Mission Statement

The mission of Communities Without Borders is to establish and nourish mutual understanding and support between local communities in developed countries with local communities in developing countries. This is accomplished by identifying common interests and objectives between specific pairs of communities in developed and developing countries and supporting the long-term growth of this relationship. Our current primary focus is centered around providing educational support to AIDS orphans in Africa.

In an increasingly global and interdependent world, it is our belief that this form of direct community-to-community experience and communication represents a critical means of building a world of hope and peace, free of the ravishes of extreme hunger, poverty and disease. The horrendous impact of the AIDS epidemic in Africa is a good place to start. An entire generation of productive people has been lost. Life expectancy has fallen to below 40 years in many places. Elderly grandmothers struggle to feed their numerous grandchildren orphaned by AIDS. Without education the future is bleak for these children, and too many have no access to education. By providing education to these children we help to rebuild what has been lost. We generate the capacity to develop and, most importantly, we re-kindle hope.

But these communities have so many critical needs. As we may begin with direct support for the education of the orphans, we may continue to find other ways to help these communities develop and become stronger. For example, we are helping the women caregivers to develop income-generating activities by providing sewing and knitting machines and yarn. Also, we are supporting training in trades such as carpentry for the older children. Communities are encouraged to explore the entire range of development needs and to find diverse ways to be of help.

Communities Without Borders works through grassroots partners in the developing world. Some non-governmental organizations are doing outstanding work in preventing the spread of the AIDS virus and in addressing the plight of the many orphans. Through these partner organizations we are able to directly reach the neighborhoods most severely afflicted. Among communities in developed countries, we encourage a broad range of participation - from workplace communities, to faith-based communities, to school communities, family and friendship networks, alumni associations, even the neighborhoods we live in. All of these may be the foundation for coming to understand and to assist impoverished communities in Africa or other parts of the developing world.