Supporting the design science studio is my greatest prayer to the future in motion. May all of the support come raining down on this ecosystem as they are beacons of hope for a world that works for all of life.

The policies the current regime is implementing or destroying will leave many in our community hungry. Those of us who have the means must provide help to bridge the gap 

Please join us in strengthening our community through reuse.

Great place to sit in the dark with other SF weirdos !

The DSS empowers creators to imagine & build equitable, just, regenerative futures through art, design, community & collaboration.

The **Design Science Studio** (DSS) is a cultural and educational incubator that supports creators in shaping futures rooted in regeneration, justice and belonging. We are a living ecosystem of artists, designers, systems thinkers, story-weavers and movement builders committed to creating a world that works for all of life.

DSS holds space for interdisciplinary collaboration, creative capacity-building and community-rooted innovation. Our work is deeply informed by the legacy of Buckminster Fuller and carried forward through decentralized and decolonial ways of being, imagining and doing.

At the heart of our ecosystem is the **(r)Evolutionary incubator** —a 7-month journey of creative emergence and collective evolution that centers artists and designers as cultural stewards and worldbuilders. It weaves together art, design science, storytelling, systems thinking and regenerative design, offering an invitation to grow alongside others who are working to create futures rooted in care, justice and imagination.

**Each program cycle includes:**

- 144 participating artists
- 30+ mentors
- 50 visionary guest speakers
- 4 global salons for deep learning and connection
- Digital and in-person exhibitions

Support a global commUnity of creative peers

Design Science Studio

To alleviate hunger in Lincoln County by distributing healthy, nutritious food to our agency network & education empowerment.

Food Share of Lincoln County is one of 21 regional food banks in the Oregon Food Bank network.  Food Share of Lincoln County distributes food to its network of  local emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, produce drops, senior food box home delivery and other assistance agencies in addition to facilitating cooking classes and farmers' market tours..

Food Share of Lincoln County

We are a community-building nonprofit organization committed to waste reduction and sustainable resource management.

The impending closure of the Ontario Landfill leaves us with big challenges. ReUse Systems Inc. will be part of the solution across the region, providing practical ways to reduce what we throw away. 

We understand that resources are finite, especially within our smaller communities. The linear waste stream of make, buy, use, and throw away continues to add to the landfill mass without regard to environmental or human impact. Our purpose is to create a retail store community hub and network for sustainable rural living within the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. We champion a circular economy model with reuse, waste diversion, skills training, resource sharing and social and environmental justice at the foundation of this effort. Together, we can create a future where less is wasted—and more is possible. 

**Who We Are:**

**VISION STATEMENT**
We envision regional communities collaborating to eliminate waste by sharing resources and fostering economic opportunity for a resilient future.

**MISSION STATEMENT**
ReUse Systems, Inc. is a community-building organization committed to waste reduction and sustainable resource management.

ReUse Systems Inc. 

Artists' Television Access is an all-volunteer, artist-run, underground and experimental media arts gallery founded in 1984.

Artists’ Television Access is a San Francisco-based, artist-run, non-profit organization that cultivates and promotes culturally-aware, underground media and experimental art. We provide an accessible screening venue and gallery for the presentation of programmed and guest-curated screenings, exhibitions, performances, workshops and events. We believe in fostering a supportive community for the exhibition of innovative art and the exchange of non-conformist ideas.

Artists' Television Access

UWC makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, over 80% of our students selected through UWC's national committee receive a scholarship. This support allows UWC to continue selecting students based on their potential and merit, regardless of their race, gender or financial means.

Most UWC national committees across the globe are run by volunteers. With selection activities in over 150 countries and territories, this volunteer network identifies promising young students, many of whom would never otherwise have access to a transformative UWC education.

**Why Support UWC**

UWC is committed to making its life-changing education accessible to students from all backgrounds. Scholarships ensure that financial circumstances never prevent talented students from attending.

Your support helps sustain UWC’s mission to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. Donations from alumni, individuals, foundations, companies, and governments make it possible for UWC to continue this work.

