| For information about THe United Church of Canada’s response and policies regarding COVID19, please visit the church's website for official updates. |
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What Is Innovative?
Over time, we have found that there are a few reasons why communities of faith don’t reach out to us. With the Innovation Grant due date approaching on July 15, we’d like to put those reasons behind us and support you moving forward!
Reason #1: Don’t Need Funding to Get Started
Embracing the Spirit is much more than just a granting program. It is a movement! One community of faith’s story inspires the next community of faith, and this ripple effect continues. Even if you don’t need funding, we would love to hear your story, and connect you with other communities of faith that are living out their faith in similar ways. You might just get inspired in return!
Reason #2: Don’t Know If it Is Innovative Enough
Maybe just the word “innovation” is intimidating. That is exactly why we like to set up conversations with every single community of faith considering to apply for an Innovation Grant. We’d love to hear about the idea, how they came up with the idea, and what they are hopeful for. Each context is different, so innovation looks very different in every place. If the word is still worrisome, just call it “a tad creative!”
Reason #3: Worried that an Idea Isn’t Good Enough
The top feedback that our grant recipients have given us is that they were hesitant to move forward, but the process of applying for a grant validated their idea. We have heard people dreaming about ideas for years and when receiving these Innovation Grants they were liberated to move forward and finally try them. We’d love to see that happen for your hibernating idea!
Reason #4: Don’t Have an Idea
With how innovative communities of faith have been during the last four months, we just can’t believe this one :-)
Want to talk about your idea? Reach out to us at embracingthespirit@united-church.ca. |
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Partnerships: Southeast Asia and Southern Africa
Through Mission & Service, The United Church of Canada has been in partnership with organizations in Southeast Asia and Southern Africa for decades. All partners are concerned with right relations, dignity, peace, and justice. They are all resisting evil in their contexts.
- Anti-Human Traffic Program: Near the India and Bangladesh border there is a partner organization that is preventing human trafficking for bonded slave labour and human organs. Because of COVID-19, over 40 million migrant workers have moved back to rural areas in India which cannot support them. This has resulted in many families falling below the poverty line, making them more vulnerable to human trafficking. There is desperate need now.
- Bringing Dignity to Impoverished Communities: Many widows and seniors in India have to go through tremendous paperwork and hoops in order to have access to the pensions and government programs that they are eligible for. Astha supports these village groups in learning their rights and exercising them.
- Zimbabwe Council of Churches: Zimbabwe is having to face the fact that their constitution has not been implemented. There are many cases of injustice including abduction, torture, and sexual assault. Health services aren't functioning, with doctors on strike and no medication in hospitals. Citizens are realizing that advocacy with the governmental parties to work together could solve these underlying problems.
Watch all seven of the stories.
The United Church of Canada is currently accepting donations to support those in the global South who are at greater risk than ever due to COVID-19.
[Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash] |
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Raw Carrot 2020
Raw Carrot believes that a hand up is way better than a hand out.
There are one million people in Ontario living with a disability or mental illness, many of whom could work if they were given the opportunity. In 2014, Raw Carrot Soup Enterprise was created as a leap of faith and now employs 27 people and sells delicious, healthy soup.
The ways of providing temporary supports for those living with a disability or mental illness are great, but the next step of having a job was missing. Communities of faith have partnered with Raw Carrot by providing their commercial kitchen space and actively supporting the growth of this social enterprise.
They began with $2,500 which they spent on cutting boards and kitchen supplies to test out the idea, with distribution in markets and boutique stores. Most recently they have signed a contract with Sobeys to sell into 220 locations in Ontario!
When a new community of faith wants to get started, there are now sales channels already in place. Listen to the entire story.
You can connect with Raw Carrot directly by sending an email.
[Photo by David Holifield on Unsplash] |
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Embracing the Spirit is a learning network and innovation fund. It offers funding and support for innovation ideas hatched out of faith communities and communities in ministry. Some of the stories and best practices that are happening throughout The United Church of Canada are shared in this newsletter.
If you have an idea that you want to launch, reach out and tell us about it! Proposal deadlines are quarterly, and due on the 15th of the month: January, April, July and October. Find out more. |
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