” Nicholas Kristof, New York Times columnistEverybody’s edgy this election day, so one thought about what this presidential choice represents. Who would have imagined a decade or two ago that the 2012 election would be between a black man and a Mormon? Don’t you see that as a sign of progress and tolerance?
Brand New Good! StartSomeGood’s Newest Campaigns…
Bangladesh Peasant Solidarity Network is helping Bangladesh’s climate vulnerable people through two projects: Jaago Foundation and Bangladesh Krishok Federation. They support and give aide to the urban slum populations and rural peasants who are extremely vulnerable to climate change impacts. Through donations and the purchase of a photo book by Michael Chew, an environmentalist, photographer, and founder of Bangladesh Peasant Solidarity Network, up to five children will be given five years of education. In addition, a group of up to ten rural organizers will be trained for six months and the project will be able to support international volunteers.
Jennifer started Sock Monkeys Against Cancer (SMAC!) for her mother who lives 1,200 miles away from her and has lung cancer. Because of the distance, Jennifer wanted to make sure her mother would have a “buddy” she could hug and remind her that Jennifer is always with her, especially during her treatments. SMAC! is a gang of monkeys that provides tangible support to those with cancer, reminding them that no one fights it alone. Two prototypes are complete with many more designs planned to help battle all types of cancer. Following the model set forth by such companies as TOMS shoes and Warby Parker Eyewear, every monkey purchased will ensure a second monkey will go to someone else with cancer. In addition, a portion of the proceeds will go to cancer research and programs. SMAC! seeks funding to launch the program and mass produce the first two prototypes—NoMo, who fights all cancers and Pheonix who is dedicated to SMAC!-ing lung cancer. This campaign is one of the fastest growing campaigns ever on StartSomeGood, already raising over $9,000 in less than a week! Funds will cover production, packaging and shipping of approximately 500 monkeys.
La Poderosa Media Project promotes youth empowerment, cultural empathy, and collaborative learning through visual arts programs. This project is fundraising for its next international program, which will take place in Chile in January 2013. Targeted at developing empathy and collaborative learning with a four-week artistic intervention for 40 at-risk teens in Santiago, La Pederosa Media Project has become a platform for egalitarian exchange, transforming communities one film at a time. Funds raised through this campaign will be used to cover transportation costs for instructors and the production costs for up to three short films.
Shawn D. Ross
I am a Northwest Native living in Washington State. A graduate of Washington State University and University of Phoenix with degrees in Architecture and Education I write about social, cultural, and personal improvement on the StartSomeGood Blog and SDRinspire. I am also a filmmaker and owner of Giraffe and Penguin Productions, a single daddy of two beautiful children, avid reader, writer, and hat wearer (Not in that picture but believe me, I wear ‘em). I am currently at work on my first feature length documentary. Follow me @shawndross and visit my websites:sdrinspire.com and giraffeandpenguinproductions.tumblr.com.
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Are you inspired by all this good? What good do you want to create? Visit our site to learn about how to start your own campaign.
THIS SATURDAY 11/3 @4pm: Amoeba Music is having an auction and the money is going to OUR non-profit! (Amoeba will match up to $1K!) Bid on on a host of fun items including Trader Joe’s and Urban Outfitters gift certificates, an Amoeba in-store VIP package, concert tickets for Cat Power, The Monkees and Rachael Yamagata, and much more.
Happy Halloween, everyone! What are y’all dressed up as?? We’re passing out candy in our building and spreading some Good Neighbors cheer : )
From left to right: Mimi, our Communications Intern; Tony, our Graphic & Web Designer; Celeste, our Managing Editor; and Anthony, our Communications Intern.
THIS SATURDAY 11/3 @4pm: Amoeba Music is having an auction and the money is going to OUR non-profit! (Amoeba will match up to $1K!) Bid on on a host of fun items including Trader Joe’s and Urban Outfitters gift certificates, an Amoeba in-store VIP package, concert tickets for Cat Power, The Monkees and Rachael Yamagata, and much more.
This past August, Chad was hit by typhoons and heavy rain causing hazardous flooding. The recent floods in Ali Garga and Karwei, especially, have left villagers devastated.
The natural disaster flooded the entire village of Ali Garga, collapsing 13 houses and killing a little boy. 1,973 villagers are now homeless and without clean drinking water. They have no choice but to drink excess water from a flume, which can be infected with typhoid germs and other parasites.
In Karwei, which is located near the Chari River, 165 houses were destroyed and villagers are now forced to travel by canoe. Nearly 2,000 people have been affected and currently struggling to find clean drinking water.
*Help us help the flood victims. DONATE NOW!
It’s United Nations Day today, which celebrates the anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations!
Good Neighbors is very proud to be in General Consultative Status with the UN and to have been awarded a Millennium Development Goals Award by the UN in 1997 for our efforts in bringing primary education to all children.
By investing in clean water alone, young children around the world can gain more than 413 million days of health, according the World Health Organization!
Find out how you can help us build clean water wells in Africa.
Meet two awesome high school students from Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach, CA: Amy Lee and Lily Falzon! They started a Good Neighbors club at their school to recruit students for our Volunteer Abroad program, which sends volunteers to Guatemala to build new cookstoves for families.
Check out their club’s website here.
Pictured above, Amy and Lily share Good Neighbors’ work with students during a club meeting. Thanks so much for supporting us, Amy and Lily!
If you’d like to start a club at your school or learn more about our volunteer opportunities, contact us at volunteer@goodneighbors.org.
A Good Neighbors dedication plaque on the inside of Esperanza School in Loma Blanca, Guatemala, a school we built for elementary children in October 2011.
It’s World Food Day!
Join us on the mission to end hunger. $1 = 1 bowl of food sent to a child.
We have 25,000+ followers on Tumblr. If each of you gave just $1, we could send more than 25,000 bowls of food to children!
How many bowls of food can you send? Donate now.