*"A UWC scholarship is a great investment in society. We are developing a global community of leaders who are aware of the world’s needs, steeped in the nuances and dynamics of international and intercultural cooperation and equipped with the mindset, skills, sense of agency and the global network to make a tangible difference in the world."* - **Faith Abiodun, Executive Director of UWC International**

If you are a **US taxpayer**, you can donate to any UWC institution by clicking “**Donate**” above and specifying your intended recipient (School, College, National Committee or Campaign) under “*Add a note for UWC International"*.

If you are not a US taxpayer, you can also donate via [uwc.org/donate](https://uwc.org/donate).

UWC International (United World Colleges)

Factory farming is a broken system. Our mission is to give you the power to help fix it. Lead the shift to kinder farming today.

**Factory farming is a broken system. It exploits animals, people and the planet. Our mission is to give you the power to help fix it.**

We want everyone to be able to be a part of fixing factory farming. Not everyone can go to a protest, or cut animal products out their diet right now. But almost all of us can give, even a little, to help. And, by helping you pick the right charities - those that make your dollars go the furthest - we can help your donations make a huge impact.

**We're a donation guide and multiplier ​**

1. **Guide:** We’ve done the homework for you, so that you can donate to the best charities working to reform factory farming without the hassle of spending hours doing research. 
2. **Multiplier:** We multiply your impact by topping up your donation with matching funds and boosting its effectiveness with our charity recommendations.
3. **Fully independent:** We operate independently, funded by philanthropic grants. This ensures that 100% of your donation goes to your chosen charities and that our recommendations stay free from bias.

FarmKind

Inspiring bayanihan with partners and volunteers to empower marginalized communities.

Angat Pinas, Inc.

LifeStraw operates the Safe Water Fund, a 501(c)3 project, to support the provision of safe water where it is needed most.  

The Safe Water Fund operates as a 501(c)(3) project, supporting the implementation of long-term, sustainable safe water programs worldwide. We partner with grassroots organizations and local leaders to identify and reach communities and families most in need.

In addition to our retail-funded Give-Back program, the Safe Water Fund provides safe water during humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters. We also lead special initiatives in the cities where our employees live, including at our headquarters in Baltimore City, and participate in Giving Tuesday efforts each year.

**100% of donated funds go directly toward products and the distribution of safe water supplies. Vestergaard Frandsen, Inc. (d/b/a “LifeStraw”) does not profit from your donation.**

*The Safe Water Fund operates through a fiscal sponsorship with Players Philanthropy Fund, a Texas nonprofit recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Federal Tax ID: 27-6601178, ppf.org/pp). Contributions to the Safe Water Fund qualify as tax-deductible.*

Your contribution helps us bring safe drinking water to more families. 

Thank you for your support!

LifeStraw Safe Water Fund

KRIK, founded in 2015, investigates high-level corruption and ties between organized crime and officials in Serbia and the Balkans

KRIK is an investigative media outlet founded by a group of investigative journalists from Serbia in mid-2015. The portal publishes investigative stories about high-level corruption in Serbia, focusing on suspicious and corrupt dealings involving individuals in key positions of power or those who wield significant influence, as well as the connections between organized crime and government officials. In addition, through its daily content, KRIK informs readers about events and issues of public interest and reports on the most important court proceedings in the country.

Over the years, KRIK has launched several specialized platforms: it initiated RasKRIKavanje, a site dedicated to exposing media manipulation and fake news; published a database of politicians’ assets, which includes information on the wealth and income of both ruling and opposition officials; and created “Judge Who Judges”, a database profiling judges involved in the country’s most significant cases. Amidst the raging gang wars in Serbia and the region, KRIK also released the “Black Book” – a record of mafia-style killings – and “Underworld Bosses”, profiling the leading figures of rival criminal clans.

As a member of the global investigative journalism network Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), KRIK has participated in numerous international investigations such as the Panama Papers, Paradise Papers, Suisse Secrets, Pandora Papers, OpenLux, and Crime Telegram (an investigation into the “Sky” company and encrypted phones). Besides OCCRP, KRIK is a member of several other media organizations, including the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN), Association of Online Media (AOM), International Press Institute (IPI), International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), and the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN).

