May every tomorrow bring you closer to peace and joy

With Hope, Qais 

They are doing amazing work!!  I am honored to have heard about this from our new friend Pascal and happy to give to a great cause.   

Ce don est un remerciement pour la musique magnifique offerte par les chœurs et les organistes de Notre-Dame.

Empowering Palestinians since 1983 through education, culture and relief programs in Palestine and beyond. Together, we build hope

**Taawon (Welfare Association)** is a **non-profit**, **civic organization** launched in **Geneva** in the year **1983**, upon the initiative of a group of **Palestinian and Arab economists** and intellectuals.
**Taawon has become one of the largest organizations operating in Palestine and the diaspora camps in Lebanon**, whereby it touches the lives of **more than one million Palestinians** on an annual basis, with half of these beneficiaries being **women**.
**Since its establishment, Taawon has invested funds reaching nearly US $900 million, dedicated to development and relief programs.**

**Taawon’s record** over the past 40 years reflects a journey full of achievements reinforced by **strong partnerships**.
Taawon’s long and rich experience has enabled it to:

- Overcome **obstacles** and **difficult conditions** due to the **Israeli occupation**
- Find **innovative and creative solutions** to crises
- Remain responsive to needs despite **social and economic instability**

Taawon maintains a presence in:

- **Palestine**
- **Jordan**
- **Lebanon**
- **Switzerland**
- **Great Britain** (via its sister organization)

Its **interventions reinforce the steadfastness** of **Palestinian citizens** in **Palestine** and the **refugee camps in Lebanon**.

**Taawon aims to:**

- **Empower Palestinian individuals** and **civil society institutions**
- Strengthen **identity**, **freedom**, **democracy**, and **human values**
- Preserve **Palestinian cultural heritage**, highlighting its **unique position**
- Unleash the creative energies of **youth**, **women**, and **children**
- Provide **equal opportunities** for all segments of society
- Promote **creativity** and **excellence** despite the most difficult circumstances

**Taawon works in partnership** with civil society organizations through:

- Purposeful planning
- High-standard policies

Guided by:

- The **Universal Declaration of Human Rights**
- The **United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)**
- The **Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity**

🏅 *Awards & Recognition:*

- **Taawon Awards for Excellence & Creativity**, granted annually to those advancing **sustainable development in Palestine** 
- Recipient of the **Mahatma Award (2018–2020)** for **COVID‑19 humanitarian efforts** [taawon.org](https://www.taawon.org/en/content/awards-received?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

***Our Vision****:*

*“To envision the Palestinian people as citizens of an independent, free, democratic Arab Palestine, living in dignity, prosperity and self‑fulfillment.”*

Taawon (Welfare Association)

Also known as ANAK-Tnk, an NGO that serves the poorest children of Metro Manila through Education, Health, Nutrition, Protection.

Founded in 1998, Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation is a registered NGO whose mission is to serve the poorest children of Metro Manila. Their mission is to raise funds to support the Foundation in Manila and to help every child to reach the fullness of his human vocation, through his basic needs and rights, his desire to study or to get a training, his wish to be reconciled to his family and his thirst for being loved. The goal of TNK is to give back self-dignity and confidence to the children and to lead them to a complete autonomous life. A large team of Filipinos employees (street educators, psychologists, social workers) and community workers are whole-heartedly dedicated to taking care of the 1500 children. Thousands of children have already been helped through the 4 programs of the foundation: Street children Scavenger children Children in slums Mentally challenged youth TNK Foundation is supported by ANAK-TNK platforms. They are associations managed by a local volunteer team.

Tulay Ng Kabataan Foundation, Inc.

Help us to perpetuate a musical tradition of the highest quality at Notre-Dame de Paris 

**The association "Musique Sacrée à Notre-Dame de Paris" promotes the transmission of the musical heritage of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral by training singers (150 pupils and students aged 5 to 28), organizing concerts and providing liturgical animation in the cathedral.**

"Musique Sacrée à Notre-Dame de Paris" is responsible for coordinating all the cathedral's musical activities :

- Teaching singing to 150 pupils and students
- Providing musical entertainment for the cathedral's celebrations 
- Organizing concerts and performances in the cathedral and abroad
- Creating and performing new repertoires 
- Producing music recordings

**Thank you for helping us keep the music alive at Notre-Dame de Paris !**

*The association was created in 1991 by the joint will of the Ministry of Culture, the City of Paris and the Archdiocese of Paris. This decision was based on the ambition to preserve the excellence of musical practice associated with the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, a major landmark in the history of France.*

Choir of Notre-Dame de Paris 

Dedicated to inspiring and preparing youth for successful, thoughtful, and ethical engagement in STEAM and related professions.

