Companies That Donate When You Buy

Companies That Donate When You Buy
Making a difference in another person’s life does not have to be relegated to the holiday season or a monthly donation to a charity. Now more than ever companies are getting creative with how they use the money donated when purchasing their product to improve the lives of those living in poverty. Check out these great shopping destinations to start giving back today.

  1. The Hunger Site: The Hunger Site works to put an end to hunger and poverty around the world by donating to non-profits. How do you donate? They provide two options. There is a button to click daily that provides food to impoverished people around the world. It’s effortless and free to do and every time you click, the website sponsors donate money towards a bowl of food. To give, even more, there are numerous fair-trade items to buy ranging from clothing to decorative art that is often hand-crafted by those being helped by the site. The money spent is then donated and you, in turn, get a great gift for yourself or others.
  2. Out of Print Clothing: Learning to read is an important milestone for many children around the world. But, even more, children go without the necessary tool, books, to even begin the learning process. Out of Print recognizes this need and for every purchase made on their site, they donate a book to communities through the Books for Africa campaign. They have shirts, books, and accessories made just for the literature love.
  3. OneMillionLights: There are 1.3 billion people in the world who depend on dangerous kerosene lamps for their light source at night. With the pollution created and the average of 1.5 million deaths occurring every year as a result of kerosene, it is easy to understand why the creators of OneMillionLights chose safe, solar-powered lights as their donation project. A donation can be made the old fashioned way to provide families with a lamp for private use or through their “buy one, give one” project. You buy an Energizer solar powered spotlight for yourself and they send one to a school or medical clinic in need.
  4. FIGS: Anyone who works in the medical field can tell you the importance of scrubs. Not only do they provide an immediately recognizable symbol for the public, but the act of wearing clean scrubs on a daily basis helps to reduce hospital-acquired infection by 2/3 and can, therefore, save millions of dollars in resulting necessary treatments. But, the uniforms are costly and many medical professionals in poverty-stricken areas don not make enough money to buy their own uniforms. That’s where FIGS got their mission. For every pair of scrubs purchased for yourself, you give a pair to a needy clinic. They have all the basics you need in a variety of colors and sizes for personalization.

– Chelsea Evans

Sources: The Hunger Site, Out of Print Clothing, OneMillionLights, FIGS
Photo: Go With Integrity

Hunger Photography Competition

Heifer International has teamed up with high-class fashion magazine Hunger to conduct a photography competition aimed at raising awareness of hunger. Founded in 1944, Heifer International is a non-profit that aspires to raise people out of poverty by providing them with livestock and agricultural training. Now, they are trying to get new circles of society talking about hunger.

According to President and CEO Pierre Ferrari, the contest’s goal is to “get a new segment of society talking about a sensitive subject” using the power of imagery. He believes, “A single image can raise awareness, capture the essence of what we are trying to do, and possibly end the plague of poverty.” Specifically, he is hoping that the competition will help start conversations in upper-class social circles, where it can be easy to ignore poverty in our own society and around the world. Hunger magazine provides the perfect platform for these discussions. “A place of culture like Hunger magazine,” Ferrari said, “enables [Heifer International] to reach out to people with different perspectives on humanity, and it gives us an ability to start a new discussion.”

All photographers, from amateurs to professionals, were asked to submit images that they felt portrayed the word “hunger.” Submissions were taken online through a creative platform Talenthouse between May 21 and July 2, 2013. During the following two weeks, a public vote determined the finalists.

Submissions came in from all over the world. They include a confronting still life contrasting a barren table with an opulent one, an image of silverware with bites taken out of them, and numerous shots of extremely skinny women with bones protruding. Some critics have raised the concern that such images contribute more to the glorification of eating disorders as something necessary to reach the peak of fashion, and accuse them of diverting attention away from world poverty. However, Ferrari trusts his audience to draw their own connections, suggesting that “the reader/audience is a lot more intellectual than in the past” and that integrating the fashion world into the realm of fine art photography can widen the competition’s potential audience.

The winner will be chosen by renowned fashion photographer Rankin, who oversees the production of Hunger magazine. His decision was supposed to be announced on July 23, but he has requested additional time, citing the large quantity of excellent submissions.

