FEATURE International Projects
BUILDING A BETTER LIFE Team Leader Ben Gilbert (THQ) tells Shanelle Manderson how the work of the International Projects Office is impacting communities
T
HE UK Territory’s International Projects Office works in 20 countries across Africa, Asia and South America, empowering communities to find lasting solutions to make the department’s vision statement – a world without poverty and injustice – a reality. ‘There are two distinct sides to the work we do,’ Ben explains. ‘First, we partner Salvation Army territories around the world, supporting them and funding some of the projects they’re engaged in. ‘We’re often working in difficult and hard-to-reach areas. But part of the uniqueness of The Salvation Army is that we’re not flying lots of people to these countries; we use local Salvation Army partners to implement the projects so we speak the language and we’re immersed in the culture. We utilise the global infrastructure of our organisation to really impact and reach those who are most marginalised.
Honest Gudu
12
Salvationist 27 April 2019
‘The other side of our work is focused on our own territory, raising awareness and inspiring people to get engaged, take action and speak up for justice and equality for all.’ The team is also responsible for overseeing the transfer of funds for the Self-Denial Appeal (mission support) as well as emergency response projects. All the projects fall under one of five main themes: food security, focusing on agriculture and improving yields for crops; clean water, which involves providing access to clean water and sanitation facilities; income generation, working with families to possibly provide
micro-loans or set up saving groups to try and stimulate businesses and increase family incomes; anti-trafficking, working with survivors and providing support, but also working with communities to raise awareness of how people are lulled into those situations; gender justice, which can relate to trafficking but is specifically about working in parts of the world where women and girls do not have equal rights. The selection of these themes originated from communities’ passions and natural synergies. ‘It’s a bit of a mixture,’ says Ben. ‘Anti-trafficking, for example, is big here in the UK and that is a natural fit with our work around the world, but it’s also what people on the ground want to get involved in and deem necessary for the community within specific countries. We match that up with what’s feasible and where our expertise lies.’ The countries the projects operate in often have no social security and limited government healthcare or education, and families may be vulnerable; one missed rainy season or an illness in a family can lead to severe debt and poverty. ‘In these situations our programmes are vital,’ Ben explains. ‘We’re providing different ways for people to become more resilient to cope with the pressures around them.’ Honest Gudu is just one individual
