Social Impact Social Media

For this Netherlands-based charity a very special set of unique skills, along with passion, are required. And according to founder Pascal van Erp, “It is very important to show the world how big the problem is that we are talking about.” “There are lots of nets out in the oceans.” Each dive costs between $2,000 and $2,700. Thus far the group’s only source of support has come from the Dutch government: $530,400 from a pool created by the sale of lottery tickets. Pascal leads a team of 30 to 40 volunteer divers in the North Sea. His group coordinates and works with a loosely integrated network of like-minded divers around the world. “In the last three years, we have made 100 dives and removed 10 tons of fishing gear from the sea,” he says. The nets are then recycled into socks and other textiles. Their efforts are both difficult and dangerous. “It’s the most difficult type of diving I’ve ever done,” says Heather Hamza, one of roughly 50 volunteer divers who make u

Hopelink is a community action agency that has served homeless and low-income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities in the Kings County area of Washington state since 1971. They have five multi-purpose service centers, and five housing sites throughout north and east King County. The service centers are equipped with food banks, and a staff of specialists offering various support programs including family development, adult education, employment training, and home heating assistance. Annually Hopelink's housing, support and transportation programs assist 60,000 members of the communities they serve. For the 22,086 clients Hopelink has assisted through its support programs they served more than two-million meals, distributed more than $2.5 million to keep homes warm, provided more than 1,000 home owners assistance to keep their homes, and provided educational classes to hundreds of adults seeking employment. The organization seeks business part

Founded in 1995 by Bill and Lynne Twist the Pachamama Alliance is a remarkable partnership between socially conscious citizens of the “modern” world and the Achuar people of the Amazon rainforest. By the early 1990's, from contact with neighboring tribes, the Achuar knew that oil companies were poisoning the rainforest and everything alive in it and steadily moving closer and closer to their home.  They knew their land and their traditions were in danger.  They boldly reached out to the “modern” world that was threatening their land and their culture. Bill and Lynne Twist were among the people who traveled to Ecuador to hear the plight of the Achuar people. The Achuar shared their vision of self-determination and a goal to change the culture of the “modern” world from over-consumption to a culture that honors and sustains life.  They were looking for allies from the North which they found in the Twists who returned to the U.S. and founded the Pachamama Alliance. Amo

If you’re a member of a local chapter of the United Nations Association stand up and take a bow. If you even know what the United Nations Association (UNA) IS raise your hand.  The UNA is a nonprofit citizens' organization, separate from the United Nations, dedicated to supporting the mission of the United Nations, and with a key goal of making more citizens like themselves, and government officials, aware of the vital role the United Nations plays in global peace keeping, addressing global environmental challenges,  bringing war criminals to justice,  providing women and families in developing countries with family planning resources,  fighting for gender equality, universal primary education, reducing infant mortality and work to eradicate HIV/AIDS and other deadly diseases. Local UNA chapters reach out to educate politician  and local folks about the missions of the United Nations. Chapter members help assure citizens and politicians are engaged in U.S. political dial

Art Aids Art is an Altadena California and Cape Town South Africa based nonprofit founded in 2003 by educators and human services professionals. The organizations serves two key initiatives; educating American citizenry about South African culture and the ongoing HIV/AIDS crisis and serving women and children in the impoverished areas surrounding Cape Town. The organization provides economic opportunities to South African artists collectives through art sales in the U.S.A. Annually the organizations   leads an intergenerational group to Cape Town to provide services in partnership with South African organizations. Art Aids Art also has an ongoing “Babies And Books” program collecting gently used black dolls and multicultural literature for the children of eKhaya eKasi Center in Khayelitsha township. Books are prohibitively expensive in South Africa and still often limited to the Afrikaans and in South African child centers dramatic play areas tend to have only white dolls

shineonsierraleone.org Shine On Sierra Leone (SOSL) has made great and impactful strides since I first spotlighted them two years ago.   Everything has been achieved through the sheer determination, positive spirit and a conviction to change things for the better in the 7 th poorest country in the world. Behind it all are founder Tiffany Persons and the organization’s committed and energized team of staff and volunteers. Since I last posted here SOSL’s projects have expanded form education, microcredits ( through a partnership with Salone Microfinance Trust, SMT) and sustainable development—adding the SOSL Maternal and Child Healthcare program and a nationwide Computer and Adult Literacy, partnership with ST Foundations' Digital Unify Program, and Ecotourism. They have also added some impressive and impact-adding partnerships; Operation USA privately funded NGO focused on providing reconstruction and development aid around the world, the Lower Eastsi

Amigos de los Ríos (AMIGOS) was founded in 2003 with the mission of building parks with a bigger use while fostering environmental sustainability. AMIGOS focuses on developing   and implementing   multi-purpose, state-of-the-art parks in park-deficient neighborhoods. Their projects use green techniques such as on-site water filtration, bioswales, and low-water-use irrigation. In their park projects they also integrate   drought-tolerant and native-plant landscaping to conserve water, protect biodiversity and natural resources. amigosdelosrios.org They are currently working to make their amazing vision of “The Emerald Necklace” -an unbroken network of parks and connecting nature trails and bike paths that stretches from the San Gabriel Mountains to the Sea- a reality. AMIGOS   is committed to engaging the community while reflecting community needs through programs including curriculum creation for K-12,   family-oriented environmental education program,   developin