World NGO Day
“It’s only right that, on just one of those days, the world should celebrate NGOs and thank them for the tremendous work that they do.”- Mr. Andris Piebalgs @APiebalgsEU, European Commissioner for Development, the European Commission.
On February 27th, 2014, nearly sixty-three years after the definition of “International NGOs” (Non Governmental Organizations) was first introduced by the United Nations, hundreds will gather in Helsinki, Finland for the World NGO Day 2014 Forum. Organized by the World NGO Day Initiative, the forum will address “Universal Education – NGOs and Private Enterprises”, “Health and Social Welfare”, “Children and Youth Empowerment – A Multi-Sectoral Approach” and “Society Empowerment via Gender Equality.” NGO’s from all around the globe will “collaborate, commemorate, and celebrate” the work they are doing in communities worldwide. It is a “day for sharing initiatives and experiences with others.”
Among many others, NGO’s work to alleviate injustices and inequalities in the areas of health, education, and economics which governments cannot tackle alone. At the Children’s Prize we received applications from 565 of those individuals and organizations. Submissions came both transnationally and domestically suggesting everything from simple health access intervention tactics, to innovative elaborate technologies.
This week we are honoring several applicants for the work they are doing to save the lives of children under five. World NGO Day is an excellent occasion to share the initiatives of those on the ground that are towards the reduction of child mortality across the globe. And so without further ado here’s a BIG thank you and sincere appreciation to all of those that are helping make the world a better place for our children especially!
ZimHealth
“ZimHealth is a non-profit association established by Zimbabweans living in Europe to mobilize financial, material and human resources to support health services in Zimbabwe. Donations received go towards the procurement of clinical, surgical and other commodities for the purpose of refurbishment of clinics in Zimbabwe.”
The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology
Institut Pasteur
“The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) in Hanoi is a Vietnamese national institute. It was created in 1924 and operates under the authority of the Vietnamese Ministry of Health for training, education, and research.”
T-MARC Tanzania
“T-MARC Tanzania is a local NGO that delivers innovative, evidence-based social marketing and behavior change communication solutions. Our work helps increase positive behaviors and improves people’s lives in Tanzania.”
Shoeman Water Projects
“Shoeman Water Projects collects donated shoes – any kind, new or gently used – from schools, churches, businesses and shoe drives, exports the shoes to street vendors in places like Haiti, Kenya and South America and uses the funds from exporting for clean water programs in communities around the world.”
Save the Rain
“To achieve our mission, we educate communities on how to harvest the rain by constructing catchment system built from local materials, by the local work force, thus assuring sustainability. We educate people to farm water through roof water collection, surface water collection, ground water recharge, soil conservation, reforestation, bio-remediation, passive irrigation practices and sustainable agriculture curriculums.”
Safe Mothers, Safe Babies
“Safe Mothers, Safe Babies (SAFE for short) was founded with the mandate to improve maternal and neonatal health through projects conceived and implemented in true partnership with the citizens and professionals of the local communities in which SAFE operates.”
Population Services International/ Association de Santé Familiale (PSI/ASF)
“PSI is a global health organization dedicated to improving the health of people in the developing world by focusing on serious challenges like a lack of family planning, HIV and AIDS, barriers to maternal health, and the greatest threats to children under five, including malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition.”
Plan International Sri Lanka / USA
“Plan has been working in Sri Lanka since 1981, on the invitation of the national government. We work with nearly 20,000 sponsored children and around 125,000 marginalized children in close to 270 rural communities across 7 districts.”
Operation ASHA
“Operation ASHA’s goal is to make TB treatment available to the most disadvantaged patients. We do this through focusing on patient convenience, community mobilization, and comprehensive counseling. Our management information systems include continuous monitoring and rigorous reporting.”
Mother Health International
“Mother Health International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to respond and provide relief to pregnant women and children in areas of disaster, war and extreme economic poverty. We are committed to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates by creating culturally competent, sustainable and holistic birth centers, supporting basic public health measures and projects using the midwifery model of care.”
Containers to Clinics
“C2C operates fully equipped primary care clinics, made from retrofitted shipping containers and staffed with local personnel, to treat women, children, and families in the developing world.”