Friendship Grants – Round 1: Activity Outcomes

In 2019-20, 45 Australian community organisations used their Friendship Grant funding to deliver life changing international development activities in 15 countries across the Indo-Pacific region.

Click on the tiles below for a quick look into the activities delivered under Round 1 by organisations across Australia.

Australian Capital Territory

ABUNDANT WATER INC SDG6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION Abundant Water established a household water filter distribution network in Timor-Leste, where local entrepreneurs sell water filters to their community. This has resulted in improved access for all to clean water and has also generated income and business for the local community. The larger image is a photo of volunteer and people from community depicting the first sale of a water filter by local Timor-Leste business, the Atauro Fishing Co-operative.

Abundant Water INC

AUSTRALIA BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS LTD SDG8: DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH Australian Business Volunteers Ltd placed skilled volunteers on short-term assignments to work with Indonesian-based, female owned social enterprise, Aliet Green, who specialise in producing organic coconut sugar products. Aliet Green employees were given business advice and mentored, which has resulted in better business processes and greater local employment opportunities.

Australian Business Volunteers Ltd

New South Wales

Cambodian Children’s Fund Australia (CCFA) CAMBODIAN CHILDREN’S FUND AUSTRALIA SDG4: QUALITY EDUCATION Steung Meanchey, Cambodia, was one of the largest garbage dumpsites in Southeast Asia. Although officially closed in 2009, it remains a workplace and home for impoverished children and families in Phnom Penh. Cambodian Children’s Fund Australia (CCFA) worked with local public schools to enrol around 1,000 children into primary school. CCFA provided children with school uniforms and study materials, prov

Cambodian Children’s Fund Australia

CARING FOR KIRIWINA SDG3: GOOD HEALTH AND WELLBEING Australian Midwife Educators from Caring for Kiriwina travelled to Kiriwina, Papua New Guinea, to train local village birth attendants skills in delivering babies and postnatal care. New mothers and newborn babies in remote Papua New Guinea are now better prepared for the future. The larger image is a photo of women from the community in training. Photo credit: Caring for Kiriwina. The smaller image is a map of Papua New Guinea in relation to Australia.

Caring for Kiriwina

CEREBRAL PALSY ALLIANCE SDG17: PARTNERSHIPS FOR GOALS Working in partnership with local Fijian organisation, Frank Hilton Organisation, Cerebral Palsy Alliance have trained local healthcare staff who support people with disability, including people who have difficulties with eating and people that require wheelchairs. This work has contributed to establishing a more competent local healthcare workforce, and has connected people with disability and their families to the healthcare system and other services i

Cerebral Palsy Alliance

EDUCATING THE FUTURE SDG4: QUALITY EDUCATION Educating the Future are upgrading two preschools in regional Timor-Leste. The preschools will provide better resources for the future generation, as well as employment opportunities for local communities. The larger image is a photo of volunteers from Educating the Future. Photo credit: Educating the Future. The smaller image is a map of Timor-Leste in relation to Australia.

Educating the Future

HEALTHSERVE AUSTRALIA SDG3: GOOD HEALTH AND WELLBEING HealthServe Australia have printed and distributed the latest version of a Community Healthcare Manual to improve the knowledge and skills of healthcare workers across Papua New Guinea. Photographed is Dr John Oakley and Gerri Koelma from the Health Care Manual 3rd Edition Project, HealthServe Australia, with freshly printed copies of the Health Care Manual – 3rd Edition. Photo credit: HealthServe Australia. The smaller image is a map of Papua New Guinea

HealthServe Australia

MALUK TIMOR AUSTRALIA SDG3: GOOD HEALTH AND WELLBEING Through working with local healthcare staff, Maluk Timor Australia have implemented an outpatient triage system in five government-run primary health centres in Timor-Leste. Pictured are two Maluk Timor Nurse educators with a sign on the door advising where parents need to take their children to see the doctor. Photo credit: Maluk Timor. The smaller image is a map of Timor-Leste in relation to Australia.

Maluk Timor Australia

MARY MACKILLOP TODAY SDG10: REDUCED INEQUALITIES Through their Inclusive Communities project, Mary Mackillop Today have increased awareness of the rights of people with disability through training local volunteers and improving access to health services and education in remote Papua New Guinea. Volunteers across 10 remote areas in PNG attended a series of training workshops to develop skills in basic physiotherapy, referral services and creating assistive devices. The larger image is a photo of local volunt

Mary Mackillop Today

PARTNER HOUSING AUSTRALASIA (BUILDING) INC SDG6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION Partner Housing Australasia (Building) Inc have improved some of the water supply in the Solomon Islands. Through constructing water supply systems, their projects provide the community with greater access to clean water. This has benefited the community greatly through providing better health outcomes and has provided employment opportunities for maintenance of the systems. The larger image is a photo of a local man testing one of

