Being in the spotlight gives charitable celebrities the unique ability to send messages, raise money and act as major advocates for important causes around the world. In 2015, these five stars stood out for their global poverty-fighting efforts:
1) Akon
Many charitable celebrities have favorite organizations or causes and Akon’s interest in improving electrical accessibility in Africa hits close to home. Growing up in southern Senegal, Akon experienced a childhood without electricity. While Akon may have made his way to the United States, 600 million Africans still lack consistent access to energy.
In a recent interview with Devex, the American rapper stated that he felt it was time for some innovation in poverty-combating efforts: “There’s always been so many initiatives in Africa, so much money raised in Africa, but there’s never no results and it got to the point where you get tired of it […] I took it more personal than anything and I wanted to be in a position to where if I move forward on something I wanted to actually see it materialize.”
In 2013, he founded Akon Lighting Africa, along with Thione Niang and Samba Bathily, which invests in solar energy at a grassroots level in African communities. Through innovative solutions, the organization has grown and reached more countries in 2015, celebrating the inauguration of the Solektra Solar Academy, which promises bright things to come.
2) Angelina Jolie
No list of famous global poverty warriors would be complete without Angelina Jolie. After years of working on global refugee issues with UNHCR, she was appointed in 2012 to the role of Special Envoy for Refugee Issues and has since extended her good work.
2015 was a big year for Jolie, who not only continued to donate her time and money to a wide variety of global charities but also brought light to many of the struggling Syrian refugees, according to the Times.
She also spent time revisiting her son Maddox’s birthplace in Cambodia and visited the two poverty-fighting organizations she helped found there: the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation and the Maddox Chivan Children’s Center.
3) Matt Damon
Actor Matt Damon has been working on improving access to clean water for many years. In 2006, he co-founded the H20 Africa Foundation, which later merged with WaterPartners and became Water.org, developing a more global focus.
In 2015 Damon and Water.org’s co-founder Gary White updated the public on the organization’s progress, stating in an interview for USA Today that it “surpassed its goal of reaching 2 million people with safe water and/or sanitation.”
In September 2015, Damon announced that he, along with friend Ben Affleck, will be producing a film set against the backdrop of the global water crisis entitled “Thirst.” The movie is currently in development for HBO Films.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpUWtMYqikc
4) Serena Williams
Last year, Williams expanded her already impressive portfolio of charity work by launching the 1 in 11 campaign, which focuses on helping the one in 11 children in the world who are kept out of school to get a quality education and achieve their full potentials.
Her foundation, the Serena Williams Foundation, gives large sums of money each year to a myriad of organizations, including UNICEF, Build African Schools and the Equal Justice Initiative.
A superstar on and off the tennis courts, Williams makes charity work a priority by forming partnerships with nonprofits and utilizing her global platform for good.
5) Emma Watson
Since graduating from her role as Hermione in the Harry Potter franchise, Emma Watson has been a huge contributor to humanitarian issues around the globe.
In 2014, she was appointed by the United Nations to assume the role of Global Ambassador for Women. She has since been a huge advocate for girls’ education as a means of alleviating poverty and promoting equal rights. She has used this platform to bring attention to the HeforShe campaign, which advocates for global gender equality.
2015 saw major fundraising efforts by Ms. Watson, who auctioned off her shoes to benefit the Small Steps Project, an organization providing emergency aid to communities living in municipal garbage dumps around the world.
– Jennifer Diamond
Sources: Akon Lighting Africa 1, Akon Lighting Africa 2, Akon Lighting Africa 3, Devex, UNHCR, The Times, Journeys 4 Good, Global Health Committee, People, Water, USA Today, Variety, Serena Williams, CNBC, The Leaky Cauldron
Photo: Music.Mic, SUN, LiveScience, Mission, Global Citizen
Five Celebrities Who Fought Global Poverty in 2015
Being in the spotlight gives charitable celebrities the unique ability to send messages, raise money and act as major advocates for important causes around the world. In 2015, these five stars stood out for their global poverty-fighting efforts:
1) Akon
In a recent interview with Devex, the American rapper stated that he felt it was time for some innovation in poverty-combating efforts: “There’s always been so many initiatives in Africa, so much money raised in Africa, but there’s never no results and it got to the point where you get tired of it […] I took it more personal than anything and I wanted to be in a position to where if I move forward on something I wanted to actually see it materialize.”
