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SUMMER 2021
Connection
PRESBYTERIAN WORLD SERVICE & DEVELOPMENT
Ensuring Sustainable Development
  In Ghana, people with disabilities were supported with skills and business training.
tant in 2020, when so many faced worsening food insecurity because of COVID-19.
Memory Nthakoma, a 33-year-old farmer in Malawi, had witnessed the devastating effects of climate change on her crops for years—inconsistent rain meant that crop production was drastically reduced. She knew some- thing had to change.
Then Memory was introduced to conservation agriculture—a farming method based on techniques that help improve soil fertility and coun- teract the effects of climate change. While hesitant at first, Memory took the risk after attending a work- shop hosted by PWS&D’s partner. “I was quite impressed with what I achieved, so I challenged myself and said I would increase my conserva- tion agriculture field in the coming farming year.”
Memory not only increased the amount of land she farms using these new techniques but is also teaching others in her community how to implement conservation agri- culture. Food security has increased for many in the community because more farmers are now using the techniques of soil conservation, us- ing locally available materials
Sustainable Livelihoods
PWS&D supported livelihoods pro- jects in Afghanistan, Ghana, Guate- mala, India, Malawi and Nepal, which impacted 20,415 people in 2020.
Building sustainable livelihoods means that families are empowered through education, skills training and small business development. When one person becomes self-reliant, they are able to shape their own fu- ture and lift up others.
In Ghana, Halidu Dayuma spends his days managing a prosperous business, where he teaches weaving and dressmaking. When Halidu was
just 13 years old, his right leg was amputated, leaving him with a per- manent disability. While recovering, Halidu enrolled in workshops that provided him with vocational skills training in weaving, tailoring and dressmaking.
After graduating, Halidu started his own business teaching other students and has helped train 44 ap- prentices. “I owe the program a great deal of gratitude for contributing pos- itively to my life. I am who I am today because of your generous work and love. God bless you.”
Human Rights
PWS&D supported human rights projects in Afghanistan, Ghana, Gua- temala, India, Malawi, Nepal and Nic- aragua in 2020 that reached 29,453 people. In addition, PWS&D sup- ported KAIROS’ Women of Courage partners in Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Israel/Palestine and South Sudan.
In Afghanistan, girls and young women are being empowered to achieve leadership positions in their communities. Sadaf and Nargi are two of 50 girls who participated in a summer camp teaching about human rights, leadership and democracy.
Inspired to play leadership roles in their community after attending the camp, the teens joined their lo- cal community development council. While they initially faced resistance, support and advocacy by PWS&D’s partner, Community World Service Asia, helped them become fully in- tegrated members. Sadaf and Nargi now have a platform to voice the concerns shared by many girls and be part of the decision-making pro- cess to address them.
Sadaf and Nargi’s example em- powers other girls in their community to challenge cultural beliefs that limit education or rights for girls—paving
By Karen Bokma, PWS&D Communications
In March 2020, PWS&D began adapting our work with partners to face emerging needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In our food se- curity, health, livelihoods and human rights projects, we moved quickly to provide pandemic support to those affected by lockdowns and to ensure the progress made to ending poverty was not lost.
Health
PWS&D health projects provided essential services and support to 173,439 people in Afghanistan, Gha- na, Haiti, India, Malawi, Nepal and Nicaragua in 2020.
Wte completed the final year of our maternal and child health project in Malawi and Afghanistan. Support from the Government of Canada means funds were matched 4:1 over the four-year life of the project, which greatly expanded our reach. In tar- get areas, maternal mortality rates declined by 96% in Afghanistan and 75% in Malawi.
Education and awareness on gen- der equality and sexual reproductive health helped reshape men’s atti-
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women’s rights and peacebuilding organizations by being flexible, pre- dictable and long-term. This funding must also provide support as these organizations recover and transform efforts in response to the pandemic.
Presbyterians can lend their voice to this call by visiting KAIROS’ ad- vocacy page to send a letter to their Member of Parliament and relevant ministers: kairoscanada.org/get- involved/advocacy-current-actions.
This support is vital in helping to empower women peacebuilders in their work to build more equitable, healthier, safer societies for every- one.
tudes, allowing more women to ac- cess health services. The knowledge and skills women gained through the project will live on and continue to spread. Community leaders and vol- unteers will continue to share knowl- edge on safe motherhood practices and provide a link for young women to access health facilities. In Afghani- stan, the Ministry of Health has now taken over the operations of clinics established during the project.
Through the project, women and men have been empowered to take active roles in promoting safe moth- erhood. Even though our role in the project has wrapped up, community ownership ensures that the success- es achieved in maternal, newborn and child health will continue far into the future.
Food Security
In 2020, PWS&D supported food se- curity projects that benefited 8,376 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Malawi and Nicaragua.
PWS&D’s focus on food security helps people lead healthy and active lives by improving their access to food today and for the future. These projects became even more impor-
Farmers in Malawi learned how to grow crops to feed their families, while also addressing the effects of climate change.
In Afghanistan, over 43,000 women, girls, boys and men were supported by PWS&D’s maternal and child health pro- ject in 2020. PHOTO CREDIT: CWSA
the way for brighter futures and more active participation for women in so- ciety.
PWS&D is proud to support the KAIROS Women of Courage project. Rooted in the understanding that in conflict and post-conflict situa- tions women are victimized many times over, the project works to end gender-based violence and increase the participation of women in peace- building processes. Support from the Government of Canada means PWS&D funds contributed to this project are matched 3:1.
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 In 2019, Women of Courage partners spoke to Parliamentarians in Ottawa about their transformative programs. Lucy Talgeih (left), the Women’s Coordinator at the Wi’am, speaks. Beside her is Agnes Wasuk, Coordinator of the National Women’s Pro- gram of the South Sudan Council of Churches. PHOTO CREDIT: KAIROS CANADA





















































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