Who We Are
CADRA is a Canadian independent not-for-profit organization founded in 2006 to help alleviate poverty, hunger and disease among the people of Africa regardless of nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions.
Why was CADRA founded?
It's founder, Edward Ndopu, envisioned an organization where all African communities would be brought together with one basic purpose, to have African people help each other become empowered. The African communities in Canada and abroad have been forced to settle and have settled by right in lands that have yielded them nothing. This settlement has served as a means to destroy family relationships and erect obstacles to true unification of African peoples. CADRA strives to build the foundation to bring African peoples together.
How does CADRA work?
CADRA works in the community to utilize the skills of African people to make them productive. All attempts are made to educate African people on the basis of self-awareness and the utilization of their own skills.
Consequently, a steering committee consisting of seven members was formed in order to realize this goal. Despite occasional setbacks and trials, the organization has persisted and is determined to take on future challenges in order to accomplish its goals.
Who does CADRA help?
We help people in Africa who are at greatest risk from situations that threaten their survival, or their capacity to live with an acceptable level of social and economic security and human dignity. Often, these are victims of natural disasters, poverty brought about by socio-economic crises, refugees, and victims of health emergencies. Our work includes long-term development projects, responding to emergencies and campaigning for a better Africa.
How does CADRA help?
CADRA projects address needs in the principal areas of food security and agriculture as well as health and HIV/AIDS. CADRA also supports water resource development, environmental management, basic education, micro-enterprise development, governance initiatives and emergency humanitarian aid.
We aim to overcome the root causes of poverty and injustice by:
- supporting self-help development projects in Africa,
- responding to emergency situations in Africa with humanitarian assistance, and
- advocating and campaigning for a better Africa.
Because the quality of aid assistance depends on understanding the cultures and contexts in which it is provided, we design and implement each response in concert with local needs and expertise, alert to regional circumstances and aware of ethnic, religious, cultural and/or national sensitivities.
What keeps CADRA going?
CADRA relies on the energy, talent, compassion and commitment of its volunteers and partners. Responsible international citizenship incurs obligation and demands action. CADRA acts to meet those obligations, recognizing that the hope it delivers to the African people is its own.
