Archive for category: Volunteer

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Just Be A Child: Volunteers in the UK Improve Education in Kenya

Education in KenyaJust Be A Child is a U.K.-based organization that works to improve education in Kenya and it relies on U.K. volunteers and donations. It has multiple programs both in Kenya and in the U.K.

Kwale County Programs

Just Be A Child began its work in Kenya’s Kwale County, where access to educational resources, training and safe spaces for children to learn and play was limited. To address this, the organization built libraries and learning centers in 40-foot shipping containers. These centers provide a place for all community members to access books, skills training and play-based learning programs.

Now, the organization has six libraries set up in Kenya. These libraries engage residents as community members convert shipping containers and local volunteers are trained to run the spaces. The libraries are stocked with thousands of books and are restocked annually by Just Be A Child. Each library also includes a playground, giving children a space to play alongside accessing educational resources.

Library Starter: Small Books Donation Scheme

This scheme provides approximately 1,000 books to public benefit organizations that apply. The organization charges 5,000 Kenyan Shillings (about $40) for four boxes of books, each containing approximately 250 books. It has so far delivered more than 50,000. This helps schools and other community organizations set up and maintain libraries, improving educational access for children in the area.

Library Builder: Large Book Donation Scheme

This scheme provides anywhere from 1,000 to 30,000 books to NGOs, government bodies, schools and community groups. It offers a wide range of books at affordable rates to help create learning environments with varied materials that might otherwise be difficult to access. This supports literacy and learning for local children and communities, further improving education in Kenya.

Dr. Kathleen Anangwe from the University of Nairobi told Just Be a Child: “JBAC helped us establish in a community that lost hope after forceful resettlement. Now they flourish and thrive.”

Targeted Giving

This program ensures that books, toys and sports kits donated to Just Be A Child reach the places where they are most needed. For example, specialized books are given to students, professors or educational institutions that require them. In contrast, toys are given to vulnerable children who may need comfort and support.

The organization’s U.K. programs revolve around volunteering. These include book packers, the Art Brigade and the Crafters Crew. Book packers help count, organize and pack donated learning supplies. 

The Art Brigade provides art sessions for children in Kenya, equipping them with the skills and resources to express themselves creatively. The Crafters Crew knits, crochets or sews to provide handmade baby blankets, clothes and knitted toys to vulnerable children across Kenya. Volunteers who sew also donate fabric bags for Kenyan schoolchildren to help them physically access school. 

All of this allows U.K. volunteers to feel personally involved in improving education in Kenya.

The Impact of Just Be A Child

Just Be A Child reports that it has trained more than 17,000 teachers and volunteers in Kenya, reaching around five million readers and creating or stocking almost 60 libraries. Across these libraries, it has distributed more than a million books and engaged 3,500 school-aged children across Kenya.

The impacts have also been extensive in the U.K., with the organization engaging more than 5,000 participants and nearly 800 corporate volunteers. It has also helped save more than a million books from landfill.

Final Remarks

Just Be A Child is an organization that supports improving education in Kenya. While it does accept monetary donations, the ability to donate books and handmade items makes it a great option for those who may not have the means to give money. This allows the organization to engage a wider range of people across the U.K., raising awareness of the impact international aid can have.

– Ryan Cowen

Ryan is based in Brighton, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Concordia: Trips to Help Reduce Global Poverty

ConcordiaA significant way to help alleviate poverty in a hands-on manner is through organized trips to developing countries, where volunteers dedicate their time to helping underprivileged citizens. This is done through providing child care, manual labor to improve infrastructure, teaching valuable skills to children, providing medical assistance and more. These schemes are often not considered due to a lack of information about their accessibility; packages are available for solo travelers, couples, schools, families, large groups and teenagers. They benefit both the volunteers and the citizens who receive volunteer services, and these trips help relieve poverty in community-centered ways. This article explores some of the most popular organizations fighting global poverty through trips.

Concordia

Concordia strives to build international peace and equality through volunteer opportunities, raising awareness and appreciation of culture by providing authentic experiences. One of Concordia’s featured experiences is the Children’s Christmas Camp trip, where volunteers support children in Marangu during their Christmas holiday. This is a two-week trip costing less than £500. Responsibilities include organizing activities such as sports, games, competitions and crafts, as well as helping with homework. This provides a safer space for children to spend their school holidays and helps relieve poverty by offering free child care that enables families to continue working.

Volunteers are able to get involved with real communities, sharing rooms, cooking meals together and trying local cuisine. Concordia’s volunteer manager, Tom, told The Borgen Project in an interview that “cultural exchange is a vital part of international volunteering. Everyone loves sharing their culture with others, teaching them a bit of their language, sharing your food, and other intangible cultural elements. International volunteering allows a two-way exchange, which leads to great understanding between cultures, and a more peaceful world.”