Partner Housing Australasia (Building) Inc

PARTNER HOUSING AUSTRALASIA (BUILDING) INC SDG6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION Partner Housing Australasia (Building) Inc have improved some of the water supply in the Solomon Islands. Through constructing water supply systems, their projects provide the community with greater access to clean water. This has benefited the community greatly through providing better health outcomes and has provided employment opportunities for maintenance of the systems. The larger image is a photo of a local man testing one of

Partners in International Collaborative Community Aid

ROOM TO READ SDG4: QUALITY EDUCATION Room to Read Australia has worked with teachers in Laos to develop custom designed workbooks and engaging in-language books to support students in the development of their second language, providing them with opportunities for the future. Participating students are confident with using their new reading materials and have embraced learning the second language. Pictured is the children and teacher reading their new books. Photo credit: Room to Read Laos. The smaller image

Room to Read

SIVAN ARUL ILLAM SDG2: ZERO HUNGER Sivan Arul Illam has established a dairy, poultry, and organic vegetable farm in rural Sri Lanka to help war widows with disability. In addition to improving the nutrition of people in the community, the farm provides employment opportunities for the women and their families as they have been taught how to cultivate more effectively. The larger image is a photo of local women working in the new vegetable farm. Photo credit: Sivan Arul Illam. The smaller image is a map of S

Sivan Arul Illam

SURFRIDER FOUNDATION AUSTRALIA SDG6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION Surfrider Foundation Australia worked with local partners in Indonesia to educate students and teachers in waste reduction, providing reusable water bottles. Surfrider will deliver a custom designed desalination unit to the school, providing safe drinking water for the community. The larger image is of the Australian volunteers with a representative from the local community. Photo credit: Surfrider Foundation Australia. The smaller image is a m

Surfrider Foundation Australia

THE DIDI FOUNDATION SDG4: QUALITY EDUCATION The Didi Foundation have constructed a commercial kitchen and hospitality school in Nepal. The commercial kitchen will be used to deliver cooking and hospitality training to boost job opportunities for disadvantaged women in Nepal. The larger image is a photo of the participating women in their chef uniforms in their new kitchen. Photo credit: The Didi Foundation. The smaller image is a map of Nepal in relation to Australia.

The Didi Foundation

WANTAIM PNG SDG5: GENDER EQUALITY Wantaim PNG, formerly Friends of Rambutso, has expanded the Hamamas Meri (Happy Women and Girls) program, teaching women in Papua New Guinea how to sew reusable sanitary kits which are then sold, generating income for the community. Wantaim PNG purchased essential boat equipment resulting in the expansion of their program to 80 per cent of the Manus population who live on remote islands and coastal villages. The larger image is a photo of volunteers showcasing the reusable

Wantaim PNG

YOUTH OFF THE STREETS OVERSEAS RELIEF FUND LTD SDG11: SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES Youth Off The Streets Overseas Relief Fund Ltd extended their youth services across several communities to reduce the barriers young people face in their lives in Timor-Leste. Through increasing access to early intervention and prevention services and specialist services, Youth Off The Streets Overseas Relief Fund has improved the skills and confidence of young people, which has benefited the community overall.

Youth Off The Streets Overseas Relief Fund Ltd

Queensland

BRIDGING LANKA SDG5: GENDER EQUALITY Bridging Lanka has established the catering kitchen and education facility, Café Arokkiya, offering professional training and workshops for war widows in Mannar, Sri Lanka. Workshops have taught women how to manage personal budgets, implement business planning and account keeping, as well as how to develop a café menu and recipes. The larger image if the participating local women cooking in the catering kitchen. Photo credit: Bridging Lanka. The smaller image is a map of

Bridging Lanka

CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN QUEENSLAND SDG1: NO POVERTY Churches of Christ in Queensland worked with local charity health service, Medical Santo, to train and employ people in Vanuatu to become Community Based Rehabilitation workers to support people with disability. To ensure continuity of this important work, disability advocates, service providers, and local organisations will meet every three months to discuss program progress to ensure the improvement of disability service provision and coordination. The lar

Churches of Christ in Queensland

EDMUND RICE FOUNDATION AUSTRALIA SDG4: QUALITY EDUCATION The Edmund Rice Foundation has delivered resources and targeted training to early childhood teachers and parents to improve children’s literacy levels of the local language, Tetum, in Railaco, Timor-Leste. The training has improved the teaching practices of teachers, particularly classroom management, lesson planning, and positive discipline skills. Similarly, the workshops for parents raised awareness of the importance of taking their children to sch

Edmund Rice Foundation Australia

FORGET ME NOT AUSTRALIA LTD SDG16: PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS Forget Me Not Australia Ltd continued their work with the Nepal Government, rescuing trafficked children and reuniting them with their families. With support of their Friendship Grant, Forget Me Not Australia Ltd rescued 48 children from orphanages that the Nepal Government found non-compliant with the Minimum Standards of Operation and Management of Residential Child Care Homes. These children have been reunited with their families.

