NGOs in Africa - Conservation and Development

This week I highlight 2 similar NGOs is Africa



Conserve Africa is a "non-governmental organisation that aims to promote and implement sustainable development practices, policies and strategies in Africa through dissemination of information, training, education, research, advocacy and campaigning".

The areas that they work on are - environmental conservation and protection, sustainable development, provisions for water and sanitation, natural resource management, poverty relief and public education on environmental issues.

Donate here

Rating: Highly Recommended *****

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Africa Foundation is a non-profit organisation that facilitates the empowerment and development of people living in or adjacent to protected areas in Africa, by forging unique partnerships between conservation initiatives and communities. The organization works in the areas of healthcare, education and income generating activities. The foundation works in the Southern parts of Africa and has contributed significantly to community development projects establishing schools, clinics and promoting environmental awareness.

Donate here

Rating: Highly Recommended *****

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KIVA

This week's NGO is the unique KIVA Microfinance

According to the website:

'Kiva's mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty. Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world'.

Kiva is a 3-yr old micro-lending platform that has enabled over 350,000 people from 157 countries to loan a combined $40M to the working poor. Lenders may select entrepreneurs of their own choice across 42 countries throughout the developing world.

In other words Kiva chooses entrepreneurs from the developing world, features them on its website and helps them with loans from individual donors, so donors can choose how their loans should be utilized. Entrepreneurs from the developing world then repay the loans once they have established their business and loans could then be given to other people in need.

Go to Kiva's website to get more information.

Rating: ***** Highly Recommended

NGOs and Old Age

This week I highlight two major NGOs which are specifically working for older individuals and their concerns. The Alzheimer's Foundation of America and Global Action on Aging are two such major and well-known organizations having worldwide reputation.



Global Action on Aging

The Global Action on Aging is associated with the United Nations and focuses on research and policies on the needs of older people. They specifically work on older people's health needs, human rights conditions and income support. The website is here and provision for donations is here.

Rating: ***** (Highly Recommended)



Alzheimer's Foundation of America

The related organization, Alzheimer's Foundation of America states their mission as follows: ”to provide optimal care and services to individuals confronting dementia, and to their caregivers and families—through member organizations dedicated to improving quality of life.” Providing for the health needs of individuals affected by dementia is one of the major concerns of the healthcare industry and the Alzheimer's Foundation of America has been consistently doing the best work in the field. The organization also maintains good transparency with detailed financial reports.
The website and donation info are here.

Rating: **** (Recommended)

Women for Women International

Women for Women International supports women in war-torn regions with financial and emotional aid, job-skills training, rights education and small business assistance so they can rebuild their lives. The organization is active in nine countries around the world.

According to their website - The NGO provides women survivors of war the opportunity and the tools to rebuild their lives, and their families' and children's lives, with job skills and agribusiness training, financial assistance, microcredit loans and access to markets.

This is a great way of helping the millions displaced in war and armed conflicts. The website and donation info are here


Rating: ***** Highly Recommended

Emirates Airline Foundation

The Emirates Airline Foundation has been doing a great job and provides food, medicines, housing and education to children of developing regions such as India and parts of Africa.From providing fresh water to building new schools for children of the devloping world, the Emirates Airline Foundation has also helped children caught in natural disasters. Medical specialists and medicine supplies are also sent to these affected areas.

According to their website - The foundation is a non-profit charity organisation formed by the Emirates Group to provide humanitarian, philanthropic aid and services for children in need.

You can donate through cheques and bank transfer and through their online website. If you are a frequent flyer with Emirates airline, you can also donate skyward miles...Go here

Rating - ***** Highly Recommended

Solar Light for Africa

Solar Light for Africa, Ltd. (SLA) is a unique non-profit organization. The mission of the NGO is to transform lives and empower the people of Africa by providing light and energy using the natural power of the sun or solar energy.

The goal of SLA is to educate the public on the advantages of renewable energy for the benefit of impoverished communities throughout the world.

Some of the activities of the group are:

*The decreasing of environmental and human degradation by providing a clean energy source, replacing the noxious fumes of kerosene lanterns that shorten people’s life spans.

*Aiding in economic development by providing light after the sun goes down for increased productivity and enabling students to study at night.

*Facilitating young people’s access to the 21st century by providing solar power for computers and televisions, enabling global education and internet connection through satellites for more than 15 schools.

Using solar power for activities in certain regions of Africa is a great effort as Africa lacks resources for many other forms of energy and thus finding and using alternative/non-traditional sources of energy should be encouraged.

Link is here

Rating - Recommended ****

Udayan Care - NGO in India

Udayan Care is an Indian Non-Profit Organization with its head office in New-Delhi.

According to their website - the vision of the organization is to ‘regenerate the lives of the disadvantaged’, particularly children. The NGO is committed to sustainable social development.

The organization's motto is change and they aim to give "Every child a home and education, every adult the dignity of self reliance and the desire to give back to society."

Udayan builds families for children in need: They create L.I.F.E (Living In Family Environment) HOMES for children, who are abandoned or orphaned and do not have natural Families. Through such homes the organization promotes family ‘bonding’, physical and mental health and social integration of these children, who were otherwise abused, physically as well as mentally.

Udayan Care creates opportunities for girls by supporting the holistic development of young girls from weaker sections of society through the 'Udayan Shalini Fellowship Programme' by providing them financial help as well as mentoring.

Please visit their website Udayan Care to know about their projects and make a contribution through volunteering, buying products or donating to change the lives of the disadvantaged.

Rating ***** (Highly Recommended)

World Vision International - Malawi

World Vision International works in all areas of Healthcare and Rehabilitation and the organization's work is especially well known for Child Sponsorship programs in Malawi. Malawi is one of the poorest nations in the world. World Vision actively seeks Child sponsors and donors to help the poorest communities and AIDS affected people of Malawi. Click on this link to go to world vision and sponsor a child.


Rating: ***** (Highly Recommended)

NGO review - The Hunger Site

In this blog I provide information and reviews on NGOs that are really making a difference. This week's NGO review:

The Hunger Site

The Hunger Site is an innovative website that has tied up with several charities and the funds generated from website clicks are distributed across 74 countries to help provide food to hungry people. Their mission is to end world hunger. Just click and make a difference.



Rating - ***** (Excellent - Highly Recommended)