This competition is an excellent illustration of high-class society effectively using its resources to benefit the greater good. It is imperative to get people talking about and working against hunger, and the high-class fashion circles represent a largely untapped resource on this front. Hunger magazine is commendably using its reputation as a platform for activism, an example that other corporations would do well to emulate.

– Katie Fullerton

Sources: Mail Online, Heifer International, Hunger TV, Talenthouse
Photo: Facebook

Pope Francis Visits Brazil

Pope Francis Visits Brazil

Pope Francis arrived last Monday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he is spending the week visiting the city as well as Varginha, a slum neighborhood in very poor condition. The Pope’s visit, which will be his first time back on his home continent since his election, is bringing high hopes to many who are struggling in Brazil because of his history in the region and focus on poverty.

Currently in Rio protests are raging over preparations for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, which involve the demolition of thousands of houses without reasonable compensation in the region and increased taxes. Citizens of Brazil are angry that their government’s resources are being spent on sporting events, rather than helping those in need. The people living in Varginha were already living in impoverished conditions before the government decided to destroy the neighborhood. Even after whole sections of their houses have already been demolished by the government, many people there still refuse to leave.

While the trip’s official purpose is for the Pope to meet with and speak to participants of World Youth Day, a large Catholic youth conference in Rio, much of the trip will be focused on commenting on social justice issues in Brazil. The visit was originally planned for Pope Francis’ predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. It is likely that in spite of scandals involving the Vatican, Pope Francis decided to make the trip in order to draw attention to the social justice issues in the region.

The hope is that the Pope’s visit will draw attention to the needs of Brazil. The last time a Pope visited Brazil was when Pope John Paul II came in 1980. He visited a neighborhood that was soon to be demolished, but by calling attention it, the government relented and the neighborhood was saved. The Pope’s influence is especially strong in Latin America, which is home to almost half of the world’s Catholics, and Pope Francis’ former home.

Despite all of the good that is expected to come out of the visit, many are protesting the trip along with the World Cup and the Olympics. The World Youth Conference is costing the Brazilian government $52 million and some of that is going toward hosting the Pope.

– Emma McKay

Sources: The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, The Guardian
Photo: Flickr

What is ACDI/VOCA?

With a vision to encourage global economy success, ACDI/VOCA began in 1963 as product of major U.S. farm co-ops and partners like Nationwide. ACDI/VOCA received its name as an economic development organization and 501(c)(3) non-profit in 1997 after nonprofits Agricultural Cooperative Development International and Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance merged. The U.S. cooperative organization combined the ACDI’s long term development goals with VOCA’s interpersonal volunteer activities. The ACDI/VOCA is now led and organized by President and CEO, Carl H. Leonard and Chief Operating Officer, Bill Polidoro.

Driven to promote economic opportunities, ACDI/VOC strives for positive global economic and social change. The ACDI/VOC achieves their commitment to poverty alleviation and broad-based economic growth through their diverse team, experience and knowledge of developmental resources, and commitment to over-sea beneficiaries.

The ACDI/VOCA’s total revenue of approximately $168 million funds practices of agribusiness, enterprise development, financial services, food security, and community development. With more than 1,500 employees, currently the ACDI/VOCA, organizes 79 active projects in 35 countries. ACDI/VOCA’s first major project helped create a cooperative in India that became the region’s largest fertilizer producer. ACDI/VOCA has also found success in developing local markets. From 2002 to 2010, ACDI/VOCA devoted every two acres of land in Kenya to maize through implementation of the USAID-funded Kenya Maize Development Program.

ACDI/VOCA’s focus on finance has implemented over 11,000 volunteer assignments in 138 countries since 1971. Examples of recent ACDI/VOCA projects include an Aga Khan Foundation awards program to aid rural Malian farmers, turning organic waste into ‘Green’ Fuel for Peruvian coffee plants, and a USAID awards program to create jobs and livelihoods in Iraq.

The team of 170 U.S employees and 1,330 overseas employees delivers 300-400 short-term technical consulting assignments yearly. Through their list of 55,000 technical experts, public sector and multilateral organizational allies, and affiliates, the ACDI/VOCA is able to make a larger-than-life global impact.

With worldwide reputations for food security solutions, social benefits and economic opportunities, ACDI/ VOCA strives to be a learning and “doing” institution. Staff at ACDI/VOCA receive training in various e-Cornell and Harvard online and Rosetta Stone language courses. In 2010, OpportunityKnocks.org recognized ACDI/VOCA as the winner of the Opportunity Knocks People’s Choice Award for Best Non-Profit to Work for. ACDI further expands their influence by providing international, volunteer, and graduate student opportunities.

