International Relief Managers – or IRMs – are a significant part of World Renew’s International Disaster Response ministry. We would like to highlight the work they have done in 2014 to help celebrate them during this national volunteer week in 2015!
In 2014, World Renew’s International Disaster Response team placed 16 IRMs who gave 13,460 hours of their time in Madagascar, Pakistan, Philippines and Zambia to help implement World Renew’s responses to disasters. That’s roughly the equivalent of 6 and a half full time employees for a year.
Here is a brief glimpse of what they accomplished:
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Madagascar: Cyclone and Locust Infestation
In late 2013, Madagascar was struck by two successive disaster events: a cyclone, then locusts which destroyed the crops of entire communities. World Renew and its local partner, the Church of Jesus Christ of Madagascar (FJKM), provided food, seeds and farming tools to 1,000 families in the Sakaraha district through a Food-for-Work program.IRMs Pete Diepsloot, George and Toni Fernhout, as well as Rients and Margaret Mazereeuw assisted with this project, providing assistance to FJKM. Pete Diepersloot helped with an initial needs assessment and met with local staff to begin planning the response.
IRMs George and Toni Fernhout implemented the first phase of the distribution of food, seeds and tools. They were responsible for the overall management of the project including needs assessment assistance and implementing the Food-for-Work activities; where community members worked on assets that would
improve their communities, such as irrigation canals, in exchange for food and other supplies.IRMs Rients and Margaret followed closely afterwards, assisting with additional food distributions, managing the ongoing Food-for-Work programs and overseeing the seed and tool distribution. They saw the project through to completion and assisted the partner with their reporting.
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Pakistan: Drought Response
World Renew and its partner, the Interfaith League Against Poverty (ILAP), responded to extreme drought in southeast Pakistan. The drought began in November 2013 when the annual monsoon rains failed. This resulted in severe shortage of food, water and animal fodder.IRM Mike Hoyer worked with ILAP to provide food assistance to 4,300 drought-affected families. He helped monitor the progress of the
project and ensured overall successful completion of the projects in the necessary timeframe and budget. -
Philippines: Typhoon Haiyan
On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines. World Renew assisted 3,977 households and continues to work in seven municipalities of three islands providing food, water, water filters, temporary shelter and hygiene kits. In its initial response, World Renew provided community generators, temporary shelters, kitchen kits, mosquito nets, sleeping mats, single-burner stoves and tanks, cash-for-work community cleanup activities and trauma counseling.Currently, World Renew is providing boats, nets and other fishing equipment to 508 families and repairing/rebuilding 1,915 homes. In addition, $1.4 million was awarded to World Renew by the Canadian government for long-term shelter, livelihood assistance and psycho-
social support to 21,860 people. Ten IRMs served in the Philippines in 2014 as part of this response: Harry and Annie Bergshoeff, Ron and Lauris Fuller, Harry and Greta Harsevoort, Dwayne Nienhuis, Bernie Schaaf, and John and Hilda Van Gyssel.
The work of these ten IRMs ranged from immediate disaster response work, needs assessments, office procurement, set-up and hiring of local staff; distributing non-food items; determining cash-for-work activities; assisting in psychosocial support programs; assisting with fishing equipment distribution and boat construction; and assisting in the program to construct new or retrofitted typhoon-resistant shelters. IRMs worked alongside staff members in each of these recovery programs and also provided managerial assistance to these programs where needed.
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Zambia: Food Insecurity
Eastern Zambia experienced soil degradation and declining agricultural yields. As part of its Community Development work, World Renew implemented an agricultural livelihoods program designed to improve the food security in 2,100 households. The project addressed root causes of household food insecurity, including soil infertility, limited knowledge of conservation farming techniques, difficulty in accessing quality seeds and vulnerability to changes in weather and economic situations. In an atypical IRM assignment, IRMs Harry and Annie Bergshoeff provided assistance to World Renew’s Community Development staff and partners towards the end of this program. They supported the partner in concluding the project and reporting to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank on the successes of this livelihoods program.
Madagascar: Cyclone and Locust Infestation
improve their communities, such as irrigation canals, in exchange for food and other supplies.
project and ensured overall successful completion of the projects in the necessary timeframe and budget. 
social support to 21,860 people. 
Eastern Zambia experienced soil degradation and declining agricultural yields. As part of its Community Development work, World Renew implemented an agricultural livelihoods program designed to improve the food security in 2,100 households. The project addressed root causes of household food insecurity, including soil infertility, limited knowledge of conservation farming techniques, difficulty in accessing quality seeds and vulnerability to changes in weather and economic situations. These examples are a sample of the multi-faceted work that our talented International Relief Managers do. World Renew is truly blessed by their selfless dedication to improve the lives of our brothers and sisters around the world!
It is an honour to work alongside these dedicated individuals, and we at World Renew thank God for our IRMs!
If you would like to learn more about the IRM program and how to get involved, please contact Vanessa at 1-800-730-3490 extension 4326.
