Give to the Christmas Bowl!

About the Christmas Bowl

Sixty years ago, the Reverend Frank Byatt of Victoria had a simple vision. On Christmas day 1949, he placed an empty bowl on the dinner table and asked all present to give what they considered to be the cost of the meal.

Frank urged his guests to reflect on their good fortunes and encouraged them to do something selfless for the people around the world who are victims of disease, poverty and violence. This small but significant gesture of charity has resonated deeply with thousands of Australians and has shown that we all have the ability to make a difference, no matter how small the gift. The very first Christmas Bowl only raised ₤1,808, but has now reached over $2 million each year.

Sixty years on, Frank’s vision has grown tremendously. As the world has changed significantly since 1949, the Christmas Bowl has had to grow to meet new challenges. Today, the funds raised go towards act for peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia. act for peace works in partnership to reduce poverty, protect refugees, prevent conflicts and empower communities .

By giving to the Christmas Bowl, we can achieve an international sense of togetherness through working with churches and communities in Australia and in conflict-affected areas worldwide. On the 60 year anniversary of Frank Byatt’s Christmas Bowl, please consider the importance of sharing and what it means for the lives of others. As can be seen by how the Christmas Bowl has grown, a small gesture like Frank’s can make an enormous difference.

How is Assistance delivered?

Assistance is delivered through partnership programs in each of the various locations. ‘Partnership’s’ are relationships with existing Church councils who implement programs on the ground. act for peace is in constant consultation with these partners, communicating and deliberating together to ensure the best assisstance is delivered. Partnership is a long-term relationship that goes beyond the provision of funds for programs and projects, and includes standing by our partners in times of crisis. It implies mutual learning opportunities between act for peace and our partners, accompaniment and empowerment at different stages of development work, building awareness and capacity, providing basic services, and responding during emergencies.

act for peace has long-term relationships with partners. Many of these are based on church to church relationships, where Australian churches and act for peace have had decades of involvement. Some partnerships are with existing civil society organisations. act for peace does not establish branch or field offices in other countries.

These partnerships bring local knowledge, experience and essential communication skills. These expertise enable transformation to begin within the community, rather than being impinged upon from outside. Sudan, The West Bank, and Zimbabwe are just three of the local communities that have experienced this ‘inside-out’ transformation, beginning to access resources previously only dreamt of. The maintenance of these act for peace partnerships is vital so community transformation can continue throughout the world.

Responding to the teachings of Jesus Christ, we come together to break down the structures of poverty, oppression, injustice, and division. Recognising its accountability to God and to the human family, Christmas Bowl will create and fully utilize opportunities for the Christian Churches to work together. Working through the Christmas Bowl we stand with those experiencing oppression and injustice.