Stand up Take Action
In 2007 Micah Challenge made a major contribution to the success of Stand Up, particularly in Africa. 43.7 million people in 127 countries took part and broke the world record for the most number of people to stand up against poverty on one day.
This year, the worldwide number is… 116,993,629. That’s almost 2% of the total world population!
Here’s how the figures break down:
- Africa: 24,496,151
- Arab region: 17,847,870
- Asia: 73,151,847
- Europe: 951,788
- Latin America: 211,250
- North America: 123,920
- Oceania: 210,803
Below are some excerpts from Micah Challenge's Stand up/ Micah Sunday stories:
Botswana: Churches across the country mobilized a total of 12,255 people to participate in Stand up.
Burkina Faso: Activities were focused on three regions: the capital Ouagadougou, Dori (in the north of the country) and Gaoua (in the South). Each region held a conference on the role of the church in the achievement of the MDGs on 17 October. In Dori, Micah Challenge members collected used clothes and redistributed them to local community members in need. In addition, 50 couples were trained on financial management in order to promote family sustainability. These couples were also informed on the progress of the MDGs in Burkina.
Churches all over the country were invited to participate in Micah Sunday through broadcasts on the Christian radio station.
Burundi: Micah Challenge Burundi advertised Micah Sunday/ Stand up amongst organisations and radio to mobilize and sensitize people to Stand up against poverty.
Seeds for beans, onions, tomatoes and cabbages were distributed to 8,000 vulnerable people affected by the drought in Gitega and Karuzi Provinces. Church leaders of 19 parishes and 74 local churches in Karuzi Province have participated in Stand up and Micah Sunday.
DR Congo: Micah Challenge DR Congo mobilized:
· 22,200 church members,
· 5000 students and
· 37 bishops.
Germany: Daniel Rempe, coordinator for Micah Challenge Germany writes: ‘In Germany 45 churches took part in the activities around Micah Sunday and Stand up. As far as we know 924 people stood up.
You can find pictures here & videos here. I’m impressed with the numbers that MC Africa has reached!’
Hong Kong: Churches in Hong Kong were invited to pray and fast for the achievements of the MDGs during the period of the UN High-level meetings end of September and Micah Sunday. Resources were made available in Chinese.
: Churches in Hong Kong were invited to pray and fast for the achievements of the MDGs during the period of the UN High-level meetings end of September and Micah Sunday. Resources were made available in Chinese.
Kenya: Over 130 senior bishops and pastors signed a commitment to take action in their respective churches. Activities on the 17th included prayer rallies, food distribution, clothes collection and distribution, tree planting, a peaceful march through town. An impressive total of 170,520 people stood up in over 20 churches in addition to a mobilisation event at a school with an estimate of 40,000 students standing up.
Malawi: At the last count, 26 579 people participated in Micah Sunday/ Stand up activities.
Lloyd Mtalimanja, the coordinator of MC Malawi wrote: ‘Briefly, let me say we had a wonderful day as we held our main Micah Sunday event at Nathenje, in Lilongwe district. The turn up was a bit lower than we had estimated. We could not hire as many tents and chairs as needed (we were holding the event in the open). Currently, the sun is beating mercilessly in Malawi as we are about to transition into the rainy season. As such, some people stood far off or chose not to attend the function because they could not see anywhere where they could sit under shade. These are lessons for the future!’
Netherlands: Working together with the ‘One campaign’ (GCAP platform), MC Netherlands participated in Stand up actions and particularly mobilized churches though press releases to Christian media. The Dutch government subsidized their advertisements!
Many coalition partners published Micah Sunday material and MC Netherlands is now facing the challenge to find out how many churches have participated this year!
Nigeria: Safia Zakama from MC Nigeria writes: ‘We organised a football match on the 17th of October between female staff from some of the faith-based organisations and members of a newly formed women’s’ cooperative. These women physically crush stones into small pebbles as a source of income. The football match was great. The Deputy Governor ended up sending the Permanent Secretary Special Duties to represent her and it was all fun. The women’s’ cooperative won by 2 goals to 1 and all the corporate gifts we mobilised were given to them.
The media gave us full coverage both the Plateau State TV station and The National Television Network (I used to work for 2 media stations so mobilising their support was not so difficult!).
We had a total of 372 people in attendance despite the short planning period and we are optimistic that we should be able to do better next year.’
Peru: As part of Global Week of Action on Debt, Micah Challenge Peru joined the Jubilee Campaign in a conference to analyse and reflect on "The politics of debt in Peru and challenges for the future";
They also collaborated with the Women’s Collective to raise awareness of women's rights around the World Day of Rural Women, Oct. 15. The aim was to highlight the contribution of rural women to development and raise awareness amongst the population and the state authorities hoping that this would result in concrete programs that will benefit rural women.
Micah Challenge Peru also participated in a "Forum: Fight against Poverty and the Global Economic Crisis" to reflect on the world economic crisis and how it affects global poverty.
Over 800 churches are expected to have celebrated Micah Sunday which was advertised in radio and TV.
Portugal: MC Portugal combined Stand up/ Micah Sunday activities with their ‘Hot potato campaign’ which was advertised by TV, Radio and cinemas. The main daily newspaper published an open letter against poverty. The campaign is on-going.
Altogether 5,033 participated in Stand up which is a massive increase compared to the 1741 last year.
Rwanda: MC Rwanda mobilized 40 key church leaders for a training workshop prior to Stand up/ Micah Sunday in addition to a radio advert which had coverage in the whole country. The campaign estimates that a large number of people participated in Stand up and Micah Sunday.
Sierra Leone: Micah Challenge joined the GCAP platform to organise rallies in the major towns of the country. So far, they have heard that 35,000 people participated in Micah Sunday/ Stand up activities.
South Africa: Micah Challenge in South Africa participated in the following events of the wider Civil Society which took place after various poverty hearings around the country.
After a march in Pretoria on the 17 October to the Union building, campaigners called on the South African government for the CSG (Child Support Grant) to be increased to age 18, an increase to the limit of free water to poor house holds, a zero-rate for VAT for essential food items, the ratification of the UN Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and to play a driving role in building a global partnership for development, as part of the 8th Millennium Development Goal;
Micah Sunday was celebrated in churches around the country.
Zambia: Micah Challenge mobilized 28,750 and is still waiting for numbers from some provinces. Here
is what Lawrence Temfwe writes as a brief summary of events: ‘We learned that Father Zulu of the Anglican Church in Ndola gave a moving sermon on Micah 6:8. Father Mwewa of the 1,200 members Nkwazi Catholic Church had the small groups pray through the MDGs. Bishop Chirambo of Narrow Way Assemblies of God said at our inter-denominational prayer meeting "God has rebuked me. Today, I have for the first time looked at the environment in light of Genesis 1. We need to see Zambia from the perspective of the Garden of Eden." Rev. Chanda of Bread of Life led the church in the morning to pray over attaining the MDGs. Rev Chenge of United Church in Zambia, blessed our hearts with a wonderful word from Micah 6:8.’
Zimbabwe: Pastor Netha writes: ‘As you know Zimbabwe signed a power sharing agreement recently. Unfortunately, this hasn’t translated into reality. We want to STAND UP and request churches to come together in five areas, Bulawayo, Harare, Gweru, Mutare and Masvingo. We want to speak out and pray that this deadlock can be unlocked and at the same time we will be putting pressure on the government that the issues of Zimbabwe will be solved.’