A new online portal allows Australian donors to give to charities and have their donations matched by a company or a philanthropist of their choice.

Called Givematcher, it’s the brainchild of Sydney-based social entrepreneur and former banking executive Franck Demoiseau.

Demoiseau says the Givematcher fundraising portal was launched in mid-February and has already signed up more than 50 charities, including some of Australia’s largest charities. As well, some eight corporates have signed on.

“This has been a great result as we need a reasonably large bank for charities and for corporates to choose to become engaged with,” he says.

He says the portal allows both companies and charities to be able to work together in a way they have never been able to do previously.

“For companies with a budget of say $10,000 to give to a charity they know that their matched donation means the charity is really getting  $20,000 and that’s a great way to leverage their social impact,” he says.

Demoiseau says this form of marketing can then deliver new donors to the charities.

Givematcher says it also delivers the contact details of donors to the charities who sign up,  unlike workplace giving programs where the employees of a company usually remain anonymous.

“Givematcher uses the power of Matched Giving on a large scale to bring great new value to donors, companies and charities, triggering a tremendous win-win-win scenario,” Demoiseau says.

“Donors finally have a way of leveraging their donations, which for most Australians has not been possible as most companies do not have a workplace giving programs and donors greatly appreciate the support of the companies that match their donations.

“As well companies are able to help charities more than by donating directly, while enjoying benefits such as showcasing their social responsibility, and adding to customer …

The team at Auto & General insurance has set up a Disaster Relief Fund to help remote communities in Nepal following the terrible earthquakes which struck the country on 25 April and 12 May 2015. Some of our staff have a personal connection to Nepal, while many others simply want to help in whatever way they can.

We have identified the best way for our staff and friends to contribute is through partnering with the Nepal Australia Friendship Association (NAFA) to help rebuild lost infrastructure, particularly around schools.

NAFA is a Brisbane based non-profit organisation with a proven track record over 26 years in supporting sustainable, grass roots community development projects in Nepal.

NAFA’s focus is on health, education and the environment, with an emphasis on remote villages and families who are particularly disadvantaged. For more information on NAFA activities contact www.nafa.org.au

USE OF FUNDS RAISED
Givematcher has set NAFA a 0% rate. This means all your donation goes to Nepal (exc credit card fee).
Funds will be used to rebuild or repair classrooms previously funded by NAFA in villages located in the Solu Khumbu, Okhaldhunga (including the school at Chhermading) or Sindulpulchowk districts, all severely damaged or destroyed by the earthquakes.

NAFA executive officers will visit Nepal at their own expense after the end of the monsoon season to ensure the funds are used as intended…

Legacy Australia is very proud to officially launch its Pozieres…Our Legacy 2016 tour. The project involves taking up to 100 Legacy youths on an educational study tour to the Western Front Battlefields, with the signature event being the Commemoration of the Battle of Pozieres on 23 July 2016.

What sets this tour apart from other tour groups attending the area in 2016 is that all of the youths have suffered in some way through… the loss of a parent whilst undertaking service in the Australian Defence Force.

Participating Legacy youths are seeking to fundraise $5,000 each towards the cost of their trip.

For more information about Pozieres.. Our Legacy 2016 visit http://www.legacy.com.au/pozieres/Pozieres.

Please help Legacy and show your support for this very worthy and important project.…

Working with families, children and communities to empower them to create lasting change for future generations is an essential part of our work in Nepal.

We focus on improving access to and quality of education for school-aged children in the remote communities of Nepal. Sponsorship programs include providing educational materials, training teachers and improvements to the school buildings and boarding house. Your ongoing donation helps us to achieve long-term support to these children.

Sponsoring is an excellent way of helping children have a brighter future.

You’ll offer a child real hope now and in the future when you sponsor. That’s because your money will help provide them with a stable childhood in their own community, as well as access to healthcare and quality education. So, when they reach adulthood, they can go on to lead full and independent lives.

Sponsoring a child can be a rewarding experience – both for you and the communities you are helping.

KEEPING YOU IN TOUCH WITH REGULAR UPDATES

We will send you updates on how your sponsored child is progressing.
You’ll receive our regular newsletter featuring photos and stories on our work in Nepal.
You are welcome to write and send small gifts to your sponsored child.

IT’S EASY TO BECOME A SPONSOR

Simply click donate on the right hand side – select $ 38 a month and select monthly donation.

Fill in your details and specify any special instructions you would like us to know about. Once we have received your first donation, we will send you details in 3-4 weeks about your sponsored child. We also send you our handbook when you sponsor an HDFA child or project. It’s a really useful guide to your sponsorship and we hope it will answer questions you may have.…

THE TRUTH IS, CHILD SLAVERY IS REAL!

We all find it hard to believe that in the 21st century slavery is so widespread. Unscrupulous criminals take advantage of vulnerable people. They lie about opportunities for prosperity, promising work and wages that turn out to be very different or non-existent. Instead of interesting work, menial tasks are required of the victims for no wages. Beatings and torture or sexual abuse are meted for no reason in order to intimidate and break the spirit of the victim who then too often succumbs to a demeaning life of abuse at the hands of their ‘owners’.

