KICC to donate over £51,000 to World Vision for tsunami victims

Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) in Hackney has raised £51,284.64 for victims of the Asian tsunami disaster.

The funds, donated by KICC’s congregation during the New Year’s Eve celebration of Watchnight 2004, will be presented to the charity World Vision, a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), on 6 March 2005 during a special Super Celebration Sunday service at the KICC headquarters in Waterden Road, E15.

The donation will be used to help restore the lives of 40 families in the town of Point Pedro in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Point Pedro is a northern Sri Lankan town on the Bay of Bengal. Despite being located 1100 miles from the epicentre of the earthquake (near Simeulue in Indonesia), the town was badly damaged by the tsunami. The inhabitants are now in dire need of temporary and permanent housing. KICC’s donation will allow World Vision to rebuild the houses of 40 families using local expertise, work force and materials.

KICC Senior Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo said: “We are delighted to have raised such a sum of money for the victims of the Asian tsunami disaster. Members of our congregation have given generously and this means that with the help of World Vision we can now help restore the livelihood of many families. I would like to thank each and every member of our congregation who has made this possible. Here at KICC, eradicating poverty is one of our charitable aims and one that we take seriously.”
KICC’s past humanitarian initiatives include the building of wells in Sudan (in collaboration with Oxfam) and the donation of over 1,000 gift boxes to the Operation Christmas Child appeal run by Samaritan’s Purse. A 40ft container filled with clothes was also sent to Mozambique.

The total human cost of the Asian tsunami tragedy is estimated by World Vision as 221,100 deaths of which Sri Lanka suffered 30,920. Thanks to public generosity World Vision had already raised £172,000 from church donations prior to KICC’s donation.

Alistair Metcalfe, Church Action Manager from World Vision said: “World Vision is delighted to accept this extremely generous gift on behalf of the people of Jaffna, northern Sri Lanka. The money will be invested into a year-long project that will provide families with new permanent housing – meaning new hope, new livelihoods, and new security for women and children.”

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For further press information, interviews or photography please contact:
Albanne Spyrou Tel: 020 8525 0000 E-mail: Albanne_Spyrou@kicc.org.uk


Notes to Editors:

KICC, an independent, interdenominational and international church, is the largest church in Western Europe. The main church is based in Hackney on a 9.5-acre facility that includes a 4,000-seater auditorium. Over 12,000 people attend its three services every Sunday. KICC has five UK branches – KICC Birmingham, KICC French Connection, KICC Luton, KICC South West (Wimbledon) and KICC Wembley – and 16 Sunday chapels across London and the South East. Its many ministries and community activities include a Hopeline telephone service, educational counselling and the annual KICC Champions Awards. KICC is a major provider of Christian programmes to radio and TV stations that broadcast to millions of people across the world.


Kingsway International Christian Centre
57 Waterden Road, Hackney, London E15 2EE
Tel: 020 8525 0000 Fax: 020 8525 0002
E-mail: admin@kicc.org.uk www.kicc.org.uk