ALMERE/NIJKERK – Eastern Europe lacks a stimulating business climate, hindering entrepreneurs in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from developing their businesses. Obtaining loans is complex and very costly. Moreover, specific knowledge, such as expertise in export, is not accessible to smaller entrepreneurs. These factors prevent otherwise successful companies from growing into solid SME enterprises. The Dutch foundations Dorcas and Kom over en help aim to offer entrepreneurs a new growth perspective through the investment company SharInvest, which they have jointly established.

SharInvest connects investors in the Netherlands with entrepreneurs in Eastern Europe. This initiative focuses not on startups but on established companies with growth potential. This growth aligns a healthy financial return with social impact. To qualify for an investment from SharInvest, companies must demonstrably contribute positively to the local community, for example, by creating jobs for people with fewer employment prospects. Investors in the Netherlands provide not only financial input but also knowledge and access to their networks to Eastern European entrepreneurs.

SharInvest offers Dutch investors a return that consists of social impact on local communities and a modest financial return. Dorcas and Kom over en help, the initiators, have been active in Eastern Europe for decades and possess extensive knowledge of the local (business) culture and social structure. Both foundations also have a large network and contacts with local churches, social organisations, and governments.

Several Dutch entrepreneurs are involved in the establishment of SharInvest. Over the coming years, the investment company aims to grow significantly to give a positive boost to local communities and increase the self-reliance of individuals. Investing in SharInvest is possible starting from €100,000.

About SharInvest

SharInvest invests in local small and medium-sized enterprises in emerging countries in Eastern Europe. The investment company is a driving force behind growth and sustainability by contributing to access to finance, knowledge, markets, and relevant networks. Through this, SharInvest invests in tangible and sustainable impact in Eastern Europe.

Our world is in turmoil: 2023 saw a marked increase in crises and people in need. And this immense need painfully highlighted the gaps and divisions in our fragmented world. Dorcas rose to this challenge and focussed on building bridges.

Through the power of partnership, we bridged gaps in equality and opportunity so that marginalised individuals could connect and participate and their communities flourish. We served as the bridge to connect our stakeholders and supporters with those in need. That bridge enabled us to respond immediately when Syria was hit by earthquakes, continue our support in Ukraine, and stand up for those whose needs are less visible, such as farmers in Tanzania and Mozambique. Throughout 2023, we also worked hard on the foundations needed to support strong bridges. For example, we improved our compliance with the Core Humanitarian Standard, continued key strategic partnerships, and expanded our advocacy efforts with a human rights campaign to raise awareness for just societies in which everyone can participate.

Our collective efforts enabled more than 1.4 million people in 14 countries in Eastern Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East to cross the bridge towards a more flourishing life. 44 Dorcas shops, 3121 volunteers, 75,353 individual supporters, 5125 companies, 4372 churches, 428 Dorcas staff and many valued partner organisations made this impact possible. 

Bridges towards a more hopeful future highlighted in our Annual Report 2023 are:

• Ukraine – frontline resilience boosted through cash, mental health and psychosocial support.
• Albania and Moldova – community development projects enable marginalised individuals to flourish.
• Lebanon – protection and resilience of displaced persons and their host communities increased.
• Syria – markets and livelihoods restored in Aleppo.
• Yemen – humanitarian assistance provided through the Dutch Relief Alliance.
• Iraq – water supplies restored and hygiene improved.  

Annual report 2023

Inspired to act?

Read the next story or contact us to get to know more about making an impact together.

The newly formed Dutch government presented the coalition agreement which show significant budgetary cuts within development cooperation. The overall budget will be cut by 2.4 billion euros annually. This means a reduction of no less than 30 per cent of the current development cooperation budget. 

This decision will make it more difficult to support people in need. Dorcas is therefore disappointed in the result of the negotiations between the new government parties. A large portion of the budget has already been laid down in various multilateral treaties, leaving much less financial means for the work of organisations such as Dorcas. 

This disappointing news does not mean that we will give up. Together, we work hard to continuously support those in need. 

Written by: Agnes Kroese, CEO of Dorcas

Freedom? 

