International Development Week 2010
February 9, 2010
By Keith
The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) invites you to celebrate the 20th annual International Development Week (IDW), taking place February 7-13, 2010.
IDW is celebrated each year during the first full week of February. It provides a unique opportunity for the Government of Canada and Canadian organizations and individuals to publicize progress achieved and lessons learned in international development.
“Development” allows villagers to change their own lives and livelihoods
If there is a crown jewel in the programs being offered by The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF), it is its integrated and holistic approach to development. PWRDF’s relief efforts tend to make the headlines — the Asian tsunami, the earthquake in Haiti — but it is long term development work in communities around the world that truly transforms lives.
PWRDF is in many respects a conduit between Anglicans in Canada and families in remote global villages. It works with a wide range of partner organizations on behalf of Anglicans back home. PWRDF staff know and understand which partner organizations have both the integrity and expertise to carry out specific development initiatives. PWRDF understands that when it receives donations from individuals and dioceses across Canada, it must act as a steward of those funds and it must invest them wisely in programs that do make a difference.
Communities across Tanzania stand as proud examples of how an integrated approach to rural development can make that difference in the lives of entire villages.
With funding assistance from PWRDF, the Anglican Diocese of Masasi in southern Tanzania adopted an impressive menu of development projects, encompassing clean water and sanitation, fish farming, crops and livestock, gender equality, environmental conservation and nutrition. The first step invariably involves skills development.
The diocesan development coordinator worked closely with villagers in order to develop their skills. In projects involving nutrition, people received training in food production, processing and conservation. Farmers were taught how to improve their crops and how to conserve and process food.
Before any project was implemented, participants received training in sound environment practices, including agro-forestry and soil conservation. Beneficiaries were equally chosen from both genders and received training within the projects on gender sensitization. Vulnerable groups such as widows were given priority to participate in projects.
Every development plan must yield tangible, measurable results. Here are some of the results of those diocesan projects:
• A 90-acre maize production farm was established, benefitting 100 farmers who will receive the improved seeds
• Twenty farmers received training on how to improve cashew nut production. Twenty acres of land were planted with 675 improved trees. Production increased from 300 to 400 kilograms per acre
• Eight underground ferro-cement water tanks were constructed in seven villages, benefiting 5,641 community members
• Twelve shallow wells were built in five villages, serving 7,847 community members
• A borehole was built in one village, with 1,923 people now benefiting from clean water
• All told, 14,411 people have access to clean drinking water. They are no longer vulnerable to water-borne diseases
• About 867 families raise dairy cows and 297 families keep dairy goats
• There are 67 families who are fish-farming in a total of 235 fishponds.
Development transforms lives. A holistic approach transforms entire villages by increasing income, improving their quality of life and considerably reducing health issues. Perhaps most importantly, development happens by teaching and training those villagers. Their lives are changed forever because they have made those changes.
Anglicans across Canada realize that life-changing experience for themselves when they donate to PWRDF. They aren’t giving away funds; they are giving of themselves. They are investing a portion of themselves into the lives of those villages through their gift to PWRDF. Regular contributions to PWRDF ensure sustainable support for the programs being carried out by its global partners.
If you feel moved to support these ministries, consider a regular donation to PWRDF so that they can continue to provide support to partner initiatives. Anglicans are making a difference.For media requests please contact Communications Coordinator Janice Biehn at (416) 924-9199;366.