Words by Janet Cousens, CEO of Act for Peace
In an age of constant news flashes, often negatively skewed, it’s normal to at times feel overwhelmed by the problems in our world. As we reflect on the year that has been, I’d like to remind you of some of the incredible achievements we made together with our partners in 2022.
Thank you for being a part of this dedicated community in 2022.
It has been a momentous year. Not just for the progress we’ve made together, but because the world reached a staggering new milestone – over 100 million people displaced by conflict and disaster around the world.
The ongoing impacts of climate-disasters, COVID-19, conflicts and the recent war in Ukraine are being felt on a global scale. These intersecting factors are distressing; but for our team and the partners and communities we collaborate with, they only confirm the vital nature of our work and our refreshed purpose:
To create, together, a world where people uprooted by conflict and disaster have a safe place to belong.
Here are just a handful of highlights from our work together in 2022:
1. We supported families affected by the Tonga volcano eruption
In January, we raised more than $94 000 to help our partner in Tonga, the Tonga National Council of Churches, to support communities living with the physical devastation, food insecurity and trauma caused by the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano eruption.
2. We helped the many Ukrainian families uprooted by war
In March, we helped launch the historic first Emergency Action Alliance joint appeal, which together with the Australian Government, the ABC, and other charities raised $28 million to support families uprooted by the Ukraine war. The $1 million raised by Act for Peace’s supporters has helped our ACT Alliance partner, Hungarian Interchurch Aid, to assist 219,253 Ukrainians with basic humanitarian aid, protection activities and other life-saving services.
3. We helped launch a life-changing project for refugees in Jordan
In June, our partner in Jordan, DPSR, launched a new pilot project called ‘Forsa’ to help back Syrian and Palestinian refugees out of poverty. The two-year pilot, supported by funds raised by the Ration Challenge, will help 50 families living in refugee camps in Jordan to become self-reliant through an intensive, personalised program.
4. We rallied to assist families affected by the escalating hunger crisis
In September, we responded to the escalating hunger crisis by raising an incredible $238,655 to provide urgently needed food, water and medicine to people impacted most by food insecurity, including communities impacted by displacement in Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
A huge thank you to the Act for Peace community
Whether you took action this year by praying, fundraising, advocating or making a generous donation, the highlights I’ve shared above confirm for me that, collectively, we are making a positive difference in the lives of many.
With our partners, we work with individuals, families and communities directly affected by forced displacement to incorporate their voice and leadership in joint programs and advocacy initiatives. May we look to these resilient individuals – those on the frontline of the displacement crisis – to be our inspiration for 2023.
P.S. If you’d like to read more about the impact we made together in 2022, take a look at our 2022 Annual Impact Report.
*Name changed for safety reasons.