The location of this trip sits at the foot of Africa’s tallest mountain, Kilimanjaro, a popular tourist attraction. During this interview with The Borgen Project, Tom explained how the organization ensures projects are ethical: “The key to designing an effective volunteer program is to ensure that the host community take the lead in developing the programme, to ensure the work the volunteers carry out is actually wanted and has a real impact.” Concordia takes practical steps to ensure this by working exclusively with two international networks: the Coordinating Committee for International Volunteer Services (CCIVS) and the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organizations.

Through both networks, the receiving organizations design the voluntary projects. They believe that “when done right, international volunteering has tremendous potential to alleviate poverty around the world.” Much like The Borgen Project, Concordia values the mission to raise global awareness: “We must raise awareness of issues relating to poverty and oppression, and volunteers who experience this in person can return home can advocate on issue relating to poverty and oppression.”

Globalteer

Globalteer runs and supports grassroots projects across the world, focusing on children’s education, community empowerment, animal welfare and conservation. The company matches volunteers with projects to support the sustainable growth of their partner organizations. There are opportunities to volunteer with children at community schools, teaching a variety of subjects, with projects providing clean water to villages and with farms producing essential food for communities.

Volunteers can also work at an Indigenous community project or at programs to empower women. Globalteer offers packages starting at less than £400 and ranging from 1–12 weeks in length. During an interview with The Borgen Project, general manager Jim expressed how fulfilling volunteers find the experience: “Many volunteers describe their time with us as life-changing. They gain confidence, cultural understanding, and a greater awareness of the challenges faced by the communities we serve.” Their projects in Peru and Cambodia are led by local staff, and volunteers support—not replace—their work, ensuring respect is at the center of their mission.

International Volunteer HQ

More specialized programs are also available, such as International Volunteer HQ’s Medical Volunteer Programme, which provides medical experience that supports career growth and offers valuable insight into medical practice in lower-income countries. Every year, they organize placements for more than 3,000 people on their Medical Volunteer Programme in Africa, Asia, Central America and South America. This program is eligible for pre-med students, medical students, nursing students and professionals. As a medical volunteer with International Volunteer HQ, there are opportunities to specialize in physiotherapy, dentistry, paramedics, pharmacy, emergency medicine (EMTs), nutrition, public health, orthopaedics, radiology, HIV/AIDS support, midwifery, pediatrics and more. These programs run between 1 and 24 weeks and start at just £244.

The Mighty Roar

The Mighty Roar is committed to ethical conservation, sustainable community endeavors and providing positive experiences to everyone. Their teaching programs operate in places such as Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Bali, Madagascar, Ghana and Thailand. These programs last between 1 and 24 weeks, and the main responsibilities include planning fun, interactive lessons and teaching underprivileged children as young as 4. The Mighty Roar has established community classes in many volunteer destinations and provides free English lessons to thousands. The company assists under-resourced schools, meaning volunteers gain an authentic understanding of education systems in developing countries, which can be used to help improve education systems across the world.

Looking Ahead

Opportunities like those through Concordia and The Mighty Roar act as a significant step and propeller for careers in the charity sectors, politics and philanthropy. Volunteers gain firsthand experience and insight into the poverty present across the world and what can be done to improve it. Reviews of these trips are significantly positive, with people reporting: “It was amazing,” “The whole experience was fantastic” and “One of the best experiences I’ve ever had!” Participating in some of the various trips helping global poverty helps keep missions like these alive, which is increasingly important, with approximately 700 million people living in extreme poverty as of 2025.

– Abigail Gadsden

Abigail is based in Kent, UK and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Students Against Global Poverty

Students Against Global PovertyIn the fight against global poverty, students are a vital and often overlooked aspect of charity initiatives. Students are working with charities alongside their academics to help those most in need through fundraising and volunteering efforts. In an interview with The Borgen Project, Charlotte, a university student working with MEDLIFE, stressed the importance of student participation in fighting poverty and assisting with development projects.

MEDLIFE

MEDLIFE is a global charity that helps to develop low-income communities by improving health care and education. In its efforts to achieve a world free of poverty, MEDLIFE adopts a community-focused approach and offers sustainable solutions to provide long-term aid and improvement. The nonprofit works with local staff and citizens to provide “culturally sensitive” aid and development programs to underserved communities.

Through collaborating with local doctors, the charity ensures that development projects will continue to benefit the community for a longer period rather than solely providing immediate relief. By August 2023, MEDLIFE had more than 30,000 volunteers and had established more than 600 community projects. MEDLIFE focuses on preventative health care through education.

