Fistula is a non-profit organization that aims to help women who have been abandoned by their husbands after suffering the dreadful birth complication. Fistula is an injury that results from prolonged labor which cuts off blood supply to the tissues of vagina and bladder. This results in the tissues death leaving a hole through which urine and feces pass through uncontrollably. This problem exists in countries where proper health care and practices are out of reach resulting in many women without husbands left to fend for themselves. With 100,000 new cases each year in the developing world, only a fraction of these women get the help they need. A total of 2 million women are affected by fistula worldwide and from that figure, only 6,500 get the medical treatment and attention they need to continue living a normal life. The birth complication has long been eliminated with the advent of cesarean sections which is not only costly but out of reach of most developing countries. Along with incontinence, nerve damage can also result in paralysis leaving the lower extremities useless taking away their ability to contribute as productive members of society.
The organization was put up by people who saw the debilitating effects of the childbirth condition when they were on volunteer work in developing countries as members of the Peace Corps. The organization was officially put up in the year 2000 and it has brought the plight of these helpless women to the media and many charitable organizations the world over. Relying on the efforts of private citizens’ doctors and other large organizations who regularly donate supplies and equipment, the organization has managed to help many women in the affected regions of Ethiopia. The foundation currently does most of its work there but that doesn’t mean that the complications do not affect other parts of the world. Countries where health care is still a luxury, there are higher cases and they work purely to educate the public about the dangers and debilitating effects of the birth complication that is Fistula.

Categories: Charities, Families, Inspiration, Women | Tags: Birth, Caesarean, Fistula, Women

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Member of the Animal Charities of America, Neads was established in 1976 to train and rehabilitate puppies and dogs rescued from all over. Their main goal is to get these dogs, raise them, and then train them as aids to deaf and disabled people who need independence. The rising cost of medical care and care of animals has strained many charitable organizations that rely totally on the goodwill of people who provide donations in monetary and kind. Located in Central Massachusetts, the organization has trained and awarded dogs to many of America’s disabled and deaf. They have allowed people with disabilities to live normal lives without much reliance on other people boosting their self-confidence making them more productive members of society.
Dogs undergo a six-month training cycle where they learn the ropes of becoming a hearing-eye dog becoming the ears for the deaf and eyes for the blind. People who are candidates to receive NEADS trained dogs are houses for two weeks in fully furnished housing units where they work together with the trainers in getting to know better their animals and learning about proper treatment and care of their special animals. Being a charitable institution with little financial might, all candidates have to pay for all the equipment and training costs for their animals. But many who have received animals do earn a lifetime of memories for their dogs become more than guide dogs but members of their family. Often times we hear stories of people getting saved by these magnificent animals who would otherwise have been euthanized, given a second life as aides to the disabled.

Categories: Activities, Animals, Campaigns, Charities, Families, Organizations, Programs | Tags: Charities, Hearing dogs, Seeing eye dogs

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Uses recycled paper products as much as possible and bring your own bags to the store when shopping to lessen the dependence on plastics which is proving to have more impacts on all the world’s ecosystems. Air conditioners also consume more power if they are dirty and have clogged filters. Have them cleaned regularly and checked for leaks to assure you don’t dump banned CFC’s into the environment. There is also a move to switch to on-demand heaters that don’t have storage tanks that have water that is constantly maintained to a specified temperature. These storage heaters use electricity throughout the day as they try to maintain the temperature of the water that is stored within them.
Showering is said to be a common source of wasted water so take shorter ones and install a low flow head that allows for the same effect without the need for more water. When buying stuff from stores, buy stuff that is minimally bagged or packaged to lessen the use of plastics which is tough in protecting the product stored within them yet tough on the environment as well. When heading for the car dealer, try to get hold of hybrids if they are available, they are getting better and cheaper and you might also get to save on taxes and toll fees in the long run. When parking while waiting, turn the engine off for an idling the engine wastes gasoline. Turn the windows down for fresh air instead of the AC. Plant trees on vacant lots and other useless spaces to get more of these carbon dioxide sucking organisms eating away at the CO2 we expel.

Categories: Campaigns, Environmental, Families, Ideas, Tips | Tags: Airconditioners, Environmental Awareness, Global Warming, Hybrids, water heaters

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From the StopGlobarWarming.Org, there are many ways however small that can be done in order to lower your carbon footprint to help the earth. They come in many shapes and forms and are applicable for inside and outside of the home. These measures are meant to be behavior modification tips that would make earth conservation an automatic task for all of us. First, the switch form Incandescent to Compact Fluorescent bulbs. The old style incandescent bulbs are set for phasing out in the next few years to be replaced by more efficient CFL fixtures which are not only brighter but consume less electricity in their daily use. A single 5 watt CFL has the light output equivalent to 40 watts compared to a standard bulb so it does make sense. The tires on your vehicles are a major contributor to wasted gasoline as you drive around town making your car an inefficient machine. The insufficient air makes the engine run harder to push the vehicle forward consuming more gas. Clogged filters result in improper gas-air mixtures having your vehicle to poor gas mileage and lower overall efficiency which could also lead to premature engine wear. Inspect your air filters/cleaners to ensure the engine is getting ample air for it to work better and cleaner.
When using dishwashers and washing machines, be sure to maximize the load to allow more to be washed with enough water. Loading the washers with less than the recommended loads consumes just as much electricity and water as a fully loaded one. Recycled products are in and ones made from virgin products are out.

Categories: Activities, Environmental, Families, Ideas, Tips | Tags: carbon footprint, Energy Star, Environmentally friendly Living

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The several charities around all rely on manpower in the form of volunteers may they be aimed at people or towards nature. The many charities survive because of people who are dedicated to provide the proper care and help to those who may need it wherever they may be. Volunteer nurses and doctors go to distant lands to help people such as those who are currently suffering in Darfur helping the sick and injured as they live day by day in uncertainty.

Donations flow to those who suffer in the far reaches of the earth, delivered by volunteers who choose to do a little for their fellow man such as pilots, military men and others who just want to help. Financing is not the only aspect one can help with in terms of wanting to help. Habitat for Humanity has projects that construct free housing for the homeless relying on volunteer masons, electricians and the regular Joe to do the building. Thousands of houses have been built by these volunteers some of whom come back, time after time for the unseen reward of gratitude one gets from those who benefit from their hard work.

The people who need help are endless in this world and at any one time, a person dies in misery, his life becoming worthless and insignificant just because they are nobody’s. That is what we aim to change, everybody is somebody and all should know that. The children of Africa who have survived drought and famine now face AIDS and a life without parents due to the disease. Much can be done if everybody pitches in including businesses for they are the main source of funding besides governments and donations. Helping all those who need it is the goal, volunteering is the soul.

Categories: Activities, Charities, Disabled, Disaster Relief, Elderly, Environmental, Families, Fundraising, Jobs, News, Organizations, Programs, Religious | Tags: catholic-charities, charitable-organizations, Charities, Charity-Work, NGOs, Non-Profit-Groups, relief-efforts, Volunteer-groups, Volunteer-jobs, volunteer-work, Volunteering, Volunteers

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