TBLEPHON*! LONOACIt* 4-B810 CA»L« ADORUai - JDC

AMERICAN COUNCIL OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FOR FORlEIGN SERVICE, INC.
WILLKIE MEMORIAL BUILDING, 20 WEST 40 STREET, NEW YORK 18, N. Y.
TBLEPHON*! LONOACIt* 4-B810 CA»L« ADORUai ACVAFSERVE
OFFICERS: Wynn C, Fairfi.ld, Honorary Choi.n.an. Mo... A. l.o.i.-, Choifmcin, J. N. Byl.r, Uwl. M. Ho.kin., Edward E.
Zwoyr, Vlc.-Chofrm.n. Ell.«n teon, S.cr..ary, B.rnord A. Conl.r, Tr.o.ur.r, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Chorlo... E
TEE'
Officer,
and
John
S.
8ad.au,
Francis
M.
Brown,
K.nrl.lla
K.
Buehman,
Margar.1
E,
Fo/iylh,
Way^nd
Ow.n; EXECUTIVE COMMIT-
Woll.r
Gallon,
B.
A,
Goriid.,
Jan Papon.k, Richord W. R.ul.r, Jam.. P. Ric., l.lond R.x Roblnion, LouU Schn.id.f, R. Norrl. Wll.on, Aloy.iu. J. Wycl.lo,
October, 1956
To:
Officers and Executive Committee
From:
Council Staff
Subject!
Member Agencies* Program Developments.
This issue of Member Agencies' Program Developments is based upon
agencies' material and replies to the Council's request for current informa­
tion on programs.
A
F
R
I
C
A
A program of assistance for some regions of Africa by
Catholic Relief Services-National Catholic Welfare Confer­
ence is expected to be in full operation by the beginning
of 19$7j according to an announcement by Msgr, Edward E»
Swanstrom, Catholic Relief Services executive director, who
recently completed a seven-week tour of 19 coxmtries on the African continent.
An important phase of the program will be the distribution of relief supplies
to the children of Africa. Some parts of the continent have been hit by
drought for several yearsj in other parts it has been difficult to provide a
proper diet for children. I-Jhen the program is under way, special food will be
sent to pupils in Africa vrtio need them most.
GENERAL
The Brethren Service Commission cooperates by furnishing
personnel for an International Voluntary Services project in
EGYPT
Assuit, Egypt in a community rehabilitation project. The
General Council Assemblies of God« Foreign Service Committee
contributes the major portion towards the operation of an
orphanage Mith approximately 900 children, the hospital and school in Assuit,
Hostels and classes of the Young Women's Christian Association of Egypt con­
tinue to make a big contribution to young adults.
KENYA
Church World Service anticipates inauguration of a program
of dis-tritution of surplus foods to a CWS Children's program
in Kenya,
Africa - continued
2
The American Joint Distribution Committee supports many
local institutions and organizations in Morocco, including
MOROCCO
10 OSE institutions, 177 schools of the Alliance Israelite
Universelle, the Oaar Hatorah and of other religious groups,
and 2h children's institutions. The JDC feeding prograjn,
conducted mainly in school canteens, provides meals for over 23»000 persons
a month diiring the school yearj total number of beneficiaries, some 50,000.
In Spanish Morocco the JDC supports 12 local organizations and provides a
feeding program for 1300 children.
The American Joint Distribution Committee gives support to
17 medical"institutions, 21 schools of the Alliance
TUNISIA
Israelite Universelle and local communities, and to 21
children's institutions. The JDC feeding program provides
meals for more than 5jOOO children, mainly during the school
yearj total number of beneficiaries, 22,000 persons.
The Young Women's Christian Association reports a large
number of new YWCA groups being started throughout the
UGAMA
South Africa arcaj special projects are being carried
through mutual service by cooperating Associations. Two
young South African leaders, trained in the United States
are giving leadership to the program. A new YVJCA building was scheduled to
be finished in July of this yearj there has been a sharp increase in member­
ship in all age groups and the program includes classes in sewing, home
nursing, languages, homemaking, upholstery, handicrafts and various recrea­
tional and cultural clubs. The YWCA was requested by the Government of Uganda
to set up a hostel for girls at Jingaj when conqjleted the hostel tdll help
meet the needs of women living in that rapidly developing industrial center.
The YWCA has widened the self-help program in the country and made headway in
preserving some of the better native crtifts.
3
E
U
R
O
P
E
A major part of the American Fund for Czechoslovak Refugees*
activities overseas during 195^ has been devoted to tlie work
AUSTRIA
connected with resettlement of escapees, under the provi­
sions of the Refugee Relief Actj special attention has been
paid to the permanent solution of hard core and other cases
through local integration or through special resettlement schemes. The
American Joint Distribution Committee deals directJy with refugees only and
supports one Jewish canteen and six schools, including two in camps for dis­
placed persons. All other activities are conducted through the Vienna Jewish
Consnunity (Kultusgemeinde) which has a cash relief caseload and maintains a
home for the aged, and a hospital} total number of beneficiaries about 2,000
persons. The Brethren Service Coirodsslon (headquarters: Linz/Donau) is serv­
ing in programs of material aid distribution, student exchange, refugee
resettlement, community service, international work camps. The Lutheran World
Relief sends clothing and U.S. government donated surplus agricultural products
for distribution among more than 86,000 needy people In Austria, The categor­
ies of recipients include refugees in government camps, pupils in public
schools, war invalids, church institutions such as kindergartens, hospitals,
homes for aged, students, refugees not in government camps, and individuals
who are contacted on a case work basis. Distribution is carried out by
Hilfswerk under the supervision of representatives of Lutheran World Service
of the Lutheran World Federation,
Assistance in resettlement under the provisions of the
Refugee Relief Act are given to escapees in France by the
FRANCE
American Fund for Czechoslovak Refugees. The Amgrlcan Joint
Dl'stribution Committee assists the transient refugees
directlyj settled refugees and the local Jewish population
receive aid through the Fonds Social Juif Unifie (FSJU), the OSE and other
organizations (more than 60 agencies) which maintain 6 dispensaries, 18 chil­
dren's institutions, 5 full-time schools and 2 canteens. They have a cash
relief caseload and also supplement educational and other cultural activities.