– Danielle Doedens

Sources: ACDI/VOCA, Devex, Facebook
Photo: Facebook

5 Ways to Be an Effective Cultural Tourist in Mexico

5 Ways to Be an Effective Cultural Tourist in Mexico
Cultural tourism is a slippery slope for travelers. Some think that tourism is an industry that contributes greatly to poverty reduction and economic stability in developing nations. Not everyone agrees, however, as many attest that tourism in more rural, traditional areas are catering to tourists, reducing the authenticity of the culture and exploiting locals and their traditions in the process.

One of the most popular tourist destinations is Mexico; tourists flock here from all over the world every year. While Mexico often gets unfairly stereotyped, different areas within the country provide a much different experience. Two of the most popular tourist destinations are Mexico City, one of the largest cities in the world, and the state of Chiapas, where 70% of its people live below the poverty line. Deciding where to visit is a challenging decision, but tourists’ responsibility doesn’t end once they arrive at their destination: it continues until they return home.

When visiting any country — especially a country like Mexico, which changes on a dime depending on the area — there are certain tips to follow in order to be an effective cultural tourist and help support the local economies.

  1. Eat local. Yes, there is a McDonalds almost anywhere you go in Mexico City, but why eat at a place you can go to every day back in the States? Being in another country gives you the opportunity to experience new things; local cuisine is both delicious and cheap. Try some of the local taco stands. Most are fresh, quite delicious and will be a good economic contribution in the end.
  2. Learn proper bargaining. While much of what is for sale in Mexico is at a fairly responsible price, it is still a common practice to bargain and is done daily among locals as well. However, don’t haggle too far below the asking price. Tourists should remember that while they want to get the best value for their money, those working in the markets and shops do this for a living and need to provide for their families back home.
  3. Respect the culture (especially in rural areas). In states such as Chiapas, most of the population is indigenous (ethnic minorities who have been marginalized as their historical territories became part of the state) and have a different way of doing things. Behavior that might be commonplace in the States might not always be accepted as openly by those who are not used to the American way of life. Make sure you ask before you take any pictures of the locals or their children. Many feel that this is disrespectful and inconsiderate. Cameras are also not allowed in church and locals will become very aggressive and demand payment for disrupting their ceremonies.
  4. Buy goods from local vendors. Although some tourists think that visiting rural areas and buying from locals exploits their culture and dilutes their traditional way of life, the reality is that tourists make contributions that are appreciated greatly. Take time to speak to the locals, especially in lower-income areas like Chiapas. Visitors will often find themselves engaging with people who love what they do. Often the locals work more than one job, selling items on the street while holding down another position in a bigger city to help make ends meet.
  5. Be careful about the environment: Locals in rural areas appreciate their traditional way of life. Try not to leave articles of yours behind and clean up after yourself. The environment is also very important in rural areas, so to reduce your carbon footprint walk through towns instead of taking a taxi or bus.

Traveling to a country like Mexico is a wonderful experience, one that should be had by anyone who has the chance. In tough economic times, tourists should maximize their time and tight budgets, but also respect the land, culture and environment that they are visiting. These tips should come in handy for the traveler and help stimulate the local economy.

– Taylor Rae Schaefer

Sources: Imagine Mexico, World Nomads
Photo: History Martinez

The World’s Largest Welfare Scheme?

Currying political favor has always been a primary motivator for social benefits — or so the cynic might say — but is that really cause for complaint?

In India, the government has recently passed an ordinance, the National Food Security Bill, aiming to provide subsidized food to nearly 70% of the population.  This food security ordinance could go a long way towards addressing the number of malnourished children in India — which exceeds that of any other country in the world. Critics, however, claim that the measure, passed by ministers as an ordinance when it failed to win parliamentary support, is simply an attempt to gain political favor ahead of end-of-year elections, and further, that India can’t afford to maintain the subsidies. Both arguments carry weight. Sonia Gandhi, the chief of congress, has called a meeting next week between party leaders and state heads, to discuss the speedy implementation of the ordinance. The fear of the ruling party is that opposition controlled States will oppose the new legislation and prevent its implementation before elections.