To inspire lifelong engagement and ethical leadership in science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics, and related professions through its proven educational model for mentoring, challenging, and motivating students. By building communities among students, teachers, and professionals, NYSAcademy programs complement, broaden, and enhance the traditional school curriculum leading to careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics, and related professions.

National Youth Science Academy

The Youth Alliance for Housing (YAH) is a collective of young people fighting to radically transform the housing system. 

The Youth Alliance for Housing (YAH) is a collective of young people fighting to radically transform the housing system in amerikkka. At YAH, we envision a world where housing is decommodified, houselessness does not exist, and everyone is guaranteed a safe, quality, and permanently affordable home. We believe those closest to the issues are closest to the solutions. We fight to transform the housing system into one in which landlords and the real estate industry do not profit off historically marginalized communities, where tenants have power and decision making over their housing, and where young people have an influential voice in shaping the housing system. Through a deep commitment to transforming culture, community building, and leadership development, we build power that aims to provide young people with autonomy and control over our lives.

The Youth Alliance for Housing (YAH)

Kinyeti Foundation strives to develop the future core human capital of South Sudan.

Kinyeti Foundation is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to increasing access to high-quality education for young people and promoting sustainable development in South Sudan. 

Kinyeti Foundation's Vision

Our graduates are globally competitive and competent, possessing the skills to create, lead, and to innovate in the global economy. 

Kinyeti Foundation's Mission

Our school mission will be anchored on three objectives:

1. To create a model facility, faculty, and program that can be scaled and replicated to meet South Sudan’s critical need for educated leadership at all levels.
2. To identify and recruit students of all genders with strong potential to achieve, regardless of background. 
3. To deliver a learning program that meets world-class standards, helping our students to cultivate rigorous intellect and knowledge as well as character and leadership. 

Kinyeti Foundation's Theory of Change

South Sudan is a young fledgling democracy. We believe that a great democratic country requires great leaders and that access to high-quality education is the most important factor in developing leaders of all types.

Based on that belief, our theory of change is that if the brightest young South Sudanese students acquire high-quality education, the students will gain access to the most competitive boarding high schools in the world, which will prepare them for the most competitive colleges/universities in the world; where they will gain world-class knowledge and skills, which will make them better leaders, innovators, and social builders committed to social change in our communities and our country.

Kinyeti Foundation

Best Seat In The House is a nonprofit organization. It is based in Sandy, UT. It received its nonprofit status at the end of 2017.

The Best Seat in the House is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing life-changing experiences for children facing challenging circumstances, including serious illnesses, poverty, disabilities, and those in foster care. What began as a birthday celebration for Ivan evolved into a dynamic nonprofit with a mission to infuse joy and hope into the lives of children and their families.

Best Seat In The House

An organization focused on providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine. It received its nonprofit status in 2022.

Sonyashniki Foundation Inc

Making fishing dreams come true for individuals with life impacting challenges, metorship programs, and disaster relief efforts.  

**Help Us Heal, Teach, and Inspire—One Monthly Gift at a Time**

At the Jose Wejebe Spanish Fly Memorial Foundation, we believe in the power of the outdoors to transform lives.  Monthly donations are simple, sustainable, and provide the foundation with predictable support to plan programs that maximize impact. By giving a little each month, you help us:

- Your support helps us reach more kids—especially those in foster care—by teaching the value of conservation and connecting them with positive role models who can change the course of their lives.
- Offer restorative outdoor experiences for veterans in need
- Bring joy and unforgettable memories to families facing illness or life-impacting challenges

By joining our Monthly Giving Program, you become a vital partner in making these experiences possible. Even a small monthly contribution can have a huge impact. Every dollar you give is an investment in kids, veterans, families, their futures, and the lasting legacy of our mission.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**Why Monthly Giving?**

Create Long-Term Impact

- Your ongoing support allows us to plan ahead and sustain programs that carry on José’s legacy of ocean conservation, community outreach, and inspiring the next generation of anglers.