Total number of beneficiaries, approximately 13,000 persons. The "Operation
Cold Wave," a major operation under which last spring Church World Service
shipped almost two million pounds of emergency food from surplus on behalf of
7 American voluntary agencies, has been brought to a successful conclusion.
The Unitarian Service Committee continues its program in Toulouse for
assistance to Spanish Republican refugees, including food, clothing and
emergency cash aid to families vrtiere illness prevails. The program has been
expanded to provide scholarship aid to young Spanish refugee boys and girls of
promise for training in technical schoolsj illness in the family is the
criterion of USC for assistance in all phases of the program. In the fall of
1956, in cooperation with an advisory committee of both French and American
doctors, the USC assisted in the placement of nine French Internes in United
States hospitals.
Europe - continued
h
The American Friends of Russian Freedom concentrates its
efforts mainly with escapees from the Soviet Union and the
GERMANY
satellite countries vriio are living in West Germar^; headquarters are located in Frankfurt/Main, with field offices
in Munich and a rehabilitation center in Solingen* In 19^6,
the American Friends Service Committee expanded its refugee employment and resettlement work by entering into a Joint program with the International Rescue
Committee; foreign refugees living in can?)S are helped to find employment and
housing accommodations in Industrial areas. One thousand refugees have now
been placed. An important aspect of the program is the individual case work
\rfiich is carried out not only to help the refugees get suitable enqsloyment but
also to assist them if any difficulties arise after they have left the cait?}8
to take up enployment. In addition to work connected with the resettlement of
escapees under the Refugee Relief Act provisions, the American Fund for
Czechoslovak Refugees p^s special attention to the permanent solution of hard
core and other casesthrough local Integration or through special resettlement
schemes. The American Joint Distribution Committee assists directly the
residents of the displaced persons camp in Foefurenwald (U8l as of August 1956)
and a certain number of refugees in other localities. In other fields, the
JDC cooperates with Zentralwohlfahrtsstelle and with the Zentralrat der Juden
in Deutschland; in addition to cash relief and educational projects there are
11 homes for the aged and 12 children's institutions; total number of
beneficiaries about iijOOOo
The American Relief for Polan'g offices in Hamburg
and Munich have assisted Polish refugees eligible for emigration under the
Refugee Relief Act® The Manich office handled 551 cases of emigrationj
examined 378 cases in the Bn^jloyment Servicej distributed parcels to 3,633 men,
women and children; the Hamburg office handled many United States Escapee
Program cases. The Brethren Service Commission (headquarters; Kassel) has
among its personnel 2^' voirateers, d indigenous' personnel and 5 American
volunteers in training, who are located at Kassel, in refugee camps, at Hamburg
and Berlin. These are serving programs of material aid distribution, student
exchange, refugee resettlement, Heifer Pro.ject, community service, international
work camps. The Lutheran World Relief sends clothing and food for distribution
among 531,500 needy people in Germany; the clothing is donated by Lutherans in
America, the grain is from U.S. government surplus stocks. Recipients can be
counted in the following categories: people in church institutions, refugees,
sick displaced persons and other hard core cases and other needy people.
Distribution is carried out
Hllfswerk xinder the supervision of Lutheran
World Service. The Mennonite Central Committee relief services in Germany are
largely assistance to refugees both in Berlin and in West Germany. During a
recent month Menno-Heim in Berlin served 1122 meals and gave food and clothing
to refugees in camps. The International Rescue Committee has a program in
conjunction with the World Universiiy Service to distribute funds granted
the United Nations High Commissioner's Office for student assistance. Also in
Germany the IRC has a program in cooperation with the Arbeiterwohlfahrt with
a grant from the UKHCR to place refugee youths in apprenticeships. The IRC
considers their program with the American Friends Service Committee in en^sloyment placing in Germaiqr as an outstanding and most successful program. The
Unitarian Service Committee center for Inservice-Training of Social Workers
will move from'Bremen to Mannheim in the fall of 1956, and will be attached to
the School of Social Work of the Arbeiterwohlfahrt. In addition to teaching
Europe - continued
5
courses in case work and group work, they will be concerned with the transla­
tion and preparation of professional teaching material, supervision of students
in field work, and work with public welfare agencies in Mannheim to improve
supervision and staff development. The Neighborhood House in Bremen will con­
tinue to be closely related to social work training institutes of the USC,
These projects in Germany are the beginning of the final phase of USC activi­
ties there J from the end of 1957 their German cooperating agencies assume the
major role in planning and financial support. In Germai^, the General Council
Assemblies of Godt Foreign Service Commi-';tee, has a relief program among the
needy refugees and displaced persons, and in addition extends material aid to­
wards the support of a school in Erzhausen, one children's home in Eckernforde,
and a home for girls in Jesteburg,
The Church World Service sent emergency assistance, includ­
ing clothing, surplus and non surplxis commodities, and
GREECE
medical supplies following the July 9th eartht^ualce and tidal
wave which struck Thera and other islands in the Cyclades»
The Brethi-en Service Conuninaion cooperates in the project of
the World Council of Churches in Greek Villages,"loannina, Greece, CARE (see:
Italy), The Young Women^s Christian Association building (opened in 195^)
served many thousands of persons in its first four months: the cafeteria pro­
vided meals to 370fOOO persons, both men and women; the Auditorium \ised
regularly by YWCA as well as by li; Greek and foreign organizations of Athens,
with 197,000 people attending the programs; 700 girls and 50 boys enrolled in
classes in languages, business and clerical courses, seizing, etc. The Hostel
for Permanent Residents serves 9li girls (from the provinces); the Hostel for
transients served 310 women and girls»
Boys* Towns of Italy, Inc., operating exclxisively in Italy,
