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CoLaborers International

Where the mission field meets your field of study

Chestertown, MD   |  www.CoLaborersInternational.com

Mission

CoLaborers International assists international indigenous-led community organizations reaching women and children. We assist through volunteerism, aide, program development and support. This is where the mission field meets your field of study. We serve to empower indigenous-led missions while also giving ways to serve in your field of study or expertise both locally and abroad.

Ruling year info

2008

CEO

Melissa Davis Stuebing MA, CAC-AD

Main address

104 Spring Ave #959 PO Box 959

Chestertown, MD 21620 USA

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Formerly known as

JESUSpolitik

EIN

64-0960198

NTEE code info

Youth Development Programs (O50)

Other Housing, Shelter N.E.C. (L99)

Personal Social Services (P50)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

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

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

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

Population(s) Served

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.

Population(s) Served
At-risk youth
People with HIV/AIDS
Children and youth
Economically disadvantaged people

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.

Population(s) Served

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.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Health
Social and economic status
Children and youth
Health
Social and economic status

Where we work

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

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.

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.

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

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

CoLaborers International
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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CoLaborers International

Board of directors
as of 11/17/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

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

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • 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

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 11/17/2022

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
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Decline to state

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data