Compassion UK Launches Text to Donate Fundraising Drive

Charity event with GBBO star kick-starts new initiative to empower young women in Brazil

Child development charity Compassion UK has today launched a new fundraising campaign, aiming to raise £20,000 to equip almost 10,000 girls in Brazil with the tools they need to make informed choices about their bodies, relationships, education and employment.

The fundraising campaign launched today at an event jointly hosted by Compassion UK and The Sister Table, held at The Studio in London’s Victoria district. 20 journalists, bloggers and influential Christian women joined Great British Bake Off’s Benjamina Ebuehi for brunch, discussion, and an opportunity to hear about the new project.

Recent research has found that Brazil is the worst place in South America to be a girl. With
high rates of teenage pregnancy and child marriage, many young women in poor
communities are deprived of an education. One study among 20–24 year olds found that 11 per cent (877,000 women) are married by age 15.

Compassion UK’s Text to Donate campaign aims to fund the charity’s Handbook for Girls: Empowered to thrive initiative, which will see every young women aged 12–20 in Compassion’s church-driven projects given a book covering topics such as women’s health,
self-esteem and employment.

The books are being developed by Compassion Brazil’s programme staff in partnership with child development experts, including psychologists and education professionals. Each book costs just £2 to produce and distribute, and the charity aims to raise enough to ensure all 9,800 girls in Compassion’s Brazil projects can receive a copy. In addition, church partners will receive training in how best to support girls in the topics covered in the handbook and boys will participate in workshops on the value of women.

Amy Carter, Compassion UK’s Chief Operating Officer said: “Compassion’s Handbook
for Girls project seeks to give girls in Brazil a new perspective on who they are and what
they can do as young women. Our hope is that by providing simple tools around self-esteem, health, education and employment options, we will empower thousands of girls to make informed choices about their future.”

Co-founder of The Sister Table and Great British Bake Off quarter finalist 2016
Benjamina Ebuehi said: “Through supporting Compassion, I’ve seen first-hand the way
children’s lives can be totally transformed when they are shown love, care and hope for their future.

“During my trip to Ghana with Compassion I saw the incredible and tireless work done on the ground. It was a real joy to witness some of the creative ways that children are supported, such as the baking club we visited. The young people showed such pride in their work and learnt immensely useful practical and employability skills.

“I’m delighted to support this fantastic new project, and look forward to hearing stories of
many young women being equipped with the skills they need to break free from the cycle of poverty for themselves.”

Compassion is an international child development charity with more than 65 years’
experience of working with some of the world’s poorest children. At present nearly 2 million children attend Compassion’s church-driven projects in 29 of the world’s poorest countries.

Text to Donate: To donate £4 and ensure two girls in Brazil get their own copy of Handbook for Girls, text EMPOWER to 70140.

Text costs donation amount of £4 plus standard network charges. Compassion UK receives 100% of your donation. Please obtain bill payer’s permission before texting . Customer care is available on 01932 836 490. Registered charity in England and Wales (1077216) and Scotland (SC045059).

Find out more about our empower girls initiative.