The food bill poses a complex issue. It will cost nearly $24 billion a year and will be one of the world’s largest welfare schemes, a significant drain on government resources. But the converse is that 800 million people, 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population, will be able to purchase subsidized grains. The plan proposes providing rice at a rate of six cents a kilo, wheat at four, and millet at two. For families living in extreme poverty the move will be hugely significant.

The aim of the Indian Congress will be to begin subsidies in Delhi on August 20th, with the remainder of Indian states to follow before the end of the year. And while the rush to initiate the program may be due to maximizing the political gain from it rather than assisting the malnourished population of India, the end result will nevertheless be the same.

– David Wilson

Sources: BBC, Daily News & Analysis India

Agriculture in the Developing World

Agriculture in the Developing World
Large corporations, NGOs, and regional nonprofit groups have begun to recognize the importance of sustainable agriculture. The facts facing all of them include a burgeoning world population and projected rising incomes from more people coming in the future. The issue becomes trickier when the additional food that must be cultivated needs to be nutritious to combat diseases, many of which are attributed to malnutrition. If that demand is not met, a larger public health crisis ensues that leads to stunted economic growth and social upheaval over food prices.

One major area of the world that is a proverbial difference-maker in ensuring the future population is fed properly is sub-Saharan Africa. The region, containing over 202 million potential hectares of usable, arable land has yet to do anything with it. AllAfrica cites a recent press release by the World Bank in July 2013, calling for leaders in the region to do more with the resources at their disposal. The World Bank points out that despite the immense potential of the African continent, a lack of good governance, development, infrastructure, and education for it’s people is limiting nations from becoming modern and self-sufficient.

A promising development is an action plan noted by The World Bank that would if followed in full, end poverty in Africa within the next decade. By instituting reforms to document all lands, ending government corruption that doesn’t favor the majority of national populations, and motivating all Africans to support the broad changes, food security will be ensured. Increased foreign interest and investment in the continent coupled with rising commodity prices, basic legal structures that already exist, and more technology mean starting the massive effort will be much easier.

With the issue captured in an international spotlight, “The World Bank Group supports and endorses the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security…” What this means essentially is that the immense amount of land available in Africa will be properly sold and used. To assess the progress of individual nations, The World Bank Group has implemented the Land Governance Assessment Framework (LGAF).

The aforementioned efforts of smaller, private and nonprofit groups to help the situation are exemplified in various innovative investment competitions. The Global Food and Health Innovation (GFHI) Challenge, concluding in August 2013, is one such opportunity accepting proposals for different technologies or approaches to tackle agricultural challenges like the ones in sub-Saharan Africa. Not only will this introduce a wealth of fresh ideas and tools, but it may also translate into jobs that will provide an economic boost. Along with changes championed by major geopolitical groups, these key investments will help finally bring an end to global poverty within our lifetime.

– David Smith

Sources: Diplomatic Courier, All Africa, GFHI Challenge
Photo: Farmland Grab

Is Somalia the Next Tourist Hotspot?

Business is booming in Mogadishu, the capital of war-torn Somalia. This economic renaissance of sorts might come as a surprise considering the recent history of the nation, which has suffered from political instability and terrorist insurgency for the past twenty years.

However, after the people of Somalia elected their own president to represent them just last year, the economy of the nation has already shown considerable signs of steady improvement. On top of this, Somalia’s recently adopted provisional constitution, which has been praised as “one of the top legal documents in the world,” has had a powerful impact on the Somalian economy as well. According to many Somalian businessmen, peace inevitably leads to prosperity.

Bashir Osman, a real estate developer, knows that he took a huge risk by buying land for a luxury beach resort in Mogadishu, but he also is very confident that his investment will pay off. “[The tourists] were so excited when they saw how Mogadishu looks like, how beautiful city we have, how beautiful beach we have and that is what we want to show them again and again,” Osman tells.

Many believe that the economic resurgence in Somalia is not only because of businessmen like Osman but also because of the diaspora returning to rebuild the country. Somalian citizens who escaped the country to avoid the violence and political upheaval that plagued the last two decades are now coming back to reshape Mogadishu and other major cities.

The recent success of Somalia’s economy is not only found in the real estate sector but also in the telecommunications and aviation industry, further facilitating Mogadishu as a tourist hotspot. The nation’s economy is supported by aid from donor governments; Somalia’s pending success story is a testament to the vitality of these programs.