Cost-Effective Giving

- Monthly gifts are easier on your budget while adding up to meaningful contributions that make a big difference throughout the year.

Steady Support We Can Count On

- Reliable monthly donations ensure we can respond quickly to needs, maintain scholarships, and keep our mission moving forward without interruption.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Join Us Today

Becoming a monthly donor is easy. Choose the amount that feels right for you, and watch the difference you make every month. Together, we’re shaping lives, fostering conservation, and giving hope—one adventure at a time.

A Story About Our "*Why"*

In January 2023, 14-month-old Virgil VanKleek was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer. While Virgil is now cancer-free, the toll on his family was overwhelming—physically, emotionally, and financially. Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, the Jose Wejebe Memorial Foundation was able to give the VanKleek family eight days in the Florida Keys filled with joy, adventure, and healing. From fishing and snorkeling to exploring coral farms, encountering marine life, and fulfilling his mother, Amanda’s, lifelong dream of swimming with dolphins, the family experienced hope and happiness they never thought possible.

Amanda shared, “It was more than a trip. It was healing. It was unrivaled happiness. It was hope.” Your support makes moments like this possible. Every donation helps us bring comfort, joy, and renewal to families facing unimaginable challenges. Together, we can continue turning pain into possibility and give families the gift of healing memories.

Another "*Why"* Story

Four boys in long-term foster care recently spent a week in the Florida Keys thanks to the Jose Wejebe Memorial Foundation and Misty Wells’ A Reel Future. For children who have endured trauma, instability, and loss, the trip was more than just fishing, dolphin swims, and exploring coral reefs—it was a chance to laugh, feel safe, and create memories of joy. From cooking their own catch to learning about conservation, the boys experienced what it means to be cared for and supported, often for the first time.

Their counselor said the experience was “truly unforgettable,” and one of the boys shared, “This breath of fresh air finally brought peace to such a whirlwind of a world we live in… it showed me the sun is always shining, and that there are people that do care about us foster kids.” That is the power of your generosity. Your monthly support makes these life-changing moments possible—proving to kids who feel forgotten that they are seen, valued, and never alone. 💙 Become a Monthly Donor—Because everyone deserves hope.

Jose Wejebe-Spanish Fly Memorial Foundation Inc

Ashe County Little Theatre is a nonprofit community theatre in West Jefferson, NC, offering live performances and arts education.

Ashe County Little Theatre (ACLT) is a nonprofit community theatre in Ashe County, North Carolina, dedicated to enriching our community through live performance, arts education, and creative opportunities for all ages. We produce a diverse season of plays, musicals, and special performances each year, providing a welcoming platform for local actors, directors, designers, technicians, and volunteers to share their talents both onstage and behind the scenes.

Our roots date back to before 1972, when a small group of theatre lovers came together to perform plays wherever space allowed. A key figure in these early efforts was Mrs. Elizabeth Barlow, an English and journalism teacher at Beaver Creek High School, who helped unite the group and produced many plays by local playwrights. Performances were held in Ashe County schools, with dinner theatre productions staged at the Greenfield Restaurant and Blue Ridge Elementary School. Props, costumes, and set pieces were stored in the basement of the Jon Marc Department Store, known today as Hometown Furniture.

In 1972, the group reorganized, began producing three to four shows a year, and officially became Ashe County Little Theatre. In June 1981, ACLT incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the General Statutes of North Carolina. For more than 50 years, ACLT has remained a vibrant part of the Ashe County community. Today, we proudly call the Ashe Civic Center, “The Home of the ACLT”, our performance space.

ACLT thrives because of community support. We offer ongoing volunteer and acting opportunities for people of all experience levels, fostering creativity, connection, and confidence. Your support helps us continue our legacy, keep theatre accessible, nurture local talent, and bring people together through the shared experience of live theatre.

Ashe County Little Theatre Inc.

Founded in 1995, the AWC Scholarship Program provides rural, low income Thai girls with scholarships to complete high school.

The AWC Scholarship Program awards scholarships annually to female high school students in 28 schools across 21 provinces in central and northern Thailand. In the 2025-26 school year, our donors sponsored 300 students.

Each $200 USD scholarship allows a student to pay the extra, mandatory costs of high school that are not covered by the government (books, uniforms, supplies, meals and transportation). These costs can be prohibitive to low income families and often girls have to leave school because their families cannot pay them.

