“Development” and the desire to end poverty is becoming increasingly important, but World Neighbors is one organization whose work is radically different, proven and incredibly successful.  World Neighbors focuses on training and educating communities to find lasting solutions to the challenges they face – hunger, poverty and disease – rather than giving them food, money or constructing buildings. Communities tell World Neighbors what their needs are, and World Neighbors, in turn, works with them to acquire the knowledge, skills and organization to solve their problems.
 
World Neighbors model is successful and is often replicated by other development agencies - we take a big-picture, integrated approach to our work, focusing on the entire community rather than on one issue. We work with the local people to identify and address needs from within, resulting in greater community involvement and longer-term impact. We listen to the people without predetermined ideas of how they should change and we understand that issues are often interrelated. By removing one obstacle, we can open many avenues of opportunity.

We invest in people themselves through education and training, not by giving away material aid. We provide knowledge and strengthen local capacities for change than merely handing out technology or money. We invest in local leadership and organizations that continue and expand program activities after we end our support.  This makes our program very efficient and creates lasting change rather than a short-term fix. The work permanently improves the social, economic and physical resources available to and controlled by a community.