Search Nonprofits

Currently Ubeci serves approximately 600 children, many who live on the streets of Quito, with an educational break during the day, at six different markets. Each day staff and volunteers get on a bus and go to a market, carrying canopies, mats, toys, school supplies and sports equipment; and set up an area to provide educational, social and recreational services. The market children are often required to spend up to 12 hours a day in a stall at the market helping bag produce and keeping the stall clean. Due to a lack of ability to earn adequate wages in the market to pay for basic needs, children often work so enough money can be earned to survive. Children first wash their hands with soap and water, both from necessity and to learn basic hygiene. Children between the ages of 1 and 17 engage in various activities each day, sometimes with younger siblings in attendance, because a 5 year old will be responsible for caring for a one or two year old sibling. Volunteers and staff assume responsibility for the young sibling while the older child participates in the program. Children are provided with educational toys, such as legos, puppets, etc., and are encouraged to play with others. Play allows children to develop creativity and imagination while developing physical, cognitive, and emotional strengths. Play is essential to developing social and emotional ties, and allow children who have been working to once again be a child. Older children will receive help with homework if attending school or have the opportunity to draw or read. Next. children are divided into three age groups in order to engage in appropriate learning activities. Younger children can engage in coloring a worksheet that may describe various objects, feelings, or activities which is then incorporated into a lesson which helps the young children gain a better understanding of basic elements of math, hygiene, health, language, self-respect and self-awareness. Worksheets and activities are more challenging for the older groups of children. All activities employ fun as a way to build interest, maintain interest and focus and increase success. After sitting, they are often in need of movement at this point, which is offered in the form of organized, cooperative, and fun games and activities. Children may engage in a three legged race, play different versions of tag, or a game of soccer. Organized games teach important life lessons from play that is often missing from work in the market. Children engage in a song that involves movement and another lesson often in relation to self-awareness and positive self-concept. Children are then allowed to choose an activity or receive additional help with school work. Many children are able to walk from their parents stall to the program on their own. However, others are picked by staff at their parents stall at the beginning of the program and then are returned to the stall after the program ends, a short but important form of transportation, to help all the children in the market participate. Goals of the Play Do and Learn Program Provide street children and at-risk children with a needed break from working in the stall and/or having to provide care for a younger sibling. Provide educational services to children who are either not in school or have limited school, to augment their learning and promote the importance of learning. Foster a positive self-concept in at-risk/street children who have experienced many challenges including various forms of discrimination including gender and class; lack of basic necessities: food, shelter, health care, clothing and education and a time and place to be a child. Provide an opportunity for parents to see and understand the value of education, many who have not had the opportunity for school, in a manner that provides an step between full time school and working full time in the market. Provide support so that children are able to enroll in and stay in school, so they have more and better options for earning a livable wage. Offer girls, who often have less options than boys in Ecuador, a more level playing field in terms of self-concept, educational opportunities and the ability to be more self-sufficient. Program Accomplishments Approximately of all the school age children in the Play Do and Learn program enroll in school and stay in school during the year due largely to the services provided before school age and ongoing support once enrolled in school. Services have been increased over the years so that over 600 children in 6 different markets receive program services. Due to the strength of the program and support from around the world, the program has survived for 20 years. Have employed three direct service providers whose energy and dedication to the program is evidenced by working long hours in the markets of Quito, regardless of conditions, and always placing the needs of the children first. Have developed and nurtured a relationship with IVHQ, which results in over 250 volunteers a year spending between two and twelve weeks a year, providing 15,000 hours of service per year at a value of a donation of $300,000 per year, keeping operating expenses to $60,000 per year. Have developed the local support and partnership with the best university in Ecuador, The Universidad of San Francisco who provides, student interns and materials for student supply kits each year. Christmas Campaign: Each December students in the Play, Do, Learn Program receive a gift from Ubeci consisting of food (such as candy, juice, cakes, sandwiches, etc.) and clothing. Children participating in the program often are unable to celebrate Christmas as many children around the world, due to lack of resources to obtain basic day-to-day living necessities. The total value of the food and clothing given to each child is approximately $15.00. School Supplies: In October, each child who participates in the Play Do and Learn Program will receive a kit of student supplies, which includes notebooks, pencils, pens, colored pencils, crayons, erasers and glue. The value of each kit is approximately $12.00. The kits are distributed to the child and parent.

Mission: Strengthen the capacity of community organizations through education, mentor-ship, and mobilization. Vision: An Ecuador where every person enjoy a life of dignity, hope, and empowerment.

