Project reshaping the future in Angola, India and Indonesia

The Salvation Army’s Catherine Booth Hospital, India.

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.

India: Hospital upgrades

The Salvation Army’s Catherine Booth Hospital has long been a cornerstone of healthcare in its community. However, years of challenges led to a period of decline, threatening its ability to provide quality care.

In 2019, a comprehensive restructuring plan, supported by SAWSO, set the hospital on a path to revitalisation. Renovations strengthened infrastructure, upgraded medical equipment, and improved healthcare technology, creating a more reliable and effective treatment system. Wards were consolidated to enhance patient care, and information technology advancements streamlined hospital operations.

These improvements helped the hospital secure entry-level accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, these upgrades proved critical in handling the surge of patients.

Over the past year, the hospital treated 48,263 out-patients and 2,253 in-patients, demonstrating its continued capacity to serve the community. Today, the hospital stands renewed, continuing its legacy of service.

Angola: Family support

SAWSO is strengthening The Salvation Army’s capacity to engage and work effectively with local communities across Angola. Through targeted training, over 500 officers, staff and soldiers participated in workshops on community development, strategic planning, and project management.

Leaders created a four-year territorial strategic plan that prioritises local strengths and

needs to guide sustainable development.

At the Luau Corps, a grassroots learning initiative was launched to address educational gaps. It now serves over 300 children weekly with volunteer teachers.

In Songo, a children’s feeding and playgroup program has grown into a safe haven for nearly 100 children, offering early education, emotional support, and essential nourishment.

With a shared vision and renewed capacity, The Salvation Army in Angola is expanding its impact. Guided by this new strategic plan, the country is actively advocating for support at both national and international levels to sustain and grow community-led programs.

Indonesia: Building futures

In May 2024, The Salvation Army launched two Community Learning Centres (CLCs) in Sorong, West Papua to empower Kokoda children facing severe poverty and discrimination.

The Kokoda children, displaced from their ancestral lands, often struggle with illiteracy due to limited resources and language barriers. At the heart of this initiative is a mission to break the cycle of poverty by equipping Kokoda children with essential skills like literacy, maths, and social-emotional learning.

These centres now serve nearly 180 children aged 4 to 12, many of whom previously had little or no access to books or formal education.

The CLCs also provide nutritious meals, hygiene lessons, and access to basic health services while fostering a love for learning through curated reading materials, playgrounds for physical development, and culturally tailored activities.

This project’s success has paved the way for future CLCs in Guatemala, Republic of Congo, Uganda, and other developing countries, spreading the transformative power of education to children worldwide.