Dorcas

Last Friday, Dorcas was invited to a special event at the Ukrainian Embassy in The Hague, where several NGOs were recognised for their support to the people of Ukraine. Ambassador Oleksandr Karasevych presented us with a letter of gratitude, expressing the Embassy's deep appreciation for Dorcas' 'unwavering support for the Ukrainian people' and our 'invaluable commitment to Ukraine'. He also paid tribute to the contributions of our team in Ukraine, as well as the volunteers, staff and donors in the Netherlands who have supported our mission. Dirk Sijbersma, Relations Manager at Dorcas, received the letter on behalf of the organisation. We are truly honoured by this recognition from the Ukrainian Embassy. Dorcas is and will continue to be committed to supporting people and communities in need in Ukraine.

Every child deserves the chance to simply 𝘣𝘦 a child - to play, dream and grow without fear. Yet for millions, this is an unimaginable luxury. Today, as we commemorate World Children's Day, I think of the perseverance and hope of children who endure the hardships of conflict.   In Ukraine, for example, the ongoing conflict has caused immense stress and devastation. In the midst of these challenges, initiatives that support mental wellbeing are more important than ever. I am glad that Dorcas, in partnership with Nevo, is creating therapeutic and educational spaces for children and families in the Zaporizhzhya region. One of the outstanding aspects of this work is the use of clay therapy. This is a unique and effective form of art therapy that allows children to express themselves, regain a sense of normalcy and have a few laughs with friends. On this World Children's Day, let's continue to stand together to promote and protect the rights and well-being of children. The future depends on it. 🌍💙 

𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤, 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. This was exemplified during our annual Dorcas fall meeting, where we welcomed our Country Directors. Alongside engaging in strategic discussions, most of them had the opportunity to visit several Dorcas shops. It was a rewarding experience for both the Country Directors and the volunteers and communities they met. Some Directors gave presentations on impactful projects in their countries, while others enjoyed informal visits, interacting with volunteers and customers. One highlight was in Assen, where a poster on the wall featured a woman from a project in Egypt. Mona, our Country Director from Egypt, recognised her and included this personal connection in her presentation. The distance between 'there' and 'here' was momentarily erased. It was a great reminder that the faces and stories in our stores represent real lives. Lives that have been transformed by our shared mission to support those in need. #CommunityConnections #GlobalPartnerships #Dorcas #VolunteerEngagement

𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡, 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠. Yet 3.5 billion people lack access to safe sanitation, a situation worsened by conflict, climate change and disasters. At Dorcas, improving sanitation through our WASH programmes is an important part of our work. Access to proper toilets is a fundamental need that impacts not only health, but also safety and dignity, especially for women and girls. Today, on #WorldToiletDay, we are highlighting our WASH programme in Yemen. One of the key outcomes of this programme has been the construction of restrooms at a girls' school, allowing students to stay in class instead of having to go home. The provision of safe, private facilities has had a positive impact on girls' school attendance. In addition to the toilets, Dorcas Yemen has also worked on the construction of a dam and well, ensuring that the community has reliable access to clean water. These efforts have contributed to better public health and created a more resilient community. Watch the video to find out more: https://lnkd.in/ec_QFBc6 #WASH #SanitationForAll #SDG6 #WomenAndGirls #GlobalHealth #ClimateAction #WaterForLife Jose

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 The KUNO platform recently published an inspiring interview with Mateen, Programme Manager at Dorcas Iraq. In his role, Mateen is leading efforts to support communities to adapt to climate change. Building climate resilience is a top priority for Dorcas Iraq. To achieve this, we focus on sustainable agriculture, increasing green cover, and building long-term adaptive capacity by training communities in climate-smart agricultural practices. We also raise awareness to support communities in adapting to the changing environment. Through these initiatives, Dorcas Iraq is not only addressing immediate challenges, but also building a more resilient and sustainable future for communities in vulnerable situations. 👇 Read the full interview via the link below. #ClimateResilience #SustainableAgriculture #Waterboxx #ClimateAction #Dorcas #Desertification

Last week, Dorcas held a Community Safety Net (CSN) conference for international Dorcas staff who are actively involved in mobilising communities in local safety nets to support older people. Over the course of three days, we engaged in insightful discussions, collaborative workshops and strategic sessions to refine and strengthen our CSN work. It was an exciting opportunity to learn from each other and take concrete steps forward. Marijke, Social Empowerment and Protection Expert at Dorcas and one of the conference organisers, shared, 'The different country offices represented provided insight into the complexity of the contexts in which Dorcas works. These were very fruitful days, giving us the opportunity to share experiences, learn from other colleagues and inspire each other to further develop our CSN programme in all these contexts.  This conference demonstrates that we are committed to continually learning, adapting and strengthening our approach to community safety nets. #Dorcas #CommunityEmpowerment #SocialImpact #CollaborativeLeadership #ForThoseInNeed

𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝!  This week our Country Directors and colleagues from the international office will gather for the annual Dorcas Fall Meeting (DFM). This is an important time for us to discuss our strategic priorities for the period ahead.   Throughout the week, we will focus on key issues including our strategy for 2026-2030, key practices for the new strategic cycle and our climate strategy. The sessions will provide a unique opportunity to shape our collective efforts and strengthen our impact for all the people and communities in need we support.  #Dorcas #StrategicPlanning #Sustainability #GlobalImpact #ClimateAction 

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡! I would like to say a huge thank you to all the incredible volunteers across the country who gave their time and energy to the Dorcas Food Campaign. Your commitment to tackling hunger and poverty is truly impressive and is making a real impact on people's lives. Together we are bringing vital support and hope to those in need.  

📣 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲  As the Dutch parliament debates unprecedented cuts to development cooperation and diplomatic resources, it is important to remember that these decisions come at a high price. Cutting more than €10 billion from development cooperation and €267 million from diplomacy is not just a budget cut - it risks economic losses, job losses and reduced global influence. Ignoring these impacts isn't just unwise - it's bad governance. Development cooperation boosts our exports and jobs, and diplomacy strengthens our strategic position. We urge decision-makers to recognise the real consequences and, if not to support people facing poverty, exclusion and crisis, at least to do so for our own security and welfare. Find out more and read the full opinion piece, co-authored by our Political Advisor Jochem Duinhof, here: https://lnkd.in/e4EU_Dik #Dorcas #PolicyImpact #GoodGovernance #EconomicSecurity Bas Bijlsma

I was very pleased to attend the final day of the Dorcas CSN conference today. Over the past few days there have been rich discussions and collaborative work, all driven by our commitment to strengthen our Community Safety Net (CSN) approach.   We reflected on our progress and we shared our dreams for CSN. We had inspiring conversations and an interesting panel discussion about Dorcas' CSN approach in relation to developments in the sector and political and demographic trends. As a result of the conference we agreed on a clear action plan.   To conclude the conference I shared my reflections and highlighted the importance of continuous development, and the need to adapt and evolve for sustainable impact.   It was great to be together with so many colleagues who are so committed to strengthening our safety nets. A big thank you to everyone involved in organising this great event!   Let's continue to build on this positive momentum and continue to work towards meaningful change! 🌍