Good morning/afternoon everyone Good morning/afternoon everyone. Welcome to our assembly for Harvest Fast Day.

“I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full” John 10:10 At Harvest time, we celebrate and give thanks for the food we have. We think of others who live in poverty and do not have enough food, wherever they live in the world, nearby or far away. We remember the words of the Gospel: “I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full” John 10:10 [Click to reveal the quote]   Today let’s think about how we can Brighten Up this Harvest, and play our part to build a brighter world, so that we can all share in the Harvest and live life to the full.

Meet Jacqueline. She is ten. With your help, CAFOD have been supporting her family for many years.   [You may recognise Jacqueline, who features in the KS2 El Salvador Geography pack.]

Jacqueline age 10 age 4 age 8 age 6 age 2 Jacqueline We first met Jacqueline when she was two. Back then life wasn’t easy for her and her family. They barely had enough to get by. It was too expensive to buy the seeds they needed each year. Over time, CAFOD’s partner trained Jacqueline’s dad, Fidel to grow his own seeds. The community also learned new farming methods which helped them.

It takes time for people to grow their way out of poverty It takes time for people to grow their way out of poverty. That is why CAFOD have been supporting Jacqueline’s family for many years. Now, even though Jacqueline’s family still have to work very hard, they are happy that they have what they need.

El Salvador  CAFOD has been working in El Salvador for more than 40 years, helping lots of families across the country in many different ways.

El Salvador CAFOD partners have been helping families to: [Click here.] Live in peace Grow enough food Set up small businesses to earn enough money for things they need

With your support, families have been working their way out of poverty.

Bit by bit, and with your help, families like Jacqueline’s can escape poverty and build a better, brighter future for themselves.

Things are improving, but one in ten people in the world still live in extreme poverty – this means families do not have enough food and children miss out on school and achieving their dreams.

That’s why we need you to Brighten Up this Harvest – to build a brighter world and help more families around the world, so that we can all share in the Harvest.

£1 buys one week’s attendance at a children’s club, safe from gang violence £38 gives a family grains, vegetables, organic manure and livestock to start a farm £105 buys chickens and materials to start a family business

You can see lots of ideas in the photos but what can you do in school/class to Brighten Up? Use the bright colours of El Salvador to inspire you. Perhaps you could dress up in bright clothes or hold a bright cake sale.   How will you get involved and raise money this Harvest, to help build a brighter world? [Invite ideas from the children.] [If using this assembly on Harvest Fast Day, please rephrase to include how the school has got involved and Brightened Up this Harvest, to help build a brighter world.]

Help us to work together to build a brighter world, Loving God, Help us to work together to build a brighter world, where each of us can become the best person we can be. Let us learn from communities around the world, who are working hard to grow their way out of poverty. We pray we may share generously all you have given us. Amen Slide 14: We are going to finish with a prayer, so let’s sit quietly for a minute. Close your eyes and think about one thing that has struck you from today.   Let’s pray together: Loving God, Help us to work together to build a brighter world, where each of us can become the best person we can be. Let us learn from communities around the world, who are working hard to grow their way out of poverty. We pray we may share generously all you have given us. Amen

Illustrations: Per José Karlén Animation: Alex Amelines Note: You may wish to print slide 6 to use as a colouring sheet. Children could colour it in before to display during the assembly. Or it could be completed after the assembly. As they colour it in, encourage children to talk about what they can do to help build a brighter world for more children like Jacqueline.   Photo credits: Thom Flint, Claudia Torres, David Mutua, Gemma Salter, Ben White, Louise Norton Illustrations: Per José Karlén Animation: Alex Amelines