wfn.org | Former LWF program in Bangladesh receives award at EXPO 2000

[FRANK.IMHOFF@ecunet.org]

HANNOVER, Germany/GENEVA, 27 July 2000 (LWI) - The Rangpur Dinajpur
Rural Service (RDRS), the former Lutheran World Federation (LWF)
Department for World Service (DWS) program in Bangladesh has received
an award for its "Integrated Homestead Farming Project" at the
ongoing EXPO 2000, the first world exhibition to be held in Germany.
The exhibition opened its doors on June 1, Ascension day, and will
close on Reformation Day, October 31.

The award by Hardenberg Concept, a global partnership organization,
was in recognition of RDRS's success in the competition for
demonstrating an innovative project to the world.

The Integrated Homestead Farming Project is a combination of
intensive home gardening, poultry, dairy and fisheries activities on
small homestead areas in rural Bangladesh where people are very poor
and near-landless. The project is aimed at increasing food
production, reducing risks and ensuring food security at the
household level.

^From 1972 to 1996, RDRS was the Bangladesh program of the
Geneva-based LWF/DWS. In 1997, it was transformed into a national
non-governmental organization (NGO) under its present name, RDRS,
Bangladesh. The history of the RDRS can be divided into three phases:
relief (1972-73 and as required in subsequent years during floods,
droughts and other emergencies, both natural and human);
rehabilitation (1974-76 and thereafter in the wake of disasters);
and, long-term development from 1976 onwards. The NGO works among the
rural poor in the country, which has around 120 million people.

In its new role as a nationalized NGO, RDRS has ventured into some
new areas of work, done mainly through bilateral projects. The
largest of the new bilateral projects were concentrated on integrated
methods of farming and fishing as well as expanding skills'
development and income creation.

The world exposition is organized every four years in a different
country and under a different theme. More than 170 nations and
organizations participate, and more than 20 million visitors are
expected during the period June - October 2000. This year's EXPO
theme is "People - Nature - Technology".

Meanwhile, the LWF is participating in the EXPO 2000 through its
departments for Mission and Development and DWS.

(NB: Photos available)

(The LWF is a global communion of 131member churches in 72 countries
representing 59.5 million of the world's 63.1 million Lutherans. Its
highest decision making body is the Assembly, held every six or seven
years. Between Assemblies, the LWF is governed by a 49-member Council
which meets annually, and its Executive Committee. The LWF
secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted, material
presented does not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of
its various units. Where the dateline of an article contains the
notation (lwi), the material may be freely reproduced with
acknowledgment.]

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Lutheran World Information
Assistant Editor, English: Pauline Mumia
E-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
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