INSPIRATION NEWSLETTER CHRISTMAS 2024
KEEPING ON GROWING REMARKABLE PERSEVERANCE, LOVE AND CHANGE IN UGANDA SHINING BRIGHT EDUCATION, ACHIEVEMENT AND OPPORTUNITY IN ETHIOPIA STITCHES IN TIME EMPOWERMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION IN SRI LANKA NEW HORIZONS
stories. So many of them talked about being able to complete their schooling, access adequate health services, and of the self- help groups that enabled their parents to increase family income and break the cycle of poverty. The children all had a great sense of hope for the future and told me of their dreams that included being policemen, accountants and doctors, things which
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hope our Christmas newsletter finds you very well, and that 2024 has been a peaceful, happy year for you and your loved ones. After almost a year in my role at INA I am humbled, enriched and inspired by all I’ve seen on our projects. One of the things that really attracted me to INA, as I’ve shared with many of you, is INA’s approach to working exclusively through local partners in every country we support. It means we're not just supporting health,
would not have been possible without your support. It was a powerful reminder of the impact ChildLink has on each individual child as well as their family and the wider community. Thank you for the important role you’ve played in enabling such positive change, whether through ChildLink, SHE or funding a particular project. Your contribution has provided much- needed support and hope for the children, families and communities that we serve together. I look forward to continuing this amazing and fulfilling journey with you as we help break the cycle of poverty, inspire communities and build a brighter, more equitable world for all.
“BECAUSE OF THE TENDER MERCY OF OUR GOD, THE RISING SUN WILL COME TO US FROM HEAVEN…TO SHINE ON THOSE LIVING IN DARKNESS, TO GUIDE OUR FEET IN PATHS OF PEACE.” - LUKE 1 : 78-79
education and livelihood programs in nine countries, but investing in building the capacity of local partner organisations to solve the challenges faced by their own communities. We recognise that local insights and expertise are essential ingredients of strong solutions in the short term, and ensuring sustainable solutions in the long term. We are committed to locally led development, and
Wishing you peace and joy this Christmas. God bless,
DR ANDREW CATFORD CEO
empowering local people to deliver local solutions. After 25 years of experience in international development across a variety of countries, I am so grateful to partner with you all, working together, from a place of compassion and respect, to allow the tender mercies of God to shine brightly and see our long-term vision of sustainable impact continue far beyond any one particular project. As INA marks 50 years of operating from Australia, we remain deeply committed to empowering women and children to emerge from extreme poverty. Each local partner has developed impressively effective solutions, and I was able to see this firsthand over the course of the year. In Ethiopia I had the opportunity to see the life changing impact of INA’s ChildLink Program implemented by our wonderful local lead partner Bole Bible Baptist Church (BBBC). It was a real privilege to sit together with ChildLink children and hear their
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INSPIRATION NEWSLETTER
NEW HORIZONS IN BEAUTIFUL SRI LANKA
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ullaitivu, in North-East Sri Lanka, is a region of compelling stories and extremes. It is heart-stoppingly beautiful: tranquil bays,
tropical jungles, vivid skies and wildlife in abundance - monkeys, dolphins, elephants, leopards and a richly blessed with birds and aquatic life. Identified as the second poorest region of Sri Lanka by the World Bank, the people there have walked through terrible tragedy in the last 20 years. The town was captured in the Sri Lankan Civil War, and in 2004 the Boxing Day Tsunami took a devastating toll on the people and land in every way. Recovery and rebuilding can take generations after events like this. Supporting children is vital, as well as right. Children lose the most if adults cannot protect them, and they go on to shape the future. Local lead partner, International Needs Sri Lanka, sees this very clearly, and has worked hard in recent years to support disadvantaged children and their families in some very marginalised communities. Your generosity has enabled International Needs Sri Lanka to support more than 600 families in breaking the cycle of poverty by providing 80 ChildLink-sponsored children with access to education. They also created a special English Learning Program, giving these children— and others in the community—the opportunity to learn English from an early age. Wijayaraja, a 30-year-old teacher from Mullaitivu, teaches the children English, equipping them with a skill they will benefit from for the rest of their lives. "My passion for teaching English online to the children in my village grew from a deep concern for their lack of proficiency— some didn’t even know the alphabet. “My class started with just 10 students.
“MY CLASS STARTED WITH JUST 10 STUDENTS. IT GRADUALLY EXPANDED TO 45 AS WORD SPREAD.”
“It gradually expanded to 45 as word spread.” These children, sponsored through INA’s ChildLink Program, have been able to access a safe space where they not only receive a formal education but also engage with their peers and play. The program extends beyond formal education, offering online classes that are broadcast in community halls built through the project, reaching even more children. “Even preschoolers attend my classes now! They can’t even read or write, but their comprehension and vocabulary have grown through the lessons and educational television programs. “I followed a structured curriculum, and it was incredibly rewarding to see the students' progress. In their first exam, all of them scored over 40%, and in later exams, they reached 60% and then 90%. It fills me with joy.