In some countries children are traded by families who are experiencing serious financial difficulty. In other places children become enslaved who have fled for their lives into refugee camps or are orphaned and abandoned and live in slums along railway tracks, under bridges or in sewer drains. They fall under the influence of evil people who teach them to beg and steal in return for a miserly supply of food and shelter that can barely be called adequate. Or they are confined to cramped quarters and sold to families or individuals who keep them from attending school and physically and sexually abuse them. Or worse still their days and nights are spent servicing the predatory sexual needs of violent abusers.

Exaggerating? – Not at all! These poorest of the poor are trapped and manipulated by evil people. They are powerless to do anything to break free because of threats to harm their families if they try to escape.

Although it is inherently difficult to know the numbers involved because it is often a hidden crime. Indications are that the numbers involved are staggering. Best estimates indicate that around 32 million people are entrapped in slavery of some type …

Sue Hammersley played an influential role in West Australian music across a couple of decades. She championed gigs on university campuses, booked gigs at numerous venues, promoted interstate tours, and gave up and coming bands a helping hand. She was infamous around town – always at gigs, always loud, always with a drink in hand. Opinionated, passionate, hilarious, and more than anything, dedicated to WA music.

Sue passed away suddenly in August 2012.

A small collection of Sue’s favourite gig posters, which were kept by her family are being donated to WAM. We are raising funds to cover the costs associated with framing this collection professionally to ensure they are kept for many years to come as a tribute to her passion and commitment to what she loved best – music. Any funds raised over and above the framing costs will contribute to WAM’s range of programs and services.

Bob Gordon published a beautiful obituary and tribute to Sue on her passing; if you didn’t know Sue, everything you need to know about her relevance to the WA music community is captured here.

Sue was a force of nature, to say the least. Music mad from the get-go, at the age of 17 she managed to score an internship at the BBC in London, working on such shows such as Top of the Pops. Returning to Perth in the early ‘80s, she studied Film & Television at WAIT (now Curtin) but it was Sue’s passion for music that saw her emerge as a pioneering presence and consistent motivator in original, live music in this city.

It was a heartfelt mission and Sue fought the good fight in all of the many roles she took on in the WA music industry – at WAIT, the University Of Western Australia, The Red …

Our Annual Family Camps help families create memories and have new experiences that they wouldn’t otherwise. These are an important part of our services but are dependant on donors, supporters and philanthropists for funding.

This year marks our 25th Anniversary of Family Camps. Donate $25 to help celebrate 25 years, or another amount of your choosing. Your donation will help us continue to provide families with children or young adults with disabilities the opportunity to relax, reconnect and recharge together, that is so desperately needed.

Thank you.…

How far would you push yourself in the name of mateship?

Jason Snell is raising money for his friend Mitch Cleary, the victim of a one punch attack three years ago.

Jason leaves Perth on March 28th to attempt to summit Mt Everest.

All your donation will go to help Mitch’s long road to recovery (excl 1.5% credit card fee).

Jason comments from the heart:

“If I am to summit Everest I’ll need a solid measure of good fortune. They say fortune favors the brave – a quality I’m hoping I have enough of”.

“During times of this journey, no matter how strong my mind, my bravery may run low. Thankfully, I’m not drawing on this alone to make the climb. I also have my inspiration”.

“Mitch’s battle is hourly, daily, weekly, monthly – for the rest of his life. A bit different from the challenges of a lifelong dream”.

“So when I’m inevitably exhausted, freezing cold, and trying with every part of my mind, body and soul to just place one foot in front of the other, I’ll think of Mitch. The pain and memories of my challenge, which I willingly choose, will fade with time. As for Mitch – he will awake to a new Everest everyday”.

Please help Jason Snell by giving whatever you can to fuel his inspiration to help Mitch with his rehabilitation. The more people that know about Moving Mountains For Mitch, the greater the impact we can have on his rehabilitation, so please also spread the word by sharing the campaign with your friends and family.
Feel free to also set up a fundraiser for Mitch.

Thank you in advance for your generosity, it means a lot to Jason and Mitch!…

Synopsis

From 06 – 26 February 2016, seven cyclist representing Ondru from New Zealand and Australia will cycle 1000km across Sri Lanka from Mirissa to Jaffna to raise $50,000 in funds to develop the project. This pilot project will focus on rebuilding and strengthening communities and will be driven by the local communities to inspire positive change.

What are we trying to achieve?

Empowering communities in Sri Lanka affected by war, violence and displacement through community based art projects that bring people together to inspire and nurture a more positive vision of the future.

What have we done so far?

Across 2013 and 2014, we have been working with many local communities, conducted lectures and workshops at the Eastern University, and consulted with the National Peace Council, many educators, artists, healers, nurturers, carers, professionals and people from many walks of life to develop the project.

Visit our website for more information: www.ondru.org

Sound of Silence (Sri Lanka) Photography by Shelley Morris…