Search Nonprofits

Girl Determined is a leadership project designed to assist girls ages 12-17 to avoid the pitfalls of trafficking, dangerous labor and other forms of violence, by facilitating girls' recognition of their personal and group potential. Because of our belief in girls as potential change-agents in their households, communities and nations, our program aims to increase girls' ability to make strategic life-decisions, generate choices and exercise bargaining power. This real empowerment creates opportunities for girls to better cope with their difficulties, envision alternatives and take leadership into their own hands. The underlying premise of Girl Determined work is that educating, connecting, supporting and fostering the development of personal and group voice amongst marginalized adolescent girls will derail cycles of abuse, poverty and neglect. Not only is adolescence a period when girls are gaining abstract thinking skills and sexual awareness, it is a time when they are all too quickly being pressured to take on adult responsibility and this is particularly for girls, resulting in lost growth and development opportunities. The rights of girls in Burma is often regarded as being equal to that of boys and girls rights, in general, is not thought of as a serious issue in the country, despite the fact that the sexual exploitation and the trafficking of young girls to China for forced marriage, for example, continues to increase, or that the so-called "un-wrapping" of girls (selling young, virgin girls into prostitution) continues to take place on the outskirts of Burma's most prosperous cities-Rangoon and Mandalay. This apathy, social acceptance and tolerance of rights violations against girls smacks of an underlying gender discrimination: a discrimination which forces more girls to drop out of school so their male siblings can continue; compels girls to engage in child labour, to support their families income or, more accurately, the short, often paltry economic interests of their parents/household at the expense of the best interest of the child. Girl Determined's work empowers girls to achieve that which is in their own best interest while working structurally to establish mechanisms for greater awareness of the specific needs of adolescent girls, their protection and increasing their life-opportunities. Girl Determined employs a three-pronged strategic approach: 1. Individual transformation - Adolescent girls will go through some form of personal transformation lending to a change in a girl's understanding of personal power and rights. Shifts will include reduction of shame and fear regarding violence, ability to identify and express situations of discrimination, value of self and education, motivation and skill to actively make decisions about ones future. 2. Network mobilization - Girls will develop a sense of connectedness with girls from across the country through their shared experiences and complex differences. By bringing girls together across space, through 'by-girls, for-girls' media projects, Girls' Forum and our Girls Advisory Board, girls will mobilize as defenders and actors. This wide network also creates a structure through which other programs could potentially be realized. 3. Research and Advocacy - Evidence-based research will assist Girl Determined in bringing increased attention to the plight and power of the girl child in Burma. We will focus research and related advocacy domestically, pushing governmental and non-governmental agencies to recognize the specific needs of girls in their programming.

GlobeMed at University of Rochester partners with the Social Organization for Voluntary Action (SOVA) in Odisha,India to support community-based health and education programs.

