancellation of debt will help many African countries. He provides the example of Tanzania, where the removal of debt has allowed more money to be spent on education. Will thinks it is important that Cafod is “not just an organization that gives money away.”

Roman Catholicism and The Gospel are both vitally important to CAFOD. The charity specifically refer to Luke 4:16 “to bring good news to the poor.” Will likes to see his neighbour as the man or woman living in Brazil or Tanzania, not just the person living next door.

The monthly retiring collection at St Vincent's is a vital source of revenue for CAFOD. The group rely on the consent of the parish priest and the generosity of the congregation. They take neither for granted.

Will hopes the new parish website communicates basic information well. He also thinks it should be promoted enthusiastically by the church.