Archive for category: Nonprofit Organizations and NGOs

Information and stories about nonprofit organizations and NGOs

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3 NGOs Helping Sudanese Refugees in Chad

Sudanese Refugees in ChadTensions within the military government of Sudan escalated into full-scale civil war in April 2023. The country, which had started recovering and rebuilding after earlier civil wars, now faces a deepening humanitarian crisis as a result of recent conflict. This conflict has triggered mass displacement across Sudan, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. Most of these displaced people have sought safety in neighboring countries, including Libya, South Sudan and Chad, where they reside in large refugee camps, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency.

Sudanese Refugees in Chad

Among Sudan’s neighboring countries, Chad has taken in the largest number of Sudanese refugees, by a notable margin. Since the outbreak of the Sudan civil war, more than 870,000 refugees have fled to Chad. Libya and South Sudan, the countries hosting the second and third highest number of Sudanese refugees, each host slightly above 300,000 refugees.

Sudanese refugees in Chad typically settle in camps along the country’s eastern border. There, they join thousands of others, some of whom have been living in these camps for nearly 20 years, according to the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. A significant majority of refugees living in these camps are women and children, populations especially vulnerable in a wartime environment.

Refugee camps in Chad shield Sudanese refugees from warfare, yet living conditions within the camps are far from comfortable. Most refugees live in inadequate, makeshift shelters, which often lack necessities such as latrines, according to World Vision. Camps also lack necessary food supplies, meaning a significant number of children suffer from malnutrition.

Family separation is also an issue for many Sudanese refugees in Chad. This, paired with insufficient health care and education services within camps, takes a toll on refugees, especially children. However, multiple nongovernment organizations (NGOs) have committed to helping improve conditions within refugee camps in Chad, fostering hope for thousands of displaced persons. Below are three NGOs committed to helping Sudanese refugees in Chad:

International Medical Corps

The International Medical Corps (IMC) began its work in Chad after the 2004 Darfur genocide, a campaign marked by the indiscriminate killing of thousands of civilians by the Sudanese government and Janjaweed militia. Although operations in Chad were paused by the IMC in 2020, support recommenced in 2023 following the renewed outbreak of violence in Sudan.

IMC response teams now provide critical support to Sudanese refugees in Chad, focusing primarily on nutrition and health care. Nutrition services focus on supporting vulnerable groups, especially children aged less than 5 and pregnant women. In addition to basic health care, IMC programs include maternal and newborn health services, as well as mental health and psychosocial support. These mental health services are often overlooked in crisis settings, yet play an important role in the recovery of displaced persons.

Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), launched a major response to support Sudanese refugees in Chad after fighting resumed in April 2023. As the refugee population continues to grow, MSF has repeatedly scaled up its health care operations to meet increasing needs.

MSF currently provides medical services across several locations in Chad, including Adré, Goungour and Kourfoun. In June, due to an overwhelming amount of Sudanese refugees at the Adré hospital in need of surgical attention, MSF deployed a 200-bed inflatable hospital to help manage patient overflow.

In addition to surgical health care, MSF offers pediatric services, treatment for victims of sexual violence, mental health support and a range of vaccination programs. With the help of Chad’s Ministry of Health, the organizations recently conducted large-scale measles vaccination campaigns. It continued to work to improve routine vaccination programs for Sudanese refugees in Chad.

Jesuit Refugee Services

Due to harsh living conditions and the continuous influx of displaced people, access to quality education remains a major challenge for children in Chad’s refugee camps. Jesuit Refugee Service, the leading NGO in the education sector in these camps, works to make education more accessible for displaced children in Chad.

JRS offers a range of educational services, including preschools, nurseries and primary and secondary education. Thanks to its strong relationship with local authorities and the Minister of Education, JRS has also begun integrating camp-based schools into the Chadian public education system.

Collaborations between JRS and Chad’s University of Abéché have created opportunities for refugee students to earn national teacher certifications. This initiative not only provides refugees with access to higher education but also helps foster a new generation of educators to address the shortage of teachers within the camps.

Final Remarks

While conditions remain difficult for Sudanese refugees in Chad, the work of organizations like IMC, MSF and JRS offers critical support and hope. Increased international attention and aid may be essential to meet the growing needs of this vulnerable population.

