Remember the fun superlatives feature in your high school yearbook? Our team decided to bring it back to salute some remarkable GlobalGiving partners of 2017.
As we embark on a new year, we want to thank each and every one of our partners. Together, we’re transforming aid and philanthropy to accelerate community-led change. In celebration of all we’ve accomplished, meet 12 remarkable GlobalGiving partners who won awards and made headlines in 2017:
The women of Seva Mandir
Seva Mandir earned a top shot for this photo in our 2017 Photo Contest.
Women from disadvantaged communities in India have new hope thanks to GlobalGiving partner Seva Mandir—and you can see it on their faces. Seva Mandir helps women in rural areas attain financial freedom through education, inter-loaning, and self-help groups. This photo from Seva Mandir was a top-place winner in our annual photo contest. Meet the women of Seva Mandir.
Prosper Ndabishuriye of JRMD
Kevin and Prosper's incredible story illustrates the power of the crowd.
A heart condition threatened 10-year-old Kevin’s life, and his chances of recovery were dim. Until a leader in Burundi, Prosper Ndabishuriye, inspired donors from around the world to intervene and traveled 7,400 miles to help Kevin heal. Read Kevin and Prosper’s story.
Busayo Obisakin of Women Inspiration Development Center
Women Inspiration Development Center won first place in our 2017 Fail Forward Contest.
The team at Women Inspiration Development Center knows that failure is key to nonprofit development. So, when men in their community started speaking out against their work, leader Buayo Obisakin saw an opportunity to rethink her team’s approach. Read Busayo’s story, the winning entry in our 2017 Fail Forward Contest.
The Sweethearts Foundation
The Sweethearts Foundation gave Ofentse a wheelchair that works.
They found a way to turn items bound for landfills—bottle caps and bread tags—into a lifeline for people with disabilities. The team at Sweethearts Foundation collects caps and tags, sells them, and buys wheelchairs. The project changed everything for Ofentse, a 17-year-old from South Africa who received a wheelchair. “The wheels are new, and it’s not shaky. I feel much more confident when I’m pushing myself,” the teen said. Meet Ofentse in this video, which won first place in GlobalGiving’s video contest.
Chris Godwin and Mariah DelPercio
They met in high school and teamed up to help hurricane survivors.
He is a Tampa Bay Buccaneer who teamed up with his girlfriend to help hurricane survivors in Florida and Texas. They’re determined to use his fame for good. “No one is really talking about either of the hurricanes anymore. Other things are happening, but cities and lives can’t be rebuilt in a week,” Mariah said. “We need to do our part as humanity—humans helping humans.” Meet Chris and Mariah.
Fatuma Abdulkadir Adan of Horn of Africa Development Initiative (HODI)
She is an advocate for community-led drought solutions in Kenya.
Fatuma Abdulkadir Adan could tell the drought was coming more than half a year before the Kenyan government declared an emergency. She tried her best to prepare Marsabit, her hometown and the northernmost county in Kenya, but even the bravest leader can’t fight a drought alone. It’s no surprise—her dedication has led to a peace award. The Peace and Sport organization named HODI its 2017 NGO of the Year! Get to know Fatuma’s award-winning work.
Lauren Poinier of Word Rebel Inc.
She achieved new heights of success because she listened to her constituents.
The outlook for Lauren’s students wasn’t good. By pre-school, they would know about 500 words, while their peers from high-income homes would know 1,100 words. Studies proved the achievement gap would only grow as they got older. Lauren knew she had to find a new way to reach them—and their parents. Find out how she did it.
Venkat Ramakrishnan of Isha Education
He took the time to find out what motivated his team.
This project leader (and GlobalGiving mentor) secured the No. 1 spot in our Top 10 Nonprofits Committed to Impact list. He crafted a series of smart questions to find out what most motivated his team. “Expanding roles and responsibilities while maintaining a healthy work-life balance keeps our team engaged and interested,” Venkat said. Learn more.
Rita Thapa of Tewa
She believes in community-led solutions in Nepal.
Rita Thapa, then a rising official in the United Nations, had been granted a full scholarship to study at a university in New Zealand. She had just finished speaking on a panel at the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing. When she came home, she gave it all up to start her own nonprofit, Tewa. Unlike most nonprofits in the country, Tewa, which means support in Nepali, strives to collect more than half of its funds from within Nepal. It’s a radical vision for a nonprofit in one of the world’s poorest countries, where the average annual income per person is $2,520. Read her story.
Miranda Hudson of Snehalaya, Home of Love
The campaign Miranda led for Home of Love will inspire you.
During the 2017 #HerVoice campaign, Miranda set up a social media machine! Her efforts broke records for her nonprofit. She was able to secure 60,000 signatures for a petition to end gender-based violence, inspire 400 people to take selfies with the #HerVoice hashtag, and earn 27 international press pieces and two broadcast interviews. Find out how she did it.
Hope Foundation for Women and Children of Bangladesh
They're responding to a crisis described as 'textbook ethnic cleansing.'
Survivors of the Rohingya refugee crisis escape with what they can hold in their hands. When they arrive in Bangladesh, staff of the Hope Foundation for Women and Children of Bangladesh are there to help, making sure pregnant moms have vitamins and sick children get medicine. Learn more about the crisis and heroes who are responding.
Laura Collazo of The Bienvenido Project
Laura recruited monthly donors to provide a stable supply of food to hungry students.
The Bienvenido Project raised more than $7,000 in 19 days to provide meals to students who were going hungry in the Dominican Republic. Learn more about Laura’s fundraising strategies.
Cheers to all we accomplished in 2017 and all the achievements ahead in 2018! Thank you for being part of our thriving, global community.
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