Picture a world without suffering. Is it possible?
To some this may be but a far-fetched dream, but Dr. Arthur B. Keys, Jr. has set out to make this dream a reality.
Founded in 1998, Dr. Keys and his wife, Jasna, established International Relief and Development, a nonprofit organization that fights to relieve the suffering of the world’s most vulnerable and marginalized population through active engagement, empowerment and inclusion.
Over the years, IRD has provided $3.9 billion in humanitarian assistance to over 40 countries, including Afghanistan, Colombia, Ethiopia, Iraq and Ukraine. The organization heavily focuses on conflict zones and areas damaged by natural disasters. To improve the livelihoods of these people, the IRD believes it is best to provide the resources and training to become self-sufficient. Thus, rather than just providing clean water to a community suffering from drought, International Relief and Development aims to address the root causes of the problem, such as upgrading water pumps and management systems.
IRD has tackled issues ranging from a lack of schools in Haiti to impoverished women in Mozambique to malnourishment among students in Laos. By organizing short-term and long-term interventions, they foster the path to a more developed and prosperous nation. But how does IRD get the funds to take on all these projects?
The nonprofit organization collaborates with many other agencies and donors, one of them being the U.S. Agency for International Development. As a contractor, 4,000 staff members all over the world carry out many of USAID’s programs in hopes to improve infrastructure, healthcare and governance in war-torn countries. The U.S. State Department as well as numerous UN agencies also fund IRD’s annual budget of $400-$500 million.
One of its most recent successes took place among refugees and internally displaced persons in Yemen, a country that hosts over 200,000 people from Eritrea Ethiopia, Iraq and Somalia.
Refugees and internally displaced persons all face similar struggles, but in a place where political instability and high unemployment wreak havoc on daily life, coping with the current circumstances becomes increasingly difficult.
Realizing the dire urgency, IRD has set out to assist the thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons. After assessing the deprivations and needs in the refugee camps, IRD along with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees worked to provide monthly allowances to the families. They also distributed thousands of dollars worth of school and medical supplies, hygiene kits and other goods to many school children and families. The United Methodist Committee on Relief donated most of the gifts. IRD also targeted many vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and sexual abuse survivors, by establishing care centers and providing group therapy.
International Relief and Development continues to provide relief and assistance in the world’s hot spots. By going into desperate communities and initiating development, this organization guides countries to economic growth and stabilization. Success stories are seen all over Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, but the range of IRD’s success does not stop there. Success like this is everlasting and enduring.
—Leeda Jewayni
Sources: International Relief and Development, Washington Post, Huffington Post
Sweden Backs Fund for Indigenous Land Rights
Although indigenous groups claim long-stretching, tradition-based ownership of the lands and forests they live on, the possession is not legally recognized, leading to frequent clashes with governments and businesses. At next week’s United Nations climate summit, Sweden plans to announce funding to the tune of $14 million to help indigenous populations in securing legal rights to their land.
“The lack of clear rights to own and use land affects the livelihoods of millions of forest-dwellers and has also encouraged widespread illegal logging and forest loss,” said the director general of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Charlotte Petri Gornitzka.
A prominent example of the struggle between indigenous communities and businesses is in Peru, where oil and gas enterprises have been granted over 60 percent of the Amazon forest. These distributions include the areas of five conservation reserves, four indigenous territorial reserves, and more than 70 percent of all Peruvian native communities.
“Establishing clear and secure community land rights will enable sustainable economic development, lessen the impacts of climate change and is a pre-requisite for much needed sustainable investments,” said Gornitzka.
Awaiting full operational status in 2016, the International Land and Forest Tenure Facility will support projects recommended by local people and their governments to improve land rights in developing countries. Helping indigenous populations secure their land also significantly reduces the risk of deforestation, becoming a vital tool in mitigating climate change.
The Rights and Resources Initiative is developing the facility to fund on-the-ground promotion of land tenure for indigenous communities, allowing them to sustainably manage the land. With an advisory board composed of World Bank officials, indigenous communities’ groups, and NGOs, the facility will be registered as a nonprofit and will formally launch by the end of 2015.
“Our estimates are that there’s at least two or maybe three times more land in forests out there that’s legitimately claimed, customarily managed – but not recognized in maps or in law,” said Rights and Resources Initiative coordinator Andy White. “We have lots of evidence that show that indigenous peoples in poorest communities, once their rights are recognized, they’re more effective at protecting it [from industrial use].”
