The Adventist Development and Relief Agency Foundation (ADRA) Inc.,is an international non-government organizationestablishedby the Seventh-day Adventist Church with the specific purpose ofindividual and community development and disaster response. ADRAhelps people without regard to age, gender, ethnicity, or politicalor religious association; need being the fundamental criteria forall concerned interventions. This directive is an outgrowth of adeeply held belief that human life is infinitely valuable.ADRA was originally called Seventh-day Adventist Welfare Service(SAWS) in 1973. By the mid-1980s, the organization began to broadenits mission from disaster relief into programs leading to long-termdevelopment. In 1983, SAWS underwent a name and organizationalchange to better reflect its overall mission and activities,becoming the "Adventist Development and Relief Agency" (ADRA). ADRAis an international network of independent ADRA country officesthat operates in more than 120 countries around the world.ADRA concentrates its efforts in community-based developmentactivities and disaster preparedness, while also cooperating withother governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizationsin fulfilling this goal. Community-based development includes awide range of activities leading to improved health, economic andsocial well-being, and self-reliance.Disaster preparedness activities include advocacy and training oflocal partners in disaster prevention, mitigation, andpreparedness, as well as direct interventions in disaster rescue,relief, and rehabilitation. ADRA serves the entire Philippinearchipelago and maintains a National Office in Silang, Cavite, some40 km south of Metro Manila.
