Winrock International

Volunteer Opportunities: Yes

History

Winrock International traces its roots to a charitable endeavor established by Winthrop A. Rockefeller at his ranch on Petit Jean Mountain, near Morrilton, Arkansas. Winrock International Livestock Research and Training Center was created to improve animal agriculture, in part utilizing expertise developed in raising Santa Gertrudis cattle at the mountaintop Winrock ranch.

In 1985, that institution merged with the Agricultural Development Council (A/D/C) and the International Agricultural Development Service, both founded by Winthrop's brother, John D. Rockefeller III, to form Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development (Winrock International). Now headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Winrock International has continued and expanded its mission. Winrock’s significant innovations in agriculture, the environment, clean energy and leadership development help people improve their livelihoods while protecting the resources on which they rely.

The Promoting Sustainable Practices to Eradicate Child Labor in Tobacco (PROSPER) program in Tanzania aims to protect and withdraw children of all ages from child labor in the tobacco-growing sector. The program addresses both the social and economic factors that drive smallholder tobacco farmers to employ children in hazardous work and those that compel children to seek such work.

The Achieving Reduction of Child Labor in Support of Education (ARISE) program in Brazil, Malawi and Zambia focuses on three areas that can have the greatest impact on the lives of working children: economic strengthening, raising public awareness and improving educational quality and access and reinforcing the local regulatory framework.

The Cambodia Counter Trafficking in Persons program (CTIP II) works to strengthen government's capacity to design, lead, coordinate and evaluate efforts to combat all forms of trafficking in persons; enhance survivor protection and care services; improve law enforcement capacity; and promote effective national and local prevention strategies to reduce trafficking in persons.

Mission

To empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources