World Hope Canada  and CIDA

Canadian International Development Agency Agence canadienne de développement International

Since its inception in 2001, World Hope Canada (WHC) has been committed to promoting justice, encouraging self-sufficiency, and inspiring hope by partnering with individuals and organizations from around the world. As a faith-based relief and development organization, WHI Canada relies on external funding and donations to enable its work.

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has been a strong and valued supporter of WHC's objectives, and CIDA  funding is essential to achieving WHC's project goals. In turn, WHC contributes to CIDA’s organizational development objectives through its project outcomes.  Working together, World Hope Canada and CIDA are able to make significant gains in improving the lives of citizens in developing countries.  WHC is also committed to working with individuals and organizations in the countries in which it works to develop in-country capacity for further development.  This partnership approach is consistent with CIDA’s approach to international development assistance.

There is a clear alignment between CIDA and World Hope Canada objectives.  CIDA’s priorities are poverty reduction, democratic governance, private sector development, health, basic education, equality between women and men, and environmental sustainability.

Through its broad mission to bring hope and healing to a hurting world, WHC focuses on poverty reduction, health and basic education.  To date, World Hope Canada has received CIDA funding to implement two public engagement projects, and three international development projects.

The public engagement projects are consistent with CIDA’s focus on engaging Canadians as global citizens. World Hope Canada has concluded the “Right to be Heard” project which focused on vulnerable women and children.  Its current project is aimed at increasing Canadian interest, education and volunteer involvement in child health issues of HIV/AIDS, abuse and malnutrition and specifically the vulnerability of young girls.

Both projects used innovative approaches to engage Canadians in discussion about the issues, and provide concrete information that educated a variety of constituents, including university students, and primary school-aged children.  The project outcomes were aligned with CIDA priorities on health, poverty and equality between men and women.

World Hope Canada’s Street Life to Stability Project specifically addressed the issue of homeless youth in Odessa, Ukraine.  Youth aged 13 to 19  received rehabilitative counseling, and social and vocational skills development.   The girls were also provided with a stable living environment which reduced their vulnerability to exploitation. This modest project enabled 236 youth to receive support that reduced their vulnerability and increased their self-sufficiency in the longer term.  The project also established a residence facility that continues to operate even though the actual project has been concluded.

The SierraCan Pig Project created a self-sustaining animal husbandry program that promotes poverty reduction and private sector development.  Twenty-one farmers in northern Sierra Leone received two sows, a boar, a brick pigpen and training to enable them to successfully raise pigs.  At the project’s conclusion, each farmer owned nearly 20 pigs, and cooperatives had been formed to support the continued growth of their enterprises.

World Hope Canada has gained valuable experience in the delivery of development aid through its CIDA supported projects.  CIDA’s results-based  approach helps WHC to focus on concrete and attainable outcomes that make a difference in the lives of individuals. Building on  the success of these projects, WHC is exploring how it can leverage its expertise to undertake new international development efforts.  WHC hopes to continue to benefit from CIDA assistance and support.