By providing education on key health issues, the organization aims to prevent health care disasters that particularly impact those living in poverty. With a woman dying every two minutes due to childbirth or pregnancy, MEDLIFE’s Mobile Clinics offer specialized educational workshops on women’s reproductive health in efforts to prevent key issues, such as breast or cervical cancers).

Students Working With MEDLIFE

MEDLIFE offers students the chance to directly impact efforts seeking to alleviate the pressures of global poverty. Students can start MEDLIFE societies at a college/university to assist with fundraising efforts and organize volunteer trips to help with specific community projects. In 2024, Students at University College London (UCL) participated in a volunteer trip to Lima, Peru, to directly contribute to the operation of community developments.

In an interview with The Borgen Project, Charlotte reflected on how students working in Lima witnessed people face challenges accessing health care and resources. The students helped to establish and maintain Mobile Clinics specializing in general medicine, dental, obstetrics and gynecology, pharmacy, hygiene and education. Other initiatives also involved assisting with community transformation, such as building parks and stairs. The UCL Society is organizing plans for its next trip; destinations could include Costa Rica or Peru.

When asked whether students are recognized for their roles in fighting global poverty, Charlotte explained that “students often don’t receive enough recognition for their contributions.” Regarding how recognition helps raise awareness, Charlotte commented that “by shining a light on student contributions, we not only validate their efforts but also encourage a culture of social responsibility among peers.”

MEDLIFE is open not only to medical students but also to those studying a wide range of disciplines. When asked about the benefits of this, Charlotte explained how a diverse group of students is extremely useful to the charity. For example, an engineering student can assist in the structured development of the communities and a business or economics student may lead fundraising.

Conclusion

Globally, students work with a wide range of charities to assist in the fight against global poverty. Without help from students, charities could lack the appropriate funds to provide adequate aid to those in need. They are not only providing thousands in fundraising but also have the time and skills to deliver hands-on support.

– Ellie Western

Ellie is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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WeCare: Italian NGO Influencing a Young Generation to Volunteer

WeCareStopping to recognize humanitarian efforts can highlight how, despite ongoing poverty, positive progress is being made. One such example is WeCare, a nonprofit organization based in Italy. It focuses on volunteering projects in South America and Africa, supporting children, families and communities facing extreme poverty.

The nongovernmental organization (NGO) crafts trips that are brilliantly organized, fun, heartwarming and extremely beneficial to the local areas it operates in. When not operating abroad, WeCare continues organizing various charity endeavors, working mainly in Rome and Milan to provide food packs and mental health support to up to 200 families in need.

Ongoing Projects

WeCare currently operates in Ecuador, Rwanda, Cameroon, Argentina and Peru. In each of these countries, the volunteering projects are based in remote destinations with low quality of life and where help is most needed. Groups range from 30 to 80 volunteers and focus largely on building schools, houses and recreational centers for children and families.

For example, its recurring project in Rwanda takes place in Kibaya, one of the most impoverished rural districts of the country. Volunteers work on supporting the only school in the area and improving its infrastructure, facilities and canteen. The projects are very successful and often dozens of houses, playgrounds and classrooms can be built in only a few weeks.

It’s inspiring to see how so much change and improvement can be brought to a community, especially in relation to the well-being of children. This can be seen through WeCare’s large Instagram platform, where it regularly shares videos of the progress made, testifying to the incredible help it carries out.

Influencing a Younger Generation

An important part of WeCare’s identity is that volunteers undergo a team-building experience connected to a religious and spiritual reflection of themselves, learning how to give and become better people as a whole. What is most incredible about this initiative is its impact on younger volunteers. WeCare welcomes volunteers above 40 years old, but it mainly works with teenagers and young adults.

It challenges volunteers, forcing them to cooperate and forge a team bond outside their comfort zones. The result is that these teenagers witness a journey that not only supports vulnerable communities in need but creates long-lasting change by forging them into supportive, reflective and kind human beings.

Impact

WeCare has become a reference point for many families and individuals in countries and regions where it operates. Since its inception, the organization has supported more than 1,350 families. It has also welcomed more than 700 volunteers, giving people the opportunity to contribute to the global fight against poverty and make a meaningful difference in vulnerable communities in Africa and South America.

– Grace Sammartini

Grace is based in Rome, Italy and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Focusing on the Positives: 5 Ways to Fight Global Poverty

Fight Global PovertyIt only takes a quick look at the headlines about global poverty in major media outlets to realize that media often prioritizes bad news over the good. Over the years, this has led to social psychologists deducing that humans have developed a “negativity bias,” meaning that humans typically pay attention to bad news over the good. Of course, in the fight against global poverty, it is reductive to solely focus on the bad news as this is likely to significantly destroy morale.

