As a devolved government, the Welsh Senate exercises much control over domestic matters, but international affairs such as foreign aid remain the purview of the United Kingdom, and therefore, of the Parliament in Westminster. Nevertheless, Wales remains a political and economic entity with an international presence and a role to play in the global fight against extreme poverty.

The Welsh Third Sector, made up of non-governmental organizations and charities in Wales, plays an essential role in advancing this cause through such programs as Wales and Africa. Moreover, statutes such as the Well-Being of Future Generations Act 2015, with its commitment toward creating a globally responsible Wales, have also empowered the Welsh populace to provide much-needed aid to developing nations around the world. Here are five charities operating in Wales that are contributing to that effort.

1. Welsh Refugee Council

The first of the charities operating in Wales is the Welsh Refugee Council. Operating in Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Wrexham, and working with local communities all over Wales, the Welsh Refugee Council’s stated mission is to help asylum seekers and refugees build new futures in Wales. Of the tens of thousands of displaced peoples who flee to the U.K. each year to claim asylum, there are currently 3,353 asylum seekers receiving support in Wales.

The Welsh Refugee Council is one of the main charities in Wales providing such support, which includes English and Welsh language classes and access to other education, assistance in seeking work (when legally allowed) and forming local connections, and arranging accommodation and basic financial support to pay for food, clothing, toiletries, transport and other essentials. One of the principles that governs this charity is “integration from day one,” the belief that people are more likely to make positive contributions to their communities when they feel connected, supported and empowered to do so.

2. Size of Wales

Founded in 2010, Size of Wales works with indigenous and local communities in developing nations to protect tropical forests in areas measuring 2 million hectares — the size of Wales. In addition to the conservation activities that such work entails, this involves supporting deprived communities in South America, sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia, and helping to address social injustices and break down barriers. One example of this is the charity’s project in the Madre de Dios and Ene regions of the Peruvian Amazon, where support from Size of Wales has helped indigenous groups attain sustainable livelihoods that empower them to protect their forests.

Another is the project in Fuluma Butta in Uganda, which is striving to promote gender equality by helping women grow their incomes and become active agents in their communities. Size of Wales understands that changing weather patterns and global poverty are inextricably linked and that raising such communities out of extreme poverty is a vital step in addressing deforestation.

3. The S.A.F.E. Foundation

The S.A.F.E. Foundation is a Welsh-based group that has modelled itself in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the United Nations outlined in 2015, the first point of which is to end poverty in all of its forms. Like other charities in Wales, this group works both domestically and abroad and is committed to bringing about positive change through humanitarian projects, with particular focus on health care, education and human rights for impoverished communities. One of its ongoing projects is a fundraiser for a boundary wall and secure gates to be built at Kankalay Islamic Primary School in Sierra Leone, to keep the school safe from risk of break-ins and allow the children of Lumpa and Freetown to pursue their education in peace, an endeavor that will cost £12,000 to complete.

Donations to the S.A.F.E. Foundation go towards funding similar projects, and individuals who wish to make a difference can also apply to volunteer with one of the organization’s partners overseas.

4. Dolen

Dolen’s mission is to curate a communal bond between the two similarly-sized countries of Wales and Lesotho. Launched in 1985, Dolen has overseen a 40-year-relationship between the two nations, an alliance founded on collaboration and mutual friendship and respect, going beyond humanitarian aid to promote cultural exchange and common action. Projects funded by this charity have helped bring clean water and sanitation to deprived communities, Red Cross first aid training to correctional officers, and perhaps most critically support for the COVID-19 response initiative in Lesotho, including donations of masks and other personal protective equipment. Dolen has also forged links between schools in Wales and Lesotho, promoting greater understanding of issues such as global poverty to young children and empowering them to take positive action.

5. Tools for Self-Reliance Cymru

Based in the town Crickhowell in Powys, Tools for Self-Reliance works in partnership with the Kalwande Vocational Training Centre in Tanzania to bring artisan tools and sewing machines to rural communities, helping to create new opportunities and improve the livelihoods of local craftspeople. The donated tools that this small charity collects are supplied to local skilled workers such as carpenters, bricklayers and tailors, along with free training, and the sewing machines have been especially prized by women’s and girls refuges for helping survivors learn a trade through which they might rebuild their lives. Supporters can contribute not only through donations, but also by purchasing vintage and collectable tools from the organization’s online store.

Looking Ahead

With proposals from some parties within the Welsh Senate to scrap “international aid” programs that the charities operating in Wales support, public support is vital if Wales is to remain a globally responsible nation. 

– Aled Warren

Aled is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr