Find your favorite nonprofit or choose one that inspires you from our database of over 2 million charitable organizations.
Displaying 421–432 of 476
From Articles of Incorporation "Ikirwa School Project is a non-partisan, non-profit organization committed but not limited to the establishment, operation, and expansion of the Ikirwa English Medium School located in the rural village of Midawe near the town of Arusha, Republic of Tanzania. Activities included but not limited to the following: fund-raising and donation acceptance, recruitment of paid and volunteer labor, capital planning and expenditures, marketing, and maintenance for the benefit of the Ikirwa school." About Ikirwa School: The idea for this project was born during a camp-fire conversation between a Tanzanian guide and a Russian-American tourist. Gasper had a dream to build a school in his home village of Midawe to give local children access to English-language education and significantly improve their future academic and employment opportunities. After spending close to a decade managing World Bank capital, Masha was looking for a way to make a tangible contribution to development. Finally, America Educates, our NGO partner and fiscal sponsor, was looking for an education project in Africa. And so Ikirwa School Project was born. We are taking a multi-phase approach to building and establishing this school, starting with kindergarten classes and organically growing the school into a single-stream education program for up to 300 students. Tanzanian students are taught in Swahili and learn English as a second language. However, English has become a language of both commerce and higher learning, limiting the prospects of government school graduates, especially those who are unable to afford remedial language instruction, which is often needed to become proficient in English. Our project's goal is to provide the option of English language instruction to the children of Midawe and nearby villages. We will leverage resources offered by many volunteer organizations and the NGOs in both providing instruction and education materials to offer world-class quality academic instruction to the students as well as career development opportunities for the teachers. Our goal is to ensure that all our students score in the top quartile of the TOEFL test at the time of graduation and the Tanzanian instructors within 2 years of joining the staff. The seed funds for the project are coming from its founders, with Gasper contributing a plot of family land for school construction and Masha financing Phase I of construction. Students will be charged tuition and boarding fees and those funds are expected to eventually cover the majority of the operating budget. Up to 20% of spots will be allocated for underprivileged children of Midawe. The architectural plan calls for construction of 13 classrooms, 4 dormitories, offices, staff quarters, dining hall and kitchen, library and assembly hall in four phases. We have completed Phase I of the project, consisting of 4 classrooms and 2 offices. On January 7, 2013 Ikirwa School open its doors to 38 kindergarten and 1st grade students and has successfully completed its first semester on March 27th. Based on the feedback we have recevied during Parent's Day, the families are thrilled to have their children in our program and are impressed by the progress they are seeing. Our vision is to build a small school that makes a big difference and stands on its own without depending on outside donors for day to day operations. We intend to grow organically and pragmatically, building a track record and using our success to attract donor funds for capital improvements.
Girl Determined is a leadership project designed to assist girls ages 12-17 to avoid the pitfalls of trafficking, dangerous labor and other forms of violence, by facilitating girls' recognition of their personal and group potential. Because of our belief in girls as potential change-agents in their households, communities and nations, our program aims to increase girls' ability to make strategic life-decisions, generate choices and exercise bargaining power. This real empowerment creates opportunities for girls to better cope with their difficulties, envision alternatives and take leadership into their own hands. The underlying premise of Girl Determined work is that educating, connecting, supporting and fostering the development of personal and group voice amongst marginalized adolescent girls will derail cycles of abuse, poverty and neglect. Not only is adolescence a period when girls are gaining abstract thinking skills and sexual awareness, it is a time when they are all too quickly being pressured to take on adult responsibility and this is particularly for girls, resulting in lost growth and development opportunities. The rights of girls in Burma is often regarded as being equal to that of boys and girls rights, in general, is not thought of as a serious issue in the country, despite the fact that the sexual exploitation and the trafficking of young girls to China for forced marriage, for example, continues to increase, or that the so-called "un-wrapping" of girls (selling young, virgin girls into prostitution) continues to take place on the outskirts of Burma's most prosperous cities-Rangoon and Mandalay. This apathy, social acceptance and tolerance of rights violations against girls smacks of an underlying gender discrimination: a discrimination which forces more girls to drop out of school so their male siblings can continue; compels girls to engage in child labour, to support their families income or, more accurately, the short, often paltry economic interests of their parents/household at the expense of the best interest of the child. Girl Determined's work empowers girls to achieve that which is in their own best interest while working structurally to establish mechanisms for greater awareness of the specific needs of adolescent girls, their protection and increasing their life-opportunities. Girl Determined employs a three-pronged strategic approach: 1. Individual transformation - Adolescent girls will go through some form of personal transformation lending to a change in a girl's understanding of personal power and rights. Shifts will include reduction of shame and fear regarding violence, ability to identify and express situations of discrimination, value of self and education, motivation and skill to actively make decisions about ones future. 2. Network mobilization - Girls will develop a sense of connectedness with girls from across the country through their shared experiences and complex differences. By bringing girls together across space, through 'by-girls, for-girls' media projects, Girls' Forum and our Girls Advisory Board, girls will mobilize as defenders and actors. This wide network also creates a structure through which other programs could potentially be realized. 3. Research and Advocacy - Evidence-based research will assist Girl Determined in bringing increased attention to the plight and power of the girl child in Burma. We will focus research and related advocacy domestically, pushing governmental and non-governmental agencies to recognize the specific needs of girls in their programming.
