World Neighbors
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. World Neighbors is a non-profit international development organization that works with people who are struggling to survive in some of the poorest places in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Instead of providing short-term aid, World Neighbors creates permanent change by working alongside villagers, helping them to identify and solve their own problems, such as hunger, poverty, disease and other challenges that undermine their livelihoods. Currently, World Neighbors reaches more than half a million people in 13 countries. Since 1951, World Neighbors has helped 26 million people in 45 countries.[citation needed]
World Neighbors was founded by Dr. John L. Peters in 1951, who died in 1992 after being the organization's executive director until 1977. Peters launched the first World Neighbors programs in India.
On February 12, 2013, it was announced that on March 1, 2013, World Neighbors would become a subsidiary of Feed The Children, one of the world's largest non-profit organizations. [1]
Contents
Programs
World Neighbors works with partner organizations in approximately 45 programs in 13 countries: Haiti, Guatemala, Bolivia, Peru, Burkina Faso, Mali, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, India, Nepal, Indonesia, and Timor Leste.
World Neighbors works in areas where there is greatest need for itsprograms and capacity building. Partnering with local organizations who know the people, culture and landscape, World Neighbors gauges community interest in its approach by talking with rural villagers before beginning its work.
Specifically, World Neighbors works in remote rural communities where there are few roads, little or no access to clean water or electricity, limited health services and few schools. Infant and maternal death rates and illiteracy rates are among the highest in the world. Often the land and forests are degraded, and most of the citizens are excluded from mainstream economic development and decision making.
World Neighbors stays in a program area until communities and local organizations become strong enough to continue their programs on their own. This process takes an average of 8 to 10 years. World Neighbors goal is to achieve long-lasting improvements and independence in people’s lives and their communities, not quick fixes that depend on external assistance.
Method of operation
World Neighbors works to help people develop, manage and sustain their own programs. Most programs begin using locally available resources and simple, low-cost technologies. As people gain skills and confidence, local leaders and organizations emerge to carry on the work, multiply results and participate in coalitions advocating for wider change. The role of World Neighbors is to strengthen these basic human and organizational resources for long-term development.
In contrast to development organizations such as Mercy Corps, World Neighbors does not give away food or material aid. Instead, it provides training so that people gain the skills and leadership to work together for change. The result is self-reliance, rather than dependence on external aid. World Neighbors does not determine the focus of the program, but asks people to set their own agenda. Programs include: food security, farming, literacy, health, family planning, water and sanitation, environmental conservation, savings and credit, non-formal education and income generation activities.
Process
A seven step process for the World Neighbors programs, according to its website:
1. Select the areas where we work on the basis of need and opportunity.
2. Listen to what they have to say and what limits their success and establish a relationship of trust.
3. Help strengthen their capacity to identify, analyze and solve their own problems using locally available resources and the simplest tools to do the job.
4. Try new ideas on a small scale. Stay practical to generate early enthusiasm and success.
5. Help document the results and apply lessons learned to improve programs.
6. Reinforce their capacity to maintain and multiply results and ongoing problem-solving processes by forming new partnerships and by coordinating with additional villages and local organizations.
7. Widen program impact by documenting and sharing the results and processes with larger-scale organizations, villages, networks, coalitions and governments to influence policies and actions.[2]
Costs
World Neighbors invests funds in training and support programs for the people in our program areas. These programs promote self-reliance and more effective use of local resources. We do not employ external consultants or buy imported goods, warehouses or material aid.
Each year, more than 76 cents of every dollar spent is in support of World Neighbors overseas programs and its U.S. education initiatives. With an annual budget of $5.6 million, this translates to costs of $12 per person a year for these life-changing programs.
Private donations have been the primary mode of support since World Neighbors was founded in 1951. Gifts from individuals and charitable foundations are World Neighbors largest sources of income. World Neighbors also receives income from endowments, as well as donations from civic organizations, congregations, corporations and grants from development assistance organizations
Administration and staff
A team of 4 staff members based in the United States supports 64 field staff members, more than 45 local partner organizations and hundreds of rural community-level volunteers in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Most international staff members are citizens of the countries where they work. World Neighbors works with existing local organizations already working in the area and supports their promoters to train community-level volunteers and leaders.
A volunteer board of trustees, whose members come from throughout the United States, governs World Neighbors. Kate Schecter, President and CEO, leads the organization's operations, and is assisted by a coordinating team composed of senior staff members.
