Tearfund is a Christian charity that partners with churches in more than 50 of the world’s poorest countries. They tackle poverty and injustice through sustainable development, responding to disasters and challenging injustice.
In 2021, the Randal Charitable Foundation provided grant funding for specific emergency support work in the Middle East, where conflict is leaving communities at risk of starvation, traumatised and without the means to support themselves. This grant will enable Tearfund to provide access to food, livelihood opportunities and trauma support for highly vulnerable families.
Tearfund’s mission is to respond to crises and partner with local churches to bring restoration to those living in poverty. They view the effects of poverty as complex and often connected, and seek to address some of the world’s biggest challenges in a way that breaks the cycle of suffering and offers communities a secure and fruitful future.
They equip the church to work with the local community, identifying needs and mobilising resources to bring about transformation and seek to equip the most vulnerable people so that they can participate equally in their local economy and increase their income.
The charity supports ground-breaking schemes which help communities produce more food in ways that are inexpensive and environmentally sustainable. Another crucial focus area is making sure that communities are actively involved in water and sanitation projects, so that they can take ownership of it and see long-term success.
Experience has shown Tearfund that impact will be deeper and longer-lasting when they work through the local church and organisations rooted in the community.
These partnerships have proven powerful and agile in adjusting to local need, addressing the root causes of poverty and ensuring inclusion so everyone has the greatest chance of reaching their potential.
Tearfund works to prevent and respond swiftly and effectively to the suffering that major disasters cause, ensuring that the most vulnerable people are empowered and supported. Tearfund is committed to equipping local people to lead responses. So they work closely with local partners and churches to reduce the impact of disasters by building communities’ resilience, helping them prepare and mitigating the risk.
During times of conflict, the charity provides for people’s immediate needs and stays for the long haul, as they rebuild their lives. They support peacebuilders and help to bring reconciliation between different groups.
Climate change is a challenge that threatens to push more people back into poverty. To tackle it, the charity believes there must be a radical rethink on the global economy, so the world lives within the limits of our shared environment. They hold decision-makers to account on these issues, and call on them to create political space for reform. They partner with local churches, national partners and international organisations to amplify the call for change.
