Penn's Tsunami Response

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Penn’s Partner Relief Agencies

In our efforts to help rebuild education in the tsunami-affected region, Penn will collaborate primarily with the following four aid agencies:

Ashoka is a global organization of leading social entrepreneurs—individuals with innovative and practical ideas for significant social change in their communities. In the immediate aftermath of the tsunami, Ashoka Fellows in the region mobilized to provide short-term relief and are now collaborating on reconstruction and long-term social change.

Penn anticipates providing both financial and technical resources to Ashoka. Penn will work with Ashoka to broker collaborations between University experts and Ashoka Fellows. Penn has particular strengths in educational and social welfare program evaluation and measurement and may also be a resource to Ashoka in that respect.

For more about Ashoka, go to http://www.ashoka.org.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a non-profit humanitarian agency that works with communities affected by conflict or natural disaster. IRC has been working in Aceh, the area of Indonesia most seriously affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami, for several years. In response to the destruction inflicted on the people and infrastructure, IRC is assisting in the rebuilding and redevelopment of education in some of the worst affected parts of the province.

Penn anticipates providing both financial and technical resources to the International Rescue Committee. Penn will collaborate with IRC’s Child and Youth Protection and Development Unit to identify ways to assist in the provision of materials and other needed psychosocial support for children and teaching staff, so that education and other structured activities are restarted, maintained and made accessible to Achenese children.

For more information, go to http://www.theirc.org.

Operation USA assists developing communities to address problems arising from natural and man-made disasters and chronic poverty through the creation of sustainable health, nutrition and disaster-response programs. Operation USA’s initial response to the tsunami disaster focused on short-term relief, largely in Sri Lanka. The next phase of its work involves partnering with local agencies to rebuild communities.

Penn anticipates providing both financial and technical resources to Operation USA. Operation USA will expedite on-the-ground partnerships between Penn teams and local agencies.

For more about Operation USA, go to http://www.opusa.org.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, was created in the belief that nurturing and caring for children is the cornerstone of human progress. Working in 157 countries around the world, UNICEF has the global authority to influence decision-makers and the global reach to realize innovative ideas and programs at the grassroots level. Children’s education has long been a priority of the agency—a priority reflected in UNICEF’s work in the tsunami zone.

Penn will be a resource to UNICEF as it works on teacher training in the region, and we are looking into possible collaborations around the reconstruction of child-friendly schools. Penn has particular strength in educational and social welfare program evaluation and measurement, and may also be a resource to UNICEF in that respect.

For more about UNICEF, go to http://www.unicef.org.