Kenya Keys unlocks the potential of students in impoverished Kenyan communities, raising awareness and bridging cultures to provide education, mentorship, leadership development and girl empowerment opportunities. In the rural Kinango District of Kenya there are many obstacles to education, but there is one organization working hard to remove those barriers for as many young Kenyans as possible. That group is Kenya Keys and its purpose is to unlock the enormous potential of young people in Kenya. Kenya Keys is a vibrant demonstration that one person really can make a big difference. In June 2005, Rinda Hayes and her daughter traveled to the remote village of Bahakwenu in the impoverished Kinango District in Kenya. Rinda was stunned by the extreme poverty she found in Bahakwenu. She was also inspired by the tenacity of the children in the village, who longed to get an education. She had never observed such a single-minded desire to learn. Perhaps no Kenyan impressed Rinda more than Joseph Mwengea, the Headmaster of Bahakwenu Primary School. Joseph is an intelligent and driven man and a determined advocate for his students. As he and Rinda met together during her first visit to his village, he pleaded with her to help him help the students of Bahakwenu. He watched bright and capable students leave primary school with little or no hope of attending secondary school due to their inability to pay the required fees. After her visit, Rinda was determined to share her stories of this community and the people who had so impressed her with her friends in the United States. She believed she could find caring American individuals and families that would be able to provide financial support for top Kenyan students, enabling these students to complete a secondary education. The Kenya Keys sponsorship program began with 14 students. Five years later it became the nonprofit organization of Kenya Keys. Kenya Keys has supported hundreds of students - to secondary school and now into college and university. And that's not all. Kenya Keys' work has expanded to include multiple worthwhile related programs. Kenya Keys works with local communities to improve educational infrastructure and resources, such as libraries, dormitories, classrooms, desks, and more. The Kenya Keys Boards of Directors (one in the U.S. and one in Kenya) also provide financial and other support to grassroots organizations run by local Kenyan community leaders and councils. Each of these components of Kenya Keys' efforts in rural Kenya is described more fully in the following section. Everything Kenya Keys does is guided by its founding principles: First, education is the primary key to unlocking potential, both for the individual and for the community. Second, cultural awareness and exchange is vital and enriching for all participants. We live in an increasingly connected world, and exposure to new cultures and ideas is key to creating understanding and appreciation for one's own culture and for the cultures of others. Third, opportunities, not handouts, are what make a lasting difference. There should be no giving of things that run out or wear out. Giving such things only increases dependency, invites discontent, and isolates the givers from the receivers. Instead, giving should empower the receiver and provide an enduring benefit. Fourth: volunteerism is fundamental to the success of an organization. Nonprofit groups run by volunteers remain strong and dynamic. Volunteerism also connects global citizens in a meaningful way. Fifth, education provides the best defense against the ranges of poverty and hopelessness, and is the greatest catalyst for change and growth. Sixth, all critical decisions should be made by local leaders and councils. Local leaders and community members know their own needs and circumstances far better than any outsider, however well-intentioned. Allowing local people to make key decisions gives them vital ownership and accountability. It also provides the opportunity for these individuals to develop crucial leadership skills. Kenyans will always find the best solutions to the deep-seated challenges in their communities. Finally, education and the development of leadership skills in today's youth is critical to building the future leaders of Kenya.

Makindu Children's Program provides resources to feed, educate and care for the orphaned and vulnerable children in eastern Kenya, so they can grow and thrive.

- The Mission of Healthy Women, Healthy Liberia is to promote the health of the people and educate patients through Comprehensive, Sustainable, Community-Based Primary health Care. - The Vision of Healthy Women, Healthy Liberia is to transform communities using community based health care models for medical and dental care through education and services, especially to women and children. - The primary goal of HWHL is to improve the health and welfare of the people of Liberia with an emphasis on preventative healthcare programs for women.

Ashesi University, is a secular, private, non-profit liberal arts college located in Ghana, West Africa. Our vision is an African Renaissance driven by a new generation of ethical entrepreneurial leaders. Ashesi's mission is to train a new generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders in Africa; to cultivate within our students the critical thinking skills, concern for others and courage it will take to transform their continent. The Ashesi University Foundation, based in Seattle, Washington, USA, is a 501 (c)(3) organization designed to help US and international donors support the University. The foundation was instrumental in helping Patrick Awuah establish Ashesi, and continues to inspire a global community.

Rock-Paper-Scissors Children's Fund is a U.S.-based non-profit dedicated to helping Vietnamese children and families in need. Our goal is to provide learning opportunities for young students through our art and music programs, as well as providing support for them and their families.