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. In all of its work, UNICEF takes a life-cycle based approach, recognizing the particular importance of early childhood development and adolescence. UNICEF programmes focus on the most disadvantaged children, including those living in fragile contexts, those with disabilities, those who are affected by rapid urbanization and those affected by environmental degradation. UNICEF was created with a distinct purpose in mind: to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child's path. We advocate for measures to give children the best start in life, because proper care at the youngest age forms the strongest foundation for a person's future. We promote girls' education - ensuring that they complete primary education as a minimum - because it benefits all children, both girls and boys. Girls who are educated grow up to become better thinkers, better citizens, and better parents to their own children. We act so that all children are immunized against common childhood diseases, and are well nourished: no child should suffer or die from a preventable illness. We work to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people because it is right to keep them from harm and enable them to protect others. We help children and families affected by HIV/AIDS to live their lives with dignity. We involve everyone in creating protective environments for children. We are present to relieve suffering during emergencies, and wherever children are threatened, because no child should be exposed to violence, abuse or exploitation. UNICEF upholds the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We work to assure equality for those who are discriminated against, girls and women in particular. We work for the Millennium Development Goals and for the progress promised in the United Nations Charter. We strive for peace and security. We work to hold everyone accountable to the promises made for children. We are part of the Global Movement for Children - a broad coalition dedicated to improving the life of every child. Through this movement, and events such as the United Nations Special Session on Children, we encourage young people to speak out and participate in the decisions that affect their lives. For 75 years, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has been working tirelessly for child rights and for the well-being of every child. Whoever they are. Wherever they live. UNICEF has been an unstoppable force for change in the lives of children around the world. Since UNICEF was established, in the aftermath of World War II, we have been at the frontlines of humanitarian crises, armed conflict and natural disasters. Undeterred by the scale of the crises, we rise to the challenge, reimagine what is possible and respond by helping millions of children survive and thrive. Our on-the-ground expertise has reached more than 190 countries and territories, through committed partnerships and a passion for innovation.
Real School in Goris is founded to create an informal education in Goris which will give the students the opportunity to get both theoretical and practical knowledge and skills, which will be enough to enter the job market easier. Our main goal is to create a techno-park based on that educational platform. To reach this goal, we took the Real School concept and programs and we are implementing the school in Goris as a separate institution. The main mission is like the Real School mission, which can be found below: The REAL SCHOOL is providing its graduates with knowledge (theoretical and practical) and skills (professional, personal and social) to succeed in high-tech innovative industry. REAL SCHOOL is a four year collage level program that combines liberal arts in-class education and vocational off-site trainings in R&D organizations, resulting in a level of knowledge comparable to today's Bachelor level graduates of Armenian universities combined with practical skills and CV of a 1-year junior developer in modern IT/High-tech company. The main difference from classical Bachelors program is targeting professional career in the industry, rather than academic career. However it doesn't mean that the applicants are low-level technicians. Modern high-tech industry requires everyday effort in self-education (lifelong learning) due to constantly changing technologies, innovation, new fields, spheres, opportunities. The modern life is not divided into "learn" and "work" segments anymore, but is combining the work & learning process till the last day of the professional career. As a consequence, the classical approach to education (learn only) and to professional career (work only) is failing in XXI century. Our vision of XXI century high-tech organization is a combination of Research, Production and Education formats. An organization that lacks any one of these 3 components, will loose in competition to those who are doing their own innovation, that is close to their own production, and are educating their own staff by maintaining the internship logistics. Our mission is to implement such program in partnership with IT organizations in neighborhood of each RealSchool site. It includes expansion to rural areas of developing countries, helping local industry to upgrade to meet the challenges of innovative high-tech economy. The liberal arts program is following classical approach to education of a "free citizen" of a republic, i.e. provide understanding of the structure of the world, universe, civilization, economy, which is sufficient for the person to discover their mission for their life or at least for the next 7-12 years, and to develop their skills and knowledge towards fulfillment of that mission. The liberal arts program itself is built in a project-based approach. The projects used in this section of the curriculum are also real-life projects, i.e. they are not invented by professors for educational purposes but are chosen from the infrastructure projects and issues faced by the region/country/world. Examples of such projects for I and II grade students include: 1) Forest recovery, in cooperation with the Armenian Forestry Committee. Green industry projects. Reuse of materials. Effective ovens development. Effective usage of forests/wood in the industry and household. Biodegradable materials development and use in the small scale high-end production. 2) Study of ancient Armenian literature, classical Armenian language, terminology, in cooperation with prominent researchers in the field. Creation of fonts, spell-checkers, translators for modern dialects (western/eastern) of Armenian and classical Armenian. Localization of the GNU SW (Firefox, Thunderbird, OpenOffice, Xfce4, Gimp, Inkscape, etc). 3) Study of ancient musical notation systems and body movement (dance) notation systems, development of SW for musical and ethnographic studies, in cooperation with researches from Armenian Conservatory, institute of Komitas and Armenian song and dance academy. 4) Study of environmental health control and monitoring, development of measurement kits for air, water, soil and ether (electromagnetic) pollution, performance of the measurements and publication/awareness promotion projects 5) Study of information management systems, information security challenges, development of national standards for information age, upgrade of national institutions, ministries to reduce paperwork and use modern IT solutions 6) Study of macroeconomic and microeconomic field, legislation. Development of promotion programs and lobbying for making legislation more friendly towards innovation, startup, family-business and small/medium enterprises. 7) Study of pedagogical and epistemological issues in high-tech post-modern reality, development of extracurricular and curricular studies for middle-school and high-school students. Support and further development of Armath curriculum, in cooperation with original authors of Armath curicula. Augmenting Armath with radio-frequency, electronics, mechatronics and biochemical kits. In the fields of pedagogy and epistemology - the mission is to reconsider foundations of personal training, establishment, attachment and feeling of heartbeat of the civilization, world, universe for a modern human being. From our perspective the history of the epistemology and thought is split into segments of before XIV century (primarily descriptive science), followed by the birth of analytical methods and decomposition, until hitting the ground (subatom, genome, lexical elements) in the mid XX century, and starting the third phase - the age of synthetic science (syntetic materials, synthetic life forms, synthetic languages). At the same time this switch from analytical to synthetical coincided with demographic supernova burst: for ages the population on earth was < 1B, and in XX it jumped to 7B and continues growing. As in the case of supernova - and in general - any bifurcation point - it is hard to predict what will be the next state: the dwarf, black hole, or new star. It is easier to choose desired outcome and invest resources in achieving that outcome, rather than investing in analytical efforts to predict the outcome. Fundamental reconsideration of human beings attitude towards self, towards their planet, their civilization and the universe is due to protect new generation from storm of information they are facing from their birth time, and give them instruments to categorize, prioritize and filter that information, in order to extract the core values, build goals and obtain attachment to life that was "given" in in the past to a person by the life style, and now has became a major problem for new generation, which has hard time finding challenges outside the virtual world of social networks and network games. Parents cannot solve this problem alone. The system needs to be built by the state to help them. Our goal is to provide B2G consulting and active participation in building the new formats and curricula for different age groups. Our consortium has created the Armath program under this mission, is building the Real School program, and has started building the Academic Research Hub for the academic (fundamental research) field as well. Among these, the RealSchool in mid-term has the highest impact on our future.
