Africa

Ethiopia

• Population: 85,237,338

• GDP Per Capita: $800

• Official languages: Amharic

• Capital City: Addis Ababa

One of the poorest countries in the world, Ethiopia’s agricultural based economy has been devastated by regular droughts. Its agricultural based economy accounts for almost half the GNP, 60% of exports and 80% of total employment. 80% of the population live on less than $2 a day and almost a million people live with HIV, with  life expectancy falling to 55 years.

Our Response

11% of the population has access to safe water and just 4% has access to sanitation facilities. Our water and sanitation programmes, including a BioSand Filter (BSF) installation programme, are intent on changing that reality. In addition, we are working through 20 churches to provide support for orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV.

Kenya

• Population: 39,002,772

• GDP Per Capita: $1,600

• Official languages: English, Kiswahili

• Capital City: Nairobi

Post-election violence in 2008 coupled with the effects of the global financial crises have taken their effect on Kenya’s economy. Almost a quarter of the population live on less than a $1 a day and there are 1.2 million people living with HIV. Before Kenya can achieve sustainable development there is much need for vital reforms and the elimination of corruption.

Our response

Working with churches in the slums of Nairobi, we are training and equipping them to respond to the needs of their community, particularly around HIV and AIDS and income generation. In addition, we have a rural-based programme supporting children and orphans affected by HIV and AIDS along with an orphan reintegration programme in Nairobi, working to find homes within the community for AIDS orphans.

Liberia

• Population: 3,441,790

• GDP Per Capita: $372

• Official language: English

• Capital City: Monrovia

Liberia has recently emerged from a civil war that has crippled its economy and internal infrastructures. It is estimated that well over two-thirds of the population live on less than $1 a day. The life expectancy in Liberia is just 42 years, one of the lowest in the world. UNICEF estimates that only 31% of Liberians have access to clean water, and only 10% in rural areas. The water crisis, coupled with the lack of proper sanitation facilities, leads to increased levels of disease.

Our response

Our projects provide access to safe water through BioSand Water Filters (BSF), safe sanitation facilities for families, and health and hygiene education for rural Liberians. In addition, we run a reading and writing programme for rural Liberians. Last year we also delivered 32,823 shoeboxes to children in Liberia.

Mozambique

• Population: 21,669,278

• GDP Per Capita: $900

• Official language: Portuguese

• Capital City: Maputo

Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 38% of the population living on less than $1 a day. Four in ten children are malnourished, there are 1.5million people living with HIV and 1.6 million children have been orphaned by AIDS.

Our Response

We work with local churches and communities to deliver water programmes, which provide access to safe water, sanitation, and health and hygiene education, along with HIV and AIDS programmes, which help promote safer sex practices and challenge negative stigma and discrimination.

We also support churches to care for orphans and vulnerable children who are affected by HIV and AIDS. Through local churches we work to broaden income-generation and livelihood opportunities for impoverished families, and over the past two years we have also sent more than 15,000 shoeboxes to children in Mozambique.

Niger

• Population: 15,306,252

• GDP Per Capita: $700

• Official language: French

• Capital City: Niamey

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world and also struggles with major health based issues. The agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts and up to two-thirds of people live below the poverty line (US$1.25). One-in-five children die before their fifth birthday, and the average life expectancy is just 52 years. Niger is 174 of 179 countries on the United Nations Human Index and faces an uphill struggle to maintain peace and develop much needed infrastructure.

Our Response

Over 80% of the population live in rural Niger and only 59% of these people have access to safe drinking water - far less have access to adequate sanitation. We are working hard to change that story by installing latrines and water filters. We are also educating communities about health and hygiene as well as implementing an animal fodder and vaccination programme to protect livestock.

Rwanda

• Population: 10,473,282

• GDP Per Capita: $900

• Official language: Kinyarwanda

• Capital City: Kigali

At the end of 1994, following eight years of economic collapse, four years of conflict and three months of genocide, Rwanda’s infrastructure had been destroyed, with 1 million Rwandans  dead and nearly 3 million refugees. Although considerable progress has been made since then, an estimated 60% of Rwanda’s population still live below the poverty line and 90% of the population work in (mainly subsistence) agricultural work. It is estimated that there are currently 130,000 people living with HIV in Rwanda. Rwanda has one of the highest proportions of orphans in the world.

Our Response

We support local churches in rural communities to care for orphans and vulnerable children impacted by HIV and AIDS and help their families set up income-generating activities.

Swaziland

• Population: 1,123,913

• GDP Per Capita: $5,100

• Official languages: English

• Capital City: Mbabane

Swaziland is a small country facing big issues. One in four adults live with HIV, the highest prevalence rate in the world. There is also a high risk of contracting other illnesses which contribute towards the lowest life expectancy in the world, just 31 years. In recent years, more than a quarter of the population have needed emergency food aid.

Our Response

Through our CHOICE (CHurch Outreach Into Community Empowerment) programme, we support the local church in its transformational ministry to respond to the needs of people in their communities, many of whom are impacted by HIV and AIDS. We also run church-based project providing care and support to families impactred by HIV. Last year we sent around 46,000 shoeboxes to children across Swaziland.

Uganda

• Population: 32,369,558

• GDP Per Capita: $1,100

• Official language: English

• Capital City: Kampala

Uganda has recently emerged from prolonged conflict and is enjoying relative stability but there are still many challenges to face. There is an HIV and AIDS epidemic that has infected close to a million people including 110,000 children. There are one million children who have been orphaned by AIDS. There is a high risk of contracting other diseases and life expectancy has fallen to 52 years. There are food shortages, poor access to health and social services, and a large displacement of communities, particularly in the North.

Our Response

Our work is focused in the north of the country, which has seen much displacement as a result of the ongoing civil war. We are training, equipping, motivating, and supporting community and church leaders, enabling them to decrease stigma around HIV and help reduce transmissions through care and education. We are also working to supply communities with safe drinking water. A clean water supply means that the whole community is much healthier and the children, who no longer have to spend hours fetching water every day, can attend school.

Zimbabwe

• Population: 13,392,629

• GDP Per Capita: $200 – lowest in the world

• Official language: English

• Capital City: Harare

Political tension and massive inflation have made recent headlines, with official reports placing inflation at 2.2million percent. The reality is probably much higher. Of a population of 13million, 10million live below the poverty line. One in every three children ismalnourished and one in five people live with HIV. Without access to hospitals and public services, Zimbabweans are left to fend for themselves at this very difficult time.

Our Response

We have provided thousands of people with more sustainable livelihoods. Beneficiaries are given a choice of livestock most suitable for their needs, using a ‘pass-the-gift’ approach where a household passes the first offspring to the next vulnerable household.