How to Save the World

It's always great to volunteer in general around your community and throughout the world. However, it's also good to find something to support that you are really passionate about. If you care a lot about a certain cause, you're not only going to make a huge difference and be more willing to help out, you'll also inspire others to support your cause.

-Find out what has affected YOUR life the most: Has someone in your family been affected by an illness? Do you live in an area with a lot of poverty? Are you a teacher who worries about the lack of quality education in parts of the world?

-TIP: If you aren't exactly sure of a specific cause you want to support, try starting with a category like "Environment", "Health", "Animals", "Human Rights", "Education", or "Poverty". This lens will focus on many of these categories to show different ways you can support them by donating, or by doing several other things that don't require monetary contribution.

Once you know what cause you most want to support, it's time to pick a charity! While it's always good to volunteer your time and to donate to a bunch of different organizations, it's also important to pick just one to support. This way, you're ultimately making a huge impact on one organization instead of a small impact on several. When picking your charity, make sure that a large percentage of their donations is used to directly help the cause. It's also good to ensure that they are really making a difference in whatever aspect they're focusing on. Below is a list of charities that fit these characteristics. However, the are PLENTY of organizations not on this list that are just as efficient and creative, I just haven't found them yet!

Next to the charity name you will find the rating given to them by Charity Navigator (out of 4 stars).
ANIMALS:
****World Wildlife Fund
***ASPCA

ART/CULTURAL EDUCATION:
The Art of Elysium
Children Mending Hearts

EDUCATION:
****Donors Choose
**Ninemillion (UNHCR)
****CAMFED

ENVIRONMENT:
Green Peace
Earth Hour

HEALTH:
Malaria No More
***American Cancer Society

PEACE&HUMAN RIGHTS:
***Amnesty International
Save Darfur

POVERTY:
****International Children's Fund
****Save the Children
Charity: Water
Uncultured Project

There are numerous ways to contribute to whichever cause you choose to support! Most of the websites show exactly how to help out, which is mostly by donating money and goods, or helping to spur legislation. Below are a few more ways your can give back. Choose which category your charity or cause fits under best and try some of the listed ways to help out even more!

The categories are the same as listed above: Animals, Art/Cultural Education, Education, Environment, Health, Peace/Human Rights, and Poverty

-Collect old newspapers and donate them to an animal shelter
-Volunteer at a local animal shelter
-Donate chew toys for dogs waiting to be adopted at the pound
-Adopt or foster an animal
-Give dog or cat food to often overcrowded animal shelters
-Adopt a Creature

-Donate extra art supplies to local clubs/groups that encourage students to make art
-Teach an art class for free in your community (share your talent!)

-Donate books to school in Africa
-Donate boxtops for education
-Sponsor the building of a school in a third world country

-Plant a tree
-Take shorter showers
-Try making these easy changes
-Recycle

-Donate Blood
-Volunteer at a local hospital
-Donate Bone Marrow
-Become an organ donor (research it and talk with your family first!)
-Send a letter to a child with a terminal illness
-Grant the wish of a child with a terminal illness
-Donate the tabs on your soda cans to Ronald McDonald House

-Join the fight against human sex trafficking
-Sponsor peace by buying a peace bond
-Support the rights of young cancer patients by signing this bill
-Sponsor a woman in a war-torn zone
-Recognize the potential for women in third world countries to have an impact on their economy and the lives of their people

-Do a 24 hour fast to see what hunger feels like (if you're planing on doing this make sure you do your research, make sure you're healthy enough for it, and drink a lot of water!)
-Test your vocabulary skills while donating rice for free
-Buy 1 pair of shoes, another pair is donated
-Collect cans of food and bring them to a local food pantry
-Make blankets and scarves to donate to a local homeless shelter

Here is a medley of other ways you can give back that don't necessarily fall into a category. These are random acts of kindness and more!

-Search the web to gain revenue for your charity
-Donate your hair
-Raise money for a charity of your choice for free!
-Click to Give
-Clear your plate. Stop waste!
-Write thank you notes to all of your teachers, your administration, and the janitorial staff at your school
-Make someone smile by baking them cookies or giving them a small gift for no reason