Forget Me Not Australia Ltd

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT GROUP SDG3: GOOD HEALTH & WELLBEING Global Development Group partnered with local healthcare specialists and organisation, Bali Kids, to establish a mobile health clinic delivering medical and dental treatment to children in remote districts of Indonesia. This work has resulted in a noticeable improvement in the children’s health and hygiene. The larger image is a photo of a local healthcare specialist teaching a class of students. Photo credit: Brenton Whittaker. The smaller image is a m

Global Development Group

LIBRARY FOR ALL SDG4: QUALITY EDUCATION Library For All expanded their digital Library in Papua New Guinea making more books available for upper primary and high school children. Pictured are children holding flyers that will be taken home to their families to encourage parents to download the free digital library to start reading with their children at home. Photo credit: Library For All The smaller image is a map of Papua New Guinea in relation to Australia.

Library for All

Glebe Road Ipswich Uniting Church delivered essential oral and dental healthcare services and resources to educate the community in Timor-Leste about the importance of looking after their teeth and gums. Children and their families are now smiling brighter knowing that they have their oral health in order. The larger image is a photo of children at a stall in their school learning about the impor

The Uniting Church in Australia Represented by Glebe Road Ipswich Uniting Church

SDG2: ZERO HUNGER World Hope International (WHI) has improved the lives of many families through mushroom farming in rural parts of Cambodia. WHI worked closely with local women teaching them how to grow mushrooms in grow houses, which provide an environmentally friendly and efficient way to grow mushrooms year-round in a climate-controlled space. The women now have financial independence and are able to generate a reliable income for their families and communities. The larger image is a photo of a local wo

World Hope International

South Australia

Adelaide Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara Inc (ASBV) have restored Meegahajandura Village’s cascading irrigation tank systems, providing the community with access to clean water. This has benefitted the community greatly through providing safe drinking water and better quality water for agricultural activity, which will increase income generation for the community. During the restoration, ASBV worked closely with the local community through pr

Adelaide Sri Lanka Buddhist Vihara Inc

Mission World Aid Inc delivered water-well drilling training and equipment to communities in the Solomon Islands to improve access to clean water. Pictured are children from the Foxwood Community, Solomon Islands, gathered around a new water-well constructed by a local group trained by Mission World Aid’s in-country partner, Clean Water 4 Life. Photo credit: Clean Water 4 Life. The smaller image is a map of the Solomon Islands in relation to Australia.

Mission World Aid Inc

Victoria

The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine worked with the Emergency Department of Mount Hagen General Hospital in Papua New Guinea to establish a more efficient and effective triage system. The improved triage system has already improved healthcare access and outcomes for many patients in the Western Highlands. The larger image is a photo of Australian volunteers and local healthcare staff outside of the hospital. Photo credit

Australasian College for Emergency Medicine

Australian Volunteers International provided business training for aspiring female entrepreneurs with disability in Myanmar. For almost all participants, this was the first time being trained in financial literacy and managing income and expenses. For this trainer (pictured), this was her first time working with women with disabilities. By the end of the first day, she was already using some basic sign language in class and several good business ideas wer

Australian Volunteers International

BAHAY TULUYAN PHILIPPINES AUSTRALIA SDG2: ZERO HUNGER Bahay Tuluyan Philippines Australia (BTPA) volunteers provided agricultural equipment and training which has enabled the production of food and generation of income in the Quezan community in The Philippines. BTPA supported 44 young locals to participate in training to learn about organic agriculture and sustainable practice, as well as how to maintain the equipment so that it can be used by the local community for years to come. The larger image is a ph

Bahay Tuluyan Philippines Australia

Balibo House Trust built the Balibo Fort Hotel, officially opened in 2015. With support of their Friendship Grant, Balibo House Trust worked with local tour guides to develop Balibo Trails, walking tours and hikes in and around Balibo in Timor-Leste. Local tour guides have been trained in tour leadership, basic first aid, and track maintenance. This work has built the skills and confidence of local guides, boosted local employment opportunities, and h

Balibo House Trust

The Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Studies (CERES), have upgraded teachers accommodation in India using sustainable building techniques to attract female teachers. Pictured is the earth brick production in action. These bricks are made from local soil and sand mixed with a small amount of cement and then compressed under tight pressure in the semi-automated brick press. Photo credit: CERES Inc. The smaller image is a map of India in

CERES Inc

Footscape worked with local organisation, Equatorial Opportunities, in Nauru, to develop a new Diabetes Foot Care Interactive Manual which will improve the delivery of vital diabetic foot care services at the Republic of Nauru Hospital and Naoero Public Health Centre. Pictured is a local man holding up his healthy foot. Photo credit: Equatorial Opportunities. The smaller image is a map of Nauru in relation to Australia.

