Board Sees Impact of LWR Programs Firsthand

Baltimore, February 8, 2003 — Lutheran World Relief's January board meeting was a unique opportunity to learn firsthand about the impact of LWR programs. The board met January 26-28 in Managua, Nicaragua, with special attention given to innovative risk management work carried out by LWR and its local partners in Central America.

Board members visited communities severely affected by Hurricane Mitch, the 'storm of the century,' in 1988. Villagers explained how they have made themselves more secure against disasters by working with LWR and CIEETS, a local Christian development organization and LWR partner. When Hurricane Mitch stripped trees from mountainsides, their communities were left more vulnerable to future flooding, landslides and droughts. The visitors saw how — through reforestation and soil conservation schemes and better enforcement of laws against slash-and-burn agriculture — the communities in the LWR program are restoring the environmental balance in their watersheds.

Board members met with several LWR partner organizations and heard from expert speakers. Amado Ordonez of the Humbolt Center told them that since Nicaragua is vulnerable to hurricanes, earthquakes, drought and flooding, 'risk management' strategies must be integrated in all development work to minimize the impact of disasters on poor communities' assets and livelihoods.

"We learned a lot about the process of working with partners," said board member Denise Hooks, an LCMS lay leader and an attorney for the city of Detroit. "Projects must be subject to that. In a quest to be benevolent one can become more concerned about projects and end results than about the local people and their involvement. Instead, we saw them saying: 'Let me work with you and we will put this in motion together.'"

The LWR projects visited address basic needs such as agriculture and nutrition too. "I was especially impressed by a woman named Leticia," said board member Dr. Edward Markquart, a Seattle-area ELCA pastor. "She took the knowledge and resources made available by LWR and CIEETS and knew how to use her own gifts to make a marvelous vegetable garden - one that would be the pride of any parish."

"LWR is right where we should be, partnering with effective local links in being long-standing change agents," said Dr. Warren Schumacher, an LCMS district president from Oregon. Schumacher said that he saw God sending LWR as a "service delivery system of care and love" and was "humbly proud" to be a part of what he saw.

The board's visits and discussions affirmed LWR's focus on rural areas and overall strategy. In Nicaragua 45 percent of the population lives below the poverty line but, in rural areas, that figure increases to 70 percent. The field visits highlighted distinctive elements of LWR's current five-year work plan, including:

- LWR's ability to develop mutually supportive relationships with capable local organizations, and with staff who are compassionate

- Participatory processes to ensure community ownership and management of activities

- Commitment and tools for ensuring the full and equitable participation of women and men in decision making

-Enhanced sustainability of community-level programs by cooperation and advocacy with local officials.

In its business session, the board reviewed an annual report on the impact of LWR's relief and development programs overseas and its education and public policy efforts in the U.S. The board also reviewed the annual external audit and financial statements for the past year.

Board members expressed their appreciation for outgoing board member, Rev. Nadine Lehr. Lehr, an ELCA pastor from South Dakota, served on the board for nine years, including as chair of the board development committee. Several board members noted Lehr's role as a teacher and mentor, and as advocate for LWR's ministry.

"Nadine was a true mentor in that she took the time to assist me in not only understanding the role of the board but also the mission of LWR," said Hooks. "Through freely sharing her experience she addressed many of my concerns. She has the ability to distill hard issues and the propensity to think 'outside the box.'"

Ms. Pamela Moret, a senior vice-president at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, was elected to a three-year term on the board, while Brad Hewitt, Vincent Peters and Myrna Sheie were re-elected to the board. Re-elected for another year as board officers were Elizabeth Duda, chair, Kirk Betts, vice-chair, and Loretta Ishida, secretary.