DEVELOPING TIMES: one week 7 villages

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.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

one week 7 villages

Just sitting here in Atlanta airport following a whirlwind visit in Senegal of 7 villages in seven days.
A few highlights-
Able to spend 2 days in our home village...witnessed running water in the village for the first time in their history. Now with that running water there is dreams of a small community garden.
Was able to meet many people on the field...prayer and encouragement were keys to the visit
Able to start a reporting method on villages
Built on existing relationships and made some new ones.