Oregon Organizations Involved in
Overseas Development / Humanitarian Efforts
Or Educating People Re: Other Countries/Global Affairs
This page, first launched in 2015, was meant to track
Portland, Oregon metro-area organizations and initiatives that are
involved in overseas development / aid / relief / humanitarian efforts,
or that are involved in educating people about other countries - and a
few in Oregon but outside PDX.
I started this page because, as a
consultant myself for organizations working in development, aid and
relief overseas, I wanted to know who my colleagues in my own
"neighborhood" are, and because I would like for people in the USA to be
much better educated about other countries.
Washington State has a formal umbrella organization, Global
Washington, for groups in that state that work overseas, though
it's not focused only on humanitarian issues - it's for any company
doing business overseas. Oregon didn't have such when I started this
page. But in 2017, one started: GlobalPDX.
Launched in 2017 by mechanical engineering faculty at Portland State
University, this new initiative is working to connect the "Oregon-based
global development community in an effort to magnify our collective
impact on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals." They
have a job board.
So, I'm going to abandon my effort. I'm glad I had the
idea, and I wish I had had the resources to turn it into a more formal
effort. I went to the inaugural GlobalPDX event in 2017 and will
participate in other events as I am able.
Read more about me, Jayne Cravens
I'm going to leave up the list I compiled, but I won't be updating it
anymore:
Africa
Bridge
In 2002, Africa Bridge began its first project in a village in Isongole
Ward in Tanzania. Since then it has expanded into 20 additional villages
in the Masoko, Mpombo and Lufingo wards. It facilitates discussions with
communities to develop strategies to create income-generating activities
and activities that provide access to education and healthcare.
Africa New Life
Ministries
A Christian-focused aid agency based in Portland, Oregon.
Africa Road
Based in Tigard. Partners with local leaders in Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda,
Kenya, and Tanzania who are undertaking various projects to improve the
lives of some of the most vulnerable people in their communities.
Architects
Without Borders-Oregon
Based in Portland, Oregon. Assists
communities in need by providing design and planning services through a
volunteer network of professionals and students. "We organize and design
small and large projects both regionally and internationally."
Boeing
Humanitarian Delivery Flights program
Based in Portland, Oregon. "Through
our ongoing Humanitarian Delivery Flights program, Boeing and its
airline customers combine the delivery of new aircraft with vital relief
and humanitarian missions."
Camions
of Care
Youth-run nonprofit that strives to manage and celebrate menstrual
hygiene through advocacy, education and service globally, through
distribution of feminine hygiene products.
Casa
Verde
Based in Portland, Oregon. Facilitates experiential service-learning
programs for US citizens that focus on global citizenship, sustainable
living and community development in El Limon, Nicaragua.
Central
Mexico Youth Fund
Based in Eugene, Oregon. Supports activities in Mexico (including, but
not limited to the States of Queretaro, Guanajuato, Puebla, Michoacán,
and San Luis Potosi) that help children, adolescents, and young adults
get an education and lead productive lives in their native country. " We
identify reputable Mexican organizations that focus on youth who come
from families with limited economic resources and/or indigenous
communities and offer them educational opportunities and training in
life skills. We provide financial assistance and/or management advice to
such organizations."
Center
for Public Interest Design, School of Architecture, Portland State
University
Based in Portland, Oregon. Aims
to investigate and promote design practices that are a catalyst for the
social, economic and environmental change needed to serve the growing
needs of communities both locally and worldwide. Above all, the mission
of the Center is to serve communities in need worldwide by researching
and promoting design and building practices that are socially conscious,
environmentally sustainable and economically accessible to all and by so
doing elevate the civic role of these professions as agents of change.
Engineers
Without Borders - Oregon State University
Based in Corvallis, Oregon. EWB-OSU is the Oregon State University
student chapter of EWB-USA, a non-profit humanitarian organization
established to partner with developing communities world-wide to improve
their quality of life through the implementation of environmentally and
economically sustainable engineering projects, while developing
internationally responsible engineering students.
Engineers Without Borders -
Portland chapter
Based in Portland, Oregon. The
mission of Engineers Without Borders-USA (EWB-USA) is to support
community-driven development programs worldwide by collaborating with
local partners to design and implement sustainable engineering projects,
while creating transformative experiences and responsible leaders. The
Portland Chapter of EWB-USA is a group of professionals committed to
volunteering in support of the EWB-USA mission and vision. Our
volunteers include architects, engineers, public health professionals,
medical professionals, media specialists, teachers and more.
Engineers
Without Borders - Portland State University
Based in Portland, Oregon. EWB-PSU
is the student chapter of EWB-USA based out of PSU in the Maseeh College
of Engineering and Computer Science (MCECS). EWB-PSU has three
international projects in Central America and Africa.
Flying
Physicians International
Founded in 2007. Provides emergency health and sanitation assistance to
victims of humanitarian disasters, regardless of political, economic,
strategic, or religious interests. " Our teams are designed to operate
independently, arriving on site (eventually via our own transport
vehicles) with the necessary shelter modules, health kits, and
medications to perform emergency care."
Health in
Harmony.
Works to "engage community-led solutions for human health and the health
of our planet." Alam Sehat Lestari is an Indonesian non-profit and
Health In Harmony’s pilot program in Borneo.
