Silver Spring, Maryland--On June 30, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) bid a fond farewell to Rigmor Nyberg, country director for ADRA's office in Sweden. Nyberg established ADRA Sweden in 1985, and she leaves her post a 20-year ADRA veteran.

Under the compassionate and directed leadership of Nyberg, ADRA Sweden established vital relationships with the Swedish government and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which have contributed to the office's continued growth. To date, ADRA Sweden has donated approximately $50 million dollars worth of aid around the world to fund development and relief activities.

Over the years, Nyberg found herself a proponent of projects that helped women and young girls obtain an education so they could become financially independent. "To see the difference in people--especially young women and young girls--when they have been involved our projects was very satisfying,"
she says.

Nyberg says she leaves her post humbled and with a great admiration for the beneficiaries whom ADRA Sweden has helped. "They have so many ideas about how to make their lives better, and the determination too. But without the resources, it's nearly impossible,"
she explains. "I am grateful that ADRA has helped transform their lives."

During Nyberg's tenure, ADRA Sweden funded many significant projects, including providing relief aid for earthquake survivors in Pakistan and survivors of the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2005, combating the spread of HIV and AIDS in Africa, providing housing and training opportunities for disadvantaged women and girls in Bangladesh, rebuilding schools in Liberia, and providing food, medicine, and emergency supplies for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in war-torn Sudan.

"Rigmor will truly be missed, here at ADRA, both as a colleague and as a friend," said Raafat Kamal, regional director for ADRA Trans-Europe. "Her sincere and selfless desire to help others makes her an incredible person.
Her work, through ADRA, has made an impact in the lives of millions around the world."

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

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