ANNUAL REPORT 2007 Foreword
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ANNUAL REPORT 2007 FOREWORD A year of growth Mission East - is a Danish international aid organisation. - exists to deliver relief and development assistance to vulnerable communities in Eastern Europe and Asia. - aims to assist the most vulnerable, making no political, racial, or religious distinction between those in need. - is based on Christian values. - in 2007 Mission East operated in Armenia, In 2007, Mission East celebrated its ten year among other things with the opening of the first Afghanistan, Nepal and anniversary of working in Tajikistan and Child Development and Rehabilitation Centre Tajikistan and co-operated reflected on our contribution to assisting the in Armavir. with local partners in population of this poor former-Soviet republic. Bulgaria and Romania. Back in 1997, when we started our With another year of questioning in the Board humanitarian efforts in the country, our western media on the future of Afghanistan Chairman Thomas Ploug work consisted of emergency aid to a people and the West’s role in that country’s future, Peter Bernhard struggling with the economic and political assistance via organisations such as Mission Robert Kelley disruption following the collapse of the Soviet East continued to bring hope to thousands of Birgitte Hagelund Union, compounded by a painful civil war. Ten ordinary poor people behind the headlines. Bethan Ilett years on, the country, while desperately poor, From where we stand, we can see that the scale Editors needs assistance with a longer-term vision, not of task ahead of us is still significant. But we Kim Hartzner, just help to survive the short term. Mission can also see the difference that it is possible to Managing Director East’s work is supporting improving rural food bring about, and so we persevere. With your Mags Bird, production, developing small enterprises, and ongoing support, we can continue to change Operations Director preparing for the natural disasters to which lives. Tania Maria Lüders Rusbjerg, Tajikistan is prone. Journalist We thank you for your support and Jesper Holst, 2007 was also the year we took upon ourselves commitment and look forward to continuing Communications Director the challenge of reaching even further in this exciting journey with you. Nepal. We identified an area of extreme need Graphic design in the mountainous area of the Karnali zone On behalf of Mission East’s Board Rosendahls Bogtrykkeri in north-western Nepal. A beautiful but Photos challenging environment, where poverty has Thomas Ploug, Mission East been intensified by the years of conflict. The Chairman of the Board projects commenced in 2007 will improve food production for 5,000 people in remote villages, and provide clean drinking water to 1,000 more. Larger programmes will follow in 2008. In Europe, the past year focused on the rights of the disabled during the European Year of Equal Kim Hartzner, Front page: Opportunities for All. It was also the year when Managing Director In 2007, Mission East’s private 82 countries – including Denmark and Armenia supporters contributed to the – signed the UN Convention on the Rights of purchase and rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities. Mission East’s work the house where 38 orphan towards changing the attitude and approach to children live. the disabled in Armenia continued to progress 2 ABOUT US About us Mission East was founded in 1991 as a Danish international aid organisation. We work in Our Mission Statement Contents Eastern Europe and Asia, both in high profile Mission East is a Danish international relief and 3 About us crises – such as Afghanistan – and in other development organisation, which works to help more ‘forgotten’ places of need. 4 Afghanistan the vulnerable through 5 Armenia In 2007 we worked in Armenia, Afghanistan, • humanitarian relief aid Bulgaria, Romania, Nepal, and Tajikistan, either • development assistance 6 Nepal with direct interventions or in partnership • support to increasing capacity of communities 7 Romania with local organisations. Our work helped to organise and assist themselves. 8 Tajikistan 350,000 people in vulnerable communities with Our ‘Values in Action’ are: honesty, integrity, 9 Other Highlights projects delivering a range of assistance: clean compassion, valuing the individual, respect for drinking water, improved livelihood resources, all people. 10 Finances better food security, inclusion opportunities for disabled, latrines, access roads, natural disaster Mission East works in response to 12 Projects preparedness skills… and much more. community needs, primarily in the areas of 15 Thank you public health, livelihoods improvement and Mission East is an organisation with a Christian food security. basis and aims to demonstrate ‘values in action’. As well as direct implementation, Mission East We are supported in our work by a range of seeks to enhance the relevance, impact and institutional and governmental donors, as well sustainability of its programmes by co-operation as a private supporter base which is mostly with local and international partners. Danish. 