Author: CEDAR Fund

Project for Stateless People in Tak Province in Thailand

Project Name Project for Stateless People in Tak Province in Thailand Project Location Thailand Project Natures Church and Community Mobilisation Advocacy Project Objectives Improve the quality of life for 1,500 stateless people by assisting them in getting identity cards in one year; Mobilise local churches in project villages to reach out to the stateless people in their communities. Beneficiaries Stateless people in project villages who are eligible for citizenship, including 194 people with disabilities (PWD): 365 children & youth 109 elderly 1,026 adults No. of Beneficiaries 12,059 Key Activities Advocacy on Citizenship: Organise five village workshops in collaboration with district staff to deliver information on ID card applications; Engage volunteers to conduct community outreach, assist with applications, and

Myanmar Earthquake Relief

On 28 March 2025, at 12:50 local time, Myanmar was struck by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake. The epicenter, located at a depth of 10 km, was approximately 16 km north-northwest of Sagaing City and 19 km northwest of Mandalay City, Myanmar’s second-largest city. Following the initial quake, Myanmar has experienced at least 13 aftershocks, ranging in magnitude from 4.3 to 6.7. As of 30 March, the military government said the death toll had reached 1,700, with 3,400 individuals injured and over 300 people reported missing. The UN has stated that hospitals in the most severely affected regions of Myanmar are struggling to meet urgent medical needs. Additionally, some residents expressed concerns about the lack of government assistance and the

Empowering Climate Migrants in Kathmandu Urban Squatters

Project Name Empowering Climate Migrants in Kathmandu Urban Squatters Project Location Nepal Project Natures Children and Youth Development Creation Care Urban and Rural Development Project Objectives To alleviate heath, WAter, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) deprivation among communities in the settlement. To enhance financial stability and child nutrition in climate migrant households. Beneficiaries Households of Climate Migrants from Dalit and marginalised communities No. of Beneficiaries Approx. 500 Key Activities WASH Rehabilitate non-operational drinking water points, set up hand washing facilities & install community bins for waste segregation; Train community leaders on the maintenance and operation of community WASH facilities, Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction; Set up and mobilise girl adolescent clubs to promote hygiene practices in the

Conservation Agriculture-based Climate Resilient Food Security Project

Project Name Conservation Agriculture-based Climate Resilient Food Security Project Project Location Ethiopia Project Natures Livelihood Development Creation Care Humanitarian Relief and Disaster Risk Reduction Project Objectives Increasing food security and climate-resilient crop production as well as providing livelihoods for smallholder farmers: Through capacity building and support, so that they may increase their adoption of conservation agriculture; Through mobilising and organising, especially into gender-equitable learning groups. Beneficiaries Vulnerable smallholder farmers No. of Beneficiaries Approx. 1,250 Key Activities Establish Farmers’ Field School: providing farmers with training on topics such as farm management and farm record keeping. Organise Farmers’ Field Days: church mobilisation, sensitisation and targeting on climate adaptation strategies, food security situational analysis, exposure visits about conservation agriculture. Training on

The Lent – Reflection on Creation Care

Written by: Clara Chiu (Head of Partnership Development) Before joining CEDAR, I knew little about issues such as caring for creation and climate justice; I only knew some environmental protection concepts. However, this was easier said than done, and my lifestyle was not environmentally friendly. Thankfully, I have learned more about the above issues since serving in CEDAR. My colleagues have become my role models and have gradually changed my lifestyle, such as buying fewer plastic drink bottles and sorting waste at home for recycling. Sometimes, temptations still exist – getting my favourite bottle of oolong tea when purchasing two omusubi at an omusubi shop. It was hard for me to say no to my favourite drinks for

LETTER FROM CEDAR | APR 2025

Dear CEDAR friends and supporters, How do you love both the oppressed and the oppressor? This is a question I have been asking myself since I first worked with girls who were trafficked into the red-light district in Kolkata, India. A number of them had been sold by their parents or close family members, almost all because of poverty. One girl called Ria (pseudonym) came from a family of six daughters. Her parents sold her so that they would have enough money to marry off the other five daughters since their culture required the bride’s family to pay a dowry. The parents were giving up one daughter to ‘save’ the other five, as having a husband meant having

International Laws and Agreements on Combating Human Trafficking

Written by Ken Wong (Communications Officer) The problem of transnational human trafficking has become increasingly severe and is a global issue that cannot be ignored. To promote co-operation among countries and effectively curb the crime, the international community has gradually developed a series of legal frameworks and operational guidelines aimed at preventing human trafficking, punishing offenders and protecting high-risk trafficked communities. Below is a brief introduction to key international agreements and their roles. Forced Labour Convention – International Labour Organization In 1930, the International Labour Organization (ILO) established the Forced Labour Convention, which requires countries to prohibit and criminalise forced labour. In 1998, the ILO supplemented the Convention by advocating that countries develop policies to prevent labour exploitation

Protecting the Next Generation from Trafficking

Written by Dustin Tang (Donor Services Officer) Nepal is one of the countries where human trafficking is rampant. Traffickers take advantage of Nepal’s open border with India to traffick Nepali women and children to India. In recent years, traffickers have been active in social media to deceive poor communities, such as posting job opportunities online and luring poor women to adult entertainment sector for exploitation. According to the 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report of the U.S. Department of State, in Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley, about 17% of adult entertainment venues employ children, while 62% of adult women in the industry entered as minors. The report also mentions that nearly 30% of the child workers in adult entertainment establishments are

Slavery is Structural Sin

Written by Dr. Alex Ip (Director, CEDAR Fund) Scriptures reading: Philemon 10-12 10 That I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. Philemon 10-12 10 That I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. What is structural sin? Slavery is certainly an