What is Self-Help International?
Self-Help International (SHI) devotes its efforts to alleviating world hunger and poverty by providing opportunities to assist farm families to become self-reliant. Since its inception, Self-Help has touched hundreds of thousands through training, education and small business opportunities in developing countries so families can have better lives. Founder, Vern Schield, established Self-Help as an ecumenical, non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization in 1959. Raised on a farm during the Depression, Schield observed hard working farmers in developing countries unable to get ahead due to limited means and inadequate farming practices. He developed a small, sturdy, simple tractor called the “Self-Helper” that was built and shipped to nearly 50 countries over thirty years.
As time and world conditions changed, Self-Help began fulfilling its mission from a new way. It discontinued tractor production, at the request of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr. Norman Borlaug turned to Ghana, West Africa, to devote its efforts in training farmers in agricultural development at the grass roots level. Through training and education, SHI’s local organization promoted the benefits of growing Quality Protein Maize (QPM) as seed to increase yields, and to improve diets. The QPM program includes improving cultivation practices, introducing post-harvest technology, providing marketing tools and the concept of savings, and providing basic instruction in nutrition and family healthcare. In 1999, the women’s micro-credit enterprise program began, which is designed to empower women through increased income through businesses. In 2005, SHI-initiated an infant-preschool children’s feeding project using QPM porridge with pinches of barley malt in an effort to alleviate malnutrition.
Working in Ghana since 1989, Self-Help carries out its mission in cooperation with the Ghanaian Ministries of Agriculture and Health and other non-government organizations. Self-Help currently works with Ghanaian farm families from more than 50 rural communities in 19 of 20 districts.
What does Self-Help do?
Since 1959, Self-Help has spanned the globe fighting hunger and promoting self-reliance in developing countries. Today, Self-Help focuses on three main programs in two countries, Ghana (West Africa) and Nicaragua (Central America): 1. Improving Agricultural Opportunities: Self-Help’s primary crop focus is QPM, (quality protein maize) a naturally-occurring corn variety with greater protein absorption and higher yields than traditional corn grown in those countries. Self-Help has not only started the widespread use of QPM in Ghana and Nicaragua (improving income and nutrition), but have provided education to local farmers on sustainable farming, mechanization, grain drying and milling and seed storage — reducing crop loss by 37%.
2. Feeding/Nutrition Project for Rural Weanlings and Preschool Children: Results from 2007 show notable, healthy weight gains of those 2,500 children consistently eating one meal a day of higher-digestible protein (QPM-based) porridge. Diets, food handling, sanitation and general hygiene are improving through education and monitoring – in cooperation with local organizations.
3. Microcredit Enterprises… Small Business Loans to Women: Women play major roles in households, farms and businesses in developing countries. They want to improve their lives but are limited by lack of credit at reasonable interest rates. Nearly 1,000 women have taken part in the Microcredit program to date… with 97% repayment of loans and interest! Successful businesses include: Palm oil processing, pig and poultry farming, baking goods and earthenware pottery and trade.
What’s the difference between ‘development’ and ‘relief’ organizations?
Relief projects and organizations that focus on them are designed to provide immediate assistance after a disaster. Development projects and organizations (like Self-Help) include physical projects as well as non-physical programs. They commit to an area and a group of people to support them in their growth and development.
There are, unfortunately, too many examples where relief recipients quickly become dependent on handouts, thus creating somewhat of a third-world welfare system. This can leave the recipients worse off than when the programs were started.
On the other hand, properly executed development programs that require the recipient’s direct input and involvement foster a feeling of ownership. These programs can help recipients sustain themselves on a long-term basis. Once this occurs, the development organization can cease its operations and move to another location of need. Sustainability should be a huge factor in an organization’s mission.blog - Faqs
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