Journey to Empowerment comes to Niverville

International Development Enterprises’ (iDE) Journey to Empowerment event is coming to Niverville, giving the community their first chance to learn about the organization that makes an impact across the world.

With a global team of 1,200 people they call changemakers, spread across four continents, the organization is driven to end poverty by empowering entrepreneurs.

A mission statement to create income and livelihood opportunities for poor, rural households is based on values that include recognition that poor women and men have the right to a secure livelihoods, that markets are the most powerful force for widespread and lasting prosperity, rural poor are customers, producers and entrepreneurs, the people they work with are listened to, innovation and entrepreneurship are valued, and that they strive for economic, social and environmental equity and sustainability.

iDE began in 1983 when Gerry Dyck and Paul Polak visited a refugee camp in Somalia where Art DeFehr was working as the UN high commissioner for refugees.

They realized that supplies were being moved on people’s backs or in inefficient carts pulled by donkeys. Using abandoned car parts and working with displaced blacksmiths in the camps, the two modified the donkey cart to make pulling loads easier.

That in turn resulted in entrepreneurs in the camps building their own, creating income by renting, building and selling carts. Owners purchased on credit and were able to pay the loan back with interest in two and a half months.

“This project set the stage for iDE’s model for development work – listen to the people experiencing the problem and give them the tools they need to prosper,” they state on their website. “This remains the cornerstone of our guiding principles today.”

Currently they work in 10 countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Honduras, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Vietnam and Zambia.

The event in Niverville will give people a chance to learn about iDE, enjoy light refreshments, and take in a performance by violinist Amir Bissen and pianist Fan-En Chiang.

“We do have some supporters in the Niverville area,” Anna Nosol, events and donor relations manager of iDE said. “But it’s also an opportunity to go into a new area and let people know what we do.”

A similar event is held annually in Winkler.

She said their organization doesn’t do handouts of supplies or cash but works to make a lasting difference.

“Once we leave, they can continue to provide for their families and their communities,” she said. “It’s not just changing one life. It’s changing multiple lives.”

Amir Bissen, the master violinist who will be part of the concert, is known for his captivating performances. He began playing the violin at the age of four, studied in the UK, won multiple awards and debuted at the Royal Festival Hall before studying at the Royal College of Music and later with Professor Zakhar Bron in Switzerland.

Now based in Winnipeg, he has formed the Vitality Quartet and a violin/piano duo while expanding his teaching career.

The event takes place on April 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Niverville Heritage Centre. Attendees must RSVP to events@idecanada.org or Grant Dyck at gdyck@artelfarms.com, or Greg Wiens at gwiens@idecanada.org or 204-558-2857 by March 28.

While it is a fundraiser, Nosol said it’s important for people to attend if they’re interested.

“I don’t want people to think that just because they aren’t able to give a large amount of money, small donations count just as much,” she said.

More information can be found at idecanada.org.