Valerie Power from Bunclody is hosting a fundraiser for Christian Aid to support their work in Malawi

By Elizabeth Lee

A Bunclody woman is celebrating the success of farming communities in southern Malawi who have seen their lives transformed since receiving a fairer price for one of their crops.

Valerie Power shared a photo with a pea pod in place of her normal smile to demonstrate her happiness for farmers who have received a higher income for their drought-resistant harvest since joining a Christian Aid-supported pigeon pea cooperative.

Valerie is Christian Aid’s representative in the Bunclody Union of Church of Ireland Parishes, and to coincide with Christian Aid Week, from 14 to 20 May, she is helping to organise a sponsored walk which sets off from St Fiaac’s Church in Clonegal at 10.30 on Saturday 20 May.

Valerie has supported the charity for many years by holding coffee morning fundraisers and sponsored walking events.

This year, she’s highlighting the success of the charity’s work in Malawi and its promotion of farmers growing pigeon peas.

The peas thrive in drought-prone southern Malawi. They’re cheap to grow from recycled seed and require only minimal amounts of fertiliser and pesticides, making them an ideal crop to grow in a region where over 60% of families live in poverty.

Christian Aid Week has been running in Ireland since 1957, making it the country’s longest running fundraising campaign. Each year, thousands of people donate to Christian Aid during the week to support people living in some of the poorest countries in the world as well as countries coping with conflict, drought, risk of famine and the impacts of climate change.

By giving this Christian Aid Week, you can help more farmers like Esther secure a fair price for their crops and make their children’s dreams come true. For more information and to donate, please visit caweek.ie/Donate or call 01 496 7040 to make a telephone donation.