Eligibility criteria for young women in grades 10-12 (M4-M6) are good academic performance (> 2.5GPA), a low family income, good behavior and a commitment to education while building a sustainable community. ​

​We organize two school/home visit trips each year which gives us the opportunity to meet about 40 of our sponsored students. Watch our [school visit video](https:/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zOVhiBNZRM&t=1s) to share in the highlights of our trip to Nakhon Phanom.

Our students consistently greet us with enthusiasm, appreciation and, best of all, huge smiles. In each school, we meet with staff and students, host book and English clubs and have fun interacting with our students. On our last visit, the girls did their best to teach us Thai dancing.

The American Women's Club of Thailand (AWC) is a nonpolitical, volunteer, not-for-profit association organized in 1956. Our mission is to promote friendship among all women and to serve the people of Thailand through charitable, social, and cultural activities.

American Women's Club of Thailand Scholarship Program

CPHB aims to dismantle systemic hate in California by proactively examining and addressing the root causes of hate through a collaborative and intersectional lens. We are committed to eradicating hate in all its forms and creating a safer, more inclusive environment for all Californians in schools, on college campuses, in public places, and in the workplace.

Center for the Prevention of Hate and Bullying

From crisis to recovery: delivering relief, building resilience, and helping communities find revival.

**Our Mission:** To add as much value as possible, to as many lives as possible, as soon as possible. Every town deserves light that never goes out, neighbors they can count on, and a future their children can believe in. Our first initiative is to transform disaster response by walking with communities through every phase of recovery—from immediate relief through long-term revival—building lasting strength through energy, knowledge, and care that honors human dignity and creates thriving, prepared communities.

Ovanova Gives

Allies Against Slavery builds platforms and partnerships that accelerate data-driven solutions to human trafficking. 

Human trafficking is a hidden problem that thrives in the shadows of society. Myths and misconceptions are pervasive, and data is unreliable. As a result, victims aren’t identified, traffickers aren’t prosecuted, and solutions aren’t data-informed or well-coordinated.

But that is changing. Allies Against Slavery harnesses data to illuminate and eradicate human trafficking. Our tools help allies in the fight to identify victims, coordinate care, and take informed action. 

Our vision is clear: to ensure that every community across the United States has the data it needs to combat and prevent human trafficking. But we cannot achieve this vision alone. We need to leverage innovative, data-driven solutions and forge crucial partnerships to shine a light on trafficking and build a future where freedom and dignity are secured for all. We invite you to join us in this important mission.

Allies Against Slavery

Friends of Stewart Park, with the City of Ithaca, revitalizes and maintains Stewart Park and the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. 

Friends of Stewart Park (FSP) works in partnership with the City of Ithaca, the Wharton Studio Museum, and local community members and organizations to restore Stewart Park’s historic buildings, upgrade park facilities, and support enhanced maintenance. Our work ensures that Stewart Park remains a place where everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of the park; to play, exercise, or celebrate while feeling welcome, accessible, comfortable and safe. FSP achieves this by planning, designing, implementing, and fundraising for a variety of projects that are designed to enhance accessibility and inclusion, encourage a diversity of users, increase biodiversity, and increase sustainability. Projects include building a new inclusive playground, splash pad and bathroom, restoring historic buildings and structures, improving the historic carousel, creating wayfinding and interpretive signage for the park, organizing volunteers, planting and maintaining gardens and much more. 

Friends Of Stewart Park Inc

California Indian Museum and Cultural Center - Weaving Native Culture into the Future.
Native governed and operated since 1996

The **California Indian Museum and Cultural Center (CIMCC)** exists to honor and advance the cultural vitality, sovereignty, and resilience of California Indians, recognizing their enduring relationships to land and place. Led by California Indian expertise, we amplify traditional knowledge, lifeways, and voices. Through education and advocacy, we deepen public understanding of California Indian histories, cultures, and contemporary leadership.

We achieve our purpose by being a dynamic and innovative museum and cultural center, providing exhibits and educational programs for diverse audiences, and a resilience hub for Native communities. We represent and champion California Indian knowledge, perspectives, and voices, and work to change systems by increasing California Indian visibility and authority within them.