I’m in Romania.  Together with teacher Christina, I walk through a neighbourhood where most people are Roma. We visit projects of local partner organisations. Suddenly, Julia comes running towards us, a girl in a brightly coloured dress with a big smile on her face.  Enthusiastically, she wraps her arms around her teacher. Christina responds to the embrace and hugs Julia back. 

Julia feels it 

 This may seem normal to you, but for Julia, it isn’t. The Roma neighbourhood is usually avoided by her fellow villagers. And even though Julia is still so young, she feels it. She notices others talking about her. 

At school, Julia struggled to keep up. Until Christina saw her and the other Roma children. She helped them by giving extra tutoring. What Christina does might not seem so important.  But it is small gestures like these that make a big difference in the lives of people who are excluded. 

Celebrating freedom 

Today we pause and remember. Tomorrow, we celebrate freedom. These two days evoke mixed feelings in me every year. Of course, I am grateful for the freedom we live in, but it still feels double. Worldwide, there are still millions of people who are excluded, oppressed, or worse. I can’t celebrate freedom without thinking about all those people who don’t live in freedom. 

Persecution of Roma 

The Roma community that Julia is part of lives in freedom, but is still stigmatised and excluded. Most of them live in Romania, where there are about two million of them. They too were heavily persecuted during the Second World War. Up to half a million Roma lost their lives in labour and concentration camps. 

After this horrific violence against them – and against all those other population groups – we have unanimously said, ‘Never again!’ And yet, the Roma community is still looked down upon today. They are marginalised and have fewer opportunities. So, they live in freedom, but are they truly free? 

Never again! 

Then I am grateful for people like Christina. People full of love for others, who dare to go against the tide. They don’t look away, they look around. Through all the prejudice, they see the person. 

Let us follow the example of people like Christina. And let us work together, with love and compassion, for a world where freedom and equality are for all. Only then can we say, ‘Never again!’ 

Agnes Kroes is CEO of Dorcas. Agnes:”I contribute with great dedication to our mission in creating opportunities for people and communities to flourish. One of the ways I do this is through a monthly column in Dutch newspaper Nederlands Dagblad. In this column, I share insights from my professional experience at Dorcas. My aim is to inspire, inform and encourage readers to engage with Dorcas’ initiatives, campaigns, and projects.“

Written by: Agnes Kroese, CEO of Dorcas

Surrounded by children, I walk alongside the chief, the local leader of the village. I am back in South Sudan once again. The land I’ve come to call my ‘second home’. From 2019 to 2022, I served as Country Director for Dorcas here. South Sudan ranks high on lists where you don’t want your country to be at the top. The majority of the population depends on assistance and struggles daily to survive. Despite the challenging conditions, I have never regretted my decision to live and work in South Sudan for a few years. The country and its people have touched me in a way that cannot be put into words. And it feels special to be back here.

What do you share when you have nothing?

The chief and I walk towards the centre of the village. A large number of people have gathered under a big tree. They are mostly women and children. Years ago, these people left their homeland, South Sudan, seeking refuge in Sudan. They had just managed to build some semblance of a life when the conflict broke out in Sudan. Desperate, they saw only one way out: back to South Sudan. Back to this village where, as best they can, they find shelter with family. Family who want to be hospitable. But what can you share when you have nothing yourself?

Limited resources

Dorcas, along with ZOA, has initiated a project to support the returning refugees and their host families. We do what we can, but our resources are also limited. And when I see the large group of refugees there under that tree, I feel overwhelmed for a moment. Almost powerless. It’s heart-wrenching to see. What have these people already been through? And what lies ahead for them?

This is the reality of the work of organisations like Dorcas. The number of crises worldwide is rising, and with it, the number of people in need. However, we can only spend each euro once and sometimes have to make very difficult choices. It’s almost discouraging.

Giving up is not an option

But I cannot, I will not, accept the fact that so many people worldwide suffer from injustice and an unfair distribution of resources. We can indeed do something. Even if it’s just a drop in the ocean. You may wonder what the effect is. And indeed, sometimes you hardly see it reflected in the statistics. But I see the people behind the statistics. The people touched by such a drop. Also in South Sudan. The young man in a wheelchair receiving his vocational training certificate with a radiant smile. The mother proudly showing me her goods at the market and telling me that her children can go to school thanks to the income she generates. The group of villagers walking proudly across the newly built dike; when the next rains come, they will be safe from the water.

