Programs and results
What we aim to solve
ZAMBIA: - Many children are living on the streets and are in need of help. - Farming areas have been negatively impacted by droughts (2019) and floods (2020) creating a nationwide food crisis. -Substance use treatment has not been widely available. INDIA: - Children are in slum areas are in need of education. - Anti retro viral medication is expense for those who need it. US: - Lack of resources for low-literacy / illiterate substance users
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
CoLaborers Zambia
Zambian led effort serving under-resourced communities of Zambia. We support locals as they identify and solve problems with local interventions to bring lasting impact to the community. Check out CoLaborers.com/Zambia for more info.
Drug & Alcohol Trainings: Most notable of these trainings was in 2018 June when we trained 40+ Zambian NGOs in a culturally appropriate and scientifically valid curriculum “Literacy-Free 12 Step Expressive Arts Therapy” aimed at helping addicted youth & adults. This was approved by Zambia’s Ministry of Health. A clinical study followed with amazing results- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2022.100424
Rural Child Scholarships
Drought and Flood food Relief
International Internship Program
Hope for India
Indian-led effort to assist people affected by poverty and HIV/AIDS. The orphanage provides medicine, basic care and education for children that have HIV/AIDS, are disabled, orphaned, or without family support through our child sponsorship program. The widow outreach provides visitation, medicine and basic needs for women that have lost their spouses to HIV/AIDS. Medical camps travel to do basic checkups and distribute ARVs in urban and rural slum areas. Community outreaches provide mentoring and food. Mobile schools are run in slum areas without education access.
Literacy-Free 12 Step Expressive Arts Therapy
The “Literacy-Free 12 Step Expressive Arts Therapy” curriculum contains 10 lessons using art, dance, game, horticulture, drama, handicraft and music therapy. It is authored by Melissa Davis-Stuebing and edited by Dr. Lauren Littlefield.
It was specifically developed for hard-to-reach substance dependent populations who might slip through the cracks of standard therapeutic services – such as illiterate and learning disabled populations, as well as participants with social anxiety, difficulty of self expression, trauma and co-occurring disorders. This curriculum requires just 1 facilitator. It goes through each of the 12 steps, forming recovery support groups at the completion of the curriculum so change can be sustainable and community owned. The 12 steps are a set of guiding principles for the person seeking recovery from addiction emphasizing peer support, behavioral change, spiritual wholeness and the importance of community.
Costa Rica
We are serving Nicaraguan refugee families in La Carpio slum. Within this slum is Las Gradas, an area inaccessible by car and built into the side of a cliff facing a river, named for the 125 steps that are surrounded by makeshift homes.
Next to this river is Las Gradas Betel (CFCI-CR), where CoLaboradores Internacionales missionaries serve providing services to the women and children including basic education, emotional intelligence/ mental wellness groups, counseling services, food, hygiene, arts and crafts activities, and vocational training to the parents.
Where we work
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Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
ZAMBIA: Zambian led. We support locals as they identify and solve problems with local interventions to bring lasting impact to under-resourced communities.
- Offer scholarships to children of the street who want to go to school.
- Support local efforts of organizations in education.
- Give relevant professional development trainings on various topics to women in low-income areas.
- Offer trainings in culturally appropriate, evidence based interventions for alcohol and drugs.
- Distribute food relief to as many families as possible.
INDIA: Indian-led. We work with locally led organizations and churches working in the area.
- Seek child sponsors for school age children that have school access.
- Seek scholarships for university for those graduating from child sponsorship program.
- Provide education resources in math, science and literacy in the slum areas where no school access is available.
US:
- Provide resources for substance users requiring no literacy, using arts, in English and Spanish.
- Run clinical studies of developed curriculum.
- Provide trainings for organizations.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
ZAMBIA:
- Locate sponsors for children wanting to go to school through website and church grant applications.
- Develop a special education curriculum for older street children.