**Your Generosity: Powering Action and Transformation -** [2024 Annual Report](https://www.canva.com/design/DAGbopCZ3KU/OjAGR7tfmwXn7OAYTQ5TLw/view?utm_content=DAGbopCZ3KU&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h5a314376ea)

Your heartfelt donations touch the lives of thousands of Native youth and families, K-12 students and teachers, and the general public throughout the Greater Bay Area of California and beyond. Please review our annual report to see our current programs and initiatives and their impacts. 

2025 CIMCC Programs and Services

- **Tribal Youth Ambassadors** - Being with Bears; Screen-Printing and Digital Media Arts Entrepreneurship Training; Advancing Cultural Opportunities to Reclaim Nutrition; Traditional Gathering Policy Advocacy Development and Training; Cultural Pathways 
- **California Indian Traditional Food Incubator** - supporting the emergence and success of Traditional Food Producers through business assistance and shared production facilities. Providing traditional food ways education to Native people.
- **Native Arts** - Artist showcases, gift shop, and business support.
- **Permanent and Temporary Exhibitions:** Ishi Theater and Exhibit; Contemporary Photography and Fashion; Precious Cargo
- Online Exhibits and Educational Websites: Virtual Tours and Programming; California Missions Native History; Pomo Language Learning and Resources; 
- **K-12 Curricula and Programs:** Math Interwoven; Native American Studies Model Curriculum for California; Healthy Ecosystems Curriculum; Representation Matters Curriculum; Native STEM Maker Program; Cultural and Historical Intelligence Training; School Group Tours; California Indian Education for All
- **Center for Resilient Native Generations** - our Resilience Hub is designed to support the emergency to long-term recovery needs of Native people and communities faced with climate change related disasters and risks, and coordinate with community-wide efforts. Providing education, training, and wellness supports through the following programs: Healing through Cultural Arts Wellness Workshops; Wildfire Smoke Preparedness Workshops, Emergency Food Planning; Traditional Food Sovereignty Planning and Programs; Cleaner Air, Cooling, and Resilient Power Center; Food Assistance; Climate Ready Tribal Community Health Representatives Career Pipeline Program.

California Indian Museum and Cultural Center

Strengthening and empowering young women and gender-expansive youth of color as agents for change in their lives and the world.

Sadie Nash Leadership Project’s mission is to **strengthen, empower, and equip young women and gender-expansive youth of color** as agents for change in their lives and in the world. Operating at the intersection of love and rigor, we use popular education to build community, critical consciousness, and post-secondary readiness.

We believe that the foundation of leadership lies in service and activism — **and that redefining what leaders and leadership looks like will transform our lives for the better.**

Join us in our vision of a world that **centers the experiences and leadership of young women and gender-expansive youth of color, building on their perspective, commitment, and brilliance to be a healthier, safer, and more just society for us all.**

Sadie Nash Leadership Project

ITBA  Engineering, Technology & Business argentine university. A non-profit achieving proven levels of excellence among graduates.

For more than 65 years, ITBA - Instituto Tecnólogico de Buenos Aires  has contributed to solving the challenges of humanity through a university education recognized for its excellence, the production of scientific knowledge and international collaboration, and outstanding levels of excellence among its graduates.

Thanks to the financial contribution of companies and individuals, scholarships are obtained so that young people  with talent, passion and determination, can study at ITBA.

ITBA invests in people, in the equipment and infrastructure necessary to be at the forefront of technological progress.

The photo that illustrates this space (courtesy of Matt Dahle)  captures ITBA Rocketry Team celebration after successfully launching their hybrid rocket engine entirely designed and built at our labs by a team of 40 students from different careers, teachers and university technicians in record time of 9 months.
Together they developed LANIN a hybrid rocket and became the first Latin American team to launch it successfully with engines using solid and liquid propellants. 
Spaceport America Cup June 2024

 ITBA - Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires

New Hope Community Ministries is a faith-based NPO serving low-income residents in Haledon & Prospect Park, NJ. All are welcome.

**New Hope Community Ministries** is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering low-income families in Haledon and Prospect Park, NJ. We believe in holistic transformation—providing **food security, financial assistance, education, and supportive community programs** that equip individuals to thrive.

Through our **Food Pantry and The Harvest buying club**, we address food insecurity by offering nutritious options at no cost or reduced prices. Our **financial assistance programs** help families navigate crises, while **education and mentoring initiatives** provide essential skills for long-term success. We also foster **community connections** through support groups, case management, and resource navigation.