where ivs activities are more widely developed in the South,
ITALY
has recently opened the first cottages in Boys' Towns, Rome,
and erected a Boys' Village in Chieti; developed the first
Girls' Town at Ottavia and opened two Girls' Homes at
Carolei and Scilla, The BTI continues the scientific vrork
of its Medico-Psycho-Pedagogical Center near Rome; and has inaugurated new
children's nurseries at San Fili, Nicotera and Palrai, The American Joint
Pistribut5.on Committee maintains a direct program for refugees and cooperates
With the Union of Jewish Communities and CSE (50 institutions and organizations)
in addition to a cash relief program, 7 medical institutions 6 cMldren's
installations, and 6 schools receive support; number of beneficiaries, h,liOO
persons. The Cooperative for American Remittances to Everywhere (CARE) and
the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) are cooperating
in a project to supply prospective migrants from Italy and Greece with the
tools of their trade® The migrants attend an ICEM-sponsored vocational train­
ing school in Italy or Greece for a period prior to their departure to the new
country of their settlement, CARE will give them a tool kit upon graduation
or at the time of their embarkation; CARE will also provide food packages to
their families for a six months period pending the reuniting of the family in
their new home. The General Federation of Women*s Clubs has agreed to sponsor
this project as part of the can^jaign for CARE's Refugee Program,
Exirope - continued
6
The Heifer Pro.lect made a shipment (September 30) of 55 head
of c^tle to the Soviet Union, All contributors gave the
RUSSIA
cattle recognizing the purpose of the shipment "to show that
basic good will exists throughout the world," This is a
mutual endeavorj Russia will provide all transportation
charges and return passage for the three volunteer "cattlemen"; the cattle
will be kept on a government farm and according to present plans the milk will
be distributed on a priority basis to hospitals, schools, and then to regular
consumers. Following the delivery of the cattle, the representatives of HP
will tour the Soviet Union for a short time.
The American Fund for Caechoslovak Refugees has a
vacation project for Czechoslovak refugee children
in Norway; the third year of operation of the proAlso IN AUSTRIA,
ject has just been successfully completed. The
BELGIUM, DEmiARK,
reconstruction activities are being financed and
supervised by the Reconstruction Department of the
ENGLAND, FRANCE,
GERKftNY, GREECE,
Atfiorlcan Joint Distribution Committee in Paris;
ITALY, NORWAY,
they include! (1) support of vocational training
PORTUGAL, SPAIN,
provided by Union ORT in Europe (Austria, Belgium,
SVEDSN, SWITZERLAND,
France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Switzerland^;
TRIESTE, YUGOSLAVIA
(2) financing of loan institutions in Austria,
Belgium. France, Germany* Greece, Holland, Italy,
Sweden, Svjitzerland. The JDC works through the
Central Board of Jetrish Communities in Greece; cooperates with a mmber of
organizations in Belgium which conduct cash relief programs and maintain a
home for the aged, 2 chTldren's institutions and 1 school; has a small program
on behalf of 50 recently resettled refugees which is being conducted through a
local committee in Norway; also cooperates in a JDC-supported program for over
1,000 refugees in Sweden; in cooperation T-iith Jei^ish coirmunities in Lisbon and
Barcelona, supports a program on behalf of 125 refugees in Spain and Portugal;
in Yugoslavia the JDC assists some 700 persons through cooperation with the
Federation of Jewish Communities which maintains 1 home for the aged and 3
children's institutions. The project of the American Relief for Poland to
resettle a group of Polish orphans living in Spain was completed with success
and the group of boys and girls left for the United States in July 1956, The
American Branch of the International Social Service cooperates with Branches
in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, the
Netherlands and Switzerland, "in helping families or Individuals to resolve
their personal or social problems will extend across national boundaries."
Because of its long experience in the care of children moving from one country
to another, ISS has become one of the main channels for the bringing of chil­
dren from overseas for adoption into American homes, under the provisions of
the Refugee Relief Act of 1953, The Lutheran World Relief sends clothing and
U.S. government donated surplus agricultural pr<^ucts"fOT'distribution among
the nee(^ in Yugoslavia who include school children, pregnant and nursing
mothers, infants and pre-school children, priests, church workers, widows and
dependent families of deceased priests as well as for the needy in the general
populous. Food distributions were made to about 850,000 Individuals in the
above categories; distribution is carried out for LWR by the Yugoslav Red
Europe - continued
7
Cross, under supervision of the Department of World Sei'vlce of the Lutheran
World Federation* In most coimtries in Europe, with the exception of those
behind the Iron Curtain, the United Hias Service offices and cooperating com­
mittees work toward the successful emigration of qualified applicants...
cooperates vdth government, intergovernmental and non-governmental agencies,
such as the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration, U.S. Escapee
Program, United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Refugees and others
which provide emigration assistance whether it be for development of mass
migration schemes or individual emigration, or assistance to difficult-toresettle cases. The United Seamen's Service sponsored a special session at
the International Conference of Social Work in Munich, Germany, this summer to
discuss international reciprocity in recreation and welTai'-e services for
merchant seamen of all nations. The USS Tnaintai.ns centers in Bremerhaven,
Germany, and in Genoa and Naples, Italy. The World University Service distri­
buted surplus commodities to students through National Committees of W?JS in
France, Germany, Greece and Yugoslavia. The United Lithuanian Relief Fund of
America's object is to furnish aid and assistance for relief of human sufferii^
in Lithuania and to recover and rehabilitate stranded and destitute Lithuanians
in other conntriesj they operate in Germa^, Austria, Denmark, France, Italy,
Great Britain, Sweden and Benelux co\mtr£Fs, assisting the*~rithuanian refugees
living there. The DLRFA assistance, during the last 2 fiscal years, con­
sisted of food and clothing, shoes, valued at S$82,800.00j and cash,
1139,000.00.
