We are a charity organisation carrying out humanitarian projects with approved partners and providing aid to relieve poverty. Our mission is to relieve poverty and provide long term solutions through the provision of quality aid development projects.
Special Education in Karen Refugee Camps
Amongst the Karen people group in a refugee camp just over the Thai border not far from Myanmar, Craig Tunney and Greg Cadman witnessed a remarkable humanitarian project. This project helps develop those most disadvantaged in the midst of a whole city of disadvantaged people, disabled children living in the midst of a Karen Refugee camp of over 15,000 people. Disabled children are assisted with physical therapy sessions and mental stimulation activities to help in the development of their cognitive and motor skills. We were especially priviledged to be able to participate and actually sing the words to the nursery rhymes which the musical toy above made; those gathered had heard the tunes before but never the words! This project has helped many children become integrated into the local school system so that they can participate at some level.
Audit Visits in China
Geoff Armstrong and David Pearson recently travelled to China to audit several of our China projects, including some excellent projects working on physiotherapy and skills training with disabled people; others focussing on child development and education particularly to disadvantaged minority people groups; another which builds development through the supply of needed goods; through to disaster relief projects. One project suffered some minor damage due to the typhoon in Hong Kong.
Flowers from India
Travelling in Andra Pradesh, India, during our inspection of some 14 of our Indian aid and development projects, Geoff and Greg had the opportunity to inspect the native flora - up close and personal - literally, 'in your face', as they were welcomed with a traditional greeting of floral leis and thrown flower petals. The Indian people were very welcoming and gracious and are doing some wonderful work in a greatly impoverished and desperate nation. Much good work is going on and the opportunities for expansion are endless. This project is doing fantastic broad-based community development work which includes multiple models of micro business projects and training - from dress making to food carts; HIV aids prevention and hygiene training, and childhood education and vocational trainging programs; amongst others. It was so encouraging to see the wholistic approach to community development that they have adopted, and know that they are assisting some of the most disadvantaged and culturally downtrodden people groups.
About to board the Cessna to travel to
North Uganda
From Kampala Uganda, Geoff, Betty and Carey travelled to Pader, Gulu and Kitgum in Northern Uganda. Now that the rebels have left and the war is over, the people are leaving the IDP camps and returning to traditional lands. The opportunities are exciting but there are many problems as well and this requires a special effort by NGO’s such as Global Development Group.
Some of our AIDS orphans are getting bigger.
The feisty one in red was very small when we last saw him. These are some of the 8,000 looked after at J146 kitgum.
On the Queens birthday – Irene Gleeson of CKS Kitgum (North Uganda) was one of 24 Australians to receive The OA.
Irene has worked in Uganda since 1991, often in appalling conditions despite deprivation and discouragement but never with any ambition of receiving any award for her work. However we hope that this will give her huge encouragement and strength to continue the great work. Although conditions in Kitgum have improved considerably in the last decade, Irene continues to live a very sacrificial life and devotes all her resources to the welfare of the children and the future of the school.
