Where We Work: Africa
ADRA is changing lives in 38 countries on the African continent.
More than 1 billion people call Africa home, and millions of them are in desperate need of help. Despite being blessed with many natural resources, Africa is still the world’s poorest and most underdeveloped continent.
In sub-Saharan Africa, 80 percent of people live on less than $2.50 a day—for many of the poor the number drops to only 70 cents. Deadly diseases like AIDS and malaria have left children without parents, mothers without children, and entire regions devastated. In 2007 alone 2 million Africans died from AIDS, while another 33 million are living with the disease. Africa accounts for 90 percent of malaria deaths worldwide, and poor sanitation and lack of clean water is responsible for many other health problems.
Throughout the continent education is often poor and illiteracy is extremely common in many areas. Political unrest and armed conflict in some regions have uprooted hundreds of thousands from their homes and seriously disrupted local economies.
ADRA is facing these problems head-on through projects scattered all across Africa. For more information on what ADRA is doing in Africa, read the stories and project descriptions by clicking on the tabs above.
Sowing Seeds of Change
With 80% unemployment, the people of Zimbabwe struggle to feed themselves. ADRA’s garden projects are the largest across the country covering 125 acres benefitting thousands of individuals.
Priority is given to families that are caring for orphans, female-headed households, and those who are HIV-positive. All work is done by hand under the hot sun. Growing a full range of vegetables for current consumption, families—with solar dryers provided by ADRA—can preserve food to eat when times are even more difficult
Freedom from Poverty
Every year, it kills more children, women, and men than hurricanes and earthquakes!
Yet extreme poverty is too often ignored. More than 1.2 billion children, women, and men—or approximately 18 percent of the world’s population—live on less than $1.50 a day.
Vegetable gardening is a new concept in Niger, where hungry women and children often eat grass and leaves when there is nothing else to consume. Even when the family has a few cents, there is literally no food to buy. ADRA is teaching women to plant vegetables, first for their family’s consumption, and second for income generation.
The suffering and vulnerable need you
Wars, disasters, famine.
In an instant, families lose everything; even loved ones are taken from them.
When the unthinkable happens, ADRA is there.
Toilets save lives
Every 20 seconds, a child dies from poor sanitation.
ADRA’s sanitation programs are curtailing these unnecessary deaths. We are constructing latrines and providing basic sanitation education, and saving countless lives.
Life-threatening illnesses and dangers caused by poor sanitation are a problem. Today, you can be part of the solution.
Be an everyday miracle
26,000 a day
9.7 million a year
Children under 5 are dying in staggering numbers worldwide from preventable causes such as malnutrition and poor hygiene. For many children, reaching their fifth birthday is a miracle.
ADRA is working every day to reverse this trend. You can help us bring lifesaving remedies to children around the world.
Widows Looking Forward
The plight of widows in developing countries is a tragedy that receives very little attention. Groups such as the World Bank are just beginning to study the devastating economic effects that widowhood brings. Too many are forced from their homes when their husband dies.
Because of you, ADRA is making a difference in the lives of widows in Rwanda! Thank you for your faithful support.
Winter 2011 ADRA Works
Most girls in Niger marry when they turn 14 years of age. Families choose to keep their daughters home and uneducated due to poverty and lack of water and sanitation at the few schools that exist outside of the capital. ADRA is changing this in Maradi, where for the first time girls outnumber boys in the 2010-2011 school year.
Spring 2009 ADRA Works
Eco-gardening gives families a healthy, affordable route to complete food security. ADRA's NewStart eco-gardens have been so successful that they have even received funding from the South African government.
ADRA Spring 2009 World Update
ADRA's work in Africa is helping children, women, and men to live happier, healthier lives. View the map to see how we're making a difference.