A sea of peace and justice

So, it may sometimes seem like a small drop, but all the small drops together form a stream. And many streams can grow into a wide river. Into a sea of peace and justice. Is this a utopia? An illusion? Perhaps, but still, I choose to believe in it. Because every drop counts.

Agnes Kroes is CEO of Dorcas. Agnes:”I contribute with great dedication to our mission in creating opportunities for people and communities to flourish. One of the ways I do this is through a monthly column in Dutch newspaper Nederlands Dagblad. In this column, I share insights from my professional experience at Dorcas. My aim is to inspire, inform and encourage readers to engage with Dorcas’ initiatives, campaigns, and projects.“

The current conflict in southern Lebanon is the latest in the country’s long list of crises. It is further eroding the weak economy, undermining food security and increasing the strain on basic health services. The worsening socioeconomic situation is sending more people into poverty, fuelling a growing need for humanitarian assistance. However, the geopolitical nature of the conflict and cuts in humanitarian funding from the UN are making it harder to meet people’s basic needs. The Lebanon Humanitarian INGO Forum recently published an urgent plea for the cessation of hostilities in Southern Lebanon, as these are exacerbating the country’s growing humanitarian needs. Dorcas is seeking what role it should play in this rapidly developing and sensitive situation.

Current situation in Southern Lebanon

Over 90,000 people have been displaced so far from southern Lebanon (mostly women and children), some 60,000 remain in the conflict zone, and more than 50 civilians have been killed. Medical facilities have been hit, and damage to water infrastructure has affected water supplies to over 100,000 residents in the South and Nabatieh governorates. Many schools have closed and so 20,000 children cannot continue their education. And almost 2,000 hectares of farmland have been destroyed by fires as a result of shelling, resulting in a loss of income for farmers and further harm to food supplies.

Impact on the work of Dorcas

Dorcas continues its long-established programmes to support Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian, and migrant worker populations with psychosocial and legal support, school meals and educational support for children, and support to improve income stability. The conflict in Southern Lebanon has not yet impacted these programmes directly but that could change if rising humanitarian needs in the country call for different priorities to be set. Then Dorcas needs additional funding to expand its food security and livelihoods programmes. However, so far, and at the request of the Lebanese authorities, Dorcas has responded to the needs of displaced people from Southern Lebanon by providing food, blankets and mattresses. Dorcas is well-equipped to scale up such specific efforts should the need arise.

Growing and changing humanitarian challenges

The food insecurity crisis in Lebanon is growing. According to an IPC analysis, at least 21 per cent of the population will experience high food insecurity from April to September 2024, increasing the need for food assistance. Unemployment continues to rise, and over 60 per cent of people who have jobs work in the informal economy, where job security is low. Therefore, the need for cash assistance and livelihood support is set to grow. The healthcare situation in Lebanon is dire. Government spending on healthcare has decreased significantly, and the Lebanese pound’s devaluation has rendered the allocated funds almost worthless. Medicines are in short supply and their costs are soaring. Therefore, trying to meet the need for free or low-cost medicines for an increasingly impoverished population with a rising number of patients is an immense challenge.

These humanitarian challenges on the ground are compounded by actual and potential funding cuts. For example, the World Food Program reduced cash assistance to Syrian refugees by 30 per cent and discontinued in-kind food assistance to 33 per cent of assisted Lebanese households. The situation for the estimated 200,000-250,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon – most of whom are there as a result of previous conflicts – is particularly precarious. If current UN programmes in education, healthcare, and social safety net assistance stop, a huge humanitarian gap will arise that will be hard to fill. Although INGOs could step into such a gap, the process of transferring the entire responsibility for the Palestinian population across many different organisations would take time and be detrimental to the well-being of Palestinian refugees who rely on these services. Furthermore, the burden of these responsibilities could also have a negative impact on the existing programmes of the organisations concerned.

Dorcas role in the coming months

Dorcas will carefully monitor this funding situation so that in consultation with other INGOs and the Lebanese authorities, it can take appropriate action should the need arise. However, for now, our focus is prioritising food security for the most vulnerable.

