Changing lives and communities in Peru, Cuba and Latvia
- simoneworthing
- May 29
- 3 min read
Could you find Cuba, Peru and Latvia on map?
The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO) works globally with local corps and centres to help change the lives of some of the world’s poorest, most vulnerable, and suffering individuals.
Over the coming months, Global Focus will feature some of the projects SAWSO is driving and the impact these are having in local communities.
READ MORE: What is SAWSO and what does it do?
Peru: Coffee cultivation
Located in Peru’s Amazon region, El Porvenir is part of San Martin, the country’s leading coffee-producing region. Known for its exceptional Arabica beans, the area’s coffee cultivation helps sustain local families and strengthen the town’s economic foundation.
Recognising the opportunity for growth, SAWSO is partnering with The Salvation Army’s Porvenir Corps to enhance operations by funding advanced harvesting equipment and planting 1000 additional coffee plants. These efforts will enhance productivity on the three-acre farm, generating approximately $40,000 in annual revenue.
The Porvenir Corps will use this income to fund social programs, including local schools, the Liga de Mujeres children’s dining room, and support local families.
Seasonal harvests will create additional employment opportunities for community members, thereby boosting local income and enhancing economic stability. To ensure long-term success, a portion of the profits will be used to fund a coffee ambassador to increase sales. Through these efforts, El Porvenir will expand its coffee production, ensuring a stronger, more sustainable future for its people.
Cuba: Driving change
In Cuba, The Salvation Army stands as a resilient force for change, operating more than 40 corps that deliver vital support in the fight against poverty, domestic violence and food insecurity.
Generating local income is key to ensuring the sustainability of these life-changing programs. In partnership with local leaders, SAWSO has launched a transportation initiative aimed at addressing public transit shortages and trade restrictions. With start-up capital, four electric mototaxis were imported to serve communities struggling with limited fuel and unreliable transport options.
By hiring local drivers, the project provides steady employment for families and generates profits that support community programs. A portion of the earnings is also reinvested to expand the initiative into new areas. With full cost recovery projected within two years, the program is a model of resilience and local empowerment, paving the way for greater opportunities and lasting impact across Cuba.
Latvia: Rebuilding lives
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, The Salvation Army in Latvia has been actively supporting Ukrainian refugees with urgent assistance such as food, hygiene items and bedding.
As the war continued, SAWSO partnered with The Salvation Army in Latvia and other organisations to expand the local response, launching educational sessions and social connection activities and hiring a psychologist for therapeutic support.
Over the past year, SAWSO’s focus shifted toward long-term integration, offering anti-human trafficking awareness programs, job placement assistance, and workshops on employment and refugee rights.
To ensure refugee voices shaped their programs, The Salvation Army in Latvia conducted a survey with over 800 Ukrainian households to assess evolving needs. As a result, the current priority has become expanding integration services, including mental health and wellbeing seminars, legal rights education, community-building activities, and master classes to help refugees adapt and rebuild their lives in Latvian society.
These stories have been taken from The Salvation Army World Service Office 2025 Annual Report. To download the full report, click here.