Fundatia Inima de Copil (Heart of a Child Foundation) was established in 1996 by a group of volunteers from Galati, Romania who decided to help the children in need. Today, the foundation has 30 employees and 30-40 volunteers monthly and supported in 23 years over 15.000 children and families. Our mission is to provide a better life for children in Romania.We hope to enhance the life quality of children in Romania, by providing social services and we fight to protect children's rights. All the projects carried out together with our sponsors and contributors are intended to reunite human and community resources, so that every child may benefit from home, a family, and fulfil their potential. Approximately 21,5% of Romanian children live in poverty, according to the Eurostat 2019 statistics, and this ratio is the highest in EU, where the media is 5,9%. Over 32% of children live in extreme poverty, shows a report issued by Save the Children and People's Advocate in 2019. This phenomenon is widely-spread and more worrying in rural areas. For example, almost 30% of the children from the organization's programs live in families with an income of less than 70 USD/month/ person. Another worrying figure is that 150.000 children go to sleep hungry at night, just before the COVID 19 crisis, and the statistics included only the children living in the rural area and it has been calculated on the basis of a study made in 2018 by Save the Children, in which 3% of children said that they are going to sleep hungry every night, and 5% just from time to time. The ones that are more exposed to this risk are the ones who have 2 or more siblings. At the same time, the data from the report indicates that Romania has the highest mortality rate of children from EU (2018 - 6,5.), with a separate chapter of mortality under 1 year old. More than half of the deaths under 1 year are produced in the first month of life (neonatal mortality). During the last years, the rate of school abandonment has remained high and worrying. 19% of the children at the national level and 25% of the ones from rural areas abandon school before finishing high-school. Most of them do this because of material deprivation or work exploitation when they are 12-14 years old. Functional illiteracy is also an alarming consequence of the inadaptation of the educational system to the needs of children. If we take into consideration the non-unified regional economical development of Romania and the high discrepancies between urban and rural areas, the highest number of children and families affected by poverty and its consequences are registered in SE and North and in rural areas. The nowadays COVID 19 crisis has emphasized these problems as people lost their jobs, the high number of children that did not have and still don't have access to digital education (the estimated number is 250.000 children at the national level and approx 12.000 in our area), the limited access to health services and hygienic supplies that translates into higher costs for families. In all these circumstances, our mission as an organisation is far more important. We are one of the most known and appreciated organisations that offer social services in the South East of Romania, having beneficiaries right now from 4 poor counties from Romania (Galati, Vaslui, Vrancea, Tulcea). Moreover, the present focus of the organisation and of future programs is concentrated on the rural area, on communities where we know that the chances for children's evolution are very limited without any support from the outside.
Every day more than 600 people in Bulgaria have a life-saving need for blood and blood products, because of accidents, emergency life-saving procedures, surgical interventions, childbirths, different cancers and many other diseases that need blood for treatment. Their lives are directly dependent on securing the necessary quantities of safe human blood which can be obtained ONLY through DONATION OF BLOOD because BLOOD has NO substitute! Unfortunately, Bulgaria is currently in one of the last places in Europe when it comes to donating blood. Most people donate blood only for relatives or friends who are in need and the true number of genuine voluntary blood donors is less than 25% of all blood donors. Due to the very limited amount of blood donors, hospitals force patients to find donors before they can have a required treatment (the so-called "replacement donor system", which poses significant problems to the patients and their families. Also, this highly questionable practice has led to the growth of an ugly black market for blood donors.). We hope that with our joint efforts we will be able to change this situation. BULGARIAN ORGANIZATION OF VOLUNTARY BLOOD DONATION is a non-profit association operating in public interest done by volunteers. We are the first Bulgarian association working entirely to encourage and promote regular, anonymous, voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation. We believe that blood donation is one of the most humane acts. We also believe that our cause is extremely important for every human being because the shortage of blood could affect everyone. In our daily activities we provide information about blood donation, answer questions and give support; help in cases of an urgent need for blood; organize blood drives and campaigns to educate and inspire people to donate. In 2013 BOVBD launched the first-of-its-kind for Bulgaria long-term project called "Donate Blood", aimed at promoting and facilitating voluntary blood donation and helping those in need of blood for themselves or their relatives. The core of this project lies with the "Donate Blood" system, entirely managed and administrated by BOVBD. The system is a sort of dual registry and has two main functionalities that are interlinked - on one side for the people who are voluntary blood donors or wish to become such and help, and on the other - for everyone who needs blood. The system is extremely useful for finding blood donors on time. It is an innovative and very effective tool to at least partially fulfil the need for blood in Bulgaria and to help when the need is urgent. "Donate blood" can be used completely free through our mobile phone applications for iPhone and Android. Every user has constant access to important and useful information about blood donation, offered through the BOVBD website - www.bgblood.org, including the prerequisites and contradictions for donating blood, addresses and contact details for blood centres in the country, blood collection campaigns that are ongoing or upcoming, etc. Our ambition is to upgrade the applications with additional functionalities when we have enough funding. By focusing the public attention on the problems that arise from the lack of information on blood donation and its importance, from the insufficient number of voluntary blood donors and the risks of paid donors, we are working together to resolve them. The World Health Organization proclaims voluntary blood donation as the safest method for collecting the necessary quantities of blood and blood products needed in everyday healthcare. We hope and work for so that one day there will be enough voluntary blood donors and we, our kids, our parents and everyone who needs blood or could find himself in need of blood to be sure that there is enough safe blood that would help to save his life.
