utu: working to halt the spread of AIDS in Africa

WHO ARE THEY?

Utu is a non-profit 501(c)(3) focusing on educating rural communities in Africa to halt the spread of AIDS on the continent, specifically in “overlooked” areas.

WHAT DO THEY DO?

As education is the focus of utu, one of the main activities is “learn and live” presentations to education rural African communities on AIDS prevention.  Using a generator, projector, and video iPod, they are able to show videos in locations that do not have electricity.  Because these communities do not have electricity many of the residents have never seen a TV or video.

In addition to the presentations, utu collects donations of textbooks in developed nations and then distributes them in Africa.  Lastly they focus on building last infrastructure like schools and clinics so that education can continue in the community.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

• Donate electronically or by check
• Follow @utuafrica on twitter
• Check out their website: utuafrica.org
• Tell people about utu: post a link on twitter, facebook, or email

Kiva.org: loans that change lives

Kiva.org is a cool non profit centered around microfinancing.  If you’re not familiar with the concept of microfinance, it is essentially about providing loans and other financial services to low income clients (especially those in developing conutries) who traditionally don’t have access to these services.

In many cases, these loans end up helping to improve living conditions significantly.  Farmers are able to buy new equipment to increase their yeild, quickly repay the loan, and improve their farm even more.

As of June 11, 2009, Kiva has distributed $76,212,885 in loans from 506,756 lenders. A total of 109,484 loans have been funded. The average loan size is $415.92. Its current repayment rate is 98.35%.

A current example of a loan on Kiva.org:

Tajikistan woman seeks to expand business:

• Currently sells fodder for animals
• Uses the income to raise and sell cattle
• Has applied for a loan of 3,000 Somoni ($700 USD)
• Hopes to use money to set up a private farm for breeding cattle

Saiyohat Mahkamova, a 44 year old market vendor

For more loans like this or to loan money, please visit Kiva.org.  Remember, it’s a loan that can change lives.

Tom’s Shoes / Friends of TOMS

If you haven’t heard of Tom’s Shoes they’re a shoe company based in the U.S.A. that donates a pair of shoes to improverished people for every pair that they sell. They’re pretty good looking shoes and starting to become very popular.

You might have seen the AT&T commerical featuring Tom’s Shoes:

What you might not know is that Tom’s Shoes also operates a non-profit subsidiary called Friends of TOMS. Friends of TOMS is working to fight Podoconiosis, a disease which can be cured by simply wearing shoes.

Here’s how you can help:

• Volunteer for a Shoe Drop
• Invest in a volunteer to participate on a Shoe Drop
• Provide general support for location scouting and volunteer coordination
• Provide necessary treatment(s) and custom boots for those affected by Podoconiosis
• Use GoodSearch.com for your search engine and they will donate to Friends of TOMS
• Donate

Of course, you can also help by buying a pair of shoes from Tom’s Shoes so that they donate another pair to someone in need.  Check out http://friendsoftoms.org/ for more info.

The Blessing Basket Project

About a year ago, I had the opportunity to hear the founder of The Blessing Basket Project speak about her organization and how she started it.  This non-profit pays women in third world countries to weave baskets and then sells the baskets in the U.S. While this idea itself isn’t new, The Blessing Basket Project gives substantially more back to the weavers than most organizations do, in fact they guarantee 2.5 times Fair Trade wages.  The results of this effort are truly amazing as some women have moved on from basket weaving to become entrepreneurs and work to end poverty in their villages.  Read more about this non-profit at http://www.blessingbasket.org/ and consider purchasing a basket for yourself or a friend.

What is CoolNonProfits.Org?

Welcome to CoolNonProfits.Org. Each week, this website will feature non-profit (or not-for-profit) organizations that are really making a difference in the world.  My goal is to have information on at least 30 non-profits by the end of 2009 and really help get the word out about these organizations.  I’d also like to see 4,000 hours of community service and $500,000 given to these organizations.

Interested in helping out? Here’s what you can do:

• Link to this website
• Tell your friends about this website
• Donate time to a non-profit
• Donate money to a non-profit
• Contribute design or programming skills to the website (we really need a logo!)
• Send me an email or post a comment with a non-profit you think should be featured
• Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/coolnonprofits
• Send me more ideas on how to get the word out