Plea for the cessation of hostilities in Southern Lebanon as growing humanitarian needs are further exacerbated: Humanitarian organisation are urgently calling for an end to hostilities in Southern Lebanon. Six months of violence have displaced many people, resulting in severe disruptions to education and healthcare and more people depending on assistance. The financial implications are immense, at a time when the country was just emerging from its worst economic crisis in decades. Despite challenges, humanitarian organisations remain committed to providing assistance to those in need.

In response to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Yemen, Dorcas Yemen has signed a petition urging the international community to amplify its support for the conflict-torn country. The petition, initiated by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), highlights the urgent need for enhanced funding and assistance as Yemen grapples with severe economic downturn, exacerbated by years of conflict.

Yemen, already one of the poorest countries in the Middle East, is facing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. The economic downturn, now in its ninth year, has plunged millions of people deeper into poverty, pushing them to the brink of survival. The situation has been worsened by widespread food insecurity, with millions of Yemenis struggling to access basic necessities.

The ongoing conflict has led to the displacement of millions of people, with families forced to flee their homes in search of safety and shelter. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) face dire living conditions, lacking access to adequate healthcare, clean water and education.

Against this backdrop, Dorcas Yemen has joined forces with other humanitarian organisations to call for increased funding and support from the international community. Dorcas emphasises the critical importance of addressing the root causes of the crisis and providing immediate assistance to those in need.

The effects of the ongoing conflict continue to devastate Yemen, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence and instability. As the situation worsens, the need for urgent action becomes ever more pressing.

Dorcas Yemen’s involvement in this petition reflects its unwavering commitment to alleviating the suffering of communities in vulnerable situations and advocating for sustainable solutions to humanitarian crises. We urge the international community to heed this call for increased support and solidarity with the people of Yemen during their time of dire need.

Clean drinking water is not merely a convenience, it is a fundamental human need and a cornerstone of public health. However, millions of people around the globe still lack access to safe water sources, leading to severe consequences for their health, livelihoods, and overall well-being. Understanding the gravity of this issue is pivotal, as is the urgent need to address it effectively.

Consequences of inadequate access

The ramifications of inadequate access to clean drinking water are profound and far-reaching. According to recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, approximately 785 million people worldwide still lack even a basic drinking-water service, with many more consuming water that is contaminated or unsafe. This precarious situation exposes individuals and communities to a myriad of health risks, including waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and diarrhea, which claim the lives of over 2 million people annually, predominantly children under the age of five.

Moreover, the absence of clean water perpetuates a cycle of poverty, hindering economic development and exacerbating inequalities. Without access to safe water for drinking, cooking, and sanitation, communities struggle to maintain good health, attend school regularly, or pursue livelihood opportunities, trapping them in a cycle of poverty and deprivation.

Importance of clean drinking water

Ensuring universal access to clean drinking water is not just a matter of basic necessity: it is a fundamental human right. Clean water is indispensable for maintaining health, sanitation, and dignity. It serves as a cornerstone for sustainable development, empowering individuals and communities to thrive economically and socially. Additionally, adequate water access is crucial for achieving various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those related to health, education, gender equality, and poverty eradication.

Agnes Kroese, CEO of Dorcas recently visited Yemen. She met with a wide variety of people, all with one commonality: limited access to clean drinking water.

Armed conflicts and humanitarian crisis have caused Yemenis to seek safer refugee. Many have been living in camps for years.

“I was in one of these camps: a barren, open plain. There was no water to be seen in the wider area. When I asked for drinking water, one of the women showed me a jerrycan. The water in the jerrycan ws clearly polluted.“

Agnes Kroese, CEO Dorcas

Role of Dorcas

As a humanitarian organisation committed to addressing the structural causes of poverty and exclusion, Dorcas exemplifies core values such as compassion, justice, and stewardship in its efforts to improve access to clean drinking water. Through targeted interventions and community-led initiatives, Dorcas works alongside communities in vulnerable situations to implement sustainable water solutions that meet their specific needs and circumstances.

