“Before I just worked doing sewing. Now I am able to raise different animals and plants, trees and fruits. Now I have a little garden. Before I didn’t know how to do any of this work. The only thing I don’t have now is time to do all I want to do.”

— Emma, Nicaragua on the benefits of a home garden project

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About usSudan

Christian World Service acts to end poverty and injustice throughout the world. We:

 

  • Fund groups tackling poverty and help people build decent livelihoods in their own communities
  • Respond to humanitarian emergencies
  • Raise awareness of development issues within Aotearoa New Zealand
  • Campaign against the causes of global poverty and injustice.

CWS responds to people’s needs regardless of race or religion. CWS is the development agency of New Zealand churches.

Our approach

Justice underpins and shapes CWS’s understanding of and approach to development. CWS works with its partners and international networks to address the global processes and inequalities that keep people poor through unfair trade rules, exploitation, debt, lack of skills and resources, market arrangements and historical power imbalances.

CWS supports organizations that share this perspective based on:

Community ownership

The task is in their hands, not ours. Development objectives are best decided by local people who
carry the hope and vision for their own community but need our financial support to run their programmes. CWS does not therefore send New Zealand staff to manage field programmes. Funds are spent in, by and for the community, and not returned to New Zealand through salaries.

A true relationship

Development takes time so CWS does not pick and choose programmes each year, funding issues or countries according to the latest development trend. CWS is instead committed to building long-term relationships and funding local partners for 10 years or more so real change can be achieved.

More than funding

For CWS, the idea of partnership goes beyond funding community development programmes. Solidarity and advocacy can be as significant as funding. It is equally important for people who have been denied political, social and economic rights to know they are being listened to, their problems are being addressed and people care enough to help.