An agency established in 1983 after the reorganization of Seventh-day Adventist World Service, Incorporated (SAWS). As the humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church ADRA works in more than 90 countries around the world.
The values that have shaped the agency are the traditional Christian values of the potential of each individual to reflect the image of God, the dignity that is inherent in every person, and the importance of quality in human life. ADRA approaches humanity as an integrated entity comprised of physical, mental, social, and moral facets. ADRA works on behalf of the poor. It regards them with respect, as partners with whom it works in a learning and sharing relationship.
ADRA is legally incorporated in Silver Spring, Maryland, and is one of the largest international nongovernmental organizations distributing food to underdeveloped countries. Independent ADRA offices in nearly 100 countries provide the agency with a network that reaches the world. ADRA is registered with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) of the United States government and is eligible to receive food for distribution to needy people in developing countries. It also receives reimbursement for ocean freight for shipment of food, clothing, bedding, medicines, and hospital and vocational equipment. ADRA ’s programs include agricultural training, mother/child health care, commodity-supported development, small enterprise development, water resources, and disaster relief.
ADRA also works with other governments and humanitarian organizations around the world, including the Australian Development Assistance Bureau, Canadian International Development Agency, CARE, Church World Service, Danish International Development Agency, the European Community, United Nations High Commission for Refugees, United Nations International Children and Education Fund, and World Vision, among others.
ADRA is also a member of Interaction, an association of U.S. private voluntary organizations engaged in international humanitarian efforts, and the International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA).
ADRA received 1.2 million pounds (450,000 kilograms) of food from the World Food Program and USAID for distribution in 1992. This food was distributed in Russia, Albania, Romania, Yugoslavia, Jamaica, Trinidad, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina.
More than 15 ADRA offices around the world act as donor countries whose primary goal is to raise and distribute funds for ADRA projects. Donor countries include Japan, Germany, Italy, Australia, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Ireland. Donor countries work closely with their governments and local relief organizations to deliver donated funds and goods to ADRA projects internationally.
Funding for ADRA comes from several government and international humanitarian agencies and public support. In 1992 ADRA received $41,302,207 from the U.S. government in commodities, excess property, ocean and inland freight, and grants.
ADRA also receives funds from the annual Disaster and Famine Relief Offering, which is collected in Seventh-day Adventist churches around the world each spring. In 1992 ADRA received more than $1,875,000 from the offering.
The board of directors consists of up to 60 members elected from the General Conference Committee including representation from the executive, secretarial, and other departments of the church. The board meets once a year at the time of the Annual Council of the Executive Committee of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
ADRA maintains warehouses in Germany, Australia, Japan, Canada, the Philippines, and the United States (California and Maryland). These warehouses process, store, and ship supplies such as clothing and food to ADRA projects around the world.
Since the emergence of ADRA from SAWS, development has become the main focus of the agency’s work. At the heart of ADRA ’s development work are projects that benefit mothers and children. These include activities that stress growth monitoring, oral rehydration therapy, breast feeding, and immunization; parent education in nutrition, hygiene, child spacing, and child care; and supplementary food aid for pregnant women, preschool children, and nursing mothers. ADRA also aids in the distribution of food to undernourished schoolchildren.
The development of deep-water wells, water reservoirs, irrigation systems, sewage and storm drainage projects, and potable water projects is part of ADRA ’s efforts to make abundant water accessible to all.
Small enterprise development projects teach individuals skills that they can use to support themselves. Often ADRA will give them a loan to start a business after they have gone through a training program.
ADRA is involved in agricultural training. Farmers are taught new farming methods intended to increase crop production as well as improve the soil. This not only brings families better nutrition, but can increase family income. These types of development projects give people an opportunity to improve their immediate situation and bring a permanent change to their lives.
The agency’s worldwide infrastructure enables ADRA to respond quickly and efficiently to disasters around the world. ADRA has brought relief to victims of natural and human-made disasters in Africa, South Asia, Central America, South America, the South Pacific, and North America.
Whenever possible, ADRA carries out long-term rehabilitation in disaster situations. Once the immediate needs of food, clothing, and shelter have been provided, ADRA often stays in the area to help victims become reestablished in homes, jobs, and life.
ADRA ’s roots and the beginnings of the church’s dedication to humanitarian overseas service were first seen in 1918. A special offering was taken to assist church workers, missionaries, and members in difficult circumstances resulting from the Great War. World War II brought unprecedented devastation to Europe, parts of Asia, and North Africa. Entire nations were threatened by starvation and diseases. In 1944 and 1945 warehouses were established in New York and San Francisco to process materials for overseas shipment.
During the 1940s 2.8 million pounds (1.04 million kilograms) of clothing were shipped to 41 countries and island groups.
In 1956 the General Conference established the Seventh-day Adventist Welfare Service, Incorporated. The agency became known as SAWS. In 1973 the name was modified to Seventh-day Adventist World Service. The total value of all SAWS activities in the three years from 1960 to 1962 is recorded as $5,533,470. The Disaster and Famine Relief Offering was taken every two years during that time. In 1963 the total North American offering for Disaster and Famine Relief was $232,319.
In 1980 the SAWS budget was $19,931,179, and SAWS was active in 26 countries. The total estimated value of all SAWS activities in 1980 was close to $28 million.
In 1983, when ADRA was officially organized by the church, it was in the context of activities that were ongoing between funders in North America, Australia, and Europe, and beneficiaries in the Americas, the Far East, and Africa.
By 1980 the church already had a 20-year history with USAID, with projects dating back to 1960 in South America, and with ASHA grants dating back to 1978 in Haiti and Thailand. The Australian Development Assistance Bureau and the Canadian government also were heavily involved in funding for ADRA . In Europe, Odd Jordal was instrumental in obtaining grants from European funders as early as 1978, with money coming in from Holland, EZE, SIDA, and DANIDA, and going to projects in Inter- and South America. The first grant from European funders to Africa was in 1980 to Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Zambia. Eventually grants were extended to countries in the western part of the continent as well as to other East African countries.
Directors of SAWS and ADRA : C. W. Bozarth, 1956–1962; W. E. Phillips, 1962–1970; Theodore Carcich, 1970–1974; Howard Burbank, 1974–1980; Richard O’Fill, 1980–1983; Robert Drachenberg, 1983–1985; R. S. Watts, 1985– .