Get Involved with Your Local Refugee Community

Refugees coming to the Unites States are bombarded with a completely new lifestyle and not enough support. Things that we take for granted and slip under the radar such as how to pay bills or grocery shop can be intimidating and confusing, especially if English is not your first language.

While the US government provides some support programs to get these often war-torn families to safety, it has not been able to address all of the issues. Many refugees suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome and many other illnesses that require additional support, whether it is financial or emotional.

Consequently, many organizations throughout the United States have stepped in to provide continued support after the government aid has been exhausted. Check out the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) website to get an idea of ways you can help while gaining experience and friendship with other cultures.

-Leah Kelly

SOURCE: USCRI

One for One

Throughout developing countries, many children do not have shoes to wear. Walking around barefoot, they get cuts and scrapes on their feet which often result in disease from parasites in the ground entering the wounded skin. In several cases, children cannot attend school where it is often a requirement to wear shoes. After seeing this problem with his own eyes during a trip to Argentina, Blake Mycoskie founded TOMS Shoes in an effort to make a difference. For every pair of shoes that they sell, the company provides a pair for a needy child in a developing country. Since they started in 2006, TOMS was able to provide 140,000 children with shoes. In the next year, they are hoping to give 300,000 more. Find out more about TOMS here.

Bill to Improve Maternal and Child Health

In March, the House of Representatives introduced the Newborn, Child, and Mother Survival Act of 2009. Newborn child mortality rates throughout developing countries are frightening. The lack of clean and safe conditions for childbearing result in many mothers and children contracting diseases, many of which are fatal. The new bill is aimed directly at this issue. Establishing an Interagency Task Force on Child Survival and Maternal Health, it would make delivery room conditions safer and focus on improving the health of mothers and children. Read more about the bill here, and remember to call your congressional leaders to voice your support!

Success on Capitol Hill

Last week, the President of The Borgen Project went to D.C. and met up with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, along with 80 other congressional offices. He spoke mostly to foreign policy L.A.s (legislative assistants) about the Global Food Security Act and the Newborn Child and Mother Survival Act. A majority of them were very supportive, and the overall response was positive. As they go on to present this info to the congressional leaders, hopefully we will see an increased list of cosponsors for the two bills. Throughout the next few weeks it will be important to keep calling our local senators and representatives to ensure that this poverty reduction legislation stands out from the thousands of other bills being presented. Find out more about calling your congressional leaders, and mobilize your friends to do the same!

Special thanks to Robin Moore Photography.

Fundraising Event

Join some of the staff at The Borgen Project next weekend on Saturday, April 18, for an exciting day of canvassing! We'll meet up at our downtown office to go over some basics, and then head out to downtown Seattle and the university district to spread the word about our organization. If you're interested in making a difference, contact Pat at patrick@borgenproject.org for more info. We look forward to hearing from you!

Night of Nets

"No child should die from a mosquito bite," is the simple yet powerful statement used by World Vision to promote its latest country-wide campaign against malaria. Night of Nets calls young people to organize events on school campuses and parks to raise awareness around their community about the easily prevented disease that is responsible for countless lives that cannot afford an insecticide-treated bed net. Along with raising funds to provide nets for families in a Zambian community, they will be petitioning government leaders to commit to using more resources to combat malaria. Communities are encouraged to schedule their "night" close to World Malaria Day, April 25.
Learn more about the project and how you can host your own event here.

Studying Poverty

At UC Berkeley, students from all areas of study are signing up for the university's fastest growing minor, "Global Poverty and Practice". The program became available just 2 years ago, and it gives students the knowledge and experience necessary to fight global poverty. The minor's signature course, "Global Poverty: Challenges & Hopes in the New Millennium," fills up an auditorium of 480 people, with a waiting list of about 200 other interested students. As the program expands even further, maybe other universities across the country will notice, and begin establishing similar areas of study.
Source: UC Berkeley News

Spread the Word!

Show off your support for The Borgen Project with an official t-shirt- you can get one for yourself, a friend, a family member, and even for your dog! Purchase this and other merchandise including mugs, hats, and buttons, at our online store.

A Latte that Makes a Difference

Those of us who frequently visit Starbucks for our morning coffee fix may have already noticed a change in the store: the addition of (Starbucks) RED gift cards. This seemingly minor change is actually a significant step in the fight against AIDS. Every time a customer uses this prepaid card to make their coffee purchase, 5 cents will be donated directly towards the Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa. The coffee giant partnered up with singer Bono's organization last October when they created three new drinks to raise money for RED. The gift cards have been introduced to stores in January, in hopes of raising money for the cause and educating their customers about the critical issues facing Starbucks' main coffee growing region.
Source: Look to the Stars

Donate Without Reaching for Your Wallet

Igive.com is a great website that allows you to raise money for your favorite cause simply by using its online search engine. Every time you use it, $.02 is added to your selected cause. The total donation gets mailed to the organization every month. You can also raise money by doing your online shopping on 700+ selected sites such as Amazon, Barnes& Noble, Cheap Tickets, eBay, Hallmark, and much more.

Making donations has never been easier, and it costs you nothing- simply log in to iGive, find the cause you want to donate to (The Borgen Project, of course), and watch the donations add up as you surf the web or do your shopping!

Be a Hero, Make a Phone Call

Voicing your opinion on global poverty to your congressional leader is easier than you might think; all it takes is a 30-second phone call. Call your local legislator's office, tell them your name, and let them know that you are interested in in increasing funding for global poverty. The person answering the phone will write down your message, and later present it to the congressional leader. If more people call about the same issue, the legislator will see it as more of a priority, so encourage your friends and family to do the same. Visit our website to find the phone number of your legislator, and learn more about how to make a Hero Call.

Play a Part in Solving World Hunger, Literally

FreeRice is a free online quiz game in which every correct answer you give provides 10 grains of rice to the UN World Food Program. You can sharpen your skills in various subjects such as vocabulary, foreign language, chemistry, math, and even art. At the same time, you would be donating food to people in impoverished countries. The rice is paid for by sponsors of the website; every time somebody answers a question, a sponsor banner appears at the bottom of their screen. This generates the money that is then used to purchase rice. The website also encourages people to make individual donations and provides ideas on other ways to help end world hunger.
Source: FreeRice

Spread the Word!

You don't need a stage and microphone to help spread the word about The Borgen Project (although it wouldn't hurt!), all you need is your computer. Build online buzz by posting info about the organization on the websites you visit, messaging your friends on Facebook and Myspace, or linking to our YouTube videos. For more quick and easy ideas on what you can do to build awareness, go here.