Protecting poor communities
Poor people are the most vulnerable to natural disasters, the most reliant on harvests coming at the right time, and the least able to adapt or move away from dangerous places.
That’s why climate change hits poor people hardest. Changing weather patterns are increasingly bringing devastating floods, drought, failed harvests, malnutrition, increased disease and death.
God gives every Christian the remarkable responsibility to care on his behalf for people in desperate need – and for his creation. My Global Impact is an opportunity to do both.
Climate change hits the poorest hardest. Severe drought has pushed nomadic communities in Niger, West Africa, closer to the edge of survival. Tearfund partner Jemed helped teenager Hadija (pictured) resettle in their traditional pastureland, but climate change threatens to destroy their way of life.
The money you give will go directly to projects – similar to the ones below – that help poor communities respond quickly and effectively to the challenges of climate change. With the right help, these communities can adapt to cope with the harsh effects of climate change.
From provision of fresh water and drought-resistant seeds to training workshops on the most effective ways to adapt to the impacts of climate change, you’ll be bringing practical and spiritual transformation to the people who need it most.
And while we burn inequitable amounts of fossil fuels, many poor people have no access to sustainable fuels at all. Providing them with clean, renewable energy technology gives communities new opportunities to develop without further contributing to climate change.
For instance, a solar-powered light enables children and young people to study at home in the evenings. Using renewable fuels instead of firewood means that the time spent collecting wood every day can be used for paid work. This in turn means more income for better food and for children’s school fees. Alternative fuels also help reduce potentially life-threatening smoke pollution from home wood-burners.
As Philippe Ouedraogo, Director of Tearfund church partner AEAD, says: 'People are being empowered to transform their hostile environment and find hope for a fullness of life.'
Here are a few examples of how we might spend your money:
- With £100 we could buy a biodigestor which creates gas for lighting and cooking, from natural waste for a community.
- with £50 we can run a workshop with 25-30 people teaching them about how to protect mangroves (which in turn protect coastal areas from storm surges and erosion).
- with £15 we can build an ecological stove which uses less wood and reduces pollution in the home.