Alleviating hunger by helping people help themselves

 

Empowering through

training & resources to

put knowledge into action

They’re more than programs, they’re stories.

Accessing Clean Water

READ THE STORY OF:

San José, Nicaragua
Goal: $320,000
70%

Improving Agriculture

READ THE STORY OF:

Los Chiles farmers
Goal: $320,000
70%

Ending
Malnutrition

READ THE STORY OF:

Jamilatu's family
Goal: $320,000
70%

Empowering Women & Girls

READ THE STORY OF:

Sarah's business
Goal: $320,000
70%


Self-Help International is an Iowa-based international development organization dedicated to alleviating hunger in rural communities in Ghana, West Africa and Nicaragua, Central America by helping people help themselves.

Self-Help prioritizes local staff and community leadership, and programs address the hard gaps in development by ensuring that program partners have access to knowledge as well as the resources to put their knowledge into action.

Opportunity: 100M +

Agricultural productivity increases when women farmers have the same access to productive resources as men, which could reduce hunger by 100 – 150 million.

98% Repayment

Self-Help Ghana boasts a 98% repayment rate on micro-loans issued to impoverished women entrepreneurs. Repaid loans are re-issued to empower the next woman in need.

90% Reinvestment

Women reinvest 90% of income into the family, so their children eat more and better food and get the education they need to break free from the cycle of hunger and poverty.

Empowering through innovation

2x Increase in Yields

Through improved practices and access to new technology, the farmers we serve are doubling or even tripling their yields, increasing food security now and for the future.

2x School Enrollment

Early childhood enrollment increases when we partner with communities to help them start school feeding programs, and students are able to start each school day hunger-free and ready to learn.

85,000+ People

We’ve installed more than 120 innovative water chlorination systems that are providing 85,000 people with clean water every day so they can lead healthier, more productive lives.

New Updates

The latest stories from Self-Help
Give a Hoot for Self-Help International Weekend 2023

Give a Hoot for Self-Help International Weekend 2023

The Give a Hoot for Self-Help International Weekend is back for the 15th year! Join us for the Lags Memorial...

SHI helps Adutwumaa Realize her Dream House

SHI helps Adutwumaa Realize her Dream House

When 55-year-old Adutwumwaa and her husband purchased a plot of land 15 years ago, they had no idea how they...

Gifty Graduates from Teen Girls Club with Hope

Gifty Graduates from Teen Girls Club with Hope

Gifty, a 17-year-old from Timeabu in the Ashanti Region of Ghana who graduated from Self-Help International’s Teen Girls Club in...

Spring Newsletter Published

Spring Newsletter Published

Check out the latest news from Self-Help International in the spring newsletter published in February 2023. Patrons will receive a...

Our Program Areas

Accessing Sanitary Water

Accessing Sanitary Water

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Accessing Sanitary Water

Improving Agricultural Practices

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Fighting Malnutrition and Hunger

Fighting Malnutrition and Hunger

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Empowering Women and Girls

Empowering Women and Girls

Learn More

We’re humbled by our global recognition.

We think the work we do is important, and we’re glad that others do as well.

              

Self-Help International is a US-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.