Recent Posts by Betsy Baldwin, WV Humanitarian & Emergency Affairs

Building the best shelter for the displaced

Late last week — after months of hard work, design, and planning — students from three different schools gathered at John Brown University to present their solutions to the growing need for shelter of displaced people worldwide. World Vision has been on the front lines, responding to the challenge of providing contextually appropriate shelter that offers privacy, security, and refuge from the elements — all while being resistant to future disasters, like flooding and earthquakes. As a part of the World Vision team that responds to emergency situations, I have firsthand knowledge of the importance of temporary shelters and was called upon to judge the student’s designs....
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An aid worker’s answers about the Horn of Africa

On Tuesday, we asked you what questions you have about disaster aid and assistance, in an effort to help you better understand the current humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa and its implications for aid recipients and aid donors. Betsy Baldwin, whom we introduced you to, answered some of your most pressing questions. Read the post that started this: Ask an aid worker about the Horn of Africa. Betsy is a program officer for World Vision Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs, currently focusing on relief efforts in the Horn of Africa, where 12.4 million people are affected by drought and famine. She has degrees in civil engineering from Iowa State University and Virginia Tech, and has worked in relief development...
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Being a humanitarian — from the desk or the field

Editor’s note: In an effort to raise public awareness of humanitarian assistance worldwide and the people who risk their lives to provide it, the UN General Assembly has designated August 19 as World Humanitarian Day. This year’s theme is “People helping people,” celebrating everyday humanitarians helping people around the world. From wherever you are today — at home, at a desk, or in the field — be inspired by the spirit of aid work in those around you and in yourself. In my new job at World Vision, I was recently sent to assist our response to the drought, food crisis, and famine across the Horn of Africa. I had spent several weeks learning the systems of World Vision from...
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