History
World Dignity, Inc.
Brief Story January 1, 2006 – December 31, 2023
World Dignity, Inc. (WDI) was incorporated January 17, 2006, by Roger Parent, a member of the first group of Peace Corps Volunteers in Thailand and former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana. He, along with Rolande Parent and Richard L. Hill, founded WDI.
WDI is a non-profit organization 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) volunteer organization. No one is paid and board members support it financially. We believe that social change can only come from a partnership between rich and poor. Collaboration among all partners is our way.
During the past eighteen years, the board contributed, raised, and spent about $1.5 million, with a majority of those funds dedicated to its Dignity Scholarship program for poor students and their families. This program resulted in the sponsorship and graduation of 60 students from colleges in Thailand, India and Bangladesh. Ninety percent of the students were girls. Only one student dropped out of college.
In December 2023 World Dignity decided to discontinue all its operations but to maintain its nonprofit and 501 ( c ) (3) status in the event that it might be useful for another initiative. Soon after this decision, WDI was approached by a citizens group interested in exploring ways to enhance local news reporting in the greater South Bend Region, and it agreed to lead the efforts to conduct a study that will hopefully result in a major report on how best to move forward with this initiative.
In addition to the Dignity Scholarship Program noted above, WDI initiated and supported the activities listed below.
In Thailand:
*Teacher’s Helper – Phi Sohn Nong – Students Tutoring Students; summer projects such as English and Science camps;
*Dignity Teacher Sponsorships to provide teachers in underserved schools, including Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).
*Vision for Learning project to provide glasses for kids;
*Computers for Kids Learning in Koh Yao (OLPC: One Laptop Per Child);
*Emergency Assistance to Schools in Angthong Province after flooding;
*Anti-Smoking Campaign;
*Student Environmental School Community Project.
In South India, Laos and South Bend:
*Participated in Village development projects.
*Partially funded a workshop for teachers in Xieng Khouang Province, Laos;
*Assisted a school in Pascagoula, Mississippi hit hard by Hurricane Katrina.
*Operated a tutoring program and the Read Baby Read program (RBR) in South Bend.
Past Programs: