Monday March 2, 2015

Transforming Living Standards in China

Environmentally-friendly measures included reforestation, with thousands of trees and saplings planted, and solar energy water heaters installed to reduce dependence on fuel.

Islamic Relief implemented a project that improved 1,900 metres of road, making it easier for local people to transport goods for sale at market. We installed three water tanks and an underground pipe network, which now provides families with water at home and ensures they no longer struggle for water during the drought season. We also constructed 100 household toilets and a sewerage system.

Increasing family incomes

Bio-gas energy systems now turn waste into heat and electricity, enabling families to reduce their energy costs and also helping protect the environment as fewer trees are cut down for fuel. We also provided local people with training on disaster-prevention, health and sanitation as well as agricultural techniques to help them boost their income. According to local government figures, the annual income of the entire village has already increased by 700 Yuan (more than GBP £72, which is almost an entire family’s earnings before the project).

Escaping the poverty trap

In Ningxia Hui Autonomous province, we focussed on livelihoods in Haiyuan County – where tens of thousands of farming families live below the national subsistence level. We irrigated 1,000 mu (nearly 67 hectares) of farming land and built 185 livestock shelters in Nanbao village. Local families were given ewes and agricultural tools, enabling them to make a living from livestock or arable farming. Environmentally-friendly measures included reforestation, with thousands of trees and saplings planted, and solar energy water heaters installed to reduce dependence on fuel. Vocational training to help families to improve their incomes was provided at the newly-constructed cultural centre, which also offers space for recreational activities to enhance wellbeing in the village. Some 350 farmers were trained, and with the help of local authorities 1,160 people were supported to enhance their livelihoods. In addition, access to healthcare services was also improved in Nanbao, thanks to a brand new village clinic. These are a few of the many development projects that are conducted in multiple countries, that are aimed to take people out of poverty. Find out more about our livelihoods programmes

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