This Lent CAFOD is inviting supporters to express their love and compassion for our global family through prayer, fasting and giving.

The charity has been awarded matched funding for the Lent Family Fast Day appeal, which means donations made between February 13 and May 12 will be doubled by the UK government up to a total value of £5m. Funds raised during this period must be sent to CAFOD by July 1.

The charity is sharing the experiences of Marian in Zimbabwe and her two children Tawanda and Svondo.

Thanks to many kind donations, CAFOD provided seeds, fencing and farming training for the family.

Over the years, Marian nurtured the seeds into a thriving vegetable garden – full of tomatoes, kale and butternut squash.

Marian’s son Tawanda was once so weak that he couldn’t go to school, but now thanks to generous donations is a healthy 21-year-old who can sell produce from his own vegetable plot.

For more information, visit cafod.org.uk/fastday.

Hear About CAFOD’s Work in Zimbabwe This February

All are welcome to meet CAFOD programme officer Livison Chipatiso, pictured, who carries out vital work in Zimbabwe.

Livison will be speaking about projects tackling hunger and malnutrition in Zimbabwe and will be sharing his personal stories of the need faced by families and the impact the projects are having on the whole community.

The Zimbabwean will visit Hull on Tuesday February 20 and will be at St Anthony and Our Lady of Mercy Church from 12.30pm until 2.30pm.

Livison will then be speaking at evening mass at 7.30pm at Our Lady of Lourdes and St Peter Chanel Church, Cottingham Road, Hull.

CAFOD representative in Middlesbrough, Carol Cross, said: “It has been a while since there has been an international visitor to Hull, so I hope as many people as possible will come along to hear how CAFOD’s partners are responding to malnutrition in Zimbabwe and how your parish can be involved this Lent Family Fast Day.

“Why not come along and bring a friend with you? Everyone is welcome.”

For more information on CAFOD’s work in Zimbabwe, visit cafod.org.uk/zimbabwe.