ASCEND: A Humanitarian Alliance
Encyclopedia
Ascend: A Humanitarian Alliance is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
which focuses on international economic and health care development in Africa
and South America
. Headquarters are located in Salt Lake City, Utah
, with full-time offices in Ethiopia
, Peru
, Bolivia
and Ecuador
and affiliates in DR Congo, Cape Verde
, Ghana
, Mozambique
, and Sudan
. Ascend Alliance http://ascendalliance.org/ operates under the governance of a volunteer board of directors which is composed of successful business professionals, experienced humanitarians and community leaders. A strong local group of donors, partners http://ascendalliance.org/partners.htm, volunteers http://ascendalliance.org/volunteer.htm, internshttp://ascendalliance.org/internships.htm and staff members contribute their time, resources and skills to further the organization's goals. Its leadership is affiliated with the LDS Church.
“As leaders, we have a wonderful opportunity to empower! We can strengthen core competencies, innovate, communicate and mentor others so they can shine. We should exemplify Ascend’s guiding principles of integrity, initiative and teamwork. We can share lessons learned, fine-tune best practices, and not repeat mistakes. Enjoy the journey! Be creative in partnering and mobilizing resources, be frugal in managing them, and be conscientious to report to those who entrust us with their funds.”
— Carolyn Dailey, President/CEO
. In order to accomplish this they work with those in need as partners, educating and empowering communities to achieve sustainabilityhttp://ascendalliance.org/sustainability.htm and end the cycle of poverty. Members of the served communities have benefited from technology and enterprise training, small business development, medical and dental services and the building of schools. In addition, communities have been able to produce clean water systems, enhanced gardening and food storage systems, and sanitary latrines and community bathrooms. Ascend's programs continue to expand as each community puts forth their own efforts toward continued success and sustainability.http://ascendalliance.org/mission.htm
, enterprise
, health
, and simple technology.http://ascendalliance.org/programs.htm
, teacher training, scholarships, and distribution of library books and school supplies. Capacity building and education is the foundation for all Ascend initiatives.
Life-skills mentoring--particularly for mothers and girls--has tremendous positive impact on child survival and quality of life. Ascend utilizes a broad range of simple, life-skills manuals (ranging from basic literacy to health, enterprise, environment, technology and human rights). This learner-centered, interactive curriculum, developed in coordination with ProLiteracy Worldwide and other partners, facilitates social change while students learn to read and write. Education initiatives also include teacher training, library books, school supplies, and educational scholarships.
to create self-employment opportunities and make family businesses more profitable. Business training and on-site mentoring help create self-employment opportunities and make family businesses more profitable.
Ascend offers comprehensive training, including on-site mentoring for existing small businesses and hands-on training for first-time entrepreneurs. Successes include animal husbandry, granaries and agricultural facilities, bee-keeping and honey production, stores, restaurants, brick-making, welding, shoe manufacturing, handicrafts, and sewing--just to name a few! Ascend also works with experienced partners to facilitate loans for small business, including micro-credit and micro-franchising opportunities.
, treatment and preventative measures. Community health programs, continuing medical education, and treatment campaigns save lives and improve health.
Ascend health efforts focus in three areas: ongoing training of community workers and mother's groups in preventive measures and simple remedies, limited treatment of medical and surgical problems, and Sustainable Orphan Advocacy and Rescue (SOAR), which combines AIDS
prevention training and identifies and prioritizes care of orphans. Linking with local medical providers and facilities is the key for both initiating and sustaining change. All aspects of health intervention provide a unique training opportunity for health professionals and students in-country and from North America.
facilities, wells, pumps, cisterns, spring and rainwater catchments, pipelines, water filters, adobe stoves as well as water capture and treatment and solar energy systems. Effective technology initiatives are easy and affordable to construct and maintain with local materials.
Ascend has significant expertise in developing innovative simple technologies. Hands-on training of technology workers and community members enables replication, maintenance and sustainability. Construction of community facilities--including schools, health posts, community centers, and various simple technologies--enhances Health, Enterprise and Education Programs.
, Peru
, Bolivia
, Ethiopia
and Mozambique
. Groups are in the country for one to two weeks participating in various service opportunities and optional cultural tours. Humanitarian expeditions are for people wanting to share their time, resources, knowledge, and/or skills with those in need in return for a humbling, mind-opening experience that can be a guiding force for the rest of their lives. All are invited to join in this labor of love. Volunteer participants include people from all walks of life: students, retirees, families, couples, singles and even organizations.http://ascendalliance.org/expeditions.htm
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
which focuses on international economic and health care development in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. Headquarters are located in Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, with full-time offices in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
and Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
and affiliates in DR Congo, Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, and Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
. Ascend Alliance http://ascendalliance.org/ operates under the governance of a volunteer board of directors which is composed of successful business professionals, experienced humanitarians and community leaders. A strong local group of donors, partners http://ascendalliance.org/partners.htm, volunteers http://ascendalliance.org/volunteer.htm, internshttp://ascendalliance.org/internships.htm and staff members contribute their time, resources and skills to further the organization's goals. Its leadership is affiliated with the LDS Church.
