A New Year Bring New Challenges, New Opportunities

Most folks tend to begin a new year with the best of intentions, feeling hopeful and optimistic, ready to take on new personal and professional challenges. It’s often a time to take stock and identify those lingering (and sometimes annoying) things we’ve pushed aside for one (usually good) reason or another and tackle them head on.

Well, the same feeling applies to life at a nonprofit agency – especially PCI, an organization near and dear to my heart.

There is so much to be excited about if you’re a supporter of PCI’s work. Because we’ve been recognized for all of our important work addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic, we’ve established new programs in two more African countries, Botswana and Malawi. PCI has also expanded its role in responding to crisis situations around the globe. Last year, we helped communities hardest hit by floods in India and Mexico, Hurricane Felix in Nicaragua, an earthquake in Peru, and the Southern California fires. And PCI continues to adopt an innovative approach to its core philosophy of helping people help themselves with microcredit and other economic development programs in impoverished communities around the world.

One exciting way we plan to spread the word about PCI’s efforts in the coming year is through our Seeds campaign (www.ProjectConcern.org/Seeds). The heart of this awareness effort is a simple pledge: "You have the power to change the world. By adding your name to this pledge, you'll be joining Project Concern International in planting seeds of change to help thousands of children in need escape generations of poverty."

We think and believe that collectively, we can change the world. PCI’s programs are planting these seeds of change to create a new life and to empower individuals to be self-sufficient, healthy, and hopeful. We have the resolve to effect that change – one child, one family, one community at a time.

And now that we’re at the beginning of a new year, there’s no time like the present!

Response to Flooding in Mexico

(First person account by Mark O’Donnell, PCI’s Vice President for Program Operations and Humanitarian Assitance.)

I just returned from a trip to Mexico City to meet with PCI’s Emergency Response Team for the flooding in Tabasco and Chiapas and wanted to share a few impressions.

First, I think it is important keep in mind that while the water levels have been reduced in many areas, the rains continue, causing additional damages to homes and creating obstacles to the response. Thousands of people are still in shelters and in need of ongoing assistance, especially outside of Villahermosa and in Chiapas that have not received the same amount of attention.

Second, the Mexican government and its citizens are doing an excellent job of responding to the disaster. They were on the ground very quickly, worked very efficiently, and have provided PCI access to air, water and ground support that has great assisted our efforts.

Third, our team has just been tremendous, dedicating themselves day and night to the response. In addition to some of the initial assistance with water and hygiene kits, PCI will also be providing food.

We will complete a second household survey to identify additional needs that we will be providing with the support of the US government’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA/USAID). Longer term, we will be working with individual families to provide livelihood support to help get them back on their feet.

Finally, while challenges still remain and thousands of people continue to need support, I’m proud of PCI’s involvement in this important effort to assist the people of Tabasco and Chiapas, Mexico.