During 2007/2008 PWRDF has touched hundreds of thousands of lives through its development programs, in 25 countries located in four geographic regions with 99 partners. The work occurs in the following sectors: basic health, capacity building, food security, HIV and AIDS, humanitarian relief, human

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Africa--It is a matter of health

Burundi ~ Democratic Republic of Congo ~ Kenya ~ Mozambique ~South Africa ~ Sudan ~ Tanzania

In Kenya, after the water projects were completed, the women villagers were thrilled with the clean water and reduced times spent gathering it. Many enthused how they no longer needed to wake up so early. Others joked that they now are cleaner and are better looking.

Working with some of the most marginalized people on the continent, PWRDF partners in Africa integrate gender, human rights, peace building, and HIV and AIDS work into their poverty reduction programs. All health programs implemented by partners have a strong HIV and AIDS component. The focus of partners' work is prevention, education and fighting stigma; care through home-based care services or hospices; and support of people affected and infected by AIDS such as orphans, low-income families, and AIDS patients.

In Burundi, PWRDF partners support impoverished communities to improve their access to basic needs such as potable water, health care, and food security. One partner in particular, the Ligue ITEKA, a human rights group, focuses on public education on human rights, human rights monitoring, and good governance. In Kenya, PWRDF partners focus on integrated rural development. In Mozambique, PWRDF supports communities' access to basic human needs with emphasis on public health, maternal and child health, malaria, food security, and micro-finance for women.

In Mtalikachau (Tanzania), villagers were aware that many health problems were related to their lack of a clean supply of water nearby. Typhoid, diarrhoea and dysentery were widespread. Now a 30m deep well supplies 3,755 community members with a typical family of six with 120 litres of water a day. In 2004 it was estimated that local people spent 6 hours a day walking to gather water, while in 2007 that time was reduced to 2 hours per person, per day.

Tanzania and South Africa are considered among the most stable countries in Africa, allowing PWRDF partners to operate in relatively stable political environments. In Tanzania, partners work on rural development in the following sectors: health, water and sanitation, food security, and gender while partners in South Africa focus on HIV and AIDS. In contrast, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo continue to be plagued by violence and PWRDF partners in these two countries contribute to the efforts to bring about peace through their human rights and peace work.

Asia-Pacific--Justice through agriculture

Philippines ~ Hong Kong ~ Sri Lanka ~ Bangladesh ~ India ~ Solomon Islands Thai-Burma border area

PWRDF has been involved in partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region since the mid 1970s. Today, working with 22 partner organizations in six countries, PWRDF's support for these partners is making a positive impact in many areas:

* Bangladesh and Solomon Islands: Fighting poverty through sustainable agriculture, empowerment of women, and access to education.

* Philippines: Supporting the work of marginalized farmers, fisher folk communities and small producers in obtaining a fair share of their produce and gaining ownership of land and resources, and supporting the aspirations of Indigenous people to reclaim their heritage and gain access to ancestral lands and resources.

* Hong Kong: Providing much needed legal aid and counselling services for migrant workers forced to leave their homes in search of jobs.

* Sri Lanka: Working to promote harmony between the country's two major ethnic communities and bring peace to the troubled island nation.

* Thailand and Burma border area: Working with all ethnic minorities from Burma to bring about democracy, peace and justice.

PWRDF works both within specific countries and at a regional level. The Asia-Pacific Research Network is a regional group of 39 member organizations from 17 countries involved in research, training and response to advocacy needs in Asia. They provide information on fair trade, debt reduction, education and information to support grassroots organizations and alternatives to corporate globalization. UBINIG, Policy Research and Development Alternatives in Bangladesh, and Gami Seva Sevana in Sri Lanka, effectively campaign against genetically modified food and its disastrous effects on food sovereignty, health and the environment.

In the Philippines, music, dancing, and poetry are integral parts of community life. Groups like Teatro Obrero have turned these into tools for the empowerment of sugar plantation workers and their families. In the past, workers were being paid less than minimum wage, and they lacked any collective bargaining power. Youth on the plantations grew up with very little hope for the future. One worker commented that they grew into adulthood straight from being children. Many of these young people had dropped out of school to take up plantation work and became involved in drinking and gang activity.

Through plays and music, Teatro Obrero tells stories of poverty, exploitation and human rights abuses, and shares strong messages of dignity and hope for better days. Since the 1980's, youth and their family members have been coming together to address social issues. As a result, a collective bargaining agreement with the plantation owners has enabled them to double the amount they are paid. Instead of getting into trouble, youth are engaged in constructive art and cultural performances.

