World Understanding Project Submission Paused

by Bev Card, International Executive Board Chairman

The International Executive Board in June paused World Understanding Project nominations for the remainder of this biennium due to current global conditions and the complexity of the world in which we live. The International World Understanding Committee is currently reviewing and revising the guidelines and application for the next project.

Contributions for project C.H.E.A.R., the current World Understanding Project, will be accepted until July 31, 2023.

A∆K members have a heart for helping others through altruism and world-understanding projects. Here is a review of our six projects.

In 2009-2011, Project S.A.V.E. (Sisters Aiding Vietnamese Education) was selected as our first project. Our partner organization was the Vietnam Veterans Restoration Project (VVRP), which had a 20-year history of successfully building schools in cooperation with the Vietnamese government. We built and furnished a primary school the first year, contributed to making a sister school the second year, and in the third year, built a three-room addition to another school. Over $86,000 was donated by members. The onsite project manager was a VVRP member. As of 2022, the Vietnamese government continues to operate all VVRP schools.

In 2011-2013, Project H.O.P.E. (Hope and Opportunity in Peruvian Education) was chosen. Our partner organization was Bridge Builders International, a company with a 16-year history of working with churches in Latin America. Our funds built a one-story school, furnished three classrooms and provided a computer and water filtration system. The church offered free education. Over $70,000 was donated. A second story was added to the school. In March 2020, the school was suspended due to COVID-19. Later that year, the school was sold to private investors, and the local community could not afford the tuition now being charged.

In 2013-2015, Project B.O.O.K.S. (Books Offering Opportunities and Knowledge to Succeed, also known as Books on the Move) was selected. Our partner organization was hawkwing Inc., with a 20-year history of working with the Cheyenne River Lakota/Sioux Reservation. A bookmobile, two computers, a scanner, books, resource materials,

vehicle maintenance, insurance and gas for a year were purchased. The tribe voted to fund a year-long position. Over $80,000 was given by members. Finding a qualified candidate to coordinate the program on the reservation was a challenge. It is our understanding that the bookmobile is not currently in service. In 2015-2017, Project T.E.A.C.H (Training, Educating, and Affirming the Children of Haiti) was chosen. Our partner organization was Imagine Missions, founded in 2011. The plan was to build a six-classroom A∆K members have a heart for helping others through altruism and building, but eight rooms were built. Over $76,000 was contributed. On March 20, 2020, world-understanding projects. COVID cases in Haiti closed all schools. The lack of infrastructure made online learning impossible. Inflation, food shortages, political unrest and unsafe conditions led to the difficult decision to discontinue the residential school. A request to use the remaining grant monies to pay teachers was approved. In 2017-2019, T.E.A.C.H. TOO (Teaching, Educating, and Affirming the Children of Haiti – Transitioning to Open Opportunities) was selected. The original proposal was to build eight residential homes for older teens who aged out of the orphanage system so they could finish their education. Political unrest prevented the shipping of the housing units. The project was changed to constructing homes with local materials and labor. After two buildings were completed, the project was changed to building classrooms for a professional school complex. Over $59,000 was donated. Imagine Missions closed its doors in December 2021. In 2021-2023, Project C.H.E.A.R. (Making a Children’s Home with Education and Agriculture a Reality) was chosen. Our partner organization was the Harambee Foundation, founded in 2008. MAHOCE is a housing and education program for children living in extreme poverty with limited access to education. The proposed project will increase residency at the center, add a library and technology center and provide chickens and garden areas to work toward self-sufficiency. Like Project S.A.V.E., this project is being supervised onsite by a representative of the partner organization. Over $48,850 has been contributed to date.