Why We Work

MAG America believes that all conflict-affected people have the right to build peaceful and prosperous futures, free from the impact of the remnants of conflict. Too often landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), small arms and light weapons (SALW) are left behind after conflict and remain harmful to innocent civilians even after peace is established.

These remnants of conflict kill and injure an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 people a year - around one person every twenty minutes. And the devastation is much wider than physical. Remnants of conflict affect the way people live, work, and play, and prevent entire communities from escaping the poverty and suffering caused by conflict.

Because of the contamination that plagues these countries, the basic elements for growth, or even survival, eludes these communities. Land is simply unavailable ...

Schools can't be built and children often walk an hour or more to school - when they can attend

Roads that could connect rural villages to markets are never created, leaving no outlet for farmers to potentially sell cash crops

Irrigation systems that could give water to rural households, which could have huge health and economic benefits for families, can't be constructed

And the most basic necessity - land to farm so that families can eat - is scarce leaving many people in these rural communities without enough food to eat in non-growing seasons

The following short videos highlight why MAG means SCHOOLS, WATER, and FARMS. Without MAG, in so many communities, these basic necessities are just not possible. MAG works to remove these weapons to finally enable hope for the future and an opportunity to prosper. Only then, can these countries have peace.