The Community Partnership Service is an important part of AFAP’s ongoing strategic development. Through the Service, communities in Australia are linked with communities in Africa, the Pacific, South East Asia and South Asia in the support of specific development and poverty alleviation projects.
With AFAP technical support, development expertise and guidance, Community Partners mobilise the financial and human resources of Australian communities for the purpose of responding to developmental needs that have been identified by communities in recipient countries.
2006–2007 was another busy year for the Community Partnership Service, with the consolidation of previous work in the re-writing of the Community Partnership Policy and refinement of various processes relating to the approval and assessment of applications from prospective Community Partners.
Several new Community Partners were welcomed during the year.
In September 2007, the first AFAP Community Partnership Workshop will be held in Sydney. The Workshop will provide the opportunity for Community Partners to share information about their experiences in supporting overseas development projects as well as direct access to AFAP’s technical specialists.
If you are part of a community group that is interested in supporting an overseas aid project and would like to become a Community Partner, please contact us
Our South Asia Community Partners are:
Rigdzin Foundation - VISTA, China www.RigdzinFoundation.org
Vajra Institute for Sustainable Training Assistance (VISTA) is an integrated vocational education, heritage conservation and enterprise development project run by the Rigdzin Foundation partnership with Ju Mohor Monastery. VISTA aims to assist the Tibetan nomadic community of Sershul County who are now being housed in urban areas, to adjust to urban living, and to develop the skills and their business applications to support their economic livelihood.
VISTA has four program areas covering Toursim Development, Technology Skills Training, Health Care and Education and Heritage Conservation.
Sailung TriNetra www.sailungtrinetra.org
Sailung TriNetra is a Nepali Non-Government (NGO) organisation established in October 2006 and working in the Ramechhap District in East Nepal. Sailung TriNetra strives to give rural village children access to learning tools, resources and the potential to empower themselves by providing education and training opportunities.
These facilities will provide education to up to 130 children in its first preschool phase. This will provide a much-required foundation, returning students to their village schools with an introduction in the basics of learning and socialising. A bakery has also been established in Kathmandu to provide training for the wider community that will further benefit families into the future.
Tibetan Support Program www.tibetsupport.org
The Tibetan Support Program (TSP) was established to assist with the education of children in the Quinghai, China in the North Eastern corner of the Tibetan plateau. Whilst in Nepal in November 2001, Dr Dave Webb, the founder of TSP met Lobsang Tsering, a Tibetan monk who spoke of his dream to build a school.
Returning to Australia after having offered his assistance, Dave established TSP in Perth to help improve the quality of life of the Tibetan nomadic people. In July 2005, the school opened for 30 children - including 18 orphan children - between the ages of 5 and 9. The second stage of construction was completed in November 2005 providing space for 30 more children. By end 2007 250 children are expected to board at the school.
Vets Beyond Borders www.vetsbeyondborders.org
Vets Beyond Borders was established by veterinarians and is currently involved in rpojects in India, Sri Lanka and the Pacifric, and has a consultative role in several other countries. The organisation seeks to improve the health and welfare of both animal and human populatins in developing countries of ht Asia-Pacific region, by providing or facilitating sustainable animal welfare programmes, staffed by qualifed veterinary personnel.
The organisation uses experienced Vets Beyond Borders coordinators and veterinary staff to train local administrators and clinical personnel in the field. In the North-Eastern Indian state of Sikkim, Vets Beyond Borders is working in collaboration with the Sikkimese GOvernment and the Brigitte Bardot FOundation in a state-wide, animla welfare project.
W1 Foundation, Pakistan www.w1foundation.org
The WI Foundation aims to improve the wellbeing and status of women and children in Pakistan through the prevention of violence and abuse and by improving women and girl's access to education, health services and income generating opportunities. W1 works in partnership with community based organisations and promotes activities such as legal aid centres, the provision of basic education, literacy classes for adult women and the provision of basic health services.
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