Catholic Relief Services’ Farmer to Farmer Program

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is a charity organization that works to provide developing countries with sustainable solutions to improve their lives. This international institution started in 1943 when the U.S. Conference of Roman Catholic Bishops met to offer aid for refugees in World War II. Since then, CRS has influenced the lives of many people.

Some of their work overseas includes improving nutrition, sanitation and education for communities that need it most. One of their most influential programs in the field of agriculture and sustainability is called “Farmer to Farmer” or F2F.

This program is in conjunction with USAID’s Feed the Future program. The primary goal of F2F is to educate families in developing countries about their farms to ensure a reliable food source.

According to the CRS Farmer to Farmer website, “Volunteer technical assistance from U.S. farmers, educators, agribusinesses, cooperatives, and universities helps developing countries improve productivity, access new markets, and conserve environmental and natural resources.”

Right now, CRS is working in four parts of eastern Africa: Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Tanzania. Each country has climate-specific and economy-specific goals which volunteers from CRS work to accomplish with the natives. Workers in Kenya, for example, have been focusing on livestock, horticulture and dairy.

Following the mission of its mother organization, Farmer to Farmer uses a comprehensive and holistic approach to assisting the families. This way, farmers in Africa will not only be able to understand what the volunteer educators are teaching them but also practice it in everyday life and be able to plan for the future.

The CRS agricultural learning program is also partnering with the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE). This organization “advocate[s] for agricultural education, provide[s] professional development for agricultural educators, and work[s] to recruit and retain agricultural educators in the profession.” This partnership provides CRS with qualified and passionate volunteers to send to countries in need.

Catholic Relief Services’ five-year F2F program has proven to be successful thus far. Hopefully, soon all parts of the world will be educated about their field and be able to provide a healthy lifestyle for their families.

– Sydney Missigman

Photo: Flickr

BOBS for Skechers Charitable Program Helps Children in Need

Along with a reputation for designing comfortable performance shoes, Skechers is a brand praised for its philanthropic efforts. In the past year, through the BOBS for Skechers charitable program, more than 13 million pairs of new shoes have been donated to children in need around the world as well as throughout the nation, reaching those struggling with poverty, homelessness and natural disasters.

Skechers shoes leave a charitable footprint through its BOBS for Skechers charitable program, in collaboration with charities such as Delivering Good, Inc. and Soles4Souls. Delivering Good, Inc. (formerly K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers) is a nonprofit that accepts donations in the fashion, home and children’s industries, which are then sent to help millions of kids, adults and families facing poverty and disaster. Since 1985, over $1.6 billion of donated products have been distributed through the charity’s network of community partners. Delivering Good, Inc. has been a partner of Skechers for five years and has distributed a total of 7.5 million pairs of shoes in that period to organizations domestically and internationally.

Founded in 2006, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 30 million pairs of shoes in 127 countries and all 50 U.S. states. Skechers, through its alliance with Soles4Souls, provides short-term relief and long-term solutions to individuals without access to a good pair of shoes. Every day children are kept from attending school and adults are unable to work because of the burden of walking without proper shoes, and a single pair has the power to provide relief in many developing nations around the globe. Furthermore, Soles4Souls states, “Our micro-enterprise model provides entrepreneurs the ability to start small businesses by providing a steady supply of high-quality, low-cost product; a powerful and sustainable way for people to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.”

In addition to working with various charities, Skechers involves celebrities in the process to help raise awareness about the brand and its mission to give back. Singer-songwriter Camila Cabello is the latest celebrity to work on a campaign with Skechers. The 20-year-old recently took to Twitter to share her upcoming involvement with the brand, on which she expressed, “One of the things that attracted me to Skechers is their philanthropic efforts to children in need and animals in need… because that’s something that’s important to me and close to my heart.”

Through its nonprofit partners and millions of donations, Skechers helps deliver individuals from extreme poverty, even in the simplest of ways. The Skechers movement has reached children and adults struggling with a variety of circumstances across the nation and in more than 30 countries worldwide, helping each of them one step at a time.

