History
ADRA in the World:
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) was established in November 1956 by the Seventh-day Adventist Church to provide humanitarian relief and welfare. Originally called Seventh-day Adventist Welfare Service or SAWS, the name was changed to Seventh-day Adventist World Service in 1973. By 1958, SAWS reported relief shipments to 22 countries with a total value of about $485,000. Four years later, the number of countries had increased to 29, with a total value of $2.3 million in shipments. During this period, countries benefited included those in South America and the Middle East, sites of major disasters.
By the mid-1970s, the organization began to broaden its mission from disaster relief into programs leading to long-term development. In 1983 SAWS underwent yet another name change to better reflect its overall mission and activities, becoming the "Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).
ADRA's work grew rapidly with major programs in several countries emphasizing community development, food distribution, institutional development, and ongoing disaster relief. From an initial worldwide staff of approximately 600, ADRA's activities soon included: building health clinics in Africa, assisting hurricane victims in Central America, teaching hygiene and health to children in Asia, and promoting awareness of worldwide humanitarian needs through ADRA's Global Village in the United States.
ADRA is currently one of the leading non-governmental relief organizations in the world. In 1997 the agency was granted General Consultative Status by the United Nations, a unique opportunity giving ADRA added voice in the international community. In 2004 it assisted nearly 24 million people with more than US$159 million in aid. More than 4,000 ADRA staff members currently work in 125 countries.
In Slovak Republic:
One of the countries with the active presence of ADRA is also Slovakia. In 1992 in Bratislava the ADRA Foundation was established by the group of enthusiast, who saw the need for an organization with focus on people in need. The global success of ADRA was also a motivation for the establishment. Thus ADRA Slovakia became a part of the global network.
In 1997 the legal status of ADRA Slovakia was changed from foundation to civic association. The office has moved several times. Actually the main office is in Bratislava with a branch in Banska Bystrica.
In Slovakia ADRA is focused on assistance on the field of social care, community development and disaster relief. The activities are aimed towards the Slovak children's homes and the social service homes, where the improvement of the living conditions of their inhabitant is necessary. Material support is distributed to areas with high unemployment rate and poverty in cooperation with the local community centers.
Since 2004 ADRA Slovakia is actively taking part on the Official Development Assistance (ODA) of the Slovak Republic to the developing countries under the mark of SlovakAid. This way serveral projects were implemented in countries like Indonesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Serbia and Sudan.
As new challenges and needs arise, ADRA continues to strive to realize its mission of reflecting God's love through the compassion and acts of heart.