The Maohi Protestant Church continues its tradition of charity and generosity.

By Alana Green, WACC volunteer

As the GlobalGiving fundraising challenge for Radio Shalom kicked off April 1, members of Maohi Protestant Church in Tahiti organized a funding drive that resulted in USD 4000. It was the most raised by any group or individual throughout the fundraising challenge.  By the deadline of April 30 WACC had exceeded the target of USD 4000 from 50 donors and secured a permanent place on the GlobalGiving website to continue fundraising for Radio Shalom and other projects in the future.

The Maohi people have a strong tradition of generosity according to Linda Maea Tematua, a member of WACC’s Board of Directors and of the WACC-Pacific Executive Committee, who led the fund-raising in Tahiti. She said that every May, the Maohi Protestant Church (MPC) commemorates the founding of the Tahitian Missionary Society in 1818 by donating generously to causes at home and abroad.  This tradition began with parishioners bringing foodstuffs to help sustain the missionaries.  Later, as currency was introduced, money was donated to projects that benefited the community at large. 

Members of Maohi Protestant Church fundraising for Radio Shalom (Photo: courtesy of MPC)

“In the past, the church has raised money for recovery from natural disasters and services for youth in their community.  The parishioners always found joy in this act of giving”, said Tematua.

She further said that the church members were moved again by this spirit of generosity when they heard WACC’s appeal for the Shalom Radio project in Sierra Leone. Thanks to the contributions of individuals and groups around the world, more than USD 8000 has been raised to date.  The money will be used for equipment such as antennae, microphones, computers and audio recorders.  The fundraising continues at: http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/build-a-radio-station-for-peace-in-sierra-leone/

Radio Shalom promotes interfaith dialogue on important issues facing Sierra Leone today.  With a focus on peaceful conflict resolution, Radio Shalom will work with citizens to find solutions to the country’s many problems such as poverty, unemployment and corruption.  Donations will help the people of Sierra Leone to reconstruct their country which is still recovering from over a decade of civil war.

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