The season of giving is upon us, at least in western cultures, and we’d like to take a moment to promote some charities for their work in the developing world.

UNICEF

The first is UNICEF, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. UNICEF believes that all children have a right to survive, thrive, and fulfill their potential to the benefit of a better world. The organization started in 1946 to help ease famine in Europe after the second World War has continued to serve the children of the world. The organization does more than supply food relief, it also helps educate kids, believing that a minimum of elementary education for all children makes children healthier and better citizens. UNICEF also runs immunization programs against common childhood diseases, believing no child should suffer from preventable illnesses. 90% of all donations go directly to children’s programs.

African Wildlife Foundation

The African Wildlife Foundation is a well-respected charity that focuses its attention on preservation and conservation efforts of some of Africa’s most iconic species. The organization helps people and wildlife get along, or at least coexist. The people of these regions are often scraping out a living using the resources in front of them and the foundation provides training to help them avoid conflicts with native species and education on the ways preserving the species can be a benefit to them as well. Africa is home to a multitude of amazing animals, like the elephant, lion, and mountain gorillas. AWF helps train rangers and empowers local communities through education. AWF knows that poverty and a lack of education hurts individuals, the land and wildlife.

RIF: Reading is Fundamental

The first adventure many of us took on as children came in the pages of a book. A book can transport us anywhere and spark our imagination, kindling a fire to explore the world around us. I grew up in a modest household, but considered very middle class for my community. Many of my classmates in elementary school weren’t as fortunate. We were a RIF school, which stands for Reading Is Fundamental. We would have RIF days when a selection of books would be laid out on a table in class and each student could pick two books to take home. The books they chose were theirs forever. I am almost certain that those were the only books many of my young classmates owned. I look back and wonder at what an impact those books may have made on them. RIF brings reading and learning to children in need of help across the country by providing books and resources to reach children. If you would like to inspire learning with a charity that makes a direct impact, you can donate to the national Reading Is Fundamental Organization or find a local chapter to donate to directly.

We recognize that when we have the means to travel, we have the means to give. Please give to a charity cause dear to your heart this holiday season.