" I often think that all it would take to change the fate of Africa and to turn poverty around would be just twelve good men. Could you imagine if there were twelve Mandela's or Mother Teresa's or Ghandi's in Africa? All of Africa would be transformed. "

Professor Rory Knight, Zimbabwe national

Board of Directors, Gratia International

This idea refers to the power of change led from within with the right values and the right leadership. History demonstrates the importance and viability of change led from within, or ‘self-reliance’. Yet, the international development system, in many ways, denies basic self-reliance and by extension the basic dignity of the very people it aims to help.

Poverty

Poverty is a complex challenge. Can we truly even begin to address such a complex and interrelated set of issues as that underlying poverty by only embracing certain elements of the fundamental problem in isolation? Even if we improve the economic status of some, are we helping to create sustainable change towards a world worth living in, where competent and ethical leadership sustains the on-going development of the people and their communities?

Human Dignity

So what does Gratia International know about sparking transformation in practical and meaningful ways? We know that sustainable change starts with local change makers acting in their own communities; that transformational change transcends the socio-economic and political realities in aid of the people and inspires principled engagement to change the world for the better; and that such change requires an unwavering moral compass and respect for human dignity.

Gratia's Role

At Gratia we support core elements of unique initiatives with high impact potential that do not necessarily fit into the traditional international development model, but support development in powerful and extraordinary ways.