Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps
"Be the change" is the motto of this joint US-European agency aspiring to "alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities" worldwide.
World Corps tackles critical areas by empowering individuals and communities to help themselves, providing education, funding and resources to make this happen. Mercy Corps employees and interns are sent into the field to run programs and offer on-site feedback and support. 89% of their allocated resources go directly to these programs.
The following is their own introductory statement inviting people to learn more about the organization. It is addressed to people who are interested in learning more about Mercy Corps. I thought there's no better way to explain what they do than in their own words:
I wanted to let you know about Mercy Corps, a global relief-and-development organization working in some of the world's most difficult and remote places.
They're in more than 35 countries -- amid disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and instability -- working to unleash the potential of people who can win against nearly impossible odds. They believe that it's only when communities set their own agendas, raise their own resources and implement programs themselves, that their first successes result in the renewed hope, confidence and skills to continue development.
What's more, their judicious use of donations has earned them the highest efficiency rating from Charity Navigator, America's premier charity evaluator.
You can read more about them at www.mercycorps.org.
To donate to Mercy Corps, visit the donation link from their main site. The website allows you to not only designate the amount you want to donate (open forum as opposed to increments), but also to determine where your money will go. You can currently choose from five projects including Congo Crisis, Emergency Response, Gaza Crisis, Climate Change Fund, and the Mukhtar Mai Fund. If you can't decide, there is the option to allow the organization to send the money where it is deemed most needed.
They have also created Mercy Kits, a creative way to donate. You choose a kit for purchase ($25-$175), and that amount is spent on the program of your choice. For example, the $80 Women's Health Kit helps create women's health programs, particularly maternal and widwifery programs, in communities lacking those services. You can buy the kits outright, or purchase on behalf of someone else. This makes a great gift and the beneficiary will receive a card explaining the donation made in their name.
Mercy Corps does crucial work in crisis regions of the world. I encourage everyone to visit their website and read more about them.
