Every year during the six weeks of Lent, Churches Together, an ecumenical body comprising 11 mainly English-speaking churches in Rome, raises money for the annual Rice Bowl Appeal.

Some upcoming fundraising events include a Rice Bowl quiz night at the Porta Pia Club at the British embassy in Rome on 16 March at 19.30, and a sponsored walk in Villa Ada on 1 April (Palm Sunday) at 14.00.

The idea behind the Rice Bowl initiative which was launched about three decades ago, is to encourage people to eat less for one meal a day during the 40 days of abstinence leading up to Easter and to donate the money saved.

Funds generated for the 2012 project, "Out of Africa...into Malta