fida in asia & middle east
The work of Finnish Pentecostal churches in Asia began in 1928 in Tibet. Today, our focus is primarily on children’s education and supporting minority churches.
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Fida’s work in Asia and the Middle East
Fida in Bangladesh
Fida works to support children and youth education across Bangladesh, with a particular focus on preventing early marriages. In the capital, Dhaka, the Joy&Hope school promotes quality education for children and youth.
Development work in Bangladesh
Fida in Bhutan
Fida has been active in Bhutan since 2011, as one of the few foreign organisations in the country. We support women’s entrepreneurship, livelihoods, and vocational training in collaboration with RENEW, an organisation founded by the country’s Queen Mother.
Fida in Japan
In Japan, Fida supports the church ministry of the Pentecostal movement, with a focus on the city of Kyoto. The work in the country has also expanded to include supporting media ministry for churches.
Fida in Cambodia
Fida has been working since 1998 among the poorest people in Cambodia, in partnership with Assemblies of God Church of Cambodia (AGC). Fida cooperates with its sister organisation, Cambodia Global Action (CGA) in villages advocating for a better preschool education and family wellbeing.
Fida’s development work in Myanmar enhances learning opportunities for poor children and promotes peace in communities affected by conflict. Together with the Assemblies of God Church in Myanmar, we have established learning centres in villages.The education project operates in three rural villages in three different provinces (Kompot, Kratie and Takeo). The project is run in partnership with local churches who run learning centres for children from poor families.
The project supports children’s right to education by establishing learning centres within local churches in three villages. Volunteer groups are also being formed and trained in children’s rights and advocacy.
The project works with local authorities, schools and parents to ensure a safe living environment and access to quality education for children.
Fida in Myanmar
Fida’s development work in Myanmar enhances learning opportunities for poor children and promotes peace in communities affected by conflict. Together with the Assemblies of God Church in Myanmar, we have established learning centres in villages.
Fida in Nepal
For nearly two decades, Fida has been active in Nepal, striving to expand educational opportunities for children and young people while also helping families adopt sustainable farming practices. This work has significantly advanced the rights of girls and children from Dalit communities.
Fida in Pakistan
Fida has worked alongside a local Assemblies of God church in Pakistan since 2007 to support children’s education and women’s literacy.
Their efforts target the Christian minority, which faces discrimination at work and in schools, and often struggles with low incomes that prevent children from attending school.
With Fida’s assistance, AoG established a Christian primary school in 2008, now offering primary and secondary education to more than 300 students—about half of them girls. Some students come from very poor families, and the school uses a sliding fee scale based on parental income to make education accessible.
Teacher training is a key priority, and children’s holistic well-being is supported through various clubs and events. Parents also receive help through dedicated training programs.
Fida in Thailand
For decades, Fida has supported the education of mountain tribe children in Thailand. Its work also involves preventing human trafficking, providing broad support to local churches, and conducting media-based mission.
Fida strengthens the social work of the Full Gospel Churches of Thailand by offering tools and training in child protection and development.
Finnish missionaries established boarding homes in Thailand in the 1980s to offer children safe housing, food, healthcare, life skills training, and Christian-based guidance. Fida continues to support this model, though efforts are shifting from an institution-centered approach to a family- and community-centered one, so that whole communities receive the help they need.
Fida in India
Working with our partner church, Filadelfia Fellowship Churches, we seek to expand educational access for children and young people and foster safer living conditions in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
We strengthen local communities and promote the realisation of children’s rights.
Our efforts focus on marginalized ethnic groups at the lowest levels of the caste system, where human rights are frequently disregarded. Many families survive by collecting waste and scrap metal, leading to extreme poverty.
Fida in Papua New Guinea
The work of the Finnish Pentecostal churches in Papua New Guinea has a history of more than 55 years. Fida supports the Association of Local Churches of Papua New Guinea (ALC) movement in their children’s ministry as well as missionary training.
Fida in Iraq
Fida supports the right of children and young people with disabilities to attend school in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
Fida in Turkey
Fida supports evangelical churches in Turkey in opening new locations and providing Bible teaching. Fida’s partner in Turkey is Kurtuluş Kilisesi, a Protestant church founded about 25 years ago. Fida is involved in church ministry in the Antalya and Alanya regions.
Fida in Israel and Gaza
Fida works in Israel in partnership with several local churches. Currently, two families working alongside Fida are based in Israel. Together, they collaborate with Messianic churches on various initiatives, including church planting, humanitarian programs, music ministry, and training for home churches.
Fida also supports the Lech’lcha Bible and Discipleship School, which offers young people the opportunity to study the Bible. Fida also provides financial support to the Bible Society in Israel.
During the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Fida has provided humanitarian aid to people who were evacuated from towns near the Gaza and Lebanon borders and taken to the Yad Hashmona community. Fida has also sent assistance to the Palestinian Bible Society, which is supporting those caught in the bombings in Gaza City.
What we do in Asia & Middle East:
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News & stories
Categories News
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Bhutan’s new partnership: a mushroom farm brings opportunities to a mountain village
A Bhutanese village community grows oyster mushrooms with Finnish funding. The mushrooms will provide a valuable addition to their diet, and in the future, new income for the villagers.
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13-year-old Lamia prevented her friend’s child marriage
A child that is growing up is sensitive and needs the protection of an adult. Sometimes we try to spare children from the harsh side of life, but sometimes revealing it is vital. For Bangladeshi girls, awareness of the dangers of child marriage is important so that they can protect their own rights.
Categories Stories
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Saria and Autry change their community
Primary school girls have a clear plan for the future and a desire to change the harmful practices in their community. Both of them have seen some of their friends from school being married.