Local charities back increase in overseas aid donations
GUERNSEY-BASED charity workers have welcomed the States’ decision to increase the amount of overseas aid the island donates, saying it confirms the island as a life-saving force for good.
The States agreed last week to an overhaul of the overseas aid budget. It will gradually increase from the current 0.1% of GDP to 0.2% of GDP by the year 2030.
Louise Smith is the co-founder of the charity This is Epic, which aims to overcome poverty in communities in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo through savings and loans projects.
‘When you see real poverty it makes you realise how £1 can go a long way. £1 in Africa means a person can buy their first ever pair of shoes, or more than just one meal a day, or a mosquito net, or basic healthcare for their children.
‘We’re happy that the States decided to increase the overseas aid budget, although we think 0.2% should be the minimum level.’
Mrs Smith stressed that overseas aid is no longer about just writing cheques, it is about increasing the ability of poor countries to provide for themselves, and that relatively small investments can be a catalyst for sustainable change.
‘Our work provides a help up rather than a handout, we want to empower people to start businesses and be self-sufficient, and that’s what they want too.
‘I think sometimes there is a misconception about people living there, but they are very proud and they want to stand on their own two feet.’
The Eleanor Foundation is another Guernsey charity which has benefited from a grant from the States overseas aid commission.
It works with rural communities in North West Tanzania, principally with the installation of improved water sources like shallow wells and spring protection schemes.
Allister Carey from the foundation said by improving access to basic needs they could give communities the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty through their own efforts.
‘We built an out-patient health dispensary with a small maternity unit in the village of Mutundu, which has a population of around 20,000, with the money we received from overseas aid.
‘The facility has since treated thousands of people, safely delivered many babies, it does vaccinations, it helps malaria and HIV patients – it is remarkable, a little project like that has had a very tangible and very real impact on thousands of lives, that is the value.’
Both Mrs Smith and Mr Carey were fully supportive of the robust and rigorous procedures the overseas aid commission uses in safeguarding grants. They said it was absolutely right that there should be utmost diligence.
