For the last three years I have been giving crappy presents for Christmas. Well, maybe not crappy. Well thought out but probably not very fun. When I say well thought out, I really mean it. It is hard to choose. Every year I stare at the computer screen, making impossible choices as to where to send my money in honor of my loved ones while tears stream down my cheeks because of the overwhelming amount of need and at the frustration of being one of the people who send money instead of one of the people making things happen. At the incredible injustice of the world. I use the Global Giving website. There are thousands of grassroots projects requesting money in almost every country in the world. How do you choose?
Combat Malnutrition in Kenya with the Moringa Tree?
Moringa trees are rich in vitamins A, C, calcium, iron & potassium; higher in protein than soybean meal; drought resistant, add nitrogen to soil; anti-bacterial; used for household water purification; a source of edible oil, bio fuel & cattle feed. Trees purchased fund education for EYAC members. Planted at orphanages & schools, the trees provide a sustainable solution for malnutrition. Training women in business and product development will provide empowering income-generating opportunities. Fantastic idea, right?
Empower Marginalized Young Women in Ghana?
In our holistic school-based program, marginalized women turned apprentices develop their seamstress skills to transform hand-dyed fabric and up-cycled plastic sachets into handmade bags, wallets and aprons simultaneously taking classes. They receive the tools necessary to practice a trade, make a living and become self-reliant leaders of their communities. Each girl graduates from ABAN with over $200 USD and the skills to use it wisely to provide herself and her child with a brighter future. Sounds great!
Puppets Against Abuse in Kinshasa?
The work of Puppeteers Without Borders (PWB) is to give local educators, artists and puppeteers the tools to address the specific problems of the Kinshasa society by training them to create strong, compelling performances which can encourage new understandings and behavioural change. At the same time our puppeteers will train local social workers to use puppets as a therapeutic tool to help the outcast children overcome the effects of their traumas, that are a result of being accused of sorcery. I didn't know this was a thing... but I do know that for children, play therapy can be life saving.
Rescue Children Suffering from Severe Malnutrition in Nepal?
Through an innovative program of nutritional therapy using only locally produced ingredients, NYF has helped save thousands of children afflicted with malnutrition. While the children are recovering their health, NYF nutritionists teach the mothers safe nutritional practices and proper food preparation. This not only ensures that the children stay healthy once they leave the NRH, the entire family's nutrition benefits from the mother's training. They say that 50% of children in Nepal suffer from malnutrition and that most of that malnutrition is caused by not understanding proper nutrition, not poverty.
Simple Surgery to Restore Eyesight in Ehthiopia?
In particularly remote areas of the Gamo Gofa region, there are currently little or no eye care facilities, yet a simple surgery is the sight-saving answer for thousands of affected Ethiopians. With effective surgery, someone's suffering could be over in a matter of hours. This could change so many lives!
Stop South Sudanese Mothers from Dying in Childbirth
Our Onura Maternal Survival Project will pay for sterile medical supplies; a childbirth delivery bed; and training for midwives on handling delivery complications and providing prenatal and postnatal care, newborn care, and family planning services. Did you know that in some parts of Africa, a woman has a 1 in 12 chance of dying in childbirth during her life time? 1 in 12!
See what I mean? Thousands of well thought out, worthy causes. Thousands of people who's lives could be made infinitely better. But who should be chosen? And, who should be left behind? So.. if you are scrambling for last minute gifts or can't find the right thing for those people in your lives who have everything, give it a look. Cover some of those that I don't choose. Just pick two people and replace their gifts with gifts in their honor from a worthy cause. I don't have a big following (Hey you 19 awesome people!) but even if just the 19 people who have followed my blog picked two charities to give to, that would be 38 organizations. That's a LOT more than I can do on my own. And, every time I write a new post I get about 200 hits. I know most of these are my mom (Hi mama!) but lets say 100 are from other people. That's 200 organizations that could get money. Cool, right? Just consider it. And maybe pass the word...