The Washington-based Rights and Resources Initiative is a global coalition that advocates land and forest policy reform in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Now that it has secured its first $14 million donation from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the coalition is looking to other potential donors like Finland, Norway and the United Kingdom.
The initial $14 million backing from the Swedish government will fund three or four test projects, which will likely take place next year in Cameroon, Colombia, Indonesia or Peru. The International Land and Forest Tenure Facility will be structured as an independent organization, being governed by indigenous peoples’ representatives, donors, civil society, community groups and businesses.
– Annie Jung
Sources: Devex, Humanosphere, Reuters
Photo: Telegraph
AMURT: Relief Team with Individualized Solutions
Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team, or AMURT, readily admits “that there are no ready-made solutions to problems of poverty. Every situation is unique and requires its own local solution.”
In 1965, AMURT was founded as one of the few private international volunteer organizations in India. The original objective was to meet the needs of Indians of the sub-continent after the many natural disasters that strike there every year. This specificity of relief became the backbone for the expansion that this organization has seen over the last four decades. The U.S. contributes over 1.9 million dollars annually to this organization. The U.N. recognized it as an international NGO in 1991.
The AMURT office network now extends to over thirty-four countries and the field network covers 180 countries through its ashrams. Acharya Bhaveshananda Avadhuta, the public relations secretary of Ananda Marga, says there is “a band of over 5000 trained whole-timers of which 2000 are women.” All AMURT field directors are from the areas they serve. Due to this they are much more able to promote a solution to fit the particular circumstances of a local disaster.
Most recently, these disaster relief efforts have helped over 15,000 Syrians fleeing from the war in Lebanon by providing food, warmth and schooling for displaced children. In February of this year, when super typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines, AMURT responded across five islands, feeding cooked food and bottled water to tens of thousands people who had suddenly been thrust into poverty. In 2013, when Northern India and the surrounding area experienced torrential floods, AMURT responded with 20 locations across the area providing food, non-food item and medical attention.
Disaster relief may have been the foundation, but AMURT relief extended its reach in 1985 to include long-term development. AMURT feels that it can play a very important role in breaking the cycle of poverty by helping vulnerable communities. “For us, development is human exchange: people sharing wisdom, knowledge and experience to build a better world.”
Some of these programs have educated thousands and others are still educating today. In Romania the “Transitional Housing Program” has helped several youth find housing, motivational counseling and life skills. In 2010 AMURT began a community healthcare system in Kenya aimed at reducing maternal mortality rates. They have also established similar programs in Burkina Faso and begun the “Access to Water” program within the country, partnering with Water Shed Management.
The list of positive steps towards the elimination of poverty on a global scale will continue to go on and on for AMURT. It attributes much of the success to its well-defined mission statement and principles. Its mission is “to help improve the quality of life for the poor and disadvantaged people of the world, and those affected by calamity and conflict. We encourage and enable individuals and communities to harness their own resources for securing the basic necessities of life and for gaining greater economic, social and spiritual fulfillment, while honoring their customs, language, and religious beliefs.”
If you would like to find an AMURT office near you or donate money to their disaster relief cause please contact AMURT at http://www.amurt.net/contact/ or by phone at 1-301-738-7122.
– Frederick Wood II
Sources: AMURT 1, AMURT 2, AMURT 3, AMURT 4, LifePositive, FedSpending.org, The New York Times
Photo: Flickr
Ebola Taking Economic Toll in Africa
The countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone face severe economic hardships if help is not brought in and fear is not alleviated.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) met to decipher the plan to action. The plan was to offer zero-interest loans to help cover the three countries of concern, if only partially. Loans would provide relief “by around $130 million to help them meet financing gaps worth $300 million,” the Wall Street Journal reported. The IMF said the countries would need an additional $130 million to “cover the next six to nine months.”
Numbers predicted by the World Bank and IMF for next year are looking grim for economic growth in Sierra Leone, expected to drop from 11.3 percent to eight percent, growth cut more than half for Liberia to two-and-a-half percent growth and Guinea falling from three-and-a-half percent to just under two-and-a-half percent.
These predicted cuts in growth come after farmers have ceased to go into their fields, stores have closed up shop and because of fear of contracting Ebola, tourism has halted. It is predicted in Sierra Leone, there will be a one-third drop in agricultural output.
