Pangea Celebrates 10 Years of Grant Making With Record Grants!
Grants Awarded to 18 Global Organizations in Six Developing Countries
The year 2013 marks a significant milestone for Pangea. While celebrating its 10th year of grantmaking, Pangea grew its 2013 grant pool to an all-time high of $140,600 a 10% increase over the previous year. Those funds are being used to help support 18 projects in 6 different countries across the globe, focusing on food security and empowerment of women. In addition, a portion of the grant pool has been reserved with the expectation that, later this year, Pangea will make its first grants in Burma, where Pangea sees tremendous need.
Highlights of 2013
Here are some notable examples among the 2013 grantees. To view a complete list of 2013 grants by geographic area, click here: Africa Asia Latin America
Africa:
In Africa, Pangea awarded $47,600 to six organizations in Kenya and Tanzania, including $10,000 to the Kenyan organization, CIFORD. With this grant, CIFORD will serve 120 girls by conducting “alternative rite of passage workshops,” empowering them to refuse female genital mutilation (FGM) and stay in school rather than marry at a very young age. It will also train women in bio-intensive gardening techniques to improve food security.
Latin America:
Pangea awarded $46,000 to eight organizations in Oaxaca, Mexico and Guatemala, including $8,000 to SiKanda in Oaxaca. SiKanda will use the grant funds to set up and equip a worm compost center for Oaxaca, and to initiate the production of compost. This program is expected to transform families’ relationships toward waste, and help empower women in marginalized communities.
Asia:
Pangea awarded $33,000 to four organizations in Cambodia and Thailand, and reserved $13,000 to fund community based organizations in Burma later in the year. Of the $33,000 awarded, $8,000 went to Tean Thor Association (TTA) in Cambodia to continue 
seamstress apprentice programs for young women, and $10,000 went to Enhancing Community Capacity for Sustainable Development (ECCSD) in Thailand, to help expand Thai public school access for Burmese children and develop a mobile training program for at-risk youth.
Looking ahead:
In January 2013, Pangea members traveled and met with local organizations in Burma to understand the needs there. Pangea members believe that Pangea’s model is well suited to developing relationships with the small, community based organizations they met in Burma, and they are excited about working there. Pangea is poised to begin making grants to organizations in Burma later in 2013. In this time of transition and massive influx of investment and foreign aid, small grants in support of community initiatives are critical to securing equitable reforms and strengthening civil society.