Christian Aid, an organisation of the churches in the UK and Ireland with a vision to change the world and make it a fair place, without poverty for all people of all faiths, is organising 'Christian Aid Week'. The initiative will include fundraising, prayer and action for the world's poorest people.

'Christian Aid Week' first started in 1957 and has become the oldest door-to-door collection campaign in the UK. The week will take place from 15th–21st May 2005 and a movement of 4,000 local organisers, 20,000 supporting churches and 300,000 dedicated collectors are expected.

Poverty, this year in particular, is something that the whole world is coming together to stand up against, and it is hoped that millions will take action for trade justice. A national advertising campaign has been set and there will also be thousands of special events and church services during the 'We believe in life before death' week throughout the whole UK.

Volunteers will hand out campaign postcards to tackle the injustices in world trade, and have been designed to match the UK's hosting of the G8 meeting of the world's most powerful leaders in July and the UK's presidency of the EU later this year.

This year's 'Christian Aid Week' is also supported by Irish pop star and Christian Aid ambassador, Ronan Keating, who witnessed the damaging impact of international trade rules when he visited Ghana last year.

Also television star, Jill Halfpenny from soap Eastenders has declared her support for the campaign. She recently returned from India where she paid witness to Christian Aid's work with tsunami survivors and projects supporting Dalit communities, the most discriminated people in India.

Halfpenny expressed, "I’ve seen examples of Christian Aid's amazing work helping some of the world's poorest people improve their own lives. Please do whatever you can to help make a difference this Christian Aid Week."