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Spring 2008

Examples of how CWS funds are used in the U.S. and 80 other countries.

Dominican Republic | Kenya and Uganda | Angola | Afghanistan | The Balkans

PDF version of this flier

Dominican Republic Vignette from Overseas Educational Experience Trip: January 2008
by Lary Jackson, Michigan Assistant Director

Tropical Storm Noel swept through the Dominican Republic in November 2007. In the wake of the storm lay devastation in areas most vulnerable to flooding. One such community was Los Robles. Upon our arrival we witnessed the rebuilding efforts taking place. We saw homes, churches and schools that had as much as 8 feet of water and mud, going through the slow process of clean up and restoration. Crops which had been swept away, were being replanted. CWS Blankets were evident and the remains of emergency kits were seen along the way. As we met with community leaders, they shared their struggle to survive and rebuild their community. They shared their gratitude for the help they were receiving through CWS’s partner SSID (Servicio de Ingelias Dominicanas Inc.). The immediate relief was a God send, and the training they were now receiving is resulting in community gardens, shared agricultural strategies and an influx of tools and seeds for sustainable development. Toward the end of our conversation, a lone woman stood, and with deep humility spoke these words through our translator: “We may lose our things, but we will never lose our learning”.

This statement reflects one very important aspect of our ministry in partnership with communities throughout the world. As we share knowledge, strategies and best practices with communities, we equip one another with learning’s which can never be taken from us. This is at the core sustainable development. Your support of CWS/CROP Hunger Walks enables us to live out our mission of extending immediate relief to those affected in crisis, and also affords people the opportunity to learn life-giving strategies in the midst of chronic needs. Thank you for your partnership as together we are “Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty”.

Kenya and Uganda - "Seeing the girls empowered with education… girls fetching water near their homes and then going to school--that makes me happy," says Deborah Katina, Executive Director of Yang'at ("care" in the Pokot language), a Church World Service partner in western Kenya. "By empowering women and girls we're improving life for the whole community." Katina is a pioneer in the area of girls' rights to education--something the Church World Service Water for Life program is helping to make possible in West Pokot district, Kenya, and in a community across the border in Uganda--an arid region with a population of some 4,000 people.

It is the responsibility of women and girls in many parts of Africa to collect water for household use. This often means walking many miles to sites that are contaminated.

With help from Yang'at, families in two communities--one community in Kenya and the other in Uganda--are developing clean water resources, some for human consumption and others for livestock. A variety of water structures are used: shallow wells, cattle troughs, tanks, and sub-surface sand dams.

"I think God sent Church World Service to West Pokot because God knew His people were suffering there," says Katina. "When we go to the communities, we're not just talking about water."
With clean water close at hand, girls can attend school, and women can turn their attention to other profitable pursuits and improve their family’s situation.

Angola - This year, 1,350 women in seven provinces are gaining literacy and more, through a CWS-supported program of the Angolan Council of Christian Churches.

Angola's educational system, along with other social services and economic opportunities, was disrupted by a 30-year civil war. As many as 60 percent of adults in Angola are illiterate. For girls and women, the illiteracy rate is even higher--estimated at 70 percent.

In post-conflict Angola, women are being called upon to participate in the rebuilding of their country. The women's full participation in this reconstruction depends upon gaining education and training.
Facilitated by CWS and ProLiteracy Worldwide's Literacy for Social Change program, the women are not only becoming literate, but are learning about peacemaking, human rights, HIV/AIDS prevention and care, and family savings programs. Through group learning, the women are gaining development skills, new confidence in their abilities, and new hope for the future.
Afghanistan - At CWS Child Rehabilitation Centers in Kabul and Bamyan, 400 students are learning to overcome their traumatic experience of war and violence. The children belong to very poor and vulnerable families that are facing further hardships due to war, the harsh winter, and a nationwide food shortage. Caring teachers provide a healthy learning atmosphere. Free medical checkups are arranged to monitor malnutrition cases and other ailments. The Child Rehabilitation Centers are also equipped with computers and library facilities.

Ten-year-old Mursal and 12-year-old Meerwias attend the Center in Kabul. Mursal, whose mother earns a meager income stitching clothes, enjoys the company of friends, plays outdoor games, and learns good social behavior, cooperation skills, and hygiene practices. She is also learning how to avoid landmines.

Meerwias, who lost his father, wants to become an engineer and carry out construction projects in Afghanistan. He enjoys learning about environmental protection and is gaining social skills at the center. He also has the opportunity to use the computer and read books. He shares what he has learned about health and hygiene with his family.

The Balkans - CWS is planning a three-part housing initiative for families who continue to be displaced from wars of the 1990s in the Balkans.

In Canton 10 province of Bosnia, the initiative will allow 42 families (200 people) to reconstruct their war-destroyed homes with the help of CWS in the municipalities of Bosansko-Grahovo and Glamoc, and the Canton 10 government, all of whom are contributing toward the cost of this project.
In the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, 80 families in 18 municipalities will receive new homes constructed with the help of CWS and RRS (Refugee Return Service).

And, in the Belgrade, Serbia, area, an initial ten displaced families will receive housing construction loans through CWS local partner MicroFinS. The loans will benefit the marginalized Roma community and others. As funds are repaid, loans will be available to additional families for livelihood and small business assistance