KRIK’s newsroom and its journalists have received numerous international and domestic journalism awards, such as the Data Journalism Award, Sigma Award, CEI SEEMO Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism, Anti-Corruption Champions Award, Global Shining Light Award, European Press Prize, and national honors for ethics and courage like the “Dušan Bogavac” and “Jug Grizelj” awards, as well as regional accolades such as “Srđan Aleksić” and “Duško Jovanović”. KRIK journalists have also repeatedly won the EU Award for the Best Investigative Stories from Serbia and the national “Dejan Anastasijević” Award.

KRIK

High quality medical services for marginalized groups in Cairo and the region.

Mersal Foundation for Charity and Development is a non-profit organization that serves in the health field and works on providing all types of healthcare with high quality to whoever is in need.

**Vision**
To be the number one medical organization in Egypt and the Arab region and proactive in ensuring the right in healthcare for the marginalized groups and those who are in need the most.

**Message**
Working on analyzing and filling the gaps of the healthcare system to provide high quality medical services on the basis of equality and dignity through enabling a charitable healthcare system for whoever cannot afford it, as well as contributing to the development of the health sector.

**Objectives**  

- Providing medical services to whoever deserves them regardless the cost or for how long they will be needed.
- Spreading medical awareness in all the places it serves in.
- Achieving sustainability in funding its activities Core Values.
- Privacy: Mersal ensures the patient's eligibility to receive its services without hurting their dignity or exposing them to any kind of embarrassment.
- Healthcare With No Discrimination: Mersal is an open arm to all patients with no discrimination whatsover; whatever religion, nationality, color, or language, all patients in need are welcomed to receive the organization services.
- High Quality: Mersal provides all types of medical services in the highest possible quality through its network of specialized medical personnel.
- Credibility and Transparency: Mersal announces the size and sources of its fund as well as its administrative and medical expenditures, The foundation financial reports and annual budgets are available through several outlets through which any person can explore how resources are managed. Mersal believes in the importance of being specialized in specific fields and its early choice was the healthcare services.

In the past six years, the organization registered over 25,000 patients from 27 provinces.  Mersal has been seeking to enable access to its services all over the country. And the dream of helping those who are in need whoever they are and whatever the cost and time is still alive, Mersal has worked over the past six years on getting close to its patients throughout their treatment journey.

Mersal Foundation for Charity and Development 

ConnectMyVariant's mission is to end hereditary disease by bringing families together.

ConnectMyVariant is an educational health-focused 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that supports individuals and families with hereditary disease in their early detection and prevention efforts. We provide unique value by leveraging our evidenced-based family connection protocols to help people identify other at-risk relatives and help those relatives access genetic testing so that they can get optimal medical care. ConnectMyVariant brings people with the same genetic risk together through our variant database and community engagement events to share experiences and find common ancestors. ConnectMyVariant also works to increase awareness of the benefits of family outreach among physicians, others who provide prevention care, and the broader genealogy community.
 
Our key activities are:

- Working with patients to implement personalized family outreach plans
- Interactive educational workshops about sharing information on inherited disease risk
- Variant specific family reunions to share stories and plan outreach to cousins
- Genealogy assistance to help connect individuals in variant groups
- Individual equity and inclusion grants for family and community outreach

Need and Impact:
When hereditary disease risk is known, family outreach has been proven to be the most effective and cost-effective intervention for early detection and prevention. This family outreach, also known as cascade testing, is recommended by multiple guidelines. Despite overwhelming evidence, family outreach assistance is not reimbursed by insurance or integrated into healthcare. Many people suffer and die from hereditary disease that could have been prevented or caught early.
 
We have shown that our strategies to encourage family outreach can act as a communication multiplier. Our pilot research at the University of Washington showed that this approach enhanced patient experience, was considered ethical, and was appreciated by newly identified relatives. Our approach is low-cost and is 25 to 50 times more effective than awareness and education interventions that target the general population.

