daily life without mobile phones, computers or cars is inconceivable to us. It is, however, widely recognised that our technological progress is dependent on the exploitation of natural resources in developing countries. Although the largest reserves of raw materials are to be found in Asia, Africa and South America, these are the regions which benefit least from the extraction industry. On the contrary, eviction of local communities, serious pollution and conflicts over access rights lead to the situation where millions of people lose their means of existence and are driven to hunger. 

This is the main drive of our ecumenical campaign this year. It  forms part of our ongoing campaign for the Right to Nourishment. Partners has brought its projects into line with this mission. In future we shall be especially promoting projects in the Southern hemisphere. Our priorities thus lie clearly in Africa and Asia, and we shall thereby be completely retiring from Europe by 2014, as requested by our Bishop and Synod Council. Thus the two main priority countries for 2011 are two poor African countries, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. We work together there with the local Anglican churches. Our Mission Offertory for 2011 will be for the four projects in Tanzania.

We hope to achieve a particularly good collection on Trinity Sunday 2011. That Sunday will also be the fiftieth anniversary of our Mission Offertory. 1961 was a very eventful year in our country. It saw the establishment of the "DEZA" (Department for Development Aid), and of the organisations "Bread for all Mankind" and "Lent Offertory". The cooperation of the Old Catholics in development work also began at that time. We wish to celebrate this and will do so on Friday June 17th 2011 in Wettingen together with the National Synod and guests, including our project partner from the Congo, Augustin Bahaya Cimole. 

We wish to express our thanks to all parishes, associations and persons who support our projects year after year. We also thank our Partners, the Anglican Church of Switzerland, Solidarity with the Third World, and the World Day of Prayer collections for their support. Only with your help will we be able to finance our 28 projects with the necessary CHF 175'000. Asante sana. That is, sincere thanks, in Swahili, the language of Tanzania.