In 2013, he founded Akon Lighting Africa, along with Thione Niang and Samba Bathily, which invests in solar energy at a grassroots level in African communities. Through innovative solutions, the organization has grown and reached more countries in 2015, celebrating the inauguration of the Solektra Solar Academy, which promises bright things to come.
2) Angelina Jolie
2015 was a big year for Jolie, who not only continued to donate her time and money to a wide variety of global charities but also brought light to many of the struggling Syrian refugees, according to the Times.
She also spent time revisiting her son Maddox’s birthplace in Cambodia and visited the two poverty-fighting organizations she helped found there: the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation and the Maddox Chivan Children’s Center.
3) Matt Damon
In 2015 Damon and Water.org’s co-founder Gary White updated the public on the organization’s progress, stating in an interview for USA Today that it “surpassed its goal of reaching 2 million people with safe water and/or sanitation.”
In September 2015, Damon announced that he, along with friend Ben Affleck, will be producing a film set against the backdrop of the global water crisis entitled “Thirst.” The movie is currently in development for HBO Films.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpUWtMYqikc
4) Serena Williams
Her foundation, the Serena Williams Foundation, gives large sums of money each year to a myriad of organizations, including UNICEF, Build African Schools and the Equal Justice Initiative.
A superstar on and off the tennis courts, Williams makes charity work a priority by forming partnerships with nonprofits and utilizing her global platform for good.
5) Emma Watson
In 2014, she was appointed by the United Nations to assume the role of Global Ambassador for Women. She has since been a huge advocate for girls’ education as a means of alleviating poverty and promoting equal rights. She has used this platform to bring attention to the HeforShe campaign, which advocates for global gender equality.
2015 saw major fundraising efforts by Ms. Watson, who auctioned off her shoes to benefit the Small Steps Project, an organization providing emergency aid to communities living in municipal garbage dumps around the world.
– Jennifer Diamond
Sources: Akon Lighting Africa 1, Akon Lighting Africa 2, Akon Lighting Africa 3, Devex, UNHCR, The Times, Journeys 4 Good, Global Health Committee, People, Water, USA Today, Variety, Serena Williams, CNBC, The Leaky Cauldron
Photo: Music.Mic, SUN, LiveScience, Mission, Global Citizen
The Ford Foundation Fights Against Inequality
Two years ago, the Ford Foundation sponsored 35 different initiatives. To better focus on inequality, this has been reduced to 15 in the following seven categories:
Under Inclusive Economies are initiatives such as impact investing and economic security, while engaging government and equitable resources are listed under Civic Engagement and Government. The other five categories cover drives such as social justice storytelling, natural resources and climate change, rights of women and girls, digital rights and access and pathways to youth success.
Institution building is another key goal of the foundation. From 2016 to 2020, the Ford Foundation plans to invest $1 billion around the world to create a network of organizations against inequality. This initiative – called BUILD – is designed to magnify each institution’s impact by aligning their goals and bringing them together.
To bring the issue to the forefront and get the attention of the world’s creative leaders, on Feb. 2, 2016, the Ford Foundation announced a two-year partnership with the Cannes Film Festival through its JustFilms grants. Like BUILD, JustFilms creates a network against inequality, in this case, a network of documentarists, storytellers and independent filmmakers.
The 2016 Cannes Film Festival takes place from May 11 to May 22 and is the one of the world’s most prominent independent film festivals. In its partnership with JustFilms, Cannes Film Market will bring some of the most talented documentary makers from the global south to the event.
By bringing in filmmakers from a largely neglected region of the world, JustFilms hopes that they can connect these storytellers with the larger industry. Once connected, their stories and perspectives can spread around the globe and reach people in developed nations.
