RELIGION-RELATED INTERNATIONAL NGOs

American Jewish World Service, Inc. (AJWS)
45 W 36th St 10th Fl
New York, NY 10018
http://www.ajws.org/

Founded in 1985 American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is an "international development organization motivated by Judaism's imperative to pursue justice". The organization has four main programming areas encompassing relief missions, volunteer exchanges, advocacy and education the American Jewish community about global issues. A budget of nearly $30 million allows the organization to pursue programming in over 32 countires on the continents of Africa, Asia and Latin America. Notably, one of AJWS' most famous projects involves the initiative that brought about the Save Darfur Coalition. Currently the head of AJWS is Ruth W. Messinger. Ruth heads a staff of around 100 people with most jobs falling in the service and development categories.

Staff:
Board Members: 30
Full-Time Employees: 21-100
Part-Time Employees: 1-5
Volunteers: 101-500

Major Projects/Programs:
AJWS grant making supports over 200 grassroots community-based organizations in the developing world that are undertaking holistic development programs. Fundamentally, AJWS grant making links human rights and sustainable development. AJWS is committed to the philosophy that development only contributes to creating a more equitable society when people understand their rights, how to articulate them, and how to secure them. Examples of funded projects: In El Salvador and Nicaragua AJWS supports cooperative agricultural programs to teach families better ways to use soil and water. In Senegal, AJWS supports a successful grassroots movement against the practice of female genital cutting. Since 1997, over 1,800 villages have ended FGC and early marriage. In India AJWS helped release over 40,000 children from child labor in silk factories and provide schooling to thousands of "slum" children. In Afghanistan AJWS helped lead education efforts for girls. In Africa, AJWS supports over 40 HIV/AIDS prevention and care programs. In Russia and Ukraine AJWS funds human rights struggles and interfaith tolerace. Service: An integral component of American Jewish World Service's development work is its commitment to volunteer service. A number of short- and long-term volunteer programs place skilled Jewish professionals, as well as high school and college students, in communities around the world. Their lives and those of the people with whom they live, learn and work are transformed, as together they contribute to the building of peace, justice and positive change in the developing world. Education and Advocacy: A growing domestic education and advocacy agenda is playing an increasingly important role in the AJWS mission to reduce poverty and hunger in the developing world. AJWS is currently highlighting three key advocacy issues: a Darfur, Sudan action campaign, the global AIDS pandemic, and international debt relief. By urging U.S. government representatives to respond to global crises, the work of AJWS project partners is complemented and strengthened. And through its education program, AJWS is raising awareness about international issues and encouraging American Jews to become engaged in philanthropy and advocacy as global citizens.

Area’s Served:
Africa, Asia, Central America, Latin America, South America, Caribbean, Russia, Ukraine

Total budget:
$24,000,000.00

back to listing