Kenya Keys unlocks the potential of students in impoverished Kenyan communities, raising awareness and bridging cultures to provide education, mentorship, leadership development and girl empowerment opportunities. In the rural Kinango District of Kenya there are many obstacles to education, but there is one organization working hard to remove those barriers for as many young Kenyans as possible. That group is Kenya Keys and its purpose is to unlock the enormous potential of young people in Kenya. Kenya Keys is a vibrant demonstration that one person really can make a big difference. In June 2005, Rinda Hayes and her daughter traveled to the remote village of Bahakwenu in the impoverished Kinango District in Kenya. Rinda was stunned by the extreme poverty she found in Bahakwenu. She was also inspired by the tenacity of the children in the village, who longed to get an education. She had never observed such a single-minded desire to learn. Perhaps no Kenyan impressed Rinda more than Joseph Mwengea, the Headmaster of Bahakwenu Primary School. Joseph is an intelligent and driven man and a determined advocate for his students. As he and Rinda met together during her first visit to his village, he pleaded with her to help him help the students of Bahakwenu. He watched bright and capable students leave primary school with little or no hope of attending secondary school due to their inability to pay the required fees. After her visit, Rinda was determined to share her stories of this community and the people who had so impressed her with her friends in the United States. She believed she could find caring American individuals and families that would be able to provide financial support for top Kenyan students, enabling these students to complete a secondary education. The Kenya Keys sponsorship program began with 14 students. Five years later it became the nonprofit organization of Kenya Keys. Kenya Keys has supported hundreds of students - to secondary school and now into college and university. And that's not all. Kenya Keys' work has expanded to include multiple worthwhile related programs. Kenya Keys works with local communities to improve educational infrastructure and resources, such as libraries, dormitories, classrooms, desks, and more. The Kenya Keys Boards of Directors (one in the U.S. and one in Kenya) also provide financial and other support to grassroots organizations run by local Kenyan community leaders and councils. Each of these components of Kenya Keys' efforts in rural Kenya is described more fully in the following section. Everything Kenya Keys does is guided by its founding principles: First, education is the primary key to unlocking potential, both for the individual and for the community. Second, cultural awareness and exchange is vital and enriching for all participants. We live in an increasingly connected world, and exposure to new cultures and ideas is key to creating understanding and appreciation for one's own culture and for the cultures of others. Third, opportunities, not handouts, are what make a lasting difference. There should be no giving of things that run out or wear out. Giving such things only increases dependency, invites discontent, and isolates the givers from the receivers. Instead, giving should empower the receiver and provide an enduring benefit. Fourth: volunteerism is fundamental to the success of an organization. Nonprofit groups run by volunteers remain strong and dynamic. Volunteerism also connects global citizens in a meaningful way. Fifth, education provides the best defense against the ranges of poverty and hopelessness, and is the greatest catalyst for change and growth. Sixth, all critical decisions should be made by local leaders and councils. Local leaders and community members know their own needs and circumstances far better than any outsider, however well-intentioned. Allowing local people to make key decisions gives them vital ownership and accountability. It also provides the opportunity for these individuals to develop crucial leadership skills. Kenyans will always find the best solutions to the deep-seated challenges in their communities. Finally, education and the development of leadership skills in today's youth is critical to building the future leaders of Kenya.
Young Scientists for Africa (YoSA) is a registered charity supporting young African science students by: - Awarding scholarships to attend the annual London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF). - Creating a student network in Africa to enable and encourage careers in science. This is necessary because: - Extensive analysis has demonstrated that Africa needs science, not just aid, to address the socio-economic and public health challenges it faces. - Africa needs young African scientists to lead the charge on reshaping the continent and improving and saving African lives. What YoSA offers: YoSA was established to support young African science students who don't typically have access to the same opportunities as those in other parts of the world. A central component of YoSA is a scholarship programme to sponsor African science students to attend the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF). Proper representation of African students at this international forum is hugely important and before the creation of YoSA there was no representation of students from countries in Sub-Saharan Africa; a continent that constitutes approximately 20% of the world's youth population. YoSA works with leading scientists and scientific initiatives in Africa to identify the best young African scientific talent. These students are then sponsored to attend the London International Youth Science Forum - an annual event which attracts over 500 of the world's best science students from more than 70 countries, many of whom have won national science competitions - and are given the chance to engage with world leading scientists in a two week programme of lectures, debates and visits to research institutions. At LIYSF, YoSA students have the opportunity to share their perspectives and create lasting relationships with an audience of other young scientists from all over the world. They also raise the profile of African science by introducing other students to the challenges and opportunities for science in Africa. YoSA operates through a network of facilitators and has established links with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (https://www.gatesfoundation.org/), The Wellcome Trust (https://wellcome.ac.uk/), The Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA) (http://aesa.ac.ke/), Projekt Inspire (http://projektinspire.co.tz/) and the Next Einstein Forum (https://nef.org/). Through the support of its network of facilitators YoSA sponsors open and fair selection processes to identify talented young African scientists, for whom other financial support would not be available, and who are committed to pursuing science careers in Africa. The facilitators also support scholarship students locally with their visa and passport requirements as they have typically never travelled outside their own country before. Our ambition is to support young African scientists, not just in attending LIYSF, but also in creating a network that can link into other African science initiatives such as Next Einstein Forum (https://nef.org/) and Africa Research Excellence Fund (http://www.africaresearchexcellencefund.org.uk/) as they progress in their education and careers. We have directly facilitated introductions for our students with these and other leading science organisations in Africa and we actively monitor and encourage the progress of their scientific development through these connections. Each of our scholarship students has returned to Africa with a determination to succeed in science. They have been very proactive in communicating their experiences at LIYSF within their schools and local communities and inspire others pursue careers in science. They are each required to write a report of their experiences as part of the scholarship we provide and this forms the basis of these presentations. Our students are fantastic ambassadors for science in Africa and it's no exaggeration to say that YoSA and LIYSF have had a life changing effect on them and their ambitions for their future careers as African scientists. What is LIYSF: The London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) is a two week residential event held at Imperial College London, with lectures and demonstrations from leading scientists, visits to industrial sites, research centres, scientific institutions and organisations, including world class laboratories and universities. LIYSF attracts over 500 of the world's leading young scientists, aged 16-21 years, from more than 70 countries. This year was the 60th LIYSF and further details can be found at https://www.liysf.org.uk/.
