At Tearfund, we regularly hear stories that remind us that it’s sure-footed, long-term approaches, not short cuts and quick fixes, that generate lasting change – not just for individuals, but for whole families and communities. Here are three of our favourite stories from the past year.
The smiles on these young women’s faces speak of hope and possibility. Dig a little deeper and you find out just how much that sense of hope and possibility means, and how hard-won it is. In the remote, rural part of Pakistan that they come from, there used to be no primary school, and parents didn’t send their children – especially girls – to school. In fact, women were not allowed to travel outside their village at all.
In 2007 Tearfund’s local Christian partner, the Diocese of Hyderabad, set up a primary school in the village. The five women all attended the school and graduated. They went on to government secondary schools, and all are now either studying at university, or have recently completed their tertiary education. Pilot, teacher and lawyer are among the career paths they’ve set their sights on. They’re the first girls in this village to ever achieve this level of education.
And they’re pretty clear about what would have happened if Tearfund’s partner had not helped to establish a primary school in their village: “We would have married early and remained illiterate, like our mothers,” they said.
They say that the values taught to them by teachers at their primary school have helped them to get through the challenges they’ve faced. They learned that all people are equal, and that they can work through problems.
That attendance at primary school, in its earliest days in their village, set them on a path of possibility and, inspired by their example, other young women are now seeing opportunities too. “Now girls in our village have started to dream of a future,” says Ghazala, one of the women.
The values taught to them by teachers at their primary school have helped them to get through the challenges they’ve faced. They learned that all people are equal, and that they can work through problems.
Tearfund’s partner ACROSS in South Sudan has remained courageously and faithfully present through decades of instability, responding to the challenges of vulnerable communities with health care, education, livelihoods support and peacebuilding work.
Rebecca (right), a traditional birth attendant and health extension worker, works at a clinic supported by ACROSS. Marshall, one of Tearfund’s project officers, met Rebecca when he visited the clinic. He says: “The challenges for this very basic, two-room facility were clear to see, however the community could also readily point to the life-saving treatment it is providing them. Over 5,000 people receive vital outpatient services each year – that includes antenatal care, critical immunisations for children and pregnant mothers, malnutrition screening, and treatment for malaria, diarrhoea and respiratory illness and sexually transmitted infections. Added to this are the more than 10,000 people who are reached annually through the clinic’s weekly mobile health outreach program.
“When I asked Rebecca how the presence of the clinic was important for her community, she proudly told a story about a pregnant woman who came to the clinic for antenatal care. She was malnourished and anaemic but was able to receive treatment as an outpatient. When the baby was due, Rebecca assisted with a safe delivery at the clinic (though most women still give birth at home, and Rebecca assists with these as well). Afterwards, when the mother had difficulties with her milk supply, the health workers at the clinic were able to help and support her through that too. The child has since been immunised through the clinic, and both mother and child are healthy and doing well. Rebecca and this clinic are at the front line of strengthening the health base of a community, which is a key part of building its resilience.”
Ahmad* smiles as he describes how his life has changed over the past few years. In 2021, Ahmad was diagnosed with an illness that caused him a great deal of pain, as well as the significant financial burden of treatment and medication. This, coupled with a family tragedy and the overall financial stress in his household, meant he felt sad, anxious and unable to engage with his community. Eventually he quit both his job and education, and was increasingly socially isolated.
A community volunteer from one of Tearfund’s partners helped Ahmad to access resources about mental health, as well as medication and counselling sessions at a nearby community centre. Our partner also supported him to take a vocational course in tailoring.
“After using the medicine and receiving counselling services for two years, today he feels better, and the symptoms of his mental problems have dwindled. His hope has become firm and unconquerable,” our partner shared.
The work of Tearfund’s four partners in Afghanistan includes access to clean water and toilets, food security, children’s nutrition, infant and maternal health, income generation, support for livelihoods, and mental health. We’ve supported partners in Afghanistan since 1983, and one of those partners has had a presence there since the mid-1960s.
“I’ve been so impressed by the perseverance of our partners amidst so much upheaval in recent years,” says James Montgomery, Tearfund’s partnership manager for Afghanistan. “Despite the hardship that they themselves and their families have gone through, it’s really clear they have a heart for the communities where they’re working, and for vulnerable families in Afghanistan.”
* name changed
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Related projects have received support from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