“I am deeply grateful to International Needs Sri Lanka for initiating these classes in our village. When I requested support, they even provided nutritious meals for my students, ensuring they were healthy and energetic. “Hearing parents share how their children now identify objects in English makes me proud, proving the profound impact of these lessons. “My heartfelt thanks go to INA and their donors for their unwavering support."
To find out more about supporting children in Sri Lanka visit, ina.org.au
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INSPIRATION NEWSLETTER
SEE LIFE THROUGH DIFFERENT EYES WITH US IN Uganda
Join us for an inspiring, unforgettable trip Seeing the work you make possible in real life, with your own eyes, is an amazing, inspiring experience. We’d love to have you join us as we travel to Uganda in the middle of the year, and meet the wonderful people whose communities are being changed.
Call us on: 1300 731 550 to find out more! Or email Jacquie at: info@ina.org.au
A STITCH IN TIME: JOSIE’S STORY
Everything changed when she attended a CoMSCA orientation. She began managing her finances
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differently, and with time, Josie’s business flourished. She saved
t’s a tragedy immediately spotted by many people watching a disaster unfold: children are the most vulnerable, and usually the most impacted. What about when children grow
meticulously, attracted customers with her quality workmanship and could offer affordable prices. She also secured documentation to legalise her business and utilised CoMSCA’s financial programs to pay off her loan. “Through sheer willpower and the aid of CoMSCA's invaluable support, I transformed adversity into triumph,” she says, fiercely proud. To her, it proves that “success is possible even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.” Josie is now a CoMSCA chairperson, and Josie’s daughter, a graduate of the ChildLink program, is able to attend university. From July to December 2023, a total of 1349 members were attending CoMSCA- related training, surpassing the expected target of 860 members. In the words of Sherwin Mariano, Vineyard CEO, “If they all benefit even half as much as Josie has we will be absolutely thrilled.”
up in the aftermath of a disaster, or in the relentless struggle to survive poverty? Their access to basic education and the foundations needed for life are often damaged or taken away. Project HEAL, in collaboration with INA local lead partner Vineyard of His Grace Ministries Inc., was established in The Philippines to implement three key programs: • Children Empowerment (ChildLink) • Education in Emergencies • Community Managed Savings and Credit Association (CoMSCA) These initiatives specifically seek to ensure provision of education for children in poverty and the reconnection of children into education after disasters. They also invest in livelihood programs in collaboration with the public, private and non-government sectors to give
disadvantaged families the skills and opportunities to break the cycle of poverty. Josie, now an upholstery business owner, set up her business in 2018 with hopes of supporting her family and creating a stable income. However, she was unable to afford the necessary equipment, attract a customer base and compete with other established upholstery businesses in the area. Determined and hardworking, Josie took out a private loan, a decision that left her drowning in high debts and incessant harassment from a loan shark. “The exorbitant interest rates and relentless pressure made it seem impossible for me to keep my dream alive,” says Josie.
Image: Josie at her daughter’s graduation, speaking to her CoMSCA group
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INSPIRATION NEWSLETTER
BEREKET’S OPPORTUNITY TO GROW
ereket, 16, is a boy surrounded by harsh realities. He is the second of two children in a financially poor family in one of the most poverty-stricken countries in the world, Ethiopia. He lives with a physical disability, which is made harder by the scarcity and cost of medical care. His family, unable to make ends meet, told him that he would have to quit school: they had made the heartwrenching choice to prioritise his younger siblings. "My family doesn't have enough income to buy school materials for all of us. They told me I had to quit school because we couldn’t afford exercise books," Bereket explains. It was then, at this key moment in Bereket’s life, that his family heard about Project LEID's self-help groups run by INA local lead partner, Bole Bible Baptist Church (BBBC). The Lemo-Ezha Integrated Development (LEID) Project in Ethiopia was established to achieve three key outcomes: to improve education, enhance livelihoods and advance maternal and child health. The project focuses on improving the educational status of pre-primary and primary school children and boosting the livelihoods and incomes of local targeted families. Bereket’s family realised this was an opportunity: they were able to receive vocational training, then generate enough income to stabilise their finances. With these financial barriers removed, Bereket now has access to the necessary school supplies, enabling him to re-enroll and continue his education. B
“WITH THESE FINANCIAL BARRIERS REMOVED, BEREKET NOW HAS ACCESS TO THE NECESSARY SCHOOL SUPPLIES”
"I got exercise books and pens, and now I can continue my schooling. Thank you!” he says. The LEID Project has seen over 400 women enrolled in Self-Help Groups (SHG's), with 180 women receiving vocational training and 340 participating in income-generating activities. In addition to giving Bereket his chance to finish school, these initiatives have greatly improved food security and household incomes for the targeted families. More than 14,000 children are supported through the LEID Project, either in schools, health centres or through ChildLink sponsorship. Additionally, 14 primary and secondary schools have been constructed or renovated, with over 1,000 parents actively engaging in programs that emphasise the importance of education. In the health sector, the LEID Project has strengthened 28 health centres by providing essential medicines and medical equipment.
Last year, it also constructed a waiting room and a postnatal room. More than 300 project participants have been assisted in accessing Community- Based Health Insurance, and 180 pregnant and lactating mothers received training on how to prepare locally available foods rich in iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C. The fruit of this work is wonderful to see, its benefits will continue far into the future. Heartfelt congratulations to all the locals, especially women, who are driving such enriching success!
