A corn called ‘Lutheran’

Amare and his family live in Amhara region of Ethiopia.

Here, ALWS aims to support 223 farm families to increase their harvest and income, so their children aren’t hurt by malnutrition.

Amare is proof your help works!

He tripled his family’s income using an improved corn seed variety called ‘Lutheran’, introduced by the LWF team you support in Ethiopia.

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Amare is happy to explain why the ‘Lutheran’ corn seed variety has become popular:

“To start with, it has a superior taste. Secondly, the corn stalk holds three large cobs, whereas previous varieties only hold one or two small ones, maximum.

“Furthermore, due to the leafiness and thickness of the cob cover, it does not get attacked by birds and pests. I now get 6 ETB (20 cents) for one cob whereas before I used to get half the amount.

“Finally, the extra two months that Lutheran takes to grow is worth the wait due to the size, yield, taste, overall quality and potential for commercialisation.”

Improved seed varieties are just one of the ways you can help farm families like Amare’s.

Your donation is part of an integrated program:

1. Complete a Cash for Work project to build two water storage dams and a 2 kilometres long canal to irrigate 60 hectares (irrigated crops in this area have an 82.5% higher yield)
2. Distribute improved vegetable and cereal seeds, and teach modern environmentally-friendly farming methods, to increase production and family income (many families still plough with oxen and simply scatter seeds)
3. Address the impact of changing climate and soil erosion through terracing, building soil / stone bunds and planting trees

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Your ALWS action is critical because:

• people are displaced, and have lost everything
• outbreaks of cholera are taking lives
• families face a hunger ‘gap’, with children suffering from severe malnutrition
• grain shipments from Ukraine are still blockaded by Russia’s illegal invasion
• threat of desert locusts destroying crops
• ongoing impact of two years of Tigray conflict that only ended earlier this year
• planting season in Amhara ‘food bowl’ at risk because of flooding after prolonged drought
• hyper-inflation – nearly 30%!

Your help is especially vital as the LWF team in Ethiopia also seeks to care for people fleeing the crisis in Sudan.

The map below shows where you will be making an impact:

Tragically, conflict in Amhara region in the first week of August means the LWF team you support has had to pause the program until safety and security is restored.

ALWS is committed to making sure the people of Amhara are not forgotten, so your donation now is critical so emergency work can resume the moment it is safe.  

Amare, with his TRIPLE INCOME, is proof of the impact you can make.

Amare has used his increased income to improve his house and send his children to school. He now plans to buy a bajaj, Amharic for tuk-tuk – the most affordable transport here.

Amare sums up very simply the impact of the LWF team you support in Ethiopia:

“My life has changed!”  

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Important Information

You help with practical care

Your donation will support the 23/24 ALWS commitment to Ethiopia of $365,000, plus $100,000 to care for refugees fleeing Sudan. Should ALWS receive income beyond what is needed for this project, any extra will be used for other ALWS-supported development projects.

Information in this communication is based on data correct at time of writing, and may change. Funds and other resources designated for the purpose of aid and development will be used only for those purposes and will not be used to promote a particular religious adherence or to support a political party, or to promote a candidate or organisation affiliated to a particular party, or to support welfare activities as defined by DFAT. For more information, call: 1300 763 407

Being careful with your care

In 2022, ALWS ‘overheads’ (fundraising and administration costs as defined by ACFID Code of Conduct) were 15.4%. The 5 year average is also 15.4%. A copy of the 2022 ALWS Annual Report can be viewed at alws.org.au or requested: 1300 763 407. 

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ALWS collects personal information about you in order to process your gift. A copy of the ALWS Privacy Policy is available at alws.org.au If you don’t wish to receive further news from ALWS, simply call 1300 763 407 or write to alws@alws.org.au

Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) is The Overseas Aid & Development Agency of the Lutheran Church of Australia – ABN 36 660 551 871