By Lewis Delavan
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK — Life in undeveloped countries is often like guerrilla warfare — there’s no predictability or reward for good behavior, former president Bill Clinton said in a keynote speech Wednesday during Winrock International’s 25th anniversary luncheon.
Bill Clinton addresses Winrock International's 25th anniversary luncheon.
Non-governmental organizations such as Winrock are helping bring a basic expectation of rewards for good work for poor people around the world, Clinton said.
Clinton praised Winrock International for serving as a model for NGOs around the world. Winrock is effective because it is adept at leveraging its resources to bring long-term results for poor people globally, he said.
The nonprofit organization, headquartered in Little Rock, operates anti-poverty programs in more than 65 countries.
NGOs can lead the way for social improvement, but long-term results depend upon a good social structure, Clinton said.
“We’re really in the ‘how’ business: How do you propose to turn good intentions into changed lives?” he said. “The work you and I do — no matter how good — will never be a substitute for a vibrant private economy and good government,” he said.
While NGOs can gauge their effectiveness by the decreased need of their service, the work will never be finished, Clinton said, adding, “There will always be gaps between where we are and where we ought to be.”
Clinton praised the late former Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller, whose philanthropic work led to creation of Winrock International.
“Here was a really rich guy who could be doing anything the wanted to,” he said. “He cared about the fact that there were too many poor people.”
Winrock seeks to create lasting change for disadvantaged people around the globe, Frank Tugwell, president and chief executive officer, said during the luncheon.
“We work to build the capacity of individuals and organizations to empower them to play an active role in transforming their communities, creating a lasting effect,” Tugwell said.