World Bank president Jim Kim responded to economic predictions pointing out that the crisis is not just about money. “The sooner we implement an effective response and decrease the level of fear of Ebola’s spread, the more we can limit the epidemic’s economic impacts.”
U.S. President Barack Obama addressed the nation September 16 concerning the Ebola outbreak and what the U.S. response would be, announcing the country will lead in the global effort of aid and will be deploying 3,000 members of the military and assist in the building of new healthcare buildings.
In addition to Obama’s pledges, the World Health Organization is asking for $1 billion to fight the spreading of the disease.
First signs of Ebola were seen in Guinea in March. The virus has now spread to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal and Nigeria. The disease has taken 2,630 lives with 5,357 known infections as of September 19.
– Kori Withers
Sources: BBC, Wall Street Journal, Wall Street Journal 2, Reuters, New York Times
Photo: Flickr
Poverty in Cuba
1. Agriculture and Climate: Much of Cuba’s economy has heavily depended on the farming of specific crops such as sugarcane, one of the main export products used in trade. In addition, a significant portion of industrial work goes into processing much of these crops for commercial use, such as turning sugarcane into sugar crystals. In total, agriculture and industrial production of these goods make up nearly 30% of Cuba’s GDP. Unfortunately, this dependence on agriculture imposes limitations on Cuba’s ability to make great advances in infrastructure and maintain economic stability. The situation is only made worse due to the tropical climate and prevalence of hurricanes during the rainy season, which can cause widespread damage, suffering and loss of life. When Hurricane Irma struck in 2017, the cost of damages reached well over 13.6 billion pesos (more than $628 million). Over 7,400 acres of plantation farmland were destroyed, causing a brief food shortage and exacerbating poverty in Cuba.
2. The United States Embargo: After the rise of Fidel Castro in 1961, the United States placed an embargo that suddenly deprived Cuban exporters of a significant majority of their exports. Since that point, the embargo continues to restrict trade and access to American products. As a consequence, many people experience a lack of daily necessities from electronics to food. The embargo even includes sanctions against other nations trading with Cuba. The economic restrictions imposed by the embargo have disastrous consequences for those living in poverty in Cuba as they lack daily resources. As of now, there doesn’t seem to be any immediate action towards removing the embargo, but an increase in tourism (especially from Americans) can provide the first step in easing relations between the two countries.
3. Jobs and Employment: Cuba has a very low unemployment rate compared to other nations of similar economic standing, resting at 1.7%. However, a significant portion of working families in Cuba are at risk of income poverty, with an individual having a 41.7% chance of having income problems. These people work in jobs for an average salary lower than that of the national average. Given that the typical family consists of about three people, this results in nearly four million individuals who live in households at risk of income poverty. Moreover, the workforce of Cuba is further destabilized due to the rampant rise of an aging population. Over 20% of the Cuban population is above the age of 60, which also means that fertility rates are low due to these demographic imbalances. So for the average family living in poverty in Cuba, finding work can be difficult. On the bright side, charities like the Caribbean Movement Trust can aid such families in becoming more self-sufficient and maintaining a steady income through education, training and healthcare projects.
4. Housing and Energy: The Cuban government closely oversees transactions and logistics involving real estate and homeownership. It is incredibly difficult to change one’s place of residence as the government imposed a system of enforced home exchanges where homeownership is typically seen as collective ownership, which is controlled by the state. The situation is worse for those living in poverty in Cuba, as they cannot afford constant change and are often living without clean water, gas and electricity. However, international charities such as the Nextenergy Foundation are working toward providing renewable energy to contribute to poverty alleviation in many countries, including Cuba.
5. Healthcare and Education: Despite the many difficulties in their lives, Cubans are able to enjoy free health care and education at all levels. The government controls the distribution of goods such as foodstuffs and medications and has mandated that physical education and sports be integrated into Cuban education in order to promote healthy living. Even for those who live in poverty in Cuba, primary education for children between ages six and 11 is compulsory. As a result, a significant majority of the Cuban population is literate. In addition, women are guaranteed equal educational opportunities and account for more than half of all university graduates.
Cuba’s environment, trade restrictions and general lack of everyday necessities place many of its citizens in poverty. Thankfully, many organizations are working to spread awareness and to donate money and resources to those living in Cuba. Over time and through the efforts of many people, it is possible to speed up the process of development to help this country in need of aid.
