Giving back to our communities – 2021

It's the time of the year to be giving back to the community again! Thanks to all of your support, we were able to increase our charitable donations this year to better support the causes that leaves an impact on society. In addition to our pledge to donate to the Rainforest trust, we've also included charities that helps minority groups through providing services that empower and support them. You can check out the list below to find out more about the charities we've donated to this year and the specific causes we're funding.

1. Rainforest Trust

Rainforest Trust purchases and protects the most threatened tropical forests, saving endangered wildlife through partnerships and community engagement. Through these highly effective partnerships, they will ensure sustainable results necessary for the long-term protection of tropical ecosystems and the wildlife they hold. The project we've donated to support biodiversity in Indonesia will be matched with $1 through our SAVES Challenge. Head over to the Rainforest trust for more information: https://www.rainforesttrust.org/projects/protect-the-leuser-ecosystem-and-create-a-corridor-for-elephants/

2. Olive Kids Emergency Appeal for Gaza

Olive Kids is an Australian Foundation dedicated to support the children of Palestine. Their vision is a future where Palestinian kids can live free, full, and safe childhoods. They work towards this goal by providing financial aid, healthcare, education, and other support to children living in Palestine. All their work is conducted in collaboration with their partner organisations on the ground and is done in a way that ensures we build local capacity and support self-determination. Due to the rapidly escalating attacks on Gaza, Olive Kids is urgently raising funds for medical supplies and power for hospitals and food packages and support for displaced and impacted families. The situation in Gaza is developing and we are in constant communication with our partners on the ground to ascertain the most critical needs.

3. Auscam Freedom Project

AusCam Freedom Project is an anti-trafficking organization ending the exploitation of girls in Cambodia. They prevent girls from ever stepping foot into danger by reducing their vulnerability, mitigating risks, supporting them to graduate and gain the tools, skills and confidence to change their lives and the world around them. ​The project aims to break the cycle of poverty that has affected adolescent girls and their families. They not only provide educational scholarships but also holistic support through their Shine Girls Project and SHE project. Check out more here.

4. Bridging the Gap Foundation

The Bridging the Gap Foundation (the Foundation) has been established through the Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) and Charles Darwin University (CDU). Its objective is to fund research into health and education in order to address one of Australia’s most urgent issues: the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians’ health and education opportunities and outcomes. The Foundation will work in partnership with health and education researchers, universities and other institutions in Australia and overseas, and will collaborate with governments and agencies at both national and international levels, to achieve its goal of improving Indigenous health and education. It will also aim to increase public awareness of the need to improve the health and educational opportunities and outcomes for Indigenous Australians.

5. Switchboard

Switchboard provide peer-driven support services for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender diverse, intersex, queer and asexual (LGBTIQA+) people, their families, allies and communities. Switchboard provides instrumental programs that helps with LGBTIQA+ issues such as: Rainbow Door

• a free specialist LGBTIQA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Gender Diverse, Intersex, Queer, Asexual, BrotherBoys, SisterGirls) helpline providing Information, support, and referral to all LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family during and after COVID 19.

Peer to Peer Counselling

• QLIFE Switchboard is the Victorian partner in the national telephone and web counselling, information and referral service QLife. This free peer based service is for LGBTIQA+ identifying people and those who have questions or concerns about LGBTIQA+ issues. This includes families, friends, teachers and coworkers of LGBTIQA+ people. This service is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health.

Anti Racism

• Switchboard runs a QTIPoC project aiming to build greater equity for Queer, Trans, Intersex Peoples and/or People of Colour and People of Faith.

To find out more, checkout their website for more information.

6. The Hunger Project

The Hunger Project employ community-led and women-centered programs that prioritize self-reliance and dignity. We support local leaders in Africa, South Asia and Latin America, where the highest number of people are living in hunger. We've added this charity on our list of donor in honor of Hey Tiger (my fav chocolate makers in Melbourne) , that has always supported The Hunger Project.