Operation USA: Give and It Gets There

Operation USA works to alleviate disasters, disease, and poverty. Their plan includes using private funds to relieve, rebuild and aid in development in developing countries that need the funding the most. From there, they fund grassroots organizations that promote sustainable development, sustainable income generating programs, education and health services, human rights, and leadership.

Their programs include development, disaster response, education, health, and material aid that specifically targets women and children. Sustainable development is important because the impact that an organization makes has to be long-term and able to be upheld by citizens. Organizations like Operation USA also target women and children because they are the at-risk, vulnerable demographic.

The Impact of Natural Disasters on Women and Children

Women and children are unfortunately affected by natural disasters more than men. Due to inequality and oppression, developing societies do not share the resources equally. Disproportionately, women and children are the most susceptible to violence, poverty, war, and natural disasters without a voice to speak out against the injustices.

Give and It Gets There

Operation USA prides itself on it’s policy of 96% of funds going straight to where it is needed. Operation USA delivers over $350 million for relief and development projects.

Right now, after the devastation in Japan, Operation USA has set up a texting program. Text REBUILD to 50555 to donate $10 the relief efforts in Japan.

You can donate to Operation USA through money and miles.

To get in contact with Operation USA, call 310.838.3455 or email them at info@opusa.org. They are located on 3617 Hayden Avenue, Suite A, Culver City, CA 90232.

The Real Medicine Foundation: Responding to Immediate Healthcare Needs

Founded in May 2005, the Real Medicine Foundation was a result of the knowledge people had gained from working with the Southeast Asian Tsunami relief. Combining humanitarian support to people living in poverty and creating sustainable programs, the Real Medicine Foundation is based on focusing on a personal approach to medicine. People are seen as a whole, not just an ailment, and long-term, sustainable solutions are a result of that outlook.

Then and Now: Southeast Asia in 2004 and Japan in 2011

As little as 6 years separate the tragic tsunamis that hit Southeast Asia in 2004 and Japan in 2011. Gigantic earthquakes struck out at sea prompting huge tsunamis that wiped out entire cities.

On December 26, 2004, the Indian Ocean tsunami was brought on by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake which was the third largest earthquake ever recorded. This earthquake lasted between 8 and 10 minutes and caused the entire planet to vibrate 1 cm. Thanks to humanitarian efforts $14 million were donated to relieve the people in the mire dire situations.

Fast forward to current day: Japan was struck with an 8.9-magnitude earthquake and needs your help. The Real Medicine Foundation is working hard to donate money and is figuring out a way to contribute their expertise and resources.

Help The Real Medicine Foundation Today

Sign up to volunteer today with The Real Medicine Foundation. As a volunteer you will provide humanitarian support to people in disaster areas both on site and through an office.

You can also donate to The Real Medicine Foundation. You can either donate online or by mail to 11628 Santa Monica, Blvd. Suite 203, Los Angeles, CA 90025. They can also be reached by phone at 310-820-4502. Your donations will go directly to support victims of natural disasters.

Relief International: Saving Lives, Sustaining Livelihoods

In times of crisis, having help to relieve the most dire situations is important. In the midst of the 8.9-magnitude Japan earthquake and tsunami, Give2Network thought it would be appropriate to focus on international relief efforts with ways for you to give back to people who need it the most.

Dedicated to reducing human suffering, Relief International provides emergency relief, rehabilitation, development assistance and program services to vulnerable communities worldwide. They remain unassociated with political groups in order to narrow their focus on the struggling people (mostly women and children) in unfortunate situations. On top of serving the needs of victims of natural disasters, civil conflicts, and poverty, Relief International provides sustainable programs to empower communities and equality.

From Haiti in 2010 to Japan in 2011

In Haiti, 80% of the population lives under $2 a day. In 2010, a 7-magnitude earthquake struck Port-au-Prince shaking up an entire country, taking 230,000 lives, and leaving 1.3 million people displaced. Relief International has a handful of programs to help Haiti in the aftermath of this horrible disaster in a poor  country with little regulations on earthquake-proof buildings.

With the most recent natural disaster to strike humanity, Relief International was instantaneously available to provide relief in Japan. The 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami is leaving hundreds of thousands stranded and tens of thousands dead. Relief International has staff on the ground in Tokyo and brought together a crew of an Emergency Response Team to monitor the situation and respond.

See more examples of Relief International in the news.

Get Involved with Relief International

Relief International is usually looking for interns and volunteers to provide emergency relief to people worldwide. See Relief International’s current internship and volunteer opportunities.

A great way to support thousands of people globally is to donate to Relief International. You can choose the amount that you wish to donate and choose where exactly you would like your money to go towards: Global (Where Needed Most), Pakistan, Darfur (Sudan), Haiti, and Japan are the current areas that are of focus currently.

You can also donate by phone at 310.478.1200 or 800.573.3332; donate by mail at Relief International, 5455 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1280, Los Angeles, CA 90036 USA. You can specify which program you would like to donate to with Attn: (Program Name).

Donate to Japan in the Midst of a Disaster

Here at Give2Network we are deeply saddened by the sudden disaster to hit Japan. An 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck 230 miles off the coast of Sendai provoking massive 33 foot waves to engulf the coast drowning landmarks like Tokyo Disney and leading Japan to call a nuclear emergency in Fukushima. The Twitter-sphere has taken action with trends like #prayforjapan and Text REDCROSS. Seven out of ten trends on Twitter revolve around the disaster that struck Japan.

How to Give Back to Japan

There are a handful of ways to give back to Japan in their time of need:

By texting Red Cross to 90999 you will automatically donate $10 to help Japan. You can also make a donation to Japan on globalgiving.org.

Finally, take a look at Medicines sans Frontiers (Doctors without Borders). They generally will have something to assist the Japanese people relatively quickly.