Early childhood education. Inclusion. Diversity: FortSchritt is an independent, non-profit organisation for holistic childcare in integrative day nurserys, kindergartens and daycare centres. In our conductive curative education day care centers we provide holistic, loving and individual support for children and young people with disabilities using the method of conductive education according to Dr. Andras Peto. Our mobile specialist service visits people of all ages and institutions on site and offers them psychological and therapeutic help. The focus of our holistic work is always the human being in his uniqueness. Main areas of activity: The FortSchritt-Konduktives Forderzentrum gGmbH was founded in 2001. It is responsible for 36 day nurserys, kindergartens, children's homes, forest playgroups, curative day care centres and after-school care centres for children with and without disabilities. In addition to the day care centres, FortSchritt gGmbH offers day care and large day care centres for children, a baby cafe, a transport service and interdisciplinary, mobile specialist services for parents, children, educators and employees. The facilities of FortSchritt gGmbH are represented in 6 Upper Bavarian administrative districts and the state capital Munich. At present we care for about 1,400 children with about 400 employees. All FortSchritt support services are holistic and inclusive! The personal development of each child and social justice are in the foreground. Therefore, FortSchritt welcomes all children, regardless of which social, religious and national group they belong to. Thus the facilities of the gGmbH form a differentiated, multi-layered, educational and social learning environment. In order to enable optimal support beyond the regular financing, we are dependent on monetary donations and donations in kind. Mission statement FortSchritt gGmbH - step by step to independence Preamble: This mission statement is the result of more than 20 years of lived experience in pedagogical dealing with children, teenagers and young adults. It offers orientation, reminds us of common goals and values and encourages us to think further. 1. The children, teenagers and young adults entrusted to us are at the centre of all our ideas, concepts and measures. We are passionately committed to their well-being and their best possible development and strive to work professionally and successfully every day. 2. We see our work as a diverse range of pedagogical offers, which should enable the optimal compatibility of family and career. We rely on our experience, skills and strengths. 3. FortSchritt has a unique history: We have established the conductive education to Peto in Germany. This tradition is very important to us. At the same time, we integrate various pedagogical approaches into our work and are constantly developing further. 4. The aspects presented under Mission, Vision and Values have emerged from joint workshops and meetings. They are not immutable, they have to prove themselves in practical work every day. 5. This mission statement should therefore be tested in practice and further developed: Share your experiences with the other employees of FortSchritt! At leitbild@fortschritt-bayern.de we are happy to take up your experiences, ideas and suggestions and publish them regularly. Mission: In cooperation with the parents, we seek to educate the children, teenagers and young adults entrusted to us to become responsible, compassionate and independent personalities - always in partnership and at eye level. 1. FortSchritt enables individual support: Through our diverse range of services we create the conditions to accept each child as it is: unique and free in its decisions. Our roots lie in the conductive education according to Peto, in addition we take up different pedagogical approaches such as Frobel's teaching, reggio pedagogy or forest pedagogy. This diversity allows us to address individual offers to the individual. The conception of our facilities and the interdisciplinary qualification of our teams reflect this diversity. 2. Joy, security and acceptance with FortSchritt: Children, teenagers and young adults feel completely at home with us, have fun and enjoy themselves. They should keep the time at FortSchritt as a valuable memory. This includes creating an atmosphere of security and acceptance; a protected space in which those entrusted to us can develop and try things out. 3. Our goal: Step by step to independence: We accompany the children, teenagers and young adults individually and step by step on their way to independence and support their strengths. "I can do it!": We make sure that the challenges they face are manageable and that their sense of self-efficacy is strengthened. This also includes setting clear boundaries. Many small steps create a sense of achievement that motivates you to continue. 4. We promote a positive self-esteem: Children, adolescents and young adults should develop at FortSchritt to become self-confident and responsible citizens of society. They learn to be aware of their own needs, to trust their own strengths and to develop skills. This also means taking responsibility for their own actions and standing up for common values. Everyone can achieve something and be proud of it: positive feelings strengthen self-esteem. 5. Inclusion and social competence in all facets: In addition to personal development, the promotion of social skills in all its facets is central to FortSchritt. At the core of this competence is the insight: "It is normal to be different." For us, inclusion refers not only to different physical constitutions or mental abilities, but also to gender, nationality, culture and language. The focus is on support oriented to the individual child and learning from and with each other. FortSchritt creates a space for friendships, for trust and reliable action. Vision: We advocate an open, empathic society in which inclusion is not just a buzzword, but an attitude to life. We take responsibility for this: with our theoretical and practical expertise and our special pedagogical skills, we want to advise parents, communities and other institutions and stimulate social change. 1. Higher social and political appreciation of extracurricular education: In our view, extracurricular education should be given the same importance as school education. This will create better overall conditions in the areas of education, training and support. FortSchritt is committed to a concrete improvement of the working conditions of our pedagogical teams. In addition to higher remuneration, this includes the optimisation of training and further education opportunities. The time for preparation and follow-up work, professional exchange and networking should not be considered a voluntary additional benefit, but a fixed part of regular working hours. 2. Inclusion is more than consideration: Our goal is a society in which inclusion is a matter of course in all respects. This means that not only individual social institutions work on inclusion, but that broad social and political acceptance is achieved. FortSchritt consciously counters social exclusion: We reject the division of people into certain categories such as nationals/foreigners; handicapped/non-handicapped. 3. Living diversity: also in our teams: Against the background of a changing society and increasing demands in the field of extracurricular education, training and support, we want to develop culturally, linguistically and professionally diverse team structures. In order to meet these requirements, we would like to offer our employees a wide range of training and further education. 4. FortSchritt as consultant, supporter and multiplier: We would like to pass on our special curative education and psychological knowledge and our expertise in the areas of management, administration and organization. Parents, representatives of local authorities and other institutions should receive information and support from us in an uncomplicated way in the form of counselling, coaching and further training. Values: The values formulated here give orientation to our thoughts and actions - and they serve as a benchmark in dealing with the children and young people entrusted to us. This also applies to our dealings with parents and all those with whom we work in partnership. The values have proven their worth in the more than 20 years of our existence - and should continue to serve as a guideline for the future. 1. Humanistic, positive image of man: Human dignity, the recognition of the equality of all people and respect for each individual are the basis for our actions. 2. Appreciation: We meet people empathically and at eye level. Our friendliness is expressed in our language and in our actions. Politeness and appropriate manners are therefore a matter of course for us. 3. Respect: We treat ourselves and others with recognition and respect. For us, respect means not only tolerance of other values and lifestyles, but also their acceptance. 4. Trust: A trustful cooperation is the basis of all our relationships. The trust we place in each other creates security and reliability. 5. Fairness: For us, fairness means more than acting in accordance with the rules: Fairness also means decency and honesty in dealing with each other. 6. Together: We achieve our goals through team spirit, cooperation and a strong sense of community. We want to actively set an example against egoism and create a sense of we.
