“I’ve learned so much from Cord that I decided to leave them a gift in my Will.”

We are so grateful to R A of Coventry (as they wish to be known) for sharing why they have taken the very special decision to leave a gift to Cord in their Will.

“As the years go by, you start to think about WILLS! I’ve learned so much from Cord that I decided to leave them a gift in my Will.

I first heard about Cord in the early 1980s. I worshipped at St John’s Church in Westwood, Coventry. Someone came to speak about Cord and how it began as Project Vietnam Orphans. I was so impressed by what I heard. A small men’s group, being told of a news item about children left orphaned because of The Vietnam War, who encouraged their then Vicar, Rev. Pat Ashe, to follow his vision and go to Vietnam and see what could be done to help.

As I kept up to date with Cord’s work, I continued to be impressed. And, after taking early retirement in the mid-90s, I volunteered for Cord, working in various countries over the next 6 years.

At one stage I joined a team working with Burundian refugees in Tanzania. I soon realised how amazingly skilled and knowledgeable the refugees were. For example, they were infinitely better at languages than me. They had so many abilities and huge amounts of positivity. I’ve been determined to support refugees, en route to, or in the UK, ever since.

Now, in later years, I appreciate the central value of Cord’s work, supporting communities as they think through how to be peace builders. That is a good challenge for me, as I tend to be quicker to oppose rather than engage, with those who do not seem to care for justice and reconciliation. So, thank you Cord for all you do.”

We want to offer our most sincere thanks to R A, and to you, if you have left Cord a legacy gift. We are truly humbled by your generosity.

Please help create more stories of hope and healing by making a donation TODAY

Cord’s vision is a world where all people can live life to the full, in peace.
Peace means hope and healing for victims in safe and stable societies.
Peace means freedom, and people reaching their potential.
Help restore peace so that people can prosper.

Séraphine’s story

Séraphine lives in Burundi – the world’s poorest country. Decades of violent conflict mean that people like Seraphine live in extreme poverty. They carry pain and trauma from the violent past, leading to long-term mental health issues.  Would you like to hear more stories like this? Sign up for email updates today! Séraphine was born ... Read more

Your overwhelming response to our Miracles of Reconciliation appeal 

You’ve raised an astonishing £21983.62 for our reconciliation work in Burundi. Thanks to match-funding from the European Union, this means £87934.48. We can’t thank you enough.
Ndikumana standing in front of a wall

Ndikumana’s Story   

Ndikumana’s whole life had focused on survival. Surviving the prejudice she faced due to dwarfism, surviving as a refugee fleeing violence and surviving resulting illnesses. She is now thriving as a female leader
Mr. Nek Phoumanivong stands in front of a simple wooden livestock shelter in Tam Village, Laos. Wearing a light blue polo shirt, he looks towards the camera with confidence. After taking part in Cord-supported training, Mr. Phoumanivong learned sustainable farming techniques, including producing organic fertiliser and raising livestock safely. He now shares these skills with other farmers in his community, helping families build more secure and sustainable livelihoods.
Lives changed
In Laos, the economy is built on agriculture and most of the population is involved in farming. Despite efforts to reduce poverty, there are still huge differences between urban and rural areas. Rural communities face deep challenges. Small-scale farming brings little income, and changing weather patterns caused by climate change make life even harder.