Mercy Corps

“To alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.”

Mercy Corps is a leading global humanitarian and development agency. Since 1979 when it was established, its work has touched families and communities in more than 114 nations across the world. It has delivered more than $2.2 billion in relief and development assistance, including food, shelter, health care, agriculture, water and sanitation, education and small business loans. Today, Mercy Corps’ worldwide team of 4,000 professionals work in 41 countries and help more than 18 million people each year recover from disasters, build stronger communities and find their own solutions to poverty. It has been an international leader in responding to major tragedies including the Indian Ocean tsunami, conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Congo, earthquakes in China and Haiti, and the recent crisis in the Horn of Africa.

Mercy Corps consistently ranks among America's most effective and efficient charitable organizations. Over the last five years, more than 88 percent of resources have been allocated directly to programs, earning it the highest possible rating from Charity Navigator, the premier American charity evaluator. Mercy Corps has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mercy Corps works in China to foster resilience and economic empowerment among vulnerable communities and youth, and to engage in social innovations by working with local partners – including its strategic partners the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, China Youth Development Foundation and the All China Youth Federation, as well as other prominent Chinese organizations, NPOs, and philanthropic foundations.

Examples of Mercy Corps’ current and past programs in China include:

• The Disaster Management Capacity Building Program works in 20 villages in Sichuan and Yunnan. The program helps local governments and communities better prepare for natural disasters while improving local livelihoods.
• Mercy Corps' Youth Program provides training and mentoring including life-skills, financial education, and business entrepreneurship to disadvantaged youth to help them succeed in life and employment.   Formerly, Mercy Corps’ Youth Psychosocial Program worked with local organizations to increase the resiliency of over 50,000 children affected by the Wenchuan Earthquake.
• Mercy Corps' Innovations and Exchanges Program works with leading Chinese organizations to train leaders and build their capacity on strategic issues.  Initiatives to support the Chinese philanthropy sector include the China US Foundation Leadership Exchange Program and production of the China-Global Philanthropy News.  Mercy Corps partners with the All China Youth Federation on the annual Social Innovation Leadership Training Program to cultivate skills for social entrepreneurship among young Chinese leaders.

Mercy Corps’ China programs receive the generous support of corporations, private foundations, and the European Commission.