Helping people to help themselves
This year, NCC has selected three organizations that dedicate themselves to creating a better future for some of the poorest people on earth. Although they use different approaches, these organizations all contribute knowledge and promote activities that result in helping people to help themselves.
The three organizations are:
Photo: Sten Kvarfordh, A teacher is educating the children in Mutomo, a dry district in eastern Kenya.
The Mutomo projects
Mutomo is situated in a dry district in eastern Kenya. Most of its 220,000 inhabitants live below the official poverty line. The Mutomo project was founded by dentist Sten Kvarfordh in 2001. It is a non-profit organization whose goal is to support sustainable development and improved living conditions for the people of Mutomo.
Several Rotary Clubs, businesses, private individuals, and members work together in the Mutomo project to support its population through various projects. Donors are offered the possibility to finance specific projects such as the construction of schools, microcredit projects for 4,500 women, water projects, family planning, children’s funds and sports. Administration costs are 1%, and for a repair and maintenance fund 2% of the project cost is set aside.
Photo: Engineers without boarders, A simple concrete foundation is built for the biogas plant in the background.
Engineers Without Borders
Engineers Without Borders operates and supports projects that require engineering expertise. The projects are carried out in cooperation with local organizations. The goal of the projects is to find technological solutions adapted to local skills, culture and values.
Engineers Without Borders provides technology to create a better study environment for schoolchildren and better living conditions for children in general. This is done through initiatives like improving energy access in rural areas by using solar electricity technologies, finding solutions for safer cooking and improving access to clean water. The organization also collects laptops to distribute to schools, conducts teaching, and spreads knowledge and joy.
Photo: Hand in Hand, A self-help group trained in food hygiene to improve health and prevent disease.
Hand in Hand
Hand in Hand provides women in countries like India with education in entrepreneurship as well as access to micro-loans. Through the concept of helping people to help themselves, the women are able to start small family businesses and, through their own efforts, improve life for themselves and their families in the long term. Hand in Hand is engaged in development work that focuses on education and training in entrepreneurship and the belief that all children should be able to go to school instead of to work.
Through its programs, the organization has thus far created and developed 2.7 million jobs, and hundreds of thousands of children have been able to leave hard physical labor behind and instead go to school. Their goal is to create 10 million new jobs and so improve the lives of 50 million people.