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This Holiday's Worthy 3rd-World Charities

Nicholas Kristof's annual list focuses on little-known aid groups

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 24, 2009 11:22 AM CST
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(Newser) – “Tired of celebrating spiritual holidays with crass commercialism?” writes Nicholas D. Kristof, in full pitchman mode. Have no fear: “Nothing says ‘happy holidays’ like donating in Aunt Tilda’s name to build a composting toilet in Haiti.” A sampling of the New York Times columnist’s list of worthy charities follows:

  • Acumen Fund: A fund that invests money in for-profit aid initiatives, reflecting "a growing trend of using business mechanisms to fight poverty."
  • BRAC: A Bangladeshi aid group expanding into Afghanistan and Africa that promotes "education, health, and microfinance" by turning "impoverished women into agents of change."

  • Developments in Literacy: A group that builds modern schools, not madrassas, in Pakistan. "This is a security issue, for DIL schools can help protect us from terrorism."
  • Deworm the World: "One of the most cost-effective ways of getting more children into school appears to be deworming them with one pill a year, for about 50 cents per person reached."
  • Sustainable Health Ventures: "A new effort to help women and girls in poor countries to manage menstruation, so that they miss less school and work."
For Kristof's full list, click here.

DIL builds modern schools in Pakistan, combating the influence of madrassas.
DIL builds modern schools in Pakistan, combating the influence of madrassas.   (AP Photo)
Girls helped by BRAC in Bangladesh.
Girls helped by BRAC in Bangladesh.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
riffran
Dec 25, 2009 5:09 AM CST
I prefer to stay in my own community, such as a local womens shelter or youth ranch...I can see the result in person rather than wondering if the donations are actually getting where they are needed
sully4411
Dec 25, 2009 4:33 AM CST
they forgot engineers without borders, www.ewb.neu.edu
NewsTracker
Dec 25, 2009 1:18 AM CST
Of course there are. But why just stay local? People need help everywhere.

 
Afghanistan • philanthropy • Pakistan • aid programs • Bangladesh • holiday shopping • commercialism • Nicholas Kristof • charitable giving • holiday gift

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