– Jordan Venell

Jordan is based in Edina, MN, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Project HOPE: Improving Syria’s Health Crisis

Project HOPEThe end of the 24-year regime of Syrian president Bashar Al–Assad has led to the conclusion of a decade of civil war. It has also exposed major gaps in humanitarian and health care needs. Impacted areas across Syria are facing significant gaps in health care, nutrition, water supply, hygiene and sanitation. Specialized medical staff, essential medications, functional infrastructure and psychosocial support remain in short supply. At the same time, malnutrition, inadequate shelter and logistical challenges continue to hinder delivery.

In the middle of Syria’s health crisis, Project HOPE, in coordination with the Jordan Health Aid Society-International (JHASi), is delivering essential medical supplies and working with local partners to assess health and humanitarian needs. The team has identified shortages of medicine, basic medical supplies and staff. 

Problems Facing Health Care Infrastructure

Diseases, such as cholera and acute watery diarrhoea, are spreading due to Syria’s health crisis. According to Dr. Altaf Musani, the U.N. World Health Organization Director of Health Emergencies, more than 1,444 suspected cases of cholera and seven associated deaths have been recorded. He said, “We know that when cholera gets hold in camps, it can serve as a brush fire, increasing both morbidity and mortality.” He also warned that more than 416,000 children in Syria are at risk from severe malnutrition and that at least half of children under 5 suffering from severe acute malnutrition are not receiving treatment. Dr. Musani also noted that more than 50% of the maternity hospitals in northwest Syria have suspended operations due to underfunding since September 2024.

Dr. Musani said that Syria’s health crisis is partly because the country’s health facilities lack funding and face shortages of skilled workers and equipment. The war forced 50% to 70% of the health workforce to leave the country to look for other opportunities and the health infrastructure still needs investment.

The Impact of Syria’s Health Crisis

Syria’s health care system has undergone a lot of changes in the past decade. The conflict itself devastated the health care system due to loss of health infrastructure, systematic attacks on health care facilities and the mass exodus of health care workers. Parallel governance structures resulted in a fractured and inconsistent health care landscape. 

The full impact of Syria’s health crisis falls most heavily on vulnerable populations. Women in need of maternal care face restricted access to maternal health care facilities. Children experience disrupted vaccine schedules and a shortage of pediatric care. Refugees and internally displaced people lack even basic medical services. Older individuals and people with chronic conditions experience inconsistent access to necessary medications, which intensifies preventable health complications. 

HOPE in Syria

Project HOPE delivered the first nonprofit shipment of medical supplies to southwestern Syria with the support of JHASi and the Al Yusr Charity Organization. The shipment included essential medicine and medical supplies for more than 5,000 people. This part of the country had previously been inaccessible to aid organizations following the end of the Assad regime, contributing to Syria’s health crisis.

Project HOPE has been operating in southern Syria and has assessed 13 hospitals and medical centers in the Daara and Suwayda Governorates since mid-December to identify the greatest health needs. The assessment found significant gaps in health care, nutrition, mental health support and water, hygiene and sanitation services. “Southern Syria desperately needs humanitarian attention, including food aid, health sector support, clean water and mental health care services, particularly for vulnerable groups like women, children, older adults and people with disabilities,” said Laith Salman, Project HOPE’s Team Lead in Syria.

Looking Ahead

Project HOPE has made accomplishments in the field by working to relieve the complications caused by Syria’s health crisis. “A large portion of the population is experiencing trauma, depression and anxiety due to the effects of war. While there are efforts from NGOs to provide mental health and psychological (MHPSS) support, there is a significant lack of trained mental health professionals, specialized facilities and MHPSS programs in the area to help those suffering from the psychological aftermath of decades of conflict,” says Laith Salman. Syria will require continued support from NGOs to recover from its post-conflict health crisis. Project HOPE is one example of an organization providing ongoing assistance to help address the impact of the conflict.

– Abirame Shanthakumar

Abirame is based in Markham, Ontario, Canada and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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3 Innovative Ways NGOs Reduce Water Scarcity in Rural Africa

Water Scarcity in Rural AfricaA lack of clean, sustainable and accessible water resources has plagued rural Africa for a long time. More than half of the population in rural Africa lacks access to safe drinking water. Beyond the immediate concerns, water scarcity creates numerous other problems. Collecting water can become a timely cost and the burden usually falls on the women in the house.

This reduces the economic stability of families across the continent and contributes to poverty rates. Additionally, it creates a dependence on contaminated water, which leads to increased rates of cholera and dysentery internationally. The rural community in Africa is suffering under the threat of scarce water supply. However, various organizations are getting creative in reducing water scarcity in rural Africa. They dream that one day, clean water will be the standard.