– Mikaela Frigillana

Photo: Flickr

Best Ways to Help the Homeless

The most recent global homelessness survey was conducted in 2005 by the United Nations. It estimated that about 100 million people were homeless worldwide. According to Habitat for Humanity, as many as 1.6 billion people around the globe lacked adequate housing 10 years later, in 2015. The United States is pushing to provide adequate housing for all of the poor in the country, but what are some other basic ways that everyone could help the homeless globally?

Top 3 Ways to Help the Homeless

1. End stereotypes and stigma. The first step in helping the homeless is understanding who they are. You can help the homeless by dispelling the stereotypes and stigmas surrounding homelessness and learning about the reasons why people become homeless, remembering that everyone and every situation is unique. According to the National Coalition to End Homelessness, the top five reasons that people fall into homelessness are a lack of affordable housing, a lack of a living wage, domestic violence, medical bankruptcy and mental illness. Many people have a difficult time getting past the many negative stereotypes that burden the homeless population. They also have trouble sympathizing with the homeless population because of these stereotypes. Educating others is as simple as correcting someone who expresses a homelessness stereotype, or talking with local publications about the problems homeless people face.
2. Support nonprofits. To help the homeless, you can also support nonprofit organizations by donating money and clothing that will aid their projects and their missions. This is usually the easiest way to help. It ensures that social workers and professionals who best understand how to help the homeless will have the resources necessary to do their important work. Donating used items or new items is another easy way to help. These items can be donated to local organizations that house the homeless or otherwise support them. Additionally, you can always support your local homeless population by donating items directly. If you can’t donate money or goods, you can sign up to volunteer with a nonprofit organization. You can also encourage local publications to publish information about shelters. Many people are unaware that there are shelters for the homeless in their communities. To help the homeless, contact local papers, religious institutions and the editors of local civic group newsletters and ask if they would consider running a weekly or monthly listing of local services available to the homeless.
3. Be an advocate. To help the homeless from a political standing, you can support mental health services. Mental health problems can be both a cause and an effect of homelessness. One of the best ways to make a difference for homeless people is to encourage and support access to free or low-cost mental health services and make sure that your politicians are encouraging other countries to do the same and discussing it at summits.You can support affordable housing initiatives, free and low-cost health care, day shelters and local libraries where people can research jobs and places to find help. Basic medical care is also a huge problem for homeless people. They are more prone to serious health problems but are stuck in a position where they cannot afford help. Day shelters are another service which can help homeless people get back on their feet. They give people a safe place to stay and store their things. Day shelters are uncommon, so if your city doesn’t have one, talk to your local city councilors or mayor about establishing one.

If the world works together to solve our poverty problem, we can help the homeless. To do this, people around the globe must first educate themselves about each issue and push for legislation that will improve the lives of the homeless population. Continuing to dispel stereotypes and volunteering time and items for nonprofit organizations are important steps to improve lives of others and make the world a better place.

– Rilee Pickle

Photo: Flickr

On the Global Emergency Response Coalition

The Global Emergency Response Coalition is a group of eight aiding organizations that came together in April 2017 in response to the hunger crisis around the world. It is the first of its kind and a new approach to foreign aid.

The alliance is made up of eight of the largest international aid organizations. Save the Children, CARE, International Medical Corps, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, Oxfam, Plan International and World Vision are all involved. They have partnered with companies like Facebook and Pepsi to raise funds to split between the eight organizations.

Together, they are saving millions of children and families in need. Today, more than 20 million people are facing starvation and famine, and nearly 1.4 million children are malnourished. The alliance came together with one main goal: to end starvation in various countries. Four examples are Kenya, Niger, Uganda and Nigeria. With this new approach as a super alliance, there is hope that it may lead to more public interest in the crisis.

About 4.5 million children and mothers need nutrition services in Yemen. In addition, 1.9 million people require assistance with the impacts of conflicts. War has left families without food and necessities in Nigeria and so many other emergencies. The Global Emergency Response Coalition is aiming to address and respond to these crises “How powerful it would be to come together to break through and make this known,” said president and CEO of Oxfam America, Abby Mazman.

