1. No one should call this dinner
CAFOD assembly, Lent 2019
Reader 1: Welcome to our CAFOD assembly for Lent.
Mahinur lives in a remote area of Bangladesh. After 20 minutes of fishing in the river outside her home, she has caught just one small fish.
Mahinur’s husband, Khalek, walks with difficulty, using crutches. He cannot work, so she is the main earner for the family. She usually catches fish to sell but since the river dried up earlier this year, there are no fish to catch. 

2. Reader 2: Mahinur, Khalek and 12-year-old Rabiul live in an area badly hit by climate change. Cyclones are common, and salty sea water often floods the rice fields. But last year’s drought was devastating for this family. 
Mahinur cooks and cleans in her neighbours’ homes to earn a bit of cash but it’s never enough. There are days when the family have nothing to eat. ​

3. Reader 3: The family’s home is very remote and can only be reached by boat, which makes it even more difficult for help to reach them. Rabiul usually makes the journey to school with a friend, as he has a physical disability as well as learning difficulties, and sometimes loses his balance. 
[If there is time, show our young people’s Lent 19 video here. It lasts 3 minutes and is available from late January at cafod.org.uk/secondary] 

4. Reader 4: The good news is that CAFOD is part of a global Catholic network reaching even the most remote areas.
CAFOD’s local expert, Jamal, grew up in a nearby town and has been helping a few families in this village. He has visited Mahinur’s family and knows their situation, but currently there is no money available to help them.
Sadly, CAFOD is forced to turn away one in three requests for help, simply because there is not enough money to go around.

5. Reader 5: That’s why our Lent fasting and fundraising can make such a difference.
What are YOU giving up this Lent?
[If you have time, show the give it up film here – it lasts 1 minute]
The give it up challenge is – during Lent, to give up something we enjoy, like chocolate or crisps, and give the money we save to CAFOD. Or we can get sponsored to give up something bigger, like gaming or social media, for one or more days a week. 

6. Reader 6: Our pennies and pounds can make a real difference to Mahinur’s family and to other families like hers.
£1 can buy a fruit tree sapling for a family.
£7 provides rice seeds that will survive in salty water.
£26 buys ten ducks that are hardy to local diseases.
And if we work together to raise £167, we can buy a fish pond protected from threats like being flooded by salty water, so that a family can breed their own fish.

7. Reader 7: The need is great
Reader 7: The need is great. So, let’s not be afraid to throw out the give it up challenge to other people…
Why not challenge one or two teachers to give up something really difficult, and sponsor them?!

8. [Insert information here]
Reader 8: You could also give up some of your time – and come to our fundraiser...
[Insert details of any fundraisers you are organising]
 So, take the challenge! What will YOU give up this Lent? 

9. …because no one should go hungry
Reader 9: Because no one should go hungry.
(Pause)
Let’s finish with a prayer:..

10. you have given the world enough resources for everyone to share;
Loving God,
you have given the world enough resources
for everyone to share;
no one should go hungry.
May our Lenten prayer,
fasting and almsgiving
support the hard work and determination
of our sisters and brothers living in poverty,
helping them to ensure
that no one goes hungry.
Amen
Reader 10:  Loving God, you have given the world enough resources for everyone to share; no one should go hungry.
May our Lenten prayer, fasting and almsgiving
support the hard work and determination
of our sisters and brothers living in poverty,
helping them to ensure that no one goes hungry. Amen
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

11. Teachers: You may wish to leave this slide up as students leave.
You could order free collection envelopes from shop.cafod.org.uk and give one to each student as they leave. There is space on the back for each person to write what they are choosing to give up. This action could be used during your Ash Wednesday liturgy.
You can 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
Other Lent resources are available at cafod.org.uk/secondary