Silver Spring, Maryland—Paulo Lopes has been named country director for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) office in Haryana, India. Lopes' appointment became effective March 1, 2007.

As country director, Lopes will be responsible for the overall leadership of ADRA's activities in India. His duties will include liaising with government agents, local donor agencies, local media, and other nongovernmental organizations, along with offices throughout ADRA's international network. Additional responsibilities include the recruitment and training of ADRA staff members and the administration and supervision of all aspects of the ADRA India office.

"As I look at the world, and the huge needs that are out there, I feel inspired to keep going, and through my ministry with ADRA make the world a better place," said Lopes.

Lopes first worked for ADRA in 1992, when he accepted a post as the finance director for the ADRA office in Angola, a country that was at the time embroiled in civil war. Finance positions for ADRA Mozambique and ADRA Armenia followed, before arriving at ADRA India in July 2005 to serve as the office's finance director.

"Choosing Paulo to be country director was an easy decision, given his extensive international experience and his ease at adapting to new and difficult circumstances," said Ronald Kuhn, regional director for ADRA Asia. "Paulo has always been very committed to humanitarian work, and loves to empower others. He's always had a dream to work for ADRA India, and now he has accomplished that dream. We are confident that Paulo will continue to meet and exceed our expectations."

Lopes holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from the Instituto Superior de Ciencias Aplicadas (Superior Institute of Applied Sciences) in Sao Paolo, Brazil. He has also received training in finance management, project management, monetization, and project management accounting.

Lopes is joined by his wife Edra, and their two sons, Lucas, 14, and Marcos, 12.

ADRA India was officially registered as an active nongovernmental organization in 1992. Its key portfolios work in the areas of Economic Development, Vocational Training, Water and Sanitation, Emergency Management, Basic Health Care, and Local Infrastructure.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.

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Media Contact: Nadia McGill ADRA International 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Phone: 301.680.5145 E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org