Partners and recommended local organizations
All over the globe there are people imagining and building a better world. People striving to help themselves or strangers live free and dignified lives. From grassroots organizations like Laligurans Women’s Skill Center and UNITRAV in Nepal, to Lutheran World Relief which helps thousands of people in over 35 countries, there are millions of non-profits and numerous ways to help. Below is a list of non-profit organizations I've either met with, volunteered for, or worked with in the past few years. Please take a look and get involved. They are all worthwhile organizations using their resources, big and small, to make the world a better place.
Children of Vietnam http://www.childrenofvietnam.com
Children of Vietnam is a non-political, humanitarian organization founded in 1998 for the sole purpose of providing direct aid to the poor and homeless children in the Da Nang area of Vietnam.
The Friends of Cambodian Child's Dream Organization www.friendsofccd.org
The children in the rural area of Siem Reap have nothing but dreams. They are the future of the country and clean water and education are imperative as a basic human necessity. Today, the Friends of Cambodian Child's Dream Org. has a thriving NGO in Siem Reap and has adopted an orphanage and three schools as well as building hundreds of water wells and two libraries. It costs $220 to build a water well that is assured to be free from contaminates and is guaranteed for 8- 10 years.
Friends of the Maya Foundation www.friendsofmaya.org
The Friends of the Maya Foundation delivers immediate and lasting improvements to the World of the Maya Communities.
Laligurans Women’s Skill Development Center http://www.laliguranswomenskill.org.np
Based in Pokhara, Nepal, this organization trains impoverished women handicraft skills which in turn, will help build self esteem and make them a valued part of their society. Handicrafts include handbags, purses, backpacks and shoulder bags. See photos below.
Soles 4 Souls http://www.soles4souls.org
One simple mission: to impact as many lives as possible with the gift of shoes. You can help in many ways: donating your own shoes, donating cash for freight, hosting a shoe drive, or even donating your time as a volunteer.
UNITRAV http://www.unitrav.org/index.php
The “Union of Trekking Travels Rafting workers Nepal” (UNITRAV) is a trade union of those working in the trekking sector, such as guides and porters, as well as many others in the travel, rafting, airlines and cargo sectors in Nepal. It is the only registered trade union which is actively working to achieve higher standards of welfare, employee rights and social respect on behalf of all of these workers.