Thank you! Reflecting on 2022

On behalf of the Board of ALWS, I thank our donors for their great generosity to people in need this last financial year.

It has been a true blessing to me, coming from the business world, to see your love and kindness transforming the lives of vulnerable people, in danger of being forgotten by the world.

Some of the highlights include:

• 406,173 people served in ALWS-supported projects
• a further 267,279 people aided after disasters
• critical action in the world’s most dangerous places – Myanmar (military junta), Ukraine (Russian attacks), Somalia (terrorist group Al Shabaab), South Sudan (conflict)
• the Australian Government has acknowledged ALWS impact by increasing their aid action through us by more than 12%
• ‘overheads’ maintained at 15.4% (our 5 year average).

You can see more of your ALWS action impact in our July Report Back below and in our 2022 ALWS Annual Report.

Your achievements for others through ALWS deserve special recognition at this time when many people in Australia are doing it tough, and feel they need to turn their attention inward.

As Chair of my local Lutheran Church, I see first-hand both the impact of tough times …

            … yet also the great generosity of people committed to living out the values they hold precious, just as donors do through ALWS.

Looking ahead, I am excited by how we can grow our ministry together. In PNG – where I lived my first 15 years as my Dad established a Lutheran College – the Australian Government, PNG Government and local churches see great needs, but also fresh opportunities to improve people’s lives.

Families in the Horn of Africa still face a devastating hunger crisis – but feel forgotten by the world. We plan to step out in faith and grow ALWS action here, including expanding support to Ethiopia.

ALWS will continue to seek out Matching Grants to increase your personal  impact – international partnerships like the 18:1 Somalia Grant, and a new 5:1 Australian Government Grant to expand ALWS work in Somalia to support children with disabilities to go to school.

For now, on behalf of the ALWS Board and the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand, and all those we serve together, I thank you for being a blessing…  ALWayS!

Yours in service,

Michael Stolz

Executive Director ALWS

ALWS July 2023 Report Back

ALWS July 2023 Report Back