Equity and Inclusion:
ConnectMyVariant is committed to being a leader for equity, diversity, and inclusion in hereditary disease prevention. ConnectMyVariant’s goal is to spread awareness among all individuals and families about inherited disease risk. All project staff, participants, and partners in ConnectMyVariant have an equal voice in developing innovative ways to improve hereditary disease outreach and prevention for all people. By fostering a diverse and inclusive community, we can provide knowledge and opportunities that have been historically inaccessible to millions of people.

ConnectMyVariant

One of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. 

Established March 26, 1636, **Utrecht University** is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe.  Utrecht University invests in educating the leaders of the future, offering high-quality, innovative education, with a high student pass rate. In the Netherlands, Utrecht University is a pioneer in innovative educational concepts, such as that of the University College. The University conducts fundamental and applied research in a wide range of disciplines. Multidisciplinary research in Utrecht focuses on four strategic themes: Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. 

**Utrecht University Fund** was founded in 1886, making it the Netherlands' oldest University Fund. It has has become a well-known name in the Utrecht University community and has always been a place for students, employees and alumni to come together in support of a flourishing academic climate in Utrecht. We strongly believe that generations can help each other.

**Mission** 
Sustaining innovative science requires investment. Funds are needed to invest in housing, laboratories, equipment, but most of all in people, i.e. students, lecturers and researchers from all over the world. Fortunately, over the centuries, Utrecht University has always been able to rely on the support of its alumni and others committed to the university. 

**Goals**
Utrecht University Fund supports student activities and is able to cater to the special requirements of science and education in areas where government funding is not available. Furthermore it aims to create awareness and involvement among students, university staff, alumni and the city of Utrecht in order to realize projects that help Utrecht University to grow and flourish. 

**Tax benefits**
The Utrecht University Fund is acknowledged as a so-called Public Benefit Organization (PBO/ANBI) exempting it from inheritance or gift tax. That means that all funds you donate are forwarded to your preferred cause. 
 
Be generous for the next generation. Give back to your university. Help Utrecht University grow and flourish in the areas of education, research and the living environment. 

Utrecht University and Utrecht University Fund 

The Transformative Justice Center provides services to the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated. 

Our mission is to advocate for transformative justice, emphasizing empathy and understanding as we work with those who have been incarcerated. We aim to break down the barriers of social stigma, creating a platform for personal growth and change. At the Transformative Justice Center, and our flagship prison program - Empathy in Action, we see past the person’s history and focus on their potential. By providing crucial support and resources, we aspire to drastically reduce recidivism and help individuals reclaim their lives. At its core, transformative justice works to transform relationships, institutions and systems historically founded in oppression, marginalization, and violence into ones grounded in restoration, respect, and responsibility.

We believe that everyone deserves a chance to be seen, heard, and understood regardless of background, race, class, socio-economic status, political or/and religious views. We know that most if not all people in prison come from painful, traumatic backgrounds, from victims to victimizers. We work to transform prison spaces into places focused on higher education, healing, whole body wellness, accountability and respect. We see that within every human being there exists the possibility to grow, to change, and to transform with the right tools and interventions. We are committed to building bridges being the public and our incarcerated community in order to learn, understand and humanize those most impacted by familial and societal harms.

At the core of our work, we believe in redemption, and that everyone deserves an opportunity to transform their lives. Our center is built on empathy and understanding, providing crucial resources and support to individuals who are navigating their way back to society after incarceration. We appreciate any form of support, small or large, to assist us on this journey towards healing, change, and rebuilding lives.

The Transformative Justice Center

Organized volunteers providing outreach to unhoused folks with urgent relief: warmth, food, humanity, and  connection to services.

Town Bizness exists to bring the necessities of a dignified human life to the unhoused population of Oakland and Berkeley, CA. 
These necessities include good food, reliable shelter, clothing, toiletries, bedding, and basic creature comforts such as safe propane stoves and heaters, radios, and more, depending on each client’s needs. 

