By Lisa Millett
A returned missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is trying to help Filipinos to help themselves.
The Socio-Economic and Educational Development Project, an organization started by David Carr, a student at the University of Oregon who served a 2-year mission in the Philippines, hopes to help businesses and organizations in third world countries that lack the capital.
'Unfortunately, we live in a world of haves and have-nots,' Carr said. 'Whether you believe it is the failure of individuals or the flaw of the economic systems, we live in a world in which many that deserve an opportunity to succeed will never receive it.'
The SEED organization will also look for people who come out of the Academy for Creating Enterprise, an organization that teaches Filipino returned missionaries how to become successful entrepreneurs. The returned missionaries already have business plans, but need funding, Carr said.
'We provide funding for them to become a better business,' he said.
Carr, 23, a junior majoring in international development from Eugene, Ore., came up with the concept of the SEED organization with one of his mission companions while still on his mission.
'Neither one of us thought that we''d run with it, but now, because of the degree I''m getting in school, I''ve decided to go ahead and put something together,' Carr said.
While initially focusing on the Philippine Islands, Carr desires for the program to reach many other nations in need, he said.
Carr said his wish is to help establish these communities of opportunity for people in the Pacific Rim, Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
'I served my mission in the Philippines,' Carr said. 'That''s my reason for starting with the Philippine Islands. The overall goal is to expand this to other countries as well.'
Carr and his wife, Cathy, plan on traveling to the Philippines in April and spending two months researching business and community organizations that already exist there.
They''ve been able to put together a budget to do this, but any funding they receive for the organization will go directly to helping businesses in the Philippines, Carr said.
'That''s my part of it all,' Carr said. 'Any funding that we get will never go to pay for me or plane tickets or anything like that. I fund my way there. The sole purpose of the funding is to provide money for the people there.'
Once Carr returns from the Philippines, he plans on making proposals and sending grant letters to the government and charitable organizations. He also wants to set up a network with as many returned missionaries as possible and get them involved with SEED, he said.
Currently, Carr is working with the United States Agency for International Development to get funding for the project, he said.
'I have my ultimate dream that we''ll create an international network with returned missionaries to be able to go to third world countries and do this all over the place,' Carr said.