By Angela Pometto
HERALD Staff Writers
(From the issue of 6/24/04)

When walking into the Purcellville offices of the International Partnership for Human Development (IPHD), it is clear that the agency is globally connected. The space is decorated with posters, needlework wall hangings, photos, sculptures and statues from places like Equatorial Guinea, the Central Republic of Africa and Moldova.

For more than 20 years, IPHD has been helping those in need around the world. IPHD currently has 150 people staffed overseas, according to William Pruzensky, president. It has provided more than $300 million in aid and donated 400,000 tons food worldwide. It organizes programs to provide food, water, clothes, shelter, medicine and education to the poor.

Pruzensky, a member of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Potomac Falls, was one of the founding members. Mostly created by former Catholic Relief Services (CRS) employees, IPHD began in 1983 in response to an invitation from Mexican Catholic bishops to serve the poor in Mexico. The program consisted of monetizing corn from America the was sold in Mexico at market price. The proceeds were used for continued help in agricultural development, purchasing seeds, reforestation and water development.

Since then, the organization has grown. In 1994, IPHD began sending aid to Eastern Europe. When the Soviet Union collapsed, aid programs were allowed to enter the country. "They didn’t have to rely on government for food and health care," said Pruzensky.

In 1996, the organization expanded to Equatorial Guinea, located near the central west coast of Africa, and several African countries. In its first 10 years, IPHD raised $106.2 million.

The small countries tend to be under served — forgotten by larger aid programs. "We fill the gap of other organizations," said Pruzensky.

IPHD currently funds Caritas International as well as Salesian missionaries, although it has also funded Jesuits in the past.

"We gravitate toward working with the Catholic Church whenever possible," said Vernon Conaway, executive director. The important aspect of the Church is that it provides a fixed infrastructure — from dioceses to the parishes. "It is natural to work with the Church," said Conaway, a member of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Purcellville. IPHD does not go into a country and start a program from scratch. Instead, it works through operations that are already in progress.

These missions are critical for the improvement of the entire community. The people learn skills that will enable them to find jobs and provide for families. IPHD helps in many ways with a variety of programs currently functioning.

According to Pruzensky, IPHD spends $650,000 on malaria prevention in Africa. This includes providing mosquito nets, insecticides and education for children and parents. It has also helped approximately 51,700 people with AIDS.

"You cannot do development without working with HIV AIDS," said Conaway, because so many people are infected. The growing number of orphans and widows attest to the influence of the disease.

Conway related the story of an African family of nine children. The mother had already passed away when the father died from AIDS. The nine orphaned children went to live with an uncle.

"How do you deal with nine extra children? It just doesn’t happen to us (in America)," Conaway said. "It happens every day over there." He also explained how there are many child-headed households, where the eldest child, perhaps a 15-year-old, is in charge of a handful of siblings.

The school lunch program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In Moldova, IPHD feeds lunch to 300,000 kids every day in a program that is slowly being transferred to the government. In the Republic of Congo, 165,000 are fed.

The food bank program began in the Republic of Guinea where, according to Conaway, the rural farmers usually depend on middle men for loans at the start of the planting season. These middle men take advantage of the farmer by asking for repayment crop to be purchased far below the market price. The food banks, housed in a central warehouse, get rid of the middle man by funding loans. It is then repaid at the going market rate. Another benefit is that excess product can be stored at the warehouse, where it is safe and rodent-free. The farmers can save crops to sell later in the year when the price rises, or they can feed their family when the home supply runs out. The benefits multiply as farmers take the idea and set up their own annexes, modeled after the original.

In the Central African Republic, there has been a food bank running for a year. During a recent visit, Conaway spoke to the local president. He knew that the donation had come through USDA, which he interpreted as the U.S. farmers.

"We are so happy that the U.S. farmers are helping us," the president said. "We look forward to the day when we can help the U.S. farmer."

"He couldn’t wait to return the favor," Conaway said, even though they are considerably behind the American farmers in production and technology.

Through IPHD, both Pruzensky and Conaway have had ample opportunities to travel.

Pruzensky said the best part of his job is meeting interesting people. He related the story of Salesian Father Anselmo Perez who worked with lepers, claiming him a saint. Father Perez, who passed away two years ago, wore poor sandals and tattered clothes, but he was a friend to everyone. Anytime there were any difficulties with the government, Father Perez was on the case.

"He was never pushy or aggressive," Pruzensky said. But he was willing to do what it takes to get the job done. Both he and Conaway agree that the people in the field who live with the poorest of the poor every day are the true heros.

"It’s easier to be here talking about what to do and planning," Pruzensky said.

"They’re the saints," said Conaway. "We know there’s a flight out. You come back humbled by what you see, and you continue to fight for more resources."

For more information about IPHD call 540/751-1630, e-mail iphdhq@iphd.org or go to www.iphd.org. Although the Web site is not running yet, it will be operational soon.