Last year, because of your prayers and donations, 127,000 people were helped through Cord’s projects. You supported work in Burundi and Uganda in East Africa and Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Bangladesh & Thailand in Southeast Asia.
Strand 1. Strengthening local, grassroots organisations
Your wonderful gifts meant 5,479 people took part in 186 peacebuilding workshops including those:
- Tackling religious hate and division.
- Preventing Indigenous People’s land from being stolen.
- Keeping Human Rights Defenders safe online.
Your kindness meant that 22% – £361,695 of Cord’s income could be invested in partner organisations. This included small agriculture and livestock activities so Women Environmental Defenders could generate their own food and income.
You helped 2,753 of the most vulnerable people in Burundi set up 114 businesses, giving them an amazing opportunity to rise out of poverty.
Your faithful commitment resulted in direct work with 1,147 Human Rights Defenders, 61% of whom were women.
Because of you, Phon Sal, a 24-year-old woman from Malik village in northern Cambodia, is defending her community.
The Vietnamese mining company Hoang Anh Gia Lai was taking her village’s land and destroying the forest. Your donations paid for her training so she could use clear evidence and relevant laws when highlighting this injustice. Eventually Phon was invited to meet with Local Authorities and the mining company. Her campaign led to the mining company agreeing to return 32 hectares of community land. They also agreed to consider Phon’s suggestions for building a school and health centre. This shows that when people understand their rights and how to defend them, they can achieve incredible change. It’s a remarkable turnaround for this community and it’s thanks to you!
Strand 2. Helping those in power work effectively with grassroots organisations.
Your prayerful and financial support resulted in:
- 367 local politicians and 10 national politicians attending events put on by grassroots organisations.
- 13 grassroots organisations and 149 community leaders being invited to take part in political policy discussions.
- Politicians inviting local community representatives to 20 events.
- 124 Self Help Groups in Burundi receiving regular invitations from Local Authorities to meet and discuss their needs.
Mr. Sanchon Souphasavath leads the Village Land and Forestry Committee in Thakor Village in rural Champassak, Laos. Their work to protect their community and environment has dramatically improved in the last year. This is because, with Cord’s help, the Committee was officially recognised by the Khong District Governor. One example of this improvement came earlier this year. A joint forest patrol between the Committee and the Governor’s officials, discovered evidence of illegal logging activity by a Chinese company on Thakor Village’s land. Working together they quickly stopped this activity and closed down a secret sawmill hidden deep in the forest.
Mr. Sanchon said: “Thanks to Cord and their partner for training and coaching us. These new skills mean I can guide the villagers to use peaceful means to protect their land.”
Strand 3. Creating opportunities for those in power and grassroots organisations to build relationships and work together
Last year, your generosity led to the creation of 121 safe spaces where people can connect, collaborate and resolve issues. For example, in Cambodia, representatives from government, businesses and communities focused on issues connected to mining, fishing and deforestation.
In Burundi, theatre workshops helped people to process their trauma following the civil war. These events took place online and in person.
