Kitechild

Kitechild works to elevate the standard of care for orphaned children through sustainable micro-projects. The Kitechild network, with more than 35 orphanages in 11 countries, is grounded in long-term solutions, transparency, and efficiency, so they are able to achieve visible and measurable results in the well-being of the child.

Launched in 2010, by two UCLA graduates, the organization envisioned using the power of the internet in the age of social media to provide a unified solution to many of the challenges orphanages face while providing resources and opportunities to orphans in the developing world.

Kitechild's programs support orphanages that adopt a hands-on approach to child care as opposed to the traditional large institutional format. The organization aims to help its members overcome some of the challenges facing orphanages and threatening the well-being and healthy development of each child. The challenges include:

• The cost of supplying energy. Kitechild's sustainable micro-projects promote development of renewable sources of energy and the reduction of energy consumption.
• Orphanages are severely understaffed: the average ration is 15 children per adult, (the ideal is 5 child per adult). Kitechild works with field partners to facilitate training in best practices.
• The lack of transparency in running and managing homes makes it difficult for donors and benefactors to see where their funds are being allocated and how they can create long-term change. Kitechild requires in-depth project proposals and media feedback so donors can see the direct impact of their of their contributions.
• Orphanage directors lack knowledge of how to attract support and exposure to their efforts or they lack the time to do it. Kitechild uses free mediums like social media networks and the Kitechild Network to promote the efforts of its orphanage members to potential donors, volunteers, and corporate sponsors.

The following programs address these challenges:

• Online Sustainable Projects: uses existing networks to obtain funding for sustainable micro-projects featured on their homepage. They work closely with orphanage partners to develop these projects, then use online promotion and marketing to fund them. Projects focus on: food security, income generation, self-sufficiency, and community caretaker training.
• Inspiration Series: aims to expose at-risk foster youth in local LA County to potential careers in the arts through unique interactive events.
• Leather Bands for Learning: partnering with Lucky Flirts Jewelry, every bracelet purchased raises money to contribute to the educational costs of the orphans in the Kitechild Network, (tuition, uniforms, books).

Kitechild's blog is fully of impact stories, which I highly recommend reading. Potential donors are able to review profiles on each orphanage in the network, so contributions can be directed to specific orphanages and projects.  

For more information on this great organization, please visit Kitechild's website.

Kara: Grief Support and Education for Our Community

Kara: Grief Support and Education is a center offering compassionate peer support and education to individuals, families, and organizations coping with death and dying. Their mission is to empower children, teens and adults to find their way through grief so that they can rebuild their lives with renewed hope and meaning.

The organization, founded in 1976, serves the Palo Alto, California community. The name Kara comes from the gothic root of the word "care." It means to reach out, to care, to lament, to grieve with.

Their services are provided primarily by trained volunteers, and who have experience dealing with personal loss. These services are free and include:

• Individual Peer Counseling
• Grief Support Groups
• On-site Grief Crisis Intervention
• Annual Grief Support Conferences
• Candlelight Services
• Grief Support Training
• Information and Referrals (to professional therapy, cancer support groups, and hospice care)
• Community Education

The site provides a lot of information and articles for those facing the challenges of grieving and those supporting others through the grieving process. 

For more information on the organization, and how you can volunteer or donate, please visit Kara's website.

Lotsa Helping Hands

Lotsa Helping Hands is an organization that allows users to create free of charge, private, web-based community to organize family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues -during times of need. The purpose of the site is to help easily coordinate activities and manage volunteers with Lotsa Helping Hands' group calendar.

The organization's mission is "to provide the communication resources facilitating a world where caregivers feel empowered to ask for help, and in doing so, improve their own health and quality-of-life. Volunteers can become part of the solution when family, friends, neighbors, or colleagues are in need of help. Community becomes a recognized way to find meaning in both giving and receiving. Lotsa Helping Hands was created after witnessing "four years of awe-inspiring community support and response to a family member's serious medical crisis." 

Lotsa Helping Hands is committed to philanthropy. They support the nonprofit sector and align themselves with national organizations who offer Lotsa Helping Hands' services to their members and constituents. The organization also donates pro bono expertise and financial resources to the nonprofit organizations they serve.

Once you set up a community, volunteers can view and sign up  for available tasks and review current commitments. Automatic emails remind volunteers, so you don't have to worry that they'll forget their assignments. The site provides: messages boards, photo galleries, resource sections for sharing web links and documents, and a Well Wishes wall. The site boasts an easy to use interface, with a variety of community templates supplied.

For more information please visit Lotsa Helping Hands' website.

Operation Warm

The mission of Operation Warm is to provide children in poverty with a new, warm winter coat.

The organization provides new warm coats to children in need through strategic partnerships and community organizations. Their vision is that every child wearing a new winter coat is healthy, is able to attend school regularly, and has strong self-esteem. They hope each child they reach believes "I am of value."

Since its founding in 1998, by Dick Sanford, Operation Warm has distributed more than 375,000 coats to children living in poverty. That equates to approximately $14 million.

Two points from the site that just can't be ignored:

1. Winter coats are one of the most requested items by schools and service agencies
2. For many, a new winter coat from Operation Warm is the first item of new clothing the children have ever received.

"The coat helps to prevent the social isolation these kids feel about themselves and their unsolicited poverty. By keeping children warm, Operation Warm helps build self-confidence and improves self-esteem. When children feel good about themselves and fit in, they can arrive at school, warm, on-time and ready to learn."

I urge you to visit Operation Warm's website to learn more about this important work and how you can help.

Cross Cultural Solutions

Cross Cultural Solutions, (CCS), is an international volunteer program that matches volunteers with local organizations to work on community led initiatives.  Their mission is "dedicated to the vision of a world where people value cultures different from their own, are aware of global issues, and are empowered to effect positive change."

Founded in 1995, CCS operates in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. The organization offering three different volunteering experiences: Volunteer Abroad, Intern Abroad, and Insight Abroad. These programs range from from 1 to 12 weeks and volunteers have over 20 program sites to choose from. Volunteer placements are within the following categories: Caregiving, Community Development, Healthcare, and Teaching. The objective of volunteer placement is to match the immediate needs of the community with the skills and interests of each volunteer.

This organization is great for anyone who is interested in getting involved on a more international level. Or wishes to support the organization's global initiatives.