A life-saving gift for your neighbour
You still have time this Christmas to give a life-saving gift to your global neighbours.
This year, people around the world have faced many disasters caused by the climate crisis. But even in the midst of these, there are so many ways you can make a positive difference. Take Tusher from Bangladesh, who is being trained in new ways to protect his family and community in an emergency.
Tusher’s story
For many years, Tusher’s family cultivated a small area of farmland in southern Bangladesh. Over the generations, they’ve witnessed significant changes to the weather in the region.
‘I heard from my father and grandfather that floods in this area were rare,’ he says. ‘But in recent years, the severity and frequency have increased drastically, with us experiencing multiple floods each year.
‘Because of the rising sea level with saline water seeping into our agricultural lands, crops are growing at a much slower rate and some die… I feel very upset that I cannot provide food, clothes and treatment to my family as well as a good education for my daughter.’
But when it comes to protecting his community, Tusher is an inspiration. Trained by the local church, he is mastering the skills needed to keep them safe when extreme weather occurs.
‘The head of the [disaster] committee gathers us for a meeting where he asks what we can do about the upcoming storm. We divide the tasks, like locating the vulnerable and deciding who’s going to look after them. We also prepare by tying the roofs down with ropes so they are not taken away by the storm, as well as storing dry food and savings.’
