Letter from the Executive Director

Dear Friends,

I’ve been reflecting often over the past year on the African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together.”

With so many urgent needs in our world—both close to home and across the globe—I often feel the impulse to go fast. But lasting change takes time, partnership, and persistence.

At Self-Help International, we’ve seen how powerful it is when we go far together. Our staff in Ghana and Nicaragua have developed a proven, effective and sustainable approach that improves food security and strengthens rural communities. And every day, we’re invited to bring this model to new communities where leaders are eager to collaborate.

Farmers like Luís first see their neighbors succeed, then come to us hoping for the same. When we can say yes, the results are extraordinary. Thanks to a combination of agronomic training, improved seed, and access to financing, Luís increased his corn yields sevenfold—enough to feed his family and share with his father and brothers.

Luís’ story is just one of thousands among the 165 communities Self-Help partnered with last year. An estimated 24,000 lives are better off today than they were at the start of 2024 because a member of their household participated in a financial, agricultural, nutrition, or after-school training led by Self-Help International, or accessed a loan to put what they’d learned into action.

A further 62,500 people drank cleaner water daily through the community chlorination systems we helped install. Countless more benefited from the nutritious food grown by parents, neighbors, and local farmers trained through our programs. 

What does it take to say “yes” to 165 communities? Would you believe it’s just $13 per person served? Alone, $13 may not go far. But when we combine the time, talent, and financial resources of our 27 active and emeritus board members, 45 dedicated staff, 60+ volunteers, and more than 900 generous households and organizations, we see incredible results.

In 2024, every $13 invested in Self-Help meant:

• one more infant recovering from malnutrition
• one more kindergartener willing to make the trek to school knowing breakfast would be waiting
• one more elementary schooler experiencing the joy of growing something for the first time
• one more junior high graduate going off to high school, confident in her own self-worth
• one more mother running her own business, proud that she can pay her children’s school fees
• one more father proudly telling his neighbor about how he increased his yields
• one more grandparent drinking clean water

Together, these moments add up. They create opportunity at every stage of life.

To everyone whose names appear in our 2024 Impact Report (which will be hitting mailboxes later this month)—and to the many more whose stories are yet untold—thank you for being part of this journey and choosing Self-Help International as your partner in impact. It is an honor to partner with you to alleviate hunger by helping people help themselves. Together, we are going far.

With gratitude,

Nora Tobin (she/her), Executive Director

P.S.  Early in 2025, America’s investments in alleviating global hunger changed. Self-Help is not funded by USAID or dependent on government grants. We rely on individuals like you who choose to partner with us. Together, we can commit to rural families in Ghana and Nicaragua—and keep those commitments. The need is greater than ever. Please join us.

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