Cannes Film Market’s head of industry programming, Julie Bergeson, was grateful for the foundation’s contribution to fighting inequality. She said, “Ford has created an incredible legacy in tackling social injustice and inequality. Their efforts have lead to revealing insights and sometimes startling exposures from filmmakers around the world.”
In changing the focus of its grants, the Ford Foundation has highlighted inequality as one of the most pressing issues of the 21st century. In partnering with Cannes, they have taken a step to raise awareness by bringing forth perspectives from the developing world.
There is much more to be done but there is reason to hope. The fight to end inequality will be long but the Ford Foundation is fully committed.
– Dennis Sawyers
Sources: Ford Foundation, Nonprofit Quarterly, The Chronicle of Philanthropy 1, The Chronicle of Philanthropy 2, Variety
Photo: The Chronicle of Philanthropy
What are the Killing Fields of Cambodia?
The Khmer Rouge regime, led by Pol Pot, took over Cambodia in 1975. During its four-year rule, over one-quarter of the country’s entire population was killed in the regime’s ruthless pursuit of totalitarian control. In 1979, the Vietnamese ended the corruption by invading Cambodia and seizing power from the regime.
The largest pieces of evidence from this time in history are the remains of the killing fields of Cambodia. These were the places where those who did not cooperate were sent to work to their death. The fields exist today as a museum of sorts, with 20,000 people buried underground. The fields also hold displays, such as 8,000 human skulls placed in glass shrines.
The experiences that the Cambodian people underwent were deeply inhumane. Men, women and children were starved, worked to their death or were murdered in these fields. The fields are not just one inclusive area; there are 343 fields that have been discovered. Especially gruesome is that when it rains on the fields, bone and teeth fragments often wash up.
Cambodia coordinated with the U.N. General Assembly almost three decades after the Khmer Rouge were driven out. On Jun. 6, 2003, the Cambodian government agreed to prosecute the crimes committed during the genocide, which established the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). Though many perpetrators had already passed away by this time, the ECCC did prosecute five men involved.
Although they hold a dark past, the killing fields of Cambodia have actually become a positive asset to the country. According to National Geographic, tourism in Cambodia has increased by 40 percent every year since 1998 as curiosity about the genocide has grown. The fields have created many tour guide jobs for hundreds of Cambodians and the large rise in tourists has helped boost the country’s economy.
When people visit this site, however, they are most importantly paying their respects to Cambodia’s history and those who have passed. The fields will continue to exist as a reminder of the horror that comes when tyranny and genocide take hold.
– Kerri Whelan
Sources: World Without Genocide, National Geographic, University of Rochester, MTVU, CyberCambodia
Photo: Reuters Media
Helping Refugees Settle in the United States
For the 500 refugees that arrive in San Antonio each year, the transition can be difficult. After fleeing violence and persecution at home, refugees face a new set of challenges when trying to settle in the United States, including language barriers, unfamiliar cultures, discrimination and unemployment. Programs helping refugees settle in the U.S. are central to facilitating a successful, new start for refugees.
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio (CCOASA) offers a comprehensive program helping refugees settle and achieve economic self-sufficiency and cultural integration in San Antonio. When refugees arrive at San Antonio International Airport in central Texas, Catholic Charities volunteers are there to help.
The program begins as soon as refugees touch down. After their reception at the airport, volunteers assist refugees with housing, food, clothing and supplemental financial assistance. From there, they can receive a number of orientation courses covering topics such as American culture and laws, safety, healthcare, childcare, banking and employment.
The majority of CCOASA’s work, however, continues long after arrival. In addition to offering ESL and other courses through its Refugee Services Education Program, the organization provides ongoing case management services to identify and address each refugee’s unique obstacles to employment, community integration and cultural adjustment.
CCOASA’s Refugee Employment Services Program helps refugees join the workforce by linking them with potential employers based on specialized skills and level of employability. The organization also works to help refugees adjust to American work culture once they are employed.
For the children of refugees, the organization offers after-school tutoring and family services to help children acclimate to the American public school system. CCOASA’s School Impact Program helps 200 children per year integrate into educational life.
