ALWS works through local implementing partners. This means people who know the local community – the individuals and their unique circumstances – are the ones listening to the requests of individuals and finding the best solutions for each person and circumstance.

We work through Community Led Development. This means ideas for livelihoods often come from the individuals or groups themselves. Partners provide the means of making these livelihoods possible.

Our partners:

• Burundi: LWF Burundi
• Ethiopia: LWF Ethiopia
• Indonesia: Centre for Disaster Risk Management and Community Development (CDRM&CDS)
• Nepal: LWF Nepal
• Somalia: LWF Kenya-Somalia

ALWS is accredited by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), responsible for managing Australia’s aid program. To maintain accreditation, ALWS’s systems, policies and processes are rigorously reviewed by the Australian Government. ALWS receives support through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program. It is through this program that we receive the 5:1 matching grant.

ALWS stands for those most vulnerable and forgotten. ALWS ensures the most vulnerable participants are selected for inclusion in programs. This means they usually have multiple factors of disadvantage – eg they might be living with disability plus internally displaced, or a female and a refugee.

ALWS undertakes rigorous monitoring and compliance of the implementing partners and programs. Monitoring ensures beneficiaries receive the training and support that they are promised and implemented in a way that is respectful and ethical. We ensure strict safeguarding of all beneficiaries.

Your donation is managed efficiently.

ALWS works hard to keep ‘overheads’ (fundraising and administration costs as defined by ACFID Code of Conduct) as low as possible, while maintaining effectiveness, accountability and sustainability. In 2024, these ‘overheads’ were 17.28%. The 5 year average is 16.04%. A copy of the most current ALWS Annual Report can be viewed at alws.org.au or requested: 1300 763 407

The amazing thing about your support is how it multiplies and cascades! While one individual might be supported with livestock to start breeding animals, they use the solidarity chain to gift the first animal offspring to another individual in the community so they too can commence breeding livestock. If one small group is taught new skills – e.g basket weaving – they teach other groups those skills.

Firstly, there will be great rejoicing! This will mean SO many families and communities can create their own livelihoods that feed, clothe, educate and protect their children! This is our aim!

Secondly, ALWS works in many other countries: Bangladesh, Kenya, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, South Sudan. Your donation will be put to use enabling families to thrive through livelihoods in those countries. We follow the same principles the world over of supporting a family so they can support themselves.

Although ALWS does work in humanitarian crises, your Just One Hour giving does not support emergency aid. Your Just One Hour gift is strictly for community development - not emergency aid.

However, we may contact you in the wake of humanitarian crises and offer you the opportunity to give an additional emergency gift. Currently we provide humanitarian aid in Israel Gaza, Sudan, Syria, Turkiye, Ukraine.

Although ALWS is an agency of the Lutheran Church of Australia, we do not preach the gospel. That is the role of the LCANZ International Mission department. Instead, we minister to people through our actions and practical assistance. Just like Jesus, we do not select or discriminate between the people we help: they do not have to be of a particular faith, creed or race.

Just like Jesus, we work for those forgotten or marginalised, and we love because God first loved us. 

Our favourite bible verse is our mandate: Jesus said, ‘For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in; naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me… Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers or sisters of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me.' (Matthew 25: 35-36,40)

You are always in control. You can change your amount, update your details, or cancel your Just One Hour giving at any time. There is no pressure, only gratitude for what you have already shared. If you would like help, contact our friendly team by email at justonehour@alws.org.au or by phone on 1300 763 407.

Each month, on the day your donation is processed, we send you a story from a family you support. If you want to change the way you receive your story (SMS or email), it's no problem! Simply email justonehour@alws.org.au or phone 1300 763 407. If you don't want to receive a monthly story, that's okay too - although we would love for you to get to know some of the amazing people that you support through your generosity.

A great way to go deeper is to take part in our Just One Hour Walk.

It’s a self-guided experience you can do any time, along the Brisbane River or wherever you are. Watch video reflections and read special stories that share how your support helps communities around the world.

Learn more about the Walk ➜