Solidarity work
Emmaus Westervik does not seek financial gain. According to the Emmaus movement’s manifesto, any financial surplus generated by the organization’s activities is used to help those in greatest need. Together with other grassroots and civic organizations around the world, we work to combat poverty and injustice—and to eliminate their causes. For justice and sustainability at all levels, for a circular and solidarity-based economy, and for better social conditions. Both globally and here at home.
Global solidarity work 2025
In the year 2025, Emmaus Westervik’s solidarity contributions went to the following collaborative partners:
The Emmaus group MARS in Togo. MARS works to combat human trafficking by educating, informing, and providing work for young girls in Lomé, Togo, as well as running a shelter for single mothers. Among other things, MARS offers sewing training and runs a bakery where women are offered training. MARS is also a member of Emmaus International.
Emmaus Westervik, together with Emmaus Helsinki and Emmaus Åland, has financed the purchase of a plot of land in the capital Lomé and participated in the financing of MARS’ new premises and shelter for single mothers. Westervik’s support has mainly been used to pay staff salaries. Motivated and committed staff are essential for the continuity of MARS’s activities.
Children’s home Cuna Nazareth in Peru. Cuna Nazareth runs a daycare center for around 120 children in a suburb of Lima, Peru. Cuna Nazareth is also part of Emmaus International. Emmaus Westervik has been working with Cuna since the 1970s.
Recycling center ”La Traperia” in Peru. We are collaborating with Cuna Nazareth, other Finnish Emmaus groups, and the developing world association Svalorna on a project for a recycling center in Lima. At the recycling center, unemployed young people are trained in recycling. In this way, a social project is combined with an environmental project. In the long term, the recycling center is intended to generate income to support the activities of the Cuna Nazareth daycare center.
During the year, we also continued to show our solidarity with the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza. Among others, Emmaus International and the UN have considered Israel’s actions in Gaza since September 16, 2025, to meet the criteria for genocide. We have directed our main support to the Al Awda Health and Community Association (AWDA), which runs a hospital and several health clinics in Gaza. In the West Bank, we support the organization BADIL, which is a resource center for Palestinian refugees and displaced persons. Payments are made in cooperation with the Björkåfrihet association in Sweden.
E-Romnja in Romania. The feminist Roma organization E-Romnja works with democracy issues and increased participation in social issues for women and young people. The aim of the project, in which we participate together with Emmaus Åland and Helsinki Diakonianstalt, is to educate Roma girls and women and improve their opportunities in society. Our support is mainly directed at activities in the village of Valea Seaca.
Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK). Together with Svalorna India-Bangladesh (Lund, Sweden), we support the organization BARCIK in promoting farmers’ rights and creating better conditions for self-sufficiency. The aim of the project is to give landless and marginalized groups access and control over natural resources. There is a particular focus on smallholders and female farmers.
Thanapara Swallows’ school in Bangladesh in memory of Emmaus Westerviks’ founder Birgit Rancken.
National Forum for Advocacy Nepal (NAFAN). We continue to collaborate with NAFAN and the developing countries association Svalorna to strengthen, organize, and promote human rights for Dalit groups—especially women, young people, and people with disabilities—in southern Nepal. The project, which is partly funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, will continue until 2028.
Local solidarity work 2025
We support less well-off families and individuals with shopping cards for the flea market through the welfare area’s Adult Social Services Raseborg (formerly Raseborg Social Services) and Julhjälpen Raseborg.
In Raseborg, we also work to integrate refugees into the local community. Shopping vouchers for the flea market are distributed to quota refugees, asylum seekers who have been granted residence permits, and undocumented migrants. We also continue to provide financial support to the Refugee Advice Center.
