Volunteerism & Philanthropy - US Department of State

Volunteerism & Philanthropy


Dr. Howard Smith hugs a young Honduran boy in the clinic after surgery. (Photo courtesy Howard Smith)

Honduran Children, Doctors Reap Generosity of Two U.S. Surgeons

American professors of medicine at Columbia University in New York quietly have been repairing facial deformities in Honduran children for nearly two decades, giving thousands of youngsters a chance to lead normal lives. Dr. Howard Smith, 88, and Dr. Joseph Haddad, 50, go beyond performing the delicate procedures of repairing cleft lips and cleft palates. Largely at their own expense, the two humanitarians also are training Honduran doctors to do the operations and providing them with financial support during apprenticeships. (complete text)

Nature Conservancy Benefits from Business Alliances

Nongovernmental organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund are realizing they cannot address problems such as climate change, deforestation and diminishing biodiversity without the involvement of companies that have an impact on the environment. At the same time, corporations are becoming more likely to cooperate with conservation groups because of increasingly tough environmental and biodiversity standards in their host and home countries. USINFO talks with some participants in these public-private partnerships. (complete text)

Web Site Lets People Offer Microloans to Borrowers Worldwide

Kiva.org, a nonprofit microlending Web site, has enabled people to make small loans that can make a big difference to other individuals. Thanks to Kiva, Chiyenure Uwobodo, a Nigerian mother of four, was able to borrow $250 to expand her beauty salon business. Grace Ayaa, a mother of four in Uganda, borrowed $475 for a refrigerator to store the peanut butter she was making until she could sell it, and to buy packing materials. Kiva is “all about connecting people” and “connecting lenders with microbusinesses online,” says Matt Flannery, the chief executive officer and one of the co-founders of the Web site. (complete text)

Iraqi Burn Victim Helped by Government and Private Efforts

The U.S. government worked closely with CNN and private U.S. medical groups to bring the 5-year-old Iraqi victim of an extremely damaging burning assault to the United States for medical treatment. Speaking of Jewell Evans, the U.S. diplomat who played a key role in helping the young boy, U.S. Embassy Baghdad consular affairs spokesman Steve Royster says: "Jewell made special efforts. Youssif's case is unique in that it is outside normal procedures. Jewell took this case and discovered a way to make this happen." (complete text)

SPECIAL FEATURE

Electronic Journal on Philanthropy May 2006