By empowering oneself, enriching relationships, and embracing innovations, we provide a safe space for communities and champion the iniingatan, inaalagaan, at inaasikaso experience. A thought leader that inspires people to empower and affirm their self-worth to create ripples of positive change. LoveYourself Inc. (LY), is a community of volunteers which has been successful in reaching out to the key affected population of HIV and AIDS. It was established in 2011 with a mission of embracing and nurturing one's self-worth to inspire others to do the same and create ripples of positive change in the community and a vision of becoming a model community, empowering and affirming the self-worth of youth and MSM in the Philippines. LY has been the home of many innovative and new approaches to reach key populations such as Project Preppy (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis), LoveYourself Caravan/PBSR, Smart-Safe-Sexy Continuum of Care Approach Project (3S) and Introduction of the First Community Run Testing and Treatment Facility (4S) Project, #SafeSpaces Condom Promotion and Distribution Program Victoria by LoveYourself, the first Transgender Health and Wellness Community Center in the Philippines and most recently - introduction of HIV Self Screening (#SelfCare) in the Philippines to name a few. LY has several innovations in the pipeline, such as expansion of #SelfCare, #ChampionCommunityCenters and other innovations especially with the challenges in the time of COVID19 pandemic like XPress Refill and iCon (telemedicine). LY partnered with DOH-RITM in many innovative programs such as 3S (Smart Safe and Sexy) where the power of volunteerism is harnessed by creating "change agents" from the community reaching other members of the community through awareness and encouraging high risk clients to take ownership of their sexual health by regular testing every 3-6 months if negative and early treatment if positive. LY has a long and fruitful partnership with Pilipinas Shell Foundation since 2012, it has has grown and developed with PSFI supporting LY through technical assistance, logistics, finances, and overall management of LoveYourself Community Centers. LoveYourself Inc. is proud of its 10 LoveYourself Branded Community Centers, 2 Private Clinic and manages 30 Champion Community Centers safe space for young and working population who are engaging in risky behavior. For the LY community centers, having a cumulative rate of 150-200 clients daily with 12-14% reactive rate, the centers contributes to 42% of all the newly diagnosed PLHIVs reported in Metro Manila and 20% in the whole country for since 2016 to present proving that LY has a strong understanding of the Philippine context with regard to HIV and AIDS and key populations (MSM, TG, YKP and PWID). These efforts demonstrate a tremendous impact in bridging the gaps in the HIV continuum of care, with the objective of scaling up HIV testing and linking the newly diagnosed PLHIVs to treatment and care, eventually leading to reduced incidence of loss to follow up. Since its launching, LY Anglo as the main treatment centers and the rest of the 6 as satellite centers has already diagnosed over 40,000 clients yearly. Of the total number of newly diagnosed PLHIVs, 7,300 were enrolled to LoveYourself Anglo treatment while the remaining were referred to RITM or other treatment hubs for enrolment making LY the second highest PLHIV clients enrolled facility. LoveYourself Anglo is currently being positioned as the first ever community run one stop shop - having prevention-to-treatment services. It aims to create a social enterprise-self-sustaining model. LY has gained momentum in its implementation of the Philippines Business Sector Response to HIV (PBSR) and School Caravan Programs with PSFI. To date, 650, companies have been engaged through advocacy, 250 companies have been assisted in the drafting of their HIV in the workplace policy, over 100,000 people reached through HIV 101, 84,945 people tested and got their results, 4,190 (6.34 %) reactive and those confirmed were linked to treatment hubs and social hygiene clinics for further work up in preparation for treatment. 90 employee-trainers trained for HIV 101- Peer Education Training, and 68 received Basic Voluntary Counseling and Testing training. PBSR is a member of 7 Local AIDS Councils in the Cities of Manila, Quezon, Caloocan, San Juan, Batangas and Puerto Princesa. On another note, with its goal to reach the Youth to promote awareness and reduce stigma and discrimination, Caravan program has reached over 110 schools and universities testing more than 10,000 young people in the last 4 years. In the last quarter of 2014, the LY started work on community system strengthening through human rights and advocacy programs under the guidance of the ISEAN HIVOS, the regional partner of LY by engaging new blood through numerous fora and peer meetings and activities then providing capacity building, monitoring and tracking outreach workers and grooming them to develop their own program in their respective locality, bringing about the birth of the several community based organizations such as Project H4 in Puerto Princesa, who eventually opened a community center called Amos Tara and forged a long-term partnership with DOH IV-B MIMAROPA. In the area of Advocacy, LY has created several efforts in making sure that their efforts to raise the bar in the HIV continuum of care such participation in the PNAC consultations on the revision of RA 8504 and approval of the new law RA11166, technical assistance with the development of SOGIE tool kit and Trans Health module. LY continues to develop advocacy materials and communication strategies to address and respond to issues and needs of the times. Protect the Goal Campaign and #StayNegatHIVe Campaign with Rappler and Dentsu focusing on stigma and discrimination reduction that were launched recently received seven national and international awards for campaign effectiveness and impact such as the Boomerang and Anvil Awards. In 2016, the partnership also implemented several regional campaigns such as TestMNL with APCOM and very recently a project with UNAIDS and 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach - the #Live2LUV campaign. In 2018 LY is chosen as the sub recipient of the Philippine Global Fund ACER program where in LY is asked to develop and establish 15 community centers which is based on the LoveYourself community centers model. The community-based organization partners are provided support for their operational costs outreach and refurbishment of the community centers. Each community centers offer a sexual health prevention package including HIV testing and STI testing for free. Some of the community organizations have doctors and offer treatment at the same time while others are referring clients to Social Hygiene Clinics in their locality. In 2018 also, LY in partnership with Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) implemented the Sustainability of Key Population Programs in Asia (SKPA). It has a goal of providing not just community system strengthening but also introducing advocacy, campaigns, innovations, and support towards sustainability of the services of CBO partners. LY creates national programs and campaigns on awareness and promotion of combination prevention, treatment as prevention and other innovations. A recent example is the National HIV Prevention month last July-August 2020 gathering almost 5 million impressions and reach online through the SKPA Philippines Grant. AIDS HealthCare Foundation Philippines (AHF) also partnered with LY this year to the present to augment in outreach, events and treatment of indigent PLHIVs. In 2019, due to the very high incidence of anxiety disorders and depression among the young LGBT community. LY decided to create its own mental health program called Flourish by LoveYourself. Flourish aims to provide counseling