With support from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), CCOASA is just one of the hundreds of organizations helping refugees settle in the U.S. The office partners with private organizations in major cities across the country to take on this work.
Through ORR, refugees can also take advantage of numerous federal grants in order to buy homes, start businesses, go to college and develop careers. The office even provides opportunities for refugees to take part in sustainable community farming programs.
Helping refugees settle into a new life in the United States is challenging but, luckily, there are support systems in place to make the process easier. You can find opportunities to help in your own community here.
– Ron Minard
Sources: HHS, Borgen Project, CCAOSA, Immigration Policy
Photo: Washington Post
The Oscar-worthy Activist: Leonardo DiCaprio’s Charity Work
In 1998, when he was 24 years old, DiCaprio recognized the importance of protecting the environment and the need for building a sustainable future. He established the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF) to contribute to this cause.
Since 2010, the LDF has donated over $30 million to fund high-impact environmental projects in more than 44 countries, according to the organization’s website. “I play fictitious characters often solving fictitious problems,” DiCaprio said in an interview with the Telegraph in January 2016. “I believe mankind has looked at climate change in the same way, as if it were a fiction. But I think we know better than that.”
DiCaprio’s unwavering commitment to the environment earned him the role of United Nations Messenger of Peace in September 2014. “[DiCaprio’s] global stardom is the perfect match for this global challenge,” said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at a press conference at that time.
Charity Navigator, an organization known for guiding intelligent giving, noted DiCaprio’s involvement in the National Resources Defense Council, WildAid and the World Wildlife Fund on their list of celebrities who put their star power to good use. The LDF raised over $25 million at its inaugural gala in July 2014 thanks to auctioned items from Bono and Simon de Pury, according to Vogue Magazine.
DiCaprio’s charity work extends beyond the realm of fundraising galas or speaking to world leaders. While most celebrities use Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for self-promotion, DiCaprio’s accounts are devoted to causes he cares about.
“Leonardo’s website and social media platforms are also dedicated to inspiring the public to take action on key environmental issues,” the LDF website says, regarding DiCaprio’s social media channels. “Growing in reach from just 500,000 followers in 2007 to over 25 million in 2015, Leonardo’s fans have engaged on an array of issues protecting key species — sharks in California, tigers in Asia, elephants in Africa — and calling on world leaders to address climate change.”
Leonardo DiCaprio’s ability to leverage social media for good has not gone unnoticed. Complex Magazine cited DiCaprio as one of 11 celebrities that used social media for good in 2015.
– Summer Jackson
Sources: Complex, Look to the Stars, Telegraph, UN, Vogue, Charity Navigator
Photo: Google Images
Netflix to Expand Technology Access to Africa
The rise in cell phone usage has helped connect an estimated 300 million Africans to the Internet. But widespread connectivity problems and high data bills have made on demand video services less feasible for many. It is difficult for services like Netflix to gain momentum in areas that have problems connecting to the Internet.
Another video on demand company, iRoko TV, has switched to a mobile-first platform, making its product download-only and Android driven. The company, often referred to as the Netflix of Africa, is also working on technology that can compress videos into smaller files, which will allow them to deliver data quickly to any device with broadband abilities.
“The infrastructure, generally, isn’t really here for streaming long-form content,” founder of iRoko TV, Jason Njoku, told Variety. “For millions, the data price-points are way too high to pay for content streaming.”
The amount of data required to use Netflix for one hour can cost the user $4 in developing countries, says State Salem Log. This can translate to $250 each month. However, African users are attracted to the service because video content is offered at cheaper rates than the same content shown on cable networks, State Salem Log reports. Companies are trying to stay ahead of the game, with the hopes that falling data costs and increased Internet connection speeds will create more demand for video on demand services.
Marie Lora-Mungai, co-founder and CEO of African studio Restless Media, who is involved with streaming service Buni.tv, told Variety, “Netflix might be worse equipped than local VOD providers to deal with local infrastructural challenges, in that they traditionally don’t modify their platform to adapt to the specificities of local markets.”
Netflix expanded into 130 countries this January and even shot its first original film in Ghana earlier this year.
