Fatima Molina

ADRA Philippines

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency Foundation (ADRA) Inc., is an international non-government organization established by the Seventh-day Adventist Church with the specific purpose of individual and community development and disaster response. ADRA helps people without regard to age, gender, ethnicity, or political or religious association; need being the fundamental criteria for all concerned interventions. This directive is an outgrowth of a deeply held belief that human life is infinitely valuable. ADRA was originally called Seventh-day Adventist Welfare Service (SAWS) in 1973. By the mid-1980s, the organization began to broaden its mission from disaster relief into programs leading to long-term development. In 1983, SAWS underwent a name and organizational change to better reflect its overall mission and activities, becoming the "Adventist Development and Relief Agency" (ADRA). ADRA is an international network of independent ADRA country offices that operates in more than 120 countries around the world. ADRA concentrates its efforts in community-based development activities and disaster preparedness, while also cooperating with other governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations in fulfilling this goal. Community-based development includes a wide range of activities leading to improved health, economic and social well-being, and self-reliance. Disaster preparedness activities include advocacy and training of local partners in disaster prevention, mitigation, and preparedness, as well as direct interventions in disaster rescue, relief, and rehabilitation. ADRA serves the entire Philippine archipelago and maintains a National Office in Silang, Cavite, some 40 km south of Metro Manila.