Dorcas Aid International is a Christian relief and development organisation, committed to fulfil the command Jesus Christ gave to His followers to take care of the poor and oppressed (Matt. 25:31-46), irrespective of their race, religion, gender or political conviction.
We operate in partnership with local churches and Christian organisations, awakening and empowering them to share the love of Christ through practical deeds. Dorcas began in 1980 as a small group of people in the Netherlands mainly focused on assisting those imprisoned for their faith under the communist regime. Now, over twenty years later, Dorcas Aid International is operating worldwide providing social, development and relief aid through over 100 projects in more than 20 countries in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Middle East, Eastern and Southern Africa.
Dorcas Aid derives its name from a woman mentioned in the Bible: a follower of Christ who lived 2000 years ago, a few years after He had left for heaven. She was 'always doing good and helping the poor'(Acts 9:36). She was an example for the Christians of the early church.
Mission Statement
Dorcas Aid International is a Christian relief and development organisation committed to fulfil the command Jesus Christ gave to His followers to take care of the poor and oppressed (Mt.25.31-46), irrespective of their race, religion, gender or political conviction, by encouraging self reliance through development, providing social care and assisting in emergency situations. DAI operates in partnership with local churches and Christian organisations by awakening and empowering them to share the love of Christ through practical deeds.
Aid
Dorcas operates by funding projects of local partners. A local partner is a Christian church or aid organization that helps the poor in their community.
We give support in four ways:
Through structural development projects Dorcas lends support to help local communities become self-sustaining and less dependent on foreign aid. The beneficiaries of the projects are the really poor and oppressed. Special attention is given to women and children. These projects focus on five specific areas: Agriculture, water supply, health care, housing, and income generating projects. 30% of the Dorcas projects focus especially on children.
In social projects Dorcas gives a helping hand to those that are poor and vulnerable in former communist countries, giving them food and clothing.
Many of the above projects are funded through financial sponsorship. This means that donors ('sponsors') pay a monthly amount of money for a particular child, family or 'granny' in one of the project countries.
In relief and rehabilitation operations Dorcas serves to lessen the effects of disasters (both man-made and natural) by providing food, clothing and medical assistance; refugees are assisted in resettling.
Donors
Dorcas is financially supported by local churches, donors, governments, the UN and the European Union. Dorcas also collects and supplies goods in kind, to different projects in Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Worldwide thousands of volunteers are actively involved in our work.
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