We also assist with housing, and keeping folks connected to service providers by supplying telephones and monthly service. 

The majority of folks we serve were born where they now live in tents, and once had property ownership in their families here in the bay area, but no longer do. Most are seniors, and many of them are now sick and/or disabled. 

Town Bizness

Offering children in foster care and at-risk youth the chance to embrace a childhood filled with joy, growth, and belonging!

The RennerVation Foundation is dedicated to serving children in foster care and at-risk youth by providing them with a safe haven and targeted programs to develop their skills, confidence and opportunities.

We believe that every child deserves a chance to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their circumstances. Through a combination of mentorship, educational support, and enrichment programs, we strive to empower these youth to overcome challenges and build a brighter future.

Our mission is to create a community where all children feel valued, supported and inspired to achieve their dreams.

RennerVation Foundation

Delivering medical aid where it's needed most — independent, neutral, impartial.

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971.

In over 70 countries around the world, MSF saves lives by providing medical aid where it is needed most—in armed conflicts, epidemics, natural disasters, and other crises.  The people who work for MSF are doctors, nurses, midwives, epidemiologists, water-and-sanitation experts and many others who combine their professional expertise with a commitment to the world’s most vulnerable people.  Each year, these medical teams run close to 470 projects where they care for millions of people.  

As an organization, MSF is neutral and operates independently of any political, military, or religious agendas. It does not take sides in armed conflicts, provides care based on needs alone, and advocates for increased independent access to victims of conflict and disaster as required under international humanitarian law. Medical teams conduct evaluations on the ground to determine a population's medical needs before opening programs, aiming to fill gaps that exist (rather than replicating services that are already offered) or reach communities that are not being assisted.  Over the years, the organization has been the recipient of several awards that recognize its work, including the 1998 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize, the 2012 J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding, the 2015 Lasker-Bloomberg Public Service Award, and the 2017 Pardes Humanitarian Prize for Mental Health.

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) 

 Our mission is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. 

Every warrior has unique challenges and goals. That’s why we provide a variety of veteran programs and services to help veterans take the steps that are right for them. What’s more, thanks to the tremendous support of our donors, veterans never pay a penny to get the help they need to build the future they deserve.

Wounded Warrior Project

The largest hunger-relief organization in the US. We feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks.

From Seattle to New Rochelle, from Baton Rouge to San Francisco, food banks across the country are doing what they do best – feeding people in need within their communities. The Feeding America network is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States including in disasters and national emergencies. Our mission is to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger. You can help.

Feeding America

MAPS works towards a post-prohibition world by advancing research, changing policies, and shaping culture. 

Since our founding in 1986, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has been the leading organization building the movement to foster evidence-based approaches to psychedelics and the people who use them. When used safely and responsibly, psychedelics have the potential to promote personal growth and well-being and treat various mental health conditions. Three pillars guide our efforts: advancing research, changing policies, and shaping culture. 

[Advancing Research](https://maps.org/advancing-research/)

MAPS spent decades developing MDMA-assisted therapy for the clinical utilization of psychedelic-assisted therapies. With the road paved for the next generation of research and drug development, MAPS now stewards the research landscape we helped cultivate.

We are dedicated to fostering new research directions that prioritize public benefit, supporting international researchers and pilot programs, and ensuring the accessibility and culturally appropriate integration of psychedelics as a tool for individual and community wellness. We center research that contributes to knowledge in the public domain.

[Changing Policy](https://maps.org/changing-policy/)

The cultivation, use, and trade of psychoactive substances — including psychedelics — has been a consistent aspect of human history, but prohibition, criminalization, and militarization — and their inherent oppression — have led to drastic consequences. The ongoing, global War on Drugs has been justified by bad science, racism, and fear for too long: it has led to mass incarceration; erosion of civil liberties; ecological damage; economic waste; and the public health polycrisis of adulteration, poisoning, and overdose. Many of these harmful effects have disproportionately impacted the most historically exploited and oppressed communities. Consequently, we believe societies worldwide have an obligation to account for and repair those harms, to the extent possible. 

