From Deseret News archives:
Empowering Nations: Group seeks to help the world
A group of young Provo residents who call themselves Empowering Nations is determined to do what they can to make positive changes in the world.
They've already made a difference in a number of Third World areas.
They built a fishing boat in Thailand and started a women's jewelry-making co-op.
In Ghana, they've taught English to the natives.
In each of a dozen countries they've visited, they've provided American dollars to the economy. The pro-active, volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is committed to empowering the poor through education and relief and to promoting and facilitating involvement in the fight against poverty throughout the world.
Started in 2002 with Brigham Young University professor Warner Woodworth's guidance and five college students, Empowering Nations involves people who volunteer not only their time but their own financial resources to help others.
In 2005, the group helped victims of the tsunami. Before that, they started a number of projects in Somalia and Brazil.
Today they are working in Africa, South America and Asia.
Adam Vandermyde and his wife just returned from helping villagers in Kenya run a micro-bank and loan operation. Adam Vandermyde taught the bank managers to keep track of their loans and project their earnings. Michelle Vandermyde helped teach at the school.
"It's certainly made a huge impact on me (to be part of Empowering Nations). Going over there absolutely opened our eyes." said Adam Vandermyde. "I dealt in the money side and she in the education side, two of the biggest needs in Africa."
Vandermyde said the villagers were in awe of his abilities, which included tracking profits on a spread sheet.
"They'd come up to me and say, 'This is magic!"'he said.
Empowering Nations can use more volunteers and donations, said Sarah CarMichael Parson, executive director of the group. Currently, more than one billion people live in extreme poverty, unable to meet their basic needs for survival.
The problem is large, but so is the potential for change, said Parson. "The more money we have, the more we can do."
The group runs strictly on volunteer help, so there's no overhead. All donations go directly to the need. In the countries volunteers go to, they either stay with host families or in whatever housing they can find, such as a hotel in Thailand damaged by the tsunami.
Recent comments
Thank God there are people in the world like you Sarah & the others...
joel carmichael | Nov. 5, 2007 at 9:00 p.m.
- Son returns to Iraq after 21 years 8:38 p.m.
- 2 men die in barn fire 8:37 p.m.
- Service opportunities are plentiful 8:36 p.m.
- Church to sell window to pay bills 8:35 p.m.
- Folks felt at home in White House 8:35 p.m.
- Mink vandal says feds broke deal 8:31 p.m.
- Utes' team staying well-tuned 8:21 p.m.
- GOP to force vote on Medicare cuts 8:20 p.m.
- Climax to climate drama elusive 8:11 p.m.
- Climate change protesters in London 8:11 p.m.
- Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
302 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
245 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
189 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
188 - Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
181 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179 - N.Y. Senate rejects gay marriage
128 - Max Hall: a fixture in rivalry lore
118 - Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
105 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
101
Trolley Square's annual Holiday Open House will feature visits with...
That does it — I'm having an affair! Thanks to Tiger Woods, David...
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
Uh, where exactly in my comment do you infer that I am judging anyone? I was...
Poor coaching Look at the boxscore they just ran out of gas in the fourth....
If the earring is his only flaw he sure is a lot better off than most people,...
Let's just be clear. There is room on both sides of BYU Utah for improved...
I agree with Justin. California has been using this type of system for a long...
That would describe Sloan and his lack of making wise subs and game adjustments
Like Alabama blew the doors off Utah last year? Bama Fan you need a dose...
This was a good scrimmage to prepare for the Sun Devils.
Members used to refer to tithing as "fire insurance". Sometimes I feel the...
It won't last long. Lazy boy get tired.