At times, it seems that all hope is lost, and it is easy to just throw in the towel and give the fight up, however, this is a morally unthinkable option. This article sets out five crucial ways in which anyone, no matter their age, job or background, can join the fight and help eradicate poverty across the world. Here are five ways to fight global poverty.

  1. Be Kind – This is the first, easiest and most important step when joining the fight against global poverty. Setting a foundation of being kind to others can help people see the fight against poverty in a more optimistic light, incentivizing them to be more altruistic and empathetic. This will then allow people to move on to more specific and time-consuming steps in the fight against global poverty.
  2. Fundraise – It may seem remarkably simple and too good to be true, but studies have shown that fundraising for outstanding charities and organizations that are instruments to fight poverty is one of, if not the most effective ways to help vulnerable people. The school of thought called “Effective Altruism” prioritizes the idea of Giving What We Can (GWWC) to the fight against global poverty, and has a useful charity evaluation guide to help you discern which charity is going to use your fundraising to do the most good to alleviate poverty across the world.
  3. Contact Local Representatives – Of course, very few institutions have the amount of funding and resources as national governments, and getting in contact with your local government representative can prove a very easy way to make a big difference. Contact can be in any form, from an email, a handwritten letter or attending a local surgery, and could be used to persuade your representative to lobby the government to increase foreign aid to countries adversely impacted by high levels of poverty. This could be particularly effective in the U.K., where the foreign aid budget was recently slashed from 0.7% of GNI to just 0.5%, and calls for a restoration of the budget are growing in significance.
  4. Volunteer – Yet, another simple way to join the fight against global poverty, volunteering your time for a charity or organization dedicated to the cause can be an extremely effective method of supporting poverty reduction programs across the world, as well as providing an extremely rewarding experience for the volunteers themselves — from something as local as a food bank to something as international as joining the United Nations Volunteer (UNV) program that has a vast network of volunteers and collaborators across the world to locate and help the most vulnerable people suffering in poverty. For example, the Women Economic Empowerment section of the UNV does fantastic work for women and children in Malawi, providing them with entrepreneurship skills and allowing them into the workforce.
  5. Spread the Message – In the fight against global poverty, people are far stronger together than they are alone. Of course, one person can make a difference, but just think about what 10, 20 or even 100 people could achieve by following these steps! Spreading the message, especially in the age of social media, has never been easier. When the world fights global poverty together, it creates a great synergy that can be of great use.

Looking Ahead

While eliminating poverty may seem impossible, the above steps can go a long way. Through making efforts to reduce poverty like volunteering, fundraising or advocating for charitable endeavors, everyone can make a difference.

– Tom Lowe
Photo: Flickr

The White Helmets: The Volunteer Group Giving Aid in Syria

The White HelmetsThe White Helmets, also known as the Syria Civil Defense, is a force of volunteers that has been making an impact in Syria since late 2012. The group provides aid wherever it is necessary, from war-torn neighborhoods to areas affected by natural disasters.

History

Throughout the last decade, Syria has been one of the most unstable countries in the world, due to both political instability and natural causes. The Syrian Civil War, a conflict that began in 2011 and continues even now, is the main reason for this instability. The fighting mostly occurs in urban areas, and it typically involves mass artillery strikes and chemical weapons attacks. As a result, nearly 7 million people have been displaced from their homes, according to World Vision. World Vision also estimates that food insecurity currently affects 12 million people throughout Syria, while nearly half of all Syrians live in poverty as of March 2023.

In addition to the ongoing conflict, the northwest of Syria suffered two massive earthquakes on February 6, 2023. Both earthquakes registered well over 7.0 on the Richter Scale. The devastating earthquakes were responsible for over 7,000 deaths throughout Syria. According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDS), 8.8 million people live in the areas that the earthquake impacted, and this dramatically increases the need for humanitarian aid in the country. 

Making an Impact

Over the course of the Syrian Civil War, the White Helmets have provided invaluable aid to those in need. Its official website estimates that the efforts of the White Helmets “saved more than 100,000 lives over the past five years.” The volunteers began with urban search and rescue teams, often scouring through the rubble of bomb sites to find survivors.

The White Helmets continue to make an impact today as it provides earthquake relief. In the early stages of recovery from the earthquakes, the Syria Civil Defense was able to save over 3,000 people, helping pull people from the rubble of destroyed buildings, delivering food and medicine to those in need and distributing medical care all around the affected area.

The Story Continues

Now an influential organization, the White Helmets began as nothing more than groups of everyday people who wanted to look out for others. When the Syrian Civil War first began, there was little to no effective infrastructure to help those hurt in bombings, shootings and a variety of other deadly hazards that the war caused. Despite a total lack of organization and incredible danger, the first members of the White Helmets took it upon themselves to help those in need.

