Clean Water & Disaster Recovery Top List of Asia's Greatest Needs for Summer 2008

Clean Water & Disaster Recovery Top List of Asia's Greatest Needs for Summer
2008
Give2Asia Launches Latest Catalog of Charitable Projects for Private Donors

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Give2Asia, a U.S. nonprofit helping
private donors support local charitable projects in Asia, has released its
latest catalog of Greatest Needs projects. Based on research conducted by
Give2Asia's network spanning the Asia-Pacific region, the catalog is dominated
by disaster recovery projects in Burma and China, as well as the need for
clean water sources in poverty-stricken and industrializing communities.
The complete catalog of new Greatest Needs projects can be found online at
http://www.give2asia.org/greatestneeds.
Disaster Recovery Projects
To date, Give2Asia has helped thousands of individuals, as well as
corporations, foundations and associations, give over $7.5 million for the
China and Burma disasters that struck in May.
"In China, millions are living in temporary settlements and will be
displaced for months and years," said Ray Klinke, CFO and interim CEO at
Give2Asia. "And in Burma, farming families are struggling to survive after
losing an entire season of crops. While the immediate disaster relief is over,
now is the time donors can make a long-term impact on the quality of life for
survivors."
Of the new Greatest Needs projects, four deliver disaster recovery for the
Burma cyclone and China earthquake. They include:
-- Providing seed and irrigation to cyclone-devastated farms in Burma
(local partner: International Development Enterprises)
-- Revitalizing agricultural communities by providing sustainable income
for farming families in China (local partner: NGO Disaster Preparedness
Center)
-- Rebuilding schools for children in Sichuan Province
(partner: China Youth Development Foundation)
-- Creating sanitary facilities for thousands living in temporary shelter
communities in China (partner: China Environmental Protection Foundation)
Creating Sources for Clean Water
Despite economic growth in many areas, accessing clean water is a
challenge for those living in poverty and rapidly industrializing areas.
"It's been said that 'water is life's matter and matrix, mother and
medium.' It is also our method," said Chris Plante, director of The Asia
Foundation's Environment Program. "We view measurement of clean water as a key
driver for environmental performance. While managing and measuring their
local water resources is a basic need, communities also need help from
informed international donors to access the tools and networks that will help
them achieve long-term water security."
Three new projects offer opportunities to help:
-- Installing tube wells to prevent water contamination in Bangladesh
(local partner: The Asia Foundation)
-- Providing clean water for a Dayak longhouse community in Malaysia
(local partner: Native Youth Institute)
-- Cleaning the water of To Lich River in Hanoi, Vietnam
(local partner: The Asia Foundation)
Literacy, Livelihood and Human-trafficking
The Greatest Needs catalog also includes three final projects to support
ongoing needs:
-- Building literacy in Afghanistan via community libraries
(local partner: The Asia Foundation)
-- Establishing micro-enterprise opportunities for disabled adults in
India (local partner: Family of Disabled)
-- Bringing anti-trafficking education into Vietnam's schools
(local partner: The Asia Foundation)
About Give2Asia
Since 2003, Give2Asia has regularly released Greatest Needs projects for
donors who care about communities in Asia. Give2Asia's mission is to
facilitate and encourage charitable giving by providing personalized
philanthropic services. Founded by The Asia Foundation with more than 50 years
of grantmaking experience in the Asia-Pacific region, Give2Asia helps overcome
the common challenges associated with giving overseas and has made possible
more than $80 million in giving since launching in 2001.
Media Contact

Birger Stamperdahl
Director of Marketing, Give2Asia
465 California Street, Suite 900
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 743-3343
bstamperdahl@give2asia.org

SOURCE Give2Asia

Birger Stamperdahl, Director of Marketing of Give2Asia, +1-415-743-3343,
bstamperdahl@give2asia.org