Published: Thursday, 20th March, 2008 9:55am

You can make a difference

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THE work of a Peppard-based charity is unfortunately one of the world's best-kept secrets.

But Practical Christian Ministries International is pushing forward with pioneering plans to help develop a sustainable social business while providing practical resources to one of the world's war-torn nations - which has 85% unemployment and more than 100,000 ex-child soldiers who are growing into adult life with little hope.

Help is needed in providing practical equipment to empower Liberians, giving them futures full of hope, and PCN International is appealing for support from Chronicle readers.

A shipping container is leaving for Monrovia, the capital of the West African nation of Liberia, at the end of this month and needs equipment you may well have and that you no longer need.

Few could grasp the atrocities and total devastation that the civil war in Liberia brought to thousands.

The 2007 Leonardo DiCaprio movie Blood Diamond, although based on the war in neighbouring Sierra Leone, could equally well be a depiction of the ferocious 14-year Liberian conflict.

With more than 200,000 dead between 1989 and 2003, 1.5 million people displaced, murdered, raped, their hands and limbs hacked off with machetes, this is a country that needs help to rebuild.

Today, four years since the ceasefire and the election of a new female president, PCM International's founder Rev Phil Cheale, Minister of Peppard Congregational Church, says: "There is real hope for the first time in decades. We want to help facilitate this new dawn for the people of Liberia in a real and practical way which will help them build and own their future."

The Rev Cheale, who spent many years in Liberia and saw first-hand the carnage of the civil war, adds: "Now is the time to help make a real difference by building on the new foundations already in place."

He is referring to the Vocational Training Institute in Monrovia, established by PCM, which now employs 35 staff and has already seen 2,500 graduates pass through its doors equipped in business administration, and the 25-acres of farmland which is creating fledgling businesses (each Liberian in work supports approximately 50 family members).

PCM says that 80p in every pound that is given to the charity goes directly into the hands of the Liberian project managers, enabling E, accountability and lasting results.

PCM has recognised the rapid growth of social enterprise in Britain over the last few years and has one of the first qualified social business advisers in its formative team which is going to Liberia next month to assess the potential for setting up local people in their own businesses.

Nick Crowder, who lives in Shiplake, says: "I have been building social business for 18-years in the UK, creating work and life-changing opportunity for thousands who otherwise would have been abandoned on the social and economic sideline. I relish the opportunity to see how we can give to Liberia what it needs to kick start the economy.

"I would call on everyone reading this article to consider how they could play a part in this great work. We all can. We all have something to give, time, expertise, practical goods, and funding support, to realise this potential, there is no greater gift than giving and here you know and will see what a difference it makes."

Nick's trip to Liberia with the Rev Cheale on Monday, April 22, should coincide with the arrival of the PCM container, enabling them to take live footage of the unpacking and distribution of its contents to be put on the web for everyone to view.

Nick says: "We would welcome contact from any individuals, schools, companies or community groups who would like to be part of this exciting and challenging undertaking.

"We would also like to hear from anyone who could share or arrange secondment of professional expertise to help empower social business growth. Together we can help make a big difference."

Help fill the container with these items:

● Up to 500 computers (Pentium 3 upward)

● Manual typewriters and sewing machines (parts & consumables)

● School equipment, educational books (child and adult vocational)

● Tools - garden, agricultural, machinery, workshop

● Summer clothing for all the family

● Rice and all non-perishable foods

● Children's toys

● Toiletries

● Bicycles

To find out more contact the PCM office on 0118 972 4519 email pcm@pepcon.plus.com or call Nick Crowder on 07914 732 171