We have supported the work of Links USA in purchasing the freedom of a family caught in a slave labour camp in South Asia. Through the empowerment of their micro-business development program, they were also able to help this family develop a sustainable business to make sure they never have to return to this situation again.
Communicate-ed founder Caroline Read first visited UWCM in Uganda in 2007 and we have been supporting their work ever since. Their stated mandate is to “Empower the poorest, especially women and children, to transform their lives.” They concentrate on hard to reach communities and areas, working in the Elgon region of Uganda. Communicate-ed has provided support in numerous areas, including recently, micro-enterprise projects, financial aid to enable high school age children to complete education, food relief after flooding. Recently we have invested in staff development/training aimed at helping the organisation to become more self-sustaining.
Cyclone Freddy was an exceptionally long-lived, powerful, and deadly storm that ravaged several nations for more than five weeks in February and March 2023. Southern Malawi was hit extremely hard, with at least 1500 people killed as a result of the cyclone. It occurred in what was already a difficult season normally for food and income. Funds we donated assisted three organisations in partnership with Links to provide food blankets, lamps, basins, plates, cups, and plastic sheets for temporary shelters. Roads to furthest south regions remained impassable for months so main relief focused on areas around Blantyre where many lost their lives and homes in mudslides. Many organisations and Malawians have responded to immediate needs and Links is now focussing remaining funds on longer-term interventions with partners.
