2017 Christmas Bowl 

For many refugees, access to basic healthcare is incredibly difficult.

Achala was born in a refugee camp in Tamil Nadu, India. It is all that Achala has ever known. Achala’s grandmother, Praveena, fled from Sri Lanka with nothing when civil war came to her village.

Praveena was a stranger in a foreign land. She was restricted to a refugee camp and without family support, struggled to provide for her granddaughter. Then Achala got sick and stopped eating, life became even harder. Praveena knew something was wrong.

Achala was eventually admitted to hospital after seeing a series of doctors. Despite the treatment, Achala didn’t get better. Returning to the hospital, and enduring another series of expensive and painful tests, she was eventually diagnosed with leukaemia.

Over the next two years, Achala was in and out of hospital.Medical and tranportation costs soon added up. Her grandmother borrowed as much money as she could, but without more money for medicine and hospital visits, Achala would die.

Praveena was put in touch with the Organisation for Eelam Refugee Rehabilitation (OfERR), Act for Peace’s partner organisation in India. Achala and Praveena received the medical care needed to save Achala’s life.

“Without OfERR it would have been very tough. We wouldn’t have been able to save her. There would be no other way” Praveena said.

Achala now has hope and a future because of the generosity of people like you. Today this brave girl is in remission and she is full of hope for her future. She told us: “When I grow up I want to become a doctor. While I was sick, these doctors helped me so much and cured me. So, I want to cure children who are suffering like me.”

Since 1949 Australian Christians have worked together through the Christmas Bowl to respond to Christ’s call to feed the hungry, heal the sick and welcome the stranger. This Christmas there are still many more families around the world, like Achala’s, in urgent need of your support.

Please give to the Christmas Bowl today and continue to bring hope and healing to the world.