Dxiring the Refugee Relief Act of 1953> ULIU-'A furnished 1^00
assurances and approximately UOOO persons will be aljle to arrive in the United
States. In October, the Lutheran Refugee Service welcomed the arrival of
1500 LRS-assisted persons in the United States — the largest number which has
arrived from Germany and Austria during any month of the operation of the
Refugee Relief Act. These newcomers are settling in many states, the largest
niuiibers going to New York, Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan and New Jersey.
The Tolstoy Foundation is now operating in thirteen offices abroad in Europe,
the Middle East and South America. At the end of September, 1956 the TF over­
seas had a caseload of more than 12,000 persons, who were primarily refugees
and escapees from the Soviet Union registered for either resettlement or local
welfare aid and integration. More than two-thirds of this case load is in
West Germany and Austria x-jith the remaindei- located in western Europe and the
Middle East. Those refugees not eligible for U.S. Escapee Program assistance
are given local xrelfare aid through contributions of food and clothing amount­
ing to ?iil25,000 by the Svdss organization, Hilfswerk de Evangelishen Kirchen
der Schweiz (HEKS) and through distribution of nearly f^ll0,000 worth of
surplus supplies obtained through CRALOG, Under the auspices of the Inter­
governmental Committee for European Migration, a case load of some 1500
Russian Refugees in Trieste has xd-th a few exceptions been satisfactorily
resettled, integrated into European local economies or placed in homes for the
aged. This program has been one of the most satisfactory in which the TF has
cooperated and as of September 1956 has been nearly concluded insofar as
Russian refugees are concerned.
8
F
A
R
E
A
S
T
In 1956, the American Friends Service Committee's multi­
purpose social and technical assistance program In Orlssa,
INDIA
in addition to its regular program in agriculture, public
health, education, and cottage industries, started a school
feeding program, organized a weavers' cooperative, installed
26 low cost pump wells, expanded the health worker training orogram, and is
actively cooperating with the Indian Government's Extension Service recently
introduced into the area.
AFSC's contract with the International Cooperation
Administration for support of the Orlssa vjork expired July 31 of this year,
upon the completion of five years of the program. The Church World Ssrvlce
has sent supplies to meet emergencies such as the recent floods in the eastern
part of India and the earthquake north of Bombayo Nearly bOO contact persons
are involved in the distribution of relief supplies in India. The Lutheran
World Relief Is sending U,S, donated surplus agricultural products as well as
other food for distribution to 12lj,hOO people in India© Distribution is
carried out by the Committee on Relief and Gift Supplies of the National
Christian Council of India, but Lutheran World Service also has personnel in
the field. The Mennonite Central Committee workers have been engaged in dis­
tribution of food and clothing to needy Anglo-Indians in Calcutta. They are
also helping people find work, secure medical assistance and Improve their
living condltionc One MCC representative Is working ;d.th the Bengal Christian
Council project at Habra, near Calcuttaj here daily milk distribution is made
to refugees. In India, a health center built by the World University Service
in Delhi, was opened to the student population of the University of Delhi
recently. Designed to centralize the health services for the 12,000 students
in the Delhi area, the WUS health center represents a revolutionary step
forward in the conduct of university programs in India. Formerly, student
clinics were small, inadequate and scattered throughout the region; the new
WUS Center provides under one roof the facilities for comprehensive medical
services and preventive medicine. There are ?2 branches of the Young Women's
Christian Association in India—31 of which have hostels, 11 fellowship groups
and 32 youth centers. Most of the Associations report emphasis on social
service and special projects for community betterment, A social service center
at Mudichur, founded by the Tamil Nad YWCA, has a medical dispensary which is
eixpanding its service not only to the people of that village but to neighboring
villages; this project is carried on entirely by volunteer workers. The v/ork
of the TOCA School of Social Work in New Delhi continues its graduate training
in social work, inald.ng progress in rural areas with the students conducting
field work. The YWCA rural project in Kharebaria is going ahead with plans to
intensify and extend its work to other villages through a mobile medical unit.
HONG KONG
The Church World Service provided funds for
appropriation to keep the road to the Haven
Sanitarium—a four mile hill road which has
in Hong Kong, CWS has completed 30 housing
Tao to be occupied by refugees from Lai Chi
the labor and
of Hope
been corf5)leted
units at Shatln
Yuen. A project
Far East - continued
9
for Chinese refugee families has been started, with seven refugee families,
on abandoned paddy land on the plateau.
Each family has broken about an
acre} the settlers will raise pigs, fowl, some vegetables and possibly .fruit
trees, and the CWS will help tri.th a food grant until September of next year.