With your support, we can continue **feeding families, stabilizing households, and empowering individuals** to build a brighter future. Every donation fuels real change—providing food, resources, and hope to those who need it most. **Join us in making a lasting impact!**

New Hope Community Ministries

Empowering youth through education and experiences. Join us in transforming lives! #BeGreaterThanYourGreatestExcuse

At Project Transition, we're not just an organization; we're a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change. Through our High-FIVES pillars—Family Unity, Intelligence, Value, Enriching Experiences, and Steadfast Sportsmanship—we're empowering underserved youth to unlock their true potential and forge paths of prosperity. 

Each donation, each volunteer hour, and each shared story fuels our mission to transform lives. In a world of endless challenges, we offer solutions, support, and a community united by a single mantra: "Be Greater Than Your Greatest Excuse." Join us, and together, let's build a brighter future for every young soul eager to learn, grow, and succeed. #BeGreaterThanYourGreatestExcuse

Project Transition

Support our mission to ensure trustworthy and safe AI at Apart Research.

We are active contributors and enablers of AI safety research. Our mission is to minimize the risks posed by large-scale AI applications to society. To this end, we conduct research to develop safer AI and nurture talent for AI safety research roles. We organize international research sprints focused on safety topics and support talented researchers in transforming their work into fully published articles.

Apart Research

Since 1958, Children of the Mekong supports children’s education in Southeast Asia. 

In Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, we help children grow through [child sponsorship](https://www.childrenofthemekong.org/sponsor-a-child/) and [education projects](https://www.childrenofthemekong.org/get-involved/support-a-project/).

Our priorities of action are early childhood, girls' education, slums, rural populations, refugees, children with disability, and ethnic minorities.

Children of the Mekong

Created in 1997, the Fondation des Ponts supports the development of the Ecole des Ponts ParisTech and its students.

Excellent research and educational innovation 
 
Created in 1997 on the initiative of 11 major French companies, as well as the association of former ENPC students (AAENPC), the Fondation des Ponts supports the development of the Ecole des Ponts ParisTech and its students. École des Ponts ParisTech, created in 1747 under the name École Royale des Ponts et Chaussées, is a higher education establishment that trains engineers to a high level of scientific, technical and general competency. 

Recognized as a public utility, the Fondation des Ponts supports the development of the École des Ponts ParisTech by financing a whole series of projects that can be grouped according to 6 major themes:  
- Support research and educational innovation. 
- Support students, promote diversity, encourage excellence. 
- Increase the School's international reach to attract excellent teachers, researchers and students.  
- Helping startups created by students 
- Allow the School to have the facilities and equipment required to support its development. 
- Promote the historical and scientific heritage of the School. 

Visit our website:  http://www.fondationdesponts.fr/

Fondation de l'École nationale des ponts et chaussées 

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

Did you know there's more than 1 million books in the Joburg CBD. Let's celebrate that.

Johannesburg, better known as Jozi or Joburg, is best showcased by the vibrant city centre at its heart. The area that residents refer to as “Town” is set apart by the combined bustling of hawkers, cross-continental traders, and white-collar office workers alike.

Between busy public transportation routes and the overall air of Afropolitan excellence, Town has something for everyone. This diverse and energetic part of the city is a prime showcase of the literary and artistic wonders that Joburg has to offer.

The Literary District runs on community support. We send thousands of books, new and used, for free to libraries across South Africa every year. We also work with community organisations that have literacy outreach programmes and donate books to their causes.

With more than 1 million books in the City Library and dozens of booksellers in the nearby blocks, our literary culture flows through the streets. We’re working with the Johannesburg Development Agency through its Our City, Our Block programme to highlight and expand this reading culture.
 
To start, that means keeping our streets clean. With the help of a grant from the Social Employment Fund, we have hired cleaners to help us keep the district looking refreshed.

Dozens of booksellers sell their wares in the LitDistrict. These booksellers provide easy access to books to the thousands of people in the city centre. We have fostered a relationship with these underground sellers, connecting them with publishers so that they can continue to provide the community with new books. We are working together as a neighbourhood to foster more of a reading culture that we hope will spread from our home to many others.