MAPS envisions a post-prohibition future based on Consciousness, not Criminalization.

[Shaping Culture](https://maps.org/shaping-culture/)

For psychedelics to be most safely integrated into society, we need to be honest about the implications. MAPS recognizes the importance of a comprehensive understanding of their risks and potential benefits, teaching people how to navigate altered states of consciousness and how policies impact individuals and communities. 

We create cutting-edge education for professionals and the public, provide expert support for the psychedelic and drug policy movement, and convene people who share our vision—all to lay the groundwork and create the guardrails necessary for responsible social transformation. 

As psychedelics become more mainstream and an increasing number of people seek to use them for healing and personal growth, we are more dedicated than ever to making resources available for people and communities to safely and responsibly integrate psychedelics into medical, legal, and spiritual contexts.

MAPS

Delivering unconditional cash directly to the world's poorest households via secure mobile transfers. 

Since 2009, GiveDirectly has delivered more than $580 million in unconditional cash transfers to families in need. These one-time cash transfers allow recipients to invest in what they need most and have been shown to improve their earnings, children’s school attendance, health, nutrition, and mental well-being.
 
GiveDirectly uses government data to target villages where most or all residents are living in extreme poverty, defined by the World Bank as earning under $2.15/day. In-country GiveDirectly staff enroll one member of each household in the entire village to receive a one-time transfer of about $1,000 USD sent in two installments using mobile money. Recipients can then withdraw the mobile funds as cash with local agents and use the funds to invest in what they need – whether it’s on starting a business, education, making their home safer/sturdier, healthcare, or livestock.
 
GiveDirectly uses rigorous experimental research (randomized controlled trials) to measure the impact of their unconditional cash programs and answer public policy questions, generating evidence on key design and implementation questions across varied contexts. You can find over 300 studies on the positive impacts of cash transfers in GiveDirectly’s Cash Research Explorer.

GiveDirectly

Fighting for sentencing reform since 1991, uniting people of all backgrounds around the need for fair, just sentences and prison experiences.   famm.org

FAMM is the national voice for fair and proportionate sentencing laws. We shine a light on the human face of sentencing, advocate for state and federal sentencing reform, and mobilize thousands of individuals and families whose lives are adversely impacted by unjust sentencing laws.

FAMM

At the Courthouse Dogs Foundation, we believe in **a justice system that embodies compassion and understanding**. Our mission is to transform the experience of individuals navigating the complexities of the criminal justice system by utilizing professionally trained dogs that provide essential emotional support and unconditional love in high-stress environments. These remarkable animals have the ability to ease anxiety, offer comfort, and foster a sense of safety, ensuring that everyone—ranging from young victims to domestic violence victims and vulnerable witnesses—they get the chance to feel heard, valued, and respected in their justice journey.

Strategically, we are committed to strengthening our financial foundation to cultivate sustainable growth. We envision a future where innovation and collaboration flourish, enabling us to expand our reach and deepen our impact. Our goal is not just to maintain our programs but to enhance and elevate them, ensuring that we can touch even more lives with the healing presence of our courthouse dogs.

Every single life we impact matters. With your support and generosity, we can multiply the positive effects of our work, creating a ripple of compassion and hope throughout the justice system. Together, we can make a profound difference, one life at a time.

Courthouse Dogs Foundation

Mutual aid organization supporting neighbors in Washington DC, Ward 2.

[Click here to join our newsletter to get updates and get involved](https://subscribepage.io/sHh86L)

What is Mutual Aid?

**Mutual aid is “cooperation for the sake of the common good.” It’s getting people to come together to meet each other’s needs, recognizing that as humans, our survival is dependent on one another.**

Mutual Aid is a practice and politics that emphasizes solidarity rather than charity. It means we recognize that our well-being, health and dignity are all bound up in each other. It means that we understand our survival depends on cooperation, not competition. In this particular moment, we see that our health is also dependent on other people’s health, and we can literally save each other’s lives. Rather than disengage and feel powerless, mutual aid allows us to plug in where we can make the most impact — locally.

