The donation of May 2013 goes to:

Young in Prison (YIP)

Worldwide, there are many children in prison living in terrible conditions. Especially in developing countries, they are a forgotten group, and this is a major problem because these children often lack a social safety net and recidivism is incredibly high. YIP believes in real and constructive solutions to help these forgotten children participate in and give back to society in a positive way.

Young in Prison (YiP) is a worldwide initiative to give these children in prison a voice and a chance to make a sustainable change in their lives!

YIP is currently active in Colombia, Malawi and South Africa. Within each country, a local and independent organization coordinates and implements YiP’s projects. While in prison YIP offers a reintegration program in which YIP encourages self development through creativity and self expression. Our project is done in cooperation with the communities and children themselves, which ensures that our projects are relevant to the local context; and YIP works with local youth acting as role models who the children can identify with.

In the Netherlands, YiP is active in facilitating fundraising, capacity building and exchange. Under the name YiPART, YIP organizes various artistic events and benefits in order to raise funds for our projects. Artists and art lovers understand the immense value and potential impact that creative expression can have!
Support this neglected group of children and give them a voice and a chance to have a better future! A small contribution for you may make a big difference for them. Support YiP in any way you can!

Abaraka Foundation

Abaraka is committed to helping (handicapped) children in the Gambia.

“Abaraka” means “thank you” in Mandinka.

Abaraka helps with:

• tools available to disabled children, raising money for surgery
• relief funds for schools
• help children with school fees, clothes and toys
• distribute relief goods sick houses and clinics

The foundation aims to further develop and expand these activities.

Abarake supports the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as set by the UN.

Commonwealth Cancer Association (CCA)

The Commonwealth Cancer Association (CCA) is a community-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting cancer awareness and prevention, providing patient support services, and serving as the liasion and advocate for cancer issues in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the region.

Began as a coalition of volunteers who are committed to reducing the burden of cancer in the Northern Mariana Islands. These volunteers serve on the CCA Board, help raise funds, and participate in training, outreach, and patient support programs.

Seven volunteers serve on CCA’s board of directors, including one nonvoting senior advisor, and one nonvoting legal advisor. These individuals represent the diversity of the CNMI. The board engages in strategic planning and program and policy development, and retains the services of one manager to coordinate CCA programs, and one accounting consultant to prepare CCA’s financial reports.

The CCA’s programs are fully supported by contributions from corporations, families, and individuals.

Mission East / Mission Øst

Mission East began its work in North Korea in 2011 in response to a series of dramatic weather incidents which damaged the previous harvest and led to cuts in government food rations for the population to only one-third of the daily energy requirements.

Since 2011, Mission East has carried out three food assistance interventions for almost 50,000 young children through kindergartens, nurseries, orphanages and paediatric hospitals in North Pyongan, Kangwon and South Hwanghae Provinces. This aid provided a more balanced diet for young children who are at a critical stage for growth. Inadequate nutrition at this age can cause stunted physical growth or psychological problems which can last a lifetime. It is estimated that more than one third of all children in North Korea under five years old are chronically malnourished, resulting in stunted growth.

In 2012, Mission East is also responding to the devastating damage caused by flooding and typhoons stronger than have been experienced in most North Koreans’ lifetime. Mission East is re-building homes for those made homeless and wish to assist with the reconstruction of damaged water systems.

Looking to the future, Mission East is looking for opportunities to begin long-term projects which help to address some of the root-causes of food insecurity in North Korea. We also hope to bring our expertise in providing clean water and improving sanitation and hygiene conditions to the North Korean context.

Central Okanagan Hospice Association

Central Okanagan Hospice Association (COHA) is committed to community outreach and to meeting the needs of the terminally ill and their families by providing compassionate care and supportive assistance through resources, trained volunteers and professional counselling.

Donation made in memory of Eric Michiel Cleton.

Cherished Feet

Cherished Feet is a non-profit organization, which provides footwear to underprivileged families. Our team travels to the poorest parts of developing countries, and in the US to provide footwear, and offer hope.

6 billion people live in conditions inconceivable. There are numerous diseases that infect millions of poor people in developing countries, yet we rarely hear about them. A leading cause of disease in these countries are parasites. They are found in soil-transmitted helminthes (a type of parasitic worm), which can penetrate the skin through bare feet.

Parasites enter the body through ingestion or bare feet. Impoverished people have so few resources, they generally live in areas where trash and human waste have made the soil a breeding ground for a variety of lethal organisms. Due to these circumstances, unfortunate children spend their entire day walking barefoot in garbage dumps.

The majority of the world’s poor must walk where they go. A good pair of sandals or sneakers would provide help in a already difficult situation. Any kind of footwear would protect these unfortunate children against soil parasites, cuts, abrasions and infection. Wearing shoes can help prevent diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause. Footwear will allow poor families to walk the extra mile where they can obtain food, water, shelter or medical help.

Cherished Feet purpose is to provide impoverished children and families with a first step, path, towards a brighter future.

[This month's donation is inspired by Lawrence DePrimo]

Fuel Relief Fund

Fuel Relief Fund’s mission is to provide temporary fuel assistance to victims in areas stricken by disaster.

Fuel Relief Fund is currently responding in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Fuel trucks have been dispatched to the coastal towns of New Jersey and New York.

Fuel Relief Fund’s initial strategy is to enlist and implement the talents and resources of members of the transportation and petroleum industries. Our goal is to provide fuel resources to those in need. In an effort to help as many people as possible, it is imperative that Fuel Relief Fund accumulate sufficient funds as quickly as possible. Some people are having an extremely difficult time right now!

Hand in Hand for Syria يدا بيد لنبني سوريا

Hand in Hand for Syria is a UK registered charity that was established in 2011 at the start of the Syrian uprising. They are a non-political organisation funded by individual donations.

Their aim is to provide medical and humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by the uprising in Syria. This includes people still inside Syria as well as those who have fled to neighbouring countries.

They are based in England and also have a field office in Lebanon which manages all local supply and delivery of aid into Syria. They are one of the few charities currently able to get humanitarian aid into Syria and regularly provide food and clothing to around 3450 Syrian families, some of whom are refugees at the Lebanese border.

They have also sent medicines and medical equipment into Syria to support doctors working in civilian field hospitals. These secret facilities have been set up in areas where it is too dangerous to take victims to government hospitals or where the hospitals have been closed down. These field hospitals are very basic and have little equipment or medicines. By sponsoring one of these hospitals, they have been able to deliver vital medical equipment and medicines to those desperately in need.

They are also currently developing online training for medical staff in Syria and UK volunteers to teach them how to perform life-saving surgery in the conditions of war.

the HALO trust

The HALO Trust is a non-political, non-religious NGO, registered in Britain as a charity and in the United States as a 501(c)(3) Not-for-Profit organisation. HALO specialises in the removal of the hazardous debris of war.

HALO is not distracted by involvement in campaigns and conferences, and we have a simple mission statement – “getting mines out of the ground, now”. With more deminers and more equipment, we shall shorten the timeframe that villagers are impacted by landmines.

HALO’s operations are grouped under Central Asia, South East Asia, Horn of Africa, Southern Africa and the Caucasus & Balkans – managed from a small office in South West Scotland. Our innovative training of local management and introduction of new equipment allows us to continue expansion as funding becomes available.

Currently active in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe, Somaliland, Georgia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Kosovo, Colombia, and the West Bank.

The donation of August 2012 goes to:

Living with Hope – the Lisa Waller Hayes Foundation

The Lisa Waller Hayes Foundation provides a platform of information about pancreatic cancer, inspiration to patients and loved ones, and is dedicated to advance pancreatic cancer research.

Generous donations to the Lisa Waller Hayes Foundation will support scientific research on pancreatic cancer or research projects that aim to relieve the needs of people who are suffering from, or who have been affected by pancreatic cancer or that work to advance the understanding of pancreatic cancer, its early detection and treatment, both in the United States of America and in the Netherlands.

The Directors of the Lisa Waller Hayes Foundation currently consist of: Charlotte van Meer, Kate Alzapiedi and Nancy Thomas

The Advisors of the Lisa Waller Hayes Foundation currently are: Nout Waller, The Hayes Family, Rutger-Jan Swijnenburg, Jody Becker, Berend van Meer, Marc Kolder and Lorraine Augostini.

Donation made in loving memory of Bibian Harmsen.

Το χαμόγελο του παιδιού (The Smile of the Child)

“THE SMILE OF THE CHILD” is a volunteering organization of non-profit nature. It is based on sentiment and emotions but it goes beyond that and turns into acts all it manifests. As its main objective, the Organization deals with the daily problems children encounter.

The Organization’s main concern is defending children’s rights not just on paper but practically as well, providing services to children on a 24 hour, 7 days a week, 365 days a year basis, working for children’s physical, mental and intellectual stability and spiritual strength.

“The Smile of the Child” works closely with state authorities (Police, Prosecution, Hospitals etc.) but also with all perceptive people wishing to be responsive to children’s problems.

As a volunteer organization, “The Smile of the Child” supports all institutional aspects that would make more efficient on children’s issues.

Fundación Allen Graham Charity 4 Kidz

The Allen Graham Charity 4 Kidz is dedicated to helping disadvantaged children and young adults in Mallorca (Spain) who, through no fault of their own, do not have the opportunity to develop the skills that ensure a secure and safe future.
Every year in Mallorca hundreds of children of all nationalities, colour and creed, are either fostered by families or cared for in one of the 27 residential centres on the island. They have been abandoned, badly treated, abused or, for various reasons, have parents who are unable to care for them.
We provide homes and life skills for those who have been in care homes for most of their lives and suddenly, at the age of 18, have nowhere to go. Our aim is to assist them develop in such a way as to be able to achieve the things they want in life. Just like their contemporaries in “normal families”, they need to feel they have a future, one that is full of opportunities, hope and happiness.
The Allen Graham Charity 4 Kidz supplements its work with children in care in Mallorca in two related ways:

• It provides food parcels and clothing to support the children of local families who are going through difficult times.
• Emergency grants to families with children in Mallorca who are in temporary difficulties, waiting for benefits or payments to come through.