The institution has come a long way since those days, as it has become one of the most well-known aid organizations currently operating in Syria. The White Helmets got a nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2016. Although it didn’t win the prize, the publicity gained from the nomination was invaluable. In 2016, a documentary titled The White Helmets won an Oscar for best short subject documentary. The White Helmets’ impact has earned recognition from around the globe, and the organization’s work continues to make a difference.

– Ezra Bernstein
Photo: Flickr

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International Volunteering and Poverty Reduction

International Volunteering
International volunteering is the process of completing unpaid work in a foreign, and often developing country in great need. It is an extremely diverse practice and includes teaching, environmental conservation, and supporting communities. This is an excellent practice to have a positive impact on the people and environment of the country.

One can view international volunteering and poverty reduction as two interrelated aspects. The practice has received great commemoration for its impact and success in addressing poverty. For example, the U.N. recognizes international volunteering with International Volunteer Day, celebrated every year on December 5. Despite this, it is not without its criticisms.

International Volunteering and Poverty Reduction

According to World Vision, about 9.2% of the world’s population (689 million people) live in extreme poverty and survive on less than $1.90 a day. Poverty has extensive repercussions including hunger and food insecurity, increased crime and child mortality rates, political instability and corruption. Many households that suffer from poverty are exposed to precarious situations. For example, they deal with exploitation due to their limited access to employment. Poor labor laws, insufficient political and trade-union representation and general economic issues are making this issue worse.

Oftentimes, in these low-income and developing countries, there is a lack of key public infrastructure including schools, hospitals, security services and social protection schemes for people to access. Even in areas where they do exist, there is no way for the poor and marginalized to engage with them.

Others have regarded international volunteers as an under-recognized yet essential source to support poverty reduction and service delivery in low-income countries. In a 2015 report, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) discovered how they play a significant role in “bridging the gap.” Not only do they add to the number of those working, but they also bring their own experiences to the workforce, helping to ensure that the services are relevant to those using them.

In Mozambique between 2004 and 2008, the number of those providing home-based care for AIDS patients increased from 17,170 to 99,122 because of international volunteers.

In Lesotho in 2015, international volunteers had the task to design and implement training programs for more than 400 youth leaders in an initiative that was volunteer-run. Using social media, the volunteers were able to teach the youth leaders how to establish their own platforms and engage with other young people, thus, creating a sustainable method of poverty alleviation.

In Burkina Faso, a partnership between the Ministry of Youth and Employment, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Volunteers and France Volontaires had tremendous results. They established programs designed to target the employability of young people in the early 2010s. They mobilized more than 13,000 youth volunteers which gained many new competencies such as how to access information on gender issues and learn about labor market competitiveness. Overall, the program resulted in 66% of the youth gaining ‘decently paid jobs’ after.

Disadvantages of International Volunteering

Despite international volunteering having a fruitful impact on poverty reduction in low-income and developing countries, it has been receiving extensive criticism as well. Perhaps the most condemned aspect of going abroad to volunteer is the idea of ‘stealing’ local job prospects. Rather than prioritizing local needs, organizations place money, effort and energy into international volunteer programs where the volunteer’s experiences and activities are often more important to some. Furthermore, volunteers tend to be young and inexperienced, and thus, can hinder poverty reduction. Shannon O’Donnell, the author of the Volunteer Traveller’s Handbook, stated that ‘”there is no doubt that volunteer programmes shift jobs from locals to potentially less skilled labour.”

Another key disadvantage is the duration of volunteer projects. Although many organizations offer and promote long-term projects, most of them are short-term. This is mostly based on the volunteer’s ability and time available to commit to a project. Like the criticism above, these projects become ‘volunteer centric,’ creating an array of short-term placements which enable a constant flow of new volunteers. This means that the organizations put more effort into training them rather than actually supporting poverty reduction initiatives.

An interrelated criticism focuses on international volunteering projects which focus on poverty reduction for children. During their time, volunteers build deep connections and relationships with children. They might do this by supporting their education in schools through lessons or extracurricular activities, community events or even helping in orphanages, all of which prove how the existence of volunteers is beneficial on multiple levels. As a result, the departure of these volunteers at the end of their projects may lead to psychological and emotional consequences for the children. Stephanie Halksworth from ReSet stated how these consequences include a “sense of abandonment, invalidation and stagnation.”

Ethical Volunteering: The Future of Poverty Reduction

The disadvantages stated above of international volunteering question its ethics and how these may be skewed in favor of the volunteer. A new form of volunteering branded as ethical volunteering emerged in 2016 to address these concerns. Ethical volunteering ensures that volunteers are not only doing so for themselves but also providing aid in a responsible and sustainable way. With support from the U.N., such activities are relevant to poverty reduction and staying aligned with this cause.

