Knowing from our own experience that non-profit leaders often benefit from having a safe space to share experiences and coach each other in addressing challenges, members of Pangea’s Africa Pod asked some of our partners if they would find it useful to meet with one other. The answer was yes. So in 2016 we set aside a small amount from our grant pool to help our partners come together at the Dandelion Africa location near Nakuru, Kenya, in what we called the East Africa Leadership Forum (EALF). The intention from the start was that the forum belonged entirely to the...[ Read More ]
We are excited to introduce Nick Dreher, Pangea Giving's new Communications & Operations Coordinator. Nick comes to Pangea with great experience and a passion for global development work. You can reach him at nick@pangeagiving.org. Nick Dreher, Communications & Operations Coordinator Nick joined the team in May 2018. He comes to Pangea with experience working for organizations addressing diverse issues, including literacy, youth and sports, refugee advocacy and support, and community development. In these and other settings, Nick has worn the hats of teacher, coach, program coordinator, and communicator. He received his B.A. in International Studies from American University and his Master’s in...[ Read More ]
Building the case for investing in vulnerable youth from Central America’s Northern Triangle Whether it’s here in the United States, or back in their home countries, the fate of young people from across the Central American youth diaspora is the subject of much debate. In particular, it is those young people from Central America’s notorious Northern Triangle – Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras – whose future lies hanging in the hands of policy makers and politicians. This event offers a new look at the traditional narrative. A panel of leaders and experts from the region will take a deep dive...[ Read More ]
In January 2018, five Pangea women landed in Antigua, Guatemala to the familiar textile rich AirBnb where we have stayed before, five rooms around a lovely garden which lent itself to gathering in the evening to debrief the day. The site visit, a mere seven days, seemed much longer as we dove deep into the culture. ~Betsy Hale This was a visit of deepening our knowledge about and connection with four grant partners that we have funded from 2 to 7 years. In addition to visits to known and trusted organizations, we learned about the ever-changing political, social, and economic...[ Read More ]
Continuing its global support of rural, grassroots organizations, Pangea Giving is awarding $128,433 in grants to be distributed in March, 2018. We are proud to partner with groups in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and East Africa to help them address critical issues in their local communities, ranging from education access and economic opportunities, women’s health/sexuality training to sustainable agricultural methods for increased yields and improved nutrition. Thousands of program participants are expected to benefit in areas around the globe. Individual grants range from $4,600 to $10,000. Highlights:   A total of 17 Partners - 8 Project grants & 9 Operating Grants ...[ Read More ]
Pangea Giving site visits are taking place this week in Guatemala, January 14-21. To start, the group of five Pangea members are basing out of Antigua, for day trips to three Pangea Giving grantees: Asociación Comunidad La Esperanza, Women’s Justice Initiative, and ASOGEN (Asociación Generando Equidad, Liderazgo y Oportunidades). The team kicked off the week yesterday with a day of context meetings and presentations by various English-speaking expats who are well versed in the Guatemala non-profit world, as well as the history of political and other violence which have restricted human rights. Pangea’s grant to AC Esperanza, now in its...[ Read More ]
Pangea Giving partner, Asociación Generando (ASOGEN) launched an educational initiative this year called “New Masculinity” for men from various communities, ages, and professions that has been having a huge impact. Working on a local, national and international level, ASOGEN is preventing violence against females by working with men and adolescents to change their belief systems around what it means to be a man. The purpose of "New Masculinity" program is to empower participants toward responsible paternity, child spacing, etc.; and personal empowerment to facilitate positive changes in the men’s lives and help them to take on personal development on an equal and...[ Read More ]
Pangea Giving was honored to host a private gathering with Pamela Yates and Paco de Onís, creators of the “Resistance Saga Trilogy” documentary on Guatemala’s struggle against genocide, impunity and discrimination on November 4, 2017 at the Century Ballroom in Seattle. A wide-ranging conversation on issues relevant to the work of both our organizations preceded the Northwest Film Forum’s showing of the trilogy: “When the Mountains Tremble” (1983), “Granito: How to Nail a Dictator” (2011) and “500 Years”, screened this year at Sundance, the London Human Rights Watch Film Festival and the Seattle International Film Festival. The trilogy will be...[ Read More ]
In 2009, in the Rift Valley of Central Kenya, Wendo Aszed started Dandelion Africa to work in the communities around where she was born after two very close friends died of AIDS. She wanted to serve the most vulnerable in the community so she began developing programs for women and girls who experienced high levels of poverty, gender-based violence, sexual abuse, and harmful gender practices sanctioned by long held social norms. It wasn’t long before she realized that to address these problems you can’t just work to empower girls and women, you need to work to change the attitudes of...[ Read More ]