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Inside Look: UNICEF USA role in Sudan orphanage rescue op

It’s International Day of Peace on September 21. We can think of nothing more essential on this important day than turning our attention to one of the most over-looked crises of 2023, the conflict in Sudan, and encouraging our readers to get involved. Sudan has been plagued by decades of civil strife, resulting in immense human suffering and loss of life. By focusing our efforts on Sudan during this International Day of Peace, we can emphasize the urgent need for a resolution to this conflict and the importance of supporting organizations like UNICEF USA that are working tirelessly to save…

A Ukrainian emergency psychologist interacts with children in a flood-affected community.

Human kindness outweighs the bad in flooded Kherson

During times of disaster, hope comes shining through from the stories of communities, neighbors and even strangers coming together to help support one another. We find inspiration and bits of joy in reading about people and aid organizations, like so many of Global Impact’s member charities, providing essential supplies to communities in need or banding together to help evacuate families from areas of destruction. Global Impact’s charity partner Direct Relief has been supporting health services in Ukraine since the war broke out. It has deployed more than 1,450 tons of medical aid, 291.6 million defined daily doses, $35 million in…

Champion disaster relief charities through your workplace

Florida. Pakistan. The Horn of Africa. Ukraine. Afghanistan. If you’re keeping up with the news cycle, it seems like there’s a new emergency popping up at the forefront faster than we can even process the emergency that occurred before it. And with so many disasters happening around the world, it can feel flustering to decide when and where your gift can make the most impact. Investing in disaster preparation, recovery and resilience goes hand-in-hand with advancing other global causes such as health, education, economic development and more. Our charity partners Americares, Direct Relief, International Medical Corps, Matthew 25: Ministries, Mercy…

The case for giving global

Let’s be honest. In recent years, it has often felt like the bad news just keeps coming. As soon as one heartbreaking event works its way through the news cycle, another devastating headline pulls our attention to the next pressing issue. Wow, what a positive way to introduce this topic, right? Take a moment to reframe your thinking and acknowledge at least one silver lining to the historical events of the past few years. I like to think that we have become more compassionate. I know I have, and the giving data agrees – overall giving has increased by 11%…

Food for the Poor delivers food and supplies by boat

Why inclusive disaster relief is essential in a time of crisis

Resilience: the ability of individuals to bounce back from adversity stronger than before. We have seen this concept working overtime for a year and a half as the world builds a path to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and other global emergencies. In 2020 alone, a number of overwhelming disasters affected over 98 million people. Natural and man-made disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, civil unrest, tornadoes and more have devastated communities. For our cause of the month, we’re focusing on Disaster Relief. Emergency response, conflict intervention and preventing climate emergencies are all important aspects of countering crisis situations. Disaster…

ChildFund International – Engaging corporate volunteers in their mission

As we heard from our campaign partners last year, there was an uptick in interest around virtual volunteering opportunities. This change was in large part due to COVID-19 – employees found themselves working from home and missing the opportunity to give back on local, national and international levels with their team members. While many charities excelled in offering group and individual in-person volunteer projects pre-pandemic, converting these to virtual opportunities in order to meet demand was a challenge. And it showed – in 2020, volunteer hours decreased by 20% year-over-year. However, this challenge also presented an opportunity for charities and…

Images

Title: Providing Clean Water
Charity: Action Against Hunger
Country: Ethiopia
Photo Credit: Peter Caton for Action Against Hunger

Title: Livelihoods Support in Bangladesh
Charity: Action Against Hunger
Country: Bangladesh
Photo Credit: Fabeha Monir for Action Against Hunger

Title: Emergency Response
Charity: Action Against Hunger
Country: South Sudan
Photo Credit: Peter Caton

Title: Emergency Drought Response
Charity: Action Against Hunger
Country: Madagascar
Photo Credit: Stéphane Rakotomalala

Droughts in Grand Sud, Madagascar, have sharply increased in both frequency and intensity in recent years. Bearing the full brunt of the effects of climate change, families who live in this region have seen drastic impacts on their livelihoods and health. In 2020, there were virtually no rains and this trend continued in 2021. Historically low rainfall levels depleted the few sources of clean water that existed in this chronically dry region. As a result, water-borne illnesses such as diarrhea have increased sharply. And, without rain, there could be no harvests. Food insecurity and malnutrition have increased dramatically. Action Against Hunger’s teams are on the ground, treating malnutrition and helping farmers adapt.

Title: Gaza Emergency Relief Kit Distribution
Charity: Anera
Country: Palestine, State of
Photo Credit: Ibrahim Zaanoun

Following the bombardment on Gaza in May of 2021, Anera delivered emergency relief in the form of hygiene kits, water, food and medical supplies immediately following the ceasefire. To learn more about Anera’s emergency response in Gaza, you can visit this page on our website: https://www.anera.org/blog/delivering-emergency-medical-aid-and-supplies-to-gaza/.

