Manna’s Expansion Campaign

Manna Project is growing! From one international site to three (Nicaragua, Ecuador, and Guatemala). From the idea of a few individuals to the commitment of over 1,200 volunteers serving internationally. From three community programs to over 25. From one campus chapter to twelve. From a staff of zero to a staff of six. And from an annual budget of $65,000 to $400,000.

All of this within 6 short years. And our growth continues strong!

What does this mean? Well, simply and humbly put, I believe this means it’s working! Our model of “communities serving communities” is working! Lives are being changed, and changed for the better—lives of international community members, volunteers, staff and supporters!

It cannot be stated enough: Manna is about community. As an organization, our priority is both our volunteer communities and our international communities. Together, by serving one another, they gain skills, strength, and insight from each other, becoming stronger together than they were apart. Together they affect change, in themselves, in the other, and in both communities. It is meant to be a simple model. But please know that simple does not mean it is not powerful. For oh the power it holds!

Please also realize that YOU are part of this community. You have the ability to influence other people through your donation. You can provide us as an organization with the opportunity to give our volunteers the opportunity to give our international communities the opportunity to give their families the opportunity to all influence each other and to grow together. It’s a beautiful on-going cycle of influence and opportunity and right now you have the opportunity to greatly influence this cycle; to keep it going--making it stronger and greater.

To our volunteers, our alumni, and our past and current donors, I thank you for bringing Manna to where we are today, and I thank you for continuing to be a part of this community. And to those of you who are new to Manna, I thank you for your interest and humbly invite you to join us on this exciting journey of organizational growth and expansion!

Join us!

To learn more about our model in practice, check out our website, our blogs, and our videos.

“MPI has given me unbelievably meaningful exposure to international community development work. As year-long Program Directors, we are given the opportunity to make service work our lives. In order to lead effective programs, we must struggle through tough questions on community development. The tribulations, joys and lessons of volunteering with Manna Project got under my skin; I'm craving more…I entered MPI an eager college graduate who was excited to play with some kids and live in Latin America. Two years later (two years full of power-outages, cold and undependable showers, etc.), I have emerged with a lifelong desire to inspire positive change in health care in underprivileged communities. I could not be more grateful for Manna Project International and the positive change it inspired in my life.”

-Abbie Foust, Program Director-Nicaragua & Ecuador, 06-08

“Manna Project has changed the way of thinking in the community among parents, children and young people. They have learned that the development of our community and our country starts with education. The change doesn’t start with the government but within us. We have to be the difference we want to see in our country and in the world. The number of students in our community that had graduated from high school and gone on to college was very low and this has changed greatly in recent years due in part to every person that has worked with Manna Project International.

When we change our way of thinking about how to help others we will make better changes in the world. We should help others with the thought that we are helping a friend, not a needy person. Because it doesn’t matter which side you are on, helping or being helped, the experience we live will change our way of thinking and feeling and will change our lives completely. ”

-Exequiel Rocha, Community Member and Leader in Cedro Galan, Nicaragua, 2010