Few topics have the ability to polarize the thoughts, words, and actions of world's most well off citizenry like the ongoing discussion about climate change.

I only wish that the plight of the poor had the same ability to generate such vigorous discussion. I yearn for a worldwide call to action on poverty that is as fervent and pressing as the proposed efforts to combat climate change or mitigate its predicted impact.

It is even possible that the debate, in and of itself, gives us what amounts to an easy way out.

How much will we suffer as a result of erratic weather patterns? I'm not certain.

I am, however, very certain that our wealth, technology, and position in the world will give us a far better chance of adapting than our poorer brothers and sisters.

How much more will the poor suffer?

I can tell you, with absolute certainty, that even if a mere one eighth of the predicted calamity comes to pass the poor will suffer greatly, the likes of which we have never seen in our lifetime.

As I consider what we can do, I'm increasingly worried that the debate, often rancorous and nearly always divisive, will serve to distract us. It is even possible that the debate, in and of itself, gives us what amounts to an easy way out. We can afford the debate - the poor cannot.

There is a real danger that we become so absorbed in doing our part - for our part of the world - that we forget the part of the world that needs our help right now and even more so in the future.

In Bangladesh, for example, the rising level of the sea in the Bay of Bengal is seen as a harbinger of things to come. We can debate the degree to which this is caused by climate change but we cannot debate the outcome. Thousands of families we have helped in the past are now homeless, having lost their modest plot of land and home to the sea.

For my part, I want to see the world's poorest families live a better life. I want to see these families in Bangladesh do well again.

My heart's desire is that you would see it the same way.

Friend, we cannot change the whole world, but we can change the world that poor families are forced to endure day after day.

David McKenzie, Executive Director

Photo courtesy of Mark Chow

What a tremendous year it has been for the more than one million people HOPE International Development Agency donors have helped through their generous giving.

Each of the projects our donors supported was specifically developed to meet the most pressing and basic needs of families living in abject poverty in the countries we were privileged to work in this past year.

Every story of transformation, every life rescued from hunger, disease and suffering, was made possible through people like you who chose to make the poor a part of their own life story.

What does it mean to make the poor part of your own life story? In my experience, having spoken with thousands of donors over the past 36 years, we make the poor part of our life story by including them in our thoughts, prayers and giving.

Poverty is a measure of the suffering that will continue unless we intervene.

When we think about the poor, we see the real nature of their need and the lasting transformation we can provide.

When we pray for the poor, we invoke their needs and our responsibility to help.

When we give, we act on our belief that being poor has nothing to do with a person's value in God's eyes. It is, however, a measure of the suffering that will continue unless we intervene.

In Ethiopia, for example, donors make it possible for Frehiwot Alebachew, an thiopian woman of great courage and compassion, to expand her life-saving work of rescuing orphans from a life of suffering in the back alleys of Addis Ababa.

In places emerging from years of conflict, like the Democratic Republic of Congo, southern Sudan, and northern Afghanistan, donors are helping the people who have suffered through decades of conflict rebuild their lives, homes and livelihoods.

In times of disaster or emergency, donors are saving lives through their generous support.

Throughout the world, wherever families are hurting and suffering, we are able to help because of the compassion of people just like you.

Friend, as you read our 2007 annual report, think about the poor, pray for the poor, and rejoice in the positive and life-long transformation your giving brought to some of the poorest families on earth.

In 2007, HOPE International Development Agency donors brought hope and lasting transformation to more than one million people throughout the developing world.

Skills development and micro-credit create opportunities for self-reliance

Photo courtesy of Kevin Dunn

Vocational training helps people learn the skills needed to earn enough income to meet their daily needs. Small, low-interest loans, given through community-run microcredit programs, help people start income-earning businesses.

• Bangladesh
• Cambodia
• Ethiopia
• India
• Indonesia
• Sri Lanka
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• South Africa

Growing enough food to feed themselves

Photo courtesy of Kevin Dunn

New skills, understanding, tools and seeds help families grow enough food to feed themselves. Extra food is sold at local markets to earn income to meet their basic needs.

• Cambodia
• Dominican Republic
• D.R. Congo Ethiopia
• India
• Niger
• South Africa

Self-reliance and health through education

Photo courtesy of Stuart Dee

Disease prevention, nutrition awareness, safe sanitation methods, education for children and vocational training for adults ensures that families have the skills and understanding they need in order to become, and stay, self-reliant.

• Afghanistan
• Cambodia
• Dominican Republic
• Ethiopia
• India
• Philippines
• South Africa
• Sri Lanka
• Swaziland

Saving lives in times of disaster

Photo courtesy of Kevin Dunn

Food, blankets, shelter, medicine, water and clothing save lives in the aftermath of conflict or natural disasters.