Fog Nets: Harvesting Water From the Air

Fog Nets are essentially, multilayered nets that harvest moisture from the air where fog is present but water is not. Popular especially in mountain ranges, it provides a consistent flow of clean water for nearby inhabitants. While the nets alone cannot sustain a population, they contribute significantly.

These fog nets provide 1,000 liters of water daily to arid sections of Africa. Originating in the Atacama Desert in Chile, this fabric creates a sustainable and clean alternative to disease-infested waters. This creative technology is reducing water scarcity in rural Africa every day and several NGOs hope to install it as a long-term solution for citizens across Africa.

Water ATMs: Creating Access To Clean Water

The concept of a Water-ATM is being tested across two African villages. Essentially, these ATMs are access points at which surrounding villages can purchase verified clean water through a metered system. It would simultaneously reduce the distance necessary to attain water and ensure its cleanliness.

Vendors seem extremely eager to enter the business, charging customers through a metered system that would remain affordable. These machines are accessible by pre-paid cards, allowing individuals to pour the water into their basins and transport it a few kilometers back to their homes, instead of taking hours. This solution is slowly helping to reduce water scarcity in rural Africa. However, with the necessary financial support, it has the potential to save lives and transform communities across rural Africa.

Play-Powered Water Access

In 2009, two companies, NOV Mono and Water For All, began working to reduce water scarcity in rural Africa by launching an initiative in Johannesburg, South Africa. Together, they introduced the “Fun Pump,” a water system that combines a solar-powered electric pump with a merry-go-round structure for children to play on.

Not only is this structure bringing clean water to these rural communities, but it’s also bringing joy. Modern play structures like these are few and far between, so kids are enthused to play on them, powering the water initiative for the surrounding villages.

Looking Forward

It’s no secret that water scarcity is a growing problem in Africa. People spend hours every day trekking to bring contaminated water to their homes. However, initiatives like the fun pump, water ATM and fog nets create clean, accessible and sustainable water sources across rural Africa.

– Caroline May

Caroline is based in Denver, CO, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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5 Charities Operating in New Zealand

Charities Operating in New ZealandAcross New Zealand, communities are creating charities to help individuals and families living in challenging situations get by. New Zealand families are no strangers to hardship, as about 18% of children live in homes with very low incomes, specifically less than half of the typical income. From preserving food, medical kits, clothing, water and shelter to building better education programs, these charities operating in New Zealand have substantially grown in the path to ridding poverty.

Visionwest

Visionwest is one of many faith-led charities in New Zealand that address poverty and homelessness, support the elderly and ensure the young have hope for the future. It helps the nation by creating community housing, which includes long-term and transitional housing. The organization also contributes to the government‑backed Housing First Initiative. This program provides immediate housing and long-term support to tackle homelessness in Auckland and Canterbury.

The charity also fights food insecurity by providing services like the Pātaka Kai food bank and the Manaaki Kai social supermarket. Through these efforts, Visionwest has made a substantial impact:

  • 13,585 food parcels distributed
  • 7,312 clients are now living independently
  • 4,102 Well-being Center sessions
  • 1,709 financial mentoring sessions
  • 584 households with safe, affordable housing
  • 451 young people to achieve education and empowerment goals

Childfund

ChildFund New Zealand works in communities where political instability, conflict and violence impact the daily lives of children, youth and their families. This is one of the many essential child-centered charities operating in New Zealand. It uses a holistic approach by working alongside communities to deliver development programs that emphasize the outlook of children and youth. ChildFund has fought rising poverty by creating community water access points and providing hygiene training to keep families healthy.

In 2024 alone, the organization made an impact by reaching:

  • 263,026 people through development activities
  • 114 emergency food kits distributed
  • 89 meal kits provided
  • 55 education bundles delivered
  • 35 water purification units distributed

Auckland City Mission

Auckland City Mission is a charity that recognizes the cost-of-living crisis that has impacted many communities. With many only earning enough money to pay essential bills, there is often not much left for food. Auckland City Mission is among the charities operating in New Zealand that focus on bringing communities together, creating meaningful change and rising out of poverty. People in the community experience living in cars, inappropriate housing, mental health issues and struggling to feed their families.

