Stories 

While conducting projects in countries all over the world, we are privileged to be able to sit down with the people we work with and hear their stories. We’d like to share some of them with you.  

Margaret's Saving Grace

Throughout the small region of Chakhaza in Malawi, hundreds of women are forming groups through CARE’s SMIHLE program, which allows them to invest small amounts of their money into a fund from which they can eventually borrow.

Building Lasting Change in Timor-Leste

In Timor-Leste, Agustina and other people in her village built a new water tank through CARE’s Integrated Rural Development Project. The system now supplies 260 people with clean water, something the communities have never had before.

Mangroves Protect Vietnam's Coast

In 2005, fields in Da Loc commune were flooded by the Damarey Typhoon. Following the disaster, CARE supported the Vietnamese villagers to plant and maintain 200 hectares of mangrove forest, which provide shoreline protection.

What is Women's Empowerment?

Daw Shing Awi, from a small village in southern Myanmar, tells of how CARE's work empowered her to teach basic health practices in her community and a gave her an understanding of women's empowerment.

Life Hanging by a Thread in Port-au-Prince

Since January 13, in the aftermath of Haiti's devastating earthquake, hundreds of Haitian women have given birth among garbage cans in the streets of Port-au-Prince.

Scout's Honour: A profile in courage

"I can’t describe how frightened I was,” recalls Joanie Estin, remembering that terrible day when her world fell apart.  “We’ve lived through a lot in Haiti, but this is the first time anything like this ever happened.”

The Floods that Changed the World

In Laos, CARE is focusing on the most vulnerable households after Typhoon Ketsana created storms and severe flooding in the poor southern provinces, damaging crops, killing livestock and destroying houses, schools and hospitals.

The hosts with the least

They say it’s better to give than to receive – but for the people of northwestern Pakistan who have opened their homes to families escaping conflict, giving is starting to hurt.

Kirsty Sword Gusmao reads to the children of Timor Leste 

Kirsty Sword Gusmao, the First Lady of Timor-Leste, recently read to 40 primary school students. This is part of CARE’s Haburas Labarik Children’s Rights Promotion & Protection project, which promotes children’s rights through educational initiatives aimed at primary school children, teachers and women throughout Timor-Leste.

Mothers in Myanmar find their feet after Cyclone Nargis

When Cyclone Nargis tore through Myanmar in May 2008, it took the lives of more than 130,000 people. Sadly, 61 per cent of these were female, most of whom died trying to save their children from being washed away. Unlike many others, Ma Win was lucky. She managed to save her son and safely deliver her seventh child.

Pregnancy in Ethiopia doesn’t have to be a death sentence… anymore.

Last year, over half a million women died from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Unlike her mother who had twelve children in close proximity, Emebet chose to wait five years to have her third child, and delivered it safely at the health centre.

For the very first time I feel powerful

At home everyday in Jordan, Zainab found herself feeling helpless and unhappy. That was until she heard about a training course made just for women like her.

From little things, big things grow

Growing up in Prey Krang, a poor village in Cambodia, Sarem thrived in school until her parents were forced to take her out in order to support the family. Now aged 19, Sarem is thriving once again, this time successfully running a business which she helped establish and now manages.

Building a better life in rural PNG

Often I don’t sleep at night as I dream of new things, new possibilities’, says Mariana about her family’s future. Four years after the Backyard Fish Farm Project began, Mariana’s family is one of many benefiting from a sustainable livelihood.

As the cost of food triples, community eats dry berries to survive. 

Families across Afghanistan are struggling to make ends meet and put meals on the table. Habib, a 77 year old Afghani tells his story and how CARE helped his family.

The courage to save herself and others too

Read how Islande survived Hurricane Ike in Haiti and learn about how her courage and determination has helped rebuild her community.

The indomitable and smiling Daw Myint

When Cyclone Nargis tore through Myanmar in May 2008, thousands of families' were left without the homes and any food supply. Read about why Cyclone survivor, Daw, is still smiling.

In flooded India, life goes on

'I have never experienced such fear as I did in the last few days,' says the very soft-spoken Sarita Devi, a resident of Majura village, in the flooded district of Supaul. 'I was full-term pregnant when the waters began to rise.'

Fighting to reach dry land

The desolation and pain in the eyes of Rihana Kahtun is palpable. I met her in Triveniganj, where she was sitting by the banks of the furious Kosi river, staring vacantly ahead. After a bit of prodding, she shared her encounter with one of the worst floods that India has seen in more than 50 years.