Aline’s story
In Burundi, malnourishment and poverty affect more than 70% of the population, making survival a daily
struggle. Jobs and food are hard to come by, and those who have homes often have no electricity or running
water.
For Aline, life was a constant struggle. She was married young and gave birth to her eldest son, when she
was just 14; she also experienced constant abuse from her violent husband.
Then, Aline faced even more devastation. Her husband married another woman, forcing Aline to flee. He
prevented her from taking their children with her; she wandered the streets, asking anyone for a place to
sleep. Those who showed her kindness would let her stay for two or three days; it was difficult.
Hungry, scorned and alone, Aline took her first step towards her new life. She started by participating in a
transformative three-day community workshop, funded by Christian Aid. She came out with amazing
knowledge and skills, and a restored a sense of hope and energy.
She was taught how to form a Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) and establish a steady income.
VSLAs mean people can save for their future and borrow money to kickstart small rural businesses. With all
she had learned, Aline's dream of getting her children back finally felt possible.
With a small start-up loan, Aline started trading avocados and peanuts locally. With her profits, she bought
a bicycle so she could transport greater quantities of goods to markets further afield. Eventually, her hard
work had finally paid off, and she had earned the money she needed to rent a house.
Once Aline secured a home for herself, her three eldest sons were able to escape their father and join her.
Today, Aline lives peacefully on her own plot of land in a remote village in the Kayogoro Commune in Makamba
Province. She's baked her own bricks and is building a strong home for her and her children in every sense.
She can now afford food, clothes and essential healthcare for her family. She's also purchased solar panels
so her children can do their evening homework by electric light.
Christine Wall
Authorised Worship Assistant
Christian Aid Week is 12-18 May.
Weddings, Baptism and Funerals
It is our privilege to be involved in many of the significant moments of people's lives. Here at The Waterside Group of Churches we will do our best to guide you through what Christians mean by baptism, marriage and funerals.
Waterside Scratch Band
Scratch Band is the church music group for the Waterside group of parishes. The band meets for practice, fellowship, fun and a tea break every Thursday evening at 7.30pm to 9.30pm usually in the Church Room, Ludham or in one of the Waterside parish churches.
We play for services in the Waterside benefice and beyond, supporting regular worship in the churches and outdoors. We also entertain at local events and go carol singing in pubs, care homes and anywhere else that will have us!
Scratch is open to all. A warm welcome awaits whether you sing, play an instrument, or would just like to listen.
Contacts:
David Frost mobile: 07907679630
Diana Rackham mobile: 07880943104
Email: dianarackham@hotmail.com
WATERSIDE SCRATCH BAND – PRESS RELEASE
Meets: Thursdays, 7:30pm – 9:30pm, Ludham Church Room (Please check with a contact before coming, in case we are meeting elsewhere)
Contacts:
David Frost mobile: 07907679630
Diana Rackham mobile: 07880943104
Email: dianarackham@hotmail.com
Forthcoming events:
Friday 3rd May - St Catherine’s Church, Ludham.
Informal evening concert of pieces composed by Scratch Band members during covid lockdown, accompanying the preview of an exhibition of hobbies and crafts created in lockdown, which will be on display over the weekend.
Saturday 18th May – Ludham Methodist Church.
To celebrate the chapel’s anniversary; an evening of sacred songs, hymns and choruses – join us for a jolly good sing!
Scratch Band is the church music group for the Waterside group of parishes.
The band meets for practice, fellowship, fun and a tea break every Thursday evening at 7.30pm to 9.30pm usually in the Church Room, Ludham or in one of the Waterside parish churches.
We play for services in the Waterside benefice and beyond, supporting regular worship in the churches and outdoors. We also entertain at local events and go carol singing in pubs, care homes and anywhere else that will have us!
Scratch is open to all. A warm welcome awaits whether you sing, play an instrument, or would just like to listen.
New member Dianne comments:
Hello, we are the scratch band, a group of musicians and singers who provide music and support for the Waterside Benefice (Ludham, Catfield and Potter Heigham Churches). We were formed some 10 years ago to provide music when there was no organist in the churches. And so now we attend all Benefice services and other special services in the church calendar. This Christmas we sang carols at Stalham Christmas event, sung to the residents at The Old Vicarage, Ludham. We were also found singing carols in the The Crown Public House Catfield one of our more unusual venues. Our happy band could also be heard in all three churches over Christmas. The final feather in our cap was a spot on Radio Norfolk singing our own very special rendition of While Shepherds.
My name is Dianne, and I am one of the new members of the band. I enjoy singing but never felt brave enough to join a choir. So when the bands leader David Frost invited me to become a member of the Scratch Band and I went along in fear and trepidation but I can honestly say is the best decision I made. There’s music, laughter and fellowship at our weekly meetings and I now really hate to miss a meeting. I urge anyone who loves to sing or play and perhaps a little hesitant about joining to come and give us a try. There’s no audition.
There is also a social side to our group and for Burns Night this year we had a haggis neeps and tatties supper followed by the traditional dessert of Cranach. The haggis was piped in by one of our musicians Ros Wilson and the address was given by another of our musicians Eilish. Once we had all enjoyed our supper we were treated to a very informative and enjoyable talk by Dr Zena Aldridge on “Dementia Awareness”. The whole evening was a huge success.
So having read all about us, I hope it’s whet your appetite and made you just a-bit curious about us
THE SCRATCH BAND.
Would You Like To Be More Involved In Your Local Church
All are welcome. We need musicians, readers, singers for the
choir/worship group, people who would like to pray, worship
assistants, help with buildings and maintenance.
People to help
with youth and children's work, people who would like to help
with pastoral care, fundraising people.
Would you like to host a house group or fellowship group?
There are many opportunities for all.
Please come along to one of our churches and speak to a Churchwarden.
The Waterside