Auckland City Mission has created HomeGround, its nine-story purpose-built facility that houses 80 apartments, health services and addiction recovery support. It has provided immediate housing relief and long-term support to those in hardship. Thanks to its efforts, the charity was able to provide:

  • 39,407 food parcels to families and individuals facing severe need
  • 19,826 health consultations to support community well-being
  • 484 admissions into its social detox program for individuals battling substance dependence

Kindness Collective

Kindness Collective is a charity that provides practical, community-led support through five nationwide programs. Since this is a community-driven organization, its work is varied and its approach is to go where the need and help matter most. Kindness Collective work includes packing pajamas, food boxes and planting potatoes weekly. The charity works like a match-making agency, linking those in need to people with more to give.

Donations have included food, bedding, clothing, baby items and toys. As a result of these contributions and ongoing efforts, the impact has been significant:

  • 69,534 people provided with essential items
  • 20,200 meals delivered through community events
  • 183,988 toiletries distributed

KiwiHarvest

KiwiHarvest is one of the many food-centered charities operating in New Zealand. Its mission is based on helping the population become food secure, ensuring everyone has access to enough nutritious food every day. More than 27% of New Zealand children live in households where food tends to run out. Each year, New Zealand wastes enough food to feed the entire Dunedin population, approximately 150 thousand people.

To fight these statistics, KiwiHarvest works with food businesses to rescue the good food that goes unsold. It also redistributes excess food to those who need it, while protecting the environment. Through all this hard work, KiwiHarvest saves 250,000 kilograms of food each month and redistributes it to those facing hunger.

Through its dedication, KiwiHarvest has created a transformative impact:

  • $18 million worth of food saved in 2024
  • 16.2 million kilograms of food rescued
  • 43,031,285 kilograms of CO₂-equivalent emissions prevented from entering the atmosphere

From rescuing food to distributing essential supplies and providing health support, these organizations drive real, measurable change. Their combined efforts meet urgent needs and build stronger, more resilient communities across New Zealand.

– Emily Herlehy

Emily Herlehy is based in Denton, Texas, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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3 Charities Operating in Hong Kong

Charities Operating in Hong KongHong Kong is located on the east bank of the Pearl River on the south coast of China. It is known for its dazzling city life, colorful traditions and financial centers. What might be less apparent, however, is the divide between the rich and the needy. In the first four months of 2024, the most impoverished earned 81.9 times less than the richest. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, poverty rates have risen significantly. Currently, 1.39 million people live in poverty in Hong Kong, most of whom are older adults.

These three charities operating in Hong Kong provide aid to the most vulnerable communities and aim to mobilize local society to offer them care and support.

Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden

Sir Horace and Lord Lawrence, two brothers, founded Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG) in 1956. The idea sprouted after a surge of Chinese immigrants arrived in Hong Kong following the civil war at the end of 1946. Since many of these immigrants were farmers, the Kadoorie brothers provided them with training, guidance on how to plough their land and interest-free loans.

Its programs empower rural communities in Hong Kong and beyond to build income sources, improve food security and gain skills that promote long-term self-sufficiency and environmental resilience.

Hong Kong Family Link Mental Health Advocacy Association Limited

This organization was established in 2003 by Dr. Lee Cheng and Dr. Zhao Yulong to raise awareness about mental health in Hong Kong. In a society where stigma around mental illness remains widespread, the Hong Kong Family Link Mental Health Advocacy Association Limited works to combat discrimination and uphold the rights of people with mental health conditions.

The organization not only works to improve the lives of individuals with mental health conditions by providing access to education, employment and housing, but also offers medical care and vocational training to support their recovery from treatable illnesses.

In addition, it trains family members to actively participate in the care and recovery of their loved ones, empowering them to become part of the healing process. To further dismantle the stigma surrounding mental illness, the organization engages the broader community, partnering with volunteers, journalists, medical professionals and other organizations to raise awareness and foster collaboration.

Helping Hand

Helping Hand was founded after Bob Saunders, a former fishmonger, came across 120 elderly individuals who had been evicted from “caged homes” and abandoned on the streets with only their meager belongings. In response, he established Helping Hand in 1978 to support underprivileged older adults in Hong Kong, with a mission to ensure they live with dignity after years of hard work.

Since then, the organization has expanded its services across several locations, including Tai Wo Ping, Shun Lee Tsuen and Lai King. Helping Hand provides 1,000 beds across its care homes and serves more than 40,000 older adults in need each year. Its services include housing, rehabilitation, a holiday center, physical activities and training programs designed to enhance the well-being of elderly residents.

