Two small boys near the central Tanzanian city of Dodoma

While on a learning tour in 2007, I saw these two small boys near the central Tanzanian city of Dodoma demonstrating the philosophy of “accompaniment” used by many aid services throughout the world. Using this concept, organizations walk and talk with local people to ask how they can best give them encouragement and the means to support themselves over the long term.

This takes the form of teaching sewing, weaving, embroidery, pottery making and animal care in addition to building cattle enclosures, helping to start small banks to allow locals to purchase animals and providing drought-resistant seeds for better crops.

— MARIE REYNER, West Union, IA