Self Help Development International
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Self Help Development International is an Irish charity that is engaged in promoting and implementing integrated long term rural development projects in Africa.
The agency has an Irish headquarters in Portlaoise, Co. Laois, Ireland, and projects in five countries in eastern Africa - Ethiopia, Eritrea, Malawi, Kenya and Uganda.
Established following the Ethiopian famine in 1984 to seek a long term solution to the problem of famine and food insecurity in that country, the organisation now employs 300 all local staff in its African countries.
Self Help works in partnership with local government institutions and with local communities on all of its programmes. Alongside measures designed to improve food production, the organisation works to improve access to health and education, to conserve natural resources, and build the capacity of rural African communities so that they can meet the challenges that they face.
The organisation also seeks to integrate HIV/AIDS, gender equality in to its programme activities.
Since its inception this Irish humanitarian organisation has helped to improve the living conditions and circumstances of more than 2.5 million of Africa's rural poor.
Self Help is one of five Irish development agencies to receive multi-annual programme funding through the Irish Government's Irish Aid.
Selp Help has won two awards for its excellent and informative website, winning a Golden Spider for 'Best Charity Web Site' in 2004 and the Annual Digital Media Award 'Best Information Web-Site' in 2007.
