Concern America

Concern America is a unique nonprofit, nonsectarian, nongovernmental development and refugee aid organization - unique in that its philosophy emphasizes the transference of skills and thus the creation of opportunity (seen as a more permanent solution), not just the placement of resources into impoverished regions. Concern America trains local populations in health, education, agriculture, and/or environmental health (appropriate technology), and accompanies these populations from eight to ten years, working with and through them to build local, functional social systems that meet their basic needs. Eventually, the Concern America team can be withdrawn, leaving in place trained local people who continue the work and to bring it to neighboring communities. In the U.S., Concern America infuses a global perspective into justice education projects with community groups, local churches, and schools; promotes the sale of fair-trade handcrafted items made predominantly by women from the countries where Concern America has projects; holds leadership formation workshops aimed at bringing together leaders from all walks of life to work for a new, more just society; and provides opportunities to explore emerging health care leadership models through mentoring and travel to learn from a successful community-based health care program in Guatemala.