In it's projects, Yme focuses on particularly marginalized groups. The organization continually seeks to aid the most impoverished areas in the countries it operates in, areas where few other NGO's are active.

Another of Yme's project aims is to anchor it's work to local partner organizations. This is done to secure the commitment of both local community and government. 

As of 2009, Yme is active in three African countries:

Angola
Mozambique
Somalia

During 2009 Yme anticipates beginning several projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Program areas:

• Water and Sanitation:
Access to clean water is the most basic premise for a functioning society.  Equitable water distribution continues to evade many of the worlds poor.

Although sanitation technology has improved dramatically, the inequitable distribution of water resources leave 1.2 billion people without access to clean water. 2.6 billion people lack access to basic sanitation. Together, these deprivations cause a child to die every eight seconds. 80% of all illness and death in developing countries is attributable to the lack of clean water and basic sanitation. 

Despite these disturbing facts, there are few organizations focusing solely in this field. Yme has more than 15 years experience in water projects, in this time developing a large network of partners in water distribution and supplies. 

• Vocational Training:
Education is one of the most important factors to change in a society.  Vocationally trained people are crucial for infrastructural development.  This creates an enormous need for qualified labour in most developing countries. 

Yme prioritizes vocational training because it provides its students with accredited knowledge. Yme wishes to contribute to young people's career progress and their further professional development.

The vocational training model which Yme uses is based on a philosophy where knowledge, curriculum and methodology are exchanged between schools in the different project countries. Our vocational institutions prioritize marginalized candidates, among them orphans, prisoners who have served their terms, and people with disabilities.

Yme projects aim to be catalysts for development.

As of 2009, Yme is working in three African countries:

Angola
Angola is a country in rapid development.  A civil war, which ended in 2002, left the country ravaged.  Since 2002 increased oil exportation and the entry of Chinese interests has significantly contributed to development. 

Yme has worked in the Angolan enclave of Cabinda since 1998. Yme has been here since before the end of the unrest in 2002.  Both, before civil war, during, and since the unrest of 2002, Yme has been the only organization working on water projects. 

In the absence of qualified organizations to collaborate with locally, Yme elected to set up a Cabinda which today employs 14 full-time staff.

The Angolan ownership of Cabinda is contested. Consequently, there is unrest in the enclave still, making Yme's work all the more precarious.

The main sponsors of the Cabinda projects are Norad (the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation), the local government in Cabinda and Norwegain oil companies operating in Angola.

Recently, Yme has been given funding from Norad in a three-year agreement, lasting from 2009 - 2011.




Mozambique
Mozambique attained independence from Portugal in 1975. The subsequent decade saw civil war, sabotage from neighbouring countries and full-scale financial collapse hampering the country's development. Thanks to a UN peace keeping operation, stability has returned to this African country.

Yme has worked to mobilize local societies and improve infrastructure in the country's Inhambane-province since 2004. The work is done in collaboration with the partner organization, The Foundation for Community Development (FDC).

So far the work in Mozambique has involved water and sanitation projects such as digging wells and building latrines, educational projects, erecting classrooms/teaching houses, and a chicken/fishery project.

The principal sponsor of Yme's work in Mozambique is Norad (The Norwegain Agency for Development Cooperation).

Recently, Yme has received funding from Norad in a three-year agreement lasting from 2009 - 2011. 




Somalia
As a result of the unstable situation in Somalia, there are no reliable statistics pertaining to demography, social conditions or economy. Although the lack of data means Somalia isn't scored on the UN development index, there is little doubt that this West African country is one of the most impoverished and underdeveloped countries of our world.

Since 2006 Yme has been involved in water projects in Somalia. The collaborators are NorSom and the General Service Agency (GSA).

Our collaboration has so far resulted in 3 new wells and the rehabilitation of 3 older wells in the central regions of the country. One of the new wells drilled in the capital of Mogadishu is now used to supply many international aid organisations, which distribute water to internally displaced refugees on the fringes of the war-torn city.

Yme started collaboration with Midnimo Women's Organization in 2007, aiming to increase female participation in the projects. 

In many parts the Somalia efforts are sponsored by the Norwegian Foreign Department. In 2008, Yme also ensured significant aid for its projects from UN OCHA in Somalia.

April 2009

Read more about Ymes emergancy assistance to the most droughts affected communities in Central regions of Somalia.