Overview

The Better Lives team includes coordinators, local partners, schools, and families. All of these groups work together to achieve Better Lives’ mission and improves the lives of children.

Coordinators
Our small team of globally mobile coordinators assists our local partners with strategy, product development, and program management. Their objective is to improve the capacity of the local partners they work with so that over time partners become self-reliant.

Local Partners
Our local partner organizations support schools and families in their communities by collaborating to develop and deliver solutions that improve water access, soil fertility, income, housing, and education.

Families
Local families are our most important partners. They are both collaborators and customers. Families determine the success of programs and projects because they are the end-users. We engage families throughout the solution process because they have the best understanding how to improve the lives of their children.

Schools
Better Lives collaborates with dozens of schools across the world because schools play a vital role in the well-being of children. Schools understand children’s challenges and are important partners in delivering solutions that solve those challenges. Schools can help build the relationship between our local partners and the families and children they serve.

Student Groups
Student groups from the US and Europe contribute to Better Lives mission by collaborating with our local partners to fund and implement projects. Students raise money in their home country before visiting local partners to implement the projects they fund. Local partners greatly appreciate the project funding, as well as the opportunity to work shoulder to shoulder with students.

Volunteers
Individuals and small groups of volunteers can help improve lives in disadvantaged communities by offering their time and experience to projects and programs. Teachers, engineers, gardeners, construction workers, and many others with energy and a passion for helping others can make a positive impact. Collaborations can take many different forms.

We provide management and technical support to locally-run development organizations for programs in six focus areas: Access Water, Nourish Soil, Strengthen Health, Earn Income, Improve Home, and Enhance Education.

Projects within each of these areas include: water distribution systems, organic compost production, organic gardening, small business lending, home improvement, and improving school infrastructure.

We help families achieve sustainable food and income self-reliance. Sustainable self-reliance means that the families can sustain life-improvements without the need for ongoing charity.

We do this because when children are supported by self-reliant families and communities, they have the opportunity to grow up healthy, educated, and able to earn an income so they can support a family of their own and experience the joy of achievement and self-actualization.