Recent news:
February 23, 2010
World Neighbors awarded grant for Haiti emergency relief
OKLAHOMA CITY – World Neighbors, an international development organization, was recently awarded a grant of $82,950 by Lutheran World Relief (LWR) in support of its short and long-term development work in Haiti following the recent earthquake which devastated Port-au-Prince, Haiti on January 12. World Neighbors programs areas received no physical damage as a result of the earthquake, however, due to the massive devastation to Port-au-Prince’s infrastructure and the influx of people now fleeing to the rural areas, the impact on World Neighbors rural communities is considerable.
As a result, the funds from Lutheran World Relief will be used to support World Neighbors programs in 222 rural villages and communities in Haiti. In addition to being some of the poorest areas in Haiti, these communities are also some of the most impacted by urban to rural migration resulting from the earthquake.
Through the funding from Lutheran World Relief, World Neighbors Haiti relief efforts will provide immediate supplies in the form of food, water, medical supplies, vitamins (for pregnant women and infants), and tents for shelter. World Neighbors staff and local partners will then develop a plan to assess the impact of the out migration from Port-au-Prince to World Neighbors communities and ensure the existing villagers and migrant population can co-exist and continue providing for their families.
World Neighbors has been working in Haiti since 1966 to eliminate hunger, poverty and disease using people-centered approaches that address the inter-connected problems of declining food production, malnutrition, ill health and environmental degradation in underserved areas of Haiti.
World Neighbors is an international development organization striving to eliminate hunger, poverty and disease in the most deprived rural villages in Asia, Africa and Latin America. World Neighbors invests in people and their communities by training and inspiring them to create their own life-changing solutions through programs that combine agriculture, literacy, water, health and environmental protection. Since 1951, more than 25 million people in 45 countries have transformed their lives with the support of World Neighbors.
January 14, 2010
World Neighbors Staff Affected in Haiti Earthquake
World Neighbors employees still among the missing
OKLAHOMA CITY – On Tuesday, Haiti was struck with a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastating much of the capital city, Port-au-Prince. World Neighbors currently has eight staff members in the capital city and has been unable to communicate and account for two of those staff to confirm their safety and, as a result, determine the extent of damage in that part of the country and in its eight program areas, all of which are located north of Port-au-Prince.
World Neighbors efforts are focused on learning the status of the team and then determining the impact of the earthquake to the organization’s eight program areas.
“We are working hard to get in touch with our team but have been unsuccessful in reaching all of them so far,” said Melanie Macdonald, World Neighbors president and chief executive officer. “Other non-governmental organizations in the United States are having the same challenge, but it is our primary focus to ensure the safety of our World Neighbors staff and then assess the impact of this earthquake to our programs to determine an immediate response.”
Physical damage in World Neighbors programs areas may be minimal, but due to the massive devastation to Port-au-Prince’s infrastructure, the organization anticipates there will be an impact on rural communities due to the reliance of support that comes from the capitol city and the influx of people who will likely flee to the rural areas.
World Neighbors has been working in Haiti since 1995 to eliminate hunger, poverty and disease using people-centered approaches that address the inter-connected problems of declining food production, malnutrition, ill health and environmental degradation in underserved areas of Haiti.
Donations to address the short-term needs of its staff and programs, as well as continue the long-term development plans for Haiti can be made online at www.wn.org or mailed to 4127 NW 122nd Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73120.
Headquartered in Oklahoma City, World Neighbors is an international development organization striving to eliminate hunger, poverty and disease in the poorest, most isolated rural villages in Asia, Africa and Latin America. World Neighbors invests in people and their communities by training and inspiring them to create their own life-changing solutions through programs in agriculture, literacy, water, health and environmental protection. Since 1951, more than 25 million people in 45 countries have transformed their lives with the support of World Neighbors.
June 22, 2009
World Neighbors Receives 4-star Rating for Third Year
Oklahoma City Based Charity Evaluated as “Exceptional” by Charity Navigator
OKLAHOMA CITY- For the third consecutive year, World Neighbors has received the highest rating possible, 4-stars, from America’s largest independent evaluator of charities, Charity Navigator. Only 11% of the charities rated have received at least 3 consecutive 4-star evaluations.
“This “exceptional” designation from Charity Navigator differentiates World Neighbors from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust,” said Charity Navigator President and Chief Executive Officer Ken Berger.
As the nonprofit sector continues to grow at an unprecedented pace, savvy donors are demanding more accountability, transparency and quantifiable results from the charities they choose to support with their hard-earned dollars. This rating from the leading charity evaluator in America shows World Neighbors continues to consistently execute their mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America.
“It is a privilege to have this rating for the third year in a row,” said World Neighbors CEO, Melanie Macdonald. “We work hard every year to ensure each and every dollar given to us is being used to make a difference in the world and this exceptional rating applauds our efforts.”
You can view World Neighbors full profile on Charity Navigator here.
February 23, 2009
World Neighbors selected as finalist for
Kyoto World Water Grand Prize
Oklahoma City, OK -- Oklahoma City based World Neighbors has been selected as a finalist for the Kyoto World Water Grand Prize to be awarded at the World Water Forum in Istanbul next month.
The prestigious prize aims to highlight the excellent work being carried out by grassroots organizations, like World Neighbors, across the globe by giving them a platform to share their lessons learned with other international organizations. During the World Water Forum, Sergio Larrea from World Neighbors Bolivia programs, will present information about World Neighbors global water programs focusing on efforts to battle climate change in the Andes mountains.
Over the last three years, World Neighbors has been working with groups of farmers in Ecuador and Bolivia to test a new approach called Katalysis. This approach addresses the problem of water scarcity resulting from climate change. World Neighbors sought ideas directly from the farmers and their communities, and after studying the pending threats of climate change, communities prioritized an initiative that would help them gain new control over existing water and biological resources.
Through experimental exercises, farmers discovered hidden sources of water and learned to creatively utilize plants in ways that could bring new wealth to their farms and communities. Positive results inspired participants to want to experiment with creative forms of water harvesting through soil conservation and cover crops and to improve the efficiency of water use through drip irrigation systems, planting cover crops and basic water retention systems.
Peter Gubbels, vice president of international program at World neighbors is pleased with the selection of World Neighbors as a finalist and hopes to spread the word about this innovative work at the Forum where the theme will be "Bridging Divides for Water."
“Our work in this area is leading the way for many indigenous people to battle the climate changes that are affecting their livelihoods and overall security. I hope that the lessons we have learned can be shared and replicated by other organizations working to change lives,” said Gubbels.
World Neighbors will compete for approximately $32,000 USD in prize money at the Forum which is intended to enable the continuation of the prize winner’s innovative activities. The forum will be held in Istanbul, Turkey from March 16-22 and is expected to be attended by thousands of individuals and global organizations.
Click here to read the full proposal.
World Neighbors is committed to transforming the lives of people living on incomes of less than $1 a day. Since 1951, World Neighbors has changed more than 25 million lives by providing programs that help solve problems of hunger, poverty and disease for some of the poorest people in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
February 27, 2009
World Neighbors on BBC World Service Today
12:00 P.M. CST
  Join Scott Killough, Associate Vice President for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods, as he makes a guest appearance today at 12:00 P.M. CST on the BBC's program "World Have Your Say." Today's program features Mohammed Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize winner, developer of the concept of micro-credit, and founder of the Grameen Bank. Yunus and others, including Scott Killough, will discuss the topic, "What could the rich world's banks learn from the poor world's," focusing on micro-credit and the world financial crisis.
 
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