As we welcome the new year, we want to celebrate the amazing impact our supporters helped us to achieve in 2023. Â
Working with 90 local partners and Church networks across 36 countries, we were able to reach approximately 1.5 million people through our long-term development programs and humanitarian emergency responses.
Our generous supporters helped us raise over $1.7 million for the people of Türkiye and Syria impacted by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, and over $2.6 million to support other emergencies including Ukraine and the Africa Food Crisis. In Ukraine this supported 1.9 million people to receive food packages, 690,000 receive hygiene kits and 290,000 benefit from protection services. Along with our local partners in Gaza, we were able to help those affected by the unimaginable consequences of the escalation of violence, providing access to emergency food, water and shelter, hygiene and household essentials and psychological support. Â
Throughout the year, we’ve also witnessed some powerful stories of courage and resilience:
In Africa, we supported our partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe across 17 programs, reaching more than 45,500 girls and women across the region. Women like Priscilla from Zimbabwe, who was able to sell her crops and start poultry farming, selling eggs to grow her income stream and helping pay for her grandchildren’s education. Our partner Caritas Hwange also helped rehabilitate the dip tank in her community so that Priscilla’s cattle can be healthy and free from tick-borne disease.Â
Priscilla feeds her broiler chickens at her home in Hwange district, north western Zimbabwe. Photo: Richard Wainwright/Caritas Australia
In the Pacific, we have worked hand-in-hand with our partners and communities in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa and Tonga, supporting the work of 12 programs and reaching 3,914 children and young people across the region. This includes children like six-year-old Lenty from Solomon Islands who participated in the Singing Our Way to Safety program, implemented by our partner Caritas Australia Solomon Islands. The program teaches students like Lenty how to stay safe, be prepared and respond to natural disasters.Â
Lenty learnt how to prepare for disasters through a program in the Solomon Islands that teaches children what to do during a tsunami. Photo: Caritas Australia Solomon Islands
In Asia, our partners supported vulnerable communities in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Together, we reached 6,450 people with disabilities and supported 32 programs across the Asia region. One of the people impacted by our supporters’ generosity was Salin from Cambodia. Salin joined the Upholding Community Dignity Together program, where she participated in training and hygiene awareness. Additionally, Salin and her community constructed a water distribution station, and she was elected as the chairperson of the committee.Â
Salin with members of her community, planning the expansion of the water station in the village. Photo: Tim Lam/Caritas Australia
In Australia, we continued to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and First Australian-led organisations to support programs that focus on intergenerational healing, strengthening cultural identity and spirituality, livelihood opportunities, and advocacy. Over 18,617 people were reached through our work with First Australian organisations like Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation. Â
Baabayn (which means ‘ancestral woman’) involves initiatives such as a Family Group gathering, Healing circles, Homework Club, a Mums and Bubs group and a youth group for young First Australians to connect with their culture. They also provide advocacy, counselling services and links to government departments.Â
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Women at the Young Mums and Bubs Group at Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation. Photo: Richard Wainwright/Caritas Australia.
As we continue to focus our efforts to address inequality and build a just future for all, we strengthen our commitment to listening, learning and hearing from our local partners and communities we work with to create meaningful change and amplify their voices in 2024. Â
Read more about our achievements in 2023 here. Â