The project is being watched closely to see whether it offers an economic
solution to the problem of the Chinese refugees. The CVIS is cooperating vdth
the Young Men's Christian Association to equip a new hostel for young men in
Shumshuipo, Kowloon, The Lutheran World Relief is providing clothing, U,S,
donated surplus foods, other food and medicine for the needy in Hong Kong,
Food distributions are carried out for Li9,?00 people, through Lutheran World
Service in Hong Kong (a department of the Lutheran World Federation). In the
Far East, United Hias Service is helping to resettle the remnants of a group
of European Jewish refugees still in Shanghai and Manchuria« When these
refugees arrive in Hong Kong, they are processed to various immigration coun­
tries, The General Council'of the Assemblies of God, Foreign Service Committee
has an office and relief director in Hong Kongo
During the past fall, winter and spring, over hO weekend
camps were organized in Tokyo and the Kansal by American
JAPAN
Friends Service Committee. Two summer camps and two Inter­
national Student Seminars had an attendance of over 3?
foreign students from many Asian countries and the United
States, The Brethren Service Commission cooperates with Japan Church World
Service in furnishing one volunteer in the Tokyo office# The Church World
Service's SOS program of material aid continues, idth a signific/mt portion
of ocean"freight and handling costs being borne by the Japanese churches and
government. Under the sponsorship of the Unitarian Service Committee, five
American medical scientists shared their knowledge of anesthesiology with
Japanese physicians (April-May 1956), The request for saich a team was a
direct result of visits In 1900 and 19?1 by the USC Medical Teaching Missions,
The World University Service recently opened a new tuberculosis sanatorium
for students just outside of Tokyo, in Inadanoboritoj this sanitorium provides
badly needed treatment to answer the most serious problem afflicting the
university community in Japan. The WS Center can handle but a fraction of
the total number of tuberculosis students, nevertheless it stands as a memorial
to American-Japanese friendship and understanding, and serves as a model for a
number of future sanatoria currently being planned by the Japanese Committee
for VJUS, In Japan the Young Women's Christian Association sponsored a Health
Fair in Tolqro which commemorated the"$Oth aniiiversary of the YWCA in Japanj
projects are under way for expanding the program by building working women's
centers in Tokyo and Osaka; organization of regional groups on the outskirts
of Tokyo and introduction of an "Itinerant YWCA which travels to remote
villages"J and counselling centers for the women of Hiroshima,
KOREA
One of the American Friends Service Committee's projects in
Korea received a serious set-back when the Surgery and
Pathology Department wing of the Kunsan Provincial Hospital
was destroyed by fire. However, within two months other
facilities were found, repairs made, and services recommencod.
Far East - continued
10
It is hoped that during the coming year medical specialists vdll bo sent to
Kunsan i'or short periods to give special training to Korean doctors; under
this scheme a gynecologist has already been sent. In the housing program of
AP'SC, 75 dwellings are planned for 1956 which vri.ll bring the total to 195.
Following the success of a few small cooperatives on Cheju Islands (farming,
tailoring and a tinsmith shop), the Catholic Relief Services-National Catholic
Welfare Conference made a grant for a small fishing cooperative on the off­
shore Huksan Islands groupo
Realizing that nets would be too expensive to
buy, since boats would also be needed, a small sail boat, a motor boat and
two sets of diving equipment were purchased with the Initial grant. At
present the cooperative is taking in $600 a month diving for shell fish, a
take which is supplemented by the islanders who are able to go out f\irthGr to
sea with their hand lines and where they can get larger fish. The percentage
of each catch is being put aside to buy nets and a small diesel boat, VJhen
these have been purchased for the Huksan group, a percentage of profits will
be put aside to help another group of islanders start a cooperativeo
The
Coonerative for American Remittances to Everyvrhere (CARE)'s Self-Help Program
during the past few months has included providing fishing boats to Korean
fisherrien who lost their boats in last year's storms, and also kapok life
belts for the crews# During 1956, Lutheran World Relief has sent clothing,
Ut.S, government donated surplus commodities and other food to Korea for dis­
tribution to 121^000 needy people® Distribution is done by Korea Church
World Service. through welfare and health institutions, prisons, reformatories,
schools and city and county comittees. The major areas of service of the
Mennonlte Central Committee in Korea include material aid distribution, a
vocational school for orphan boys, a i-adows* seizing project, and seconded
personnel, including five nurses to hospitals in Taegu, Pusan and Taegon,
They have had three ma.ior food, bedding and clothing distributions this year,
namely, in the VJha Chon area north of the 3^th parallel, in the Seoul area,
and Kyongsan Namdo area, an area formerly inhabited by guerrillas. Besides
distribution to the general population, XC has an institutional distribution
program and now assists 85 charitable institutions, including hospitals,
orphanages, old people's homes, widows, lepersariums, blind institutions, etc.
In Taegu city, MCC provides milk for 15 milk kitchens serving 2500 persons
daily. Within the past year eight new buildings have been completed for the
orphanage, academic school, vocational school and farm at Kyong San to
accommodate a large number of boys at the Christian Vocational School for
orphan boys. There are now 35 buildings at the School and much of the equip­
ment for the vocational classes in carpentry, drafting, printing, agriculture
and sheet metal work has been donated by UNKM<, The Unitarian Service
Comniittee and the American Korean Foundation jointly sponsor scholarships,
transportation, living allowances and allowances for their families in Korea,
of three Korean social workers chosen to come to the United States for two
years of study at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work. This
represents the first step in a plan for the eventual establishment of a school
of social work at Seoul National University, as proposed by the Director of
the School at the University of Mnnesota,
Far East - continued
11
The General Council Assemblies of God Foreign Service Committee has a ^^eneral
relief progr"^!! in Korea, and supports and operates home for orphaned children
in Seoul. The Young Women's Christian Association has a two-year rural train­
ing coxirse for girls at Tongnae, where they live and learn skills in agricul­
tural vocations by doing the work of the ti-ro small farms of the center; they
earn a small income from sale of the farm's produce and from handmade articles
they produce in the sex-ang, knitting and handicraft classes during their
training, Foiu* centers, destroyed during the vrar, are being rebuilt. One of
the f^reatest problems of the YWCA in Korea is lack of trained leaders; the YW
is relying heavily on the outstanding staff irork being done by five young
Korean women who have returned to their YWCA Jobs, after training in the U.S.
in the Foreign Division's International Leadership Training Project. Plans
are progressing for a new coiTiraunity center in Seoul.
