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 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 occurred in the early 1980s, to more fully reflect the nature of work that is being carried out.
ADRA Canada started developing its humanitarian work in 1983, was officially established in 1985 and has since partnered in over 80 countries around the globe. The main thrust is to help people to help themselves. Following its mandate, ADRA 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 Canada responds to disasters by providing funding for food, clothing, water, medicines, and temporary shelters to those suffering from famine, hurricanes, cyclones, earthquakes, floods, and conflict.
In the development field, ADRA’s work continues as we try to break the poverty cycle. Income generation programs, water and sanitation initiatives, agricultural improvement seminars, micro-finance enterprises, cooperatives, basic shelters, literacy and health programs are all an integral part of ADRA’s work. Most of the projects accentuate the role of women and the protection of children.
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