Some ways the Global Emergency Response Coalition is helping are leading health and nutrition programs and providing treatment and supplies. Humanitarian needs in South Sudan have risen significantly, as well as in the numerous countries the coalition plans on aiding. With their diverse responses, the organizations have come up with a diverse way to provide aid.

Transporting water and food, running nutrition programs and training doctors and nurses have become a part of the coalition’s plan in response to the famine and hunger crisis.

The Global Emergency Response Coalition is calling Americans to save children and their families’ lives from this hunger crisis. George Clooney, an American actor, has been especially supportive. Through his foundation, the Clooney Foundation for Justice, which focuses on the Syrian refugee crisis, he calls on Americans to support the Coalition campaign. “By giving, we can inspire hope where hope is lost and make the world a better place,” Clooney says.

– Brandi Gomez

Photo: Flickr

10 Books About Nonprofits to Change Your Mind

Within the world of nonprofit work, many have incredible stories to share that expand others’ perspectives. Here is a list of books about nonprofits specifically focused on global poverty. Some are about what inspired certain organizations, some about the work that they do and some about behind-the-scenes logistics.

1. “Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World” by Tracy KidderFounder of Partners in Health, Paul Farmer is a believer in change when change seems impossible. This book describes Farmer’s pursuit of improving global health by working in places from Harvard to Peru and Haiti. His goal is to cure the world because “the only real nation is humanity.” For a list of books about nonprofits, this one is a must.
2. “Pathologies of Power: Health, Human Rights and the New War on the Poor” by Paul FarmerPaul Farmer’s own book details his personal experiences working in developing countries. He describes the social and economic injustice that the poorer citizens of the world face and explains why it should be among everyone’s priorities to help. He writes with optimism, believing that our sense of justice will evolve with medical and social technology.
3. “The Blue Sweater” by Jacqueline NovogratzBy blending personal stories and theory, Jacqueline Novogratz’s memoir demonstrates her approach to ending world poverty. Moving from credit analysis to nonprofit work, she started the Acumen Fund, which invests in ideas and companies fighting against poverty. She illustrates the global reach of the need for this kind of work by using personal stories from her travels.
4. “Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time” by Greg MortensonThis is the story of one man’s journey from mountaineering to the school building in Pakistan. Mortenson’s 55 schools, many for girls, offer education in a dangerous place and illustrate the power one individual can have for change.
5. “Out of Poverty: What Works When Traditional Approaches Fail” by Paul PolakPolak focuses on a grassroots approach to ending poverty based on his 25 years of experience. He wants to help those who make less than a dollar per day stand on their own two feet rather than have developed countries swoop in and save them. His approach involves low-cost and innovative ways to implement change.
6. “Managing to Change the World: The Nonprofit Manager’s Guide to Getting Results” by Alison Green and Jerry HauserAnother highlight of management on the list of books about nonprofits, this one focuses on getting results through effective management skills. It reminds us that office work can be just as important as getting dirty on the ground.
7. “Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits” by Leslie R. Crutchfield, Heather McLeod Grant and J. Gregory DeesThis book discusses the six characteristics that make 12 different nonprofits successful, especially when one looks at their levels of impact. Big or small, organizations can apply these six ideas to their own work, especially in the wake of the global recession.
8. “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t” by Jim CollinsAs the title suggests, this book outlines certain companies that were able to go from average to amazing. Collins and his research team list seven characteristics that helped these companies build strong and long-term foundations for success.
9. “The Networked Nonprofit” by Beth Kanter and Allison H. FineIn today’s society, businesses rely heavily on social media to engage consumers, and nonprofits are no exception. In terms of books about nonprofits, this is another that focuses on management. Social media can be a great tool for raising awareness as well as fundraising and reaching donors.
10. “A Fistful of Rice: My Unexpected Quest to End Poverty Through Profitability” by Vikram AkulaThis personal story about the intersection between philanthropy and capitalism shows how business ideas can be applied to global problems. Akula writes about using capitalism to transform many of India’s poor citizens first into first consumers and then into business owners.

Everyone has a book, movie or song that completely changed the way he or she sees the world. Perhaps it was a particularly inspiring character or a plot that defied imagination. Often the most amazing stories humans tell each other are true.

– Ellen Ray

Photo: Flickr