Healthy

Millions of people have no proper medical care, and are at constant risk from illnesses which can be easily prevented or treated. Oxfam helps by providing community health training, improving existing health services, and setting up clean water supplies to prevent deadly water-borne diseases like diarrhoea.

Photo: Jim Holmes

Skilled

It’s hard to change your life when you can’t read or write. Yet today, millions of children are denied an education, and their best chance of escaping poverty. To tackle this, Oxfam helps communities to improve or set up schools, funds school buildings, equipment, teacher-training – and supports literacy.

Photo: Ami Vitale

Safe and sound

War and natural disasters cause poverty and suffering for millions of people worldwide. Oxfam is out there, protecting and saving lives in emergencies, providing vital shelter, water and sanitation to people in crisis. And when the worst has passed, we’re ready with long-term programmes to help them rebuild their communities, and lessen the impact of any future emergencies.

Photo: Oxfam

Listened to

Being poor often means having little say in decisions that affect your life. Oxfam helps communities to speak out about their needs and concerns, getting people in power to listen and act. In Bolivia, for example, we’re working with poor and marginalised indigenous Chiquitano communities, helping them to organise and get legal advice, and defend their rights.

Photo: Rajendra Shaw

Treated as equal

If you’re oppressed – because you’re a woman, or from the ‘wrong’ community or group – you’re likely to stay poor. Oxfam works hard with people suffering injustice, finding ways to help them live as equals. Across Asia, for example, we’re funding groups helping women to challenge their low status – and support a region-wide campaign confronting domestic violence.

Photo: Annie Bungeroth