Our History

Soon after the end of the Second World War, the Seventh-day Adventist Welfare Service (SAWS), was created to aid those affected by serious disasters, which were becoming more and more frequent. SAWS was incorporated in Maryland, USA on November 13, 1956. To reflect upon the Church's worldwide involvement, the name Seventh-day Adventist Welfare Service was changed to Seventh-day Adventist World Service in 1973.

As crisis situations became more and more serious, relief and development efforts increased and SAWS itself developed into a new organization called ADRA, Adventist Development and Relief Agency. This is now the official and separately registered international development and relief agency of the SDA Church. The name change from SAWS to ADRA occured in 1980, to more fully reflect the nature of work that is being carried out.

 

ADRA-UK opened its doors in 1987 and has since worked in many countries around the globe. The main thrust is to help people to help themselves. Following our mandate, ADRA-UK has successfully helped hundreds of thousands of people raise their level of living to a decent standard of which the participants can be proud.

Relief continues to be an integral part of ADRA's program. ADRA-UK responds to disasters by supplying food, clothing, water, medicines, and temporary shelters to those suffering from famine, hurricanes, cyclones, earthquakes and floods.

In the development field, ADRA-UK's work continues as we try to break the poverty cycle. Income generation programs, water and sanitation initiatives, agricultural improvement seminars, micro- enterprises, cooperatives, basic shelters, literacy and health programs are all an integral part of ADRA-UK's work. Many of the projects accentuate the role of women and the protection of children as they grow.