- Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian organisation dedicated to reducing suffering and ending extreme poverty. Since the beginning, over 40 years ago, our focus has been on improving the lives of the poorest people.
- watch introduction video, 5.41 min. (about).
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Addresses (1 of 5): CONCERN worldwide, England and Wales, 13/14 Calico House, Clove Hitch Quay, London, SW11 3TN, UK;
Contact.
Our History: For more than 40 years, Concern has been dedicated to reducing suffering and fighting hunger and poverty. Today, Concern’s work is needed more than ever.
A small group of determined people started Concern in response to appeals from missionaries working in war torn Biafra in 1968. Africa Concern, as it was then known, was formally established in the home of Kay and John O’Loughlin Kennedy on 19 March 1968.
Send One Ship:
- Africa Concern with the Knights of Columbanus launched an appeal in June 1968 for the famine in Biafra with the slogan « Send One Ship ».
Becoming Concern:
- On 29 September, a 600 tonne ship named the Columcille arrived at Sao Tome, a Portuguese island off the coast of Biafra, filled with vital supplies of powdered food, medicines, and batteries. In 1970, a huge cyclone hit East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and the public were asked to respond. Africa Concern simply became Concern.
Continued work:
- Since then, Concern has gone on to work in over 50 countries, responding to major emergencies as well as working in long term development programmes. Today, with more than 3,200 staff of 50 nationalities, Concern operates in 28 of the world’s poorest countries, helping people to achieve major and long-lasting improvements in their lives.
- The main areas of focus are health and nutrition, education, HIV and AIDS and livelihoods.
Preparing for disaster:
- Concern continues to respond to emergencies. Its disaster risk reduction programme also aims to prepare people for disasters in vulnerable areas. Concern’s work is funded by members of the public, governments and other donors.
Looking forward:
- Hunger and poverty continue to devastate lives in the developing world. Unfortunately, the fact remains that Concern’s work is needed now more than ever. Our 40th anniversary, in 2008, marked an opportunity to look back at the work Concern has done, to thank all those people who have made it possible and to renew Concern’s efforts to help people living in extreme poverty and hunger.