In 1984, the organization launched its signature Cookie Campaign. This highly successful fundraising initiative continues to support Helping Hand’s mission of caring for Hong Kong’s aging population.

Conclusion

Despite the efforts of these three charities operating in Hong Kong, there is much more to do to bridge the wealth gap, eliminate societal stigma and provide every HongKonger with a decent and dignified life. Funding, volunteer work and community mobilization are the key moving forward.

– Yasmine Belabed

Yasmine is based in Algeria and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Acumen’s Agricultural Investments in Ethiopia

Agricultural Investments in EthiopiaA large portion of Ethiopia’s population is experiencing poverty and a lack of necessities. However, the nation of Ethiopia has been an assembly point for organizations and nonprofits seeking to fund agricultural investments.

Poverty in Ethiopia

Despite some progress in poverty reduction, ongoing climate and inadequate infrastructure issues leave roughly 68.7% of Ethiopia’s population facing multidimensional poverty. Multidimensional poverty expands on the financial aspects of poverty, assessing a population’s social aspects and living conditions. In Ethiopia, additional portions of the population risk falling into this elevated category if poverty rates continue.

Ethiopia struggles with a lack of clean water, a strong health care system and increasing food insecurity, all hindering efforts to reduce poverty. Malnutrition, largely driven by food insecurity, disproportionately affects children and can prevent individuals from accessing education or employment that could lift them out of poverty.

Treating malnutrition requires a functioning health care system, but Ethiopia’s medical infrastructure is underfunded and lacks sufficient professionals and resources. According to the World Food Program (WFP), more than 10 million people currently face food insecurity and many more risk displacement due to ongoing conflict in the region.

In 2021, Ethiopia’s government introduced the Food Systems Transformation Plan, aligning national policies with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The plan will enable organizations to fund agricultural investments in Ethiopia, including the agricultural sector. It also has the potential to create jobs, helping more Ethiopians earn a stable income and contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction.

About Acumen

Acumen, a nonprofit organization, focuses on using capital to reduce global poverty through innovations. Founded in 2001, the organization works to help impoverished populations access health care, education and clean water and address food security.

Acumen utilizes innovations to enhance energy and bring beneficial agricultural techniques that increase productivity and support communities. Acumen has worked to eradicate poverty around the world, but has recently focused on sub-Saharan Africa and East Africa.

EthioChicken 

Acumen supports efforts to fund agricultural investments in Ethiopia, including EthioChicken. EthioChicken was founded in 2010 and has since increased food access and boosted local economies in Ethiopian communities. EthioChicken has enabled customers to consume 83% more eggs, a nutritional food and find a new source of revenue.

Different breeds of chickens have different growth and survival rates. Before EthioChicken, many breeds were unsustainable due to diseases, climate and other growth hindrances, creating a negative balance in the agricultural sector and eliminating possible economic gains and health benefits. EthioChicken provides farmers access to improved chicken breeds, helping farms achieve higher survival rates and better growth.

This allows farmers to sell more eggs and generate additional income by selling older chickens for meat. Each chicken comes with nutritious feed and medicine to prevent disease and protect the flock. Healthier chickens lead to more nutritious meals, supporting communities struggling with both poverty and malnutrition.

After Acumen and other organizations invested in EthioChicken and similar agricultural programs in Ethiopia, the company expanded rapidly, reaching around 35 million chickens sold to farmers annually. Acumen’s support also helped improve Ethiopians’ economic and health conditions in raising, selling and purchasing the chickens.

With continued backing for initiatives like EthioChicken, Ethiopia’s agricultural sector is poised to grow, offering new opportunities for its impoverished population.

Future Policies and Initiatives To Reduce Poverty in Ethiopia

Government initiatives like the Food Systems Transformation Plan, the Homegrown Economic Reform and the National Food and Nutrition Policy show Ethiopia’s active efforts to reduce poverty and secure international support for agricultural investments. For example, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health states that the National Food and Nutrition Policy aims to ensure food and nutritional security while improving public access to nutritious foods.

While Ethiopia’s government has collaborated with international organizations, all regions within the country must work together to improve the well-being of Ethiopians and reduce poverty. This unity helps prevent conflicting interpretations or unwilling participants from undermining national policies. According to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), sectoral fragmentation poses a major threat to a unified national approach in Ethiopia, as various groups have competing interests in controlling parts of the country’s food system.

However, sustained efforts and legislation to reduce poverty remain essential to driving social progress and enabling effective collaboration with organizations that fund agricultural investments.

