Website Answers Call for Help in Haiti and Liberia

The effects of natural disasters, civil war, extreme poverty, despair and hopelessness ravage Haiti and Liberia, deeply impacting the children who live there.  After mission trips to these countries, Allen Smith knows firsthand the daily struggles children must overcome to survive.  He also knows that these children cannot overcome the challenges on their own.  Allen founded World of God to fight back against the causes of poverty with sustainable aid for the children who need it.

Without a website it was difficult, if not impossible, for World of God to achieve their mission of helping children living in extreme poverty.  They needed to easily connect children in Haiti and Liberia to potential sponsors around the world.  Their website needed to put a face on the organization and allow visitors to personally connect to the cause.   With limited time, resources and web development expertise, World of God also wanted an automatic donor management system and an easy way to update the website content about their cause. 

"When we were trying to figure out what our website should include, other recommendations we received were too complicated and required more time from us to maintain,” said World of God Founder, Allen Smith.  “NPower knew exactly what we were looking for and gave us an easy way – using technology – to help children in remote parts of the world."

In March 2009, NPower launched the World of God website with a unique system that Allen and his team can access anywhere.  Allen was in Haiti working in the Bayonnais community when the most recent, devastating earthquake hit.  Allen was able to access the World of God website and their organization’s data base from Haiti. 

Through this technology, he quickly initiated communication asking for donations and support.  The flexible and easy-to-use features NPower implemented in the World of God website made it possible for World of God to respond immediately, raising money for Haiti earthquake survivors and rescue efforts. 

The site also simplifies donor management, which is critical when trying to generate funds quickly during times of crisis.  The site offers the ability to process reoccurring credit card charges and allows data to flow from the website directly to the donor management system.  This means that monthly tracking and processing shows who has donated what and when.  This system enables World of God to seamlessly track the children available for sponsorship.

World of God also has an independent content management system.  Even though NPower created the website, Allen and his team are not relying on an outside vendor for regular content updates.  This means that Allen was able to implement website updates and make changes to the homepage from Haiti when the earthquake hit.

Lastly, the website enables visitors to clearly understand World of God’s mission and allows sponsors to connect with children in a meaningful way.   An email function allows donors to send letters directly to the children they sponsor and a photo gallery offers personal information about each child.  These features make such a difference in developing a relationship between sponsors and the children they help.  Maintaining these relationships in a meaningful way is so important, especially at a time like this when the need is so great.

Without technology, World of God would not be able to fulfill their mission.  Their willingness to invest in technology enables them to make a difference in the lives of children across the world more quickly and effectively. 

As demonstrated during Haiti's recent earthquake, this technology enabled Allen to connect quickly with World of God supporters around the globe to help children in desperate need.  Long term, supporters can begin a personal relationship with a child living in extreme poverty in Haiti or Liberia for only $35 a month.

In his own words Allen said, “NPower set us up with an easy-to-manage website, so I who is not so technical, was able to access the site and our data base from Haiti, make some initial changes, and send a mass email asking for donations myself. Your improvements to the site have helped us, and we have collected (funds) for earthquake relief. We could work with any number of internet/technology consultants, but believe me, there is no one we could work with who would have the heart to respond as you have!”

Overall, the website creates a professional image for the organization.  Allen says, “The site gives us a significant amount of credibility.  The graphics are good, it makes us look professional and gives us the visibility we need.  If someone is thinking about making a donation but not sure if they want to commit, they can go to our website to really see what we are all about.”

A technology solution here at home is making a positive impact on a global situation.  Through the exchange of letters, photographs and resources, a connection with a child is formed. They become part of a family.  A new community is built.  Hope is given.  Lives are changed.

Visit the site at: http://worldofgod.org/