These are organizations I support. Once verified all engagements longer than 3 hours are subject to up to a 1000 SEK discount when a donation has been made to one of the following causes:
www.msf.org (international site)
Médicins Sans Frontières (MSF), which translates to ‘Doctors without borders’, has been providing humanitarian aid internationally since 1971. MSF provides emergency medical assistance in over 70 countries where health systems are not adequate. MSF works with local authorities to rehabilitate hospitals and start vaccination programs and water sanitation projects while also training local personnel. MSF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999 for its efforts.
www.savethechildren.net (international site)
The Save the Children Alliance, or Rädda Barnen as it is called in Sweden, is an international organization that fights for children’s rights. This organization works to deliver immediate and long-lasting improvements to the lives of children around the world. Currents goals include the provision of education for the 100 million children who do not have the opportunity to go to school as a result of local poverty or war. Within Sweden, Rädda Barnen provides assistance to children who are victims of abuse and has raised awareness of these types of crimes against children through public campaigns and the media.
ECPAT www.ecpat.net
ECPAT is made up of organizations and individuals working to eliminate the commercial sexual exploitation of children. ECPAT stands for ‘End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes’ and the network now operates in 67 countries. ECPAT promotes public awareness of this problem and fights to stop child sex tourism in areas like Asia and South America. They also work to stop child pornography on the internet and promote a worldwide ban on this material.
SOS Children’s Villages is an independent, non-political social organization that works to give needy children a family, to help children shape their own future and to contribute to the development of communities around these children. If a child cannot stay with their biological parents, they should still be guaranteed care, protection and equal opportunities. SOS Children’s Villages supports families in times of crisis so they will not have to break up, provides education programs and also medical services under crisis. Donations go to supporting a special project and you can also sponsor a child through your gift.
www.redcross.se
www.redcross.int
The International Red Cross has seven fundamental principles which are humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. Its overall goal is to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. This society does not discriminate by race or nationality and remains neutral in times of conflict. Recently, the Red Cross provided desperately-needed medical help to victims of the conflict in Lebanon. They also work to prevent the spread of AIDS in Africa and helped in the rebuilding process after the tsunami in South-East Asia. They have local operations in 183 countries.
Jubel is a network of 21 organizations that promote the writing off of debt for the poorest countries of the world. Countries which borrow money from rich countries cannot afford to pay back their debts while also developing social, economical and environmental sustainability for themselves and their children. By reducing the debt to a manageable amount, countries can develop successfully. Jubel has promoted these ideas to the public and politicians and was a key player leading up to the G8 summit in 2005.
Diakonia is a Christian organization which works together with local partners for a sustainable change in the lives of the most vulnerable people in the world. Dekonia was founded by five Swedish churches and supports 400 partners in 30 countries around the world. Diakonia funds local projects which work to raise the living standards of vulnerable people and encourages a respect for democracy, human rights and equality.
Läkarmissionen is an independent Swedish organization started in 1958 that works to help vulnerable people improve their quality of life. They believe that both individuals and circumstances can be changed to achieve sustainable solutions and work to include the people in need in the process of change. Läkarmissionen focusses work in five areas; health, education, social concern, environment and humanitarian aid. They support development projects and humanitarian efforts via local partners in 33 countries.
http://lutherhjalpen.svenskakyrkan.se
The Lutheran church of Sweden works to expose and fight injustices throughout the world. By arranging cooperations with partner organizations, they are always ready to participate in emergency relief work. In the Middle East alone, Lutherhjalpen helps bring food to the poor of Gaza and water to southern Lebanon and are working to help the one million refugees following the current attacks.
Caritas was founded in 1946 by the Catholic church at a time when Europe was in ruins from the war. Caritas works to promote a just society of peace, honesty, freedom and solidarity in which human dignity and value are central. This organization provides aid and development opportunities for people in need and also provides assistance after disasters. Currently, they are helping in Lebanon and East Timor.
Svenska Naturskyddsföreningen
www.snf.se
Swedish Society for Nature Conservation www.snf.se/english.cfm
The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) was founded in 1909 when it pushed for the establishment of national parks and nature reserves in Sweden. Their efforts have saved the sea eagle and peregrine falcon through promotion of laws to ban the use of mercury, DDT and PCBs. In the 1980s, SSNC worked to protect the forests of northern Europe and have contributed to limiting the use of pesticides in agriculture. SSNC has also educated consumers and developed an ecolabel (called Good Environmental Choice) which is given to products using renewable energy sources or less harmful chemicals.
World Wildlife Foundation
www.wwf.se
WWF operates in over 100 countries and has a goal to stop degradation of the planet’s natural environment and build a future where humans and nature live in harmony. This is done through conserving biological diversity, the use of renewable natural resources and the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. The Swedish branch works to preserve the biodiversity of plants and animals in the Baltic Sea and protect forests and marshlands of Sweden and the species that live within them. They also have the Naturewatchers and Panda Club programs for children to learn about nature conservation.
Greenpeace International
www.greenpeace.org
Greenpeace is an independent organization that exposes global environmental problems by using non-violent and creative confrontation and forces solutions for a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace arranges campaigns to protect the ocean and ancient forests, to phase out the use of fossil fuels which lead to climate change, to eliminate toxic chemicals, to prevent introduction of genetically-modified organisms into nature, to end nuclear threat and promote sustainable trade. Greenpeace does not accept donations from governments or corporations in order to maintain its independence.
The Peace Corps traces its roots to 1960 when John F Kennedy encouraged students to serve their country in the cause of peace by working in a developing country. The mission has 3 goals; to help interested countries to meet their need for trained men and women, to promote a better understanding of Americans by the people receiving help and to promote a better understanding of other people by Americans. Peace Corps volunteers help with education and youth outreach programs, environmental awareness, health and HIV/AIDS prevention and business development.