Some of our Projects

The projects appearing in this list have been selected to give an overview of the different sorts of Commit to Community projects supported by Baptist World Aid Australia.

The community development projects undertaken by our partners seek to meet the needs of the individual communities which they serve. This means there can be great variation between the activities and goals of the different projects.

Kenya

SAO Kenya Integrated Community Development
The main goal of this project is to improve family livelihoods for the poor and vulnerable members of 20 communities in Eastern, Central and Western Kenya. Training in income generation and business skills will help over 18,000 people in the project area to establish sustainable livelihoods and self reliance. The project provides training and access to microfinance, training on extending agricultural productivity and activities to help ensure communities have access to reliable food sources and clean water. The project also has a focus on youth activities and this year, 2138 youth will participate in a program helping them to gain knowledge and skills for their development and well-being. Project Cost: AU$57,000

(Baptist World Aid Australia also supports similar programs in Uganda and Zambia.)

Bangladesh

ABMS Bangladesh - Prottasha
This project uses an integrated community development approach, to respond to the needs of the underprivileged poor in a number of rural communities. By raising social awareness, encouraging savings and improving general health, the project aims to increase the ability of participants to meet the needs of their families. Through the formation and development of 249 groups, members will have access to literacy and, income generation training and health services. The project will also train 88 new Traditional Birth Attendants to support pregnant women in these remote communities. Project Cost: AU$149,000

Community Based Rehabilitation for Disabled People
This project aims to reduce the social stigma and vulnerability of people with disabilities and promote their human rights. Through income generation skills and education, adult participants can increase their financial independence and participation in society. The program also provides health training and runs two physiotherapy centres, to provide services for people with physical disabilities. Project Cost: AU$56,000

PARI Development Trust
PARI is an integrated community development program that gives priority to participation and skill development within the target communities. This is achieved through activities that include creating extra income through small business ventures, literacy and numeracy courses for adults, health education and community leadership development, where both male and female group leaders are trained to better manage and encourage their group members. As most people in these communities rely on agriculture for income, training is also provided integrating modern and traditional methods. One component of the project is working with a minority group called Hajong, who generally are not well reached by organisations working in the area. Project Cost: AU$188,000

India

Freeset
Freeset is a social enterprise which partners with women seeking to leave the sex trade in one of the red light districts in Kolkata. The women receive training and employment in a factory producing jute bags. This is the second year of a three year capacity building project that aims to strengthen Freeset's fair trade capcaity and credentials, develop leadership amongst the women and empower them to be agents of change in their families, neighbourhoods and communities. Project Cost: AU$64,000

Nepal

Dang Community Health and Development
This community health and development project is situated in the most disadvantaged part of the Dang district. In this area, a lack of basic health awareness combined with poor hygiene and lack of clean water and sanitation facilities means that easily preventable water-borne and infectious diseases are widespread. The project works with marginalised groups in the area to raise health awareness and prevent these common diseases. The focus is particularly on improving environmental health, maternal and child health and strengthening local health services. Project Cost: AU$126,000

Cambodia

Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Health Care Development Project
YWAM is implementing this integrated health project in various communities of northern Stung Treng Province. It addresses various health related needs such as: child and maternal health; malaria prevention; health education and support in local villages; and literacy among a minority group called the Kravet. It also improves the ability of communities to respond to their own development needs in collaboration with YWAM and the local government. Project Cost: AU$114,000

Peace Bridges
Peace Bridges aims to provide effective, culturally sensitive training for local people and organisations to promote awareness in peace building and conflict resolution. Lack of conflict resolution within Non-Government Organisations and other implementing bodies in Cambodia can be a cause of failure for development projects. By partnering with various agencies and running comprehensive training courses, Peace Bridges is building foundations for successful poverty alleviation initiatives and improving harmony within communities and families. Project Cost: AU$70,000

Indonesia

Helping Hands Foundation - Kreug Sabee Community Development Project
This project aims to come alongside and empower the people of Krueng Sabee in 11 villages affected by the Asian Tsunami. The project works on the rehabilitation of their communities, allowing previous industries to re-emerge as well as developing the skills and abilities of the people by providing seminars, workshops and practical training sessions. The focus areas of the program in the past 12 months were: early childhood education and development, leadership and good governance training, community health training, gender advocacy and income generating projects. Project Cost: AU120,000

Helping Hands Foundation - Youth Leadership and Mentoring
The youth in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, need to receive strong leadership training to prepare the next generation for the ever-changing political climate. The results of this program will not all be realized in the short term, but the goal is to see participants take positions of leadership in Banda Aceh in the next 5-10 years. The aim is to equip this generation of youth to break the mentality of corruption and lead this province into a more positive future. This will be achieved through youth leadership programs focusing on integrity, problem solving, vision and team work and the opportunity for the youth to run their own activities and experience leadership in practice. Project Cost: AU$42,000 

Philippines

Alliance Building, Community Transformation and Advocacy
This project works to support the 29 members of the Alliance of Christian Development Agencies. Its aim is to improve the impact of development agencies in their respective communities and assist them in becoming active in advocacy. It provides forums for mutual sharing, seminars and training programs as well as visiting agencies to conduct organisational and program assessments. This project also has strong links with Micah Challenge Philippines, who are committed to ensuring governments meet their commitment to the world’s poor through the Millennium Development Goals. Project Cost: AU$54,000

Thailand

Chiang Rai Christian Service Centre
Chiang Rai Christian Service Centre provides community-based care and support for people living with HIV. They advocate for the care of orphans and children infected with or affected by HIV in the community and provide income generating activities and support to enable this to happen. They are also engaged in significant awareness raising and prevention programs in schools for children and young people. Project Cost: AU$45,000

Timor Leste

Triloka Community Health Project
The Triloka Medical clinic in Baucau district serves six villages without access to any other health services. The clinic provides direct medical services, emergency help and assistance with referrals to the district hospital. The project established a mobile clinic this year to provide a service to the remote rural communities in the district. Additionally, exciting community education programs addressing maternal health, disease prevention, hygiene, nutrition, and care for the environment have begun. A small pilot project in water and sanitation was also established to address the preventative health needs of the communities. Project Cost: AU$78,000

Solomon Islands

South Seas Evangelical Church
This is the third year of the project seeking to build the capacity of the organisation to deliver quality education, health and community development services. In this year the health and community development activities will focus on strengthening the community committees. The program will facilitate the establishment of the ‘Healthy Homes for Healthy Villages’ initiatives and will work with the community to prioritise the most appropriate family based income generation projects. Project Cost: AU$104,000

Australia

Hope Street Indigenous Development
This program seeks to establish indigenous leaders who will raise awareness of indigenous issues and represent the Woolloomooloo indigenous community. It also improves the capacity of the indigenous community to respond to the issues which are unique to their urban community. Project Cost: AU$20,000 (Contributions to this project are not tax deductible)

Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support
The program is a partnership between the Hotham Mission of the Uniting Church of Victoria and Brunswick Baptist Church (BBC) to provide transitional housing and support for refugees and asylum seekers. The refugees are housed in the former Christian Education Centre (CEC), a house formerly used for student accommodation. The house is owned by the Brunswick Baptist Church. This program also works in collaboration with the Red Cross Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme. The project’s success to date has gained the attention of government and is being hailed as a community based alternative to the current detention system for asylum seekers. Project Cost AU$21,000 (Contributions to this project are not tax deductible)