Please note: There is an animation on this slide, only visible in ‘Slide show’ mode. It is on a loop so that you can leave it playing as students enter the assembly space. For this assembly, you will need: • Laptop and projector • Video (optional) • Details of any fundraisers you have already planned • Give it up! target poster – sent to your school in January • 6 – 12 readers • 18 students at the front, ready to stand and sit at the appropriate moments. Reader 1: Welcome to our assembly for CAFOD Family Fast Day. By now, you’ll know that in our school we love to raise money for good causes. We’ve [insert detail of your recent fundraising]. CAFOD believes that it’s important for schools in England and Wales to know how their fundraising during Lent has made a difference to some of the poorest people in the world.

884 million people 2012: without access to clean water Reader 2: In 2012, 884 million people [18 students at the front stand up] had no access to clean water. That meant people – mostly girls and women – walking miles every year to fetch water, children missing school, families not being able to grow food, and people getting ill from drinking dirty water.

884 million people 663 million people 2012: 2015: without access to clean water 663 million people without access to clean water Reader 3: The latest global statistics are for 2015. By 2015, that figure of 884 million had fallen to 663 million [5 of the 18 students sit down]. Lots of people around the world made this possible, and there’s still a long way to go, but CAFOD supporters were part of that huge change. This is how… [The remaining 13 students sit down] (Source: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/water-and-sanitation)

Reader 4: In 2012, CAFOD held a Lent appeal and CAFOD supporters raised an incredible £9m! Perhaps you took part when you were at primary school?   Through something called match funding, the UK Government doubled the amount given by CAFOD supporters, making a grand total of £18m. As a result, through partners like Caritas - the global network of Catholic charities - CAFOD has helped hundreds of poor communities with life-giving water projects.

Reader 5: Communities like this one in Zimbabwe Reader 5: Communities like this one in Zimbabwe. This photo shows Karen and Choolwe [Chool – way] from Simatelele [See – ma – tay – lay – lay] secondary school, with their health club teacher, Memory.   Money raised by CAFOD supporters in Lent 2012 funded the drilling of a borehole at Karen and Choolwe’s village, giving a constant water supply. But that was only the start. [You could show CAFOD Lent 18 young people’s video here in place of Readers 6 – . It lasts 3 minutes.]

Reader 6: More than a quarter of children under the age of five in Zimbabwe do not grow properly, due to malnutrition. At Simatelele, malnourished students sometimes missed school or fell asleep in class.   So, with their new water supply, the villagers began to plant vegetables. Zimbabweans usually grow potatoes, maize and other grains, rather than vegetables. Growing any food is a challenge in dry areas, made even more difficult by climate change. And many people have never had a chance to learn which nutrients they need for a healthy diet.

Reader 7: So, Memory set up a school health club where Karen, Choolwe and their friends learn what is needed for a healthy diet and which plants are the most nutritious. Then, in the school garden, they can practise new skills for planting at home.   The students share what they have learned with their parents. Memory says: “If you go into the communities, you can see they’re now growing vegetables and foods that are good for nutrition.”

Reader 8: At the health club, the students also learn about good hygiene. In 2015, Caritas helped the community to build a school toilet block. You can just see it in the background of the first photo.   Meanwhile, the school garden has been expanding. The students have even added an orchard of fruit trees. When these photos were taken they had just harvested a cereal crop called ‘sorghum’ to sell and were replanting the plots with vegetables.

Reader 9: The health club has also been growing Reader 9: The health club has also been growing. Now it is open to every pupil in the school.   With nourishing food being grown in the community, students have a better diet. They can concentrate in class and more students are passing their exams.

What Choolwe learnt in school, he gave to us. My parents grow beans, vegetables, sweet potatoes and pumpkin now and I’m eating a well-balanced diet. Reader 10: So, one borehole has led to an entire community transforming. And these changes all happened because CAFOD supporters raised money during Lent. Reader 11: But there are still many people who need the same support. That’s why, this Lent, CAFOD is challenging us to give it up and to see our fasting transform into something amazing!   My aunt agreed to listen to the things I taught her and in her home malnutrition has disappeared. What Choolwe learnt in school, he gave to us. As you can see, we are healthy!

Please note: There is an animation in this slide – only visible when viewed in ‘Slide show’ mode. Reader 12: So, if we give up fast food, the money we save can be transformed into fresh food for other communities like Karen and Choolwe’s, so that children can grow up strong and healthy. If we choose to give up treats – like cupcakes or a cinema trip – our treats could be transformed into toilets like the ones at Simatelele secondary school. Anything we raise will be doubled by the UK Government. If we donate £1 to CAFOD, it will be worth £2! We will be keeping track of how much we have raised with this target poster [hold up] which will be on display in [insert location].

[Insert pictures here] Reader 1: Another thing you could give up is your time, to do some fundraisers… [Insert here details of any fundraisers you have organised]  

Reader 1: So, take the challenge! What will YOU give up? Don’t worry if you’ve forgotten to fast since Ash Wednesday – it’s never too late! Get on board now and help to build a better world this Lent.

Lord Jesus, when we serve each other, we also serve you, present in the least of your sisters and brothers.   Through our prayer, fasting and almsgiving this Lent, bless those who do not have enough nourishing food. Inspire us by their hard work and determination to join with them to overcome poverty and injustice and build a better world. Amen Reader 1: Let’s finish with a prayer:   Lord Jesus, when we serve each other, we also serve you, present in the least of your sisters and brothers. Through our prayer, fasting and almsgiving this Lent, bless those who do not have enough nourishing food. Inspire us by their hard work and determination to join with them to overcome poverty and injustice and build a better world. Amen

[You may wish to leave this quotation up as students leave] Other resources are at cafod.org.uk/secondary Teachers – you can also contact your local CAFOD volunteer centre to ask for someone to speak or lead a workshop during Lent. Find details of your local centre at: cafod.org.uk/Volunteer/CAFOD-in-your-area