R Steve introduced David Barth, Executive Director of World Accord. Steve has supported World Accord for about 40 years when first learning of how they provided a hand up, rather than a hand out. They did this by providing a pair of goats to a family with the agreement that the family would have to pay back the goats be providing a pair of goats back to World Accord that could in turn be given to another family.
David advised that he is a Rotarian with the Kitchener West Rotary Club for about 7 years now.
David then presented to us World Accord.
World Accord in an NGO which mainly works to empower communities through local partnerships. They focus on Asia and Central America, in the rural communities which are mostly mountainous. They don't work in the urban centres.
He shared some pictures of work in Nepal where he says access in good weather is difficult and in bad weather next to impossible.
A lot of their funding comes from individuals, some from congregations and governments.
They partner with other organizations for social justice and work to empower local organizations for locally owned projects and initiatives, community based and designed and with inclusive governance.
They look for revenue generation and food security. They look to strengthen women and girls, to train leaders, and teach human rights. They are looking for innovation.
Some of their partners include experts from Universities and industry who have the knowledge to share whether it is in Human Rights or egg production.
On the ground they look to strengthen and reinforce their partners. They utilize a web based tool for data collection.
They are transparent with the funds. They provide a boot camp for staff.
"World Accord empowers me to question World Accord. I have learned to do the same with our community so I can empower them."
David shared couple stories of young women who are making a difference. A women in Nepal, in a Caste, patriarchal society where women typically have heads lowered to becoming a community leader. Then another of a young women in India with a sense of belonging and community won over her husband's family raising an oxen and earning extra funds and eventually her own ox.