American Bureau for Medical Aid to China's overseas program
is conducted primarily in Taiwan along the following five
TAIWAN
general lines? (l) Assistance to the National Defense
(FORilOSA)
Medical Center in its program of training personnel for all
branches of medicine and surgeryj (2) Assistance to the
Nurses Training Program in Taiwan through providing
financial aid, equipment, supplies, nxu-sing texts and
magazines to the Army Niirses Training School and in a lesser degree to several
other nurses training schools in Taiwan; (3) Assistance to the School Health
Program in the elementary school system of Taiwan, through providing financial
support, medical supplies^ and supervisory services, to a selected group of
approximately 20 schools which serve as demonstration centers for the other
schools of the island; (U) Support of nine medical and nursing fellowships,
each covering from one to three years of training in America for a doctor or
mu-se who has already demonstrated his or her ability in some specialized
field of medicine or nursing, and who is preparing to return to Taiwan for
some specific administrative or teaching position immediately after concluding
the period of study in America; (5) providing medical equipment and supplies,
books, and magazines for medical and nursing institutions in Taiwan participat­
ing in the ABIIAC program. The Catholic Relief Services-National Catholic
Welfare Conference cooperated with the wives of MAAG officers in Formosa to
set up a "Feed-a-Family" program branch of their own. Starting with 16
families they have continued their program throughout the year and the original
group of Army wives was joined recently by a group of Navy wives. Since the
program started, help has been given to 123 families, some on a monthly basis.
The Church V/orld Service has appointed its first full time director in Taiwan
to supei'vise its stepped-up surplus distribution program there. The Lutheran
World Relief has sent clothing and food to Taiwan for distribution by a com­
mittee known as Lutheran World Relief Taiwan, Food is distributed to about
113,000 people who include the needy on offshore islands. Aborigines, fisher­
men, miners, salt workers, families of servicemen, Tachen refugees, general
needy, and those who need food in sanitoriums, orphanages, homes for aged,
hospitals, etc. The Mennonite Central Committee's new hospital serves ade­
quately the Hualien ar'ea, fhe clinic serves slightly more than 50 patj-ents a
day; the total number of diagnoses for a month averages about 2,056»
In
Far East - continued
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addition to this service three eye clin5.cs continue, as vk^II as the mobile
clinic vjhich serves the aboriginal people in the interior. There are also
sevei-al milk feeding stations for childi'en as well as special food distribution
to individuals in need of supplementary food.
The number of production cooperatives now active under the
auspices of Catholic Relief Services-National Catholic
VIETNAM
Welfare Conference is S3". These include the following;
bricloiiaking, hammock making, talapia fish production,
coastal fishing cooperatives^ boat building, carpentry and
charcoal making. Not all of the cooperatives have been equally successful
although every cooperative established has contributed to the importance of
promoting unified action in a new environment, helping the refugees initiate
productive work, and aiding them to meet daily food and other needs.
Investigations are now under
to find ways of drying, smoking or preserving
the fish, and to supply fish to the inland regions. These cooperatives were
financed from the funds of the CRS-NCWC and founded by the cooperative section
of the Saigon office among the groups that migrated village by village from
the North. The Church World Service has shipped large quantities of vitamins,
cheese, milk and medical supplies to Vietnam, as well as funds to be used for
the rehabilitation projects related to the new refugee village of Da-Hoa.
The International Rescue Committee's program in Vietnam for moral and material
support to high school and university students continues, as does the family
welfare school. The Mennonite Central Committee operates a clinic at
Baninethoutj plans are under way to operate a mobile clinic in the surrounding
area. The MCC has a medical teajn in Vietnam at the present time corisisting
of an American doctor, one nurse from Canada and one from Jlolland.
In Java the medical clinic program continues to be the major
projecT of the Mennonite Central Committee. The three
INDONESIA
medical clinics in the riuria floimtain area, namely, Ka.juapu,
Margeredgo and Kedung Pendjalin, continue vdth an average
of 250 patients per clinic day# The MCC staff of a doctor
and two nurses is assisted by 10 Indonesian workers; most
of the patients are Moslems,
MCC Java is assisting the relief program in
Celebes and in the distribution of U.S. Government surplus milk throughout
Indonesia, The MCC in cooperation vdth Church World Service has arranged a
Joint sponsorship of an American to do agricultural work on the Island of
Timor in East Indonesiaj the service consists of improving dairy cattle
production and farmi.ng, Lutheran World Relief has sent medicines and is send­
ing hospital equipment for use in the Balige Hospital in Sumatra.
Far East - continued
13
The Brethren Service Commission cooperates with
projects of the International Voluntary Services by
furnishing personnel for an aRricultural rehabilita­
AND CAMBODIA,
CEYLON, LAOS,
tion program and health program in Laos; and by
NEPAL, TPIAILAND
furnishing an agriculturist in Napal, Cooperative
for American Remittances to Evera^here "(GARB) selfhelp program during the past few ironths has included
providing midi-jifery kits to Laotian health author­
ities for their training program for midwives# The International Rescue
Committee has just begun a new program in Laosj this Is a medical mission
composed of five raen_j and is a pilot project. The Unitarian Service Commj-ttee,
under contract with the Royal Government of Cambodia, with funds provided by
the International Cooperation Admi.nistration, has undertaken a tliree-year
program In teacher training in Cambodia# This project is a direct response
to the need e3q>ressed by the Ministry of Education of Cambodia for an enlarged,
improved and continuing supply of rural elementary school teachers. The USC
noxiT has a staff in Cambodia consisting of five educators, an administrative
officer and secretary viho, as of September 30, 1956, began idth their
Cambodian counterparts, to study and evaluate the kind of curriculum best
suited to the needs of Cambodia, the most effective teaching methods and the
kinds of training needed by the teachers of the futureo This project is
administered and supei'vised by USC under the general direction of IROfT, The
Young Women's Christian Association conducts leadership training programs in
Buit'ma and Ceylon, and have programs in rural development in those areas; the
Yl-JCA also has a large progrsm including courses in home nursing, language, etc.
