Based in Flint, Michigan, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is dedicated to supporting efforts that promote a just, equitable and sustainable society. The foundation has established grants intended to enhance the capacity of individuals, families or institutions at the local level and beyond. The Foundation hopes that its collective work in any program area could lead toward systematic change.The four areas of focus are Civil Society, Environment, Flint Area, and Pathways Out of Poverty.
I recently got an email from the Mott Foundation directing me to a series of fantastic South Africa-based philanthropy essays. The email read:
“As the excitement and drama of the World Cup Games continues to engage audiences worldwide, The Mott Foundation invites you to take a deeper look at South Africa from the perspective of the nonprofit organizations it funds and the daily struggles faced by those trying to fulfill the promise of democracy and social justice for all South Africans.
“Beyond the Games: Reflections from South Africa during the World Cup” is a four-week blogging project featuring guest writers representing a wide range of nongovernmental organizations in communities from Cape Town to Durban to Rustenburg. The Mott World Cup bloggers include:
The granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, a former member of South Africa’s Parliament and current editor of Satyagraha magazine, who examines the positive and negative effects of the World Cup games on the ordinary people of South Africa.
A young feminist in a democratic South Africa who works for Gender Links, an organization that is using the World Cup games to raise awareness of women’s rights and gender-based violence.
Director of the Institute for Healing of Memories in Cape Town, which provides victims of South Africa’s tragic past with a “safe and sacred place” where they can explore their personal histories and find emotional release.”
These are just a few of the essays…there are several more. Check it out!