NZ Freephone Young Sri Lankans enjoy media training in the northwest, a programme offered by MONLAR in rural areas.
April 2024
Your donations are already at work, giving life and hope to people who need water, food and justice. As a Partner for Life, you are supporting our long term partners meet the needs of some of the most vulnerable people and tackling poverty and injustice in the communities where they live. Thank you for your compassion and your commitment to making sure more people live in dignity and peace.
In this year’s report we offer you a snapshot of the work our partners are doing with great skill and commitment. Whether it is MONLAR campaigning for the rights of Sri Lanka’s teapickers to grow food and live in better housing or the Tonga Community Development Trust distributing chicken houses, you are supporting communities to make change wherever they can. There is hope, because people like you put their values into action.
Thank you for your prayers and solidarity.
Rev Dr Tim Pratt
National Director
Our Featured Partners
Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform, Sri Lanka
430 member organisations linked through 8 regional forums.
Advocates for elephant management and habitat protection.
Campaigns for the rights of plantation workers, including access to land for home gardens.
The Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform works with small-scale food producers to improve their lives and livelihoods. It is made up of a network of local groups promoting sustainable agriculture. Members decided on priorities at regional People’s Planning Forums as well as share knowledge, seeds and more. The food producers support better wages and fairer living conditions in Sri Lanka’s valuable tea industry and have supported each other through the country’s economic and political crises.
MONLAR runs model farms and field schools to pass on the latest developments in regenerative agriculture. More than 2,050 people learned how to make organic fertiliser and use agroecological methods. It responds to the needs of the farming community, producing research, organising advocacy actions and establishing new markets. MONLAR is willing to speak out strongly against injustice and put in place alternatives that work.
Tonga Community Development Trust
50 new chicken houses distributed in 9 villages.
100 households have planted fruit trees and seeds.
Community nurseries established on Ha’apai and ‘Eua.
Tonga Community Development Trust is a community-led organisation. For many years members of Amatakiloa a Fafine have grown flourishing gardens, installed and repaired rainwater tanks and helped each other find new markets for traditional crafts. Local committees work closely with the town officer to meet the needs of the people and prepare in case of disaster.
Over the last year, staff and its village-based membership have concentrated on helping people get back on their feet after the devastation caused by the 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai and the tsunami that followed. At first, due to high demand there was a shortage of materials and plants to reestablish and expand home gardens, but steady progress has been made.
Tonga Trust is running psychosocial workshops so members can help people affected by the double disaster.
Lutheran World Federation, Poland
81 year old Ukrainian refugee Tamara pictured at the LWF community centre in Bielsko-biała, where she participates in an art relaxation session. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert
3,083 children took part in craft and other activities in a child-friendly space
945 women, men and children received psychosocial support
8 people received disability support and equipment
From Day One of the Russian offensive, ACT Alliance has been providing humanitarian support to people displaced by the war.
With matching support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, CWS contributed fun for women and children in Poland. Local ACT partner the Lutheran World Federation assisted new refugees with cash grants, accommodation, language classes, disability support, and employment. Psychosocial support has become increasingly important as families live with the fear and trauma of war and the new environment.
Through your monthly donation, you get to be a partner in sharing life with some of the world’s most vulnerable people. You help them meet their most vital needs for water, food and justice through our local partners who are part of their communities.
Thank you for supporting change that gives life.
Thank you for being a CWS Partner for Life.
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