Michael Moller, Secretary-General of the UNOG received the Executive Director of GAF

Michael Moller, Secretary-General of the United Nations Office Geneva UNOG, received Christoph Stückelberger, Executive Director of Geneva Agape Foundation GAF, on 7 December 2017 in his office. They discussed how ethics in technologies like Artificial Intelligence and how faith-driven investments can contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals SDGs.

UNOGsecretary

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Prof. Cui Wantian, the President of GAF was interviewed by “Reformiert”, the Protestant magazine based in Zurich

In its second Nov. edition, Prof. Cui Wantian, the President of GAF was on the cover of “Reformiert” (Reformer). Read his interview <Chinese State Church of the Brand Zwingli Freedom of religion: The businessman (Moses) Wantian Cui wants to reconcile Christianity with the Chinese doctrine of the state. Zwingli [The Reformer from Zurich] serves him as a model.>, in German or in English translation.

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Faith in Finance meeting launched Zug Guidelines to faith-consistent investing

Financial investors and leaders of more than 30 different faith traditions representing over 500 faith investment groups from eight religions and billions of dollars in assets, met in Zug's beautiful Lassalle Haus retreat centre together with representatives of the UN and some key impact investment funds, for a unique international meeting on Faith in Finance. GAF's President Cui Wantian and Executive Director Christoph Stückelberger were present.

The Zug Guidelines to faith-consistent investing (full copy) were launched in the meeting. The participants share the goal to make public the priorities for positive investment.

Zug_Guidelines    Procession and Guideline launch  

Participants in eight religions took part in the procession and launch of the Zug Guidelines, 30 Oct. 

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Philanthropy Work of Amity Foundation, GAF's Partner

Amity Foundation, one of GAF's leading parners, co-organized a charity exchange forum in Hong Kong on September 25. The forum was to share information about the rise and development of philanthropy on the Mainland in the wake of the Tencent 99 Charity Day.

The Blue Book on Philanthropy in China 2017 was released on the forum.

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Liaoning Agape Foundation LAF, a Chinese partner of Geneva Agape Foundation, raised over 350,000 RMB for two projects. They were all spent online on 9 September, the National Charity Day 99.

It is the third annual 99 Charity Day that Chinese internet giant Tencent initiated. LAF dedicated two projects < Angels with Broken-wings > and <Legal Education in School> to the online fundraising campaign, from which Tencent promised to match every penny collected within a certain time window. The campaign hinged on WeChat, the most popular messaging app in China, where is also the one-stand place to realize the campaigning, donation payment and posting on ‘Friend Circle’ after each donation is done.

<Angels with Broken-wings> is a long-term charitable project that LAF implements to help young people who suffer from life difficulties because of their physical and mental or family reasons in rural northeast part of China. <Legal Education in Primary School> aims to tackle the in-campus bullying by propagating the legal knowledge among primary and middle schoolers. The amount raised at the end of the 3-day online campaign exceeded the goal targeting at 10,000RMB for each project.


Picture shows the moment that LAF’s staff waited to click together on ‘Donate’ as soon as the ‘Matching donation’ time window opened.

 

Once the donation got through, the user would be told immediately how many ‘matching donation’ was received from various sponsors.

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Charity Bazaar on 99 Charity Day

On 99 Charity Day, Taiyuan Jie, the famous pedestrian shopping street in Shenyang saw a colorful 300-metre lined up by charity bazaar booths. In the booths are staff and volunteers of various local NGOs, charity organizations, and grassroot initiatives. Curious passers-by get stopped to read the standing posters, attracted by the cute handicrafts or to talk to the volunteers. Raising awareness on charity causes is the major purpose to throw such event in the city center. 

Advocacy poster from left to right: Mining workers diagnosed with pneumoconiosis; Left-behind children (whose parents leave for big city to support family back in rural area); Humanitarian aid in natural disasters.

  

Paying for the handicrafts has to be done via digital WeChat Pay, to prompt an equivalent  matching donation from Tecent

LAF and GAF staff in front of the event banner. LAF is the key sponsor of the Charity Bazaar.

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15 June Delegation of China Christian Council CCC visited GAF

CCC visitThe delegation is consisted of Rev. Wen Ge, Teacher of Nanjing Union Theological Seminary (first from left); Elder Ou Enli, Director of Overseas Relations Department, CCC/TSPM (second from left); Rev. Gao Feng, President of CCC (in the middle); Rev. Liang Ming, Vice President of CCC (far right), Chairperson of Guangdong Provincial TSPM.

The delegation visited World Council Church and some other organizations in the Ecumenical Building, at the end of the visit they came to GAF office and met GAF executive director and staff.