Out of the Shadows

One of the most common statements that I hear when I talk to people about making a donation of some kind for the people of Darfur is " I saw a report on Save Darfur that showed that almost none of the money they get goes to the people of Darfur" or "How do I know for sure what my money is going to?". So I decided that I could best help ease the minds of those interested by putting together a list of organizations that are on the ground in the refugee and IDP camps

Image via Wikipedia

helping the people in need. A list of those operating in the trenches if you will. While putting this list together I was reminded that those sacrificing the most are often the ones that go unnamed.

As I put this list or organizations together, I realized that the vast majority of them were completely unknown to me. I had been going strong as an activist for sometime so I have to admit that I was a little ashamed that I did not know about these groups. Why had I not heard about them? Why is it that these organizations, the ones that deserve our support the most, are in the shadows?

The answers to these questions are simple but what was shocking to me was the realization that the organizations doing the majority of the humanitarian work, throughout history, have been the ones that go almost completely unnoticed by the vast majority of the world. These are the groups that, in my opinion, are most deserving of our admiration, and donations, yet it is the very nature of the their work that causes them to remain in the shadows.

You see these groups are focused whole heartedly on helping those they serve. Their work is the embodiment of humanitarianism. These are the people putting their own lives at risk to ensure that no human being is left without their most basic of rights. And it is that very risk that leads them to hide in the background. Being responsible for protecting the people that work for them these groups don't "advertise" where they are working. The last thing they want to do is put their people at risk for the sake of publicity. The other reason these groups act in anonymity is even more simple, no money.

Their focus is on helping the people and every last dollar goes to that cause, raising money costs money and these groups don't have a "marketing" budget. All their funds go to achieving their goals and helping the people. There isn't enough leftover for an advertising or outreach campaign. There is no ego, no alternative motive. They simply help people. These are the people that are literally carrying the torch of humanitarianism.

So the first list I made went up on my old site but seeing as that information is out of date and Sudan's President, Omar al-Bashir, has expelled 16 of the aid organizations working in Sudan I figure it is time to update that info. Below you will find an updated list of some of the agencies working on the ground and directly helping the people of Sudan. I found this information on the ICG site and added a couple that I believe qualify.

Now that you have the list of these organizations what are you going to do? I encourage you to print this list out, share it with your church, email them to your friends, make a donation of your own or start a fundraiser, but please do something. They are deserving of our help.

Thanks you.

Action Against Hunger

Africare

AirServ

CARE

Caritas Internationalis

Catholic Relief Services

CHF

GOAL

International Committee of the Red Cross

International Crisis Group

Intermediate Technology Development Group

International Medical Corps

International Rescue Committee

Kids for Kids

Medair

Médecins du Monde

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Mercy Corps

Norwegian Church Aid

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

OCHA - Office of the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sudan

Oxfam

Presbyterian Disaster Relief

Refugees International

Save the Children

Secours Islamique

UNICEF

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

World Food Programme

Wine to Water

Out of the Shadows

Opportunity Knocks

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you all about an great organization and a even better opportunity. The Genocide Intervention Network and the Carl Wilkins Fellowship.

Image by Genocide Intervention Network

The Genocide Intervention Network (GI-Net) was based on the idea that through simple contributions average everyday people could have a direct effect on the innocent people suffering in Darfur. With the help of these donations they established a landmark civilian protection program. Through the creation of such programs as;

STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition active in hundreds of high schools and colleges across the country.

Targeted Divestment: A campaign lobbying to divest funds from companies operating within Sudan and supporting their government financial while it continues its genocidal campaign.

1-800-Genocide: A toll free number to connect to your elected officials that also gives you up to date talking points before being connected directly to them.

DarfurScores.org: Want to know how your elected officials have voted on Darfur related legislation?

They have established an organization that empowers individuals with the tools and knowledge to help end genocide. This is one of the first organizations that I worked with when I first became active so I speak from experience when I say that they are truly focused on helping the people suffering from the worlds horrible atrocities. They helped me take my motivation and drive and produce some tangible results. But it is with the goal of ending genocide not just in Darfur but everywhere that GI-Net established the Carl Wilkens Fellowship.

From a recent email I received from GI-Net here is a great description of the program;

Launched in 2009, the Carl Wilkens Fellowship Program is a unique opportunity for individuals who care about preventing and stopping genocide and mass atrocities to become dynamic citizen leaders and effective advocates for policy at local, state, and federal levels. In this respect, the Fellowship Program seeks to bridge the gap between thought and action in the anti-genocide movement.

In its inaugural year, the Carl Wilkens Fellowship Program has worked with twenty (20) individuals from communities across the country and from a diversity of backgrounds - from retired corporate lawyers to filmmakers to computer programmers to communications specialists. Each one of them has been impacted by what is going on in Darfur, in Burma, and in other areas of the world. Through the Fellowship Program, each one of these individuals has taken it upon themselves to acquire the tools and resources to build sustained political will within their communities for the prevention and cessation of genocide.

Designed to fit the schedules of working professionals, community members with other organizational affiliations, and individuals with families, the Carl Wilkens Fellowship Program includes the following core components:

1. Two (2) weekend Retreats in Washington DC – the first in February and the second in September
2. Monthly group skills and knowledge based trainings
3. Monthly group check-in calls
4. Monthly individual mentorship calls with the Fellowship Program Coordinator
5. Participation in GI-NET campaigns
6. Regular opportunities for social networking within the anti-genocide movement and the human rights field at-large, including with alumni of the inaugural class of Carl Wilkens Fellows

Over the course of one year, the Fellowship Program provides these emerging leaders with rich training opportunities building off of, but not restricted to, the fundamentals of grassroots organizing:

1. Community resource mapping;
2. Volunteer recruitment/engagement/retention;
3. Messaging and media outreach;
4. Advocacy tactics and strategies;
5. Fundraising; and
6. Strategic planning
   

In addition, Carl Wilkens Fellows receive:

1. $1,000 stipend to use towards organizing events in their communities
2. Transportation to and accommodation and board at Fellowship Program Retreats

This amazing program is for those that truly want to make a difference, those in it for the long haul. If you think, scratch that, if you know that you are one of those people then please take advantage of this opportunity and apply for this fellowship. Imagine what you can accomplish with the tools you will gain from this fellowship. Take your activism to the next level.

The Carl Wilkens Fellowship 2010 application will go live on Genocide Intervention Network's website on September 1 and will be due by November 1. I encourage everyone who is interest to apply.

For further information go to the GI-Net website and contact them directly.

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• Genocide Intervention Network: "Have a Hand In Stopping Genocide" (digiactive.org)
• Punch: State Dept. Nominee Tied to Sudan Government (blogs.abcnews.com)
• Sudan clashes leave 185 people dead (guardian.co.uk)
• 160 dead in South Sudan ethnic clashes (guardian.co.uk)

Opportunity Knocks