South Africa has the largest HIV population in the world, with more than 5.6 million people living with HIV/AIDS. Because of its widespread prevalence and increasing acceptance, HIV has become a part of the everyday fabric of society.

South Africa’s AIDs history is marred by poor decisions by denialist leadership, resulting in unnecessary lost lives. Fortunately, Treatment Action Campaign, born out of system frustration, was founded in 1998.  TAC held the South African government accountable in up keeping basic tenants of the constitution, and is largely responsible for the implementation of antiretroviral treatment and mother-to-child transmission prevention programmes in South Africa. TAC is a member-based organization that advocates for increased access to treatment, care and support services for people living with HIV. For a detailed history of TAC, read the recently published Fighting for Our Lives. TAC’s vibrant history is also chronicled in the documentary TAC: Taking HAART.

Equal Treatment is the Read more…

Procrastination.

It’s a word we all know too well. We live in a day and age where comfort overrules all – we much prefer to put goals off until we absolutely can’t anymore. However, there is one assignment we cannot afford to procrastinate any longer because the consequence is the suffering of billions of people struggling in poverty. This assignment is urgent. This assignment is timed.

This assignment is End Poverty 2015.

What is it?

Ban Ki moon speaks at the United Nations Millennium Summit

At the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000, 189 world leaders signed the Millennium Declaration and agreed to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), an “eight-point road map with measurable targets and clear deadlines for improving the lives of the world’s poorest people”.

Basically, the world leaders promised to reach milestones in making the world a better place, and the deadline to meet these goals is 2015.

Check out this amazing Read more…

Imagine a normal day-in-life.

You probably wake up, get ready for work or school, you come home and do some chores around the house. Maybe you’ll hang out with friends in the evening or enjoy a night at home watching TV. As you reflect on your day, consider this—how much of your daily life somehow involves using the Internet?

Not Connected

You probably use the Internet throughout the day at work. For many it’s the first thing you do when you wake up. Now imagine your life without the Internet. Sound crazy? Well for many people—76% of the world’s population in fact—having no Internet access is a reality.

Two noteworthy organizations are hoping to change this fact. After all, the Internet has become indispensable not just in terms of making our lives easier, but for many developing countries, having Internet access can make the difference between a life of poverty and a life Read more…

The earthquake in Japan occurred months ago, but there are still many areas of the country that need support. Last month, American Express set out to reignite attention and support for the relief efforts by launching “Friends of Japan,” its first-ever global social media program on Facebook.

Friends of Japan is a social, word-of-mouth campaign that builds upon previous contributions and fundraising activities by Amex since the disaster struck.

The campaign encourages people from around the world to share messages of hope through the Amex Facebook page (facebook.com/americanexpressjapan). Visitors from around the world will receive a customized experience based on their location, as the “Friends of Japan” area on the page will be translated into Chinese, English, French, German, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish.

Visitors can select one of four messages or create their own messages of hope for Japan, in the form of a virtual postcard. American Express will donate $1 for every Read more…

Here are the facts:

Bolivia is the poorest country in South America.
More than 36% of the population lives below the national poverty line.
More than 21% live below 2 dollars a day.
At least 60% of the working age populations work in the informal economy.

These statistics are harrowing. These statistics are unsettling. These statistics are true.

One of the most successful ways that Bolivians are fighting poverty is through micro-finance. The United Nations defines microfinance as “the provision of small-scale financial services such as savings, credit and other basic financial services to poor and low-income people. The term “microfinance institution” now refers to a wide range of organizations dedicated to providing these services and includes non-governmental organizations, credit unions, co-operatives, private commercial banks, non-bank financial institutions and parts of state-owned banks.” Micro-finance organizations are inherently charitable and have proven themselves the world over as successful tools for development.

The aim of microfinance is to provide Read more…

When Regina Yau received two SOS mails from the Malaysia Women’s Aid Foundation in the same week, she knew something wasn’t right. She realized that the foundation was and still is at a great loss of funds. There seemed to be lack of donors and decrease in pledges. Regina noted such state of affairs and decided to do something about it. Her eagerness and drive to help the community of women suffered due to domestic violence led her to brainstorm variety of ideas.

The Pixel Project: Piecing it Together

Coming from a conservative family background herself, and witnessing the hardships of her grandmother, she decided it is time to put an end to abuse towards women in all its forms. She created Pixel Project in hopes to aid the Women’s Aid Foundation for the desired betterment. Malaysia Women’s Aid foundation shares its funds with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), which Read more…

When I say ‘Coca-Cola’s reputation’, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?

Coca-Cola may not have the greatest reputation for its business practices around the world, but for thousands of women in many developing countries, the Company’s business decisions aren’t looking so unjust!

When It All Started

At the 2010 Clinton Global Initiative Meeting in New York City, Coca-Cola’s CEO Muhtar Kent announced the Company’s FiveByTwenty project – their pledge to empower 5 million women entrepreneurs in the developing world by 2020. The idea is to integrate profit-making with local community support, not through charity, but through innovative and inclusive business models. For women entrepreneurs around the world, this means access to the skills training, small-business loans and professional networks that are crucial to the prospect of a bright future for themselves and their families.

By 2020, The Coca-Cola Company aims to partner with civil society and other private sector actors Read more…

It’s not every day that you get the chance to meet someone who just wants to make the world a better place.  These types of people come few and far between, but when they do – they can truly inspire everyone around them.

Nicole and Rodrigue are two of these individuals and together, they create an undeniable force.

After learning about the 1994 Rwandan genocide, Nicole – a Canadian – couldn’t just sit at home.  She packed her bags and left for the land of a thousand hills.  Without any knowledge of Kinyarwanda, Rwanda’s native language, Nicole knew she would need some help.  In 2005, she found Rodrigue, then a young boy, who helped her to translate and show her around Kigali.  Nicole and Rodrigue have been family ever since.

A Guide for being Self Sustaining

Nicole Pageau

Ubuntu (meaning humanity and I), under the guidance of Nicole and Rodrigue, is an organization that Read more…