• Afghanistan
• Bangladesh
• Dominican Republic
• Sudan

Giving families clean water

Clean water dramatically reduces the prevalence of life-threatening diseases like cholera. In abundant supply, water also enables families to irrigate their gardens and crops, producing food and income.

• Afghanistan
• Cambodia
• Dominican Republic
• D.R. Congo
• Ethiopia
• Nepal
• Philippines
• Sudan

More than one million people found hope through your support in 2007

The generosity of HOPE International Development Agency donors brings hope to a hurting world through projects that help the world's poorest families permanently and practically transform their lives.

1. Central America
   1. Dominican Republic
      • Reforestation and sustainable agriculture
      • Hurricane Noel relief and rehabilitation
      • Community irrigation
      • Village school and hurricane shelter
      • Watershed development
   2. Haiti
      • Programs for children
      • Provision of medicines
   3. Honduras
      • Medicines for rural clinics
2. Sub Saharan Africa
   4. Ethiopia
      • Combating HIV/AIDS among girls and women
      • Spring capping - providing clean water
      • Agricultural support
      • Water well drilling rig support program
      • Women's income generation
   5. Democratic Republic of Congo
      • Spring capping - providing clean water
      • Integrated community development
      • Medicines for rural hospitals and clinics
   6. Kenya
      • Orphan support and skills training
   7. Niger
      • Food security in rural drylands
   8. South Africa
      • Rural community development, including skills training and agricultural training
   9. Swaziland
      • Neighborhood care points for AIDS orphans
   10. Sudan
       • Emergency relief
       • Water supply - providing clean water
3. South Asia
   11. Afghanistan
       Community rehabilitation, including:
       • Health clinic
       • Water supply
       • Education
       • Provision of medicines
       • Winter relief supplies
   12. Bangladesh
       • Womens' empowerment groups
       • Education and care for street children
       • Disaster relief and rehabilitation
   13. India
       • Community-based resource centres
       • Community management of environmental resources
       • Housing & family support through Building Family Ties
       • Microcredit program
       • School support
       • Sustainable agriculture
   14. Nepal
       • Community water supply
   15. Pakistan
       • Rehabilitation in earthquake affected areas
       • Support for rural eye clinic
   16. Sri Lanka
       • Peace promotion and vocational training for teenagers
       • Tsunami relief & rehabilitation
       • Microcredit and livelihood development
4. South East Asia
   17. Cambodia
       • Rural water supply, health, nutrition and sanitation education
       • Income generation through micro-credit programs
       • Cow bank programme
       • Dry-season rice cultivation
       • Rural lighting and electrification
       • Rural primary education
       • Microcredit self-help groups
       • Medicines for childrens' hospital
   18. Indonesia
       • Tsunami rehabilition and livelihood support
   19. Myanmar
       • Peace building among communities
       • Health and peace project
   20. Philippines
       • Orphanage support
       • Minority leadership development
       • Rural primary education for the underpiviledged
       • Enterprising women support micro-credit project
       • Water development through spring capping

Right now, families are forced to drink water that carries deadly diseases like cholera and dysentery.

Photo courtesy of Mark Chow

Right now, families are forced to drink water that carries deadly diseases like cholera and dysentery.

Photo courtesy of Mark Chow

Prolonged conflict has taken a horrifying toll on families throughout Sudan, especially in the south.

It's estimated that more than 1.5 million people have died over the past two decades. Nearly 4 million of the survivors are still homeless.

Peace persists in southern Sudan, despite the struggles further north in Darfur where we continue to provide emergency relief for suffering families.

Right now, hundreds of thousands of families from the south are on the move, hoping to return to the homes and villages they left behind during the conflict.

HOPE International Development Agency is helping these families return home by providing the necessities they so desperately need. Without clean water, food production, health care and education, these families will not be able to restore their lives and re- establish their communities.

Providing clean water will make it possible for families to reduce the incidence of disease and improve their health.

Irrigation and agricultural tools will help families grow an abundant and sustainable supply of nutritious food for their own consumption or for sale at the local markets.

Health care, disease prevention and improved sanitation practices will restore and protect people's health.

Children will be able to attend school and use their education to ensure that they do not fall victim to poverty.

These four areas of effort will ensure that families have a home and community worth returning to after years of exile.

HOPE International Development Agency's commitment to stewardship gives donors the confidence their donations are used in ways that create the biggest impact in the lives of the poor.

This confidence is evidenced by the $24 million in donations provided to help more than one million of the world's poorest families in 2007.

Donors responded generously to monthly giving programs, emergency appeals, annual appeals, special events and programs of family support.

Over the past 36 years, donors have contributed nearly $300 million in support of families in need.

HOPE International Development Agency is a registered charity. Our Charitable Registration Number is 10749 0146 RR0001. We regularly inform donors of the outcome of projects they fund and our financial statements are available for review. We acknowledge with appreciation, the support of the Canadian International Development Agency in 2007.