Essentials: Giving back

By the Roadmap+ Team

When you're struggling to find balance in your life, one of the most rewarding things you can do is give back. When you feel strongly about a cause and you know how your contribution will assist, the feel-good benefit is said to be even greater.

Needless to say, helping a cause you believe in, whether it's conservation and the environment or human relief initiatives, is a reward in itself and is something that we should all strive to do as much as we're able. And as if that's not enough, volunteerism and philanthropy is said to decrease feelings of isolation, reduce stress and blood pressure, improve sleep, and it even activates the brain's reward system.

In the spirit of finding balance, we've put our regular Essentials feature aside to introduce some of our favorite organizations doing their bit to make the world a better place.

The Orangutan Project

The Orangutan Project (TOP) was formed with a key mission: to ensure endangered wild orangutan species would be protected against extinction and continue to live in secure populations for generations to come. The primary reason orangutans are being driven to extinction is loss of habitat.

TOP's strategy is holistic: Acquire land. Protect land. Rescue, rehabilitate and release orangutans. Educate and offer legal support to locals.

Orangutans need your help now. The most effective way to save orangutans with TOP is to become a crowd-fundraiser or make a monthly donation.

www.orangutan.org.au / US / EU

Red Cross

At Red Cross we're building a better society based on people helping people. We save lives and support people before, during and after disasters strike. We work to alleviate suffering during wars and conflict and promote the laws of war. And we work to assist our most vulnerable community members - no matter their circumstances. We can do all of this with the help of our supporters. From our donors, to our members and volunteers, we work together to help change lives for the better.

When you join Red Cross you become part of the world’s largest humanitarian organization. We have a diverse range of volunteer roles on offer that allow you to use your skills to help others and can also give you new skills in the process. Being part of Red Cross is a way to meet with like-minded people, get training in areas that interest you and develop yourself both personally and professionally.

www.redcross.org.au / US / EU

World Vision

In 2017, 40 Hour Famine will be supporting the biggest humanitarian crisis of our time – the refugee and displaced persons crisis. Globally, more than 32.5 million children have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict.

This year’s participants will commit to living out of their backpacks for 40 hours to raise funds for refugee and displaced children. This experience will help them understand what it’s like for these children to leave everything behind, even if just for a weekend. Students who take up the 40 Hour Famine Backpack Challenge will pack the essentials – food, water, warm clothes; whatever they’ll need to get through the 40 hours.

The funds raised will help provide food, water, blankets, tarps, temporary shelter and safe spaces for some of the world’s most vulnerable children and support World Vision projects in two different areas heavily affected by the crisis – Syria and East Africa.

www.40hourfamine.com.au / US / Elsewhere

Amnesty International

Amnesty International is a global movement of more than seven million people who campaign for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all.

Our vision is for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.

We are independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion and are funded mainly by our membership and public donations.

www.amnesty.org

Sea Shepherd

Sea Shepherd Australia is a non-profit conservation organization whose mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species.

Sea Shepherd Australia uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately balanced oceanic ecosystems, Sea Shepherd Australia works to ensure their survival for future generations.

www.seashepherd.org.au

Greenpeace

The story that Greenpeace tells is that a better world is possible, and that brave individual and collective action can make that world a reality. We believe optimism is a form of courage. We believe that a billion acts of courage can spark a brighter tomorrow.

A green and peaceful future is our quest. The heroes of our story are all of us who believe that better world is not only within reach, but being built today. The old stories are failing us – the stories of infinite growth in a finite world. The stories that tell us we can consume our way to happiness.

The world needs a new story – a story in which humanity overcomes seemingly impossible odds to not only survive, but to thrive. A story in which healthy, abundant oceans and forests heal a world powered by the natural forces that have powered life on Earth for billions of years. A world fed on a delicious bounty of life-giving food and pure water. A story in which the vast and powerful engine of human ingenuity is redirected toward building a more beautiful future for all.

Be a part of that story.

www.greenpeace.org

Category: extras

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