Global Communities Archives

Toolkit for Action: 2014 International Women’s Day in Rwanda This toolkit acts as a guide to provide a school or community with the materials needed to Inspire Change while leading a dynamic International Women’s Day Event in their community. The toolkit will be used by trained mobilizers that have attended a training of trainers conducted…

Dig to Harvest: Promoting Improved Nutrition in Rwanda By Luis Blandon Luis Blandon visited Global Communities Rwanda’s projects during the Cracking the Nut conference in January 2014 and wrote this reflective piece after his visit. The land was aromatic with plant life – unique to the species and the particular season. The fragrance of the…

Training Offers Young Jordanians Glimpse of Job Opportunities in Tourism, Hospitality This article originally appeared in the Jordan Times. A young Jordanian attends a culinary training course offered under the MENA YES program. AMMAN — After Alaa Dajani passed the General Secondary Certificate Examination, he decided to stop studying and look for a decent job…

BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities and Global Communities Complete First Year of Partnership to Assist Vulnerable Communities in Colombia  Silver Spring, MD – Global Communities today announced the successful completion of the first year of a partnership with BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities (BSC) to assist vulnerable communities and displaced persons in Colombia. BSC has provided US…

ANDA: Creating Sustainable Change for Vulnerable Communities in Colombia What is the ANDA project? ANDA (a Spanish word meaning “moving forward”) is a US$28.6 million, five year project that is responding to the sustainable development needs of vulnerable populations including internally displaced persons (IDP) and other economically-disadvantaged people, especially women, youth, afro-Colombians and indigenous persons…

CEOs from Largest U.S.-Based Global NGO Alliance Call for Immediate, Unfettered Humanitarian Access in Syria Third anniversary of Syria war on March 15 ignites global #WithSyria campaign to end the bloodshed and meet dire needs of civilians WASHINGTON, DC—Fifty-two CEOs of major international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have signed on to a statement calling on all…

IFC Investment Helps Expand Access to Finance for Small Businesses in Jordan Amman, Jordan—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is supporting Middle East Micro Credit Company (MEMCC), a leading Jordanian microfinance institution, to help the company expand its lending services to small businesses, supporting economic growth across the country. A $2 million investment…

In recognition of International Women’s Day on March 8th, Global Communities is highlighting some of the staff from our country offices around the world and honoring the amazing work they do. Sandy Salkham is the Deputy General Manager and Chief Financial Officer for Global Communities microfinance institution Vitas Jordan. She plays a key role with responsibility for…

Toughness in Yellow: Sharing Lessons on Food Security and Nutrition in Rwanda By Luis Blandon Luis Blandon visited Global Communities Rwanda’s projects during the Cracking the Nut conference in January 2014 and wrote this reflective piece after his visit. She stood on top of a hill, confidently attired in yellow. Yellow can merely be a color,…

Supporting Growth of Women-owned Businesses through Training and Loan Guarantees By Arun Hsu, Chief of Party, Jordan Loan Guarantee Facility This article originally appeared on OPIC.gov.  Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are key to innovation and an engine of economic growth and job creation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Despite the…

Helping Communities “Go Forward” in Colombia (video) The ANDA program (“Go Forward”), funded by BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities, aims to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life for residents in 6 municipalities of southern Cordoba and the cities of Monteria and Cartagena in Colombia. With a strong focus on internally displaced people, ANDA is working closely with…

DLA Piper Foundation Partners with Global Communities to Rebuild Livelihoods in Areas Struck by Typhoon in Philippines Shelter kits are being provided to home-based artisans whose homes were damaged by the storm. SILVER SPRING, Md. – The DLA Piper Foundation has donated $43,369 to Global Communities to assist recovery efforts in the wake of Typhoon…

Syria’s Refugee Children Need Education, Lest They Become a Lost Generation By Lauren Pucci, Humanitarian Assistance Officer  This article originally appeared in the Global Post. A Syrian refugee family now living in an abandoned school bus next to a busy highway outside of Beruit. BERUIT – Nelson Mandela once said there can be no keener revelation of…

One for One – and Many MoreBy Milton Funes, Country Director, Global Communities Rwanda This article originally appeared on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center. Twenty years ago, Rwanda experienced a brutal genocide that ripped the country apart. Nevertheless today, in so many ways, Rwanda is an impressive emerging African economic power. The…

Ruts in the Road: A trip through Rwanda By Luis Blandon Luis Blandon visited Global Communities Rwanda’s projects during the Cracking the Nut conference in January 2014 and wrote this reflective piece after his visit. It was a deep rut in the dirt road. The first of a thousand I would experience. A common groove…

Global Communities in Rwanda: USAID Ejo Heza Program Video Having worked in Rwanda since 2005, Global Communities is currently implementing the USAID Ejo Heza (“brighter future”) program in Rwanda, which aims to improve the livelihoods and food consumption of 75,000 of the country’s very poor, particularly women. This video showcases the work Global Communities has…