Movie for a Cause: Ethiopia drought relief fundraiser to feature award-winning film on child marriage

CCFC and Soda Pictures Canada join together for special screening of DIFRET

TORONTO, June 7, 2016 /CNW/ - Ethiopia is experiencing its worst drought in 50 years, affecting more than 10-million people. This humanitarian crisis has wreaked havoc on the landscape, decimated farming, drastically reduced water supplies and emptied stockpiles of grain typically used in emergencies. Christian Children's Fund of Canada (CCFC) and Soda Pictures Canada have joined together for Movie for a Cause: Ethiopia Drought Relief, a fundraiser to be held at 6:00 pm on June 14 at No One Writes to the Colonel, 460 College Street, Toronto. The event features a special screening of DIFRET, a critically-acclaimed film about child marriage by Ethiopian director Zeresenay Mehari, along with other fundraising activities. All proceeds from Movie for a Cause will go towards CCFC's Ethiopia drought relief efforts.

"Helping children is our main concern. We are urging Canadians to give generously to provide relief to children and families devastated by the drought in Ethiopia," says Mark Lukowski, Chief Executive Officer, Christian Children's Fund of Canada. "Movie for a Cause will be a fun and interactive way for people to come together to make a difference."

The current drought is due to El Niño, a complex weather pattern that has greatly impacted the Horn of Africa and left Ethiopia in critical need. The Government of Ethiopia is doing all it can, but the need is overwhelming. CCFC has recently launched an appeal to support families and communities in need of assistance. Since January, CCFC has been actively distributing food items and supporting drought-affected elementary schools.

DIFRET is based on the inspirational true story of a young Ethiopian girl and her lawyer, who are caught in a life-or-death struggle between cultural traditions and the country's advancement of equal rights.

For a $20 donation, see DIFRET on June 14th. Visit ccfcanada.ca/movie-for-a-cause.

CCFC's Ethiopia drought media kit: http://bit.ly/EthiopiaDroughtMediaKit

About Christian Children's Fund of Canada:
Christian Children's Fund of Canada (CCFC) is a child-focused international development organization and a member of ChildFund Alliance. For more than 50 years, CCFC has been helping children and families of all faiths move from poverty to self-reliance. CCFC supports children and communities in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Nicaragua and Paraguay. Currently, CCFC has more than 50,000 children sponsored, benefiting approximately 500,000 people around the world. For more details visit www.ccfcanada.ca.

SOURCE Christian Children's Fund of Canada

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