Eritrean grant by Corso

Press, 11 June 1987, Page 32

Eritrean grant by Corso

Corso marked the beginning of its appeal week on Tuesday •by granting $25,000 to help fund a literacy programme, for African women in the drought and war-stricken area of Eritrea. It was the New Zealand relief, rehabilitation and development association’s first big grant : -this i year from a total international budget of almost $1 million, said the national, co-ordinator, :Mr Neil Gray, in Wellington yesterday. Women in traditional societies held the community together, which was why the literacy programmes were aimed at them, he said. Last year, more than 15,000 women gained reading and, Writ- ; ing skills through: the literacy programme ■ runby the Union of Eritrean women.

The projects officer, Ms Tricia Walbridge, said all Corso projects recognised the key role that women played in development “In the Horn of Africa, women must sustain their families in the face of drought and; devastation caused by years of civil -■•war.” / - <> The famine in: Eritrea had eased;,considerably In ' the last few/ months, but : the focus now needed to be-. /. extended 1 beyond emergency;relief to long- ' term, community developments projects. . V-: Corso has launched also an appeal in support of Palestinian refugees. It had , supported the / refugees through the United Nations Relief and'. .Welfare Agency: (U.N.W.R.A.) since 1992, but this was the first. Palestinian appeal for/some years, Mr Gray said. V :