Projects/Campaigns

Mothers' Union Projects and Campaigns~ in Ireland and Overseas

Mothers' Union supports many projects and campaigns both at home in Ireland and Overseas.

Read about many of the projects below and click on the pictures to access more information, patterns etc.

Knitting and Sewing Projects

Some of the projects include hats, matinee jackets and Ollie the Octopus for premature babies, trauma teddies, hats and scarves for the homeless, prayer squares, fiddle blankets for the elderly/infirm etc. Click on image to access patterns.

Click on the image for prayer for the square

AFIA (Away from it All)

This project provides short breaks/holidays or day trips for those who otherwise could not afford it and is available in most Dioceses.

Contact your Mothers’ Union Diocesan President or Secretary for further details.

16 Days of Activism Against

Gender Based Violence

Vigils and/or prayer breakfasts are organised during November in every Diocese to raise awareness of gender-based violence and the search for gender justice.

Toiletries, gifts, toys etc are collected for distribution in local Refuges.

Thursdays in Black

The campaign is simple but profound. Wear black on Thursdays. Wear a pin to declare you are part of the global movement resisting attitudes and practices that permit rape and violence. Show your respect for women who are resilient in the face of injustice and violence. Encourage others to join you.

Often black has been used with negative racial connotations. In this campaign Black is used as a color of resistance and resilience.

Prison Visits and

The Read Together Project

As part of this project books are distributed to children and also the parent in prison.

This gives them something to talk about during prison visits.

Baby Changing and Feeding Facilities at Shows

This facility is greatly appreciated by parents and guardians of babies/toddlers as it gives them a safe clean environment in which to change and feed their baby/toddler. Read about Mothers' Union at Ploughing 2019 by clicking on the picture below.

Literacy and Financial Education

The programme uses participatory methods to enable communities to acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills while discussing and planning action on their daily issues and challenges.

Worldwide Parenting Programmes

The Worldwide Parenting Programmes faciliate groups to discuss different topics and share parenting experiences and best practice.

Savings and Credit Groups

The overall aim for countries using this programme is to break down the barriers and challenges faced by women when dealing with money and finances. It aims to raise their social and economic status, resulting in them having more of a say in their households, and helping to create women entrepreneurs.

Church and Community Mobilisation

CCM is a transformational, community-based process which uses facilitator-led Bible studies to work with church groups encouraging them to kick-start economic, social and physical transformation within their communities. Mothers’ Union is uniquely positioned in that we can equip our members to facilitate lasting change within their church and communities.

MULOA

MULOA stands for “Mothers’ Union Listening, Observing, Acting” and is the name we are using to explore the essence of what it is to be Mothers’ Union.

As a member-led global organisation we are actively listening to the voices of our members to create a vision for the future that is grounded in their views and their experiences within their communities. This will help us create our strategy beyond 2020

Mothers’ Union and United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW)

Global Advocacy to Raise the Status of Women and Eliminate Discrimination: Mothers’ Union and UNCSW

Thursday 16th April

Following an upsurge in reported incidents of domestic violence Governments in Ireland have teamed up with frontline services to provide excellent awareness and information campaigns to assure victims that STAY AT HOME DOES NOT MEAN SUFFER AT HOME.

Frontline services are STILL HERE.

Still here - domestic abuse TV awareness ad

Helplines for people experiencing domestic violence:

Republic of Ireland:

An Garda Síochána - 999 or 112
Women's Aid - 1800 341 900
Men's Aid Ireland - 01 554 3811
Male Domestic Abuse Advice Line - 1800 816 588
Rape Crisis Centre National Helpline - 1800 77 8888
Legal Aid Board Helpline - 1890 615 200 or 01 646 9600
Directory of local services - www.safeireland.ie

Helplines for people experiencing domestic violence:

Northern Ireland:

PSNI – 999 or 101 www.psni.police.uk
Domestic and Sexual Abuse (DSA) helpline 0808 8021414 - free and confidential.
Women's Aid - 028 9024 9041 visit www.womensaidni.org
Men’s Advisory Project (MAP) - 028 9024 1929 visit www.mapni.co.uk
Web chat available at www.dsahelpline.org or email help@dsahelpline.org

A Woman’s Psalm

O God, I am a woman in a violent world let me know your peace.
Let blind rage born of despair not find its target in me.
Let the value of my life not be reduced to the jewellery I wear.
Let my family life not end that life in a gang may begin.
Let rape not violate my body nor anger ravage my soul.
Let fear not enter my heart but caution sharpen my mind.
Let the light of Christ so shine in me that I may reflect your love.
Let the joy that the apostles knew infuse my spirit and alleviate my pain.
Let Love who suffered and died on the cross find resurrection and new life in the world you love.
God, I am a woman in a violent world - let me know your peace.

Elizabeth Kaeton, (from Lifting Women’s Voices: Canterbury Press; 2009)

I am an individual jam jar you can spread me on your toast

Upon a scone I’m truly delicious

Once my jam is finished, my life it is so short

Could I be recycled?...

Now my inside is all a jingle

My heart is full of joy

Those ladies from the MU have given me a task

To help raise lots of money!

Why not "Reuse and Recycle" your small jam jars for Overseas!

Prayer

Prayer is at the heart of everything we do in the Mothers' Union. Members in Ireland are linked with members around the world through the Wave of Prayer and from time to time visits are exchanged.

Within Ireland members enjoy fellowship through the development of North/South links between Dioceses and individual Branches.

Mothers' Union ~ Wave of Prayer

26th November - 31st December

Click on the image above to access the midday prayers for December

26 – 28 November ~ Zululand in South Africa; Lodwar in Kenya; Isiala Ngwa South in Nigeria; Accra in Ghana; Bangor in Wales and Colombo in Sri Lanka

29 November ~ Mothers’ Union worldwide

30 November - 2 December ~ Mpumalanga in South Africa; Central Buganda in Uganda; Zonkwa in Nigeria; Bo in Sierra Leone; Newcastle in England and Barrackpore in India

3 – 5 December ~ Akot in South Sudan; South West Tanganyika in Tanzania; Aba & Irele-Ese Odo in Nigeria; Coventry in England and Cuttack in India

6 December ~ Mothers’ Union worldwide

7 – 9 December ~ Namibia; Mount Kenya South in Kenya; Northern Izon & Ijebu North in Nigeria and Durham in England

10 – 12 December ~ Lusaka in Zambia; Shyogwe in Rwanda; Sokoto & Ikka in Nigeria; Ely in England and Karimnagar in India

13 December ~ Mothers’ Union worldwide

14– 16 December ~ Fianarantsoa in Madagascar; Central Tanganyika in Tanzania; Calabar & Igbomina in Nigeria; Derry & Raphoe in All Ireland and Banks & Torres in Vanuatu

17 – 19 December ~ Lui in South Sudan; Embu in Kenya; Orlu & Awori in Nigeria; The Murray in Australia and Medak in India

20 December ~ Mothers’ Union worldwide

21 – 23 December ~ Archbishops, Bishops and all clergy in the Anglican Communion

24 – 26 December ~ Refugees, internally displaced families and those living in a climate of fear

27 December ~ Mothers’ Union worldwide

28-30 December ~ All involved with the responsibility of caring for and supporting family life

31 December ~ Mothers’ Union worldwide

Final Blessing

May the blessings of Advent fill us with hope

as we share tidings of comfort and joy

with the waiting world.

Amen