News about gifts, grants
Bill and Joyce Cummings at University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda. Photo: Cummings Foundation
Cummings Foundation donated $25 million to help build the University of Global Health Equity in Butaro, a rural area in northern Rwanda. The health sciences university teaches and delivers health care in one of the world’s most remote areas. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation provided early-stage funding for the university.
The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, partnered with the Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense and the Main Department of Geology to create The Open Center, a knowledge sharing platform to share findings on environmental hazards. Funding was provided by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and the Aga Khan Foundation.
Cambridge University received an unprecedented $100 million gift from the David and Claudia Harding Foundation. The donation is the largest single gift made to a university in the UK by a British philanthropist. The Hardings aim to help Cambridge attract the most talented postgraduate and undergraduate students from the UK and around the world.
News about people, groups
Prime Minister of India serves school children in Vrindavan, Mathura.
The Akshaya Patra Foundation served its 3 billionth meal at an event commemorated by the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi in Vrindavan, Mathura. Akshaya Patra is the world’s first NGO-run school meal program. The school aims to serve 5 million children every school day by 2025.
Graduate Women International (GWI) and affiliates hosted the 63rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW63) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. GWI participated with a full delegation with representatives from Australia, Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Switzerland, USA, Zimbabwe, and more.
Palladium welcomed Charlie Middleton as a non-executive director. Previously, Middleton led the UK arm of Triodos Bank. He is also a mentor and coach to individuals and teams in the commercial, and social enterprise sector. Palladium works with corporations, governments, investors, communities, and civil society to implement programs that link social progress and commercial growth.
Hovde House: Marta Bedoya de Claure opened its doors in Huajchilla, Bolivia for for thirty vulnerable girls and teenagers living in the streets. Hovde Houses are homes that provide shelter, supportive services, and love to vulnerable children. Construction of the house in Bolivia was possible thanks to a partnership between the Hovde Foundation, Maestro Cares Foundation, Marta Bedoya de Claure Foundation, and the ALALAY Foundation.
New orchid species Epidendrum guislainae
Inkaterra Association reported the discovery of a new orchid species from the genus Epidendrum. The orchid was identified at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. With the full name Epidendrum guislainae, the orchid is one of more than 350 species that are part of the world’s largest native orchid collection, according to the American Orchid Society. The new orchid was named after Denise Guislain, the award-winning chief of architecture and interior design at Inkaterra.
The Varkey Foundation hosted a the Global Education & Skills Forum in Dubai at which more than 50 of the world’s leading grant-making foundations met to discuss pressing issues in education philanthropy and share their expertise. Representatives participated in discussions and workshops on issues including early childhood development, education in emergencies, innovative school models, grant-making, collaboration and advocacy.
Exodus Travels released a documentary, Ngumu, which tells the story of pioneering young female porters changing the face of Mt Kilimanjaro through the trekking experience of Team GB Hockey champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Crista Cullen. The documentary was created to raise awareness of the challenges and advancements of women on the mountain and promotes the growth of the female workforce.
News about opportunities, initiatives
Partners in Health Launch TB-Mobile Vans (Photo: Josue Quesnay Gomez)
Partners in Health launched TB Móvil, a program to test for tuberculosis (TB), by using vans to bringing health workers closer to where people live to identify and promptly treat TB and MDR-TB. The goal in 2019 is for the vans to drive through northern Lima and offer 100,000 people a free and fast way to be tested and gain access to treatment.
Dow is creating jobs and tackling plastic pollution in South Africa with a new social initiative, Project Butterfly. Together with local nonprofit partners, Project Butterfly aims to address poor waste management through education, clean-ups and innovation-focused initiatives.
University of Washington and Aga Khan University sign agreement to further population health, research, service and education. Early collaborative activities between the universities include launching a paid international internship program with positions in Africa and Asia for UW students, joint projects to build research capacity in HIV/AIDs and HPV, and other faculty collaborations.
Cobb-Vantress and OneEgg are continuing a mission to increase the availability of animal protein to children around the world at risk of malnutrition. The companies recently launched new chapters in Nepal, Honduras and Ethiopia. Participating children receive one egg a day several days a week, greatly increasing animal protein consumption. See video on project in Nepal.
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