Good news stories

Malawi: Elube, 23, and her daughter Sylvia wait to collect an Oxfam cash distribution. Areas of Malawi have been hard hit by drought in recent times. Photo: Aurelie Marrier d’Unienville/Oxfam AUS

Browse our library of stories

Meet these inspiring heroes from all corners of the globe. Their stories from far and wide paint a picture of what it’s like to tackle poverty first-hand by working with Oxfam and our partners.

Eriko’s story

Violence against women and girls is alarmingly common in Papua New Guinea. But Oxfam is working with trailblazers like Eriko Fuferefa to empower women, change harmful social beliefs and behaviours, and build a safer future.

Samreen’s story

Many 17 year olds look forward to the moment when they turn 18 and can legally vote but not many plan to stand for election the same year.

Onano’s story

When women can earn a living it not only increases their independence and improves gender equality, it also helps whole communities lift themselves out of poverty. So Oxfam has been empowering women in the highlands of Papua New Guinea to make a sustainable living.

Read More ➞

Meet Purity, 10, from Zimbabwe

Purity, 10, enjoys having access to clean running water for the first time from a tap connected to an Oxfam solar piped water system in Bubi District, Zimbabwe. Photo: Aurelie Marrier D'Unienville / Oxfam

Meet Takudzwa, 33, from Zimbabwe.

Takudzwa, 33, an Oxfam WASH Engineer is photographed with her one-year-old son at her parents home in Masvingo, Zimbabwe before heading out into the field to see the Oxfam solar piped water systems. Photo: Aurelie Marrier D'Unienville / Oxfam

Meet Richard from Uganda

Richard (middle), a refugee at the Imvepi refugee settlement in Uganda, ran into an old friend in the settlement's market. Photo: Coco McCabe/Oxfam

Meet these women from Nepal

Members of the Water User Committee stand in a village in Dhading district, Nepal, where Oxfam is setting up water supply systems for communities affected by the 2015 earthquake. Photo: Aurélie Marrier d'Unienville/Oxfam

Meet Ahmed, 67, from the Gaza Strip

Ahmed is a fruit farmer in Rafah, in the Gaza Strip, who now has treated wastewater pumped directly to his orchard where his trees are now thriving and bearing healthy quantities of fruit. Photo: Kieran Doherty/Oxfam

Meet Bertha, 54, from Vanuatu

Larvat, Malekula, Vanuatu: Bertha, 54, with the chickens she raises on her farm with support from Oxfam-partner Farm Support Association (FSA). Photo: Artur Francisco/Oxfam NZ

Meet Alarna, from Australia

Canberra, Australia: Alarna Maher pictured at the National Museum of Australia during the 2018 Straight Talk National Summit. Photo: Jillian Mundy/Oxfam AUS

Meet Dorothy, 28, and Mary, 30, from Malawi

Phalombe District, Malawi: Dorothy, 28, (left), facilitator of an extractives advocacy group, and Mary, 30, (right), member of an advocacy group, laughing over an Oxfam funded advocacy manual. Photo: Aurelie Marrier d'Unienville/Oxfam AUS

Meet Mariam, 44, from Jordan

Mariam, 44, has been a plumber for five years. Oxfam is supporting her to train other women to become plumbers across Zarqa. Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith/Oxfam

Meet Morsen, 51, and Leitamat, 50, from Vanuatu

Malekula, Vanuatu: Morsen, 51, and Leitamat, 50, at their home where they raise poultry and grow vegetables with support from Oxfam partner Farm Support Association (FSA). Photo: Artur Francisco/Oxfam NZ

Meet Anma from Jordan

Anma is a sheep herder in the Jordan Valley. Through Oxfam, her sheep receive regular vet visits and she has access to affordable fodder and vaccinations. Photos: Kieran Doherty/Oxfam

Meet Muhammad from Pakistan

Laloo Kolhi, Badin,(Pakistan): Muhammad Khan is a Community Group Member and beneficiary of an Oxfam-sponsored highly efficient irrigation system. Photo: Khaula Jamil/OxfamAUS

Meet John and Lydia from Malawi

Blantyre Rural, Malawi: John Mankhanamba stands with his sister Lydia Chakwana in a piped water irrigation scheme. Oxfam and partners have been supporting families that have been hard hit by drought. Photo: Aurelie Marrier d'Unienville/Oxfam

Meet Julita from Timor-Leste

Sadahur-Salele Boot, Suai, Cova Lima, Timor-Leste: Julita Nunes, a member of an Oxfam savings for change group, shows off her families harvest of lentils. Photo: Kate Bensen/AUS

Meet Stephen, 32, and Maria, 25, from Papua New Guinea

Gembogl, Simbu province, PNG: Stephen Bare, 32, with wife Maria Steven, 25, with bags of onions ready to sell. Photo: Tom Greenwood/Oxfam NZ

Play

Tackle poverty with Oxfam

You can save the lives of people around the world, just like people you’ve met via the stories above, every single day.

Christina is 23 and lives in Tambalug (Garu), she has two children: Doris, 5 and Pamila, 2. Christina grows maize and she was shown how to make compost as part of the CRAFS (Climate Resilient Agriculture and Food Systems) program. Photo: Nana Kofi Acquah/Oxfam