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Karen Visser

A New Season

Updated: Aug 24, 2021



It’s been tough. So many people around the world have faced, and are facing, unprecedented challenges and struggle due to COVID-19 – and that’s been true for CBL’s partners and the people we work with. As an organisation, we’ve come up against barriers and blockages and have had to shift our focus to responding to the pandemic and working in the pandemic context. But in the midst of all of that, we’ve experienced such incredible support, and your generosity has truly shone a light in dark places, and brought hope and very practical help to those who have been suffering – providing food to eat, access to medical treatment, adequate housing, access to online studies, and protective equipment to hospitals and schools. Thank you – you’re wonderful!!



Now, even in the middle of a pandemic, the good news continues – we are so excited to announce that CBL has merged with an incredible organisation, Operation Hope Inc. (OHI), which means two more projects! At a time when we have been limited in what we can do, it’s incredible that we have grown and have the opportunity to expand our reach, and help more people in more countries – so good! That means YOU have the opportunity to partner with something even bigger, impacting more people and shining the light of hope and help brighter and further.


OHI and CBL have already been collaborating together for many years, and so we have many shared experiences, resources and the same philosophy and approach to the work we do in community development. We are incredibly aligned as organisations, with similar beginnings, mission and vision, and values. Two years ago, OHI approached CBL with the idea of merging, seeing a lot of benefit in joining our resources together, and through that increasing efficiency and maximising impact. Both organisations took time over the last two years to explore this idea, engage in due diligence and discern whether this opportunity was the right one for both organisations. That journey obviously led both of us to a resounding, “yes”, and at the beginning of July 2021, OHI merged with CBL.


We’ve already begun working with our new partners and projects – one in eSwatini (formerly Swaziland), and one in Sri Lanka, which has been really wonderful and exciting. If you’d like to read more about these projects, click here . If you’d like to know more about Operation Hope Inc.'s story, you can find out here.



Although it’s just the middle of the year in terms of the calendar, and we’re all doing our best to get through another winter and the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, this is such a significant moment for CBL, and we love sharing the journey with all of you!


For CBL, we’ve just completed another financial year and in the coming months we’ll have our Annual Report ready to celebrate the difference we’ve been able to make in people’s lives together! We’ve embarked on a new strategic plan for the 2021-2022 year and incredibly, we’ve now got two new projects, with two new partners, that come with amazing legacy, experience, knowledge, relationship and connections from OHI. We’re already loving this next chapter and next season for CBL, and the opportunity to stand with our partners, and together equip people to get through the storm and be empowered to live improved lives.


THANK YOU for being a part of CBL – our impact is your impact, and our project partnerships are possible through your partnership with us. Our current areas of focus are housing projects and COVID-19 response – including food distribution, providing masks and thermometers to schools, provision of medical equipment and PPE to hospitals and treatment centres, and small business and livelihood support. If you’d like to donate, click here and select your area of interest to find out more about the difference you can make. If you’d like to get involved in other ways, check out these opportunities.


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