The Power of Partnership

"Together, we seek nothing less than to transform a generation of leaders."

—Neal Keny-Guyer,
chief executive officer of Mercy Corps

NetAid is pleased to announce that it is joining forces with Mercy Corps—to radically change the way that young Americans learn about and respond to the challenge of global poverty. Mercy Corps has been a leader in relief and development around the world for more than 30 years, while NetAid is dedicated to building a movement of passionate American youth who are committed to ending global poverty. Together, we share a commitment to social justice, human rights, diversity, the peaceful settlement of conflict, the eradication of hunger and the alleviation of global poverty.

Now more than ever, there is an urgent need for increased public understanding of the root causes of global poverty and a concerted effort to alleviate it. We believe that young people—tomorrow’s leaders and voters—will be the powerful force to lead this effort. Through this partnership, our combined expertise in global education, international development, and technology will allow Mercy Corps and NetAid to bring the complex causes and symptoms of poverty to the forefront of public discussion in the United States.

During the next several months, teams from Mercy Corps and NetAid will work together to integrate our programs. The reach of Mercy Corps’ work in poor communities globally will create more ways for young Americans to connect to their peers living under the constraints of poverty. Mercy Corps field staff will provide real-time, fact-based information about the successes, the set-backs and the progress being made in the fight against poverty. While NetAid’s extensive youth network, reach within the education community, and innovative use of technology, will be the centerpiece of Mercy Corps’ public engagement programs, which include Global Envision and Film Connection.

As part of this global engagement effort, Mercy Corps will open the doors of its new hunger and poverty center in New York City’s Battery Park in spring 2008. Unlike any other physical space in the nation, the center is an unprecedented initiative to build public awareness about how assets and access to opportunity can transform the lives of families living in poverty and under conflict around the world. The new center, anticipating nearly 100,000 visitors annually, will anchor Mercy Corps’ and NetAid’s combined education and outreach efforts.

Mercy Corps and NetAid know that we can accomplish more together than separately. Our goal is to dramatically alter the way Americans view the world beyond their borders, and to inspire the next generation to action in the fight against global poverty.