Rainforest Concern
Rainforest Concern is a UK based charity protecting rainforests and other crucial natural habitats, with projects currently in eight countries. The project supported by Earth Talks is their Neblina Reserve, part of the Choco-Andean Corridor in north western Ecuador. The aim is to create an unbroken corridor of protected forest areas connecting the Mindo Reserve near Quito to the Pangan Reserve in south west Colombia.
Why?
The Neblina Reserve plays a key part in the southern phase of the corridor. An area of montane cloud forest with extraordinary biodiversity and many endemic species which lies within the Tropical Andes Biodiversity Hotspot. These forests are some of the most species rich and threatened in the world but face growing pressures from threats such as unsustainable agriculture, road building and mining.
How?
Rainforest Concern first established the Neblina Reserve as a private forest reserve in 2002, and have since been expanding it to further extend the ecologial corridor and avoid fragmentation of the forest. Direct protection is through patrols, using forest guards from nearby communities, as well as monitoring and applying for, and putting in place, legal protection measures. They work in partnership with local communities, promoting sustainable livelihoods, supporting environmental education, and helping communities purchase key land as community forest or watershed reserves.
To find out more see: https://www.rainforestconcern.org
Solar Aid
SolarAid was established in 2006 to fight poverty and climate change. Their ambitious vision is to create a world where everyone has access to clean, renewable energy, with a mission to eradicate the dangerous, polluting kerosene lamp from Africa. Their work has directly impacted over 11 million people, with many more being reached through the catalytic scaling up of solar markets. Yet more needs to be done. Many homes, schools and clinics are being left behind.
Why?
When the sun goes down at 6pm in sub-Saharan Africa, 548 million people are living in darkness. They have no access to electricity. There is no switch on the wall to turn on the light. This is what energy poverty is. Families have no choice but to rely on poor alternatives such as home-made torches, candles and kerosene lamps. These devices are imperilling health, impairing education, wasting household income and emitting astonishingly high amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. Worst of all, families have to risk their lives every single night with open flames. This is a preventable loss of human life.
How?
Solar Aid’s work began in Malawi, where they installed their first solar system and trained local youth so that they could convert kerosene lamps into solar lights. In 2007/08, Solar Aid expanded their work into Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia, installing solar systems on over 400 rural schools, health clinics and community centres and training entrepreneurs to design, assemble and sell small solar lights and chargers.
Solar Aid’s model is built on selling lights through their social enterprise, SunnyMoney. This allows money to be reinvested back into their work, encourages job creation and ensures money stays in the local economy. Through working as a social enterprise, Solar Aid can do things that conventional businesses can’t. They travel to remote rural communities, educate people about the benefits of solar, instil trust and build demand.
Solar Aid helps get lights to the people that need them most – and if they are unable to afford them – then they think of new and innovative ways to help them get on the energy ladder, such as pay as you go solar.
To find out more see: https://www.solar-aid.org
Generosity.org
The UN currently estimates that as of 2020, 841 million people do not have access to clean water. Generosity.org, founded in 2008, has funded 820+ water projects, building water wells and serving about 500,000 people across 20 different countries.
Why?
Access to clean water is every person’s right and is essential for human survival. Contaminated water causes a myriad of diseases and illnesses, all of which are preventable with access to clean water. Drinking water and water used for other domestic purposes only comprises 10% of global water use. 70% of the worldwide water sources go towards agriculture and irrigation–so this affects all of us.
How?
Generosity.org, based in the U.S., begins by raising money and fully funding a water project, that will be completed in a specific community. The money is sent to local partners, who are committed to using 100% of the funds for the water project. They then collaborate with local partners and officials to identify the ideal location for the wells to be built and to oversee the project. A water committee is formed of men and women who oversee the water project during and after construction. A large component of this organization’s projects is to educate the community about sanitation and hygiene, two factors which are directly tied to clean water solutions. Once the project is completed, Generosity.org provides a full report including the project’s GPS coordinates, community information, and photos of the water project and community served.
To find out more see: https://generosity.org/