– Kaitlyn Arford
Sources: Variety, Wired, Salem State Log, AFK Insider
Photo: Enterprise54
How to Vote in Elections
The 58th United States presidential election is scheduled to take place on Nov. 8, 2016. Two Democrats and six Republicans remain on track for the election, as of Feb. 10.
As the day approaches, voters are under more pressure to become aware of the specifics on how to vote in elections. BallotPedia provides election information, including dates of primaries and caucuses for each party, information about the delegate selection process and a history of the most recent elections in each state. It also holds records of voting patterns and demographic profiles, which can be a valuable resource for voters interested in learning more about the factors that contributed to their state’s decisions in the past.
According to USA.gov, eligible voters are U.S. citizens at least 18 years of age and they need to meet their state’s residency requirements. Each state’s policy differs slightly but all documentation is easily accessible via the U.S. Election Commission’s website. Voters are able to look up the conditions on an interactive map of all states, which provides the exact dates of presidential and congressional primaries, primary runoff and a link directed to voters’ online registration.
In addition, USA.gov recognizes the complexity and confusion of the voting process. Therefore, “in an effort to simplify that process and bring the most important government tasks into the digital age, GSA has created an online voter registration tool,” as stated on its website. The tool is an online platform – vote.USA.gov – that provides state-specific online resources and easy voter registration.
This tool aims to assist voters by providing a link to online registration of more than 30 states and the District of Columbia, as well as a form for voters to fill out and mail to their state’s election office. Voters should identify whether their state offers the National Mail Voter Registration Form before proceeding.
– Hoa Nguyen
Sources: USA.gov 1, USA.gov 2, Ballotpedia, NY Times, Wikipedia
Photo: Unsplash
Rubio Supports US Soft Power to End Global Poverty
Ending global poverty is an issue that has largely escaped the 2016 presidential campaign. Inequality, terrorism, immigration, trade agreements and social issues have taken center stage. Yet many candidates support foreign aid as a key component of U.S. policy and believe that ending global poverty is in the best interest of the United States. Marco Rubio is one such candidate.
Rubio is unique in a way, in that his parents are immigrants who suffered under poverty in Cuba. In a 2014 press release, Rubio describes their situation. “My mother was one of seven girls whose parents often went to bed hungry so their children wouldn’t. My father lost his mother when he was nine. He left school and went to work at a local restaurant at about the same age of my youngest son now.”
Recognizing that his parents were not at fault for their hardship, Rubio says, “My parents, like most people that have ever lived, were raised in a country where they were trapped by the circumstances of their birth.” Poverty traps billions of people all over the globe and by linking his parents to “most people that have ever lived,” Rubio clearly empathizes with the world’s poor.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that, when asked, Rubio expresses support for U.S. foreign aid. At a November campaign stop, Tom Hardy of Global Citizen/Humanosphere asked Rubio about his views on international development and aid. His response was short and succinct.
“In countries where there is real and robust economic development, there is less radicalization. Soft power is a real element and it’s in our national interest, and part of it is because it is the right thing to do.” Rubio identifies two key elements of why the U.S. should assist other countries. One is that development and strong rule of law help suppress terrorism. The other is that helping others and doing the right thing is a core piece of America’s identity.
Rubio believes that the United States “has been blessed for what it has done for the world.” He also pointed out that “[foreign aid] is only a small percentage of the federal budget.” This last sentence is crucial, as it rebuffs a common misperception about foreign aid.
A major reason why candidates, including Rubio, fail to mention their support for aid is that the public grossly overestimates the generosity of the United States. A Borgen Project article from 2014 reported that a Kaiser Family Foundation study found the average U.S. citizen believes 28 percent of the U.S. budget goes to aid. In reality, that number is less than one percent. Due to this discrepancy, the same report found that nearly half of Americans favor large cuts in foreign aid.
Supporting increases in aid is, therefore, politically challenging but Rubio has taken the risk. In the last year, he lent his support to the Reach Every Mother and Child Act and the Global Food Security Act as a co-sponsor. Both of these bills are supported by The Borgen Project and by many pro-development groups. Rubio has not only talked the talk but walked the walk.