Friends of Humanity SA is a Geneva-based non-profit organization supporting initiatives and projects in five essential areas: - Human rights and dignity - Education and training - Healthcare and medicine (including alternative medicine) - Environmental protection and conservation - Microfinance

CARITAS AUSTRIA is an internationally operating non-profit organisation (donations are tax-deductible Reg. Nr. SO1126; equivalent 501(c)(3) US organization) under the mission of the Austrian Catholic church and pursues solely and directly charitable and benevolent objectives. CARITAS AUSTRIA relief work addresses the needy in their entirety, taking also into consideration their physical, psychological and spiritual-religious backgrounds. CARITAS AUSTRIA commits itself to providing assistance to people in need which is done without regard to creed, ethnicity or ideology of those seeking help. In its operations CARITAS AUSTRIA is guided by respect for the dignity and self-determination of the people it serves. There are more than 1,000 places throughout Austria where CARITAS AUSTRIA helps people in need. In the areas of caregiving, supporting people with disabilities, hospices, in the social counseling centers, on assignment for families in need or for older people who cannot afford heating. CARITAS AUSTRIA - this comprises its fulltime staff, but above all, also the roughly 50.000 volunteers and each and every one of you who supports our work. CARITAS AUSTRIA's main activities are aiming at social support and advocacy for those in need. These activities are taking place in Austria and abroad, whereas the main focus is lying on national work in Austria. Inside and outside of Austria, CARITAS AUSTRIA always aims at addressing the basic needs of the vulnerable taking also into consideration their social and cultural background.

PLAY International is a charity founded in 1999 on a conviction: sport is a source of solutions to our societal challenges. Its mission is to cocreate and implement education and inclusion projects for children and youth in vulnerable situations, using sport and sport games as educational tools. The NGO works in particular on issues such as access to and retention in school, gender equalitý, community reconciliation, health prevention, environmental education, living together, changing the way we look at disability... Since its creation, it has implemented educational and humanitarian projects, in France and internationally in 20 countries, for the benefit of nearly one million children.

The German Red Cross co-operates with other national Red Cross/ Red Crescent societies, the International Federation of Red Cross/ Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross in numerous missions concerning: - Emergency Response (including quick assignment of pre-trained personnel and pre-packaged material, provision of relief materials, donations and contributions in cash and in kind to partner organizations) - Rehabilitation after disasters (Reconstruction of houses, medical facilities, and livelihood after disasters) - Development projects with focus on Disaster Risk Reduction / Climate Change Adaptation, Water and Sanitation, Basic Health Care, Livelihood and Capacity Building within Partner Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies and communities.

The Habitat International Coalition (HIC) is the global network for rights related to habitat. Through solidarity, networking and support for social movements and organizations, HIC struggles for social justice, gender equality, and environmental sustainability, and works in the defense, promotion and realization of human rights related to housing and land in both rural and urban areas.

To promote human rights, the eradication of inequalities and a life in dignity, free of violence for all.

The Curiosity Project, is a nonprofit organization that drives social impact by providing health and entrepreneurial opportunities in communities where people have limited access to resources. Our vision is to positively impact global health through curiosity, connection and contribution. The Curiosity Project is built on a belief that when global health is explored with curiosity and authentic human connection, awareness arises to foster innovative collaborations that improve quality of life for all. Curiosity can truly make a positive impact on global health and inspire others to take action. The Curiosity Project is made up of international humanitarian workers, health care professionals and executives who have been to every corner of the globe generating connections and making an impact. They have spent decades in the field collaborating on healthcare trainings and creating projects to meet the needs UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Zahana in Madagascar is dedicated to participatory rural development, education, revitalization of traditional Malagasy medicine, reforestation, and sustainable agriculture. It is Zahana's philosophy that participatory development must be based on local needs and solutions proposed by local people. It means asking communities what they need and working with them collaboratively so they can achieve their goals. Each community's own needs are unique and require a tailor -made response

Oxfam is a global movement of people who share the belief that, in a world rich in resources, poverty isn't inevitable. It's an injustice which can, and must, be overcome. We're dedicated to building a just and safer world focusing on people's rights. We're passionate about ending poverty and helping to rebuild the lives affected by it. It's an enormous undertaking but we also have people on our side - talented and committed partners, volunteers, supporters and staff who share the same values. We aim to save lives by responding quickly with aid and protection during emergencies, empower people to work their own way out of poverty and campaign for lasting change. We have been saving and changing lives for seventy years now and know that tackling poverty is only possible when we are helping people to secure their fundamental human rights - the right to life and security, the right to a sustainable livelihood, the right to essential services, the right to be heard and the right to equity (in particular, the rights of women). We work at all levels - global and local, with international governments and global institutions, local communities and individuals - to make sure that these rights are protected and that the best solutions to people's suffering are implemented. Our values as an organisation are founded upon our experiences. We know that poverty can only be overcome once the fundamental human rights of impoverished others are secured and our three main values as an organisation - empowerment, accountability, inclusiveness - reflect this. Empowerment - our approach means that everyone involved with Oxfam, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen. Accountability - our purpose driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable; we believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions. Inclusiveness - we are open to everyone and embrace diversity; we believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences.

Giving local communities the tools to hold natural resource extraction companies accountable and foster dialogue between communities and companies.