Practical solutions

Addressing the global water crisis requires a multifaceted approach that combines infrastructure development, community engagement, and policy reform. Practical solutions include:

• Investing in infrastructure: Building and maintaining water supply systems, including wells, boreholes, and water treatment facilities, to ensure reliable access to clean water.
• Promoting hygiene education: Empowering communities with knowledge about safe water practices, sanitation, and hygiene to prevent waterborne diseases and promote overall health.
• Supporting water harvesting and conservation: Implementing rainwater harvesting systems and promoting water conservation techniques to maximise the sustainable use of available water resources.
• Advocating for policy change: Advocating for policies and regulations that prioritise equitable access to clean water and sanitation services, particularly for marginalised people and communities.

The consequences of limited access to clean drinking water are profound and multifaceted, affecting health, livelihoods, and overall well-being. Addressing this global challenge requires collective action, guided by principles of compassion, justice, and stewardship. By investing in practical solutions and empowering communities, we can ensure that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has access to this essential resource and the opportunity to lead healthy and dignified lives. As we strive towards this goal, organisations like Dorcas play a crucial role in catalysing positive change and transforming the lives of those in need.

Around the world, as many as one in four people have no access to clean drinking water. Clean drinking water is of vital importance. Dorcas supports communities to improve access to clean and safe water. We do this by, for example, repairing boreholes in Iraq, distributing water in Yemen and building new water taps in Mozambique, Kenya and Ethiopia. Or by installing solar panels so that existing boreholes can be put to better use. In Mozambique, the limited access to safe drinking water causes major problems. With WaterTime, Dorcas Mozambique has improved the access of safe and clean water.

>> Dorcas organises Water Power (Actie Waterkracht) campaign to raise awareness about the lack of access to clean drinking water. More details on this campaign (in Dutch) via Actie Waterkracht.

Written by: Agnes Kroese, CEO of Dorcas

From all sides, women and children come running. By their side, a donkey with empty jerry cans. I am in Yemen. This mountain village depends on only one well. And this well only works when there is electricity. On average, this is maximum one hour per day. On average, because the last time the water pump worked was over two days ago. By now, all the jerry cans have been emptied to the last drops. No wonder everyone rushes to the water pump now that there is electricity for a moment. Water is literally vital in this parched area.

Yemen is located in the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a beautiful country with a rich culture. The Romans called Yemen ‘Arabia Felix’, Happy Arabia. Nowadays, Happy Arabia is hard to find. These days, we mainly know Yemen for the armed conflicts and the humanitarian crisis.

Flood

Due to these problems, Yemenis have fled massively. Many have been living in camps for years, both inside and outside the borders. I was in one of these camps: a barren, open plain. There was no water to be seen in the wide surroundings. When I asked for drinking water, one of the women showed me a jerry can. The water inside smelled and was clearly heavily contaminated.

One in four

Unfortunately, the water problems in Yemen are not unique. Worldwide, as many as one in four people lack access to clean drinking water. With serious consequences: people suffer from thirst daily, become ill, and get diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid. Due to climate change, the water problem is likely to only worsen in the future.

Bright spots

It could make you feel hopeless, but fortunately, during my visit, I also see bright spots. Like the extra wells we dig and the latrines being built. Or the installation of solar panels, so that existing wells can be betters. But above all, the sparkle in people’s eyes.

Water and life

The visit to Yemen makes an impression and has motivated me even more to participate in Actie Waterkracht (Water Power campaign). I take on the challenge of only drinking water from March 16th to 22nd. This means that I have to go a week without the refreshing cup of coffee in the morning. I also pass on the glass of soft drink at my niece’s birthday party. This way, I reflect on the people for whom a glass of water is already a luxury item. Especially during this Lenten season, the period of reflection in preparation for Easter.

Moreover, by drinking only water for a week, I save € 17.50. With this amount, Dorcas can provide one person with access to clean drinking water. So, we give water and life. For example, to the people in that mountain village in Yemen. That’s why I participate in Actie Waterkracht (Water Power campaign).