To retain America’s position as a leader among nations, it is important that whoever is elected in 2016 understands that influence comes not only through military might but also through the soft power of aid and development.
As Rubio said in a 2012 speech, “We don’t have a national debt because of foreign aid. If you zeroed out foreign aid it would do nothing for the debt, but would be devastating, not just to the world but to America’s role in it.”
As a person, a senator and a presidential candidate, Marco Rubio’s commitment to ending global poverty is unquestionable.
– Dennis Sawyers
Sources: Global Citizen, Humanosphere, Marco Rubio Official Site, The Borgen Project
Photo: Flickr
Indian Farmers Empowered by the British Asian Trust
Prince Charles is not only royalty, but he is also the founder and president of the British Asian Trust (BAT). And on Feb. 3, 2016, he announced a new fund designed to improve the lives of small Indian farmers at the BAT’s annual fundraising gala in London.
Like many farmers in developing countries, rural Indian farmers are caught in a poverty trap. They make just enough money to survive but not enough money to invest in productivity-raising methods and equipment. Without access to affordable loans, they are unable to improve their lives for themselves and their families.
Prince Charles understands their plight and hopes to reverse their situation. At the gala, he said, “These smaller holder farmers often realize only a small proportion of the value of their products and can get caught in a poverty trap with no obvious way out. By making real inroads into helping the [agricultural] sector upscale, the fund will increase productivity in a sustainable way and make a staggering difference to so many lives.”
According to a 2012-2013 Report on Employment and Unemployment Survey by the Indian government, the majority of rural Indian households rely on agriculture as their means of employment. Furthermore, nearly half are self-employed. By giving them the means to invest in themselves, Prince Charles hopes he can change the face of poverty in the Indian countryside.
History provides a reason to be optimistic about Prince Charles’ goals. Prior to the 1980s, Chinese farmers were also caught in a poverty trap. By privatizing collective farms and encouraging an open market, Chinese farmers could make more money than they needed to feed themselves. They invested this extra money into increasing their agricultural productivity. Little by little, the Chinese economy grew and then exploded into the powerhouse economy of China today.
The BAT also announced another fund dedicated to skills training in Pakistan. This will be its “largest-ever fund” — and the BAT will work alongside the Aman Foundation to bring knowledge and skills to the country’s most disadvantaged people.
To raise money for this project and for South Asian communities in general, the BAT will also begin a public fundraising drive with the UK Department for International Development (DiFD). The goal is to raise £3 million and the DiFD will match donations given by the public.
This will be the first time that the British Asian Trust appeals to the public on a national basis. While the BAT has raised millions for South Asian nations over the last nine years, all proceeds have come from private and corporate donations. At this year’s gala, for example, over £900,000 was raised for charity. Numerous celebrities attended, including British filmmaker Gurinder Chadha and actor Sanjeev Bhaskar.
Prince Charles and his British Asian Trust have ambitious plans for the year, such as starting a new fund in India, a new fund in Pakistan and its first-ever public fundraising drive. If they succeed, they’ll bring Indian farmers out of poverty, give Pakistani people much-needed skills and raise money and awareness for South Asia’s most vulnerable.
– Dennis Sawyers
Sources: Government of India, Ministry of Labor and Employment, International Business Times, NDTV
Photo: Wikimedia
10 Quotes to Inspire You This Election
With the presidential election coming up in November of this year, it is important to focus on the issues that matter most and remember the value of the vote. Every vote counts and determines the future direction of the U.S. and the world.
With that said, here are some of the best quotes from several well-known and influential figures to inspire you this election:
– John Quincy Adams
– Emma Goldman
– Lyndon B. Johnson
– Lyndon B. Johnson
– Walter H. Judd
– Rick Mercer
– Lou Henry Hoover
– Hazen Pingree
– Thomas Jefferson
– Franklin D. Roosevelt
– Mayra Vega
Sources: Goodreads, Intentblog, Politico, Cafemom
Photo: Glamour