SAWSO : Salvation Army World Service Office

World Service Office
Programs

HIV/AIDS &
Community Health

Microfinance

Anti-Human Trafficking

Disaster Relief

The Salvation Army World Service Office
615 Slater's Lane, P.O. Box 1428
Alexandria, VA 22313

Tel.: +1.703.684.5528

About SAWSO's Programs

The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO), opened in 1977, is designed to find lasting solutions to poverty around the world. Since the beginning, SAWSO personnel have maintained the original aim: to help people help themselves through sustainable programs that improve living conditions, raise skill levels, increase productivity and instill self confidence.

The first director Major (later Colonel) Ernest A. Miller (1977-
1981) through the current director, Lt. Colonel Joan Canning,
maintain this mission. SAWSO works within numerous program areas with expertise in topics of Anti-Human Trafficking, HIV/AIDS, Community Health, Disaster Relief, Economic Empowerment, Microfinance and others. Goals in each of these program areas are realized through partnership with the local communities, other Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs), various US government funding agencies and donors. In addition to public donations for international work, SAWSO has been able to leverage more than $123 million for global development projects from USAID and other government and private funding sources.

One strength of SAWSO’s work is The Salvation Army’s footprint on the ground in so many developing countries. At present, there are more than 940,000 officers, employees and Salvationists working in these countries. SAWSO’s mission is to support and strengthen these efforts.

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), established by the United Nations (UN), provide concrete benchmarks for SAWSO programs in its work to address extreme poverty around the world. These goals were launched in 2000 for accomplishment by 2015.

SAWSO continues to ignite hope through development. For SAWSO development means more than projects, or funding or buildings. PEOPLE are the heart of development. Development is a dynamic process of positive change when PEOPLE …

Learn to recognize their own needs

Plan their process of change.

Carry out their planned action.

Review how their action has brought about change.