- Secure grants to buy supplies for professional development trainings (such as sewing machines) and schedule trainings. Local project manager to monitor output. Sell products locally and on Etsy.
- For alcohol and drug interventions, we ran several clinical studies of a curriculum developed for use with non-literate, homeless Zambian youth and adults. These results were shared with the Ministry of Health and a country-wide training in our curriculum was funded by Rotary International Foundation. Trainings are still available at organizational sites upon request.
- Seek donations for food relief. Work with the local network of churches and nonprofits to identify needy families. Hire trucks for transport of mealie meal to be distributed by staff.
INDIA:
- Locate sponsors for children wanting to go to school through website and church grant applications.
- Send professional educators to serve in slums with Indian educators and together develop an appropriate curriculum in math, science, and literacy to areas without school access.
US:
- Developed, copyrighted and field tested "Literacy-Free 12 Step Expressive Arts Therapy" curriculum.
- Received endorsements from Maryland's Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists to train professionals in this curriculum for Continuing Education.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
STAFF - We have local / indigenous leadership in Zambia and India working with locally led organizations reaching target populations of women and children. All staff have education, training, and expertise in the areas necessary.
FUNDING & VOLUNTEERS - We have been awarded repeat grants over the years. We have faithful monthly donors to sponsor children. We have a large network of professionals who can serve in their areas of expertise freely.
ENDORSEMENTS & CLINICAL BACKING - Our drug and alcohol trainings have been endorsed by Zambia's Ministry of Health and Maryland (US) Board of Professional Counselors & Therapists. The drug and alcohol curriculum we have developed is available in English language/ US culture and Zambian culture versions. Kenyan culture and Spanish language / Latin American culture versions are being field-tested prior to availability. We have done several clinical studies thus far, including this US study published here - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07347324.2019.1681331
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
ZAMBIA:
- Children sponsored for school since 2013.
- Professional Development trainings for women in small business skills, carpentry & sewing 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018. Grants secured.
- "Flexible Lessons to Provide Foundational Skills in Literacy, Math & Science" curriculum and small library developed.
- 37 organizations trained "Literacy-Free 12 Step Expressive Arts Therapy" curriculum for drug and alcohol. Grants secured.
- 4 Zambian studies conducted and presented at scientific conferences. Most recent study results found clients significantly decreased in substance use. This is in the process of being written with US and Zambian researchers.
- Over 500 families provided food relief 2019- current.
INDIA:
- Children sponsored for school since 2009.
- Graduates received scholarships for university since 2017.
- Mobile education camps began in slum areas without access to education in 2018.
- " India Mobile Schools: Basics in Math, Literacy & Science" curriculum developed.
- Anti-retro viral medication provided to local organizations.
US:
- interns received in US and abroad since 2009 (various fields of study).
- US study of "Literacy-Free 12 Step Expressive Arts Therapy" curriculum published in peer-reviewed scientific journal.
- Spanish language version of curriculum developed.
- Dozens of organizations trained across Maryland.
WHAT'S NEXT?
- applying for CoLaborers Zambia to be a locally recognized NGO in Zambia, led with local staff
- Field testing Latin Amerian culture version of Spanish language "Literacy-Free 12 Step Expressive Arts Therapy" curriculum in San Jose.
- field testing Kenyan version of "Literacy-Free 12 Step Expressive Arts Therapy" curriculum in Nairobi.
- Sent long term staff to Costa Rica for language learning school and to work alongside local groups helping at-risk children. Hoping to start something there.
- Writing up the manuscript for the most recent Zambian clinical study to submit to journals.
- Expanding food relief programs in Zambia
- Expanding international internship programs (pending COVID19)
- Continuing mobile schools in India (pending COVID19)
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
CoLaborers International
Board of directorsas of 11/17/2022
Melissa Stuebing
Michelle Holland
CoLaborers International
David Stuebing
CoLaborers International
Melissa Stuebing
CoLaborers International
Rachel West
CoLaborers International
Sarah Pinard
CoLaborers International
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data