World Concern is a Christian humanitarian organization that helps lift people out of poverty through activities including microfinance, agriculture, disaster response and small business development. World Concern works in 22 countries, with the goal of transforming the lives of those we touch, leading them on a path to self-sustainability. As an organization, we aim to be transparent and effective in how we help. Various staff members from our U.S. headquarters and in the field contribute to this blog, keeping you informed of the ways we’re offering hope to six million people worldwide.
Contributors
Derek Sciba documents World Concern’s activities across the globe as the organization’s marketing and communication director. Derek has the privilege of visiting villages and slums across Asia, Africa and Haiti – meeting the people we serve. Prior to World Concern, Derek’s professional background included a decade in TV news, working as a videographer, reporter and news anchor. He was nominated for an Emmy for investigative journalism. Most recently Derek worked at KATU-TV in Portland, Oregon, as a reporter.
Dave Eller is the leader of World Concern. After a career in corporate business, he joined World Concern in 2001, managing disaster response, microfinance, village bank, animal restocking, community development and orphan care projects. These responsibilities took him across Africa and to Haiti. Dave’s goal is to recruit staff from the countries where we serve, and to make projects sustainable and replicable. Dave feels that God has called him to this work, and has a passion to help the world’s poorest people.
Meredith Long supervises World Concern’s programs, and brings a special expertise to fighting HIV/AIDS. He previously worked at World Relief as vice president for Planning and Integration and director of International Health Programs. Dr. Long has worked with churches to combat HIV/AIDS in Africa since the early 1990s. His overseas program implementation experience includes 14 years in Kenya and Bangladesh. He is the author of Health, Healing and God’s Kingdom, which examines the interplay between health and traditional religious beliefs.
Cathy Herholdt joined World Concern in 2010 as the newest member of the marketing and communication team. With a background in journalism, Cathy honed her writing skills as the editor of the Journal Newspaper Group, where she worked for nearly seven years. She particularly enjoys interviewing interesting people and conveying their life stories, some of which she’ll share on this blog. Cathy has also worked as a freelance writer for numerous magazines and publications.