Indigenous Peoples--Improving Community Living Nova Scotia ~ New Brunswick ~ Quebec ~ Ontario ~ Northwest Territories ~ Alberta ~ British Columbia

Conditions in Indigenous communities in Canada are challenging. The health status of those living in the communities is among the lowest in the country, with infant mortality almost twice as high as the Canadian average. Tuberculosis, diabetes, HIV and AIDS and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) represent a rising epidemic.

There is no single answer to the problems facing Indigenous peoples and the solutions lie in the hands of the very people they affect. Given the opportunity, Indigenous communities can and will create unique, culturally relevant and sustainable development strategies and programs.

The goal of PWRDF's Indigenous Peoples Development Program is to build partnerships based on mutual respect and trust in order to build stronger, healthier and more self-reliant communities. This program supports a variety of initiatives that promote women and youth empowerment, the revitalization of Indigenous languages and culture, the promotion of traditional knowledge, networking and inter-Indigenous partnerships.

In Ontario and the Northwest Territories, PWRDF partners are creating youth councils to provide appropriate counselling on suicide prevention, as well as youth empowerment, education and training programs. In Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia, partners' work focuses on strengthening language, and cultural and traditional knowledge. Partners in Alberta and Manitoba promote healing and health prevention for women and youth.

HIV and AIDS is a complex health issue that presents unique challenges to Indigenous people and their communities--to admit the relevance of HIV and AIDS personally or in the context of Indigenous communities is also challenging. HIV is often accompanied by other underlying and contributing health and social factors. With support from PWRDF, 2-Spirited People of the First Nations in Ontario provides services and programs that include HIV and AIDS education, outreach and prevention, support and counselling for all Indigenous people who are living with and/or affected by HIV and AIDS.

Another fundamental goal of PWRDF's work with Indigenous communities in Canada is to strengthen and support collaborative work with the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples, KAIROS Indigenous Rights Committee, and the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada. We also work to establish collaborative work on the international level with the different regional programs within PWRDF.

Latin America--Hope amidst violence and poverty Brazil ~ Cuba ~ El Salvador ~ Guatemala ~ Mexico ~ Nicaragua ~ Peru

Countries in this region suffer from rates of poverty that have led to the characterization of the region as the most unequal in the world in terms of income distribution. PWRDF has therefore chosen to work with partners who themselves represent and/or work with the poorest and most marginalized of their societies. The work of these partners includes:

* Brazil: support for those living with HIV and AIDS, urban and rural women, and youth and Indigenous peoples

* El Salvador and Nicaragua: support for women, youth (HIV and AIDS education) and peasant farmers

* Guatemala and Mexico: support for Indigenous and poor ladina women

* Peru: support for Indigenous peoples.

In Cuba, partners share the belief that all Cuban individuals and institutions have a role to play in shaping the spiritual, economic and social challenges of this millennium. Their work focuses on the social participation of the community at large, with an emphasis on youth.

Latin America and the Caribbean is a "young" region. Almost one in five, or 20 per cent, of the region's population is between the ages of 15 and 24. But increasingly those young people are 'pushed' north by violence, insecurity, and lack of opportunities, and 'pulled' by the lure of the American Dream. Christian Medical Action in Nicaragua and CoCoSI (Committee Against AIDS) in El Salvador, are both seeking ways to build the educational capacity and leadership skills of young people and to create social and economic opportunities and alternatives to keep them home.

Partners have identified domestic violence and violence against women as key barriers to the development of women and their communities, and the need to engage men more intentionally and actively in their programs to bring about gender equality and the empowerment of women. Examples of this excellent work can be found in Mexico, where K'inal Antzetik continues to work with men at the community level on issues of responsible paternity, working to ensure the support and collaboration of male community leaders and in Nicaragua where Christian Medical Action is working with men in its gender discrimination work, and including violence and sexual abuse against men in its policy-advocacy work.

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Women and children represent the majority and the most severely affected by poverty, extreme poverty and social exclusion. Focusing on work with women in their communities is an important "niche" that our partners have and will continue to excel in. This is demonstrated by the work of The Continental Indigenous Women's Network of the Americas as they develop leadership among Indigenous women across the continent and foster opportunities for sharing information, experiences and strategies required for Indigenous peoples to protect their way of life.

In the face of the enormous challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean, neither PWRDF, nor its partners can do everything, but they are doing something; something very important.