DEVELOPING TIMES: Food for Thought

Welcome

Mission Statement
Rural Empowerment Initiatives (REI) mission is to collaborate in the reduction of poverty through investment in rural areas and training of local people.

Vision Statement
REI's vision is to treat every created being with dignity, respect and love. We strive to work with those most in need by empowering people to recognize their God given talents, enabling them to make the world a better place and providing them hope for the future.

Our Principles
REI believes that all people are created equal.
REI will develop small to medium businesses (SMEs) as one approach to reach those most in need by creating jobs that build the economy in rural areas.
REI's partner businesses will be led, managed and majority owned by local people.
REI will always seek a triple bottom line of economic, spiritual and social transformation.
REI seeks to build sustainable community-oriented business models.
REI's focus of support is to the economically disadvantaged.
REI will seek attractive market and growth opportunities.
REI will incubate pilot projects with capable management.
REI believes in collaboration. We seek partners whose strengths complement our own in an effort to build well-rounded projects of lasting economic value for the communities in which we work.
REI is inspired by the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, and is therefore rooted in the Christian faith.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Food for Thought

These world statistics from the World Relief Corporation are only a glimpse at
the great challenge we face globally:

For nearly 2 out of 3 people in the world, hunger is a lifestyle.
Industrialized countries compose 20% of the world population but consume 80% of the food resources.
In the United States alone, $30-$50 billion a year is spent on diets and related expenditures to reduce calorie intake.
The imbalance in food distribution is the number one reason for hunger.
1.1 billion people lack access to clean water.
1 out of 4 people lacks access to basic health services.
It is estimated that $30-40 billion a year would provide all developing countries with water, education and basic health care. This is the same amount spent annually on golf.