Looking for orgs

[Jaltus-bot]

Does anyone know of any organizations that do things to help poor people in othr countries in areas like food and water, health, sanitation, etc. or generally things that improve qualty of life?

I think I want to work for someplace like that someday so I want to research what kinds of places that are. If you know of any similar types of orgainzations and can mention the name and the area(s) that they emphasize in, that would be great and would probably save me a bit of time.

[c.t.,girl]

iono any but i'll pray that you find sum and that that is where, if it's God's will, He'll put you there.

[Jaltus-bot]

Thanks. I think I have had an interest in helping people in poorer parts of the world for years. That's part of what made Mother Theresa cool. I was thinking about soemthing like that when I was watching part of a movie this afternoon with my mom and the main character who wanted to be a doctor for Doctors Without Borders (which is very cool, but I doubt I will end up in med school) and travel to different places to help people. She had her hand on this globe and realized that she couldn't give that up to be queen of Denmark.

That Got me thinking. I want to help people, probably in issues that an organization kind of like that would do and I definately, God willing, will not spend my entire life in this country! I want to travel internationally, and I want to make peoples lives better.

[c.t.,girl]

i know what movie you're talking about!! that was such a cute movie!!! i luvd it!!

[Mr. SmartyPants]

http://www.dss.state.la.us/departments/ocs/Soup_Kitchens.html

any of them near your house?

edit: oh, those are only in louisiana

look around google! there are tons!

[shooraijin]

If you were thinking internationally, there's always groups like the Peace Corps, the Salvation Army (although you really should be a member of the Salvation Army church "soldier"), the International Red Cross or UNESCO. Some of those may require you to have a degree or specialized training.

More locally, there's the America Corps or the Volunteers of America.

[CDLviking]

The order that Mother Theresa founded is called The Sisters of Charity. You could contact them and see if you can help out. I have a friend who will be going to Calcuta this spring to spend some time with them. All over the world there are Sisters taking care of the poor that could use some extra help.

[Ingemar]

IMNSHO, If you really want to do outreach, you should do it with a Christian organization. What Shoob and CDL mentioned are just fine. Why Christian? Because instead of mere social work, they provide charity.

Social work feeds and clothes the hungry and naked.
Charity does the same, but also shares the love of Christ. "Man shall not live on bread alone," and as we can see in our world today, many who are fed well and clothed are still dying on the inside. Food and raiment satisfies for but a moment, but God satisfies forever more.

[Jaltus-bot]

Imnsho?

Unesco?

A Christian organization would be ideal. So would medical insurance, which would be a key issue. *notes chronic asthema* I don't want to pay full price if I need an inhalor.

[CDLviking]

Another reason not to go with social work is that some of those agencies try to push for abortions and other things that go against the Culture of Life.

[Rev. Doc]

Samaritan's Purse is another possibility.

[starfire]

Joan of Arc(I'm calling you that because I keep for getting how to spell Sheher-shehera-see what I mean?!?!?) that is SO SWEET!!!! I know of some organizations that you may be interested in. Have you ever heard of Feed The Children? I know you're talking about international groups but I thought you may be interested in this. It's on tv all the time and it's an organization that gives food to children in America. They have commercials on all the time and you may be able to find it on the internet. But if you're interested in things overseas you may want to consider the Jet Programme. It's a program that lets people go and teach school in Japan and some other professions as well. If you're interested I have a flyer in the back of my closet...Hope I don't get drowned in all the clutter! I know how you feel. All of us have a desire to help people in some way or another. It's a God-given gift as far as I'm concerned. You may want to go on mission trips as well, my Unce is the founder of a mission that sends people to the Dominican Republic. No matter where you live there are always organizations that need help. Any specific line of charity? I may be able to help you out if I know what you're wanting to do...

[EireWolf]

Compassion International. I am a sponsor with them; you might want to check into working for them. It's a Christian organization that has chapters in many different countries; the child I sponsor is in India.

I don't know much about the Peace Corps, but you might want to check that out too. Not sure if it's Christian though.

