The world. needs one more. hero

Transcription

1 The world needs one more hero YOU

2 About Mercy Corps Mercy Corps is a humanitarian agency that helps people in the world s toughest places whose lives have been shattered by conflicts and natural disasters. We bring immediate relief including food, water, shelter and medical care to help people survive after a catastrophic event like war or an earthquake. When the TV cameras are gone, we continue to provide loans, training, tools and support to help people recover and become self-sufficient. Our field teams are local people who work with communities to find out what they need and put their ideas into action. We get businesses up and running, fix schools and roads and markets, and make sure there s clean water to drink and crops in the fields. Will you join us? Opposite: Miguel Samper for Mercy Corps; Toni Greaves for Mercy Corps; Rodrigo Ordonez/Mercy Corps; Leah Hazard/Mercy Corps; Cassandra Nelson/Mercy Corps

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4 BOLD Ideas change the world

5 We support entrepreneurs because we are entrepreneurs. We believe the toughest places demand the boldest ideas. The old ways simply don t help enough people fast enough, and they don t create progress that lasts. That s why we are social innovators. We think outside the box to come up with new solutions that help more people and are sustainable over time. Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps; Kim Beevers/Mercy Corps; Miguel Samper for Mercy Corps here are just a few of our innovative approaches 02 help people improve their lives without harming our planet 01 help people support themselves through income-generating projects 03 help people recover faster and better after a disaster

6 01 help people support themselves through income-generating projects We design innovative projects and then provide the training, planning and financing that allow people to build viable businesses. Take our village pharmacies in remote rural Guatemala, where the nearest health supplies are hours away. Shop owners are trained to set up small pharmacies in their homes, stock them with products to prevent and treat major illnesses, and promote better health practices among their customers. Or, take our healthy food carts in the slums of Indonesia, where child malnutrition is rampant. Entrepreneurs learn how to start and run these small businesses that offer nutritious, child-friendly menus. Through ventures like these, we re helping hardworking people rise from poverty. Greg Briggs for Mercy Corps; Miguel Samper for Mercy Corps

7 02 help people improve their lives without harming our planet Competition for finite resources causes conflict among neighbors and destroys our planet. We help impoverished families improve their standard of living through innovative approaches that don t damage the earth or their relationships with other communities. For instance, we re teaching women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo how to build their own fuel-efficient cook stoves that consume only half the wood that traditional campfires require. The stoves help save ravaged forests while reducing the risk of attack when vulnerable women forage for firewood. And to people living in rural Uganda we re bringing affordable solar power equipment such as solar panels. Solar light is cleaner, safer and more cost-effective than burning kerosene. Cassandra Nelson/Mercy Corps; Jenny Vaughn/Mercy Corps

8 03 help people recover faster and better after a disaster When disaster strikes, it s challenging to deliver aid quickly and meet the needs of the most vulnerable survivors. We have developed innovative ways to get help where it s most needed while restoring normal life and the flow of daily commerce. After the devastating earthquake in Haiti, we distributed food vouchers on mobile phones, which allowed people to easily purchase goods while supporting local merchants to get the economy up and running. We also trained parents, teachers and coaches to use sports, games and art to help children recover from the trauma and get back to their regular routines. Programs like this one have the added benefit of building the skills of participants in this case, adults who care for children so they become an ongoing resource for their communities. Lisa Hoashi/Mercy Corps

9 WHERE WE WORK Today our worldwide team of 4,500 people 94 percent of whom come from the communities where they work is improving the lives of millions of people in 41 countries. Supported by headquarters offices in North America and Europe, Mercy Corps currently works in: Afghanistan Central African Republic China Colombia Democratic Republic of the Congo Egypt Ethiopia Georgia Guatemala Haiti India Indonesia Iraq Japan Jordan Kenya Kosovo Kyrgyzstan Lebanon Liberia Libya Mali Mongolia Myanmar Nepal Niger North Korea (DPRK) Pakistan Philippines Somalia South Sudan Sudan Syria Tajikistan Timor-Leste Tunisia Uganda United States West Bank and Gaza Yemen Zimbabwe Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps

10 ready to DIG IN? Mercy Corps is an international organization with roots in the Pacific Northwest. We re proud to have our headquarters in Portland, Oregon, and to have so many wonderful connections with our neighbors. We deeply appreciate the support of our dedicated friends; it s their passion that fuels our work. We invite you to get involved and meet other people who share your desire to save and improve lives in the world s toughest places. Like you, they are determined to make a difference. Like you, they have decided to take action. Together, they re learning about the world, building a community and experiencing the rewards of doing deeply meaningful work. Will you join them?

11 Our event raised $2,394 for Mercy Corps from tickets, raffles, origami, cupcakes and tips. CARLA New York, NY Our group giving activity was extremely unifying. It was the right thing to do. NRG Employees Princeton, NJ Every day I know there are people suffering. I trust that Mercy Corps is helping them build stronger futures. zan seattle, WA It is so rewarding to share the Mercy Corps story. You can see when hearts open and compassion takes wing. Myrna Tigard, OR We are grateful that, wherever in the world there may be an emergency, Mercy Corps is already there, taking care of people s basic needs. tim and diana sacramento, CA We are donating $1 from your purchase to Mercy Corps for relief efforts in Japan. Keen FOOTWEAR PORTLAND, OR here s HOW YOU CAN HElp contribute mercycorps.org/contribute Your donation gives hardworking people the boost they need to lift their families out of poverty. reach out mercycorps.org/fundraisenow Create your own fundraising page or plan your own benefit event within your community. follow us mercycorps.org/ s Take an up-close look at how we re changing lives. partner with us mercycorps.org/partners Get your employees and customers involved in helping others and meet your corporate social responsibility goals. visit us mercycorps.org/portland Stop by our Action Center at our global headquarters in Portland, where you ll find public events, exhibits, activities, today s news and issues, and information about how we re working to solve the toughest global challenges. become a sustainer mercycorps.org/monthlygiving Join our community of monthly donors who provide a reliable stream of support for our lifesaving work. This Page: Minda Seibert/Mercy Corps; Front Cover: Cassandra Nelson/Mercy Corps; Back Cover: Sean Sheridan for Mercy Corps

12 mercycorps.org/outreach facebook.com/mercycorps our mission Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. We are efficient and responsible stewards. For years Mercy Corps has been recognized as a careful and effective steward of the resources entrusted to us by our supporters. We work to benefit the greatest number of people and help them become self-sufficient. We keep our overhead low, with 88 percent of our resources over the last five years used for programs that help people in need around the world. Mercy Corps also received four out of four stars from Charity Navigator, the premier American charity evaluator, for our responsible stewardship of donor funds.