There are no “quick fixes” in the developing world- real change takes time. Tevel’s intervention program lasts 4-5 years during which time we have local staff in the village full time. The staff trains local leadership that takes over the projects after the intervention period with continued support from the Tevel headquarters. Read about how this model transformed a community here.
Projects need continuity to be effective. Tevel’s projects are led by our outstanding local staff who are placed in the communities long-term and establish strong relationships with community members. Their efforts are supported by the passion and skills of young international volunteers in Tevel’s service-learning frameworks.
It isn’t enough to bring “things” (infrastructure, technology) to a community- you have to have the community mechanisms to manage the resources. Tevel works on building community governance and activism structures that include all members of the community including marginalized ethnic groups, women and youth. We also train local leadership to take over the projects after we complete the direct intervention.
Our volunteers work in our in-house development projects where they can feel part of and contribute to our long-term goals and where we can ensure that they have a meaningful volunteering experience.
We help villagers address their most urgent problem- food production, through agriculture programs. In parallel we work on other critical community needs such as: education, women’s empowerment, youth leadership, media and public health.
Rural villagers can’t produce enough food so they are forced to migrate to city slums losing their community support mechanisms and becoming vulnerable to exploitation and social ills. By strengthening villages we are fighting poverty at its roots.