3 AFGHANISTAN Providing water, roads, and knowledge UZBEKISTAN TAJIKISTAN According to the Afghanistan National honey) through inputs including seeds, bees, Development Strategy, Afghanistan remains tools and training. TURKMENISTAN one of the poorest countries in the world. 38 • Constructing roads in order to improve year- TAKHAR BADAKHSHAN percent of rural households are short of food round access to heath, education, schools KABUL for at least part of the year. Malnutrition is and market resources and at the same time HERAT widespread. Life expectancy is only 44-and- providing some additional income through Afghanistan a-half years, and child and maternal mortality cash for work activities. QANDAHAR PAKISTAN levels are among the highest in the world. In Badakhshan province – one of the areas In the future, Mission East will continue to where Mission East works – one in three respond to high levels of need in Afghanistan, IRAN women can expect to die from complications especially in remote rural areas which are slow in pregnancy or childbirth. Water quality to benefit from other sources of assistance. Achievements in 2007 has declined, the water table has descended Mission East hopes that stability and improved • 2,876 latrines constructed in many areas, and only 24 percent of water conditions will allow development of more sources are safe for drinking. Less than one long-term programmes to support capacity • 1,709 families received training percent of households in the country as a whole building of a variety of local actors to enable and inputs for kitchen garden have safe or sanitary toilet facilities. ongoing improvement in living conditions and activities. livelihoods. • 7 km of road built, completing In 2007, Mission East continued to carry out a a route which benefits 56,000 range of community-based interventions in the Our work in Afghanistan already reflects a shift people remote rural areas of the north-east Badakhshan from emphasis on direct assistance towards • 34 village drinking water and Takhar Provinces. the community-driven response to local systems built. • Developing water supply systems in order to needs. The scale of need, and the very special • More than 12,500 men, women, provide access to safe drinking water. social-cultural conditions mean that this is a and children educated in good • Improving knowledge and practice in slow process, with elements such as women’s hygiene practices hygiene and sanitation to reduce the participation being particularly challenging. • 845 desks and classroom incidence of water-borne diseases. We look forward to continuing the hard work materials distributed to 5 • Increasing quality, quantity and diversity of of building a better future for all members of schools and about 4,500 pupils household food production (vegetables and Afghan society. 4 ARMENIA GEORGIA GYUMRI VANADZOR AZERBAIJAN YEREVAN Better health care and education ARMAVIR SOT’K’ Armenia ANGEGHAKOT’ Mission East has been active in Armenia since children with disabilities and promote their TURKEY 1992, and has become a leading actor in the inclusion in society. First phase results include AZERBAIJAN IRAN area of disabled rights, and associated health new Armenian special education curricula and and education issues. All projects are based in more than 250 trained teachers in 23 project community action and aim at giving previously schools, as well as an improved legal framework neglected children a chance to discover the and greater public awareness of disability. Achievements in 2007 world for themselves and increasing the Phase two will now continue to support • Child Development and opportunities for the disabled and their families implementation of changes in the special and Rehabilitation Centre established in to play a full role in society. inclusive education sector, including important Armavir support to the development of disability • Training Manual on Child In 2007, the “A Healthy Start” project organisations and networks. 18 mainstream Development developed for health workers continued in 11 communities of one of the schools have been selected to become inclusive • Doctors from 11 communities poorest regions of Armenia: Armavir. The education institutions and the teacher training trained on child development overall goal of “A Healthy Start” is to change program has been introduced to the State • The law on social inclusion social attitudes and healthcare practices towards Pedagogical