In the USA there are 1.6 million Charities. That is about one charity for every 200 US citizens. During 2012, Americans gave an average of approximately 1200 US Dollars.

In 2010 John Hopkins University did a survey that posted the number of employed by the nonprofit and non-governmental sector at 10.1% of the working population.

In 2011 the Bureau of Labor and Statistics stated “loosely” that 16% of the population works for the Government although other sources swear that it’s nearer 25% of the working population.

I know that how you define the terms and where you look the numbers are all over the place. For our purpose these will work. We are going to be talking about the trend in new start-up; nonprofit or non-government US organizations- let’s call them for this space “Voluntary organizations”.

We will say for the sake of argument 1 in 10 works for the nonprofit or non-government sector via voluntary organizations and 3 in 10 work for the US Government.

One of the idea’s I wish to share is the social side, specifically nonprofit or non-government US organizations Voluntary organizations (VO) are growing at an amazing rate.

Without going into the political side of this lets just agree that many VO do work or have programs inside the US as well as outside. I wonder at what year the percentage of VO will grow to be almost equal the Governmental employee percentage and what will that do to the ongoing debate in Washington and the rest of the Country.

I offer that the US is most wary of the influences of any modern outside political ideology, however that the US is clearly anchored in their own type of social work for the less fortunate in local or distant society. Not only that but new organizations are popping up everywhere; not only due to the internet maturing but that individualistic ideas are being brought to action on a more frequent basis. It seems this will continue as the next wave of internet tools will make each and every one of us a: fundraiser, supporter or even an activist for their friends cause or their own.

How will this coming structure benefit the intended target? Whether the Child down the street with MS or the single mother perhaps a new school in a remote place in a poor small Country.

With so many actors it will be increasingly difficult for many targets to build long term relationships with helpers and donors. If for example a mother of a sick child needs help would it be better to have 2 or 3 connections helping with 500 givers each or the opposite 1500 givers to have contact with? In some situations it is better to donate through a central point.

Of course there are the big questions, should we help and who should get help first? Globally most 6 year olds would say” people should have food; have a safe place to live with good parents and to be able to improve their future-education”.

Ask the same question to random adults of all ages, political affiliation’s and religious affiliations and the answer would surprise you. One thing for sure it the common sense of the children’s response would be replaced by thousands of answers.

Diversification is generally good for some areas of our lives just as over diversification will lead to diffuseness. The global consensus on what we need to do is not absolute it is political for the most part as international governmental organizations tend to be the trend setters. The question is do you agree or not; do you know what the global priorities are and do you agree with them?

Star of Hope stands on four basic pillars with education and learning to know Christ being the first two. We have been helping children get educated in marginalized areas for over 40 years. We do not plan to abandon the task or to detour from it and we hope that you might decide to be a part of what we do. Together we are strong and we will have a great impact on countless children’s lives.

Star of Hope basically understands that some organizations feed the needy, some cloth the needy and then there are those that do it all. We stay aligned with education as it is a great tool to break the chains of poverty and cannot be taken away.

So please do think about the quality your donations will bring about; we offer a sound track record in results with children’s education. We have one channel to 30,000 children in our system with professional service and Christian attitudes. Star of Hope gives precise monthly feedback and personal donor service.

We need your help we ask for your support; sponsor a child with Star of Hope, change a life for one; break the chains of poverty!

Mark Presson

I have been to the small pre-school that Star of Hope operates outside Mombasa several times. I'm always happy to go there. The children bursting with joy, the teachers are dedicated to teaching the children and there are nice tools at hand.

Two of the children I remember below. Of course remember more but these two boys were energetic and fun in many ways. It's got a good start in life, even though they live in simple conditions. I hope to return sometime in the future to this preschool for getting to experience the energy again.

Trevor was very focused on learning as much as possible.

David was always fun and with something going on.

At the Star of Hope Preschool in Mombasa, most children comes from poor backgrounds. One of the boys is Sudi who has a complicated family situation and the mother is unemployed and the father has only odd jobs. With four children to care for, it is hard to put food on the table every day.

Sudi is doing fine the classroom says his teacher. But the only thing he thinks about is football she adds with a smile.

With more sponsors, we would be able to help more children to a good start in life. Click here to learn how to become a sponsor.

Here are some pictures of Sudi.

Star of Hope has worked with education and other things in Kenya for decades, especially outside the coastal town of Mombasa. Many children have gone through the Star of Hope's schools, and thus had a good start in life. I have been to Kenya several times to document the work up close.

Kenya is a great country in many ways and when. Beautiful national parks, high mountains and beautiful white beaches at the coast, but the people are the greatest asset I think. However, the country has in recent years been hit by drought, ethnic strife and more. Recently, several bombs melted the country with several dead and injured. Tragic that these disturbances will haunt the country.

Star of Hope is struggling on to give as many people as possible to a good start in life.

Since there are only a few weeks left to make your 2012 tax year donations count, I thought you might like to know how to double your gift!

There are an amazing number of companies that will match their employees giving. You should check with your companies HR department to see if yours is one. GreatNonProfits has a good blog entry which also includes a listing of some of the bigger companies that match. You can read it here and check the list.

Employeer matching donation. Good stuff. Thank you to all the companies who do good by matching the passion of their employees.

The Haitian Government have asked the international community of two billion U.S. dollars to fight the cholera outbreak that is still raging in the country. The cholera came to Haiti by UN peacekeepers from Nepal in 2010, and 7,500 people have died of cholera. That’s more than those who died in the unrest that led to UN troops came to Haiti.

334 000 people were affected by cholera in Haiti last year, more than the rest of the world combined.

Haiti has a ten year plan to significantly improve sanitation and water issues, and thus raising the standard of living for the entire population.

Star of Hope has long been working with these issues. We have built various types of water systems in the projects in which we are working to ensure safe drinking water for the villagers and schoolchildren.

However, we need to be dig more wells and build other aquatic systems to ensure clean water for more people and to reduce the problems of disease and death.

Please click here to know how you can support us.