Footscape

Hagar Australia Ltd worked with Yen Bai Women’s Union to expand their small loans program for households impacted by poverty and violence in the Yen Bai Province in northern Vietnam. In order to access the small loan, women and their husbands were required to participate in awareness sessions on gender equality, human rights, national laws and the impacts of violence. Pictured is Hagar’s Project Officer training local Yen Bai Women’s Union staff to run group meeting

Hagar Australia

The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) provided training to community leaders in the Solomon Islands on disaster risk reduction. ICLEI has worked closely with community leaders to brief them on the climate and disaster threats facing their communities and has helped them build strong working relationships with local groups, particularly the women in the community and local church groups. Through this collaboration and training, t

ICLEI

Many Hands International (MHI) has been working with communities in the Lautem district in Timor-Leste to increase literacy for all ages through inter-generational reading at school and home. Through working closely with the local Ministry of Education, MHI’s literacy program involves creating culturally relevant storybooks in three local languages. The children illustrated the books and each story conveyed messages that support community health and education

Many Hands International

The Oaktree Foundation is empowering young people in the workforce in Cambodia, through establishing the Kampuchean Young Leaders’ Action (KYLA) network program. The young Cambodians that make up the KLYA network, have participated in capacity building workshops focusing on soft skills and career development, public forums to encourage community awareness of environmental issues, and connected with an inclusive alumni network to encourage professional mentorship t

Oaktree Foundation

Ryder-Cheshire Australia Ltd have delivered a GeneXpert Machine to the Viqueque municipality in Timor-Leste, and have trained local healthcare professionals to use the machine. The machine detects and prevents the spread of tuberculosis (TB) and multi-drug resistant TB in remote Timor-Leste. Laboratory technicians at the Viqueque laboratory can now carry out TB tests using GeneXpert technology, while field officers are undertaking advanced case de

Ryder-Cheshire Australia Ltd

The Thin Green Line Foundation Ltd have established their Sumatran Ranger Project in Indonesia, providing the community with sustainable livelihood alternatives to wildlife poaching, while preserving bio-diversity. The purchase of two motorbikes and camera equipment has allowed the Sumatran Ranger Project community rangers to respond to calls of help and change wildlife poaching behaviours in the community. For example, the team responded to a call from

Thin Green Line Foundation Ltd

xPand Foundation have established an agroforestry and permaculture training centre in in rural Baguia, a subprovince of Baucau, Timor-Leste. The centre provides assistance and education to help the local community improve their crop production and cultivation. A member from the Baguia community said “This training, where farmers gain knowledge and skills and then take that back to their villages and share with others, is very beneficial for our community’s development”. Th

xPand Foundation

Western Australia

The John Fawcett Foundation conducted training in basic eye care and identification of cataracts for nurses from a community health centre, and conducted large-scale eye screening and cataract operations for vulnerable people in Indonesia working alongside locally based ophthalmologists. More than 4,200 people from the community with eye problems were checked, from which 376 sight-restoring operations were performed, and over 2,350 pairs of glasses wer

John Fawcett Foundation

Living Child Inc worked with and provided over 200 men with culturally appropriate training in two remote villages in the East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea. Through gaining a better understanding of reproductive health and associated issues, the men have become more actively involved in improving the health and welfare of their families. The larger image is a photo of Australia volunteer, Christian Wright, who was invited by the male leaders to address th

Living Child Inc

St John of God Outreach Services developed injectable medication guidelines and delivered associated training for nurses and midwives in Timor-Leste. The guidelines and training will help improve the identification, preparation, and administration of injectable medications, and will help to promote a safer culture in the National Hospital in Timor-Leste with reduced medication errors and patient harm. The larger image is a photo of a nurse referring t

St John of God Outreach Services

Timor-Leste Vision Inc built toilet facilities and ran an education program to raise awareness on good hygiene practices for three communities in remote Timor-Leste. This work is reducing the spread of disease in the three communities. As people from their respective communities helped build the toilets, the activity also provided training in construction and project management, equipping the local workforce with necessary skills for future projects an

Timor-Leste Vision Inc

Wheelchairs for Kids Inc build custom wheelchairs that can function in rough terrain for children with disability. Using their Friendship Grant, they have sent 220 wheelchairs to Timor-Leste, which were specially fitted by local healthcare professionals for the receiving children with disability. The larger image is a photo of the receiving child in their new wheelchair, with the local healthcare staff and volunteers in Timor-Leste. Photo credit: Wheelchai

Wheelchairs for Kids Inc

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