– Sagar Desai
Sources: Xinhua, CNN
Photo: Go Africa

Khaled Hosseini Fights Poverty in Afghanistan

Khaled Hosseini Fights Poverty in Afghanistan
His novels have tugged at the heartstrings of millions around the world. Throughout his eight-year writing career, renowned author Khalid Hosseini has enchanted his readers with the moving, powerful stories of characters like Amir in The Kite Runner, Laila and Mariam in A Thousand Splendid Suns, and Abdullah in his latest novel, And the Mountains Echoed. But Hosseini’s successes do not end at the tip of his pen. Since 2006, he has extended his work to his native Afghanistan not as a novelist, but as a humanitarian.

Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan in 1965. After a communist coup brought bloodshed and anarchy to the country, Hosseini’s family sought political asylum in the US in 1980, where Hosseini has lived since. He practiced as a physician in California until he began his career as a writer with the release of The Kite Runner in 2005. In 2006, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) named Hosseini a Goodwill Envoy, taking him back to Afghanistan to work with millions attempting to rebuild their lives. In 2007, inspired by his work with the UN, Hosseini started a foundation in his name dedicated to helping the people of Afghanistan.

The Khaled Hosseini Foundation (TKHF) is a nonprofit organization based in San Jose, CA that works with the UNHCR to create shelters as well as employment and educational opportunities for refugees, women and children in Afghanistan. To date, approximately 5.7 million Afghani refugees have returned to Afghanistan. Many of the homeless, these refugees have faced harsh summers and cold winters that have claimed the lives of thousands. And when looking for schooling or employment that could allow the population to rebuild, many Afghans have hit a dead-end.

TKHF came to help by focusing on building homes and infrastructure for those living without shelter, supporting the creation of jobs, and promoting and funding schools for girls and boys whose futures had seemed bleak. By 2012, TKHF provided over $650,000 to the UNHCR to build shelters for Afghanistan’s homeless. Through Trust in Education and the Afghan Friends Network, TKHF funded the education of hundreds of children. And through Markets for Afghan Artisans, TKHF is able to promote an array of jewelry, bookmarks, and purses handcrafted by Afghan women living as refugees in Pakistan, helping to keep these women employed.

Find out ways to get involved and join in Hosseini’s effort here.

– Lina Saud

Sources: Khaled Hosseini Foundation, UNHCR
Photo: The Guardian

, ,

What is the Millennium Water Alliance?

Formed in 2003, the Millennium Water Alliance is a collaboration of U.S. based non-governmental organizations working in water and sanitation. The organization is designed to offer sustainable solutions to water access through knowledge, advocacy and collaborative programming. The work of the organization aims to reach the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving the proportion of people without safe access to water and sanitation.

The MWA creates field programs that are a coordinated effort between member NGOs to strategically address water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in vulnerable countries. Major programs by the MWA include operations in Africa and Central America. These collaborative programs allow separate NGOs to provide their own distinct strengths and ideas into one mission that is designed for maximum efficiency and long-term effectiveness.

The MWA program in Kenya, for instance, improves WASH to reduce negative impacts that come from the severe droughts and floods in the target areas. It builds the water supply in vulnerable areas of the country using low-cost, resilient technologies like rainwater harvesting facilities and improved simple water storage tanks. The program also focuses on promoting better household water treatment and safe storage techniques.

Until 2009 the MWA was run by member organizations, but the expansion of the organization’s consortium programs led to the hiring of a full time program director. Since then, the MWA’s staff has increased to a total of four full-time employees, two part-time employees, and several consultants in the U.S. and abroad.

Thanks in part to the MWA, the world met the MDG target of halving the proportion of people without access to improved sources of water by 2010, five years ahead of schedule. According to the U.N. MDG website, “between 1990 and 2010 more than two billion people gained access to improved drinking water sources.”

But the global WASH crisis continues to be an issue. Based on UNICEF’s 2013 statistics, 2.5 billion people lack improved sanitation facilities, and 768 million people still use unsafe drinking water sources. Lack of access to WASH leads to decreased productivity due to illness and labor wasted with hours spent carrying water from place to place. The work of the MWA needs to continue for the furthering of global sustainable development.

– Kirsten Harris

Source: Millennium Water Alliance, United Nations, UNICEF