Here are five ideals associated with ethical volunteering:

  • Making a sustainable impact
  • Contributing to community development
  • Interacting with the environment (including animals) responsibly
  • Personal development grounded in ethics
  • Gaining a global perspective

International volunteering can be a positive force for supporting communities and poverty reduction. Regardless, its core elements have received critics, something which hints at the need for a change within the practice. Ethical volunteering overcomes these considerations and represents the future of international volunteering for poverty reduction.

– Harkiran Bharij
Photo: Flickr

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WHO and MSF Mobilize Volunteers in Ukraine

volunteers in Ukraine
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, Ukraine’s health system has been operating under severe pressure. It has become increasingly crucial for international organizations to collaborate with local groups in order to respond to the health crises that the war posed. Two organizations that have done this are the World Health Organization (WHO) and Doctors Without Borders/Medicines Sans Frontieres (MSF). Additionally, volunteers in Ukraine are proving crucial.

The World Health Organization (WHO) in Ukraine

Since the beginning of the war in February 2022, WHO has provided medical supplies and cooperated with neighboring countries that welcome and host Ukrainian refugees. The war has sapped Ukraine of resources to devote to health care, and there have been deliberate attacks on health facilities. In collaboration with Ukraine’s Ministry of Health, WHO plans to remain involved in Ukraine for the foreseeable future, giving support to the country’s overwhelmed medical professionals and facilities. It is doing so in several ways. It is building ‘healthcare hubs’ in heavily conflicted areas to treat patients suffering from war-related trauma.

Additionally, WHO successfully appealed for $147.5 million to foster humanitarian efforts, ensure emergency health care and help the country rebuild its health care system. Part of the funding will go to Ukraine directly, while the rest will go to surrounding countries with Ukrainian refugees, such as Moldova, Romania, Poland and the Czech Republic. Through this funding, health care facilities within Ukraine can increase their staff and have access to critical medical supplies such as ventilators, electric generators and ambulances. Between February and June of 2022, more than 1,300 new medical staff received training and the funding helped form more than 40 emergency response teams.

More funding will provide supplies to treat burns and chemical injuries and to handle mass casualties. The war has also led to an increase in psychological illness and distress – symptoms of these medical problems manifest in various forms, including sleeplessness, anxiety, grief and psychological pain. In collaboration with Olena Zolenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, WHO hopes to create a national mental health program.

Medicines Sans Frontieres (MSF) in Ukraine

The work of WHO alone is not enough to combat this crisis. Local organizations are proving essential in providing emergency humanitarian care, and MSF is helping mobilize local relief efforts. When investigating Ukraine’s needs, MSF noted how swiftly Ukraine’s population mobilized to create volunteer networks, NGOs and civil society groups. These quickly formed, efficient, local organizations are the main providers of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. MSF contributes to these groups by helping them with supplies and logistics to deliver food boxes and medications to remote areas, as well as by helping them coordinate emergency evacuations.

Coordinating Volunteers in Ukraine

One such local volunteer is Dmitry Zakharov, owner of a barbeque restaurant and car wash in Kharkiv, who was interviewed by MSF. Soon after the war broke out, Zakharov transformed his business into a hub for humanitarian aid. He began by distributing free water, and when a nearby meat factory stopped its operations, he gathered up what was left and distributed it to those who needed food. He turned his restaurant into a free medical clinic, and he coordinates volunteer efforts to serve free daily lunches to the community. Another volunteer is Yana Biletskaya, who has coordinated food and medical supply distribution from a massive storehouse near her home.

The need to provide mental health services has dramatically increased. Children and adults suffer from extreme anxiety. In coordination with MSF, volunteer teams provide mental health support in shelters, clinics and metro stations. They conduct individual and group mental health sessions to address issues of fear, stress, worry, hopelessness and panic attacks. While this is a good start, there is still a lot of work to do.

Other Organizations

Many other organizations are aiding these efforts. Team Rubicon coordinates volunteers in over 15 locations in Ukraine, Hungary and Poland. They treat wounds and chronic diseases no matter the condition – whether in a school or community center where hundreds of refugees sleep and live. Medical schools at Yale and Stanford have coordinated donations of medical supplies. Volunteers from the Global Surgical and Medical Support Group, a nonprofit, are training Ukrainian civilians on coping with wounds and fear.

There is a lot that still needs to occur. However, it is encouraging to see so many communities, organizations and volunteers working together, whether on the ground or from a distance, to help Ukraine in this time of need.

