Today I got a surprise phone call from Ethiopia. It was an old friend who had worked with me to design THRIVE (Transforming Household Resilience in Vulnerable Environments) in Tanzania. He asked how things were going, and especially whether THRIVE was thriving! I told him that not only had THRIVE Tanzania seen extremely positive results, but THRIVE was expanding. Our new plan aims to help 10 million people!
My friend was amazed at our growth but was not surprised by the results that we are seeing — with World Vision’s help, people are lifting themselves up the economic ladder and out of extreme poverty. “Chris, this is just what we dreamed of so many years ago," he said. "And that is what World Vision is about — getting people the help that they really need.”
He was right, and I am so glad we (World Vision staff, donors, partners, and supporters) are working together to empower people to move out of extreme poverty and into life in all its fullness.
In focus: The power of THRIVE 2030
As World Vision continues to roll out our Economic Empowerment business plan: THRIVE 2030, there are two features we want to highlight — one easily seen and one more obscure.
The first, easily seen feature is an integrated plan consisting of four main interventions, with all of the interventions working together and building upon each other.
The second, less easily seen feature is that this is not a business plan for World Vision to lift people out of extreme poverty. Rather, it's a business plan to provide tools that empower people to lift themselves out of extreme poverty — and into the kind of life God intends for them.
This is an iron-clad rule of transformational development: Don't do something for people that they can do for themselves. And our Economic Empowerment business plan: THRIVE 2030 reflects this enabling approach to empower individuals, families, and communities to become all that God intends them to be. We invite you to review the document and share with it others.
Tools you can use: To learn and to share
By popular demand, here are three tools you can use to share this exciting work with others.
Want to host a World Vision "Fork to Farm" gathering this summer?
Would you be interested in inviting others to get to know World Vision’s economic empowerment ministry and how together we can help end extreme poverty? Consider hosting a spring or summer “Fork to Farm” barbecue for family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors. You supply the venue and the food, we supply the program and experts. Contact World Vision’s Chief Development Officer for Economic Empowerment, Christopher Shore at cshore@worldvision.org.
A video for Earth Day
Genrri Ramirez, a Honduran farmer, coffee cooperative leader, and THRIVE participant, shares his story of taking individual action to restore the hills, trees, and watershed near his home.
In the news
End of La Niña — Although relief has not yet come, extreme drought in the Horn of Africa may be nearing an end as the La Niña event is drawing to a close.
End of Extreme Poverty by 2050? — According to a new study, the end of extreme poverty may be achieved by 2050 — the same year that World Vision will celebrate the 100th anniversary of our founding.
Pray for rains to come to the Horn of Africa, and for greatly needed emergency food aid for affected people.
Pray for smallholder farmers in Malawi and Mozambique who were were devastated in February and March by Cyclone Freddy, the longest-lasting tropical cyclone ever recorded worldwide.
Thank you for your faithful partnership!
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