– Avery Kachmarsky

Avery is based in Los Angeles,CA, USA and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Orphans in the DRC

Orphans in the DRC and the IWOFThe International Widows and Orphans Fund (IWOF) is a nonprofit organization that primarily focuses on supporting orphaned children and widowed women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Congo is a country located in central Africa and it is bordered by nine countries: Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola and the Republic of Congo. 

Civil War

The DRC’s involvement in war is what has caused hardships for its civilians, especially women and children. The conflict has orphaned children and left many women widowed. Additionally, there has been an increase in violence and rape toward women and children during this period of war, which has lasted for more than 30 years. Around 7,000 people have lost their lives since January 2025. Women and children often face the greatest risks in situations like this.

Orphans in Congo

There are a variety of reasons why children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo become orphans. One main reason is that bad actors use rape as a strategy of war. As a result, many women become pregnant and abandon their babies on the streets due to embarrassment and social judgment. The country lacks organizations that protect orphans and communities often reject these children, leaving them with nowhere to go. Another reason for orphans in the DRC is poverty. When families are incapable of providing for their children, they resort to child abandonment.

Exploitation in the DRC

Due to their vulnerability, orphans are often exploited in various ways. In the DRC, adults take advantage of these children. Some law enforcement personnel have used them to disrupt political protests. Others exploit them as cheap, manual labor, often providing little or no pay. Some have also forced these children into sex and drug trafficking. The Congolese army has also used orphans as child soldiers. At one point, children made up as much as 40% of the army. They are often denied food, water and medical care. Recruits are trained to fight and carry out unlawful acts against civilians, exposing them to severe trauma and violence at a young age.

IWOF’s Mission

The IWOF began with one email in 2013. This email was from a friend and it detailed the story of 35 orphans in the DR of Congo, who were hidden from rebel soldiers in a wooded area. IWOF initially paid for school fees and uniforms. As the organization built a stronger relationship with the Grace Orphanage, it expanded its support. Since then, IWOF has constructed housing for 46 orphans, established a farm with animals and crops and built a learning center. The organization sends 97% of its raised funds directly to the Grace Orphanage in the DRC. The IWOF team also regularly visits and inspects the facilities.

Widows and Orphans Fund

IWOF not only supports orphans, but also supports widows. More than 5 million people have died in the civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been ongoing for more than 30 years. As a result, many women have lost their husbands, leaving them widowed. These widows live without a stable source of income and often turn to prostitution. The majority of these widows also have no education. There are roughly 120 widows staying at Grace Orphanage. IWOF opened a reading center in 2018 to provide them and their children with reading and writing help, meals, school supplies, toys and games, socialization and health information.

IWOF’s Accomplishments

Over the last 10 years, IWOF has:

  • Built four houses that support 46 children
  • Built two houses for staff
  • Remodeled the first house into an on-site library and administrative office
  • Built a reading center and supported 10 women through a reading and business program
  • Built an agricultural area that produces crops for food
  • Installed the first phase of a septic system
  • Built a communal kitchen that feeds 54 people daily, including children and staff
  • Installed a water well with a solar pump to provide fresh water to the orphanage and nearby community
  • Installed solar power to supply the houses
  • Built a gate and wall for security
  • Purchased two acres of land for future housing at Grace Orphanage

Looking Ahead

IWOF plans to expand further in the coming years. Its goal is to provide housing for up to 60 orphans in the DRC and for the orphanage to become self-sufficient. The organization plans to build another house to accommodate more children. It also aims to grow its reading and business program to include microloans and mentorship for widows, helping them successfully run their own businesses. Supplying vegetables and chickens is also part of IWOF’s future plans. The organization hopes to rely less on donations and move toward long-term self-sufficiency. 

– Ella Burke

Ella is based in Lawrence, KS, USA and focuses on Good News, Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Ciudad de los Niños: A Non-Profit’s Impact on Tijuana’s Children

Ciudad de los Niños (City of Kids): A Nonprofit's Impact on the Children of Mexico Ciudad de los Niños is a civil organization serving the community of Tijuana, Mexico. It offers a home for children from unsafe families, as well as childcare, psychological and educational programs. From a guiding value of co-responsibility, the nonprofit shares a commitment with society and families to protect, care for and support children experiencing social disadvantages. These disadvantages include financial hardship, mental health issues, disabilities and not having safe or reliable parental care. 

