The Power of Local: World Neighbors’ Sustainable Development Model

This Week on The Heart of Giving Podcast, Kate Schecter shares World Neighbors' remarkable 73-year journey helping rural communities across 14 countries achieve lasting self-sufficiency. Three standout moments:

 

"Our founder understood in 1951 how important it is not to give things to people, but to help them to help themselves. He understood the importance of the dignity of every human being, even the poorest of the poor."

 

"We help the communities to form small groups... and they each pitch in a little bit of money either every week or every month and they save their money together and then they loan to each other at very low interest. They're skipping around the whole banking system."

 

"I've been up in the mountains in East Timor, where it's all rocks, and you can't imagine how these people survive... and they say to me, 'Yeah, this year we saved $36,000.' And I'm like, 'My gosh, $36,000!'"

 

Last week, Mark Falzone of Scenic America discussed how his organization works to preserve America's visual character - from reducing billboard clutter to promoting context-sensitive development. His insights on making communities more beautiful and livable reveal how thoughtful design impacts our wellbeing and quality of life. If you missed it, tune in to hear about their bipartisan approach to creating spaces where everyone can "live, work and play in a beautiful place."

 

New episodes every Tuesday on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms. Support the show at give.org.

 

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