NRECA International’s Electrification of Yei, Southern Sudan Volunteer Program received the “Overall Winner” award in the “U.S./Developed National Category,” from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Center for Association Leadership.

It claimed the honor from a pool of more than 25 competitors.

“It was a great year for entries and we were thrilled to give the award to NRECA,” said Meghan Freedman, program director of International Outreach at ASAE.

According to Freedman, NRECA International’s entry best represented all components of the competition. “The concept was very simple yet impactful and helped to build a true, long-term solution,” she said.

About the Electrification of Yei, Southern Sudan Volunteer Program

In 2005, with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), NRECA International, Ltd. (Ltd.), a subsidiary of NRECA, began to build a rural electric distribution system and set up the Yei Electric Cooperative (YECO). 

To supplement the efforts of Ltd., the NRECA International Foundation recruited and funded 15 U.S. cooperative volunteers to help with construction, provide training to local crews and manage the utility.

By May 2008, NRECA handed the system over to the town of Yei. Today, YECO continues to expand service and provide reliable power to more than 17,500 people.

About the Award

Introduced in 2002, the Associations Make a Better World awards recognize outstanding association programs, projects and activities that make a significant contribution to society and economies around the world. The awards are presented annually to recognize associations making an impact outside of the United States.

Winners of the Better World Awards are determined by the following criteria:
   • Impact
   • Innovation
   • Involvement 
   • Resource utilization
   • Sustainability
   • Professionalism

ASAE will present NRECA with the award at its 2009 Annual Meeting & Exposition, August 15-18 in Toronto, Canada.

For more information about the International Foundation's Sudan program, visit the project Web site.

For more information about ASAE and the awards, visit the ASAE Web site.

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