ABM and AID supporters were given a window into the positive changes happening where AID’s Sustainable Communities partners work in Kenya and Zambia. These are just two of the many similarly life-changing projects that our Tax Appeal is funding this year.

The Bishop of Bunbury, the Rt Rev Ian Coutts, was joined by John Mutua from Anglican Development Services – Eastern (part of the Anglican Church of Kenya) and Ellen M C Mubanga from ZACOP, the Zambia Anglican Council Outreach Program. John and Ellen shared with enthusiasm and joy the impact that the AID-funded projects are having on the lives of children and their parents.

AID supporters contribute to the Gender Equality Project in Zambia and the Livelihoods Improvement Project in Kenya.

Ellen noted that one Zambian parent told her, “Our daughter managed to complete her Grade 12 education and has been accepted to study at Nkrumah University. This could not have been possible before ZACOP’s Gender Integration project was implemented in our area. There could have been a lot of pressure from our relatives to have her get married.”

Ellen was also told that because of the project, “men are now participating in chores that they were previously ashamed of doing such as doing dishes, changing their baby’s nappies or even carrying babies on their backs.”

John told us that in Kenya an outcome of the Livelihoods project there meant that women and children no longer had to carry water for up to 7 km from source to home. The construction and rehabilitation of water structures, earth dams, boreholes, shallow wells and sump wells – all equipped with solar pumping systems – meant that potable water had become much more accessible. Rainwater tanks had also been installed at some primary schools.

John said that there had been significant improvement: almost a quarter of participants are now able to access water in less than 30 minutes – compared with only 1% of participants before the project started.

The online launches are a wonderful way for ABM and AID supporters to hear first-hand from our partners, from the comfort of their own homes and offices. Look out for future invitations to attend these launches.

ABM and AID thank all our supporters who uphold these and all our Sustainable Communities projects in their prayers and who have given so generously so this work can continue to bring blessings to children and their families for many years to come.