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our history

left: Director Kirsty Smith blows out the candles on MRDF's birthday cake.

In 2006 MRDF celebrated 21 years since becoming a registered charity. However, its work first began at the end of World War II.

 

Here are some of the highlights:

1940s

  • Began with a scheme to house refugees in Austria and Germany after World War II.

1950s-1960s

  • Contributed to the building of Wesley Village in Hong Kong.
  • Supported Methodists in Barbados and Grenada following a hurricane.
  • New focus on longer-term development work, with grants given to agricultural training schemes, nursing services, and schools for disabled children.

1970s-1980s

  • Volunteers drove caravans to Italy to provide homes for earthquake survivors.

1985: MRDF became a registered charity.

  • Action Cards first produced for Advent 1986, encouraging supporters to campaign and take practical action for a better world, and leading to regular action resources being provided for Lent and Advent.

1990s

  • 1992: Income topped £1million for the first time.
  • Longer-term overseas partnerships were established with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture.

2000 onwards

  • The Millennium Tree Fund appeal raised nearly £50,000 for tree-planting and agro-forestry projects.
  • 2004-05: Annual income reached £4.2million, including £1.4m for the Asian Tsunami in response to MRDF's biggest ever emergency appeal.
  • MRDF now supports more than 60 overseas partners and UK development education and campaigning organisations, with an emphasis on building their capacity and helping them to grow and develop.

 

"A brief summary cannot do justice to how much our partners overseas, and the communities with whom they work, have achieved with MRDF support. Thousands of individuals' lives have been changed, or even saved, through the commitment and generosity of our Methodist supporters. We look forward to many more small miracles." Kirsty Smith, Director MRDF

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