– Aditya Daita
Photo: Pixabay
Global Vaccination Programs
When it comes to diseases, it is always preferred to prevent rather than treat. Over the years, vaccinations and immunizations have saved millions of lives and eliminated one of the deadliest diseases in the world: smallpox.
All children are born with an immune system that produces antibodies when a foreign substance, or antigen, is detected. In other words, when the child gets sick, these proteins will not be able to halt the disease from occurring, but the immune system will remember the antigen and give the child immunity when it invades the body a second time.
Vaccines contain those antigens, but in a weaker form. The body will sense an “invader” and still produce antibodies to fight the harmless antigen. Thus, without ever exposing a child to a disease, a vaccination is a safer way to gain protection and produce immunity.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention understands the importance of global vaccination programs and has created the Global Immunization Division, which is dedicated to creating a “world without the diseases and deaths that could be prevented with vaccines.”
Worldwide, one in five children do not have access to the most basic vaccines. Consequently, around 1.5 million children die each year from diseases that could be prevented with proper immunizations. By working with a variety of global partners, the CDC has implemented a multitude of routine immunization services and campaigns, in addition to providing bed nets, de-worming medication and safe water systems.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also invests in global vaccination programs and contributes to the goals of the Decade of Vaccines, an action plan that aims to deliver universal access to immunization. In collaboration with the World Health Organization and other civil society organizations, the foundation is introducing vaccinations into the countries that need it most. They focus on strengthening immunizations systems by supporting the collection and analysis of vaccine-related data, as well as developing new technology to help medical staff “assess population immunity to disease.”
Universal access to vaccinations remains a priority goal for both groups in the next year. Effective vaccination programs saves lives, is inexpensive and easy to administer. Universal availability of vaccines also reduces health inequities, if everyone can have access to life-saving discoveries. Access to vaccines will give all our global citizens a fighting chance to survive.
– Leeda Jewayni
Sources: CDC, CDC 2, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Photo: Council on Foreign Relations
Education Leaves Room for Improvement
Humans of New York photographer, Brandon Stanton, has been on a 50 day world tour, visiting 10 countries and photographing each of the countries inhabitants. If close attention is paid, an underlying theme of education is present in many of the captions that accompany the posted photos.
This theme of education can be seen in photos from Iraq with young men telling of their dreams to become doctors and of another young man’s journey in the Master’s program at the University of Damascus. It can be seen in Jordan with a man’s story of giving up his chance of an upper division degree because he went to work to help pay for his brother’s education. It can be seen in various countries in Africa of children whose dreams are to become lawyers, nurses, pilots and engineers. The theme of education can be seen when parents who, wanting a better life for their son, hiked with him over mountains for a month and left him in India for better schooling, a sacrifice that has kept the family apart for the past 20 years.
Examples like this and many more merely show the importance and desire for education in developing countries. Just as inhabitants of developing countries wish for education for their younger generations, those in developing countries wish to give children the chance to learn, to one change the face of their countries and make changes for the better.
This wish can be seen through the efforts being made in the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education. This particular endeavor has made progress and was a joyous victory until a new report written by Geeta Rao Gupta, UNICEF Executive Director for Programs, this past July shows progress in helping children receive an education has come to a standstill.
Gupta reported from a new data released by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statics and Education for All Global Monitoring Report reveals, “an estimated 250 million children in the world cannot read, write or do basic math … ” Research shows more often than not, children not receiving an educational opportunity are girls. Currently there are over 30 million school-aged girls who do not have the privilege of simply attending school.
This staggering number calls for a move to action. Girls need to be given a chance at an education. CNN released a report on the benefits of educating girls, reporting educating a girl not only benefits herself, but her family, community and country. UNESCO informs that a child with a literate mother is 50 times more likely to survive past the age of five. CNN also reports of a World Bank study, “ … every 1 percent increase in women with secondary education boosted a country’s annual per capita income growth rate by about 0.3 percentage points.”
Studies like this bear out the importance of giving girls a chance to learn. In response to stalled universal primary education, UNICEF announced policy pledges, including “[increased] access to quality early learning opportunities for all children” and “[focused] efforts on expanding education for girls … ”
Though the road ahead is rough in ensuring all children receive a quality education, Gupta said, “We know that when we bring educational opportunities to the hardest to reach areas, we win a number of battles: learning improves, community engagement is reinforced, and children, particularly girls, can exercise their right to an education.”
