Thousand currents

Thousand Currents: Mobilizing Resources and Relationships for a Better Future

Thousand Currents is a non-profit organization that has been working towards building loving, just, and equitable futures for over 35 years. The organization mobilizes resources and relationships to support grassroots groups and social movements around the world. With its focus on empowering communities, Thousand Currents has become a leading force in the fight against poverty, inequality, and injustice.

The organization was founded in 1985 as the International Development Exchange (IDEX) with the aim of supporting community-led development initiatives in Latin America. Over time, IDEX expanded its reach to other parts of the world and changed its name to Thousand Currents in 2016 to reflect its global presence.

Today, Thousand Currents works with over 200 grassroots organizations across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and North America. The organization provides financial support through grants as well as technical assistance to help these groups achieve their goals. By partnering with local organizations that have deep roots in their communities, Thousand Currents ensures that resources are used effectively and sustainably.

One of the key principles of Thousand Currents is that change must come from within communities themselves. Rather than imposing solutions from outside or relying on top-down approaches, the organization believes in supporting local leaders who have a deep understanding of their own contexts. This approach has led to many successful projects over the years.

For example, Thousand Currents has supported an initiative called "Seeds of Hope" in Zimbabwe which helps small-scale farmers improve their yields using sustainable methods such as agroforestry. By providing training on techniques like intercropping and soil conservation along with access to seeds and tools, Seeds of Hope has helped farmers increase their incomes while also protecting natural resources.

Another project supported by Thousand Currents is "Mujeres Luchadoras" (Fighting Women) which works with indigenous women's groups in Mexico to promote women's rights and economic empowerment. Through workshops on topics like leadership development and financial management along with microcredit loans for small businesses run by women entrepreneurs Mujeres Luchadoras has helped hundreds of women gain greater control over their lives.

Thousand currents also supports movements fighting against climate change such as La Via Campesina which is an international movement representing millions of peasants farmers landless workers rural youth indigenous people migrants agricultural workers fisherfolk pastoralists shepherds beekeepers etc., who are fighting for food sovereignty agroecology social justice gender equality peace democracy human rights environmental sustainability etc.,

In addition to providing direct support for grassroots organizations thousand currents also engages in advocacy work at national international levels advocating policies that promote equity justice sustainability peace democracy human rights environmental sustainability etc.,

Overall thousand currents plays an important role not only by providing much-needed resources but also by fostering relationships between different actors working towards similar goals around the world this creates opportunities for learning sharing best practices building solidarity networks among diverse actors all working towards creating more just equitable sustainable futures