and life coaching to people with mild depression and anxiety. Flourish offers life coaching and group counseling to our clients. In partnership with Mental Health Ph, a local CBO, LY also has created campaigns on mental health. Aside from the group counseling program, LY initiated self-help programs such as music therapy, art therapy, poetry reading and other forms of coping support for people in distress. In 2020 LY was chosen as the sub recipient of the Philippine Global Fund PROTECTS with PIlipinas Shell Foundation as its PR. LY is asked to scale up its CHAMPION COMMUNITY CENTERS initiative by creating a total of 34 Champion Centers and CBO. The community-based organization partners are provided support for their operational costs outreach and refurbishment of the community centers. Each community center offers a sexual health prevention package including HIV testing and STI testing for free. Some of the community organizations have doctors and offer treatment at the same time while others are referring clients to Social Hygiene Clinics in their locality. LY has also led KP specific initiatives including the TG activations with Medical Professionals, School Administrations, etc.; for YKP, LY spearheaded a myriad of activities involving Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Federation), Schools, and other youth lead CSOs; for PWIDs, several learning group sessions and consultations has also been done specifically in Cebu City. LY was also assigned to provide the Administrative and Human Resource including payroll of 380 field staff and community center officers hired for the project. In 2021 LY was selected as a grantee of Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) is a global project funded by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which is dedicated to achieving and maintaining HIV epidemic control. LY community centers operations are supported by this grant.
ENVIRO CRIME SOLUTIONS is primarily involved in the protection and conservation of Rhino in Africa. Our entire existence is based on saving rhino which is on the IUCN list of threatened species (White Rhino) and the IUCN Endangered species list (Black Rhino) RHINO POACHING FORENSICS The basic principles of a poaching scene is exactly the same as any other crime scene with the exception of course that the "victim" is a 2.5 ton animal. Enviro Crime Solutions specifically specializes in the gathering of forensic evidence on rhino poaching scenes. (although we often are involved in other poaching incidents such as pangolin and abalone poaching.) THE OBJECTIVES AND GOALS OF FORENSIC INVESTIGATIONS Processing the crime scene for evidence gathering. Gathering criminal evidence such as fingerprints and human DNA Determining the time & way the animal died Building criminal cases against individuals or possibly syndicates Gathering rhino DNA thru the RhODIS system. Linking cases to other investigations. (Intelligence Mapping) THE BASICS OF A FORENSIC INVESTIGATION The easiest way to describe a forensic investigation into poaching is to refer to the popular TV series CSI. With one or two rather big exceptions. When a rhino is poached the most common scenario happens as follows 1. Ranger patrols will find the carcass and in many cases give pursuit of the suspects. 2. Regardless of whether a suspect is arrested the forensic team will "process" the crime scene. 3. All forensic evidence and material will be categorized and handed to the investigating officer who will add it to the evidence as part of the case file (docket). 4. The rhino DNA will be taken and processed into the RhODIS rhino DNA database. PROJECT LOCATION The primary area of our work is the south Eastern Part of South Africa in and around the Kruger National Park which hosts 75% of the rhino population of the world. We do on occasion work in areas away from the park but this is dictated on needs basis where other law enforcement is not available. YOUTH CONSERVATION EDUCATION At ENVIRO CRIME SOLUTIONS we realize that the battle that we are in for the protection of rhino is a long term one. It is critical that a next generation of conservationists can continue the battle one day when we are not there anymore. With this in mind we devised an education structure by which we could target individual learners who have shown a previous disposition and hunger for natural sciences and conservation. The aims of our programs are not only to show these learners their natural heritage but to work with them in a long term relationship whereby they can have access to practical experience which in normal circumstances they would never have been able to experience. This means that we target fewer learners but the ones that we do assist gets assistance over an extended period of time and hopefully later on access to bursaries and education program where they can study conservation at a tertiary level. The entire aim of the program is holistic in nature and strives to assist learners up to the level where they are qualified to be good conservationists. OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY OF OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS Targeted approach with a view to continuous support Exposing learner to opportunities that otherwise would have been impossible to get Target disadvantaged communities / learners Learners must be from communities around the parks Assist learners with possible scholarships or educational assistance We believe that our approach will make a difference to the lives of those that we try to help. We look for a passion in the students that we take into our care. It is that passion that drives us at Enviro Crime Solutions and we want to work with people that have the same passion. Conservation is not just a job. It is in your heart and we search for those that have that same passion. PROJECT LOCATION & BENEFICIARIES Our education programs focus specifically on the youth around the Kruger National Park. The area is specific problems in socio economic status and inequality with little or no access to tertiary education and/or opportunities to these. PROJECT RESULTS / IMPACT It is no secret that we are in the fight of our lives to safe rhino. The work that ENVIRO CRIME SOLUTIONS does is different in that it is almost exclusively reactive in nature. Although it is different from the traditional conservation methods and practice it still fulfills a critical role in the overall rhino protection plan. ENVIRO CRIME SOLUTIONS has attended to more than 400 poaching scenes. This equates to 400 + rhino DNA entered into the RhODIS DNA system and a host of successful convictions of poachers due to the evidence that was gathered by our staff. We have educated more than 2500 school children on rhino poaching and the value of having rhino and the natural heritage that they stand for. Our work is often reactive but nonetheless critical. For as long as there is poaching we will be continuing the fight against poaching. Our work never stops which and it is very hard to quantify our impact in terms of animals saved and the overall impact on rhino number. What we do know is that without our work the damage to rhino populations would be catastrophic. WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS It is no secret that we are in the fight of our lives to save rhino. The work that ENVIRO CRIME SOLUTIONS does is different in that it is almost exclusively reactive in nature. We know that our work is most likely never going to stop. This is not work that has a start and end date in the traditional conservation methodology. We are fully aware of the current situation and we believe that this is one of the aspects that sets us apart. WE WILL NEVER STOP. We are an incredibly dedicated people with willpower and tenacity like few others. Regardless of the incredible difficult and often disheartening situations that we find ourselves in we believe that we play a critical role in the fight against rhino poaching. Our lives are built around this and we sacrifice a tremendous amount to do what we do. We do all we can to do more and more. Having the support of others will enable us to do even more. COMMUNICATION & PUBLIC AWARENESS We visit schools as part of our education programs and ensure that there is ample publicity for our work. We actively visit companies and other institutions and raise awareness of our work and the plight of rhino (See example of letter of recommendation from WCEC) We host classes at Universities - Specifically Forensics, Nature Sciences and Tourism We host several corporate Initiatives where we show corporate entities how they can get involved in saving rhino
