SWF International [
http://www.swfinternational.org]
is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to
eradicate female genital mutilation - FGM- in Sierra Leone, West
Africa. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, SWF educates people
about the traditional practice of FGM. SWF works to raise funds to
build a school, a medical clinic and a library in Sierra Leone. At
the International level SWF International partners with grass roots
organizations supporting the on-going efforts to mass educate local
men, women, boys and girls about the origins and implications of
the FGM practice in parallel with basic healthcare education. SWF
International promotes FGM awareness aimed at completely abolishing
the practice. SWF International was founded by Nina Smart on July
13th, 2004 in Los Angeles, California.
GREEN AWARENESS AFRICA (GAWA) [
www.gawaisgreen.org] is a Section
21 (non-profit) company which has been set up with the explicit aim
of creating, leading and growing the Green Movement in Namibia.
VISION: To be the preferred partner for all ‘green’ initiatives
throughout Namibia. MISSION: To establish GAWA as a credible and
efficient charity organisation that is synonymous with all things
‘green’ – within the Namibian and international community. This
will be achieved by creating a paradigm shift in the attitudes of
all working Namibians, by focusing our short- to medium-term
initiatives across all sectors of Namibian business, and by
networking with international green movements.
THE NIAPELE PROJECT [
www.theniapeleproject.org]
The Niapele Project’s mission is to promote sustainable strategies
for the empowerment of vulnerable children, through the development
of community-based initiatives. We aim to have direct, meaningful
impact in the lives of vulnerable children. We achieve this by
working in partnership with communities, assisting them to fulfill
the needs they have identified, through the development and
implementation of initiatives that aim to create the necessary
conditions for children to move beyond survival and thrive. The
Niapele Project - (The Children’s Project, in Kpele, a Liberian
dialect) - is an effort to support and aid vulnerable children and
war-affected youth, empowering them to become strong and able
individuals. By giving community leaders and their organizations
the means to achieve their goals, we offer the support necessary
for community-led projects to succeed. Because we believe in
holistic, sustainable solutions, The Niapele Project strives to
integrate best practices into all of our work, by encouraging
women's empowerment, local ownership and leadership, as well as
environmentally sound practices. Our current projects are in
Liberia where we are working in the area of school nutrition and
developing resources for disabled children as well as promoting
advocacy and forming new partnerships abroad and in the United
States.
PEP/LATHE PEER EDUCATION PROGRAM OF LOS ANGELES, INC.
[
www.pepla.org] The PEP/LA model
of HIV/AIDS prevention through peer education has been established
in 60 communities throughout 10 African countries. Rural leaders
are empowered to mobilize residents to be participants in a
comprehensive series of training workshops that focus on HIV/AIDS
information and communication strategies. These "Trainers" then
share educational messages on HIV/AIDS information with their
respective peer groups (youth, women, Africans with HIV/AIDS,
teachers, more). The PEPs are adapted to the African culture,
values and traditions when it becomes the property of the
community. There is an emphasis on the importance to elevate the
care, compassion and hope for those living with HIV/AIDS.
ART AIDS ART [
www.artaidsart.org], a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization, promotes education and sustainable economic
development through the arts. Founded in 2003 by educators and
human service professionals, Art Aids Art serves women and children
through programs in impoverished townships surrounding Cape Town,
South Africa.
With our U.S. office based in Altadena, California, Art Aids Art’s
American activities focus on educating the public about South
African culture and the HIV/AIDS crisis through presentations at
community centers and private home gatherings. Each year, the
organization leads an intergenerational group of volunteers to Cape
Town, home of our South African headquarters, to provide services
through our own programs and in collaboration with participating
South African organizations.
In addition, Art Aids Art stimulates economic opportunity for South
African artist collectives, purchasing artwork at Fair Trade prices
and exhibiting it in the United States. Income from American art
sales is reinvested into our projects in Cape Town.
ONEWORLD WORKS [
www.oneworldworks.org] is a
Venice California based 501(c)3 organization that encourages
volunteers to work with street children and child soldiers in the
Democratic Republic of Congo. Our partner, Espoir Pour Tous (Hope
For All), a Kinshasa based NGO, assists the volunteers with
teaching and healthcare assignments throughout the country.
Oneworld Works' mission is to provide support for a mobile school
and computer labs training program for street children and former
child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Essential
elements of the program are healthcare, meals, and housing
assistance.
SAVE AFRICA'S CHILDREN [
www.saveafricaschildren.org]
Save Africa’s Children (SAC) is an African-American founded
organization, providing direct support to children affected by
HIV/AIDS, poverty and conflicts throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. SAC
partners with organizations, churches, individuals, grassroots
organizations, government and corporate sectors to meet the basic
needs of the most vulnerable; endeavoring to build a dynamic,
diverse movement to restore hope and a future for Africa’s
children.