– Shiloh Harrill
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Jana Amin and the Fight for Girls’ Education

Fight for Girls' Education
Jana Amin has taken great strides to fight for girls’ education. She researched a societal issue and suggested solutions for a school project when she was 13 years old. She decided to write about girls’ lack of access to education. Thus, she contacted Heya Masr, a nonprofit that organizes local educational and empowerment workshops for girls. Then, Amin hired a videographer to film her with Heya Masr’s students. Finally, she created an online fundraising campaign and raised more than $6,000 for the cause.

“We were going to visit family in Egypt anyway,” Amin told The Borgen Project. “And I thought to myself, I’m doing this work anyway. Why not use this as an opportunity to create tangible change?”

This was her first foray into activism. The 17-year-old Egyptian-American has given a TEDx talk, spoken about gender equality on a United Nations panel and curated an exhibit at the American University in Cairo. She advocates changing Western perceptions of Muslim women and wants to fight for girls’ education.

Changing Western Perceptions of Muslim Women

This was Amin’s first time formally conducting advocacy. However, she already had some experience. She lived in Egypt until she was around 10 years old when her family moved to Boston. Her activism began through one-on-one interactions with Bostonians about her life as a Muslim girl.

“On a daily basis, I was asked questions about if Egyptian girls could drive, if my mother could drive, if I was allowed to go to school in Egypt,” Amin said. “And it was all these misconceptions about Islam, the faith, about Middle Eastern culture, and more generally about women in the Middle East, about women in Islam. And so I think that’s how I first initially got pushed towards activism.”

Her desire to fix misconceptions about Muslim women led her to give a TEDx talk, where she spoke about how Western media often portrayed Muslim women as victims of oppression. She suggested that amplifying Muslim women’s voices would change this singular narrative.

Additionally, Amin curated an exhibit at the American University in Cairo. The exhibit featured Princess Fawzia Fuad of Egypt, the first wife of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the shah of Iran. Furthermore, the exhibit focused on the differences in how the Western and Egyptian press depicted Princess Fawzia. While Western media portrayed the princess as a helpless political pawn. Egyptian press depicted her as a humanitarian, champion of girls’ education and representation of the modern woman. Amin presented her research to bring awareness to Princess Fawzia’s accomplishments and to give other young Muslim women a powerful role model.

Fighting for Girls’ Education

Jana Amin continues to fight for girls’ education in many different ways. She recently spoke on a United Nations panel about how governments can tailor their policies to specifically address gender disparities.

“We often think that change in somebody’s life or change on a meaningful level requires so much,” Amin told The Borgen Project. “Something so simple as giving someone an education can do so much for their life.”

On her 17th birthday, Amin invited and interviewed 17 experts in female education and empowerment. She streamed this digital event “#17for17: Advocating for Girls’ Education” for many to view. The speakers included prominent writers, artists, activists and humanitarians.

Collateral Repair Project

As one of her ongoing projects, she also volunteers with a nonprofit organization called Collateral Repair Project to directly support women’s education efforts in the Middle East. Collateral Repair Project (CRP) is a nonprofit organization based in Amman, Jordan. It supports refugees living in Jordan through educational and female empowerment workshops and basic needs assistance.

Jana Amin discovered Collateral Repair Project during a school trip to the Middle East in her freshman year of high school. She was struck by its SuperGirls workshops, which provide young female refugees with a space to express their feelings, overcome trauma and speak up for themselves.

After Amin returned to Massachusetts, she volunteered with Collateral Repair Project. She met with refugees over Skype to help them practice conversational English. After three years, she also began teaching English over Zoom. However, the lessons were unreliable due to Wi-Fi issues and Amin began to doubt whether the lessons were useful. Yet after about four weeks, a Yemeni woman lined up her four children in front of a camera, who recited basic English phrases that Amin had taught their mother.

Amin said the experience reminded her that “you educate one woman and she has the ability to educate her family and in turn her community.”

The Power of Activism

Amin believes that she has a responsibility to create positive change in her community. To many people, fearlessness propels Amin’s activism. This courage is evident when she cold-called Michelle Obama. While preparing for her “#17for17” birthday event, she called and messaged the Obama Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance to ask if Michelle Obama could speak at her event. Although Amin did not expect to succeed, the program’s representatives responded within 24 hours to say that Michelle Obama was busy that day. However, its executive director, Tiffany Drake, was willing to be a speaker. She was delighted to discover she is not alone in the fight for girls’ education.

“I think we do the craziest things when we don’t hold ourselves back,” she said.

– Sarah Brinsley
Photo: Courtesy of Jana Amin

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IVolunteer International and Digital Volunteerism

IVolunteer International
IVolunteer International is an online platform that mobilizes volunteers to local projects and exposes thousands to volunteerism. The nonprofit powers mostly grassroots movements and connects them to volunteers in their local area in real-time. The co-founder, Nipuna Ambanpola, envisions a world of 7 billion volunteers. By addressing barriers for volunteers and digitalizing the process, the organization is simplifying the process of volunteering. IVolunteer International is reimagining the future of volunteerism and creating a space for volunteers to unite across the globe.