The Borgen Project spoke with Marta Beltrán, director of Ciudad de los Niños; Maryel Nieves, head of communications; Gladys, coordinator of CAI Albergue Infantil; and Cinthia Saavedra, coordinator of Unidad de Servicios Especializados, to gain further insight into the organization’s work. 

CAI Albergue Infantil (Children’s Shelter)

The Albergue Infantil is a shelter home for children who have experienced abuse or abandonment from their caregivers. The children’s cases are evaluated by the state. In this process, the children are moved to shelter homes like the Albergue Infantil offered by Ciudad de los Niños. There is no specific time frame for the length of cases, so children can spend anywhere from a few months to several years at the home.

Coordinator Gladys works directly with these children. She focuses on creating a family-like atmosphere and wants the children to have a loving and dignified childhood. She ensures that all fundamental emotional needs are met, guided by love.

Unidad de Servicios especializados (Unit of Specialized Services)

The Unidad de Servicios Especializados is Ciudad de los Niños’ psychological unit. Here, the nonprofit offers therapy to children and parents for mental health, trauma and disabilities.

Typically, the children are between 3 to 17 and a half years old. For kids with disabilities, the unit offers speech therapy, teaches sign language and provides hearing aids. For parents, they work with therapists outside the organization to connect them. Psychiatric services are included at the unit for patients who may need medication.

Prices are adjusted and decided after an assessment of family income. This allows low-income families to access needed psychological services. Equity is practiced, as the price is set using context and understanding of differing situations.

Initially, patients can have a hard time, as the therapists challenge them and help them confront difficult emotions. However, as treatment progresses, patients begin to feel proud of themselves for their successes. Similarly, the workers often have to figure out solutions, but feel very fulfilled seeing their patients’ progress.

Estancia Infantil (Day Care)

Ciudad de los Niños offers a daycare for working parents. To qualify for the program, both parents must be employed. However, the organization makes exceptions. If a parent is continuing their education, they may still qualify, since they cannot be with their child during class. Also, in consideration of summer vacation, children who are alone at home due to their parents’ working hours are accepted into the daycare. 

The daycare promotes equity, as low-income families can receive scholarships. Furthermore, the requirement helps ensure that working families have better access to childcare, as there is less competition from families with a stay-at-home parent.

Programa Educativo (Educational Program)

The children at Ciudad de los Niños attend public school and are further supplemented through educational programs at the organization. The organization connects with the schools to understand what each child needs to improve. They also focus on the students’ homework. Additionally, Ciudad de los Niños offers its own curriculum on art, plastic art and ecology.

The education program goes beyond its unit. It is present in all the aforementioned units, most notably at the Unidad de Servicios Especializados. In the case of mental disabilities, the unit implements pedagogy to provide effective aid to patients with neurodivergence.

All of the units work together. A child in the Albergue Infantil may go to therapy at the Unidad de Servicios Especializados and participate in the Programa Educativo after school for a concept they may not have understood at school.

Volunteers

Ciudad de los Niños welcomes volunteers across its programs, including at the Estancia Infantil, which supports young children. Volunteers assist with caregiving, play-based learning and basic needs such as organizing supplies. In the past, volunteers have donated school supplies and toys through independent fundraising efforts. The organization fosters a welcoming environment for volunteers, often including them in group activities and highlighting their contributions on social media.

Looking Ahead

Ciudad de los Niños offers direct aid to the community of children and even parents in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. At the Albergue Infantil, children are given a second chance at a childhood filled with love, respect and integrity that they did not receive in their original homes. At the Unidad de Servicios Especializados, children with mental disabilities or traumatic upbringings can seek healing and peace through the help of psychologists and therapists. Likewise, at the Estancia Infantil, hardworking parents receive child care support. This allows for social mobility, as parents can grow their careers or have two incomes instead of one. Finally, in the educational program, children receive further instruction in subjects like arts and ecology and receive help with their homework. Parents and children experiencing financial challenges, mental health concerns, disabilities and unsafe homes can find help at Ciudad de los Niños.

– Andrea Roji

Andrea is based in San Diego, CA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Ciudad de los Niños

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CARE International: Social and Economic Aid in the Balkans

Social and Economic Aid in the Balkans For more than 25 years, CARE International organization has offered social and economic aid in the Balkans to help the marginalized groups affected as a result of inter-regional disturbances. 

History of CARE International in the Balkans

In the 1990s, CARE International’s humanitarian efforts focused on addressing the trauma caused by the widespread war that plagued the region. Most of the trauma from these wars included displacement, destruction and intercultural tension within the Balkans. In response, CARE led many life-saving humanitarian efforts in the 1990s to help restore the region.

