Have you gone through your old stuff lately? I have not, really, but after reading this a short announcement on The Belfast Telegraph, I realized that I might be hoarding a treasure trove without really knowing it.
The announcement was about donating your mobile phone and helping certain charities. If you are like some people, you might have several old mobile phones just sitting around at home. This is especially true for those who have a penchant for getting a new gadget every so often.
Think about it, what do you do with your old mobiles when you buy new ones? Personally, I usually give the old ones away. In spite of this, however, I found that I have at least 3 more mobile phones that are unused in my house. Check – you might have the same situation.
In any case, how can you help while getting rid of the technological clutter at home? I did some simple searching on Google and actually found many organizations which accept mobile phone donations. The Charity Guide provides an extensive list of groups which accept mobile phone donations.
In case you are wondering, old cell phones that are donated are used for a variety of reasons. Some of them go to victims of domestic violence so that they can call 911 in emergencies. Some go to senior citizens so that they can also reach help easily when they need it.
So if you have a cell phone or two that you do not use anymore, check out Charity Guide and other resources – you can help in this simple way.
Categories: Elderly, Environmental, Science & Tech, Tips, Websites
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has established itself as the world’s biggest charity and even as hard times hit the world, it continues to do its work the best it can. In fact, Bill Gates, the co-chairman, has released a statement to the effect that they are going to increase spending during the recession. The rationale is that it can make a stronger impact on the world by doing so. However, he also gave a disclaimer – that they cannot keep up this kind of spending for more than a year, unless the economy improves.
MSNBC featured the foundation and quote Gates:
“I believe that the wealthy have a responsibility to invest in addressing inequity,” Gates said in his letter. “This is especially true when the constraints on others are so great. Otherwise, we will come out of the economic downturn in a world that is even more unequal, with greater inequities in health and education, and fewer opportunities for people to improve their lives.”
“We’re seeing just impact after impact as that rolls through the economy,” he said, blaming “pension liabilities, absurd assumptions and bad accounting.”
“I’m still optimistic that things will get back on track” within five to 10 years, Gates said, but he acknowledged that the financial crunch was likely to put a squeeze on the foundation’s spending in coming years.
We might not be as wealthy as Bill Gates. We may not have the world’s biggest philanthropic organization. But we can adopt the same idea as Bill Gates has – we can perhaps spare a bit more here and there to help in our own little way. What do you think?
Categories: Charities, Inspiration, Organizations
At any given day, there is always a good cause which could use help. These days, though, Gaza is at the forefront of things. The longstanding conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has once again materialized and is affecting the lives of many civilians. I wrote something about the United Nations and the United Arab Emirates encouraging the international community to do something about the plight of the people in Gaza just a few days back. It seems that the call has not gone unheeded as the Al Mourjan Restaurant has already organized a charity dinner to benefit Gaza.
The charity dinner will be held on the 20th of this month and roundabouts 200 business leaders of Qatar are expected to attend the function. The dinner is dubbed Reach Out To Gaza Charity Dinner and is being organized by the restaurant, in partnership with Reach Out To Asia. The latter is a non-governmental organization which works to provide assistance to those in need.
The proceeds of the charity dinner will be sent to Gaza with the aim of using the money to address the most immediate of needs. These include humanitarian issues such as first aid kits, ambulances, and food. Looking into the future, the organizers also hope to use the money to help with the rebuilding of schools once the situation in Gaza stabilizes.
If you are in the area or you know someone who is, here are the ticket prices.
WIP table for 10 – QR15,000
VIP table for 10 – QR10,000
VIP table for 8 – QR8,000
VIP table for 4 – QR4,000
Standard table for 4 – QR2,000
Regular tickers – QR500 (SOLD OUT)
To find out more about the restaurant and to get in touch with them, click here.
Categories: Activities, Charities, Events, Fundraising, International Aid
Who would have thought that the former Russian president and current Prime Minister has such a soft side to him? Many of us know him for being a tough politician but this piece of news goes to show that even the toughest of people have hearts and compassion for the less fortunate.
A charity auction is going to be held today in Saint Petersburg, Putin’s hometown. The charity auction is going to feature 28 works of art made by well known celebrities and politicians. The theme is based loosely on Nikolai Gogol’s The Night Before Christmas. As for Putin’s handiwork, it is a painting featuring a yellow window with embroidered curtains flapping in the wind. The scene outside the window is a winter landscape. Putin’s work is titled Uzor (Embroidery).
According to Nadezhda Anfalova, the curator of the exhibit and a painter as well, Putin painted the picture within 15 minutes, without anyone else’s assistance. The proceeds from the sale of the painting – and the other paintings to be auctioned off – will be given to two local children’s hospitals as well as a church that needs to be restored.
We may not be Putins or other celebrities but this is a prime example of the fact that we can all do little things to help those who are less fortunate around us. Perhaps painting and the arts is not your thing but I am sure that if you look hard enough, you will find some way by which you can help out.
Categories: Activities, Charities, Children, Fundraising, Inspiration, News
Gulf News reports that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United Nations (UN) have sought the international community’s help in providing assistance to the war-torn Gaza strip.
Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates and the United Nations have called on the international community to come forward to extend assistance to the people of Gaza who are passing through difficult times.
“These are exceptionally dangerous and difficult times for the people of Gaza, and it is imperative that the international community extends its assistance wisely,” said Abdul Haq Amiri, Head of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in Dubai.”
With the escalating violence in this latest episode in a thousands of years-old conflict, being caught in the crossfire are innocent civilians, mostly on the Palestinian side.
According to the report, more than 900 Palestinians have been killed, and about 4,000 injured, mostly women and children, since the attacks began December 27th last year. At this time, though aid–in the form of food, supplies, fuel, etc.–is hard to come by. Even as aid and support have resumed, there is widespread obstruction of humanitarian assistance.
The U.N. announced Friday that it would resume staff movement and aid deliveries in Gaza after receiving assurances from the Israeli Ministry of Defense that aid workers would be better protected. It had suspended some of its work Thursday after gunfire from an Israeli tank killed one aid truck driver and injured two others.
Among gulf countries, only Saudi Arabia and the UAE are extending assistance through the UN; other nations in the region are skeptical of the UN’s motives behind its assistance. Still, with casualties and injuries escalating due to the conflict, it makes sense for nations–from both sides of the conflict–to extend assistance to the innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
Categories: International Aid | Tags: gaza, israel, war