The Borgen Project spoke to Nipuna Ambanpola, the executive director of IVolunteer International. Ambanpola was born and raised in Sri Lanka and moved to the United States as an international student in 2015. During his time as a student, Ambanpola searched for volunteer opportunities and found many obstacles to the simple act of volunteering. The creation of IVolunteer International stemmed from a basic question: “what are the barriers of volunteerism?” Since its creation, IVolunteer International has mobilized more than 6,000 volunteers worldwide and promoted volunteerism to more than 200,000 people.

The Reasons 7 Billion Volunteers Do Not Exist

In the process of creating IVolunteer International, Ambanpola and his team spoke to individuals worldwide about the difficulties of volunteering. Ambanpola finds that four main problems exist that deter people from volunteering. First, devoting time to volunteering is a challenge for people who already have commitments to other tasks. People occupied with jobs, children or other obligations do not have the spare time to attend weekly meetings or volunteer projects.

Second, volunteering has a financial obligation from transportation costs to membership fees. Financial well-being is a privilege that can permit or prevent someone from volunteering.

Third, there is no single user-friendly platform to find volunteer projects. And fourth, organizations that rely on volunteers often have a finite group. To generate 7 billion volunteers, organizations must find the potential of every community member to participate.

Without time, finances, listings and open groups, there is a low likelihood that people will devote their efforts to volunteering. IVolunteer International compiles the needs of volunteers and addresses these complications. Ambanpola describes IVolunteer International’s solutions to volunteerism as a combination of “a mobile app, projects to raise awareness and mobilizing local activists.” A future mobile app will include real-time access to volunteer efforts in a user’s local area. Currently, the website offers location-based and virtual volunteer projects that it categorizes by project focus. From alliances with grassroots movements to United Nations service projects, the volunteer opportunities appeal to a sizeable audience.

Initiatives: #BirthdayDeed and IVolunteer Series

To create action and awareness for volunteerism, IVolunteer International promotes inspiring initiatives in its campaign. As part of the action campaign, IVolunteer International encourages users to register for #BirthdayDeed. People sign up and pledge to do one act of service on their birthdays. A week before an individual’s birthday, IVolunteer International sends an automated email with personalized volunteer opportunities. Whether writing a letter to a loved one or participating in a beach cleanup, this campaign is spreading positive change. By simply involving people on their birthdays, this initiative can be a catalyst for people to realize the importance of volunteering.

The IVolunteer Series is part of an awareness campaign that brings attention to volunteerism. The series spotlights individuals that share their personal experiences with grassroots movements, finding a passion for volunteerism and other social impacts. The goal of the IVolunteer Series is to show relatable stories that can motivate people to start their volunteer journey. The interviews range from presentations on eradicating college hunger to finding a passion for volunteering in a new city. This initiative spreads awareness of activism and generates interest from potential volunteers.

How Volunteering Unites the World

Volunteering is a worldwide effort to better communities and uplift those in need. The benefits of fulfillment and connection are the main reasons that many choose to volunteer. Volunteering can strengthen ties and create an investment in the future of a community. When Ambanpola moved from Sri Lanka to the United States, he formed a network and community with those he met while volunteering. As Ambanpola found, participating in local activism can increase connections and provide insight and awareness for local issues. The generosity of volunteers worldwide shows that volunteerism has a personal gain at stake. From combating depression to finding a support system or fulfilling a purpose and avoiding loneliness, any number of reasons can inspire people to find the benefits of volunteer work.

A New Era of Volunteers

With technology increasing at an exponential rate, volunteer organizations are utilizing new methods of communication and outreach. The future of IVolunteer International is a mobile app that serves both volunteers and nonprofit organizations. An app stands as a user-friendly and convenient way to link organizations or individuals to passionate volunteers. The user will submit their location and be able to immediately connect to real-time projects happening near them. These projects can be low-level commitments to encourage more individuals to participate. Organizations and individuals can find volunteers by simply submitting a project and each party will benefit from the streamlined process.

Since technology provides vast amounts of data, a long-term goal of IVolunteer International is to compile data about volunteerism. The data will be available to the public as well as governments, organizations and agencies to give insight into who volunteers in their community. Also, statistics will be a meaningful way to attract certain populations to projects they would find interest in. IVolunteer International proves that technology provides the tools for change. The organization continues to empower local communities to find solutions and is contributing to a new era of digital volunteerism.

– Eva Pound
Photo: Courtesy of Nipuna Ambanpola