Mercy Corps

A week on from the Thomson Reuters Foundation Trust Conference - here's what's kept me thinking:   🧠 If you don't know about #neurotechnology yet (I didn't!) then get to know. The mind-bending (literally) film with Avi Asher-Schapiro about wearable devices, already available on Amazon, that can read brain waves is well worth looking up.   💔 Youmna ElSayed's harrowing account of becoming a war reporter in #Gaza when the atrocities reached her doorstep had everyone in tears. Her parting message for the audience: stop the bias in reporting.   📉 The stats shared by the V-Dem Institute on the declining number of democracies around the world were alarming. The well-trodden playbook is in motion globally - spread mis/disinformation and hate speech, create polarisation, edge towards autocracy. All eyes on the US election next week!   💻 There was lots of discussion around the "bad" uses of AI vs. "good" and how ultimately the "bad" AI uses will always achieve greater engagement and reach online. A lesson there for all of us in #comms - it's something that we need to be acutely aware of.   😎 Would have loved to have seen the cool Kara Swisher, tech journalist, battle it out with Richard Gingras, Head of News at Google - coming at the tech industry from very different perspectives would have made for a great debate!   🔴 Kyle DeGraw's on-brand Mercy Corps red shirt was a shining beacon among the sea of dark suits.   Thanks again to the organisers for another inspiring event! Until next year #TC2024.

“An indescribable happiness, a relief that a reliable water source was finally within reach.”🌟💧 That’s how Hiba*, a business owner and mother of six living in Al-Raqqah, #Syria, described the first time she tried a newly installed water tap in the courtyard of her family’s home. For the 15 years that she’s lived in her neighborhood, access to water has been a major challenge and source of stress. Hiba* and her family had to dig a hole in the street and tap into a sporadic municipal water pipe, which provided insufficient and sometimes dirty water. Everything changed in July 2023 when Mercy Corps completed a new water system for the neighborhood, which now reaches over 20,000 people. “Water is life,” Hiba* told us. “The introduction of this water system has undeniably breathed new life into our community.”🩵

As we continue highlighting the powerful voices of Gaza, meet Mariam al Farwaneh—a beacon of resilience amid the storm. A mother, a freelancer, and a community leader, Mariam's journey is one of strength and hope. Despite the constant displacements and unimaginable challenges, Mariam refused to let the war extinguish her spirit. She reignited her career, walking miles just to reconnect with clients, and transformed tents in Deir al-Balah into classrooms filled with learning and laughter. Through her initiative, "Al-Furat Camp," Mariam is not only educating children but also nurturing hope in the hearts of families. Today, she guides fellow freelancers through the chaos, showing them that even in the darkest times, new beginnings are possible. How You Can Support Gaza Sky Geeks 👉 Become a Mentor or Advisor: https://bit.ly/4eDSeG2 👉 Hire Palestinian Talent: If you’re seeking skilled professionals, fill out this form: https://bit.ly/3YkbX84 👉 Partner with GSG: Join us in making a difference! #GazaVoices #GazaSkyGeeks #ChildrenEducation #Resilience #FreelancersInGaza #PalestinianTalent

Women adapt because they must. They innovate like their lives depend on it—because they do.      Mercy Corps’ Women’s Climate Alliance (WCA) is partnering with those impacted by climate crises and weather-related disasters by providing education, training, and leadership opportunities in climate adaptation. We aim to raise and leverage $50 million by 2030, targeting overlooked communities, ensuring they have the resources and support necessary to maximize impact and sustain it for the long term.  Recently, the WCA supported female farmers in Senegal and Benin through the installation of renewable energy technology, including solar irrigation. With additional funding, we’re now reaching 12x more women within these communities, supporting them with resources needed to not only survive but thrive. Learn more about the WCA: https://lnkd.in/gfyD4w-T

ICYMI: We went to #GlobalCitizenFestival last month to get a behind-the-scenes look at how Global Citizen uses clean battery power to power their iconic stage. ⚡️   With their SmartGrid Battery System, Showpower Global B.V. is revolutionizing the live events industry and creating climate-smart opportunities for music lovers and festival attendees worldwide.   This technology can be applied to a variety of contexts too—from festivals to refugee settlements to areas recovering from emergencies, everyone can benefit from #CleanEnergy.🔋🙌

We’re excited to announce that our Chief Climate Officer, David Nicholson, will be speaking at the Agri-Food Systems Summit, hosted by Climate Action, on 15 November at #COP29 in Baku! 🌱 At the Summit, we'll be tackling some of the biggest challenges in transforming global food systems, from regenerative agriculture to financing climate action. Join us as we discuss how innovation and collaboration can lead to a sustainable future for food systems worldwide.  📅 Register here: https://lnkd.in/euYQGCWw  #AFS24 #COP29 #Sustainability 

David has loved cobbling shoes for as long as he can remember.👞 Though he grew up in Kogi state, #Nigeria, David moved to Kakuri to open a shop and fuel his passion. However, after the Sharia conflict in 2000, this area faced years of instability; David remembers the fear in his community as outbreaks of violence over politics, religion, and culture spread. He began mentoring young men after he saw that they needed a support system, especially during times of conflict. He acts as an older brother, holding them accountable for their school work and teaching them to cobble shoes so they can earn a living later on. David has since started participating in a Mercy Corps peacekeeping program, PARTNER, and he now leads the program’s People Living with Disability group. As he continues this important work, he hopes to see PARTNER’s tools given to more communities nationwide.💪

Members of the Women’s Climate Alliance (WCA) aren’t just philanthropists–they learn, grow, connect, and invest in causes that cultivate sustainable change.  The WCA partners with global experts who have first-hand experience in the countries where we work, and through ongoing learning opportunities, dive deeper into understanding critical humanitarian and gender issues and how to best support woman as they pave the path to future resilience. Learn more about the WCA: https://lnkd.in/gfyD4w-T

As we grieve this devastating loss, we send our deepest condolences to Mahasen’s family, the Gaza Sky Geeks community, our team in Palestine, and all those who have lost loved ones over the last year of war and unimaginable suffering in Gaza. This senseless and disgusting loss of life must end. It’s past time for those with influence and power to take urgent action: to de-escalate and halt the unrelenting violence in #Gaza, to protect civilians, and to do everything possible to achieve an immediate and lasting #CeasefireNOW.

🗣 Announcing our speakers! Join us for the Local Power, Global Impact: Advancing Climate Resilience event in #Amsterdam on Wednesday 6th November. We're delighted to be joined by Dahabo Shalle, CEO of the Rights Organization for Advocacy and Development (ROAD); Haileselassie Medhin, Director of Programmes – People at IKEA Foundation; Ivo Demmers, Executive Director at the Netherlands Food Partnership; and Selena Victor, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at Mercy Corps (Moderator). Ahead of #COP29, these leaders will guide a crucial discussion on the importance of community-driven initiatives in tackling the climate crisis. Together, we’ll explore how global support can amplify local expertise, ensuring that climate action is both sustainable and scalable.  ➡ Don’t miss out, register today! https://lnkd.in/eKb3qb8Q #ClimatePossible #ClimateResilience