World Concern is a Christian humanitarian organization that works closely with individual communities in some of the most neglected areas of the world. World Concern endeavors to eliminate core causes of poverty, emphasizing livelihood training, literacy and education; and provides access to clean water, food, health care and disaster assistance. The love of Christ motivates World Concern employees to help stabilize impoverished people and communities around the world.

World Concern’s worldwide workforce consists of thousands of employees, volunteers, international partners and donors who work together to help communities become self-sustaining.

Highly Restricted Countries. In FY 2007, World Concern continued to focus the majority of its programs in countries with limited access. In Sri Lanka, in the village of Cheddipalayam, we restored income-generating livelihoods to more than 170 tsunami-affected families. Inland fishing ponds, used by a local orphanage to raise fish for sale in the local market, were repaired, and the resulting income provides the main source of funding for food, clothing and schooling for the children.

Disaster Response. World Concern responds directly to disasters in areas where we are doing development work or where we can gain new access to a country needing our aid. Last year we responded to several localized disasters and, in Chad, launched a full-scale response. The two greatest difficulties in the town of Goz Beida, with both Sudanese refugees and displaced Chadians, are insufficient water for farming and lack of money to purchase food and other necessities. World Concern is mobilizing this community of 15,000 to dig ponds to catch water in the rainy season for dry season planting. Their workers are paid in vouchers for food, so people are getting food today and crops tomorrow.

HIV/AIDS Orphans and Vulnerable Children. World Concern has continued to expand activities, reaching 93,720 orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). We serve the 4,961 local caregivers supporting these children through small start-up capital for income generating activities; training in hygiene; agriculture; small animal husbandry; psychosocial care; nutrition; and basic health. Providing support right in the home allows children to stay out of orphanages and receive better quality care. One of our orphans shared, “I am very happy for the support I have received from the program. My life had been miserable since my parents died—now there is great change in my life!”