Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School will host Mr. Joshua Poole, a Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) Country Representative from Madagascar. At a student assembly this Friday, Mr. Poole will share his personal reflections about his ministry with students.
Friday, April 28, 2017
9:00 a.m.
Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School
403 North Lansdowne Avenue
Drexel Hill, PA 19026 (Delaware County)
In his work with CRS, Mr. Poole represents one of the world’s poorest countries. More than 50% of all households in Madagascar can be classified as food insecure, and 90% of the country’s population lives on less than $2 a day. In addition, it is one of ten countries most exposed to global warming, which has caused a severe drought.
Last month, Cyclone Enawo hit the country’s northeastern coast and displaced more than 10,000 people. Mr. Poole said, “We were fortunate to have a large USAID funded project in one of the affected areas and have been responding with immediate food assistance as well as WASH Kits [Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene], Protection Kits (for pregnant women, children and handicap) and Education Kits.”
Mr. Poole began his development career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Madagascar serving in Ampitambe and Marovoay. He primarily supported the adoption of System of Rice Intensification with farmer groups and cooperatives around the Moramanga and Ambatondrazaka region. After two tours of service with Peace Corps, he went on to work for the United States Embassy in Antananarivo as the Ambassador’s Special Programs Manager, with a portfolio of grants around the island. He then worked as the Project Director for Adventist Development and Relief Agency before transferring back to the United States for higher education opportunities. Poole worked in CRS Headquarters in Baltimore, serving as a Public Donor Liaison II covering West Africa and Madagascar from 2010 to 2013.
After three years at CRS Baltimore Headquarters, he transferred back to the field, this time supporting the startup and implementation of a new USDA Food for Education award in Lao PDR in the East Asia Region. He helped support the Country Program of Laos to grow from just 12 staff to over 80 and managed the country’s first food aid project of more than $12 million, feeding 35,000 students in more than 300 schools as well as supporting literacy and inclusive education efforts.
After two years managing the USDA project, Poole served as Head of Programs in Laos. In 2015, he became the Country Representative for CRS in Madagascar.
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Editor’s Note: CRS began working in Madagascar in 1962 to provide life-saving relief in the wake of natural and man-made emergencies and address issues of chronic poverty and injustice through innovative and sustainable development programs. To learn more about CRS in Madagascar, please visit http://www.crs.org/our-work-overseas/where-we-work/madagascar.
Mr. Poole is available for one-on-one interviews. To schedule an appointment, please call Ms. Maureen McCullough, Maureen, CRS Regional Director, at (610)203-6155.
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