Our mission is to identify and empower the most effective grassroots efforts reducing poverty and suffering in developing countries, often using the tools of education and training, with a particular focus on the well-being of women, children, and other marginalized groups.
A grain of sand, given the right environment, will form a lustrous pearl. Communities scattered throughout the world have given rise to beautiful pearls – people who have grown up in these communities under harsh conditions and are providing others a path out of poverty. They are resourceful, compassionate and dedicated, and they are leading the way to a better, kinder tomorrow. These people are our Global Pearls. Our job is to serve as a catalyst – unleashing their potential.
Our Mission
OUR APPROACH
IMPACT
Small, grassroots projects can do as much or more good as large, externally run projects at a fraction of the cost. Read More.
EMPOWERMENT
Local leaders have the best understanding of how to design and implement solutions for the problems in their communities. Read More.
PERSONAL REWARD
We want you to feel connected to the work you support. Read More.
COMMUNICATION
Donors should be able to choose how much information they get. Read More.
Estudia Con Amor – Sandra Alonzo Pac
Girl Education
Economic Empowerment
Mothers abandoned by abusive, alcoholic husbands face great economic hardships and despair. Scholarships for their children bring hope for a brighter future and a supportive “family” which they so desperately need.
Semillas de Esperanza – Sor Marta Eugenia Soto
Educational Scholarships
School-Based Projects
Honduras faces many daunting problems, but when local talent is unleashed it can be a powerful force for positive change. Scholarships for students with a passion to help their communities, combined with funding for student-led projects, will develop future leaders with the skills needed to bring forth a brighter tomorrow.
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Heritage Trail – Juan Covarrubias Ccaihuari
Amal – Nora Fitzgerald
Rescue Women – Nakinti Nofuru
Girl Education
Vocational Training
Refugee Support
Life in the jungles of Cameroon is extremely difficult for girls and women. Physical abuse is common, maternal mortality can be as high as 1 women for every 10-15 pregnancies, and education is a luxury that many can’t afford. Four girls in our program trekked for 3 days through the jungle in hopes of receiving a scholarship.
ESARDEF – Etang Samuel Manyi MBeng
Agriculture
Vocational Training
Refugee Support
Agricultural training, access to raw materials and processing equipment, and formation of marketing groups is helping vulnerable women begin their own enterprises and escape physical abuse and malnutrition.
Preschool Nutrition
Water Management
Running Tourism
Life is exceptionally hard for people in Matungen Village in Kenya’s Rift Valley. Abraham is determined to turn Matungen into a village of hope – one where families don’t go hungry, where children can get an education, where those who are sick can access care, and where job opportunities are ample and diverse.
JONG – Martin Richard Raju
Education
Health Care
Economic Empowerment
Dalit (“untouchable”) and Valayar tribal villages in India have little ability to escape extreme poverty. With a combination of education, health, and economic empowerment programs, 50 tribal villages are on a path to a better future.
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CAMBODIAN CARE – Koy Chhim & Reny Phoeurk
Education
Child Labor/Trafficking Prevention
Working 14-hour days, 7 days a week at abysmally low pay in garment factories means children are left home alone. At about 40 dollars a month, even “public” schools are not an option. A Cambodian Care school serving the poor brings education and safety to these children.