Global Education  Tags: global_education get_involved education human_rights geography travel environment  

Book Aid International promotes literacy in developing countries, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. The organization donates books and works with libraries, in addition to supporting education and publishing endeavors.

Building With Books provides after-school programs for students in the United States and runs a school construction and community education program in developing countries. The after-school program encourages intensive volunteer work and provides students with global education sessions. Their international programs promote literacy, access to quality education, and gender equality.

Books For Africa ships donated books to school and libraries in Africa. Their goal is to bring an end to the “book famine” in Africa. The website gives information about donating books or money and includes a list of their specific projects. There is also a photo gallery and a fact sheet about education in Africa.

Global Citizen Corps is an initiative of Mercy Corps that focuses on engaging students with global issues, such as hunger, education, HIV/AIDS, climate change, and water. The website provides information on each of these issues, as well as opportunities to volunteer, get involved, and win grant money for global projects. There is also a special year-long leadership program for students to get them involved in creating “action day” in their hometowns.

Through activism and film-making, Invisible Children is a group that has managed to effectively organize and fight against the “longest running war in Africa.” Their work is far from finished, as they plan to release a feature film displaying the stories of child soldiers in Africa. They hope to raise enough awareness and concern to make a difference.

The blog section of this website is a chance for people from all over the country to post about important social, political, and environmental issues. Through famous films, and lesser-known articles and commentaries, the issues are made easily accessible to the public.

World Water Day is an event hosted by the United Nations every year on March 22. The idea is to raise awareness about the importance of the availability of fresh water, and the need for sustainable management of these resources. Each year the theme of World Water Day is different, and this year the focus was put on transnational water boundaries, and the value of sharing these waters peacefully.

Social Capital Incorporated is a chance for both students and adults to become involved in their community through service activities and event organization. SCI currently has nine locations throughout Massachusetts, and each one is working actively for the betterment of the cities or towns in which they are located. SCI aims to improve communities by bringing them closer together, and getting everyone involved.

OptINnow is a charity organization geared towards ending “chronic” poverty. They hope to achieve this through investing in entrepreneurs with very limited opportunities. Individuals can make loans to entrepreneurs of their choice and follow their progress through the lending and repayment phases, making the lending experience a more personal one.

PlayPumps aims to install 4,000 water-cleaning systems in sub-Saharan Africa by 2010. The website has information on how to get involved in the effort.

Heifer International runs programs all over the world that aim to build sustainable communities through the achievement of the organization’s global initiatives. One of their biggest programs provides livestock and training to families and communities. Heifer also supplies kits of resources, including lesson plans, a DVD, and ideas for bringing the world into the classroom.

Mercy Corps works to alleviate oppression and build secure communities around the world. The Mercy Kit program allows donors to choose how their money is spent by focusing on a variety of global initiatives. Some projects support small businesses, child healthcare, and sustainable agriculture, among many others.

This website provides opportunities for youth to become involved in community action. Students can use the website to search for local volunteer opportunities, find project ideas, and connect with other students.

Habitat For Humanity builds houses around the world. Their youth programs are aimed at youth from the elementary to the collegiate level. Students can sponsor a house or participate in service trips.

This section of the You Think! website provides a list of resources. There are volunteer and internship opportunities, organizations to donate to, and links to several websites that provide additional informational material about various global issues.

BeadforLife works to eradicate poverty in Uganda. It gives Ugandan women the resources to turn recycled paper into beads and helps them sell their jewelry. It also recognizes and focuses on four “critical pillars of community development”: health, vocational training and education, sustainable life skills, and affordable housing. The website has biographies of the beaders and ways to become involved, including donating or hosting a “bead party” to help sell jewelry.

PeaceJam works with twelve Nobel Peace Laureates and uses their examples to inspire youth. They have curricular programs for students of all ages that focus on the stories of the Laureates. Each program involves the implementation of service projects, and there is an annual PeaceJam Youth Conference that gives students a chance to meet a Laureate.

RESPECT’s letter exchange program pairs students at refugee and non-refugee schools as pen pals. Non-refugee students also organize events to raise funds for their partner school and raise awareness of “refugee issues.” Some volunteers travel to refugee camps, and RESPECT also runs a program to provide post-secondary education to refugee students.

Use small beaded dolls made by women around the world to connect students with different global communities.