A simple thing, like a palm cross, can be an instrument of God's work in the world.
African Palms USA operates as a non-profit overseas mission project. Operating costs are kept to a minimum, through the dedication of many volunteers. The net proceeds from the sale of crosses, and all donations received, are returned to Africa in the form of non-denominational self-help grants. These grants help meet very basic human needs such as disaster and refugee relief, medical and public health programs, agriculture and other projects that benefit all regardless of faith. Since 1976, African Palms USA has provided $1,765,314 in self-help grants.
The crosses are woven by entire families in nine villages near Masasi, Tanzania. These villages are located in areas where traditionally people are subsistence farmers with little opportunity to earn cash. Earnings from weaving these crosses are used to purchase food, medicine, clothing and pay school fees. James Cooper, Chairman of African Palms, shared this story:
"A great thrill for me was meeting a seminarian at Virginia Theological Seminary who, as a child, plated crosses with his family in order to have funds to pay his school fees. Now he is the head master at an Anglican School in Tanzania. A simple thing, like a palm cross, can be an instrument of God's work in the world."
Grants given by African Palms changes lives!
African Palms sells approximately 1.5 million crosses a year to churches and other Christian institutions throughout the United States. The result last year was $70,000 to make grants back into Africa. Last year African Palms funded three dioceses in Uganda to do public health programs teaching villagers how to dig and use pit latrines. Each village was given training and a cement pad with a hole in it so that they could build a convenient and safe pit latrine. The goal is to limit the spread of water born diseases among the villagers.
A frequent grant is for a water system for a village. The benefits are many;
- Better health with clean water
- A great savings in time since a woman does not have to walk miles with a can of water on her head
- Crocodiles eat fewer of the women - actually had this in a thank you letter from a Bishop!