[Jaltus-bot]

Joan of Arc

Sure I would be interested in the Jet Programme. I don't know if that is something I would want to do, but I might consider it and information is a good tool to have.

Actually, I am thinking of a missions trip or something to East Europe. I can't imagine living the life I am supposed to without going somewhere around there. I have kind of wanted to go there most of my life and I will not go as a tourist. I made a thread about that a little while back.

I am not interested simply in food issues unless it is along with something else, like water and shelter and I don't know. I saw this TV show maybe a year ago about this village in I think the Himalayas. Some people helped make this thing where the cow dung from there cows was fermented in this big round tank. The methane was then used to produce electricity for a few hours, I forgot if it was every day or every week. Something like that would be interesting.

I'm not sure...

[Jaltus-bot]

I think I have heard of Compassion International thought they were a cool organization. I don't remember what they do exactly though.

[EireWolf]

They feed, clothe, house, and educate (scholastically and spiritually) underprivileged children in many countries. Sponsors keep a correspondence with the child they are sponsoring.

http://www.compassion.com

Oooh! And right on their front page it talks about Employment Opportunities!

[Jaltus-bot]

Cool, thanks.

[shooraijin]

The Peace Corps is a USA government-funded organization, so it is not per se Christian.

http://www.peacecorps.gov/

As for UNESCO, I was actually thinking of UNICEF. Sorry.

Samaritan's Purse is an -excellent- choice! When I was in student government at Loma Linda, we did Christmas boxes for them every year.

IMNSHO = International Medical Network of Service and Health Organizations

[spoiler]Okay, okay, not really! IMNSHO = In my not so humble opinion[/spoiler]

[Jaltus-bot]

Do you have any idea if they would offer medical insurance?

I liked the first IMNSHO. Good job making up a meaning.

Cal Poly's Dr. Bassett suggested the Peace Corp when I was talking with him a year and a half ago.

[starfire]

Joan of Arc, hope you find an org. let me know if you want some more info on the jet programme and I'll get it to you tomorrow! Now I have to go into my closet! Wonderful You know to get the pamphlet on the Jet Programme. It's worth it

[Rev. Doc]

You may also wish to look into an organization like Child Evangelism Fellowship. My wife and I support a missionary couple through CEF in the former Eastern European country of Slovenia where we served for two years. Having work with children's ministries in some Eastern European countries I can tell you that this is a vital need.

As with many of these organizations you would have to get your own support. However, if it is God's will that is not an area that you have to worry about. He will supply.

[Jaltus-bot]

I think that if I can, I would like to work for somekind of international medical organization.

[Bobtheduck]

Hmm... Part of me wants to push my organization (at least the mercy ships, which do a lot of medical and dental stuff), but there are lots of organizations out there. I'd look over some of them, write to them, get info, and pray about them. I'd say go in a christian organization so you will not be barred from sharing your faith. That much at least is important...

Actually, Mercy ships have split off from YWAM, but that's primarily to focus on the medical side and not so much the schools. You may want to contact them. I have a friend who was on a YWAM boat. He said it is strange being with people on the boats because they get addicted to sea living, but he fell in love with what he did and he's training to be a dental hygienist and will likely do more of that work later on.

http://www.mercyships.org/About/AboutMain.cfm

That's a good one, but don't just look at one organization... Check your denomination If you're a catholic, there's loads of stuff I would think, but most protestant denominations have mission careers if you can live with a paycheck rather than volunteer work... They may require a theology education, though... It depends on the denomination. Check out organizations that are Christian but not tied to any denomination, though.

[Jaltus-bot]

Thank you. I will look into that. I definately agree that it would be good if it were a Christian organization. (I'm protestant and attend a nondenominational church, btw. I used to go to a Lutheran churhc, then nondenominational, then Nazarene, now Calvary Chapel which is nondenominational.) My two biggest concerns with whatever I do are that I will have school loans to pay and I want to go to grad school and I need medical insurance myself as a chronic asthematic.