We are in the process of adopting the park that lies at the centre of the LitDistrict. The Library Gardens stretch out from the city library and is a popular gathering point for the community. We hope to turn this park into a literary hub by cleaning it up and filling it with books that are completely free to borrow and read.

We have adopted two outdoor township libraries – one in Alexandra and another in Soweto. We stock these libraries every month to ensure that these communities have access to an ever-changing and ever-growing selection of books. We plan to build more of these throughout Joburg, starting with Library Gardens.

With grants from the city’s Department of Community Development, we workshopped six storybooks in local languages. Three of these stories were accepted by Nal’ibali for translation into all 11 languages with free distribution, thanks to a grant from the Cadbury #InOurOwnWords campaign. See ‘The First Story Ever Told’ in isiXhosa here.

We have also worked on getting stories to print that have, up until now, only existed in oral tradition. In doing this, we hope to share South African stories further across the globe. 

Many South African books that would now be considered classics seem to have disappeared. Some were banned and never reprinted after the end of Apartheid, and others simply fell out the public consciousness but are taking on new resonance now. 

We have been working to publish new editions of such classics so that these stories can re-enter circulation.  We have reprinted a duology of H.I.E. Dhlomo’s ‘The Girl Who Killed to Save’ and ‘Valley of a Thousand Hills’. Dhlomo is a founding figure of South African literature whose work has become hard to come across – something that we are working to change. 

We host publishing workshops to help break down some of the barriers between writers’ ideas and books going to print. We also sell books from independent authors on consignment, helping their words reach readers.

We host Storytime Saturday every week, either at Bridge Books or around the corner at Ernest Oppenheimer Park. With this initiative, we hope to revitalise the art of oral narrative, and to give children a fun and enriching activity on the weekend. Our readers bring stories to life in all South African languages, depending on the week’s audience. We want the kids in the neighbourhood to know that kids like them can be on the covers of books, too.

We also work in collaboration with the Alliance Française. With monthly storytelling events, we support their mission of bringing South African cultures to French expats living in Joburg, encouraging them to introduce their children to more South African stories. Plenty of local children from our area come to listen, too, and to join in on the djembe drum circle. 

The LitDistrict is a part of the Johannesburg Inner City Walkable Network, which links neighbourhoods throughout the CBD to create a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for locals and visitors.
 
 In the LitDistrict, we are working to create a neighbourhood identity based on literature and community. Local kids stop by on their way home from school to do their homework and read together and young professionals hunker down together over coffee at Bridge Books. 
 
All in all, we want our home to feel more like a home – art on the walls, places to come together, books in hands.

African Book Trust

We are committed to empowering people through education, community development, social and economic support. 

Araceli Aid Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded officially on 14th December 2022, but has been working tirelessly and anonymously over the past 13 years to provide educational opportunities to the less privileged, establish and support schools, and improve the living conditions of indigent and destitute individuals in our society .

Our mission is to empower people through education, community development, and social and economic support. We believe that education is the key to unlocking the potential of every individual and creating a better future for all.

Our history dates back to 2009, when our founder, Reverend Father Iroha Christian Nnaemeka, started a small initiative to help children from poor families access quality education. He was joined by other passionate individuals who shared his vision and values, such as Mrs Eze Gertrude Ezinne, Barrister Obiekwe Michael Stanley, Revered Father Ozochikelu Cornelius, Reverend Father Aniebonam Paul, Mrs Omelebere Ezenwanne, and Dr. Chikwendu Chimezie Emmanuel . Together, they formed the Board of Incorporated Trustees of Araceli Aid Foundation and registered it as a legal entity in December 2022.

Since then, we have expanded our scope and impact to cover five main objectives: Education and school support, social Support, economic empowerment, community development, and humanitarian aid.

Some of our past and current activities include:

- Providing teacher training, classroom resources, school supplies, equipping of laboratories and tech facilities, and more to improve the quality of education in existing schools.
- Providing vocational training, job placement services, and grants to help people build better lives for themselves and their families.
- Working with communities to identify and address their most pressing needs, whether it is access to clean water, healthcare, or other essential services.
- Awarding scholarships to deserving students who demonstrate academic excellence and leadership potential.
- Providing food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and psychosocial support to victims of conflicts, or other emergencies.

Araceli Aid Foundation

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We are a nonprofit, so we rely on the generosity of donors like you.

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