Mutual aid IS...

- Getting people together in your community to provide material support to each other
- Building relationships with your neighbors based on trust and common interest
- Making decisions by consensus rather than relying on authority and hierarchy
- Sharing things rather than hoarding things
- Treating no one as disposable
- Providing all kinds of support, ranging from food prep to childcare to translation to emotional support, and recognizing the value of all of them
- A political education opportunity, where we build the relationships and analysis to understand why we are in the conditions that we're in
- Preparation for the next disaster (natural or economic). Next time around we'll already have relationships with each other and know who is vulnerable and needs support
- A great jumping off point for other kinds of organizing and movement work

Mutual aid IS NOT...

- Quid pro quo transactions
- Only for disasters or crises
- Charity or a way to "save" people
- A reason for a social safety net not to exist

DC Mutual Aid Network

The DC Mutual Aid Network (DCMA) is a grassroots community-led effort looking to take care of each other and keep our city as safe as possible.

- DCMA is a decentralized, community-led effort, so there is no single group that runs the network.
- There are autonomous groups for Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Wards 7 & 8 are served together by one group.
- The DCMA Network is governed by the ward groups on topics of social media, website, fundraising, etc. The groups also share resources, best practices and offer referrals to other groups.

Ward 2 Efforts

Ward 2 Mutual Aid is part of the larger DCMA Network. Our concrete activities are:

- **Hotline** - Volunteers staff our warmline, where Ward 2 residents can call and request assistance.
- **Groceries** - We provide a grocery bag delivery to ~150 families that request it through our hotline or building captains. The bags include fresh produce, protein, dry goods, and requested household items.
- **Encampment Outreach** - We organize a supply drop to ~120 unhoused neighbors.
- **Building captains** - We organize with local residents to utilize their leadership and relational networks. Building captains check on neighbors, relay needs, and assist with food donations and distribution.
- **Back to school** - We organize with local parents to host a book and clothing swap.
- **Support for high risk/immuno-compromised individuals** - We have been partnering with local public housing buildings to drop off cleaning supplies, masks, and groceries.

[Click here to join our newsletter to get updates and get involved](https://opencollective.com/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubscribepage.io%2FsHh86L).

Ward 2 Mutual Aid

Constru Casa seeks to improve the quality of life among Guatemalans who live in extreme poverty. 

Constru Casa, founded in 2004 by Caroline van Heerde, is dedicated to improving the lives of Guatemalans in extreme poverty through holistic community development. Our core programs include:

•	Construction of Dignified Houses

•	Community Building Construction

•	Support Programs



Mission

To improve the lives of Guatemalans in extreme poverty by providing basic housing, support programs, and community development projects focused on health and education.



Vision

A Guatemala without poverty, exclusion, and dependency. Families achieve stability through community development in housing, education, and healthcare.



Constru Casa

Constru Casa is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for Guatemalans facing extreme poverty through the provision of essential housing, support programs, and community development projects. We strive to uplift entire communities from poverty by implementing comprehensive community development programs. These initiatives encompass the construction of dignified concrete block housing, complemented by the development of community structures such as schools, clinics, orphanages, and community centers.



Current Initiatives

•	Building Houses: Constructing earthquake-resistant homes with customizable designs, climate resilience, and a 4-year follow-up program.

•	Community Construction: Supporting the construction of schools, clinics, and community centers, working closely with partner organizations.

•	Support Programs: Offering a comprehensive 4-year follow-up program, water filters, improved cooking stoves, and ongoing community support.

Our collaborative endeavors with local social work organizations underscore our unwavering commitment to support the ongoing development of families and communities. Through our active engagement, we contribute to guiding them on the journey toward a more luminous and promising future.



Impact of Our Work

Transformative changes for families and communities, providing new opportunities and a fresh start.



Community Development

Constru Casa places a strong emphasis on community-wide development. Our comprehensive programs are strategically crafted to foster a holistic and integrated approach to community growth. These initiatives encompass a diverse range of construction projects, including multiple housing units and community buildings. Collaborating closely with community partner organizations, Constru Casa actively engages in identifying the primary needs of the community and actively participates in crafting solutions.



