Today is Giving Tuesday! And with the end of the year approaching, we thought we’d feature a few our favorite international-focused non-profits! #GivingTuesday is “a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Observed on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Since its inaugural year in 2012, #GivingTuesday has become a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy with events throughout the year and a growing catalog of resources.” Don’t forget to explore ways to maximize your gift including employee match programs with your employer! Here are 5 non-profits we love!

CARE

Photo from CARE.org

CARE has been a organization Stephanie’s admired ever since first hearing about it in college, especially because of its focus on empowering women and girls. She’s been working there a little over a year now! It just celebrated its 70th birthday and was started after World War II to deliver life-saving food and supplies to families in Europe. Check out this video to learn more about its history. Today CARE provides humanitarian assistance to countries in crisis and also works in long term development in food nutrition security, sexual reproductive and maternal health, education, water, and gender empowerment. Donations to cover general operations are always needed but if you are planning on donating as part of a holiday gift, consider giving a Gift of Lasting Change. These gifts are a way of filling a symbolic CARE package with items including school uniforms for girls, Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) kits, and a goat. Also when you give through PayPal today, they’ll add 1% to your donation!

Ghana Medical Help

Ghana Medical Help (GMH) is an organization Stephanie’s been volunteering with on and off for two years now ever since she I returned from Ghana serving in Peace Corps (where you can support community-led projects by issue or country). GMH is a non-profit organization that was founded in July 2010 and provides medical equipment to disadvantaged district hospitals in rural Northern Ghana.   Its mission is to increase the quality of healthcare available and to save lives through the donation of medical aid to hospitals in the most northern Regions of Ghana. Specifically, the non-profit started in the Sandema District Hospital (close to Stephanie’s village Gbedema) in the Upper East region to provide an acute solution to alleviate the immediate needs of basic medical equipment.  During rainy season, the hospital was extremely overcrowded, especially in the children’s ward, and nurses needed basic equipment so they could perform life-saving functions for a greater number of patients.  Because of the impact the medical equipment has produced in Sandema, GMH has expanded to partner with other district hospitals in underserved Northern Ghana and is projected to increase the number of partner hospitals in the future. You can donate to this Canadian charity here!

Kiva

Kiva leverages the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions to allow individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world. Kiva was born of the following beliefs: people are by nature generous, and will help others if given the opportunity to do so in a transparent, accountable way; the poor are highly motivated and can be very successful when given an opportunity; and by connecting people we can create relationships beyond financial transactions, and build a global community expressing support and encouragement of one another. Stephanie started as a Kiva microlender in 2010 and has loved an amazing journey watching Marik Ole from Kenya pay back his animal sales loan so then she could lend it to the Dzifa Group of Ghana for their sewing group and now Razia’s Group in Pakistan for Fruits & Vegetables.  Consider loaning to a borrower of your choosing to support poverty alleviation through global entrepreneurship!

Refugee Women’s Network

Refugee Women’s Network (RWN) is a non-profit organization located in Decatur, Georgia and we both serve on the Board as volunteers. It was created by women for women and inspires and equips refugee and immigrant women to become leaders in their homes, businesses and communities through two programs. The Life Skills and Leadership program educates women on how to fulfill their basic needs through practical life-skills education while at the same time providing leadership development training so they can be self-sufficient and independent. The Economic Development program helps refugee and immigrant women be self-sufficient and independent by encouraging self-employment through entrepreneurial and small business opportunities. Donate via PayPal!

The Carter Center

Meagan has been working for The Carter Center for over two years now, but as an international affairs grad from Georgia Tech, she has admired and followed the organization for almost a decade now. The Carter Center has two main divisions: Peace and Health. Peace programs include human rights, election monitoring, and the newest program: Mobilizing Action for Women and Girls Initiative. The Carter Center’s health programs are world famous. The organization has been leading the fight to eradicate Guinea Worm since 1986, and it’s poised to be the second disease ever eradicated! There were an estimated 3.5 million cases when The Carter Center started its program back in 1986, and there are currently only 20. So close! Health programs at The Carter Center focus on neglected tropical diseases like River Blindness and Trachoma, but there’s also a mental health program that is working to reduce stigma and discrimination. Donations go a long way! $15 will cover the cost for 50 pipe filters used to eradicate Guinea Worm, and $30 pays for river blindness elimination for more than 100 people.

What’s your favorite non-profit? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Stephanie at A Friend Afar

Stephanie grew up road-tripping across the U.S., but her first flight was to Australia, and she’s been hooked ever since. She lived abroad in Thailand, where she met Meagan, and in Ghana with Peace Corps and has been to over 30 countries on 6 continents. She travels for the adventure, the stories, and nature.

http://www.AFriendAfar.com