The Primate's World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) is the Anglican Church of Canada's agency for international development, relief, refugees, and justice issues. The Primate's Fund was started after 167 coal miners were killed in Springhill, Nova Scotia, in October, 1958. At this time, the church recognized a need to deliver help in an organized way, so the following year, in May 1959, the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund was created by the General Synod of the Anglican Church to respond to Canadian and International disasters, and the needs of refugees. Development was defined by General Synod to encompass justice, human rights and political (non-partisan) advocacy, as well as community development.
PWRDF is active in approximately 30 countries, with partners drawn from Anglican churches, ecumenical organizations, and community based groups. It advocates for more and better aid, trade justice, cancelling debts, eradicating child poverty, human rights, etc. It makes financial and human resources available to support the relief and development initiatives of partners.
Grants are disbursed for the following types of programs:
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Meeting basic human needs: shelter, clean water and sanitation, food supplies, nutrition, and primary health care
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Training programs for building local expertise: i.e., farming techniques
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Strengthening the role of women: vocational training, funding for small businesses, etc.
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To help strengthen and make healthier self-reliant Canadian Indigenous communities
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Peace making and helping reconciliation and healing
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Promoting human rights and democratic development: education, training and documentation of abuses
For emergency relief, PWRDF works with Action by Churches Together (ACT), and through partnerships with churches in the areas involved. ACT is a network of over 200 churches and humanitarian agencies with field workers all over the world. Some of the disasters that PWRDF responded to in 2005 were: South Asian Tsunami; Darfur, Sudan; Famine in Niger; Hurricane in Cuba; Floods in India; Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; South Asia Earthquake; and Hurricane Stan, Central America.
PWRDF Campaigns:
- Water: Enough for All - in partnership with KAIROS (Water - Life Before Profit) - re issues including the privatization and pollution of water.
- Partnership for Life: For a Generation Without AIDS campaign to raise $1,000,000 to fight HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria in third world countries. PWRDF is supporting programs in 3rd world countries to help eradicate HIV/AIDS.
Holy Trinity Cathedral supports PWRDF activities through individual donations, and the sale of Christmas cards, STOP AIDS bracelets, and Hearts for Life beaded pins, which are made by HIV/AIDS infected South African women. For more information about PWRDF contact: http://www.pwrdf.org