in Bangkok, Thailand,
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The American Joint Distribution Cornmittee cooperates with the
, Alliance Israelite" Uni'verseiloV
Hatorah and nith local
j Jewish communities, and also has a direct medical program.
medical institutions, 2b children's institutions and
IRAN
' ii3 schools functioning in the country are assisted by JDCj
total number of beneficiaries^ over 16,000 persons. The Near
East Foixndation has the following programs in Iran: coraiiiunity development}
agriculture e::t8nsionj health, including irrigation^ demonstration gardens,
poultry improvement, control of plant diseases and insect pestsj training
schools for leaders in agricultiire, sanitation, home economics and rural
education; organizing and supervising rural schools for children and adult
literacy classes; publd.cation of periodicals for new literates^ The newest
project of the Iran Fouridation is the construction and organization of the
Nemazee Vocational vSchool in Shiraz, Iran. Specialized equipment is being
installed, five American instructors (automotive, carpentry;, electricity,
machinist, plumbing trades) and one American technical director have beem
employed. A Ford Foundation grant assists in the program.
Until early 19?6 the American Friends Service Committee's
village development project in east Jordan continued to carry
JORDAN
out a program of agricultural inprovement in five villages
situated in a poor, mountainous region. A team of Arab and
American technicians and village workers worked viith the
villagers in projects designed to improve the standard of living in the region
and to stimulate community responsibility. In a period of general political
unrest in Jordan in last December and January, during which a number of
American-sponsored projects were attacked, the AFSC project was attacked by
demonstrators, a majority of whom came from villages outside the project area.
Following the destruction of the project, the AFSC staff operated from an
office in Amman and carried out uncompleted program activities and discharged
all obligations to the villagers. As the project had achieved many of its
objectives, it was decided not to resume it as it had existed, but staff
continued working in Jordan until the end of June in order to assist Arab
youths to participate in AFSC summer seminaa's and work camps in Europe. During
May and June the project buildings were reconstructed ty voluntary labor
provided by the villages in proportion to the number of their inhabitants who
had participated in the riot. This reconstruction was a combined project of
the villagers, the government of Jordan which provided supplies and super­
visory personnel, and the AFSC which provided funds for skilled labor and
specialized supplies# VJhen the buildings were completed they were turned over
to the government of Jordan according to the plan which had been laid out when
the project began. The AFSC is concerned to continue work in the Arab Middle
East if the opportunity arises. They plan to send a representative to that
area as soon as possiisle to investigate further project opportunities which
have been suggested and study the possibility of new programs. During the past
Near and Middle East - continued
15
year the AFSC continued to ship clothing, yard goods, and sewing supplies to
Jordan for distribution to Arab refugees by international organizations and
several local institutions* The Meimonite Central Comndttee center has been
moved to Jerusalem# In addition to large scale clothing distributions in
refugee caii5>s there are self-help projects including a shoemaking school and
a woodworking school for boys at Jericho, sewing classes for women and an
orphan boys' home at Hebron. MCC workers also distribute some food, including
f^overnment surplus, to special needy cases. Medical services include clinics
at Surif, Yatta, and Idna, near Hebronj there are a number of MCC workers on
loan to other organizations. The Lutheran VJorld Relief sends clothing,
medicine, U.S. government donated surplus agricultural products and other
food to Jordan. Food distributions are carried out for about 32,U00 among the
needy of that comtryj T-ihere distribution is done by the Department of World
Service of the Lutheran World Federation. Lutheran VJorld Relief also helps
to supply transportation equipment and supplies for a hospital. The Hear East
Foxtndation is demonstrating practical jnethods of community development in
public health, sanitation^ agriculture and education^ training courses for
village level workersj adult literacy classesj developing teaching materials
for village schools; demonstrate value of credit cooperatives.