AFRICA AS ONE [
www.africaasone.org] Africa As One
(AAO), a California based not for profit 501c3 Public Benefit
Corporation, was incorporated in August 2005 to introduce holistic
and sustainable approach to upgrading humanitarian operations in
Africa. Academics, operators, and donors alike are questioning the
methods and outcomes of aid programs in Africa, paying particular
attention to undocumented and unevaluated programs. AAO is born out
of a need to provide solutions for many dilemmas that have
hamstrung NGOs, deliver donors the results they expect for their
investment and insure that the people depend on aid and are
optimally served. AAO aims to cover a broad spectrum of aid
projects in multiple country contexts.
BAVUBUKU FOUNDATION [
www.bavubuka.org] Pronounced
"Ba-voo-boo-kuh," which means youth in Luganda, the national
language of Uganda. Founded in 2005 by Silas Balabyekkubo, a native
of Uganda, the Bavubuka Foundation is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to creating spaces and educational programs that will
nurture and empower a new generation of young leaders in Uganda.
Bavubuka believes that connecting young people with music and the
arts can transform lives and unify diverse communities. The
Foundation's first major initiative, the Bavubuka All*Starz Music
Project; used hip-hop music as a tool of education and empowerment
for Ugandan youth who were encouraged to rap in their native
languages. Since 2005, the Foundation has launched the Bavubuka
Sports Project and the Bavubuka Girls Project.
VOICES FOR UMOJA (VOICES) [www.voicesforumoja.org] is
a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to using various forms
of communication and action to create change at the community level
and beyond. Voices strives to connect groups and individuals with
the goal of strengthening our global community. Voices is currently
partnered with community members in Kisumu, Kenya who are devoted
to working to improve conditions in the community with a particular
focus on youth and women. The city of Kisumu is set on the shores
of beautiful Lake Victoria. The third largest city in Kenya, Kisumu
has an extraordinarily high HIV rate. In addition, the residents of
Kisumu are plagued by the multitude of issues that are brought on
by poverty. Voices works with community members to identify the
needs of the community and to assist in implementing sustainable
solutions. Voices is currently facilitating trainings throughout
Kisumu and helping to establish international microenterprise
ventures.
ARTISTS FOR A NEW SOUTH AFRICA (ANSA) is an artist-led,
nonprofit organization working in the U.S. and South Africa to
combat HIV/AIDS, advance civil and voting rights, educate and
empower youth, and build bonds between our nations through arts,
culture, and our shared pursuit of social justice. ANSA makes a
substantial difference by providing grants and resources to
effective front line organizations and movements, by developing
innovative, collaborative programs, and by raising public awareness
and mobilizing strategic action, advocacy and support.
Originally called Artists for a Free South Africa, ANSA was founded
in 1989 by Alfre Woodard, Danny Glover, Blair Underwood, Mary
Steenburgen, CCH Pounder, Robert Guillaume and friends to mobilize
support for South Africa's quest for freedom.
Since its founding, ANSA has raised over $9 million for effective
African nonprofits that are making a significant difference by
preventing and treating HIV/AIDS, improving education, providing
rape crisis intervention and prevention, offering health care and
counseling services to the poor, developing economic self-help
craft co-ops, digging wells, rehabilitating child soldiers and
ex-political prisoners, and providing other vital services provided
ongoing comprehensive care and services to over 5,000 AIDS orphans
in South Africa and trained community members to have the skills
needed to carry on this work shipped more than 70 tons of medical
supplies and books to impoverished African communities reached tens
of millions of people across the US and Africa with essential
educational information about voting rights as well as about
HIV/AIDS succeeded in advocacy efforts to improve US and South
African government HIV/AIDS policies and programs.
[
Open
Arts Africa (OAA)] aims to invigorate creative, compassionate
and intelligent global leadership. By providing opportunities,
nurturing, the universal language of art and enhanced education to
orphans in Africa today, OAA aims to support a generation in
becoming the leaders and proprietors of a flourishing, successful
and sustainable tomorrow. OAA provides means that best support
successful learning and blossoming in all areas of life by bridging
gaps in education and basic needs for orphans in Africa.
OAA operates via a two‐ pronged approach:
1. A volunteer‐based, expansive arts exchange program whereby
global artists impart the myriad developmental benefits of an arts
education, skills and opportunities for the children's future;
2. The identification of sustainable solutions to best address
pressing needs within education, overall health, nutrition and the
environment in the African communities that OAA works with.
Open Arts Africa (OAA) was founded in April of 2008 by Nicole
Fantl, under the fiscal sponsorship of the Creative Visions
Foundation. Nicole began her field work with the orphanage of Cura,
Kenya, home to 49 wonderful children; and is currently expanding to
collaboration with OAA's next community in Africa.
