Updates on the CEP-Uganda COVID-19 Response Project As the coronavirus pandemic arrived in East Africa in March, several of our local partners focused on new programs to strengthen community resilience. In April, Child Empowerment Programme Uganda (CEP) established a COVID-19 task force and began working with local leaders and police in Kamuli District to implement a three-part health and sanitation program. Executive Director Robert Kalulu shared the following update on their recent work. Production and Distribution of Face Masks CEP hired 4 graduates of their tailoring program to make face masks and participate in distribution around the region. This is...[ Read More ]

We are deeply saddened by the tragic and violent murder of Domingo Choc Che, Mayan spiritual guide in San Luis, Petén, Guatemala. Pangea is committed to raising the voices of indigenous people in Guatemala and around the world. The following is a statement from our friends at EDUCA Oaxaca concerning the lynching and murder of Domingo Choc Che. You can read the original statement in Spanish here. Our thanks to Kelly Ventura for the translation. Domingo Choc Che, member of the Association of Mayan Spiritual Guides, was lynched by a mob that accused him of practicing acts of witchcraft in...[ Read More ]

Dear members and friends, As I prepare this monthly message to you, first and foremost on my mind is the tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police, and the expressions of outrage it has sparked against racism and inequality in our country. I am inspired by the thousands of people here in Seattle and across our nation who are peacefully protesting and demanding change. It is difficult to witness trauma and suffering whether it is in our partners’ countries or here at home. Yet we cannot ignore the reality of what Black Americans experience every...[ Read More ]

Our partner Taa'Pi't works with indigenous families in the Lake Atitlán region of Guatemala to reintroduce traditional foods, cooking techniques and agricultural practices based on Ru Kuuyx qa Way qa Kuyaa, the Mayan expression for directing recognition, acceptance and gratitude to the vital energy that arrives in each home in the form of seeds, vegetables, fruits and liquids. Petrona Cocon is one of the women who benefited from this project and she shares her reflections here. The Taa’ Pi’t Ru Kuuyx qa Way qa Kuyaa (Essence of our Food and Drink) project has greatly influenced my life, both in health...[ Read More ]

We were thrilled recently when we received an email from our friends at Women Peace Makers Cambodia sharing the publication of their latest book Navigating the Nexus of Art and Peace. The book is a reflection on years of working together with artists and peace builders in trying to co-create and work together for peace and social justice. In the words of Women Peace Makers Executive Director Suyheang Kry "we have so far been able to explore different ways of how to bring diverse groups of people together who are at odd with each other; one of which, for example,...[ Read More ]

In April, we reached out to our grant partners to offer our support and flexibility with their grant funds in an effort to support them during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these strong community leaders have already responded, quickly pivoting their work to address community needs. Below are a few examples: Muditar in Myanmar has suspended Pangea-funded activities until June 1 when the stay at home order is expected to end. Instead, they are focusing the work of Village Development Teams (VDTs) in villages to set up temporary quarantine areas for migrants returning to the village; some are tarpaulin or...[ Read More ]

Pangea Giving's latest report, our Latin America Grant Study 2011–2020 summarizes archival information to reveal longitudinal trends in our grant giving for the Latin America pod over the last decade. A special thank you to Kelly Ventura for her work in preparing the report. READ THE REPORT You can see Pangea’s other reports on our new Research Reports page.

Wendo Aszed, Director of Dandelion Africa, a longtime Pangea Giving grant partner, explains how COVID-19 is affecting women in rural Kenya in this guest blog post.  Today I woke up worried about a lady in my village called Ekadon. I worried about her mud hut with tinned roof, held by stones, that it would fall on her at night or be swept away by the raging March rains. I worried that she might not have a tee-pee tap by her door, to wash her hands every time she came back from her hustle. I worried about the brown water she stands in...[ Read More ]

Educating and empowering women and girls is a well-accepted strategy in global development to help them thrive. But what does this look like in hard to reach rural communities in Kenya where the practice of FGM (female genital mutilation) still takes place and dropping out of school and early marriages/pregnancies are commonplace for young adolescent girls? This short video features participants in Dandelion Africa’s highly successful Girls for Leaders program which has brought much needed hope, confidence, mentorship and leadership skills to thousands of girls from vulnerable communities. The stats tell the story too—98% of girls in Dandelion's program successfully...[ Read More ]

On April 8, we shared the following message with our partner organizations in Latin America, East Africa and Southeast Asia to offer our support in this time of global pandemic. Para leer el mensaje en español, mira abajo. Dear Partners, We begin our grant year under extraordinary circumstances. The coronavirus pandemic has impacted us all. Here in Seattle we continue our “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” practice – an order issued on March 23 by our state’s governor, to limit the spread of the virus. Schools and most businesses are closed and all gatherings for social, spiritual and recreational purposes are...[ Read More ]