The American Friends Service Committee directs the
Community Center in the Old City of Acrej the Center, which
ISPAEL
was established in 1950, continues to offer a variety of
services for all age groups of the town. The program in­
cludes a nursery school for 75 children, a well-baby clinic
and home nursing classes, club and craft activities for boys and girls, and
interest groups for young adults and adults. Approximately 800 men, women
and children participate each week in the 35 activities offered at the Centerj
members of all the religious communities of Old Acre participate in the Center
program. Increasing responsibility for program and financing of the Center is
being taken by an advisory committee of the adult citizens working in co­
operation with the staffo For the fifth summer the AFSC sponsored an inter­
national voluntary work camp in Israel which brought together young people of
Israel and various countries of the world for a period of six weeks of manual
labor, clearing land for the construction of a regional school; the camp this
year was located near Hartuv, Participants included yt>ung Jews and Arabs from
Israel and campers from Holland, England, Denmark, Switzerland and the United
States, The American Joint Distribution Committee; The MALBEN-JDC services
to handicapped new immigrants Is the largest sole JDC project. As of the end
of Jxxne 1956 it provided care and maintenance for more than 6700 persons in
28 MALBEN-owned or operated institutions and in 57 other installations,
Near^ 70^ of those assisted were healthy or infirm aged placed in 21 MALBENoxmed homes for the aged and other homes; the remaining 30^ include patients
of various hospitals# MALBEN's medical program stresses preventative care and
rehabilitation activities; because of the work of a special TB coordination
committee of all agencies active in this field, the waiting list for TB
hospitals has been substantially reduced, and JDC was enabled to convert one
of its TB institutions into a home for the aged. Rehabilitation activities
for the institutionalized caseload include occupational therapy and handicrafts
for some lliOO persons a month; during the first six months of 1956, 123 handi­
Noar and Middle Bast - continued
16
capped new inirnigrants were placed on jobs; 190 received medical appliances;
U58 heads of families obtained constructive loans for the establishment of
smell businessGsi and some 575 persons a month find employment in sheltered
workshops. Dental clinics are provided} nurses training} cultural and
religious program conducted} the unduplicated number of beneficiaries from all
MALBKN activities in 1955 was over 20,100, During the first of 1956,
American OUT Federation opened five trade schools in Israel for children from
recent immigrant families, principally from Asi-i and Africa, enrolled in
upper grades of the primary schoolsn This new vocational program was a
departure from the traditional technical instruction which generally starts
at the age of lU at the post-primary level. The five schools were aided by
an International Cooperation Adm3.nistration grant. The new program was
instituted in cooperation i<rith USOM after two years of experimentation with
such instruction at immigrant settlements. The initial results have been such
that the Ministry of Education expressed interest in extending vocational
classes to all primary schools in the coxmtry, CARE's self-help program during
the past few months has included tool kits and sewing-machines for Israeli
vocational training centers. The United Hlas Service in cooperation irri-th the
Jewish Agency for Palestine and local orgfuiizations, provides sVielter for
single men and women from the time of their arrival and until the time they
become self-supporting# A special shelter house was built by the agency in
Beer-Sheba which houses experts and technicians working in the development of
the Negev area„ UHS, in cooperation with the central office of the Free Loan
Association in Israel, provides loans to newcomers for integration purposes.
The World University Service has furnished a third prefabricated housing unit,
designed to answer the critical need for housing among students in Israel*
The Church World Service participated (May) in a conference
in Beirut sponsored by the World Council of Churches and the
LEBANON
International Missionary Council to survey the present pro­
gram for the Arab refugees and to make plans for the future.
Among the conclusions reached in the conference was one that
there must be an increased program of aid on the part of the churches in order
to supplement the valuable work being done by the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency. The World University Service recently opened a health Center
in Beirut. Facilities of this Health Center will be extended to students at
all the universities in Beirut, The Young Women's Christian Association has
a vocational training program for young women^ where they study trades,
business methods and crafts} another project carried on during the flood
emergency was the successful feeding program established in the schools (Febru­
ary).
SYRIA
The Lutheran World Relief sends clothing for distribution
among the refugees in Syria, The Hear East Foundation's
program in Syria: Sanitation, including malaria control}
Training of mldwives and rural leaders in agricultxire,
sanitation and home economics.
Near and Middle East - continued
17
The Brethren Service Commission cooperates with the World
Council of Churches' refugee program in Turkey by furnish­
AFGJIANISTAN
ing personnel in agricultural and coimnunity services
AND TURKEY
program. The Near East Foundation's program in
Afghanistan: providing facilities for testing methods
and procedures in rural developmentj conducting multiple
practical village demonstrations in public health and sanitation, agricultxire
and rural educatlonj training village level workers. The Young Women's
Christian Association's Service Center in Istanbul, Turkey has its own
building and manages the only summer camp for girls in all Turkey, in addition
to its regular service program for all age groups; a playground movement has
also been started at the Center and welfare activities for children of factory
workers are under w€Qr,
18
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The chick program of the Heifer Pro.lect in Ecuador has been
most successful 0 Over 20,000 baby chicks have been distri­
ECUADOR
buted through the U.S. International Cooperation Adminis­
tration Mission to Indian people who have lost their income
from the failure of the Panama hat industry. The success
of the chicks, the ability of the Indians to raise them, give reason to believe
that a major industry is beginning. This success of the people in poultry
raising has changed the attitudes of the government officials} the undeveloped
potential of the Indians is being recognized and the government now plana
definite action to help them.
The Church World Service sent an emergency shipment of
clothing to ]?u^-to Ri'co"in August# The Brethren Service
Commission's
project at Castaner, Puerto Rico, provides
PUERTO RICO
coninunity hospital with staff, supplies, clinics, etc»,
dental service, small industry program, community service,
material aid, agricultural experimentation. The school operated by BSC since
about l^UU for high school level training for the Castaner Valley area, has
been taken over by the government in Puerto Rico, beginning August 1956, The
building of the project has been made available to the government. This is
the first rural high school to be operated by the government in Puerto Rico
and this year's enrollment is 138, There is increased interest in small
industries and BSC is planning a definite program of small industries in the
Castaner Valleyc Plans are vinder way for a ten year development program to
gradually decrease the number of continental personnel and financial support
and to increase indigenous personnel and financing® The staff of BSC numbers
lb continental staff and volunteer personnel and between liO-U$ indigenous
personnel.
The American Joint Distribution Committee conducts
a small program for refugees who arrived before
AND lU APi}BHTIIJA
and during VJorld War IIj as well as for recent
BRAZIL, HAITI,
immigrants in ^iti, Brazil, Dominican Republic
HONDURAS, URUGUAY
Uruguay, Under the auspices of Ch'irch World
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
Service over 100 Japanese farm families have now
been resettled on the American Brazilian CAFE
plantation on the border of Brazil and Paraguay.
care's self-help program during the past few months has included providing
agricultural tool kits for Honduran U-H clubs. The Young Women's Christian
Association has'programs in Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia.