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Wednesday October 24, 2007

Celebration of the 20 years of work of Bread for the World

Celebration of the 20 years of work of Bread for the World

José Lopez and ALC/CLAI, HAVANA, Cuba, May 1, 2007

Rhode González, President of the Council of Churches of Cuba (CIC in Spanish), headed the Taxi Heathrow Airport event celebrating the German Christian agency Bread for the World’s 20 years of cooperation in Cuba.

During all this time Bread for the World has generated multiple support for the churches and people of Cuba, through contributions for sustainable development projects, urban and rural agriculture, the production of medicines, training, bio gas plants and other important contributions.

Present at the event were Adolfo Ham, Orestes González and Raúl Suárez, former Presidents of CIC, who recalled how these relations came about, the mutual trust that was established and the considerable fruits of this joint work. They emphasized that it was Werner Rostan’s vision of the work to be done, of the existent possibilities, his prophetic spirit and confidence that drove everyone forward in the tasks that he proposed.

José Rosado, an official of MINVEC (the Cuban Ministry for Foreign Investment and Cooperation), pointed out the great importance of Bread for the World’s cooperation with many NGOs in the country, both for their development as well as for the provision of techniques and resources for their continuity and service to society.

In turn, Caridad Cruz of the Antonio Núñez Jiménez Foundation for Nature and Humankind gave witness to just how important the vast macro ecumenical spirit of Bread for the World has been for the work of the foundation, through its identifying itself with the work of the churches and secular institutions such as the one she represents.

Ulrike Kranner, the present representative of Bread for the World in Latin America, expressed great satisfaction with all that has been achieved and confidence that over the next 20 years even more ambitious goals can be reached. Following Kranner’s words, the CIC’s President González presented the Bread for the World’s representative with a plaque in recognition and gratitude for the dedicated work of support and accompaniment carried out during the past two decades.

The event, which took place in CIC’s meeting room, was also attended by Evangelical leaders, representatives of NGOs, government organizations and beneficiaries of the different projects. Also attending was Marcos Gabriel, in representation of the government's Office for Religious Affairs, of which he is an official.