I’m not the only one who feels that every person on this planet deserves a chance for a healthy, happy life. We think that being born into extreme poverty is neither natural nor fair and that we can do something about it! Not only can we, we must! The big problems we face in this world (environmental, human rights, gender equity, etc.) can’t get better until people stop worrying about how they’re going to feed their families. So, when we help one person become self-sufficient, we’re starting a domino effect that will improve the rest of the world!
I’m joined by some of my favorite people, and together we’ve donated $2,317.50 to these wonderful charities. Thank you giving circle members!
June 2011: Donation to Charity:Water
The economic loss due to lack of accessible, clean drinking water is estimated at 28 billion dollars in Africa alone. Women and children who spend hours a day in pursuit of water aren’t getting an education or building businesses. Water borne disease drains their health and energy. Violence over scarce water resources and to vulnerable women and children on their way to water further stresses the community robbing them of the strength and resources needed for strong communities.
We helped Charity:Water fund a village well giving a community access to fresh, clean water and an opportunity for a better life.
September 2011: Donation to Heifer International
An animal can change a person’s world. It can provide an ongoing source of food and income to a family giving them the resources to raise and care for a happy, healthy family. Heifer International provides an animal along with comprehensive training (including veterinarian and sustainable farming practices) to a family so that the can care for the animal and break the cycle of poverty. The family gifts the first offspring to another family in the community, so that the one by one whole community begins to be prosper.
Our donation helped one family break the cycle of poverty.
December 2011: Donation to Kickstart International
We don’t want to demean people by giving them a handout. People deserve the dignity of taking care of themselves– of investing in themselves. That’s why we liked Kickstart International, because they sell a subsidized water pump to rural African farmers. Buying the pump is an act of self-reliance and pride, but it’s subsidized to make it affordable. Because of this pump, the farmer can reliably irrigate his or her crops resulting in a reliable food source for the family and a reliable food surplus to sell to others. Not wanting to deprive locals of jobs, they partner with local shops to market and sell the pumps resulting in even more economic opportunity. This project is about creating a dynamic economic community, and we love that!
March 2012: Donation to Deworm The World
Sometimes, a cheap, little thing can make a big difference. In some parts of the world, parasites infect children causing health problems that make them sick, lethargic, and unable to attend (or pay attention) in school. For about 50 cents, a child can receive deworming medication keeping that child healthy enough to attend school.
Did you know that each year of education increases earnings that child will receive as an adult? So, if we’re interested in ending poverty, then we’re interested in people getting educated. Our $540 donation will help 1,080 children receive deworming medication.
June 2012: Donation to Fire Mountain Programs
A young man addicted to drugs is looking at a future of incarceration, of emotional, physical, and economic struggle. Unfortunately, the recovery rates for teens is quite low, and Fire Mountain is doing something about it by delivering a comprehensive program that provides ongoing support. They create new rituals in the lives of teens, because the process of getting high can be as important as getting high. So, when teens are getting sober, they have a huge gap in their life where the process of getting high used to be that needs to be filled, and Fire Mountain Programs creates healthy rituals. They prepare the teens for job interviews, getting apartments, and setting budgets so they can function economically.
Plus, Fire Mountain Programs focuses on their emotions and their relationships helping teens create strong, healthy network of friends and family to support their sobriety. Fire Mountain provides teens with responsibilities because they believe that more responsibility a teen has and the more important they feel their support is for helping other teens stay sober, the better they do in the long run.
We helped fund one kids scholarship to their sobriety program!