Image: Bereket being acknowledged at one of his high school events.
To find out more about INA’s work in Ethiopia, go to, ina.org.au
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INSPIRATION NEWSLETTER
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SARA PERSEVERANCE, CHARACTER AND HOPE
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or 50 years INA has become ever more aware that the best solutions to big local problems come from the local communities themselves.
Eventually, it reached the point where the fields could support Sara alone, but not her family, an unimaginably difficult position to be in. Knowledge is empowerment What Sara needed was knowledge and someone willing to help her access it. International Needs Uganda (INUG) connected with Sara and offered her a place in an livelihood program to boost farmers’ knowledge and ability to problem- solve. Sara grasped the opportunity with both hands and, thanks to the local trainers, identified practical ways to adjust her agricultural practices to the conditions. She learned techniques to manage pests; how to enrich the land with organic fertiliser; ways to store grain so she could sell for better prices and other solutions developed for the ecosystem of the area. With those, her land produced a bumper crop. Sara sowed the money in more livestock, adding a cow, chickens and pigs to the farm. The chickens produced eggs to sell - which she did. The pig had six piglets, of which she sold five. Sara planted vegetable crops alongside her maize. These can be consistently sold to pay for her family’s medicines. The gift that keeps on growing Word spread quickly in the community through pre-existing farmers’ groups. Generously, Sara started to welcome visitors to her farm so she could share her knowledge and train as many people as possible. INA and International Needs Uganda trained local farmers in how to set up a Farmers Association, with a self-governed
committee with leaders elected by members of the pre-existing farmers groups. Sara is now the president of the Farmers Association. This wonderful group of farmers focuses one how they can work together to steward the resources of their region. Between them they found a way to rent a silo, so that grain could be stored there and sold at higher prices. Other members of the community have been invited to use the silo free of charge, so the whole region is being blessed. “It’s particularly encouraging that 60% of these highly motivated, active farmers are women, and some are elderly,” says International Needs Uganda CEO Justus Miwanda. “These are people traditionally overlooked, but their eagerness to learn and apply good practices is what’s changed the situation for them.” The knowledge that turned Sara’s life around is being shared widely with eagerness and efficiency, thanks to the network growing through the farmers association. Incredibly, all this has happened in just two years. The simple knowledge that changed the lives of a few farmers, then their families, then many others, has unlocked the hope of a happy future. The donors whose faith-filled gift funded Sara’s access to this priceless knowledge might not know it, but their gift is still changing a small corner of the world for the better.
Sara, a dedicated farmer from Uganda, had two key, inextricably linked challenges: • The land she farmed had become almost entirely unproductive: • Every major aspect of her life was
dependent on that land yielding enough for a large family to live on and sell.
What do you do when every problem in life seems to hit at once? This was Sara’s dilemma as the primary breadwinner of her family. When her crops began to fail, Sara was raising children and supporting elderly family members. Driven by worry, love and a sense of responsibility for them, Sara worked harder. The crops continued to decline. She worked longer. The situation continued to deteriorate. Similar problems plagued farmers around her. Maize crops were failing for many people nearby, creating enormous stress. Inflation was climbing. Sara could not buy essential medicines for her family without cash from selling produce - but selling her produce had become harder too. She was unable to store her harvest without cash flow. Without being able to store maize, Sara was forced to sell immediately, when the price was lowest. Pests attacked her precious plants. Climate change worsened the weather, creating more damage with little hope of an improvement.
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INSPIRATION NEWSLETTER
2024 Gift Catalogue
Whether you’re looking for stocking stuffers, a Kris Kringle or something more substantial, you can give a gift that keeps on growing this Christmas.
$26 Empower women and girls with education on women's health and how to make their own sanitary pads.
$75 Empower local farmers with education in strategy, business planning, problem-solving and leadership skills.
$24 Give a female farmer’s household agricultural supplies like good quality seeds.
$36 Supply women farmers with
alternative livestock options by giving the gift of chicks.
$250 Provide training in community development, financial and leadership skills training along with start-up capital for a women- only local Self-Help Group.
$400 Empower local farm groups with start-up capital to diversify income opportunities and improve livelihoods.
$120 Give the gift of cattle to provide milk and livelihood opportunities for vulnerable households.
$190 Help provide animal husbandry training for local farmer groups.
Give Today This Christmas, please give a gift that empowers farmers like Sara to transform their lives.
$530 Give a group of disadvantaged farmers training in innovative, climate-smart agricultural techniques and improved livestock management skills.
$960 Donate shared agricultural equipment that maximises yield and production for local farmers.
Visit ina.org.au/giving/catalogue
that keeps on growing GIVE A GIFT To give a gift that keeps on growing this Christmas, just go to ina.org.au and see our gift catalogue of donation options. Perfect for people who are hard to buy for - and for changing lives.
FOR GIFTS THAT GROW, PLEASE SCAN
International Needs Australia Contact us: E info@ina.org.au | P 1300 731 550 | W ina.org.au PO Box 484, BAYSWATER VIC 3153 Australia
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