transformational development

Our ‘Life with Dignity’ programme strengthens church-based social work to support families and children in the most vulnerable situations. We aim at transformational development where children and families thrive.

We support churches in their work with child development, advocacy, and family ministry, giving even the poorest children a chance at holistic well-being.

Fida supports churches to act as agents of social change in 10 countries in Asia, East Africa and Eastern Europe.  

Our focus is on ensuring children have access to education. Our work is transformative, with a focus on creating lasting change where children and families thrive.

At the heart of our mission are the most vulnerable children and young people. We invest in building quality education and safe living environments. We encourage churches to act as social advocates, promoting the rights of children and young people and reducing marginalisation.

Together we advance the kingdom of God by promoting life with dignity.  

Each year we reach over 17,000 people living in vulnerable situations in over 60 communities struggling with poverty. 

Life with Dignity programme

Balkans and Eastern Europe

Albania: Holistic Development Programme, Secured Childhood Project

Fida has been working with children in Albania since the early 2000s. Through our child support programmes, we improve educational opportunities and safety for the most vulnerable children. This work is carried out throughout Albania in partnership with the Albanian Christian Prison Ministry and CHE Albania.

We support children living in the poorest areas of Albania. Around two thirds of the children in our support programme are Roma, a community with a history of centuries of discrimination.

The Albanian Christian Prison Ministry focuses on children who have one or both parents in prison. These children are largely marginalised in Albanian society. They often live in remote areas without parental presence, so their education is disrupted.

Fida provides pre-school education and tutoring for the children. Where possible, we work to improve the quality of life and livelihoods of families. Children can participate in regular children’s activities, clubs, camps and educational programmes.

At the same time, we support families and communities to build a better future.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Child development programme for Roma children in Tuzla and children in Banja Luka and Prijedor

Fida works with local churches in the areas of Tuzla, Banja Luka and Prijedor.

We help impoverished children and their families, and about 65% of the sponsored children are Roma. The situation of the Roma minority in Bosnia and Herzegovina is difficult. Many Roma children do not have birth certificates, which prevents them from accessing social security and other services, leading to their marginalisation.

Fida improves living conditions within communities and increases the livelihood opportunities for families. With the support of sponsors, children’s access to education is improved and tutoring is provided for those who need extra help.

Latvia: Roma communities

Our work in Latvia focuses on the Roma minority. Roma live in very poor conditions, especially in rural areas. Jobs are scarce and many families live in houses without running water. The work is carried out in partnership with Life and Light organisation, whose team regularly visits the country.

Fida’s local partner is the Valmiera Pentecostal Church.

In the village of Aloja there is a Life and Light Activity Centre, which provides extensive outreach to the Roma community. The centre distributes food and clothes, and new washing facilities are being prepared. Through Fida’s programme, 50 families in Aloja receive regular food aid and 100 children are supported in their education.

Africa

Kenya: The Somali Youth

The youth programme in Kenya supports the empowerment of Somali youth in Nairobi. The project works primarily in a Somali-populated area in partnership with a local organisation, which works under Fida’s long-term partner, the Full Gospel Churches of Kenya.

A survey of Somali youth identified youth unemployment, radicalisation, the low status of girls and drug problems as the main challenges facing the area.

Fida and our local partner set up a training centre in the area, offering short courses to improve employment opportunities for young people. The centre also addresses other challenges faced by Somali youth through various training and advocacy activities.

The aim of the programme is to support the local partner in establishing a high quality and financially sustainable training centre and to ensure its future operation.

Uganda: Hope for Uganda’s Children

The Hope for Uganda’s Children programme is run in partnership with the Pentecostal Churches of Uganda (PCU). The programme supports 12 village communities working to improve family livelihoods and children’s access to education. The aim of the programme is to create a sustainable and holistic improvement in the quality of life for children.

Uganda is a very poor country where the rights of children, adolescents and vulnerable people are often not fulfilled. Challenges faced by children include early marriage, child labour and limited educational opportunities. An estimated 22% of Ugandan children (around 4.4 million) live in poor households.

The short-term goal of the programme is to increase the number of children completing primary school. The long-term vision is to see thriving families that can provide for their children independently.

Asia

Bangladesh: Slum children of Dhaka

In the slums of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, millions of people struggle to make a living. The children of the poorest families are often unable to attend school, as the income from child labour is desperately needed. In addition, many girls are married off as minors.

Fida has improved children’s access to education in a number of ways, including the creation of a school that accepts students from the poorest families.

The project aims to expand to two new slums and set up learning centres to support the children.

The Joy & Hope School in Dhaka is supported by a Finnish family-owned business Hesburger, which funded the construction of the current school building and has supported the work in Dhaka for nearly two decades.

The students in The Joy & Hope School are supported by hundreds fo sponsors from Finland.

India: Children of Udaipur

Together with our partner church, Filadelfia Fellowship Churches, we are working to improve access to education for children and young people and to create a safer living environment in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

We strengthen the capacity of local communities and promote the realisation of children’s rights.

The project targets marginalised ethnic groups who have the lowest status in the caste system, which means their human rights are not always respected. Many families earn their living by collecting waste and scrap metal, leading to extreme poverty.

Due to poverty, children suffer from malnutrition and disease, and often have to do heavy labour to support their families.

Girls are particularly vulnerable as child marriages are common. Many girls are forced to drop out of school due to early marriage.

Cambodia: Supporting education

Fida’s partner is the Assemblies of God Church of Cambodia (AGC) and its sister organisation, Cambodia Global Action (CGA). 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.

An estimated 10% of children in Cambodia do not attend school. Many parents, themselves uneducated, tend not to value education, and girls, in particular, are often expected to stay at home to help with household chores. The country’s history of conflict continues to affect children’s learning difficulties, and health services remain limited. Children with intellectual disabilities also face discrimination.

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.

Thailand: A family for all

Although Thailand is in many ways a developed country, many families still face social challenges. The most vulnerable children are left without education and exposed to drugs and human trafficking.

Fida is strengthening the social work of the Full Gospel Churches of Thailand by providing tools and training for child protection and development work. Several local churches are already actively working to prevent human trafficking.

Fida supports the education of children in boarding schools. Finnish missionaries established boarding homes in Thailand as early as the 1980s. These homes provide a safe living environment, food, health care, life skills education and value-based guidance according to Christian principles.

Fida and the partner church are gradually moving from an institution-centred model to a family- and community-centred approach, offering support to families and whole communities.

Pakistan: Christian school

Pakistan is one of the poorest countries in Asia, where political instability weakens the position of women, children and especially girls. Due to low income levels, not all families can afford to send their children to school. Poor children are often forced to work in carpet factories.

Fida and a local Assemblies of God church have been working in Pakistan since 2007 to support children’s education and women’s literacy.

The work focuses on a Christian community. Christians are a small minority in the region. They face discrimination at work and in schools, and many Christian families live on the margins of society.

The income level of Christian families is low and many children cannot attend school without help.

With the support of Fida, AoG established a Christian primary school in 2008. It provides primary and secondary education for the Christian minority. The school currently has over 300 students, half of whom are girls and some of whom come from very poor families. The school offers children the opportunity to attend for a fee based on their parents’ income.

Teacher training is a priority. The well-being of the children is addressed holistically through various clubs and events, and the parents of the children are supported through various training programmes.

transformational development

Life with Dignity programme

Balkans and Eastern Europe

Africa

Asia

Our Global Work

Development Cooperation

Church Ministry

Humanitarian aid to Ukraine