Fourth-quarter 2011 poverty beneficiary ActionAid USA gave us this report about how they are using the funds contributed by members of Foundation Beyond Belief. Members donated $3,905 to ActionAid last quarter.

ActionAid USA is grateful to Foundation Beyond Belief and its donors for their continued support.  Using funds received from FBB, ActionAid will take a rights-based approach to fighting poverty in developing countries on a variety of fronts, from gender-based violence to climate change.  In the United States, ActionAid conducts research, advocacy campaigns, and targeted outreach, both to inform the U.S. public and to build solidarity with the poor internationally.

In all our work, ActionAid takes sides with poor people to help them understand their rights and confront the injustices that hold them back. We campaign with governments to ensure that their decisions on aid, lending, and trade agreements respect the rights of poor people. Below is a sample of our programs:

The Freethought Film Festival Foundation is hosting the first annual Freethought Celebrity Charity Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament and Casino Night August 1, 2012, at The Church nightclub in Denver, Colorado. Proceeds from this event will go to Foundation Beyond Belief.

"This is going to be an amazing event," said Dale McGowan, executive director of Foundation Beyond Belief. "We're thrilled to be involved and grateful to FFFF for naming the Foundation as the event beneficiary."

Tournament seating is limited to 135 players. Check the Freethought Film Festival Foundation website for information about reserving your space or sponsoring the event.

Fourth-quarter 2011 peace beneficiary War Child gave us this report about how they are using the funds contributed by members of Foundation Beyond Belief. Members donated $3,375 to War Child last quarter.

At the very core of War Child’s overseas programming is the belief that for a community to experience a robust recovery following conflict, the community itself must drive the process. War Child’s role is as a facilitator and capacity builder. We can help individuals improve their skills to better access opportunities for personal growth. This is not only for those young people who attend our programs but also our staff overseas, 95% of whom are recruited from the community.

Your support has helped War Child accomplish the following:

Democratic Republic of Congo: Access to Education 

• 291 teachers from 28 different schools have been trained in proper teaching techniques using a War Child-created training guide entitled Le Bon Enseignant (The Good Teacher). This manual includes child-centered learning techniques and accounts for national teaching standards of the DRC.
• Over 11,000 children in 38 schools have been provided with access to safe spaces in which to attend classes. 

Ethiopia: Support for Children Orphaned by AIDS