Humanitarian Aid
& Rescue Project (HARP)
"a global emergency response team that is tasked with two primary
missions: Rapid deployment of critical aid to remote areas experiencing
war, famine and natural disaster, and ongoing dedication to those areas
until all are upright & standing again." Volunteers must pay a
program fee $1,500 and for his or her airfare.
InStove.
Based in Cottage Grove, and effort to provide "safe, clean, and highly
efficient institutional cookstoves and allied technologies in an
integrated approach to serving the world’s poorest communities. InStove
technologies are now in service in 23 countries around the world,
including 15 countries in Africa.".
Global
Oregon
Based in Eugene, Oregon. A University of Oregon initiative meant "to
enhance internationalization in the student experience, in research, and
in our outreach to the state and the world." It also "blurs the
boundaries among teaching, research, and community service.".
Green Empowerment
Based in Portland, Oregon. Works with local
partners around the world to strengthen communities by delivering
renewable energy and safe water. "We envision an equitable and
sustainable world where everyone has clean water, renewable energy and a
healthy environment."
Green
Village Schools
Portland, Oregon based non-profit organization committed to increasing
literacy in under served areas of Afghanistan, particularly in Helmand
Province. Green Village Schools also seeks to improve lives in
Afghanistan by providing health education, potable water, and a model
for good sanitation at the schools.
Health
in Harmony
Works to facilitate discussions and action so that families in
developing countries are not forced to make "the impossible choice
between short-term survival and long-term well-being," such as
choosing to deforest an area so that they can get income for food,
healthcare, housing, etc.
Idealist
An online platform allowing nonprofit organizations and NGOs anywhere in
the world to post paid jobs or volunteering opportunities, and people
from anywhere on the globe to apply for those opportunities. Also
provides a free platform for nonprofits and NGOs to advertise events.
The Idealist.org
International Volunteerism Resource Center (IVRC) helps
individuals "make informed decisions about volunteering in another
country."
InStove
Works to replace open fires in developing countries, used for cooking
and warmth, with institutional cook stoves, to improve health and
reduce harm to the environment.
Intel
Foundation and Intel
CSR
Intel is one of the largest employers in Oregon. However, I don't know
if any Intel Foundation or CSR staff are in Oregon. Anyone know?
IPSL's Master of Arts in
International Development and Service program at Concordia
University
Based in Portland, Oregon. IPSL programs combine
academic studies and community service and full cultural immersion "to
give students a deeper, more meaningful study abroad experience."
Jesuit
Volunteer Corps Northwest
The Oregon office is focused primarily on placing volunteers in the
states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska in remote,
rural, and urban settings. The main office in Maryland is in charge of
the international program, but the Oregon office is involved somewhat in
those programs, which places about 50 volunteers each year in Tanzania,
Belize, Nicaragua, Micronesia, Chile and Peru.
Loom
International
International Christian organization, based in Portland, Oregon,
partnering with grassroots projects around the world working with women
and children at risk. "Our main strategy for seeing long term change is
to work with the people already working in their communities, bringing
change one person and one day at a time. We desire to empower these
small, but critical initiatives to be successful in their work among the
smallest, weakest, poorest and most needy in society."
Medical
Teams International
Based in Portland, Oregon. The mission of Medical
Teams International is to demonstrate the love of Christ to people
affected by disaster, conflict, and poverty around the world. The
nonprofit provides medical and dental care, humanitarian aid and
development programs. Recipients of service are helped regardless of
religion, nationality, sex, or race.
Mercy Corps
Based in Portland, Oregon. A major international
player regarding humanitarian response to natural and man-made
disasters. In addition to humanitarian responses to meet urgent needs
for food, water and shelter, this nonprofit also partners with
communities for long-term recovery and development.
Mobility
International (MIUSA)
A disability-led non-profit organization headquartered in Eugene,
Oregon, USA working to advance the rights of people with disabilities
globally. "By implementing innovative programs, we are building bridges
to create a new era where people with disabilities will take their
rightful place in the world community." Also, MIUSA builds understanding
of how all international exchange opportunities and international
development projects can be used to advance disability rights.
Nike
Foundation
Based in Portland, Oregon. "NIKE, Inc. is
committed to building deeper community connections and creating positive
social change around the world... At the Nike Foundation, we invest in
the greatest unrealized source of human potential in the world today:
adolescent girls... when a girl living in poverty has the chance to
reach her full potential, she isn’t the only one who escapes the
circumstances she was born into. She brings her family, community and
country with her. We call this the
Girl Effect." in 2008, the Nike Foundation partnered with
the NoVo Foundation, United Nations Foundation and Coalition for
Adolescent Girls to create the Girl
Effect.
Northwest Portland Hostel
and Portland Hawthorne
Hostel
These hostels in two different locations in downtown Portland are
members of Hostelling International-USA (HI-USA), which has a mission
"To help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the
world and it’s peoples through hostelling." Both hostels host a variety
of events regarding traveling and living in other countries.
Open
Arms International
Christian organization based in Portland, Oregon,
providing services in Eldoret, Kenya, Africa "where we run an innovative
orphan village that also serves as our base of activity for the entire
region… Our mission of providing relief from physical, emotional and
spiritual suffering through medical expertise, education, and Christian
ministry is what inspires and motivates us." Affiliated with
organizations in Kenya and the United Kingdom.
Peace Corps Associations in Oregon
Read more about me, Jayne Cravens
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