In Today's Hotline:

• SOUTH SUDAN: Helping Teachers Do Their Job
• SAGER BROWN: Depot of Hope
• UMCOR'S 100-TON CHALLENGE Begins May 10
• WORLDWIDE: Resources for World Malaria Day - April 25

SOUTH SUDAN: HELPING TEACHERS DO THEIR JOB

Rose is a 22 year-old social studies teacher at Jigomoni Primary School in Yei Town, South Sudan. Though she taught at nursery schools for six years in neighboring Uganda, when she returned to South Sudan in 2007 she was denied teaching jobs because she lacked formal training. The head master at Jigomoni who interviewed Rose recognized her potential and suggested she pursue teacher training through UMCOR Sudan.

Today, because of the training program, Rose has a teaching certificate. "Doing the UMCOR training course helped me so much," said Rose. "It taught me how to plan my lessons, better ways to teach my classes, and gave me teaching materials I can use to help my students to learn better."

Education is the heart of UMCOR's work in South Sudan. Since 2006, UMCOR has been helping returning refugees by building schools, providing children with school supplies and training teachers. Help us continue empowering teachers to do their job through supporting programs like these by giving to Sudan Emergency, UMCOR Advance #184385.

SAGER BROWN: DEPOT OF HOPE

The Sager Brown campus has been a beacon of hope in Southern Louisiana for more than 140 years. Originally a school and orphanage, today it is a relief supply center that sends health, flood, sewing, layette and other kits to people in need around the world. UMCOR's most recent DVD tells the story of UMCOR Sager Brown and provides additional resources for those who want to participate in its ministries.

In addition to an informational video about UMCOR Sager Brown, the DVD has three short instructional videos illustrating how to assemble health, school and layette kits. The DVD also includes instruction sheets for each kit in addition to sewing patterns for layettes and school bags, and information about volunteering at the Baldwin, Louisiana campus.

Order your free DVD today by sending an email with your name and mailing address to umcor@gbgm-umc.org. You can also support this ministry by giving to Material Resources, UMCOR Advance #901440.

UMCOR'S 100-TON CHALLENGE BEGINS MAY 10

United Methodists are encouraged to help farmers earn fair prices for their crops by participating in UMCOR's 100-Ton Challenge. Beginning on World Fair Trade Day, May 10, 2008 and continuing through May 9, 2009 - the campaign encourages United Methodists to help increase the amount of fairly-traded coffee, tea, chocolate and snacks purchased through The UMCOR Coffee Project and its partner Equal Exchange, a 100 percent fair trade, worker-owned co-operative.

The goal of the 100-Ton Challenge is to increase awareness about fair trade in United Methodist churches everywhere and leverage fairly-traded products to help promote better lives for farmers in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the United States. Consumers of fairly-traded coffee, tea and chocolate, help farmers stay on their land, care for the environment, and support their families.

Help spread the word about fair trade. Download UMCOR's 100-Ton Challenge poster or the World Fair Trade Day bulletin insert. You can also help small-scale farmers though your gifts to Sustainable Agriculture and Development, UMCOR Advance #982188.

RESOURCES: WORLD MALARIA DAY - APRIL 25

World Malaria Day is April 25. While this event is observed one day out of each year, malaria and its effects are experienced daily - especially in Africa where one in five children die from this disease.

On April 25 and throughout the year, raise awareness about malaria by sharing available resources through the Make Malaria History Campaign. Download the latest bulletin insert highlighting the Mozambique Initiative, a ministry of the Missouri Annual Conference, and its two-year assignment to educate, train and distribute nets to hospitals, orphanages, and women shelters. You can also share the Make Malaria History booklet which illustrates how your gifts contribute in specific ways to save lives.

Visit the Make Malaria History web page for more information and support programs that combat malaria by giving to Malaria Control, UMCOR Advance #982009.

UMCOR provides emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about UMCOR's ministries, please visit umcor.org. You can donate to any project by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068; or by calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted. You can also give online at givetomission.org. UMCOR is exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States and qualifies for the maximum charitable contribution deduction by donors.

United Methodist Committee on Relief
General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church
Room 330, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115
Voice Phone: 1-212-870-3816; FAX: 1-212-870-3624
Email: umcor@gbgm-umc.org
Web: http://www.umcor.org

UMCOR. Be There. Be Hope.
UMCOR's mission is to alleviate human suffering-whether caused by war, conflict, or natural disaster-with open minds and hearts to all people.