NGOs

After recently being one of eight NGOs denied international registration with the Egyptian government, the humanitarian group Coptic Orphans is speaking out on what many see as an unjust move on behalf of an Islamic-run government.

Coptic Orphans is a nonprofit non-governmental organization founded in 1988 by Nermien Riad which seeks to offer support to Coptic, paternal orphans and their families in Egypt. Today, the organization "works through a network of 400+ church-based volunteers in Egypt," according to its official website.

As reported on the Coptic Orphans Blog, Egypt's Al Masry Al Youm newspaper reported on April 23 that the country's Ministry of Insurance and Social Affairs denied the organization's 2005 application on the grounds that "mechanism[s] of implementation [were] found by the Egyptian [government to be in] conflict with state sovereignty over its territory." more >>

Prostitution is often not a "choice," according to Faith Huckel of the sex trafficking organization Restore NYC.

Restore NYC is a non-profit organization created to help rebuild the lives of survivors of sex trafficking in New York City through "restoring freedom, safety and hope for foreign-born survivors of sex trafficking."

Sex trafficking is one of the fastest growing transnational crimes across the U.S. – but the scope of the problem is difficult to detect as victims are often mistaken for and treated as criminals, and not victims of modern day slave trade. more >>

Over 4,000 children lose their lives daily due to drinking unsafe water, exposure to poor sanitation, and hygiene-related diseases (referred to as WASH conditions) and, according to World Vision, eight million children are expected to die this year due to diseases caused by such issues. That is why the organization is using World Water Day as an occasion to draw special attention to the plight of those struggling to survive without clean water.

Water, sanitation, and hygiene are the "foundation for development," according to Randy Strash, a Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Strategist and expert at World Vision. World Vision's Clean Water Fund is the main source of revenue for the organization in its work to bring relief to those in need of clean water.

"Water, sanitation and hygiene is absolutely critical for child and community well-being," Strash explained in a recent interview with The Christian Post. "If you don't have access to safe water, if you don't have good sanitation, if you don't have hygiene, all the other improvements are going to be like a band-aid on a major wound." more >>

Invisible Children has produced a response video to critics of its KONY 2012 campaign that was launched by the organization last week aimed at capturing Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony.

The KONY 2012 campaign gained massive attention in the cyber world last week, and within six days became the most viewed viral video of all time.

Despite massive amounts of attention and viewership, the campaign drew stark criticism from many arguing that the the producers simplified a complex problem and offered little historical narrative to educate viewers on the actual problems Ugandans are currently facing. more >>

Thousands of events celebrating women's progress, including one organized by World Vision, will take place today to mark the 101st International Women's Day.

World Vision, one of the world's leading humanitarian agencies, has highlighted a number of ways to empower women and to raise awareness about what areas need more work. The Christian humanitarian agency is providing resources on how to save a woman's life during childbirth, mentor a girl close to home, fight human trafficking, invest in a small business for women, and support the building of wells to provide a community with clean water.

The international organization has also started a new program called Strong Women Strong World (SWSW) that is working to invest in women in impoverished nations and empower women around the world. more >>

This year on International Women's Day, women across the globe will gather to celebrate the successes, challenges, and joys of being a woman in the 21st century. Among those taking the time to celebrate the power of women this Thursday is Women of Vision (WOV), a volunteer ministry of women who are working to bring together the worlds of faith and international economic development to transform the lives of women and girls globally.

"Women of faith are finding their voices, saying we need to step out and speak out about these issues and use the gift that God has given us for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering," WOV National Director Cynthia Breilh told The Christian Post. "This is the time for women of faith to stand up, engage, and get active and say, 'Look we are not going to stand by and let our sisters around the world be oppressed and live in poverty.'

"It's within their hands to change their lives if we just help raise awareness and be a voice for them." more >>