“As leaders, we have a wonderful opportunity to empower! We can strengthen core competencies, innovate, communicate and mentor others so they can shine. We should exemplify Ascend’s guiding principles of integrity, initiative and teamwork. We can share lessons learned, fine-tune best practices, and not repeat mistakes. Enjoy the journey! Be creative in partnering and mobilizing resources, be frugal in managing them, and be conscientious to report to those who entrust us with their funds.”
— Carolyn Dailey, President/CEO
History
Ascend was organized in 1982 as the Andean Children’s Foundation by Timothy S. Evans. This foundation was later reorganized as Chasqui Humanitarian, led by Joel Madsen. In 2005, the Engage Now Foundation, organized by Tim Evans and Carolyn Dailey, with origins in 1984, merged with Chasqui and became known as Ascend, A Humanitarian Alliance.Mission
Ascend's mission is to empower those in need to save their children and ascend out of povertyPoverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
. In order to accomplish this they work with those in need as partners, educating and empowering communities to achieve sustainabilityhttp://ascendalliance.org/sustainability.htm and end the cycle of poverty. Members of the served communities have benefited from technology and enterprise training, small business development, medical and dental services and the building of schools. In addition, communities have been able to produce clean water systems, enhanced gardening and food storage systems, and sanitary latrines and community bathrooms. Ascend's programs continue to expand as each community puts forth their own efforts toward continued success and sustainability.http://ascendalliance.org/mission.htm
Programs
Ascend works on sustainable development programs in educationEducation
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, enterprise
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is the act of being an entrepreneur, which can be defined as "one who undertakes innovations, finance and business acumen in an effort to transform innovations into economic goods". This may result in new organizations or may be part of revitalizing mature organizations in response...
, health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
, and simple technology.http://ascendalliance.org/programs.htm
Education
Ascend’s education programs include simple life-skills training, basic literacyLiteracy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
, teacher training, scholarships, and distribution of library books and school supplies. Capacity building and education is the foundation for all Ascend initiatives.
Life-skills mentoring--particularly for mothers and girls--has tremendous positive impact on child survival and quality of life. Ascend utilizes a broad range of simple, life-skills manuals (ranging from basic literacy to health, enterprise, environment, technology and human rights). This learner-centered, interactive curriculum, developed in coordination with ProLiteracy Worldwide and other partners, facilitates social change while students learn to read and write. Education initiatives also include teacher training, library books, school supplies, and educational scholarships.
Enterprise
Ascend provides business training and on-site mentoringMentoring
Mentorship refers to a personal developmental relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps a less experienced or less knowledgeable person....
to create self-employment opportunities and make family businesses more profitable. Business training and on-site mentoring help create self-employment opportunities and make family businesses more profitable.
Ascend offers comprehensive training, including on-site mentoring for existing small businesses and hands-on training for first-time entrepreneurs. Successes include animal husbandry, granaries and agricultural facilities, bee-keeping and honey production, stores, restaurants, brick-making, welding, shoe manufacturing, handicrafts, and sewing--just to name a few! Ascend also works with experienced partners to facilitate loans for small business, including micro-credit and micro-franchising opportunities.
Health
Ascend’s community health programs provide medical educationMedical education
Medical education is education related to the practice of being a medical practitioner, either the initial training to become a doctor or additional training thereafter ....
, treatment and preventative measures. Community health programs, continuing medical education, and treatment campaigns save lives and improve health.
Ascend health efforts focus in three areas: ongoing training of community workers and mother's groups in preventive measures and simple remedies, limited treatment of medical and surgical problems, and Sustainable Orphan Advocacy and Rescue (SOAR), which combines AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
prevention training and identifies and prioritizes care of orphans. Linking with local medical providers and facilities is the key for both initiating and sustaining change. All aspects of health intervention provide a unique training opportunity for health professionals and students in-country and from North America.
Simple Technology
Ascend assists in building greenhouses, irrigation systems, latrines, food storageFood storage
Food storage is both a traditional domestic skill and is important industrially. Food is stored by almost every human society and by many animals...
facilities, wells, pumps, cisterns, spring and rainwater catchments, pipelines, water filters, adobe stoves as well as water capture and treatment and solar energy systems. Effective technology initiatives are easy and affordable to construct and maintain with local materials.
Ascend has significant expertise in developing innovative simple technologies. Hands-on training of technology workers and community members enables replication, maintenance and sustainability. Construction of community facilities--including schools, health posts, community centers, and various simple technologies--enhances Health, Enterprise and Education Programs.
Operations
Ascend has full and part time staff at their headquarters and abroad. They also provide opportunities for individuals , professionals and families to donate their time, money and expertise at Ascend’s headquarters or abroad by volunteering through expeditions and internships.Expeditions
Ascend takes expedition groups to Africa and South America. Countries that have benefited from these service missions are: EcuadorEcuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
and Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. Groups are in the country for one to two weeks participating in various service opportunities and optional cultural tours. Humanitarian expeditions are for people wanting to share their time, resources, knowledge, and/or skills with those in need in return for a humbling, mind-opening experience that can be a guiding force for the rest of their lives. All are invited to join in this labor of love. Volunteer participants include people from all walks of life: students, retirees, families, couples, singles and even organizations.http://ascendalliance.org/expeditions.htm