Those familiar with international development have likely heard of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a United Nations initiative implemented in 2000. As part of the MDGs, UN member nations agreed to a set of 8 goals, ranging from achieving universal primary education to ensuring environmental sustainability. The purpose was to meet these goals by 2015.
Now, 2015 is almost upon us. To formulate the post-MDG goals, the UN and its partners have created MY World. The site allows people from all over the world to list their own priorities for global development.
At the MY World site, you can pick the issues that are of the most importance to you. Check it out, and use your voice to do good!
Good Happens.
Pay it Forward!
Here at Center for Living Peace, we try to keep up with the different ways that people and organizations make Good Happen on a regular basis. There are so many different opportunities!
We wanted to share two cool partnerships with you that are doing good: cosmetics company Bobbi Brown with Global Giving, and popular content-sharing site Reddit with DonorsChoose.org.
Image from the Pretty Powerful page on Global Giving
Pretty Powerful is the combined effort of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and the online giving platform Global Giving. Donors can give to a variety of projects which aim to empower women around the world, ranging from supporting education for 250 girls in South Africa to helping women find employment here in the United States. Each project gives a detailed description and you can receive follow-up information as the project progresses. You can chip in any amount towards the project’s goal!
Image from the ELIF fundraising page on DonorsChoose.org
Explain Like I’m Five is a subreddit and series of videos each explaining something in simplistic terms. It is also the name of the team of redditors supporting classroom projects on DonorsChoose.org. Like in the case of Global Giving, each project provides detailed information and a description of the classroom needs. Donors can choose a specific classroom project and support the learning needs of kids, ranging from tech classroom tools to music programs. Depending on the amount donated, donors can also receive thank-you cards from the students (which can be incredibly adorable in personal experience; let’s just say my fridge has some AWESOME decorations).
Each of these is a great partnership doing good! We encourage you to check them out.
Good Happens.
Pay it Forward!
We periodically like to share videos with you that we find interesting! Today we bring you one TED Talk from TEDGlobal 2010. Watch as Sheryl WuDunn, co-author of the book-turned-movement Half the Sky, speaks to the importance of education for girls around the world.
Though the video was recorded in 2010, it is still relevant today. What thoughts do you have about the points WuDunn made?
Learn about Half the Sky in our past blog post or at their website, or explore more TED Talks.
Good Happens.
Pay it Forward!
10×10 is an organization and movement dedicated to educating girls around the world. With founding partners including Intel, the organization raises awareness and has ways for people to take action to educate girls and change lives.
The centerpiece of 10×10 is the film Girl Rising. Watch the trailer below!
The film opens March 7th. Find a screening of Girl Rising near you!
Good Happens.
Pay it Forward!
Today we bring you a video that we found interesting. Data can be fascinating! In this video on the Gates Foundation‘s Youtube channel, statistician Hans Rosling discusses the importance of measurement, particularly of child mortality rates. Rosling discusses what he declares as “the river of myths” that supposedly separates the “developed” from the “developing” world.
Rosling has also made other talks about the importance of data. What are your thoughts?
Good Happens.
Pay it Forward!
Want to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy? Join Team Kids and their LemonAID stands to support the Red Cross!
Our thoughts are with those affected by the storms. Learn more about Team Kids and LemonAID at the Team Kids website!
Good Happens.
Peace Grl Out!
As part of the Living Peace Series with Sir Richard Branson, we hosted our Living Peace Projects (formerly known as “Working Groups”) on January 22, 2011. With each Living Peace Series speaking event, we host a day of service for youth encouraging participants to not only get involved, but continue to do good in the world.
Now, over a year after the Living Peace Projects with Virgin Unite, we are so happy to highlight the work of Erwin Wang. As a local high school student, Erwin joined us back in January 2011 and began a project to raise funds for charity. As part of the project Erwin began at the Living Peace Projects, he raised $2,000! The funds supported the Human Options scholarship program here at the Center as well as the food pantry at Families Forward.
Erwin and CLP Founder Kelly
When asked about the impact the event had on him, Erwin said:
“Since I could remember, both my mother and father spoke of the importance of generosity, and the far-reaching happiness it brings to all people. It is an aspect that has influenced me throughout my childhood and teenage years. I’ve been privileged to have been raised in such a nurturing environment – it only seems fitting to give back to the community that has given me so much. What started out as a simple idea developed into a full-fledged fundraising event. It was a wild and exciting ride from start to finish, and ultimately saw it appropriate to provide the funds to Families Forward and the Human Options program. Many are unaware of the financial and domestic issues families in Irvine must tackle daily – which is precisely why these organizations are deserving of these funds. I’d like to acknowledge my team for pulling off such a feat, along with Kelly Smith and Rebecca Hendrickson of CLP for allocating the funds.”
-Erwin Wang
Erwin is certainly an amazing example of making good happen and how a project that may seem small can make a huge impact. We wish him all the best in his college career and endeavors!
Good Happens.
Peace Grl Out!
