Love people systematically and holistically.
HOLISTIC CARE FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES BY LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
Our work is rooted in the belief that everything and everyone is deeply interconnected. These are all different factors that are nuanced, yet all woven together aspects that affect whether people and communities survive or thrive.
Physically.
Physical needs are foundational to living. Communities cannot survive, let alone thrive when basic needs are not met. These include access to clothing, shelter, medicine, food, and clean water.
Financially.
Broken systems and complex factors often contribute to poverty cycles. Lack of access to education, debt, and low working wages often keep people locked into poverty, and cause enormous stress. Vocational training, micro-loans, social entrepreneurship courses, and financial management classes are a few ways our local partners are working to change these dynamics.
Emotionally.
Emotional trauma can start as early as babies in the womb. These traumas can have serious implications when left untreated. Healing trauma and creating emotional health are important pieces of thriving communities. Examples include trauma care, counseling, grief sharing, and relational support.
Spiritually.
Spirituality is often a divisive topic. Faith and tradition are core elements of most cultures around the world. Spirituality cannot be successfully removed from community development. Rather, it ought to be celebrated and expressed through unity and service to others. Examples include interfaith gathering and service projects, living authentically, and healthy connections to others.
Environmentally.
We are all products of our environment. The people, things, and nature around us affect how we feel and act. We desire to create beautiful places with the resources available. We also seek to promote environmental sustainability through awareness and education, environmental justice, responsible sourcing, mutual benefits, and composting.
We Listen, We Partner, We Create. Together.
We Listen
We invest deeply in language and culture studies
We learn from real-life experiences
We ask A LOT of questions (in relationship, field research, ethnographic surveys)
We Partner
We collaborate with our local partners as peers and co-creators.
We celebrate our uniqueness as we work shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners.
We emphasize the shared value and mutual relationship we have with our partners. We all give and receive. Learn and teach. We care for our partners, and they care for us.
We Create
We acknowledge the expertise of our partners.
Our diversity is our strength. And our strength is our trust.
We find local, creative solutions to complex problems.
Meet OUR FounderS
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Melody Crisp is a certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Loma Linda University. She is deeply passionate about treating the whole person by combining medical practices worldwide to cultivate health. She is an avid cultural anthropologist, approaching new people and places with curiosity and receptivity. She is deeply passionate about uncovering the inherent beauty embedded in each person and celebrating our differences while finding the ties of our shared humanity.
Melody’s ability to implement strategic solutions from abstract designs displays her passion for social justice. A loyal friend, her care for others inspires her effective leadership as she models a unique blend of top-down reform and grassroots development.
Melody lives internationally and has been doing community development work for over nine years in Iraq, India, and Thailand.
She enjoys eating good food, baking, reading, being outdoors, and traveling with her family.
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Kelly is a hands-on, dive-in-the-deep-end type of development worker. He is a passionate peace-maker and encourager, eager to accept people as they are and draw out their authentic selves.
He holds an MA in International Community Development from Northwest University and has more than eight years of international, cross-cultural experience.
Whether skateboarding with kids, eating bugs in the field, or hearing stories about forced displacement, he loves to enter the lives of others.
Kelly's inspiration for radical love comes from the example in Christ. His empathetic perspective, combined with his profound understanding of cultural nuances, ensures that he can connect with and respect people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Programs
Our research and collaboration build the foundation for solutions that last.
The issues we confront require holistic transformation.
Programs are locally led.
Programs are evaluated and modified as needed.
Our current programs include the Jungle Birth Kits.
