Service Jam — Making the World Work Better Through Service

Earlier in the year I participated in an online forum called Global Pulse Jam where individuals from around the world “met” to discuss a variety of issue related to international development.  The organizers are planning a similar event–Service Jam–from October 10-12, 2010.  Since the venue is virtual, you can participate from anywhere around the world. Registration is free but space is limited to first come, first served.

Guests for Service Jam include:

George H.W. Bush, 41st President of the U.S.
Harris Wofford, U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania
Jean Case, CEO, The Case Foundation
Justin Davis-Smith, CEO, Volunteer England, UK
Luminita Oprea, Founder, Saga Business, Society Romania
Marc-Philippe Daubresse, Minister for Youth and Solidarities, France
Michael Bürsch, Former Member of the Bundestag, Founder CCCD – Centrum für Corporate Citizenship Deutschland, Germany
Ariel Kestens, Head of Support Services, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Chile
Brian A. Gallagher, President & CEO, United Way Worldwide
Helene Gayle, President & CEO, CARE USA
John Bridgeland, President & CEO, Civic Enterprises,
Jane Jamieson, Vice President, Digital Opportunity Trust, Turkey
Marcia Ito, M.D., PhD, State Technology Education Center Paula Souza, Brazil
Michelle Nunn, CEO, Points of Light & Co-Founder, HandsOn Network

For more information visit: http://www.ibm.com/ibm/responsibility/minijam/overview.html

South African children react to World Cup match between South Africa and France

Source.

Finding funds for the world’s ills

Oxfam and Save the Children have launched an appeal for $10 million in aid for Niger, where some 400,000 children under the age of 5 are at risk of starvation after massive crop failures last year.

GAVI needs $4.3 billion between now and 2015 if it is to continue its current programs and roll out new vaccines against pneumococcal disease and rotavirus to more than 40 countries. This figure includes an additional $2.6 billion over and above current levels of funding.

An accountability report, prepared by officials in G8 member countries’ foreign affairs departments, acknowledges that G8 “countries are $10 billion behind the five-year, $50-billion commitment they made at their 2005 summit in Scotland.”

The United Nations has launched a flash appeal for $ 71 million for much-needed assistance to thousands of people displaced and affected by the ethnic violence in southern Kyrgyzstan.

No, the primary purpose of this post isn’t to illicit donations for any of the organizations and agencies listed above. Instead, I’ve been wondering if these calls for funding are grossly exaggerated on purpose or if there are billions of dollars sitting in the banks of governments and individuals waiting to be transferred over to a non-profit organization.  Can all of the international development and global health projects that need funding actually be fully funded?