Agnes Kroes is CEO of Dorcas. Agnes:”I contribute with great dedication to our mission in creating opportunities for people and communities to flourish. One of the ways I do this is through a monthly column in Dutch newspaper Nederlands Dagblad. In this column, I share insights from my professional experience at Dorcas. My aim is to inspire, inform and encourage readers to engage with Dorcas’ initiatives, campaigns, and projects.“

This opinion article is written by Jochem Duinhof. He is a Political Advisor at Dorcas. With this opinion article, he argues for continued support for Ukraine. This article is published in Dutch newspaper Nederlands Dagblad (ND).

Solidarity with Ukraine is under pressure. Not only in the United States, but also in Europe and even in the Netherlands. On the one hand, there is the conflict in the Middle East, which understandably receives a lot of media attention, but pushes the conflict in Ukraine into the background. On the other hand, there seems to be an increasing Ukraine fatigue. In March 2022, only 11 per cent of Dutch people were not in favour of welcoming Ukrainian refugees. According to the most recent poll, this percentage currently stands at 23 per cent. In the week since the large-scale Russian invasion began two years ago, this is a painful conclusion. 

Especially among Dutch right-wing parties, support for Ukraine is under pressure. The PVV (Party for Freedom) wants to end all direct support to Ukraine, the BBB (Famer-Citizen Movement) wavers on how unconditional the support should be and FvD (Forum for Democracy) is openly pro-Russian. Also, this week, several right-wing politicians expressed negative views on support for Ukrainians. This time it concerned the reception of Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands. The politicians painted the picture that Ukrainians favour coming to the Netherlands and come to our country en masse to benefit from our prosperity. With that, the cost of hosting Ukrainians would be higher for the Netherlands than elsewhere, the message is.

This is a false frame that is not based on the facts. The fact that Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland receive at least twice as many Ukrainian refugees in terms of population as the Netherlands is ignored. As is the fact that Belgium receives only a fraction fewer Ukrainians than the Netherlands (0.0063 vs 0.0079 Ukrainians per inhabitant). That this sentiment is being stirred up is nothing new. Yet the frame created is incorrect. In a democracy, opinions are of course allowed to differ, but they should be based on the facts.

Self-interest

Furthermore, the suggestion that supporting Ukraine only costs us something does not do justice to reality. It is naive to turn our heads away from the conflict in Ukraine. Ukraine is our first line of defence: if Ukraine holds out, it is in the direct interest of the Netherlands. However, if Russian forces conquer Ukraine, it is highly questionable whether this will end Russian expansionism. More importantly, Ukraine is fighting for something bigger: self-determination, democracy and human rights. These core values are of great importance to the Netherlands. We benefit from a world in which these core values are respected. So, supporting the Ukrainian people is about much more than our jobs, healthcare and housing: it is about protecting the global system that we have reaped the benefits of for decades. With the growing influence of autocracies such as China and Iran, this system is under pressure. It is therefore essential that we as Europe continue to stand for our democratic values. A Russian victory could therefore have disastrous consequences for our position on the world stage.

Hypocrisy

Above all, tampering with solidarity with the Ukrainian people tends towards hypocrisy. After all, we have been pleading for years for “reception of refugees in the region”. This time, we are the region for Ukrainians. Take for instance a country like Lebanon, which, with its five-and-a-half million inhabitants, receives one-and-a-half million Syrians. That is no less than thirty-five times the number of Ukrainians per Dutch citizen. And to think that Lebanon has been facing a severe political and economic crisis for years. So as far as the reception of Ukrainians is concerned, it is up to us to take our responsibility; after all, we have passionately pleaded for this system for years.

Solidarity

Concluding, this is not the time to abandon Ukrainians. Two years after the large-scale invasion, the struggle continues unabated. This year, the UN calculated, 40 per cent of Ukrainians left behind need humanitarian assistance. Our solidarity with the Ukrainian people is not free, but the costs are low compared to the horrors the people of Ukraine have been facing for two years now. Polarising between Ukrainians and the Dutch is not the solution. We need politicians that bravely face the challenges we face as a country: showing solidarity with the victims of this conflict and effectively addressing problems within our own borders. The two need not be played against each other; we can both show solidarity with Ukraine and address our domestic problems. However, this requires political courage, and the will to show constructive leadership in times of scarcity. With the formation still in full swing, the stakes are high in that respect. Let us therefore hope and pray that our people’s representatives do not abandon Ukraine, especially now.