HELP International is an international volunteer and internship placement program that sends individuals around the world to empower people and fight poverty through sustainable development initiatives. HELP is working with impoverished communities in countries around the world including— Nepal, Philippines Peru, Uganda, Greece, India, Thailand, and Fiji. HELP International works closely with local partners in-country to create sustainable development programs, focusing on education, health, and business. Volunteers assess the needs of the community with the support of local organizations. They develop projects that will help the people to become self-sufficient. HELP International began in 1999 as a response to the suffering caused by Hurricane Mitch in Honduras. A group of 46 volunteers fundraised over $115,000 and went to Honduras to give aid to those that were affected. Eventually the original group of HELP Honduras became a full NGO operating around the world as HELP International.