CCI Health & Wellness Services is a group practice, empowering patients to partner with staff for an unparalleled healthcare experience. Through integrated teams in a learning environment, we deliver high quality, affordable, care to every patient during all stages of life. The CCI Adolescent Services provides teens and young adults (ages 12-35) in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area with affordable, timely and culturally-competent direct clinical care and educational outreach services. Our goal is to prevent teen and unplanned pregnancies, as well as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. Our Adolescent Health Service line of care tailors our clinical, education and outreach services to reflect the greatest community need and reduce barriers to ensure all teens and young adults are able to access preventive, comprehensive reproductive health services. Both in the community-education and clinical settings, CCI's focus is 100% on prevention in order to avoid more monetarily, medically, socially and emotionally costly intervention services. Direct Clinical Care- Quality Care: CCI serves as a reproductive medical home for patients ages 12-35 by providing a wide range of evidence based clinical services. Affordable: CCI works with every patient, regardless of income level or insurance status, to ensure they have access to reproductive healthcare. Comfortable: CCI provides a warm environment, where patients feel each staff member respects their individuality and is committed to their wellbeing and overall health outcomes. Accessible: Appointments are regularly available (including walk-ins) for all services; clinics are easily accessible by car, bus or metro; and all methods of contraception are available for purchase on site. Integrated Care: Medical staff, case managers and social workers collaborate to ensure continuity of care for each patient, including referrals and access to community resources. Education and Outreach -Outreach: CCI identifies members of the community at greatest risk and actively recruits them through community activities, educational presentations and partnerships with related organizations. Education: CCI provides in-clinic and community based educational interventions designed to increase knowledge, build skills and reduce risk to promote positive and responsible reproductive health behaviors.

Through the highest-quality holistic education, we equip youth to become leaders in their communities. IEFT operates Orkeeswa School, a community- based secondary school located in an under- served Maasai village in the Monduli Hills of northern Tanzania. By offering our students a diverse array of programs, opportunities and resources, we are developing a generation of well-rounded and inspired leaders in Orkeeswa Village, who are equipped and motivated to make a positive impact on their communities. Each member of IEFT's international and Tanzanian staff is dedicated to supporting the growth and development of Orkeeswa's over 270 students.

Our Mission: To work together with our communities to create, implement, equitably accesible, sustainable health, nutrition, and education services. Our Vision: People of the Frontera in Intibuca, known as the Dry Corridor of Intibuca, Honduras, live longer, healthier, more productive and fulfilling lives in a strong community. Our Values: We treat patients, students, and visitors with respect. We provide prompt and effective treatment as appropriate. We provide information to people and communities in need. We are honest and transparent with patients, communities, and donors. We take proper care of resources. We have skills to do the work, and we train and develop people. We partner effectively with governments, other NGOs, and citizen groups. We strive for excellence. We are results-oriented. We are a team and show mutual respect within the organization. Our organization prohibits discrimination in employment, educational programs, and activities on the basis of race, national origin, color, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preference.

Focusing on communities with pressing human needs, Creative Learning enhances the capacity of local organizations around the world to improve the lives of people in their communities. Through the creation of people-to-people partnerships, we are especially dedicated to protecting human rights, supporting economic and social development, and building peace.

MEDRIX works to save lives and improve the quality of life of disadvantaged people in Vietnam by providing Medical, Educational and Development Resources through International eXchange. In 2000, MEDRIX became an official non-profit organization in Washington State and in 2002 MEDRIX received official Non-Government Organization licensure to operate in Vietnam. Prior to this, co-founder and Executive Director LaRelle Catherman was invited to conduct research alongside Vietnamese physicians on home treatment for diarrhea in Hue, Vietnam. It became evident that most children suffered from diarrhea due to lack of safe water. Co-founder of MEDRIX, meteorologist, and businessman Robert Catherman undertook the task of finding a method of providing safe, drinkable water. He, along with many MEDRIX volunteers, began to work with provincial leaders to develop an affordable and sustainable water treatment system. MEDRIX began to grow as a result of these initial project ideas and new programs were put into place to address the greater healthcare, nutrition, and hygiene needs of under-served rural villages. MEDRIX accomplishes its goal of saving lives and improving the quality of life in Vietnam through the following endeavors: -Health and hygiene education for children in hand washing, oral care, and nutrition. -Providing education for women in nutrition, food preparation, food safety, along with health and hygiene during pregnancy. -Autism education training for health workers and community education efforts to ease the burden of autism in children. -Life-saving heart surgeries for disadvantaged children and young adults. -Pediatric education workshops in World Health Organization approved curricula for health workers in rural Vietnam. -Nursing education workshops for professional nurses at National Pediatric Hospital and Hue Central Hospital. -GIS mapping workshops to teach Vietnamese healthcare workers how to gather pertinent health information for epidemiological tracking purposes.