Created in 1979, the Collectif des Femmes is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the emancipation of women and men, particularly women from immigration and/or precarious women. We are work mainly in Belgium, but we have extended collaborations with women's organizations in the Developing countries in order to share experience in the field of Equality between women and men and to promote inclusive development. The association aims to empower its target audience and reinforce their autonomy of thought and action. The involvement of women and men at all levels of the association creates an upward dynamic that promotes their ability to take their destiny into their own hands, and free themselves from their multiple shackles. The social purpose of the association is therefore the social and professional integration of women migrants in Belgium (although some of our target beneficiaries are unemployed men in search of work). The association's vision is to promote equal opportunities, fight against discrimination, combat gender inequalities and promote access to employment for women and men, migrants and of foreign origin. Article 3 of the Statute of the "Collective des Femmes" stipulates that the purpose of the Association is: - Training and supervision of migrant, refugees and asylum seekers, and immigrant women, with a view to better socio-professional (re)integration,... - Facilitate the adaptation of foreign women and that of their families in Belgium, particularly in the field of the practice of the French language, health, food, the education of children and their personal autonomy. - Reflection on the role and status of women, in relation to development issues; - Etc. The Association is approved by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation to fight against Intimate partners and all forms of Gender-Based (Violence against women and girls). The achievements of this first period are the foundation of professional relations between migrants and respond to the concern to give back to women the power over their own history. It was also in those years that the fruitful encounter between these women from elsewhere took place, some progressives in search of professional prospects and new conceptual tools to improve their status. Although we began in 1979, the 1990s constitute an important period in the life of Collectif des Femmes as it laid "the first stones" with regard to structured professional integration, psychomedico-social support for an allochthonous or indigenous public, the strengthening of the capacities of women in the countries of the South... Hence, in 1997 the Collectif des Femmes obtained its official agreement in the Wallon Region and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. Alongside the desire to promote the development of our center, our objectives are to promote the evolution of factors influencing the wellbeing of this precarious population and participation in any action aimed at favorably modifying these factors. And finally, in the longer term, we participate in the development of an equal opportunities policy based on our experiences and in the promotion of gender mainstreaming. It is since that time that we have been subsidized in a more structural way and that we have been approved for a certain number of our missions; a real public-private partnership. Our growing center demonstrates the relevance of all our goals even more today than in the past. The paths to success in terms of emancipation, socio-professional integration, lifelong education are a demonstration of this that is both relevant and convincing. Today, in the position that the Women Collective occupies, everyone benefits from this mixing of ideas which leads each of us towards the path of individual progress. Over the past 40 years, the thinking of the Collective has deepened and broadened in several directions. First of all, it was necessary to understand and take into account the profound changes in society. We have developed over time a more complex and more complete vision of the situation of migrants, of front-line proximity work, of poverty, of emancipatory pedagogy, of work in popular education, of socio-professional integration. The question of gender equality, civic and permanent education is the common thread of our various approaches. Another opening given to our horizon, we have sought and built bridges between the fields of integration, training, education, social action and we have given the issue of empowerment a transversal dimension. In terms of pedagogy, we have promoted pedagogy by project, our toolbox is currently more extensive, we have produced several publications, including a cultural imagery tool. It is a real militant journey, a social commitment of each one, of each one which has enabled various political questions during our international conferences: whether in the field of plural violence, female entrepreneurship, poverty, situation of women in the labour market, in relation to new information technologies, in relation to HIV/AIDS, in the face of radicalization always by crossing gazes South/North North/South South/South. Since 1979, several thousand adults have passed through the Centre. This means that every year since 1979, more than 22,000 people have knocked on our door and started training or requested intervention, psychosocial support, or even participated in our focus groups. As a result, several thousands agents of change scattered here in Belgium or in the countries of the South are in non-profit or international organizations in the sectors of continuing education, education, health, social work or community. Over the past 3 years, evaluation work has been carried out, which combines several interests. First, an interest in more refined knowledge of our public, its origins, its trajectories, its motivations, its commitments, the effects of the intervention of the Collective, whether in terms of social or professional integration. A second interest was to compare the aims, objectives and values of the Centre. Confrontation which, managed with a view to constructive criticism of work, has made it possible to strengthen our dynamism. Let us cite for example the professional integration rate of more than 90%. A relevant analysis of the pedagogical procedures, of the observations and evaluations of the people... has made it possible to identify practices and objectives that must be modified or pursued in another way. This has stimulated collective work in several essential directions for an organization like ours, namely the development of the culture of evaluation and constructive criticism. A rigorous analysis, still in progress, of our corporate culture, was also essential for the dynamics of our center and the pleasure of working in the field of people empowerment. This approach allowed a lucid look at our organization; while showing the shortcomings and the limits, it has valued the quality and induces a search for an increased quality which makes it possible to develop a self-reflective and formative work on our own practices and our organizational pedagogical processes. These are quickly outlined the various philosophical and political challenges of our center.