The life-saving efforts included:

  • Helping the process of displaced people returning to their home regions.
  • Providing another opportunity for livelihood after war for displaced people.
  • Improving access to social protection for the most vulnerable.
  • Addressing issues with reconstruction and society and calling on civil society to make changes.
  • Overall, improving social well-being for the population.

Present Day Aid with CARE International

By the year 2000, CARE International began shifting its focus to social and economic aid in the Balkans as the region stabilized after the war. Within the more stable Balkan region, CARE International focuses on supporting underrepresented groups by expanding their access to opportunities and rights through two main pillars:

  1. The integration of marginalized and vulnerable groups into Balkan society through socio-economic strategies to improve opportunities for livelihoods.
  2. Equality for marginalized and vulnerable groups through practices that encourage chances for every group to be represented in all areas, especially not based upon gender, all the way up to the government.

With these two vital pillars, CARE International seeks to make new opportunities for vulnerable groups to gain access to the same opportunities as everyone else in the Balkan region. These opportunities also offer a vital source of peace within the region. CARE International also contributes to ensuring sustainable peace within the Balkans. In addition to the aforementioned opportunities, CARE provides many different peacebuilding and conflict protection services in the region that offer vulnerable groups the aid they need after experiencing violence.

Looking Ahead: Social and Economic Aid in the Balkans

CARE International’s social and economic aid in the Balkans extends to all groups in need of support. Indeed, its goals focus on assisting struggling communities throughout the region and helping them reach their full potential. This opportunity for vulnerable groups helps the Balkan region continue to prosper economically and, in return, closes the gap of missed chances for lower-income or vulnerable individuals. Furthermore, CARE International’s efforts offer a chance to improve the livelihoods of many underrepresented or lower-income groups by expanding access to better social and economic opportunities.

As CARE International’s efforts focused on social and economic aid in the Balkans, the region’s support is evident through the increased participation of vulnerable groups in society on more equal terms. Through the humanitarian aid powered by CARE International, the groups most in need get a chance at a proper livelihood and the ability to live their lives to the fullest.

– Angelina Tas

Angelina is based in Cleveland, OH, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Soap-Making: Hygiene and Economic Empowerment

Hygiene and Economic Empowerment In countries like Uganda and Haiti, soap-making creates financial independence, poverty reduction and community leadership. Through women-made soap businesses, local entrepreneurs are adapting powerful tools for change through basic hygiene. 

Hygiene and Economic Empowerment

Global nonprofits like Clean the World, Care International and Oxfam support many of these businesses, contributing to a ripple effect of positive outcomes. Women are receiving training in entrepreneurship, health services and supply chain management, which allows them to produce soap in areas where hygiene product availability is scarce. This is not only improving health, but also boosting income and helping communities reach self-sufficiency.

The central idea driving these efforts is hygiene and economic power, both working together to equip women with the tools to fight disease and gain enough financial support to lift themselves out of poverty. A prime example appears in refugee camps and urban slums, where waterborne diseases like cholera and diarrhea are widespread. With regular access to personal hygiene products like soap, infection rates can decrease. A World Health Organization (WHO) study states that handwashing with soap can significantly reduce diarrheal disease—an important statistic for communities without access to clean water.

Empowering Women Through Soap-Making

Making soap helps these women earn a living. In Haiti, women involved in Oxfam’s local hygiene initiatives not only make and sell soap but also teach others about the importance of staying clean and healthy. By focusing on both business and health advocacy, the program supports longer-lasting benefits. The use of recycled soap from hotels offers an innovative solution for communities in need. Organizations like Clean the World collect discarded soap from partner hospitality businesses, sanitize it and redistribute it through women-led local cooperatives. The system is both eco-friendly and provides economic opportunities for women.

Looking Ahead

The ongoing programs are helping drive progress against poverty. In Haiti, women participating in these businesses have steadily increased their household income over the past two years. With higher incomes, families can afford school fees, consistent food supplies and health care. Each bar of soap sold contributes to reducing the cycle of poverty. Amid the challenges facing low-income countries, hygiene and economic empowerment play a key role in helping communities develop. Investing in women-led cooperatives supports efforts toward greater equality. Programs like these strengthen public health systems, promote economic stability and support long-term development.

– Kyra Cribbs

Kyra is based in Trenton, NJ, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr