The goal of this charitable organisation is: “to provid[e] education to children in the slums of India and empowering women and men to overcome poverty.” Take a look at some of the organisation’s activity, in particular this one that took place last month.
Every kid can get involved in charitable endeavors. Take 13 year old Julien Leitner. The philanthropist and founder of Archimedes Alliance, the non-profit organization that seeks to “encourage and promote philanthropy on the broadest possible scale,” believes that there are many ways for schoolchildren to help out and that doing so, is a very useful lesson. Leitner explained that engaging in this kind of activity “teaches compassion and empathy. It makes people more aware of the world. It teaches people to care for those less fortunate than themselves, and that knowledge and understanding stays with you your whole life. It’s what inspired me to start the Archimedes Alliance. I was conditioned for it. I was taught to be charitable from my family, and I finally decided I wanted to do something myself. I decided I wanted to change the world. Charity has changed my life, and made me want to change other peoples’ lives.”
Of course, along with parental support of charitable endeavors, the school system has to encourage children to give of themselves altruistically. One way of doing this is perhaps by letting them set up food for homeless people in the school cafeteria at the banquet tables. An important aspect of charity is to make the receiver feel welcome and important, not like some vagabond in the street. So if the school allows the children to really make a nice welcoming dinner and decorate the room beautifully, then this will be really taking the charitable idea to the next level.
Anthony Carboni on D News explains why in this video.
In an effort to raise money for a homeless charity, 54 students from Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Academy spent the night in their school hall. Organized by Julie Abbott, the school home support worker, the “protest” sought to raise over £300 (approximately $500). But rather than just raise money, the idea behind The Big Snore was to raise awareness of the issue of homelessness.
Abbot explained: “the children slept in their home-made dwellings, made from paper, cardboard and waste materials and experienced how a homeless person might survive living under the stars. The children had a great time. They are already talking about doing it again next year.”
A food bank was set up for the children to make a donation to and a competition for the best shelter was set up. According to Pauline Lynch, head teacher, “lessons have been learned from the Big Snore initiative and the children realize that they are very lucky to have loving families and nice homes. Money is still coming in, in support of the Big Snore, and there is a likelihood that we might champion the cause of the charity again in the future.”
This has clearly been a great lesson for the children and something that would never have been learned in the traditional setting where they spend hours upon hours sitting at school desks.
Help provide families in need with educational programs. Support AHCinc.
Support @AHCinc & help provide families w/ affordable housing & educational programs. http://t.co/x2mSGyCjmL #inspiredgiving
— America's Charities (@AmerCharities) November 17, 2013
According to the Moodie Report, DFS raised a record $450,000 in support of educational
charities all over the world. Events took place in Hawaii, Guam, New Zealand, and Okinawa in support of over 15 different charities that help children.
DFS stated an an internal memo that:
“As a major partner of The Moodie Report’s Great Travel Retail Educathlon 2013, DFS employees around the world walked, ran, biked, bowled, danced and swam in support of great causes. Thanks to the generosity and ‘can do’ attitude of our employees, vendors, and other partners.”
Close to half of the money raised, about $225,000 is earmarked for Hand in Hand for Haiti, an organization that supports the Lycée Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable, a school that was built and is funded by the travel retail industry. The remainder of the funds will be donated to support children’s education in DFS communities around the world.
“This amount raised globally significantly breaks the record set last – and Macao has yet to hold their fundraiser which is planned for this month,” said DFS.
Educational charities from the western world adopt a variety of ways of helping educational institutions in third world countries. First, they help to raise the funds to erect school buildings. Once that has been taken care of, the schools need furniture in line with 21st century learning (including computer tables, computer chairs, books, etc.). Next, these organizations provide scholarships for students so that they do not have to pay school fees. There are also the charities that train new teachers and help upgrade the skills of current teachers.
Given that we are in the 21st century and education is moving toward a more computer-based structure, there are certain educational charities that specifically raise money for computer equipment in schools as well. They will also offer extra-curricular computer-based training classes. The library is important as well, but again, that requires funding to be properly equipped.
Watch this interesting educational video designed elementary school children to learn about the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Columbus, Ohio.
Edu-Care Recycling UK recycles items for charity. In so doing, it provides work experience and volunteer opportunities for the unemployed, supplementing their skills to offer potential employers. The organization has a whole array of used computer tables, computer desks, and other education-based furniture for firms or individuals to purchase. As well, there is catering equipment, exam desks, podiums, library furniture, etc. Edu-Care is a low cost high quality alternative to purchasing educational furniture and equipment.
To find out more about the work of Edu-Care Recycling, join the organization for an open day on September 20, 2013 from 10am to 4pm. There, visitors will be able to meet the team, learn more about the organization’s work and how the environment and communities benefit from it. One hundred percent of its profits are given to charity to help the local community.
Looking for a great charity to either support or learn more about? Twitter is a great resource to do just that.
The following list is just a small sample of the diversity of charities found on Twitter:
• The 1010 Project: “The 1010 Project is a nonprofit organization that provides income-generating grants to indigenous development partners in Kenya and raises awareness in the United States on behalf of the global poor.”
• The Anita Bork Institute: “The Anita Borg Institute seeks to: Increase the impact of
women on all aspects of technology, and increase the positive impact of technology on the world’s women.”
• Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group: “Boston-based nonprofit working in Guatemala & Haiti to get communities affordable renewable energy, sanitation, and clean water. Friend us. We’re nice.”
Follow the link to learn more about charities on Twitter.