Impact Nations, based in Albuquerque, practices global community service. CEO Tim Stewart tells us,” We've been around for about 20 years now and the bottom line is we exist to rescue lives from dangerous and exploitive situations in the developing world…and get them out of trouble and into safety, but then also provide them with what they're going to need to be able to stand on their own two feet and flourish long-term so that they can provide for themselves and their families without being dependent on an outside source.”
Impact Nations works mostly in Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia. When they start a project, the first thing they do is get people into a safe and stable local situation. Tim says,” We tend to the immediate needs of the poor through food and clean water. We've provided over three million meals to people in crisis situations and provided permanent access to clean water for over 600,000 people. That is really part of it…just helping people get out of danger initially but also it's about helping people become self-sustained as well, so one of the things we do is community gardening …teaching how to garden but also having large scale gardens that become training centers and also become a source of revenue and a source of produce for those in crisis.” So, Impact Nations employs the “teach a man to fish” philosophy to encourage long-term solutions to the problems they encounter.
Once the program participants are in a safe environment, Impact Nations provides vocational training as a way to break the cycle of poverty. Tim said,” We've got four different nations with vocational schools, and we'll have probably close to 2000 graduates this year with about 16 different subjects being taught across those various schools. We're teaching young men and women practical marketable skills that they can find work with or start their own business within their community.”
The organization also works with local government and community leaders to encourage women’s rights. Tim told us,” We try to shift the mindset for the protection of women because in many of these locations it's not a part of their culture…it's not a priority, but we’re seeing these community leaders buying in and beginning to actually create their own programs and in some cases we're able to come alongside and partner with them.”
Impact Nations has seen tangible results from their efforts. In just one school in Pakistan, they have 550 students where 90% of graduates either became self-sustaining through entrepreneurship or through finding work. The organization is seeing multi-generational improvements for families who have always previously lived in poverty.
Impact Nations gets a lot done with a modest budget. Tim told us, “We can get a lot done with very very little money…we're very very effective with what we get done.”
Impact Nations has the numbers in lives changed for the better to back that up…over 100,000+ participants receiving medication, 3500+ graduates of skills and business programs, 3,000,000+ meals provided, and 600,000+ people have permanent access to clean water.
To contribute to Impact Nations’ efforts in global community service, go to their website: https://www.impactnations.com/