Mexico: ADRA regional directors vow to enable members to assist their communities
More than 40 ADRA regional directors, church administrators and university leaders met in Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico, for greater coordination in project development in communities throughout the country, Sep. 21-23, 2014. The three-day event allowed for a unified national program among regional and local ADRA offices to better respond in the community. Image courtesy of Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union.
October 20, 2014 | Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico | Libna Stevens/IAD
Dozens of regional Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) directors, administrators and university leaders from throughout Mexico gathered for greater coordination in project development in communities throughout the country during three days of training in Riviera Maya, Mexico, last month.
ADRA Mexico Director Cesar Hernandez, who works with the five main regional ADRA officers across Mexico, said the meeting was historic because local ADRA coordinators from Mexico’s 36 conferences came together.
“This gathering allowed us to establish a unified national program among our regional and local ADRA offices to respond to the needs of the community more efficiently and effectively,” said Hernandez.
The event featured ADRA International Director Jonathan Duffy who encouraged ADRA coordinators to serve the needs of their communities, and help the displaced population. Duffy recalled successful projects from ADRA Australia.
“It was really good to see this national training in Mexico, the first in more than 15 years there,” said Wally Amundson, ADRA director for Inter-America, who hopes the meeting “can become an example for other countries within Inter-America and how to be a significant presence in the community partnering with the church as a resource.”
More than a dozen children raise their brand-new backpacks loaded with schools supplies after the ADRA Mexico’s Inter-Oceanic region distributed these in the Naranjos Community in North Veracruz, Aug. 19, 2014. Some 6,000 backpacks were distributed across the region thanks to the donation of school supplies by hundreds of church members earlier this year throughout dozens of local Adventist churches. Image by Aarón Omaña/IAD.
ADRA directors also discussed ways to be more effective in rapid first response that the church is known for in Mexico, organizers said.
“Mexico is under constant threat of natural disasters small and big and we could have drought in the north and flooding in the south all at the same time because of its size and diversity,” added Amundson.
Developing more projects to benefit the community was a focal point during the training event.
According to Amundson, there have been sporadic projects in Mexico for many years, but “this training focused on increasing partnerships with qualified and educated members who are willing and anxious to be part of a community initiative,” he said.
ADRA directors from Honduras, El Salvador, Caribbean and Australia also participated in the training.
Regional ADRA directors in Mexico agreed to promote an initiative taking place in various regions called “Children helping Children.” For this initiative, children from Seventh-day Adventist churches and schools distribute school supplies in backpacks to needy children in other schools, or contribute funds to buy supplies.
The Inter-Oceanic Mexican region recently provided about 6,000 backpacks to children in needy communities thanks to donations by hundreds of church members earlier this year throughout dozens of local Adventist churches.
In Chiapas and Central Mexico the initiative has also taken place. The plan, said Hernandez, is to have all of the five regions carrying that program every year.
ADRA leaders vowed to continue working together to develop projects to help the youth, children, and adults in their communities. Mexico’s five regional ADRA coordinators will continue to meet and work in closer partnerships for efficient disaster response.