What We Do
We work for a just world.
We work with amazing people to bring about positive and lasting changes in some of the world’s poorest places.
Our programmes are carried out with partner organisations so local people drive the whole process and, in turn, their own development.
We're unlike any other development charity in Ireland. Here's why.
Read our 2009/10 Annual Report
See the impact of our work in video.
Read about some of the people we've helped with your support.
It's our partnership approach that really makes us different. When we help people, we work with them, so that they drive the entire process themselves. Solutions are not imposed on the people we help. Instead, they become the authors of their own destiny.
As far as is possible, all the goods and items we need to carry out our work are purchased on the ground, meaning we feed back into the local economy and cut back on unecessary expense, such as transportation costs.
We're also different because we push Irish and international governments to act on global poverty and we reach out to thousands of students every year with our development education work.
Our Development Work
We work in 124 programmes across 38 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.
Our programmes aim to:
- Build a reliable way of life and help people cope with climate change
- Respond to Emergencies and Disasters
- Tackle injustice and defend human rights
- Address the HIV and AIDS crisis
- Support gender equality
Building a reliable way of life and coping with climate change
Some 850 million people are at risk of hunger and 700 million people in 43 countries don’t have enough water.
If greenhouse emissions continue at their current rate, by 2020 between 75 and 250 million people in Africa won’t have enough water, and crop production will fall by 50%.
Last year, we spent €10, 752, 363 helping communities earn a secure living.
Related pages: Livelihoods, Climate Change, Environmental Justice, Trade and Markets
Justice and human rights
It is crucial that people living in poverty understand their rights and can challenge government leaders to take responsibility and be more accountable.
Last year, we spent €13,562,727 supporting communities in monitoring government expenditure, holding their government to account and demanding a voice in local and national planning. Our work addressed human rights abuses and helped people become more aware of their rights.
Related page: Human rights, Governance, Corporate Accountability, Peace building.
Emergencies and disasters
Almost three times more disasters have been recorded in the last decade compared to the 1970s. Over the past year, we spent €14,191,418 responding to disasters such as flooding and cyclones and political unrest, and helped communities to put plans in place so that they are less vulnerable to future disasters.
We assisted people affected by floods in Uganda, India and Indonesia, by an earthquake in Peru, and by Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh. We also undertook life-saving activities in Darfur and supported displaced people in Kenya following disputed election results.
Related pages: Emergencies, Disaster Risk Reduction
Addressing the HIV/AIDS crisis
Worldwide 33.2 million people are living with HIV. Poverty is a leading contributor to HIV/AIDS. The majority of people living with the disease are in the developing world, with 22.5 million living in sub-Saharan Africa alone.
Last year, we spent €2,582,213 on HIV/AIDS programmes such as home-based care for the sick, support for orphaned children and affected families, and programmes to prevent the further spread of HIV.
Related pages: HIV/AIDS
Supporting gender equality
Worldwide, 70% of those living in poverty are women and two-thirds of the population that can’t read are women.
In 2007/2008 we spent €1,688,996 tackling gender inequality by supporting women in their struggle for economic and social rights, concentrating on rights to land, inheritance rights, and preventing violence against women.
Related pages: Gender Equality