Constructing Durable and Customized Homes

Our newly built homes boast robust concrete block walls, reliable corrugated iron roofs, and solid concrete floors, presenting families with a versatile array of choices. Ranging from one to three rooms, with or without a bathroom, these designs are meticulously crafted to cater to the specific needs of each family. Engineered to withstand earthquakes and harsh climates, these residences emerge as ideal living spaces for families grappling with extreme poverty. The success of our homes is attributed to meticulous design planning and the continuous four-year follow-up program, providing ongoing support long after the construction phase concludes.



Community Infrastructure Development

Constru Casa actively collaborates with partner organizations in supporting community development and construction initiatives. These community constructions serve vital social and communal functions, particularly in areas of health and education, benefiting the entire community. Such constructions encompass diverse structures like schools, libraries, day care centers, community hubs, medical clinics, orphanages, and recreational areas. In tandem with community constructions, we provide comprehensive services, including initial consulting, needs assessment, building design, construction supervision, and project management.

Typically, partnering organizations present these community center projects to Constru Casa after assessing the community's needs and securing the necessary funds. The success of each operation hinges on the local community and the organization's unwavering commitment to the project.



Support Programs

A distinctive feature that sets us apart from other non-profits is our four-year follow-up program. We firmly believe that merely constructing a house is insufficient. Our commitment is to guarantee the creation of lasting change for families and the empowerment of Guatemalan communities. Following the construction of each home, Constru Casa actively collaborates with families for four years in partnership with our social organizations to ensure ongoing support.

In addition, we offer water filters and improved cooking stove programs to both our beneficiary families and community centers.



Projects 2024

•	Construction of 75 Houses: Partnering with Adecsa, Corazón de los Niños, Transitions Foundation, Alimentos Sumar, and others.

•	Community Projects: Expanding schools, clinics, and facilities.

•	Follow-up Plan: Continuing support for families and communities.

•	Cooking Stoves and Water Filters Program: Initiatives for families with special needs.

Projects 2023

•	Construction of 73 Houses: Collaborating with Vamos Adelante, Xepatan, Familias de Esperanza, Adecsa, Corazón de los Niños, Cementos Progreso, Alimentos Sumar.

•	Community Projects: Building schools, libraries, and facilities.

•	Follow-up Plan: Ongoing support for families and communities.



Services Offered by Constru Casa

1.	Housing: Providing various basic house designs, a "Step by Step" plan, healthy kitchens, and home improvements.

2.	Community Projects: Building schools, kitchens, sanitation facilities, community centers, medical clinics, and recreational areas.

3.	Programs: Offering improved stoves, water filters, a 4-year follow-up plan, a Family Fund, and maintenance service



We execute the construction of homes and Community Project Centers (CPC) in collaboration with social organizations dedicated to education, health, and community development programs.

Guided by impact studies, we assess the construction needs of families or communities (in the case of CPC), providing tailored services to meet those needs.

At Constru Casa, we offer a comprehensive range of services to families and communities:

Housing

•	Variety of basic house designs

•	"Step by Step" plan (1st step: Model 1, 2nd/3rd step: additional room)

•	Home additions (room, washable toilet or latrine)

•	Healthy kitchen (single room, with concrete floor, improved stove, and water filter)

•	Home improvements or additions: plastering, painting, flooring, ramps, accessibility for people with disabilities, corridors, among others

Community Project Center (CPC) Constructions

•	Schools, kitchens for schools, modules of toilets for schools, community centers, sports centers, children's areas, health clinics, among others

Programs

•	Fuel-efficient wood stoves

•	Water filters

•	Family follow-up plan (for homes over 4 years)

•	Family Fund

•	Home and CPC maintenance (for 1 year)



Conclusion:

Constru Casa is committed to creating lasting positive change for underprivileged families and communities in Guatemala. Our holistic approach, community-centric focus, and ongoing support make us impactful in the fight against extreme poverty.

Asociacion Constru Casa

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