Title: Americares Free Clinic team conducts telehealth visits
Charity: Americares
Country: United States of America
Photo Credit: Jeff Kennel/Americares

There’s more to telehealth appointments than a phone call. Americares Free Clinics have managed telehealth appointments since March 2020—and now, patients at all four clinics can access a robust audiovisual telehealth platform through AthenaNet, Americares electronic health record platform.

Title: Americares responds to Haiti earthquake
Charity: Americares
Country: Haiti
Photo Credit: Orlando Barria/Americares

Americares responds to more than 30 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year, establishes long-term recovery projects and brings preparedness programs to communities vulnerable to disasters. When a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the southwest region of Haiti in August 2021, Americares responded immediately—with medical teams, medicines and medical supplies.

Title: Portrait of Keila and her daughter
Charity: Americares
Country: United States of America
Photo Credit: Mike Demas / Americares

Title: Americares Free Clinic patients receive COVID-19 vaccine
Charity: Americares
Country: United States of America
Photo Credit: Christopher Williams/Americares

Americares Free Clinics worked closely with local hospitals and health departments to gain access to COVID-19 vaccines for their patients. In a partnership with the city of Bridgeport, Conn., Ana and her husband, Matteo, received COVID-19 vaccinations in April, 2021.

Videos

Success Stories

At a Salvation Army Serving Roma Communities In Ukraine

THE SALVATION ARMY WORLD SERVICE OFFICE (SAWSO): Ukraine War Relief

UNRWA USA: Syria Earthquake Relief

Thanks to your support immediately following the Syria earthquake, UNRWA provided thousands of affected refugees with: – Clean water, blankets, and hygiene kits – Mobile clinics for the injured in Neirab Camp – Shelter in UNRWA’s Al-Khairiyeh School – Hundreds of food assistance packets – Trauma counselling for refugee children But our work is far from done.

UNICEF USA: UNICEF Helps Children With Disabilities In Wartime Ukraine

More than 14 million people have been forced out of their homes by the war in Ukraine, leaving parents struggling to keep their children safe and healthy in the midst of a national nightmare. For families of children with disabilities, uprooted from their familiar routines and support systems, the challenges can be even greater. Heavy shelling drove 4-year-old Theona, who has autism spectrum disorder, and her family out of their house near Kherson in southern Ukraine. Now staying almost 600 miles away in Lviv, she is getting help from specialists at Dzherelo Children’s Rehabilitation Center, with support from UNICEF. Here, she is learning how to communicate through the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), which uses a set of picture cards to explain her feelings. Escape from Kherson“The explosions occurred next to our house,” said Victoria, Theona’s mother. “A blast wave made the curtains move in and out of the open…

THE SALVATION ARMY WORLD SERVICE OFFICE: Ukraine War Relief

On the morning of February 24, 2022 Russian forces invaded Ukraine in an extreme escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict which began in 2014. Almost instantly after Putin’s announcement of a ‘special operation’ in Ukraine, explosions were reported in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa, and the Donbas. Russian troops were reported to have landed in Mariupol and Odessa, crossed into Ukraine from Crimea, and launched attacks on prominent airfields, military headquarters, and supply depots in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro. Russian armored vehicles entered Ukraine through Senkivka, in northern Ukraine, on the boarder with Belarus and Russia. In the first few months of the invasion over 8 million refugees were estimated to be displaced within Ukraine. A further 8 million refugees were recorded across Europe. The Salvation Army mobilized services for refugees crossing from the Ukraine into Moldova, Romania, Poland, Slovenia, and Hungary. The Salvation Army has a long-standing presence in Ukraine which was…

OXFAM AMERICA : Starting small to create large interventions

Veronica Wambui, a water vendor in Korogocho, Kenya, was faced with a stark reality when the pandemic hit. Members of her community—an informal settlement with little infrastructure—could no longer pay for water, which put her livelihood at risk. But Wambui soon learned that Oxfam partner Koch Hope was providing water to her settlement as part of its COVID-19 response, and that Koch Hope needed vendors. Wambui signed on as a contractor, which not only kept her business afloat, but also allowed her to provide an essential service to her community. Oxfam and Koch Hope began this work in April 2021 as part of a project called Tuko Pamoja (We Are in This Together). Tuko Pamoja is part of a larger effort supported by #StartSmall, a philanthropic initiative launched by Jack Dorsey, Block Head, Chairman, and cofounder of Block Inc. In the last year, funding from #StartSmall supported projects to address…

MEDICAL TEAMS INTERNATIONAL: Psychological Support for Children From Ukraine like Eva

At the Refugee Accommodation Center in Moldova, four-year-old Eva joins Medical Teams International’s “kindergarten sessions.” These sessions provide psychological support and are held twice a week for children to deal with the trauma from war through child-friendly discussions and play. Eva and her family escaped from their home in Ukraine after airstrikes targeted the surrounding area. Eva’s mom describes her delight in attending, “Eva is always the first one to arrive to her kindergarten sessions here. Whenever the downstairs door opens and she hears Medical Teams walk in, she’s already running and jumping. It’s her absolute highlight.”