Transforming Lives

Speeches Shim

Every day, all over the world, USAID brings peace to those who endure violence, health to those who struggle with sickness, and prosperity to those who live in poverty. It is these individuals — these uncounted thousands of lives — that are the true measure of USAID’s successes and the true face of USAID's programs.

As Burkina Faso prepared for its elections in summer and fall 2015, many across the country worried about the potential for unrest. The ban of several candidates and detention of party members by Burkinabe authorities shortly before election season only added to the fear that citizens—in particular, youth—would resort to violence to voice their discontent.

March 2016—Mohammad Khalid Al-Sa’idiyyin, an experienced Jordanian trail guide who has worked informally in the tourism sector for years, is one of two site stewards at Bi’r Mathkour working to educate others about the community’s local relics.

Household cultivation holds a place at the very heart of Jordanian customs and traditions. Visit your everyday Jordanian homestead and chances are you will come across the family olive tree, garden or orchard.

When USAID supported the local government with the installation of 27 solar streetlights on the main street in Baidoa, life for residents changed overnight. As in many other cities in Somalia, residents are now doing business and socializing on the streets after sunset.

Due to USAID’s support in five coastal communities of Somalia, improvements in cold storage and stronger ties between fishermen and fishing associations are reducing the appeal of piracy by promoting economic growth and food security along the coast.

Election periods often have the potential to stoke tension and threaten social cohesion. Rising tension can sometimes spill over into outbreaks of violence, as Côte d'Ivoire experienced in 2010 before, during and after the polls.

March 2016—Following the violence of the 2010 presidential elections, many Ivorian women were reluctant to take part in the electoral process after experiencing traumatic events, including forced displacement, rape and killings. These women had come to consider elections as synonymous with trouble.

Up until the 1990s, between 500 and 1,000 children on average were paralyzed by polio in India every day. With support from USAID, the CORE Group Polio Project began helping India to eradicate polio in 1999. The project trained community mobilization coordinators to encourage mothers and families to immunize their children against polio.

The radio programs, which are supported by USAID’s Peace Through Development II project, employ sketches and mini-dramas to broach sensitive topics, and recently added full-length soap operas to their repertoire. While fictional, the dramas are designed to mirror society and engage listeners with relatable storylines reflecting their own hopes and struggles. The stories also demonstrate strategies to help listeners resolve conflicts and overcome obstacles in their own lives.

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