– Kori Withers
Sources: UNICEF, Humans of New York, UNESCO, CNN
Photo: Tipton
Vaccines Seek to “Spread What Works”
When the eight Millennium Development Goals were created in 2000, one of the goals to be reached by 2015 became to reduce the mortality rate in children under five by two-thirds.
While the ambitious goal of a two-thirds reduction has not been met, the United Nation’s Children’s fund has recently reported that in the past thirteen years, death rates in children under five have been cut in half.
Studies show various ways death in children have been reduced by more women giving birth in hospitals or with skilled and educated health workers. Improvements have also been seen with increased awareness of the importance of skin-on-skin contact with a newborn and mother, breastfeeding, family planning and immunizations.
Immunizations are simple and effective ways to prevent diseases that take lives of many children a year.
While immunizations are effective in saving lives, the report showed more than six million children die per year from preventable causes. That’s almost 17,000 children dying every day from the inability to receive a vaccine that would prohibit a disease from taking their lives.
Among common life-threatening diseases are pneumonia, malaria, diarrhea and measles. All these diseases can be prevented with a vaccine. UNICEF’s head of global programs, Dr. Mickey Chopra, said, “The challenge is to spread what works. It is very, very easy to prevent … diseases from killing kids. An antibiotic is 10, 20 cents, and that saves the life basically.”
While these vaccines cost very little, vaccine packages that treat about a dozen diseases have increased in price by almost 2700 percent between the years of 2001 and 2011. In the latter year, the UNICEF Supply Division performed a study and found that “Western companies often charged UNICEF twice as much for its medication than Indian and Indonesian companies.” It is noted however, that as competition arose in the pharmaceutical market, prices have not shifted.
Though prices are high and funding for vaccinations that would prevent death in millions of children seems at times like a lost cause, there is hope in sight. In June of this year, the GAVI Alliance Board announced plans to immunize 300 million children between 2016 and 2020, hoping to save between an estimated five to six million lives in just four years.
The GAVI press release stated it is projected nearly 50 percent children in 73 GAVI- supported countries will receive all 11 immunizations recommended by the World Health Organization by 2020- a more than 45 percent increase than is seen today.
Chair of the GAVI Alliance, Daginn Hoybraten, said of the Alliance has the opportunity, “to build and strengthen immunization programs that will benefit the children of today as well as generations to come.”
– Kori Withers
Sources: GAVI Alliance, Think Progress, Huffington Post World Health Organization
IRD Fights Suffering On Many Levels
Picture a world without suffering. Is it possible?
To some this may be but a far-fetched dream, but Dr. Arthur B. Keys, Jr. has set out to make this dream a reality.
Founded in 1998, Dr. Keys and his wife, Jasna, established International Relief and Development, a nonprofit organization that fights to relieve the suffering of the world’s most vulnerable and marginalized population through active engagement, empowerment and inclusion.
Over the years, IRD has provided $3.9 billion in humanitarian assistance to over 40 countries, including Afghanistan, Colombia, Ethiopia, Iraq and Ukraine. The organization heavily focuses on conflict zones and areas damaged by natural disasters. To improve the livelihoods of these people, the IRD believes it is best to provide the resources and training to become self-sufficient. Thus, rather than just providing clean water to a community suffering from drought, International Relief and Development aims to address the root causes of the problem, such as upgrading water pumps and management systems.
IRD has tackled issues ranging from a lack of schools in Haiti to impoverished women in Mozambique to malnourishment among students in Laos. By organizing short-term and long-term interventions, they foster the path to a more developed and prosperous nation. But how does IRD get the funds to take on all these projects?
The nonprofit organization collaborates with many other agencies and donors, one of them being the U.S. Agency for International Development. As a contractor, 4,000 staff members all over the world carry out many of USAID’s programs in hopes to improve infrastructure, healthcare and governance in war-torn countries. The U.S. State Department as well as numerous UN agencies also fund IRD’s annual budget of $400-$500 million.
One of its most recent successes took place among refugees and internally displaced persons in Yemen, a country that hosts over 200,000 people from Eritrea Ethiopia, Iraq and Somalia.
Refugees and internally displaced persons all face similar struggles, but in a place where political instability and high unemployment wreak havoc on daily life, coping with the current circumstances becomes increasingly difficult.
