Women in Christian leadership are being invited by Tearfund to take part in a trip to Malawi next year (February 2010), to spend time with women affected by poverty and HIV.

The trip will include visits to local churches which are reaching out to people in their communities who are affected by HIV, as well as opportunities to stay with a family in a community overnight and shadow them during the day.

‘We know that poverty always disproportionately affects women, and that they are very involved in caring for others and in finding practical solutions to issues in their communities,’ says Yioula Taliadorou, Church Relationship Manager at Tearfund.

‘I know that the women who come on this trip will return challenged, humbled and inspired to share their passion for justice and tackling poverty with their families and churches.’

During the trip, there will be opportunities for the team to work alongside local families and churches and to pray with and for them, as part of Tearfund’s Connected Church programme which helps UK churches to partner with churches in the poorest parts of the world.

Scottish singer and songwriter Yvonne Lyon, who went to Cambodia with Tearfund on a similar trip earlier this year, said: ‘I fell in love with the way church does things. There was an emphasis on the spiritual and education combined. ‘For example, we met a teenage HIV support group and I saw groups of women and children in the village learning about health. I wasn’t expecting to see something so practical which was obviously restoring respect and dignity. I felt really proud and I believe in what Tearfund does.’

The trip runs from 22 February to 5 March and costs £850 plus flight costs.

For information call 0208 943 7868 or www.tearfund.org/News