Welcome to Oxfam America
Welcome to the online home of Oxfam America.
We’ve spent three decades working to change the world one village at a time. Through enduring partnerships with local organizations, we have helped millions of people to not only survive the devastation of wars, famines, and natural disasters, but to rebuild their lives. We trust local people to develop the best answers to local problems.
But we have learned that, even with intense grassroots efforts, no amount of village-by-village work will ever be enough on its own. Why? Because millions of the world’s poor people are economically paralyzed by systemic barriers they cannot dismantle on their own. All too often, a superstructure of laws, policies, and customs conspire—sometimes unintentionally—to trap people in poverty forever.
More and more, we have come to see the local problems of the world’s poor as inextricably linked to global, national, and corporate practices and policies. And we have the political expertise and international leverage to make a difference.
At Oxfam America, we are committed to continuing—in fact, to deepening and expanding - our local work. But we are also committed to blazing a new trail, one we believe will make our local efforts dramatically more effective, and could begin to change the way development work is done around the world.
It’s an ambitious proposition, certainly. But it wouldn’t be the first time Oxfam America has helped lead the way to creative change. From here, the future looks very interesting indeed.
We invite you to learn more and to join us in this exciting journey.
Raymond C. Offenheiser
President, Oxfam America