Realizing the dire urgency, IRD has set out to assist the thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons. After assessing the deprivations and needs in the refugee camps, IRD along with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees worked to provide monthly allowances to the families. They also distributed thousands of dollars worth of school and medical supplies, hygiene kits and other goods to many school children and families. The United Methodist Committee on Relief donated most of the gifts. IRD also targeted many vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and sexual abuse survivors, by establishing care centers and providing group therapy.
International Relief and Development continues to provide relief and assistance in the world’s hot spots. By going into desperate communities and initiating development, this organization guides countries to economic growth and stabilization. Success stories are seen all over Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, but the range of IRD’s success does not stop there. Success like this is everlasting and enduring.
—Leeda Jewayni
Sources: International Relief and Development, Washington Post, Huffington Post
USAID Start Up Initiatives
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has recently funded startup programs aiming to address global poverty at several universities. The agency hopes investments will promote innovative projects that will be economically sustainable once start-up dollars run dry.
“The old model was we need something built, we hire a contractor,” USAID head Rajiv Shah said. “The new model is solve these huge and challenging problems with innovators and entrepreneurs who can come together and create the kind of solutions that can scale up to reach tens of millions of households.”
Development labs at seven major universities so far have received funding from USAID. The labs are field-testing a variety of new products, ranging from hand-held medical diagnostic technology to sanitation devices.
While diverse, all products are consistently cheap enough to dispense broadly and efficiently, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.
Most recently, the agency granted Kansas State University $50 million towards their Feed the Future Initiative.
“With four Feed the Future Innovation Labs now hosted by the College of Agriculture and K-State Research and Extension,” said dean of the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University, John Floros. “USAID is making a nearly $100 million investment in Kansas State University’s ability to provide leadership to the global food systems research, teaching and extension efforts.”
Feed the Future works to promote research and innovation, expand proven workable technologies, and expand nutritional programs for global food producers and their families. Last year alone, the campaign expanded new technologies and management to more than 7 million farmers
Another project endorsed by USAID is Gram Power, an entrepreneurial firm considered a pioneer in off-grid renewable energy in India. This project was kickstarted by Yashraj Khaitan, a UC Berkeley student originally from India.
“I wanted to use technology to work on something high impact,” said Khaitan.
The firm’s model is projected to vastly expand electrical power to Indian homes, according to vice president of infrastructure at Google and guide to the Gram Power effort, Eric Brewer.
“We are looking for ways to find more Gram Power type projects,” said Ticora Jones, director of university-based projects for USAID. “We want to populate a pipeline of innovators.”
– Gabrielle Sennett
Sources: USAID, LA Times
Photo: The Guardian,
Bezos Family Foundation Makes Impact
The Bezos Family Foundation was established by Jackie and Mike Bezos while working alongside with children and spouses that serve as the directors, and gives a whole new meaning to family tradition. This private and independent foundation has a vision of all people being prepared to achieve their full potential in life.
There are three main areas on which the foundation focuses. They are are: early learning, K-12 education and youth leadership and global engagement. Through these three areas, the hope is that it will give strengths to people in education and in life skills to every age group.
The first main area the foundation focuses on, as mentioned above, is early learning and through this the members look at science approaches to old problems and gives a new approach to basic development brain research. This research is meant to broaden the understanding of how young children learn and develop.
Through the early learning program the foundation partners with many other organizations, one of which is Acelero Learning, first partnered in 2012. The mission of Acelero Learning is to inspire a positive family and child outcomes to help close the achievement gap and build a better future for children and families.
The next main area that the foundation focuses on is K-12 education. Through this program the foundation supports teaching, school and system leadership. As well as the early learning program there are also partners with organizations that bring thoughtful innovations in K-12—with emphasis on STEM education. The vision for students goes beyond high school and the foundation aims to teach the tools needed to excel in college.
One partner through this program is 50 EGGS, INC. A partner since 2013, 50 EGGS INC. is led by award-winning documentary filmmaker Mary Mazzio. The company is dedicated to creating films that leave a positive social impact.
The last area that the foundation focuses on is youth leadership and global engagement. Supporting young and motivated leaders is the goal through this program, which seeks to do so by providing opportunities to expand awareness of global issues.
A partner for this program since 2005 is the Aspen Institute. This organization fosters values-based leadership and provides a neutral and balanced venue for discussing and acting on critical issues. Aspen Institute is a Bezos Scholars Program founding partner and the partnership stimulates youth leadership development and global awareness.
– Brooke Smith
Sources: The Aspen Institute, Acelero Learning, Bezos Family Foundation